Geomagnetic disturbances linked to higher heart attack risk in women
Geomagnetic disturbances linked to solar activity may triple heart attack risk in women in Brazil.
Why it matters
- Links space weather to human health
- Highlights an unexpected factor in heart attack risk
- Focuses on women, who showed a higher susceptibility
By the numbers
- 871 men and 469 women studied
- Nearly 3x higher heart attack risk for women during disturbed geomagnetic conditions
The big picture
- Adds to evidence that space weather impacts health
- Study conducted at lower latitude, unlike most prior research
What they're saying
- Some users question the data specificity and significance
- Others find the correlation interesting but note it’s not causation
Caveats
- Correlation does not imply causation
- Study limited to one city in Brazil over a specific period
- Effect seen only in women, not men
What’s next
- More research needed to confirm findings
- Investigation into mechanisms behind the correlation
- Studies in other locations and populations