Poor sleep, menopause flare-ups: health in warmer world

Extreme heat is the world's biggest weather-related killer but it's also responsible for a host of other health and wellbeing niggles that are not as well understood.

Bad sleep, worse productivity and exacerbated menopausal symptoms are among common complaints during heatwaves.

University of Bristol climate change and health expert Eunice Lo has been looking beyond hospital and mortality data for deeper insights into the health and wellbeing implications of extremely hot, humid weather.

Using the world-renowned Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children - a UK cohort who have been been filling out questionnaires since the 1990s - Dr Lo surveyed about 3400 participants about their experience during a seven-day heatwave in 2023.

Presenting the findings at an Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society conference in Cairns this week, she said many respondents experienced slightly poorer or much worse sleep than normal.

A clear drop-off in productivity was reported but mood was mixed, with some in higher spirits in the hot weather.

Others felt anxious and worried about the future in a warming climate.

Dr Lo was visiting Australia as parts of England faced fresh heat alerts and temperature forecasts above 30C, challenging conditions in a country with poorly ventilated buildings designed for cold weather.

Women were more likely to report negative impacts than men, especially those who were pregnant or experiencing menopause.

"It really highlights women-specific health issues or experiences that probably deserve a lot more research than what we currently do," Dr Lo told AAP.

Mothers and babies have been studied in the context of climate change, with the World Health Organization linking high temperatures to preterm birth and stillbirth as well as hypertension and gestational diabetes.

In 2024, climate change was responsible for adding about 10 extra days of heat extreme enough to be considered harmful for pregnant women in Australia, according to Climate Central.

Research continues to reveal links to climate change and and a range of worse health outcomes, including mental health concerns and more common and severe sleep apnea.

Climate change might also exacerbate eczema and lengthen pollen seasons in some Australian cities, in bad news for hay fever sufferers.

Dr Lo said Australia faced a host of unique climate challenges for health, including exposure to bushfire smoke.