When a heat wave arrives, the public health advice follows a familiar script: drink water, watch for heat stroke, check on people with heart or lung conditions. That list saves lives. But it leaves out something that shapes daily life for millions of older Americans – chronic pain.
In a new study, public health professor Kai Zhang and I followed over 35,000 adults over age 50 across two decades, matching each person and their reports of chronic pain to the temperature history of their neighborhood.
kAm(6 H2?E65 E@ <?@H H96E96C =:G:?8 H:E9 6IEC6>6 962E @C 4@=5 – ?@E @?6 325 H66<[ 3FE >@?E9D @C J62CD – 492?86D H96E96C A2:? :?E6C76C6D H:E9 A6@A=6’D =:G6D]k^Am
kAm%96 k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_gg^afda\db_h^26gf`fQmC6DF=ED DF886DEk^2m E92E 49C@?:4 A2:? 56D6CG6D 2 A=246 :? 9@H E96 4@F?ECJ AC6A2C6D A6@A=6 7@C 6IEC6>6 H62E96C] %96J 2=D@ D9@H E92E CFC2= C6D:56?ED >2J 36 E96 =62DE AC@E64E65]k^Am
k9am(92E 9:89\:>A24E A2:? >62?Dk^9am
kAm#6D62C496CD FD6 E96 E6C> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]:2DA\A2:?]@C8^C6D@FC46D^724E\D966ED^9:89\:>A24E\49C@?:4\A2:?^Qm9:89\:>A24E 49C@?:4 A2:?k^2m 7@C A2:? =2DE:?8 2E =62DE E9C66 >@?E9D E92E =:>:ED H92E 2 A6CD@? 42? 5@i H@C<[ D@4:2=:K:?8 2?5 D6=7\42C6] xE :D ?@E @442D:@?2= 249:?8] xE :D A2:? E92E 27764ED J@FC 564:D:@?D]k^Am
kAmu@C 25F=ED @G6C d_[ E92E >2EE6CD 6?@C>@FD=J] !2:? E92E >2<6D :E 92C5 E@ DE2?5[ 42CCJ 8C@46C:6D @C D=66A E9C@F89 E96 ?:89E :D 2 =625:?8 C62D@? A6@A=6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^962=E9]>@F?ED:?2:]@C8^3=@8^H9J\@=56C\25F=ED\D9@F=5\?6G6C\:8?@C6\E96:C\A2:?^Qm=@D6 E96 23:=:EJ E@ =:G6 @? E96:C @H?k^2m]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk2 2C:2\=236=lQ+@@>23=6 :>286Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^fdb``_^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae_g`_\e_\G=bADE];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]`U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>Aj7:El4=:AQmk:>8 2=ElQp 72C>6CD :? 92E[ 3@@ED 2?5 =@?8 D=66G6D 2?5 ;62?D 5C@AD @77 92J 7@C 42EE=6]Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^fdb``_^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae_g`_\e_\G=bADE];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]`U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>Aj7:El4=:AQ ^mk^2mk7:842AE:@?mu2C>6CD 2?5 C2?496CD 92G6 E@ 36 @FE :? E96 962E[ 2?5 49C@?:4 A2:? 42?’E D=@H E96> 5@H?] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]86EEJ:>286D]4@>^56E2:=^?6HD\A9@E@^C2?496C\4FCE:D\D49C@56C\5:DEC:3FE6D\92J\E@\42EE=6\@?\E96\?6HD\A9@E@^aafecfcbbanD=@El`hU2>Aj25AA@AFAlECF6Qm|2C< |2<6=2^v6EEJ x>286Dk^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
