Climate change is a big deal for a number of reasons, and one of the biggest is its impact on human health. Warming temperatures, wildfires, rising sea levels and droughts all cause or exacerbate debilitating health conditions that threaten not only at-risk sectors of society but also you and me. The health risks certainly are greater among vulnerable groups of people, such as the elderly, infants, the poor and the ill, but as temperatures continue to climb, increasing numbers of the general population are at risk as well. The most serious health threats we face include the following.
1. Vector-borne Disease
Vectors are parasites like rats, fleas, mosquitoes and ticks. They carry pathogens from one host to the next, leaving behind viruses, bacteria, or protozoa that cause illness. Heat and moisture provide ideal breeding conditions for many vectors, and warmer temperatures support the wider distribution of the pathogens and their carriers.
Changes in climate and water supply bring unfamiliar diseases to population sectors that are not prepared to deal with them. In 2015, researchers discovered that a species of mosquito that spreads Nile and Zika viruses is surviving the winters as far north as Washington, D.C. This species used to die out each year when the mercury went down, according to an article in Atlantic Monthly. Researchers believe this is due to rising temperatures accurate mobile phone number list worldwide that are broadening the habitats of pathogens and vectors, putting more people at risk daily.
2. Respiratory Disease
Climate change affects the air we check that the name you have breathe. Although heightened C02 levels from greenhouse gas emissions promote plant growth, many plants and trees emit seasonal pollen. People allergic to pollen are likely to suffer as more plants produce more allergens. A higher concentration of pollen in the air increases people’s risk for asthma and other serious respiratory diseases.
Millions of people die from respiratory illness resulting from air pollution, according to the World Health Organization. Many sources of greenhouse gases are also the major sources of air pollution, such as coal-fired energy plants, industrial manufacturing and transportation. Pollution can worsen the condition of those with existing respiratory disease, making it difficult for them to get the oxygen they need to survive. In recent years, raging wildfires in dried-out terrain create clouds of smoke that affect people’s breathing for miles around.
3. Temperature-related Death
Extreme heat is just as punishing to the human body as extreme cold, and warmer temperatures directly impact the health of those who live in hot spots. When overheated, the body’s natural cooling mechanisms, like perspiration, cannot regulate internal temperature efficiently, especially if humidity is high. As a result, people become dehydrated, suffer from heat exhaustion, and in severe cases, succumb to heat stroke.
A prolonged heat wave with little respite agb directory from hot temperatures at night can impact the organs and other systems in the body. Preliminary findings suggest that the kidneys in particular sustain damage, according to Scientific American. In addition, some medications react negatively to hot weather. Vulnerable populations whose natural defenses are weak suffer the most from these temperature extremes.
4. Injuries From Extreme Events
Catastrophic events tied to global warming put large numbers of people at risk for injury and death. Fires, floods and rising sea levels pose significant dangers and create long-term risks. For example, flooding causes changes in terrain that pose challenges for pedestrians and cyclists. Floodwaters weaken structures over the long-term as rot sets in, and rising sea levels compromise seaside homes and businesses, increasing the danger of injury for inhabitants. Cleanup crews in the aftermath of wildfires are at risk of being burned and suffering from smoke inhalation.
