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Climate change and your health
On some days, you look out the window to check the skies for
rain or snow. You stretch an arm out an open window to gauge
the temperature or turn on the local news to find out the
day's high. Day to day, the weather may decide your wardrobe
or your route to work. Season to season, you may notice
fluctuations from colds and flu to allergies and sunburns.
But what about the climate and the overall quality of the
weather over time? Can climate change impact your health?
Climate change in a nutshell
People use a lot of energy, and most of the energy we've
used over the last century has been created through the
burning of non-renewable fossil fuels. The fossil fuels we
use - including the gas in our cars and the coal that still
heats some homes - release carbon dioxide (CO2) into the
atmosphere.
CO2 is also produced naturally by the environment and is an
essential part of many natural processes, such as plant
photosynthesis. CO2 is naturally regulated to keep the
amount of it in balance between the atmosphere and the land
and the ocean.
However, this CO2 and other greenhouse gases appear to be
accumulating and trapping the sun's heat and radiation in
the atmosphere. This increase of CO2 in the atmosphere is
caused by the change in our climate: air and water
temperatures have risen and weather patterns have begun to
shift. Basically, we have managed to change the world's
climate.
How climate change may affect your health
In the years to come, our world's climate will become warmer
and more unpredictable. Climate change and global warming
have been acknowledged by the World Health Organization
(WHO) as a threat to human health, especially to those
living in the poorest regions of the world.
The heat is on. Climate changes may bring about more
frequent heat waves and the health problems that accompany
extreme heat: heat stroke, dehydration, respiratory
problems, and cardiovascular distress. With hot, dry
conditions, some areas of the world may see more droughts
and depleted crops, which would contribute to hunger and
malnutrition. In urban areas, extreme heat can worsen smog
and pollution. Unpredictable shifts in temperature can take
people by surprise. The very young, the very old, and the
very frail, tend to be most negatively impacted by heat
waves.
Rain and its runoff. Inconsistent patterns of rain could
result in more frequent catastrophic hurricanes and
flooding. Floodwaters can compromise water safety and become
breeding grounds and transporters for any number of
waterborne illnesses. Floodwaters contaminated with human or
animal waste can trigger diarrhea outbreaks due to bacteria,
as with cholera, E. coli, and typhoid, or from viruses like
hepatitis A.
Bugs spreading bugs. Insects and other animals act as
vectors (carriers) of infectious diseases that can be
transmitted to people. As the climate grows warmer,
mosquitoes, ticks, and other disease vectors spread into new
territories and live for longer periods of time than they
normally would. With longer lives and wider reach, these
vectors have new and more numerous opportunities to transmit
infections like malaria, Lyme disease, or dengue fever.
Pollen and other allergens. Climate shifts could also shift
the growth patterns of certain plants. This becomes
troublesome when those plants are irritants or allergens.
Scientists have noted proliferations of stronger, more
abundant poison ivy, ragweed, and earlier onset of pollen
season.
The climate has changed. Have you?
The climate is the context in which we live, and it's
impossible to escape it. It also feels like the kind of
thing over which you have little control. While you can't
cool a heat wave or pacify a surging hurricane, you can
begin to turn the climate tide through your own individual
actions.
Be a proactive weather watcher. You can tune in to the
weather report for a forecast of the temperature and overall
conditions. Will it rain? Do I need a jacket? Warnings and
bulletins alert people of pending extreme weather events,
like tornadoes, tsunamis, or floods. Additional forecasts
and advisories can warn you of various day-to-day
fluctuations in atmospheric conditions.
Keep an eye on the barometric pressure and wind velocity, as
factors like these can impact your health. Many news
forecasts will issue UV warnings to rate the strength of the
sun's ultraviolet radiation on a given day. Pollen levels
and air quality indexes warn of days with high smog,
pollution, or allergen levels. On days with higher warning
levels, you would know to take extra precautions to protect
your health. Some of these include:
* wearing sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses to protect your
skin from UV radiation
* staying indoors during days of high smog, especially if
you have medical conditions that can be affected by poor air
quality (e.g., asthma)
* drinking lots of water during extreme heat warnings to
prevent dehydration
Help those who need it. Those who have limited resources to
adapt to climate changes and extreme weather shifts can fall
victim to the elements. During extreme weather shifts,
remember those in your area who may need extra support: the
elderly, the homeless, or the economically challenged. Act
on the behalf of their health and safety by making material
or financial donations to help provide fans or air
conditioning and cooling units during a heat wave, blankets
or coats during an intense cold snap, or shelter after a
catastrophic storm.
Think globally, act locally. As you move through your days
and make choices, the wider world should stay in your
thoughts. Even if you live in a big city and work all day in
an office, you are part of the natural world. The small
decisions you make each day impact everyone else, albeit in
gradual, cumulative ways:
* carry reusable shopping bags instead of plastic bags
* take public transit, carpool, walk, or ride a bike instead
of driving your car
* invest in a safe, reusable water bottle instead of buying
single-serving plastic water bottles
* turn off lights when you don't need them - switch to more
efficient appliances, and shut them down when not in use
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