Balgarianovinite.com Climate change and increasingly frequent, prolonged heatwaves pose a growing threat to human health worldwide and in Bulgaria, Associate Professor Petya Dimitrova said in an interview with BTA on Wednesday.
Dimitrova is an immunologist at the Laboratory of Experimental Immunotherapy at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences’ Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology. She said that extreme weather events, particularly heatwaves and droughts, are becoming more common and periods of high temperatures are growing longer.
Although the human body has mechanisms for thermoregulation and adaptation, prolonged heat and abrupt temperature changes place it under severe physiological stress and adversely affect both thermoregulation and the immune system, Dimitrova explained. These mechanisms are vital to the normal function of all organs and systems, including the cardiovascular, respiratory and immune systems, she added.
Extreme heat also disrupts the body’s circadian rhythm, potentially triggering inflammation and, in some people, chronic inflammation, Dimitrova said. This helps explain why the health of people with chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or obesity often worsens during the summer months. Among patients with cardiovascular disease, there is a direct correlation between high temperatures and mortality, she added. Dimitrova said the incidence of infectious diseases does not decline in summer despite sunny weather and generally strong immune function, because high temperatures and temperature fluctuations adversely affect innate immunity.
Dimitrova urged people, particularly those with chronic conditions, to take care during hot periods, rest regularly, drink enough fluids, engage in moderate physical activity and take responsibility for their health. Regular sleeping, waking and mealtimes are important for everyone, regardless of the weather, she added.
Dimitrova’s work over the past 15 years focuses on innate immunity and inflammation. She is interested in new technologies for studying innate immunity, while her current research seeks new therapeutic approaches targeting innate immunity in acute and chronic inflammation. She completed specialist training in Germany, Italy and the United States. Dimitrova also took part in the Vratsa Science Festival. Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Immunologist Dimitrova: Climate Change and Extreme Heat Threaten Human Health 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-08-05 06:39:00 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
