admin Climate change is a threat which we all are facing every single day and it is impacting us and all the lives around the globe greatly.
“Climate is no longer just a problem for polar bears,” states Surili Sutaria Patel who is a climate and health equity advocate and vice president at the Metropolitan Group which is a social change agency in Washington. DC. “It’s not a problem of the future. It’s harming our health and threatening our well-being as we know it today, and some communities are bearing the brunt of it.”
There are several health concerns which come with climate change which are extremely serious which includes heat-related illnesses or even infectious diseases. WHO (World Health Organisation) has estimated that between the years 2030 and 2050, climate change will cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year which can be due to health conditions like malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea and heat stress. They have also claimed that “climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity.”
Here are some ways through which climate change is affecting us :
- Heat Related Illnesses
As our globe’s temperature continues to rise, the heatwaves are getting more incessant and intensive. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can coerce to heat related illnesses like heat exhaustion or even heat stroke which can be serious.
A study which was published in Nature Climate Change in 2021 found that 37% of heat related deaths in summers were related to climate change and have predicted more deaths due to it on every continent.
These heat related illnesses affect the vulnerable population more, like the elderly, children and pregnant women. But even the individuals who are already suffering from health conditions are also more at risk due to the climate change and increased heat and should be aware and mitigate the risks. Heatwaves can aggravate respiratory and cardiovascular issues which is also causing a burden on the healthcare systems.
2. Issues Caused Due to Air Pollution
Air pollution can also cause a lot of health issues, especially respiratory conditions. Dr. Linda Rudolph who is an MD, MPH and director at the Center for Climate Change and Health at the Public Health Institute has confirmed that, “Warmer temperatures cause more ozone pollution, or smog, that causes damage to the airways and exacerbates asthma and chronic lung diseases like emphysema and bronchitis; ozone pollution may also cause asthma.” She also added, “Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires that release huge quantities of smoke that may spread over hundreds of miles. Wildfire smoke is laden with particulate matter, which causes premature death, aggravates asthma, increases the risk of heart attacks, and has been associated with premature birth and other adverse birth outcomes.”
3. Increase in Waterborne Diseases
It is more likely to spread waterborne diseases as there are changes in precipitation patterns and rising temperature which can change the distribution and abundance of waterborne pathogens. Waterborne diseases include cholera, typhoid fever as well as giardiasis. As the floods are getting more frequent and harsh due to climate change, they can contaminate water bodies which can lead to this.
4. Increase in Vector Borne Diseases
Climate change is predicted to expand the geographic range of vectors like mosquitoes, ticks and fleas which can result in the eventual transmission of vector-borne diseases like malaria, dengue and Lyme disease. This is because climate change is creating more favourable conditions for vector breeding and survival. Climate change can also alter the behavior and distribution of the wildlife hosts which is also another cause of the spread of vector-borne diseases.
5. Mental Health Conditions
When an individual lives through traumatic situations caused by climate change like wildfire, hurricanes, flooding, etc. it can be a huge part of causing mental illnesses. These extreme weather conditions and natural disasters can cause psychological distress, anxiety, depression, or even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“Climate change is not just about the environment; it’s a profound threat to our mental health. The anxiety, depression, and trauma it induces can be as devastating as any physical injury,” claimed Dr. Lise Van Susteren who is a psychiatrist and climate activist.
Wrapping up, climate change can have significant and austere risks to all lives all around our planet. They can be fatal and we need to reverse these changes promptly to avoid more disastrous conditions in the future. Everyone needs to take considerable actions together to reduce the greenhouse gas emission, improve air and water condition, and strengthen our mental health support systems so that we can mitigate the risks caused by climate change.
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