Heat-related deaths are on the rise, according to new study

Americans are more at risk from the deadly effects of heat than ever before, a new study found. The Journal of the American Medical Association found that heat-related deaths are on the rise. Researchers recorded 21,518 deaths from 1999-2023 where heat was either the underlying cause or the contributing cause of death, a possible underestimation, they say.

In total, heat-related deaths have increased 117% since 1999. The authors of the study, which was released Monday, used data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to calculate the mortality rates. While the number of heat-related deaths fluctuated year to year, there was a sharp uptick in the last seven years.

According to the data, heat-related deaths increased by 16.8% per year from 2016 to 2023 - and researchers expect the numbers to continue climbing. "As temperatures continue to rise because of climate change, the recent increasing trend is likely to continue," the authors wrote.

Last year was not only the hottest year on record but also the most deadly, with a total of 2,325 people dying from heat, the study found. Around 120,000 people were admitted to the emergency room for heat-related illnesses from January to December 2023, according to CDC data . Over 90% of those visits occurred during the peak summer months of May to September.

Rising temperatures due to climate change have led to record-breaking heat across the country in recent years. After recording the warmest July on record in 175 years, the.