Heat Domes

You may have heard about heat domes in the news. Perhaps you have even experienced one, or are living in one right now. What exactly is a heat dome? How does it form? And what are the consequences of being in a heat dome? Does this have anything to do with climate change?

A heat dome is a weather phenomenon. A large area of high pressure traps warm air over a region, and this can last days or weeks. High pressure means the air is being pressed down, and compressing air heats it up. The high pressure is like a lid, keeping the heated air from rising, so the temperature at ground level increases significantly. The temperature under a heat dome is often above the average normal high temperature for the region.

Normally, the jet stream, which is a band of strong winds in the upper atmosphere, moves from west to east, pushing weather across the continent. Sometimes the jet stream becomes weak or stalls. Then a large high pressure system can become persistent. The high pressure also suppresses the formation of clouds. Less cloud cover means more sunlight hits the surface of the earth, increasing the temperature at ground level. Changes in oceanic climate patterns, such as La Niña, can also affect wind flow patterns, causing stagnation of warm air.

Heat domes have consequences at various levels. For individuals, heat domes can increase health risks, especially for vulnerable populations such as children, elders and persons with underlying health conditions. High temperatures increase the amount of water vapor in the air. Sweating, the body’s natural cooling mechanism, is impaired by high humidity, adding to the problems. Individuals may suffer heat exhaustion, heatstroke or death. The extreme weather can negatively affect mental health as well as physical.

Heat domes also impact the environment. The extremely high temperatures increase evaporation rates, reducing soil moisture and causing or increasing droughts. High temperatures can cause mass die-offs of vegetation and marine life. Dry plants and high temperatures are favorable conditions for wildfires.

In addition to health and environmental impacts, heat domes also impact infrastructure. Crops can be damaged or destroyed, leading to a depressed agricultural economy and higher grocery costs. Power grids are strained by very high usage.

Climate change does seem to be increasing both the frequency and intensity of heat domes. Greenhouse gases trap heat lower in the atmosphere, contributing to the high pressure areas that create heat domes. And since the Arctic is warming faster than the equatorial regions, the jet stream is weakened.

For information on how to prepare for and how to stay safe during a heat dome:

https://www.everydayhealth.com/general-health/how-to-stay-safe-during-a-heat-wave/

Healthinfo Island Displays and Exhibits for July 2025

You can teleport to any of the eight displays and exhibits using the SLURLs in this posting. In Second Life, click on the poster with the same name as the title of the poster set, and you will get a notecard that contains all the text of the posters plus descriptions of the images. If you click each poster, you will get a private message with additional information and live links.

Kidney Knowledge
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/195/158/22

Social Wellness Month
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/188/181/24

Our Amazing Hands
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/172/155/22

Our Wonderful Feet
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/114/79/24

Why You Should Read More
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/98/40/26

Racial Disparities in Health and Healthcare in the U.S.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/50/28/28

Have a Safe and Happy Summer
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/24/23/30

July is Sarcoma Awareness Month
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/21/63/32


Central Pavilion of Healthinfo Island
Check out the calming breathing exercise on the back wall!
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/128/126/24

Thank you to Mook for help with the posters this month. 

Surgery on Friday? No, thanks!

If you have a choice of dates to have elective surgery, go for Monday if possible. And definitely, don’t have surgery on Friday or on a Thursday before a long holiday weekend. What’s the difference?

 

Researchers studied over 450,000 common surgeries performed in Toronto between 2007-2019. They looked at 30-day, 90-day, and one-year outcomes for patients. They checked for complications during the hospital stay, readmission to the hospital, and death within those time periods.

 

People whose surgery was on a pre-weekend day were 5% more likely to have a negative outcome up to a year later than were people whose surgery was on a post-weekend day (Monday, or Tuesday after a long weekend). The surgeries in which this effect was most noticeable were for heart and vascular problems. Plastic surgery and obstetrics showed very little calendar-related effects.

 

This is not just a Canadian phenomenon. Similar research has been done in the UK, in the US, and in the Netherlands. It has been labeled the “Friday effect.”

 

Several theories exist to explain this effect. It is possible that hospital staff on duty over weekends are less experienced or more overworked, which might lead to delayed or less efficient care. Specialist care may be less available on weekends. Some researchers concluded that “disparities in resources, expertise, and healthcare providers working during weekends may explain the observed differences in weekend mortality.”

 

However, sometimes there does not seem to be a Friday effect. A study of elective anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery found that “the day of elective ACDF surgery does not affect mortality, readmissions, or reoperation rates.” The authors note that it is likely that there may be more negative outcomes for patients with early-week surgeries because surgeons prefer to schedule “more complex cases or higher risk patients” earlier rather than later in the week.

 

Conclusion: It’s always wise to ask lots of questions before elective surgery. Be your own best advocate. And remember that even if there are risks, they seem to be small.

Medical Insurance Terms to Know

The language used in medical bills, health care forms and other paperwork can be very confusing. Here are some plain language explanations of some of them.

Allowed Amount – what the insurance company believes should be the price for the medication or service

Balance Billed – the difference between what the provider believes should be the price for the medication or service and the insurer’s allowed amount – you will have to pay this amount

Coinsurance – after you have paid the deductible, coinsurance is the percentage of the cost of the allowed amount you will have to pay

Copay – a fixed amount you will have to pay for covered prescription medications and medical services, due when you receive the service

Deductible – your insurance won’t pay anything until you have paid this amount total for the year

Evidence of Coverage – an explanation of your insurance plan, including what is covered and how much you pay

Explanation of Benefits - Not a bill! This is a summary of charges, insurance payments, and your payments for a month.

Formulary – lists the medications your insurer will pay for

In-Network Providers – providers or facilities with a contract with your insurer. It usually will cost you less to use an in-network provider than to go to an out-ot-network provider.

Step Edits (Step Therapy) – requirements to be met before your insurer will pay for a medication. You may have to try using less effective medications before they will authorize what your doctor prescribes.

Read all insurance-related text carefully. Look up or ask for an explanation of any term you do not understand.