By Oluchi Omai
Climate change is the biggest problem facing the world today. As the Earth heats up, people have more health problems. It is due to fluctuations in weather patterns, air pollution, and heat waves that directly affect the human body. Researchers and doctors all over the globe have been recording increasing numbers of cases of climate change diseases. From heat strokes to breathing issues, from hunger to mental stress, climate change is ill-making people. This article delves into how fast climate change is increasing health issues and how to lower the risks.
Heat-Related Illnesses
With the warming of the planet, severe heat waves strike most places. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that heatwaves have led to thousands of deaths worldwide. Over 70,000 people were killed in Europe during a 2003 heatwave. People with pre-existing medical conditions, children, and the elderly are the most at risk.
High temperatures cause heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Heat exhaustion makes people dizzy, weak, and dehydrated. If not treated, it may lead to heatstroke, a more serious condition where the body cannot control its temperature. This damages the brain, heart, and other organs, leading to death in extreme cases.
Air Pollution and Respiratory Diseases
Air pollution worsens because of climate change. Factories, cars, and the combustion of fossil fuels produce harmful gases in the air. This leads to more asthma, pneumonia, and other respiratory illnesses.
Research by the American Lung Association shows that people living in areas with high air pollution are prone to developing lung diseases. Wildfires, which have increased in frequency due to global warming, also release much smoke into the air. California wildfires in 2020 led to serious health complications for millions of people. The majority of them were admitted to hospitals with respiratory complications, and some lost their lives as a result of smoke inhalation.
Waterborne Diseases
Rising temperatures also affect water sources. Floods, hurricanes, and excessive rain contaminate drinking water, inducing diseases like cholera and typhoid. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an alert that severe weather events increase the incidence of waterborne disease.
For example, after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, many people in New Orleans got sick after eating contaminated water. Similar outbreaks have happened elsewhere in Africa and Asia, where floods have spread bacteria and viruses in water supplies. Without clean drinking water, millions of people, especially children, are at risk of life-threatening infections.
Vector-Borne Diseases
Climate change also affects insects that transmit diseases. Mosquitoes that spread diseases like malaria and dengue fever prefer warmth. With rising temperatures, mosquitoes are entering new areas where they previously would not live.
It has been reported that the incidence of malaria has increased in Africa's highlands where, previously, the climate was too cold to support the life of mosquitoes. Over 229 million cases of malaria were reported in 2019 worldwide, and Africa contributes the highest number of deaths. Dengue fever, another mosquito-borne illness, has increased due to an increase in temperature, and there have been outbreaks in South America and Southeast Asia.
Malnutrition and Food Insecurity
Climate change affects agriculture. Flooding, drought, and natural disasters destroy crops, and food becomes scarce and expensive. Malnutrition, especially in children and pregnant women, is a result of this.
Over 800 million people worldwide went hungry in 2021, and climate change was one of the main reasons. When people go hungry, they don't get the nutrients that they need to stay healthy. Malnutrition lowers the immune system of the body, and as a result, people are vulnerable to disease.
Mental Health Issues
Climate change has both physical and mental health impacts. Hurricanes, wildfires, and floods due to climate-related disasters lead to stress, anxiety, and depression. The destruction of homes, loved ones, and livelihoods due to climate-related disasters leads to emotional trauma.
Studies by the American Psychological Association (APA) show that the majority of survivors of climate-related disasters suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, leaving some people homeless. Decades later after the occurrence of the disaster, survivors still develop anxiety and depression.
Effects on the Economy and Healthcare Systems
Wealth is also affected by climate-related health issues. Climate change diseases are costly to treat. Healthcare services cost billions of dollars to the government, and people cannot afford their medical bills.
Research conducted by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) shows that global warming will be more than $2 trillion in costs to the world's economy by the year 2050 in terms of health effects. The most affected are the poor countries because they cannot treat and prevent climate sickness.
Healthcare systems cannot also cope with increased cases of climate disease. Hospitals are overcrowded during heatwaves, epidemics, and natural disasters. In some cases, medical resources are exhausted, and treatment becomes impossible.
What Can Be Done?
Despite the challenges, some measures can be taken to reduce the health impact of climate change. Governments, organizations, and individuals must move.
Reducing Pollution – Countries need to reduce air pollution by using cleaner energy sources like wind and solar power. Car industries need to produce electric vehicles to reduce harmful emissions.
Investment in Healthcare – There need to be more hospitals and clinics to treat the diseases caused by the climate. Governments also need to provide healthcare services for free or at low costs to the affected population.
Improving Water and Food Security – All individuals ought to be offered clean water to drink, especially in drought- and flood-susceptible regions. The farmers ought to be supported by technology and inputs to cultivate crops despite unfavourable weather.
Enhancing Awareness – People need to be made aware of climate change and how it affects health. Schools, the media, and leaders need to give out information regarding measures for safety.
Disaster Preparedness – Nations ought to have robust disaster response plans in case of weather disasters. This entails constructing better homes, enhanced drainage systems, and shelters for those displaced due to disasters.
Climate change is not just about the weather; it's a seriously serious health issue that's affecting millions of people worldwide. Heat illnesses, respiratory diseases, malnutrition, and mental diseases are all results of the impact of climate change on human health. Reducing pollution, promoting healthcare, and preparing for disasters must be done collectively by governments, organizations, and individuals. We can protect the health of future generations by taking action now against the dangerous health impacts of climate change.
We all have our roles to play, and every small alteration makes a difference in creating a healthier and improved world.
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