Posted by Climate change disasters is one of the topics that has been ignored by the world for years and still is, but today as we are at its peak it’s necessary to be aware of what’s coming. Every year, the earth’s temperature is increasing, ice is melting, sea levels are increasing, pollution is increasing, and fires in the forest are burning the natural oxygen of the earth.
As per the reports climateactiontracker.org, “climate change is projected to cause 300,000-600,000 deaths annually by 2050 from air pollution, heat stress, and malnutrition.”
Moreover, it is impacting human health in several ways, also making it harder for humanity to survive in the 21st century with deadly diseases.
In addition, it can also create a condition where new diseases are born due to changes in climate, temperature, pollution, and many other factors.
As a result, taking necessary action to mitigate climate change risk is important for humanity and every other living creature on earth.
In this blog we are going to discuss the impact of climate change on health and also how we can protect ourselves from the health effects of climate change…
So let’s get started with the direct and indirect effects of climate change.
Impact of climate change on health:
Climate change is already impacting health in different ways. People with existing health conditions are directly affected by climate change. Moreover, It can be described by the direct impact of climate change on health and the indirect impact of climate change on health.
Let us take a deep dive into each aspect and unravel the unknown truths of the impact of climate change on health…
Direct Impacts of Climate Change on Health
Due to the direct impact of climate on health, death and illness are spreading frequently with the increase in extreme weather conditions, temperature, air pollution, and food insecurity. Let’s understand every aspect of it deeply…
How do extreme weather events affect human health?
Every year, the temperature increases at the surface level. In addition, extreme temperature impacts directly the body’s ability to maintain the internal temperature, because the loss in the internal temperature of the body can result in illnesses such as heat cramps, and heat exhaustion, and it majorly happens due to heat waves.
According to the World Health Organization, “Over 166,000 people lost their lives as a result of heatwaves from 1998 to 2017.”
In addition, extreme heat waves can cause heat stress conditions such as heatstroke. Heatstroke occurs when your body is unable to control its internal temperature which is a critical situation for your health.
How does Air Pollution Affect Human Health?
Air pollution can cause both short-term and long-term chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, lung infection, and hair fall issues. Furthermore, hair fall due to air pollution is one of the common problems nowadays where men and women are witnessing heavy hair fall in the very early stages.
However, air pollution can enter our bloodstream through our breathing, causing or exacerbating a variety of respiratory and lung conditions that can result in hospital stays, cancer, or even early death. It can also induce coughing and itchy eyes.
How do waterborne diseases affect the body?
Water pollution is one of the major reasons why waterborne diseases are affecting health. Deadly diseases are taking place due to water pollution such as typhoid and cholera.
However, skin infection, diarrhea, and eye diseases such as Trachoma are leading to harmful health effects due to unclean water and purification. Even though the water that we use in our home has chlorine included in some or in other ways which is not good for our health.
In addition, more presence of chlorine in water can irritate the stomach and throat in addition to causing nausea and vomiting.
How does Food insecurity affect health?
Due to lack of access to nutritional food can lead to various chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases, mental health, food infection, digestive infection, and so on.
it is affecting food production as well as food infection which is directly or indirectly affecting human health. Today, various food mixtures such as artificial sugar and other ingredients used in food are causing health-related issues.
Moreover, the agriculture sector witnesses millions of crop damage due to sudden changes in climate every year, and that eventually results in food insecurity and health-related issues.
For instance, air pollution bacteria are present in the vegetables that we consume daily.
How do vector-borne diseases spread due to climate change?
Vector-borne diseases are infections that are transmitted from one living being to another through mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. For example, by blood feeding, it infects humans and other animals.
However, several factors make available the ideal environment or temperature for the growth of vector insects and the spread of related diseases.
For instance, heavy rainfall, and warmer summers due to climate change can make it easier for many animals, mosquitoes, and insects to spread the vector-borne disease from human to human.
Indirect Impacts of Climate Change on Health:
As we dig into the direct impact of climate change on health. We can’t ignore the indirect impact of climate change on health as well. Because those are the problems that are hidden yet necessary to address and take action on.
So let us understand what are the indirect impacts of climate change on our day-to-day lives and how can we protect ourselves from it…
How do weather changes affect mental health?
The sudden weather change has a huge impact on our mental health such as depression, mood swings, anxiety, and body temperature.
As per the report cbsnews.com, “almost 62% of respondents worldwide expressed concern over climate change and approximately 67% expressed a climate anxiety.”
However, It has been demonstrated that the effects of climate change on mental health occur at different times. There are significant differences in the phenomenology of the effects of climate change, certain mental diseases are more particular to abnormal conditions, while others are more prevalent.
How does the Economic burden increase due to climate change?
Due to climate disasters, public and private infrastructure has been damaged by uncertain events such as cyclones, extreme rainfall, and so on.
In addition, due to climate change, the number of tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean is increasing every year which is near the Gulf of Mexico. As a result, every year due to cyclones form and reach the USA in the hurricane season.
Furthermore, with destroyed brick-and-mortar stores, washed-out roads and bridges, and other economic activities including inventory loss and agricultural damage, hurricanes can permanently cripple the economies of the towns and cities they hit.
How to protect yourself from the health effects of climate change? : Step-by-step guide
- Monitor weather forecasts for extreme events.
- Check air quality and avoid outdoor activities during high pollution.
- Learn about specific climate risks in your area.
- Stay cool during heat waves with fluids, loose clothing, and shade.
- Protect yourself from the sun with SPF 30+ sunscreen and sun-protective clothing.
- Be mindful of allergens, especially if you have allergies or asthma.
- Maintain a healthy diet with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Stay active to improve overall health and cope with stress.
- Develop a disaster preparedness plan with essentials.
- Identify safe evacuation routes and shelters.
- Stay informed about local emergency procedures.
- Support policies addressing climate change.
- Reduce your carbon footprint with energy-efficient choices.
- Educate others about health risks and encourage action.
- Take extra steps to safeguard children, older adults, and those with chronic illnesses.
- Support programs addressing health needs in vulnerable communities.
- Build resilience through relaxation techniques.
- Connect with your community and support local climate initiatives.
What can governments do to address climate change and health?: Steps to mitigate climate change and effects of climate change on health
Governments can effectively mitigate climate change’s health impacts through strategic actions such as
- Set measurable targets in line with the Paris Agreement.
- Implement carbon pricing for emissions reduction.
- Invest in renewable energy sources like solar and wind.
- Improve energy efficiency in buildings and transportation.
- Promote sustainable land management and protect carbon-absorbing ecosystems.
- Regulate emissions from transportation, supporting electric vehicles.
- Conduct vulnerability assessments to identify at-risk communities.
- Develop region-specific adaptation plans addressing health risks.
- Invest in climate-resilient infrastructure and early warning systems.
- Support research on climate change impacts and interventions.
- Integrate climate change into health strategies.
- Train healthcare professionals on climate-related health risks.
- Expand healthcare access, prioritizing vulnerable populations.
- Invest in public health surveillance for informed interventions.
- Promote community engagement in climate initiatives.
- Foster international cooperation for global solutions.
- Promote public awareness of climate-related health risks.
- Hold businesses accountable with regulations for emission reduction.
- Provide financial assistance to developing countries for climate strategies.
Winding-up:
However, the future of health in a changing with time, calls for urgent action to address climate change and protect human health. Although, as humans, it’s our responsibility to protect our environment to keep a healthier and more sustainable future for our upcoming generation.