A heat laboratory in the living room

In recent years, episodes of extreme heat have increased. A phenomenon which can lead to an increase in hospitalizations and mortality. To prevent these risks, public health authorities recommend limiting excessively intense physical exertion, drinking plenty of water, going to air-conditioned places and closing curtains during the day.

But when does the temperature inside a home really become a health problem?

Traditionally, the effects of heat on the human body are studied in the laboratory, in a climatic chamber allowing temperature control. But now a research project launched this summer is measuring the consequences of heat in real conditions, directly in the participants' homes.

The main objective is to establish a critical indoor temperature threshold. In other words, to determine from what point heat causes a dangerous increase in certain indicators, whether physiological (such as heart rate) or perceptual (such as the feeling of discomfort).

“This thermal tipping point is currently being debated. Some experts say 26°C, others 28°C. The study aims to provide concrete data to decide and, ultimately, guide standards or regulations, particularly for vulnerable environments such as social housing, CHSLDs or even schools,” explains Daniel Gagnon, researcher behind the study and professor at the School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Sciences at the University of Montreal.