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More than 47,000 people died in Europe last year due to heat, study estimates. Here are the countries most impacted.
Over 47,000 people died in Europe last year due to heat, a new report published Monday in Nature Medicine estimates. The study was led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), which looked at a trove of historical temperature and mortality records from 35 different countries to make its calculations.
The year 2023 broke records for being the hottest year to date, and experts think 2024 could be next: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said there is a one-in-three chance that this year will be warmer than 2023.
Researchers for the Nature Medicine study stipulated the 47,690 estimated deaths occurred between late May and early October, with over half occurring during just two high heat episodes in mid-July and late August.
In a similar study conducted the year prior, ISGlobal researchers estimated over 60,000 people in Europe perished due to heat in 2022.
According to the 2023 tabulations, southern European countries bore the brunt of the heat-related deaths, with Greece, Bulgaria and Italy rounding out the top three spots.
Women and elderly people faced the highest risk when it comes to heat-related deaths, the study found. Notably, the mortality rate was 55% higher in women than in men, and 768% higher in people aged 80 plus than those 65 to 79.
“As people age, their ability to regulate their body temperature, such as sweating and adjusting blood flow, become less efficient,” said Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News medical contributor. “Heat can also exacerbate chronic medical conditions, like heart, lung and kidney disease.”
One of the silver linings in an otherwise gloomy report was that societal adaptation to heat over the last century likely saved thousands of lives.
“[These processes] dramatically reduced the heat-related vulnerability and mortality burden of recent summers, especially among the elderly”, Elisa Gallo, one of the researchers of the ISGlobal study, said in a statement.
The report on fatal heat conditions comes at a time when tourism is skyrocketing in Europe during the peak summer travel months of June to August. A survey conducted by Allianz Partners found that the number of visitors to the continent increased a whopping 55% from 2022 to 2023.
Droughts, wildfires and high temperatures continue to affect desirable destinations like Greece, which recently captured national attention after a series of hikers went missing or were found dead amid a brutal heat wave. The mediterranean country has also had to contend with a spate of wildfires, including one currently encroaching on Athens.
The total number of heat-related deaths in Europe —like anywhere— is difficult to parse. The researchers even cautioned that their own findings may underestimate the heat-related mortality burden.
Experts say heat-related deaths and illnesses are likely undercounted. That’s because while heat may play a role in someone’s death, it is often not recorded as the primary cause of death, unless it’s a heat stroke.
“People may present to the emergency department or the hospital with a heart attack, stroke, asthma attack, or kidney failure, and heat is often not recorded in medical records as the underlying cause,” said Dr. Gounder.
Kristie Ebi, an epidemiologist and professor of global health at the University of Washington, did not work directly on the study but said that the approach used, known as “excess death analysis,” is a much more accurate way to measure the risks people face from exposure to high temperatures.
“[It] provides insights that can be quite useful for the magnitude of the challenge, without trying to decide at the individual level if this heart attack was exacerbated by the heat, but that one was not,” she said.
The Department of Health and Human Services says there were 2,302 heat-related deaths in the United States in 2023. Of note: these were recorded deaths, not estimations like the Nature Medicine study. There is no comparable estimate for the United States.
Ebi cautions that if the United States’ heat-related death counts aren’t accurate, the country won’t spend enough on the emergency hospital services, cooling centers, and other interventions necessary to save lives.
“If there’s just 2000 deaths from heat, then there is limited incentive for investment,” she said.
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How to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The Minnesota Vikings will take on the Chicago Bears today. The Vikings are currently 8-2, an impressive run so far this season, and will be looking to add a fourth win to their current streak after last Sunday’s 23-13 win against the Tennessee Titans. The Bears, on the other hand, are entering this game on the heels of a four-game losing streak after a tough 20-19 loss against the Green Bay Packers last Sunday.
Here’s how and when you can watch the Vikings vs. Bears game today, whether or not you have cable.
How and when to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears
The Vikings vs. Bears game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT). The game will air on Fox and stream on Fubo and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears game without cable
You can watch this week’s NFL game on Fox via several streaming services. All you need is an internet connection and one of the top options outlined below.
Fubo offers you an easy, user-friendly way to watch NFL games on CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network, plus NCAA football channels. The Pro tier includes 200+ channels and unlimited DVR, while the Elite with Sports Plus tier adds NFL RedZone and 4K resolution. New subscribers get a seven-day free trial and all plans allow streaming on up to 10 screens simultaneously.
You can watch today’s game with a subscription to Sling’s Orange + Blue tier, which includes ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Fox. The plan offers 46 channels with local NFL games, nationally broadcast games and 50 hours of DVR storage. For complete NFL coverage, add Paramount+ to get CBS games, or upgrade with the Sports Extra add-on for additional sports channels like Golf Channel, NBA TV and NFL RedZone.
Watching NFL games, including Fox broadcasts, is simple with Hulu + Live TV, which includes 90 channels, unlimited DVR storage, and access to NFL preseason games, live regular season games and studio shows. The service includes ESPN+ and Disney+ in the subscription.
Want to watch today’s game live on your smartphone? If so, NFL+ streaming service is the solution you’re looking for. It lets you watch NFL Network and out-of-market games on mobile devices, with an upgrade option to NFL+ Premium that includes NFL RedZone for watching up to eight games simultaneously. Note that NFL+ only works on phones and tablets, not TVs.
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How to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The Detroit Lions will face off against the Indianapolis Colts today. The Lions enter this game as top contenders with a near-perfect record of 9-1 so far this season. The Colts, who are 5-6 this season, could have a tough game on their hands against the Lions but will be looking to rack up another win after prevailing over the New York Jets in a tight game last Sunday.
Here’s how and when you can watch the Colts vs. Lions game today, whether or not you have cable.
Here’s how and when to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts
The Lions vs. Colts game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT). The game will air on Fox and stream on Fubo and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts game without cable
You can watch this week’s NFL game on Fox via several streaming services. All you need is an internet connection and one of the top options outlined below.
Experience NFL action like never before with Fubo’s comprehensive sports streaming platform. From Sunday showdowns to primetime matchups, catch every NFL game across major networks including CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN and NFL Network. Choose the Pro package to unlock 200+ channels and limitless DVR storage, or elevate your game-day experience with the Elite with Sports Plus package, featuring NFL RedZone’s commercial-free scoring highlights and stunning 4K quality.
Test drive the service with a no-commitment seven-day free trial, and share the excitement with family and friends — Fubo supports simultaneous streaming on up to 10 devices, so everyone can watch their favorite teams.
You can watch today’s game with a subscription to Sling’s Orange + Blue tier, which includes ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Fox. The plan offers 46 channels with local NFL games, nationally broadcast games, and 50 hours of DVR storage. For complete NFL coverage, add Paramount+ to get CBS games, or upgrade with the Sports Extra add-on for additional sports channels like Golf Channel, NBA TV and NFL RedZone.
Watching NFL games, including Fox broadcasts, is simple with Hulu + Live TV, which includes 90 channels, unlimited DVR storage, and access to NFL preseason games, live regular season games and studio shows. The service includes ESPN+ and Disney+ in the subscription.
Want to watch today’s game live on your smartphone? If so, NFL+ streaming service is the solution you’re looking for. It lets you watch NFL Network and out-of-market games on mobile devices, with an upgrade option to NFL+ Premium that includes NFL RedZone for watching up to eight games simultaneously. Note that NFL+ only works on phones and tablets, not TVs.