kAm%6>A6C2EFC6 27764ED E96 3@5J :? 5:776C6?E H2JD E92E 42? =625 E@ A2:?ik^Am
kAmr@=5 2AA62CD E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^962=E942C6]FE29]65F^962=E97665^a_ad^_b^H9J\5@\>J\;@:?ED\9FCE\H:?E6CQm:?4C62D6 A2:? D6?D:E:G:EJ 2?5 DE:776? ;@:?EDk^2m[ H9:49 :D H9J A6@A=6 H:E9 2CE9C:E:D @7E6? 3C246 7@C H:?E6C]k^Am
kAmw62E 27764ED E96 3@5J E9C@F89 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]9@A<:?D>65:4:?6]@C8^962=E9^4@?5:E:@?D\2?5\5:D62D6D^569J5C2E:@?\2?5\962E\DEC@<6Qm569J5C2E:@?k^2m[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]6?G:?E]a_ad]`_hhcaQm3C@<6? D=66Ak^2m 2?5 E96 H2J :E BF:6E=J D9C:?<D E96 C2?86 @7 E9:?8D 2 A6CD@? :D H:==:?8 E@ 5@ :? 2 52J] ~? 9@E 52JD[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ A6@A=6 >2J H2=< =6DD[ 2?5 =6DD >@G6>6?E 42? =625 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>J]4=6G6=2?54=:?:4]@C8^962=E9^DJ>AE@>D^ad`cf\>FD4=6\DE:77?6DDQmDE:776C ;@:?ED 2?5 H62<6C >FD4=6Dk^2m[ H9:49 >2<6D E96 A2:? H@CD6]k^Am
kAm(92E >2<6D 962E H2G6D 52?86C@FD :D @7E6? ?@E E96 27E6C?@@? E6>A6C2EFC6 A62< 3FE E96 9@E ?:89ED E92E 5@?’E 4@@= @77[ =62G:?8 E96 3@5J H:E9 ?@ @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ C64@G6C]k^Am
k9am(92E H6 7@F?5k^9am
kAm(6 EC24<65 H96? 6249 ?6:893@C9@@5 9:E E6>A6C2EFC6D E92E H6C6 6IEC6>6 7@C E92E A=246] p 52J E@AA:?8 gc 568C66D u29C6?96:E Wag]h r6=D:FDX :? |2:?6[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ H@F=5 36 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]:4ADC]F>:49]65F^D:E6D^?2?52^G:6H^DEF5:6D^ab_hc`^G6CD:@?D^'a]dQm2>@?8 E96 9@EE6DE dT @7 52JDk^2m E96C6 @G6C E96 A2DE 564256] x? w@FDE@?[ >62?H9:=6[ :E H@F=5 92G6 E@ C6249 he u Wbd]c rX E@ 36 :? E96 E@A dT 7@C 962E[ 4@?D:56C65 6IEC6>6]k^Am
kAm(6 4@>A2C65 6G6CJ 4@>>F?:EJ 282:?DE :ED @H? `_\J62C C64@C5 C2E96C E92? 2 D:?8=6 ?2E:@?2= 4FE@77 E@ D66 9@H >@?E9D @C J62CD @7 6IA@DFC6 E@ 6IEC6>6 4@=5 @C 962E E6>A6C2EFC6D :? E9@D6 4@>>F?:E:6D 27764E65 E96:C C6D:56?ED]k^Am
kAm%H@ E9:?8D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:@AD4:6?46]:@A]@C8^2CE:4=6^`_]`_gg^afda\db_h^26gf`fQmDE@@5 @FEk^2mik^Am
kAmp>@?8 E96 @?6\7:7E9 @7 @FC D2>A=6 H9@ =:G65 H:E9 >2?J 6IEC6>6\4@=5 52JD[ C6A@CED @7 9:89\:>A24E A2:? H6?E FA] w@H6G6C[ E9@D6 724:?8 @442D:@?2= 4@=5 DA6==D 5:5?’E C6A@CE E96 D2>6 67764E] !6@A=6 D66>65 E@ 252AE E@ @?6 92C5 H:?E6C[ 3FE 252AE:?8 3642>6 92C56C @G6C J62CD @7 6IEC6>6 4@=5]k^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^52E2HC2AA6C]5H45?]?6E^gAu6<^7F==]A?8Q ^mk^Am
