Earth Day 2022: Impact of climate change on human health

Highlights

April 22 is celebrated as Earth Day and this day aims at spreading awareness about the importance of preserving the planet so it can thrive. The earth sustains life and it is our responsibility to ensure that we take care of it. Inability to do so will result in deteriorated health and well being of humans. Environmental factors can have a significant impact on health and the increase in human-induced climate change has led to a dramatic increase in climate led health complications.

Here are some ways in which climate change can impact your health:

1. Environmental degradation and malnutrition: Instances of environmental degradation can affect living conditions, food production practices, water availability, etc. This can lead to deteriorated health due to dehydration, malnutrition, forced migration, and other issues.
2. Extreme weather conditions and health issues: A drastic change in the weather conditions such as extreme hot or cold temperatures can impact health both physically and mentally. Some common health issues may include heat strokes, dehydration, hypothermia, frostbites, cardiovascular problems, etc.
3. Increase in air pollution and respiratory diseases: Increase in air pollutants and particulate matter can lead to several respiratory issues such as chronic bronchitis, asthma, emphysema, etc. Furthermore, it can also lead to allergies and multiple skin conditions such as hives, premature ageing, skin cancer, etc.
4. Decrease in water quality and water-borne diseases: Water pollution can have drastic long and short term impacts on health. Some water bore diseases can humans can be subjected to due to a decrease in water quality are cholera, cryptosporidiosis, leptospirosis, etc.
5. Altered vector ecology and increased vector-borne diseases: Dramatic changes in the temperature and rise in sea levels have led to an altered vector ecology. This can cause an increase in vector-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria, hantavirus, Lyme disease, rift valley fever, etc. The existence of rift valley fever in human cells was recently reported.

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.