Women Over 31 Face Increased Heart Attack Risk During Solar Storms, New Research Reveals
A new study from Brazil has uncovered a concerning link between geomagnetic disturbances caused by solar activity adn an increased risk of heart attacks in women over the age of 31. The research, published in Nature Communications Medicine, highlights the potential health impacts of increasingly frequent and powerful solar storms as the sun enters a more active phase.
solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) – releases of charged particles from the sunS surface – can disrupt Earth’s magnetic field, potentially causing widespread blackouts and impacting satellite communications. These disruptions create a “ripple effect” that shakes or compresses the planet’s protective shield.
The Brazilian team analyzed hospital records from 1998 to 2005, encompassing data from 1,340 individuals (871 men and 469 women). Their findings revealed a significant correlation between disturbed magnetic conditions and heart attack rates. Specifically, women aged between 31 and 60 experienced a threefold increase in heart attacks on days with magnetic disruptions.
Beyond heart attack risk, increased solar activity presents other health concerns. Exposure to excessive ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can lead to skin cancer and eye damage. Solar particles can also affect the ionosphere, a layer of Earth’s atmosphere, potentially influencing weather patterns and impacting respiratory health, particularly for individuals with asthma.
“Scientists around the world have been trying to predict the occurrence of geomagnetic disturbances, but the accuracy, for now, isn’t good,” explained researcher Rezende to Agência FAPESP.
The warning comes as NASA has observed an unexpected increase in the sun’s activity. After a period of relative quiet for approximately 20 years, the sun began to ramp up its activity around 2008, and its solar wind – streams of charged particles – has grown stronger in speed, density, temperature, and magnetic field strength. This heightened activity could lead to more severe solar storms with the potential to cause widespread blackouts and disrupt global communications.
