Climate change is a change in a average conditions such as temperature and rain fall in a region over a long period of time. It is a big problem for the public health worldwide. High temperatures, extreme weather, and polluted air can harm people’s health in many ways. Climate change presents a fundamental threat to human health.
It also makes health problems worse for poorer communities, widening the gap between rich and poor. Furthermore, it increasing the risk of extreme heat events and heavy storms. They can also indirectly impact health.
Climate change can cause new diseases, like how COVID-19 spread.
Furthermore, hearing constant bad news about climate change is affecting mental health, especially among young people. Many people feel depress and hopeless about the future.
Physical Health Impacts of climate change
Climate change directly affects our health through high temperatures, pollution, and extreme weather.
A recent study in BMC Public Health showed that climate change has a big impact on public health. It can spread diseases and make air pollution worse, leading to serious health problems.
Heat-Related Illness due to climate change
Hotter temperatures and more heat waves can cause illnesses like heat stroke, exhaustion, cramps, and rashes. These can be serious or even life-threatening. Changing climate conditions are altering burdens of diseases. Climate change can disrupt access to health care services.
Infants, young children, older adults, outdoor workers, and people with health problems are most at risk. However, extreme heat can affect anyone by making it hard for the body to stay cool.
As climate change gets worse, more people will end up in the hospital or even die because of extreme heat.
Poor Air Quality due to climate change
Climate change makes air quality worse by increasing smog, pollen, and wildfire smoke. This can cause serious health problems like asthma attacks, lung disease, heart attacks, strokes, and even early death.
Air pollution affects poor and marginalized communities the most because they often live near polluted areas. Children are especially vulnerable to dirty air. Air pollution is also increased respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
The World Health Organization reports that air pollution, both indoors and outdoors, is linked to 6.7 million pre mature deaths every year.
Injuries and Deaths from Extreme Weather
Climate change makes extreme weather like hurricanes, floods, and wildfires more dangerous. These disasters can cause drowning, injuries, burns, breathing problems from smoke, and force people to leave their homes. They can also damage hospitals and clinics, making it harder for people to get medical help.
Scientists agree that climate change is making extreme weather happen more often and with greater force, putting more lives at risk. Climate change worsens air quality too much.
Infectious Diseases
Climate change is changing how and where diseases spread. Warmer temperatures help mosquitoes, ticks, and other insects that carry diseases survive in new areas.
Changes in rainfall can spread diseases through water. Extreme weather and damaged ecosystems can cause outbreaks, especially when people are forced to move.
Because of climate change, diseases like Lyme, West Nile, and Zika are now found in more places. If the world keeps getting warmer, diseases like malaria, dengue fever, and chikungunya could become even more common.
Food and Water Shortages
Climate change makes it harder to grow food, raise animals, and find clean water. It causes problems like droughts, floods, and unusual weather, which make farming and water supply less reliable. This means many people may not have enough healthy food or safe water to drink.
Poorer communities suffer the most because they already struggle with hunger and lack of clean water. Not having enough food and water can make people sick and even affect their mental health.
More Stress, Anger, and Violence
Hot weather, dirty air, and disasters can make people more stressed and angry. Studies show that violent crimes and suicide rates go up when temperatures rise.
Losing homes, running out of resources, and being forced to move can also cause stress and emotional problems. These challenges can make people feel more frustrated and upset, leading to more conflicts and violence.
Trauma and PTSD
Weather disasters like fires, floods, and heat waves can be very traumatic for the people. People may lose their homes, loved ones, and sense of safety after that. These experiences can cause deep emotional pain and mental health problems for the rest of life.
Children are especially affected, and the stress from these events can stay with them for a long time
Loss of Home, Identity, and Culture
Many Indigenous and local communities have a strong connection to their land. Climate change threatens their homes, traditions, and way of life. Losing these things affects their identity, culture, and future generation.