HEATWAVES HIT WOMEN HARDER THAN MEN, EXPERTS SAY

Women experience greater physiological strain during heatwaves than men, according to experts consulted by the BBC. Dr Nighat Arif, an NHS GP specialising in women's health, described heatwaves as a "stress-test" for women's cardiovascular systems. Dr Cat Pinho-Gomes, an academic public health consultant at UCL's Institute for Global Health, stated that women may be marginally more vulnerable to heatwave-related death than men, though she noted that further evidence is required. As climate change drives increasingly intense and frequent heatwaves to the UK, experts are calling for better awareness of the risks to women and more targeted protective efforts.

The biological differences stem from two primary factors: hormone fluctuations and the body's heat response mechanisms. Research, including a 2025 study, shows that women produce less sweat and begin sweating at higher temperatures than men, which impairs their ability to shed excess heat quickly. Women also have higher core body temperatures and greater body fat percentages than men, acting as additional insulation. Dr Arif explained that natural hormone fluctuations during the menstrual cycle, perimenopause, menopause, pregnancy and breastfeeding disrupt the brain's temperature regulation systems, placing additional strain on the cardiovascular system during hot weather.

Beyond biology, socioeconomic factors compound the risk. Dr Pinho-Gomes, co-author of a review into sex differences in heatwave-associated deaths, noted that lower pay and caregiving responsibilities can significantly affect women's capacity to protect themselves in hot weather. Age represents an additional risk factor. The BBC received comments from women describing feeling overwhelmed, irritable, dizzy, bloated and exhausted during recent heat periods.