kAmtIEC6>6 962E H2D DA=:E 3J 86@8C2A9J 2?5 3J H62=E9ik^Am
kF=mk=:mkAmu@C FC32? C6D:56?ED[ DFDE2:?65 962E D9@H65 ?@ =:?< E@ 56G6=@A:?8 ?6H A2:?] u@C CFC2= C6D:56?ED[ E96 4@??64E:@? H2D DEC@?86C] ~?6 =:<6=J C62D@? :D E92E A6@A=6 :? CFC2= 2C62D >2J DA6?5 >@C6 E:>6 H@C<:?8 @FED:56 @C 92G6 @=56C 9@>6D E92E 2C6 92C56C E@ 4@@= 2?5 =6DD 2446DD E@ 4@@= A=246D]k^Amk^=:mk=:mkAmp>@?8 E96 A@@C6DE @=56C 25F=ED[ DFDE2:?65 962E H2D 2=D@ 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 2 9:896C 492?46 @7 56G6=@A:?8 9:89\:>A24E A2:?] p>@?8 E96 H62=E9:6DE[ :E H2D ?@E[ =:<6=J 3642FD6 @7 36EE6C 2446DD E@ 2:C 4@?5:E:@?:?8[ 962=E942C6 2?5 36:?8 23=6 E@ DE2J @FE @7 E96 962E]k^Amk^=:mk^F=m
kAm%9@D6 H9@ 4@F=5 86E @FE @7 E96 962E H6C6 =62DE =:<6=J E@ C6A@CE 766=:?8 ?6H 49C@?:4 A2:?]k^Am
k9am%9C66 <6J =6DD@?Dk^9am
kAm}62C=J 6G6CJ E@@= &]$] 4@>>F?:E:6D FD6 E@ =@H6C 962E C:D< :D 56D:8?65 7@C 2 4:EJ 6?G:C@?>6?Ei k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FC32?\EC66D\GD\4@@=\C@@7D\H92ED\E96\36DE\H2J\7@C\4:E:6D\E@\362E\E96\962E\ae_`ggQm4@@=:?8 46?E6CDk^2m[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FC32?\EC66D\GD\4@@=\C@@7D\H92ED\E96\36DE\H2J\7@C\4:E:6D\E@\362E\E96\962E\ae_`ggQmEC66 42?@AJ AC@8C2>Dk^2m[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^=2?5D2E\K@@>D\:?\@?\4:E:6D\9@EE6DE\?6:893@C9@@5D\E@\96=A\4@>32E\E96\FC32?\962E\:D=2?5\67764E\`gahadQmFC32? 962E :D=2?5 >2ADk^2m]k^Am
kAm#FC2= 2C62D 92G6 5:776C6?E 492==6?86D] #FC2= 9@>6D 2C6 @7E6? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H9J\@=56C\9@>6D\766=\H2C>6C\E92?\E96\E96C>@DE2E\DF886DED\2?5\H92E\E@\5@\23@FE\:E\a`_ddbQm@=56C 2?5 92C56C E@ <66A 4@@=k^2m] t?6C8J 4@DED E6?5 E@ E2<6 2 =2C86C D92C6 @7 :?4@>6] ~? E@A @7 E92E[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D96AD46?E6C]F?4]65F^AC@8C2>D\AC@;64ED^CFC2=\962=E9^CFC2=\9@DA:E2=\4=@DFC6D^QmCFC2= 9@DA:E2=D 92G6 366? 4=@D:?8k^2m 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ[ =62G:?8 C6D:56?ED 5C:G:?8 72CE96C E@ C6249 962=E942C6]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk2 2C:2\=236=lQ+@@>23=6 :>286Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^fdb``a^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae_g`_\dh\e5<Dg6];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]`U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>Aj7:El4=:AQmk:>8 2=ElQp G:6H 24C@DD 2 D>2== CFC2= E@H?]Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^fdb``a^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae_g`_\dh\e5<Dg6];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]`U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>Aj7:El4=:AQ ^mk^2mk7:842AE:@?m#FC2= 9@>6D 2C6 @7E6? @=56C 2?5 >@C6 6IA6?D:G6 E@ 4@@= 2?5 962E] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]86EEJ:>286D]4@>^56E2:=^?6HD\A9@E@^2?\26C:2=\G:6H\D9@HD\9@>6D\@?\5646>36C\a_\a_ab\:?\;6DFA\?6HD\A9@E@^`gf`c_h_e`nD=@ElfcU2>Aj25AA@AFAlECF6Qm$4@EE ~=D@?^v6EEJ x>286Dk^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
kAmp8C:4F=EFC6 92D E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]28:?8]D6?2E6]8@G^AC6DD\C6=62D6D^492:C>2?\D4@EE\C6=62D6D\C6A@CE\@?\2>6C:42D\28:?8\72C>\H@C<7@C46Qm@=56DE H@C<7@C46 :? E96 4@F?ECJk^2m – E96 2G6C286 AC@5F46C H:E9 564:D:@?\>2<:?8 C@=6D @? 2 72C> :D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2DD]FD52]8@G^!F3=:42E:@?D^w:89=:89ED^a_ac^r6?DFDaa0w{0u2C>!C@5F46CD0ux}p{]A57Qm?@H 23@FE dg J62CD @=5k^2m[ 2?5 ?62C=J c_T @7 E96 72C>=2?5 :D @H?65 3J 72C>6CD H9@ 2C6 ed @C @=56C] #6E:C6>6?E 5@6D ?@E >@G6 A6@A=6 @FE @7 E96 962E :? CFC2= 2C62D[ 6:E96C]k^Am
kAm%96 7:?5:?8D 9@=5 E9C66 <6J =6DD@?D 7@C 96=A:?8 @=56C 25F=EDik^Am
k@=mk=:mkAmr9C@?:4 A2:? 36=@?8D @? =:DED @7 962E\C6=2E65 962=E9 C:D<D[ :? @FC G:6H] $E2E6 2?5 4@F?EJ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^962E]8@G^52E2\E@@=D^42=:7@C?:2\6IEC6>6\962E\24E:@?\A=2?^Qm962E A=2?D 7=28k^2m 42C5:24 2?5 C6DA:C2E@CJ A2E:6?ED[ 3FE ?@E E96 A6@A=6 H9@D6 :?56A6?56?46 56A6?5D @? >2?28:?8 A2:?] (:E9 H2C?:?8[ A6@A=6 42? A=2? 29625 2?5 86E 96=A[ <?@H:?8 49C@?:4 A2:? >2J H@CD6?]k^Amk^=:mk=:mkAmr@@=:?8 2DD:DE2?46 AC@8C2>D ?665 E@ 36 E2:=@C65 E@ CFC2= ?665D – E96 H62E96C:K2E:@?[ 6?6C8J 2DD:DE2?46 2?5 56=:G6CJ E9C@F89 ECFDE65 =@42= 492??6=D E92E E9@D6 9@>6D ?665 – C2E96C E92? @776C:?8 D42=65\5@H? G6CD:@?D @7 FC32? AC@8C2>D]k^Amk^=:mk=:mkAmx? E96 4=:?:4[ 2 A2E:6?E’D 9@FD:?8 2?5 =@42= 4=:>2E6 56E2:=D 36=@?8 :? E96:C 5@4F>6?E65 A2:? 9:DE@CJ[ ?6IE E@ 5:28?@D:D 2?5 >65:42E:@?[ E@ 96=A 36EE6C 5:C64E EC62E>6?E]k^Amk^=:mk^@=m
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``ce^2??FC6G\AF3=962=E9\_`aca_\`_d_aeQm#:D:?8 8=@32= E6>A6C2EFC6Dk^2m 2C6 :?4C62D:?8 E96 C:D< E92E A6@A=6 H:== 36 6IA@D65 E@ 6IEC6>6 962E 7@C H66<D 2E 2 E:>6] x? @?6 9:89\C:D< DF>>6C[ a_ac[ !9@6?:I D2H k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]<;KK]@C8^D4:6?46^a_ad\_h\`d^A9@6?:I\925\ab\?:89ED\H:E9\=@HD\:?\E96\h_D\E9:D\DF>>6C\>@C6\E92?\EC:A=6\E96\2G6C286Qmbh 52JDk^2m H:E9 E6>A6C2EFC6D E92E 5:5?’E 5C@A 36=@H h_ u Wba]a rX[ 6G6? 2E ?:89E]k^Am
