From wellness yachts to extra periods, the climate crisis is impacting all of our bodies
We know that vulnerable people face health risks during periods of heatwaves, but now that extreme heat is the norm, wider groups are experiencing health issues related to climate change. Heatwave-related deaths reached the thousands in May and June.
At the end of May, influencers and celebrities were invited to a wellness haven on the Alo Voyage: Wellness club at sea. The 72-metre private yacht offers all kinds of health experiences including Pilates, IV drips, and lymphatic drainage. Spending a week on THE wellness superyacht is sure to do wonders for anyone facing health issues or looking to escape the stuffiness of a city. So, as the elite are experiencing the peak of exercise and a sea of green juices mid-heatwave, it becomes clear that they are truly out of touch.
Whilst the yacht operates a diesel-electric system (favourable to the diesel-only polluting giants), the impact on the environment is far from neutral.
With temperatures reaching the high thirties, the UK has faced the hottest summer yet. Thanks to this, a plethora of health issues are sprouting around the country. One example being that many people who have periods reported experiencing two in June. Others missed theirs entirely. Whilst many may have brushed this off as an irregular cycle, the impacts of extreme heat on menstrual cycles are very real.
When our bodies cannot maintain the core temperature of 37C it is expected that things will start to go wrong. When on your period, your body temperature can increase by 0.3 °C- 0.7 °C. Considering that women operate at a higher body temperature, according to this study in 2025, as a result of a higher body fat percentage that acts as an insulating layer, it appears that they are facing greater consequences during periods of extreme heat.
Whilst the heat is busy messing up our body temperature, it also impacts our sleeping habits. Both of these are major factors in maintaining a regular menstrual cycle. Aside from lack of sleep, periods are expected to feel increasingly uncomfortable during a heat wave. This includes a spike in other symptoms such as fatigue, bloating, cramping, brain fog and hot flushes.
It is not just our menstrual cycles that are facing the brunt of this extreme heat.
According to the Met Office, more than 2,700 people are thought to have died from heat-related causes during the May and June heatwaves in England and Wales. In June levels rose to 37C, a new record for the UK.
In the same report, they quoted that we are now living with “dangerously hot summers” and that “we must urgently adapt to the reality of the climate we now have.” They make it clear that these are human-caused climate events.
In a letter published on 26th June, the Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, Toby Perkins MP, labelled the current overheating as a “silent killer”.
With the heatwave impacting everyone across the country, no longer just the vulnerable, it seems bizarre for anyone to remain silent about the devastating impact of climate change.
Whilst the NHS and other health sites recommend instructions for staying cool in the heat, there needs to be wider action to limit the impact of climate change.
150 new super-yachts are launched every year. Oxfam released a study on 23 super-yachts and found that it would take a human 860 years to total the same emissions as these yachts do in just one year.
So whilst your favourite influencer may flounce about in Alo gear and recommend you a new workout routine, their impact is far more damaging than promoting an activewear brand. Though, often, perspective is lost when sat atop a giant, luxurious climate disaster.