Whether or not you are a believer, climate change is a reality. Soon, so too will be the countless lives lost if we don’t make individual and systemic changes now. Often perceived primarily as an environmental concern, climate change also poses serious health risks that can affect us in ways that we may not fully realize yet. Here are five ways rising global temperatures can impact our safety and well-being:
1. Infectious Diseases
By the end of the 21st century, the average global temperature will go up by at least 3.6°F. Public health officials warn that high temperatures worldwide can allow mosquito breeding sites to flourish and expand. This means faster rates of spreading for infectious diseases like malaria which causes millions of deaths annually and Zika which has been linked to thousands of babies born with microcephaly, a condition marked by an abnormal smallness of the head.
Other potentially deadly infections that can spread with warmer temperatures and increased rainfall include water-borne diseases such as dengue fever and cholera.
2. Heat strokes
In the summer of 2015, more than 800 people died due to heat strokes in Pakistan where temperatures rose to a record high of 113°F. Here in the United States, heat strokes are a leading cause of death and disability among teen athletes. Characterized by the overheating of vital organs and extreme dehydration, heat strokes can also cause permanent brain damage.
Climate data from 1979 to 2012 show that heat waves have been spiking up globally. The most susceptible are usually those from impoverished communities, where people have little access to air conditioning and quality water.
3. Respiratory problems
Have your allergies or asthma been flaring up more than usual lately? You are not alone. Over the past several decades, asthma diagnoses have risen in the United States. Between 2001 and 2009, asthma cases increased by 4.3 million, according to CDC data. The culprit? Many public health experts say climate change.
Scientists posit that because of mercurial patterns in weather, plants release pollen earlier in the year, in larger amounts, and over longer periods of time. Asthma attacks and allergies are triggered more easily as a result and related symptoms like congestion, headaches, and sneezing become aggravated.
4. Heart disease
Those who suffer from cardiac problems are also at-risk. In a 2015 study published in Cardiology, researchers discovered that “increased climate change-related heat exposure is associated with an increase in cardiac events.” Among the most vulnerable are elderly populations with pre-existing cardiac conditions. Conversely, spells of extreme cold weather can exacerbate heart ailments, as they can expose those with heart problems to blood clots which can lead to ischemic strokes.
5. Mental health
In addition to the impact of climate change on physical health, extreme weather conditions lead to natural disasters that can give rise to traumatic experiences. As a 2015 research study noted, witnesses of hurricane floods, wildfires, tornadoes, and other deadly natural disasters can often suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety.
Inconspicuous to many, the implications of rising global temperatures on our mental and physical health are oftentimes neglected in the national discourse on climate change. But more and more, scientists are making the case for prioritizing these discussions. Hopefully in the very near future, we will see world leaders framing climate change not only as an environmental and political issue but also as a matter of physical and mental health. When viewed from a public health lens, perhaps we can take climate change more seriously.
After all, our lives can only be as healthy as the planet we live in.
Before You Go
