Thirty five years ago our mattress covers, mattress pads, and other bedding were not made of synthetics. Neither were our carpets, rugs, and upholstered furnishings. So I would say that people are being poisoned in their own living quarters in the excessive heat. In addition, during the excruciating heat waves of 35 years ago, the air was clean. Today, during heat waves, the air is extremely polluted with smog, ozone, and other toxic chemicals.
People express feeling like they are strangling.
They might be right. These pollution particles not only are more concentrated in hot weather due to still air and temperature inversions trapping them, but also the molecules themselves are more active. Thirty-five years ago, people would suffer from heat prostration, fatigue, or shock, and the remedy used to be straight forward. Give them salt. I know I had heat exhaustion and cramps myself, and salt tablets would restore me to health at once.