Solar storms lead to increased hospital visits, study finds

SAO PAULO - Solar activity that impacts Earth ’s geomagnetic field may increase the risk of heart attacks, particularly among women, according to research conducted by health experts in Brazil.

The study, published in the journal Communications Medicine , analyzed hospital admissions between 1998 and 2005 and found that there was a significantly higher number of heart attacks when compared to periods of less solar activity.

Solar storms occur after eruptions on the Sun lead to coronal mass ejections and solar flares.

Events send high-energy particles and electromagnetic radiation toward Earth, which can impact communications equipment and trigger displays of Northern Lights, but how they impact human health remains poorly understood.

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