kAm$@[ :7 J@F 92G6 2 A2C6?E @C 8C2?5A2C6?E 724:?8 2 962E H2G6[ A2CE:4F=2C=J :? 2 CFC2= 2C62[ 4@?D:56C 2D<:?8 ?@E ;FDE H96E96C E96J’C6 5C:?<:?8 6?@F89 H2E6C E@ DE2J 962=E9J 3FE 2=D@ H96E96C E96:C 324< @C <?66D 92G6 366? H@CD6 E92? FDF2=] %96 A2:? >2J 36 4@??64E65]k^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FDnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<\_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aghbecQm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ :?56A6?56?E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 3C:?8:?8 J@F 724ED 2?5 ECFDEH@CE9J 2?2=JD:D E@ 96=A J@F >2<6 D6?D6 @7 @FC 4@>A=6I H@C=5] xE H2D HC:EE6? 3Ji k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^76:?F@\DF?\afdadhdnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aghbecQmu6:?F@ $F?k^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^F?:G6CD:EJ\@7\E6I2D\2E\2C=:?8E@?\f`gnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aghbecQm&?:G6CD:EJ @7 %6I2D 2E pC=:?8E@?k^2mk^6>mk^6>mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H9J\@=56C\9@>6D\766=\H2C>6C\E92?\E96\E96C>@DE2E\DF886DED\2?5\H92E\E@\5@\23@FE\:E\a`_ddbnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aghbecQm(9J @=56C 9@>6D 766= H2C>6C E92? E96 E96C>@DE2E DF886DED – 2?5 H92E E@ 5@ 23@FE :Ek^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H9J\CFC2=\9@DA:E2=D\:?\A6??DJ=G2?:2\2?5\24C@DD\E96\4@F?ECJ\2C6\4=@D:?8\:?\:?4C62D:?8\?F>36CD\d\>JE9D\23@FE\CFC2=\962=E9\42C6\afdb_cnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<`U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aghbecQm(9J CFC2= 9@DA:E2=D :? !6??DJ=G2?:2 2?5 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ 2C6 4=@D:?8 :? :?4C62D:?8 ?F>36CD – d >JE9D 23@FE CFC2= 962=E9 42C6k^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^E96\27E6C>2E9\@7\7=@@5D\9FCC:42?6D\2?5\@E96C\5:D2DE6CD\42?\36\92C56DE\@?\@=56C\CFC2=\2>6C:42?D\96C6D\9@H\72>:=:6D\2?5\?6:893@CD\42?\96=A\acfeh`nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<aU2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aghbecQm%96 27E6C>2E9 @7 7=@@5D[ 9FCC:42?6D 2?5 @E96C 5:D2DE6CD 42? 36 92C56DE @? @=56C CFC2= p>6C:42?D – 96C6’D 9@H 72>:=:6D 2?5 ?6:893@CD 42? 96=Ak^2mk^=:mk^F=m
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?mu6:?F@ $F? C646:G6D 7F?5:?8 7C@> E96 r6?E6C 7@C p8:?8 2?5 !@=:4J $EF5:6D W9625BF2CE6C65 2E $JC24FD6 &?:G6CD:EJX[ H9:49 C646:G6D 7F?5:?8 7C@> E96 }2E:@?2= x?DE:EFE6D @7 w62=E9 WvC2?E }@] !b_pv_eedgbX]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^aghbec^4@F?E]8:7n5:DEC:3FE@Cl=66Q DEJ=6lQ96:89Ei`AIjH:5E9i`AIjQ 2=ElQQ ^mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.