Relevance of Climate Change in Public Health

Climate change threatens human health and well-being in many ways.The environmental consequences of climate change are happening now and are expected to increase in the future. Some of these changes will likely include:

• heat waves,
• heavy precipitation events and flooding,
• droughts,
• more intense hurricanes and storms,
• sea level rise, and
• air pollution.

Climate change, together with other natural and human-made health stressors, influences human health and disease in numerous ways. Some existing health threats will intensify and new health threats will emerge. Not everyone is equally at risk. Important considerations include age, economic resources, and location. Extreme changes in the weather and environment can increase existing health problems, as well as creating new ones.Extremes in weather and temperature, increased pollution and environmental toxins, and changes in food security can all cause physical and mental health problems.Damage to infrastructure can also cause long-term setbacks to health and well-being.

Climate change is affecting some of the essential factors that influence human health, including:

• safety of shelter
• air quality
• quality, safety, and supply of drinking water
• food availability
• nutrition levels in food

Prolonged exposure to extreme heat can cause:

• Heat stroke
• Heat exhaustion
• Muscle cramps
• worsening of existing conditions, such as respiratory and heart conditions
• death

Severe flooding can be very dangerous.While the immediate dangers of flooding include drowning and injury from damaged buildings, Increase in respiratory diseases from living in damp environment,displacement and homelessness, which can affect physical and mental health.Climate change can also contribute to migration, that can lead rural populations to move into urban centers. Living in urban areas can increase the risk of disease due to overcrowding and higher temperatures.Climate change is likely to cause an increase in insect-transmitted infections and waterborne diseases. Rising temperatures can cause a wide range of severe health problems.Recently much attention has been paid to the physical impacts of climate change, including extreme heat events, droughts, extreme storms, and rising sea levels. However, much less attention has been paid to the psychological impacts caused due to climate change, includes anxiety, stress, and depression; increases in violence and aggression; and loss of community identity.

Children and older adults are most at risk from health issues relating to climate change, as are people in less economically developed areas.Addressing climate change is vital to help limit these effects and health risks.

CITATION:

1. //www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/changingclimate/index.html

2. //pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28333743/

3. //www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/climate-change-and-health