Remember 2002, when Getting’ Hot in Herre was popular? This song’s claim to fame in my mind was when my pre-teen and his friends called a radio station to request a song and this is what they asked for.

This song could be the theme song for a new generation because, yes it is getting Hot in Herre and unlike in the song, taking off all our clothes isn’t going to be enough. 

How will this heat affect us?

When the weather heats up, people tend to drink more rose wine. They also commit more violent crimes.Some are due to youths out of school but also because of  the discomfort heat causes. “Hot weather increases body temperature, which in turn increases heart rate and blood pressure. Increased blood pressure and heart rate can lead to discomfort, which researchers attribute to the correlation between high heat and increased anger and violence.”

People make poor decisions when it is hot, and this is exacerbated by sun exposure. Working in the sun decreases attention and vigilance, probably due to increased skin temperature. The body’s attempt to cool the skin robs the brain of oxygen. Added heat affects the hippocampus—responsible for memory and learning. Heat can break down the blood brain barrier, making people more vulnerable to drugs, pollution, and oxidative stress. Over time, this will lead to brain inflammation and permanent cell death. Heat increases the risk of suicide and epileptic seizures. Women have more problems regulating heat due to biological and physical factors. They have a greater connection between brain hemispheres which makes them more vulnerable to brain heat stress.   (citation)

Heat exhaustion is an extreme manifestation of the effect of high temperatures-above body temperature of 98.6 F or 37 C- on the brain.  “When the weather is hot and dry, the body becomes dehydrated, the blood thickens, and the heart may not be able to pump enough oxygen to the brain. Additionally, the human brain burns up 20 percent of the body’s energy and therefore needs to dissipate heat efficiently. In hot and humid conditions, sweating cannot cool the body and brain enough. This can lead to heat exhaustion, which has symptoms such as weakness, dizziness and headaches and, in extreme cases, heat stroke—which can then trigger delirium and loss of consciousness. A significant fraction of heat stroke survivors suffer neurological complications.” (citation)

As temperatures rise and people work in the heat, they risk Kidney disease. Intense labor in extreme heat is one of the major drivers of heat related kidney disease. Those disproportionally affected include rice farmers, construction workers, and miners. Climate change will increase the prevalence of chronic kidney disease throughout the world.

Heat strikes the world’s poor much more harshly. Above 35 degrees C ( 95F) heat mortality due to heat stroke, dehydration, and heat exhaustion increases along with heat related respiratory problems. The elderly, children, babies, and even fetuses, are also more vulnerable. Worker productivity slows in the summer as well.  It also raises costs for businesses, puts stress on infrastructure, and increases the spread of damaging mold and fungi.

Since the release of Getting’ Hot in Herre, global temperatures have increased about 0.66 C or a little over 1 degree Fahrenheit. The oligarchs have decided that a hotter climate is a price worth paying for enriching themselves. There will be consequences. Meanwhile, Nelly is debuting a new reality show this month.