Climate Change

According to The Lancet and University College London Institute for Global Health Commission (Lancet): climate change is attributable to several health effects including cardiovascular diseases, diarrhea illnesses, vector-borne illnesses such as malaria, injuries obtained in extreme weather events, and malnutrition (2009). Additionally continual climate change is predicted to contribute to increasing disease rates and premature death (Lancet, 2009). Factors that contribute to such climate change include existing levels of heat, food stress, and exposure to disease vectors (Lancet, 2009).

One of the most obvious effects of rising temperatures is the rise in short-term mortality attributed to respiratory and cardiovascular causes (Lancet, 2009). Illnesses such as these can include heat-related stress, heat stroke, and respiratory illness (Lancet, 2009). As the temperatures increase more heat waves will be present to induce such illnesses (Lancet 2009). The symptoms of these illnesses can include fatigue, irritability, lethargy, impaired judgement, vigilance decrement, loss of dexterity, coordination and concentration which can lead to more severe injuries and accidents (Xiang, Bi, Pisaniello, and Hansen, 2013). The increased heat causes a longer pollen season which in turn increases allergic disorders such as hay fever and asthma (McMichael, Woodruff, and Hales, 2006). Mortality rates from such illnesses are expected to be seen more frequent in the aging population, and those with preexisting cardiovascular and respiratory problems (McMichael et al., 2006). Additionally those who engage in manual labor whether it is indoors or outdoors are also at increased risk for heat-related illnesses and injury (Xiang, et al., 2013). Short t...

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...rsity College London Institute for Global Health Commission. (2009). Managing the health effects of climate change. The Lancet Commissions, 373, 1659-1773.

McMichael, A. J., Woodruff, R. E., & Hales, S. (2006). Climate Change And Human Health: Present And Future Risks. The Lancet, 367(9513), 859-869.

Rosenthal, J. (2009). Climate Change and the Geographic Distribution of Infectious Diseases. EcoHealth, 6(4), 489-495.

St. Louis, M. E., & Hess, J. J. (2008). Climate Change Impacts on the Implications for Global Health. Global Health, 35(5), 527-538.

Tang, J. W. (2009). The effect of environmental parameters on the survival of airborne infectious agents. Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 6(6), S737-S746.

Xiang, J., Bi, P., Pisaniello, D., & Hansen, A. (2013). Health Impacts of Workplace Heat Exposures: An Epidemiological Review. Industrial Health, 52, 91-101.