Some say that climate change does not affect them directly. Some also believe that even generations to come will not be affected by climate change either. Not only is climate change real, it is affecting people as we speak. The truth is, climate change is here and now, and it is possibly strengthening common illnesses.
Today, illnesses ranging from allergies to heart disease to cancers are becoming much worse, and our future is the most at risk, literally. Other than the elderly, pregnant women and children are the most susceptible to health risks caused by increased global temperatures. Researchers, doctors, and patients across all fields are beginning to notice the severity, and at this moment in time, this is only the beginning.
A pediatric hospitalist, Aaron Bernstein says, "There's research suggesting that our prescription medications may be causing harm because of changing heat patterns." Bernstein is Harvard University's co-director of the Center for Climate, Health and the Global Environment.
"There's evidence that extreme weather events are affecting critical medical supplies so we can't do things as we normally would do because IV fluids aren't available."
"And there's evidence that extreme weather events are knocking out power more and more, and that is a huge issue for providing care in healthcare facilities."
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that cancer patients were more likely to die when instances of natural disasters interrupted their radiation treatments.
An article in the New England Journal of Medicine gives an in-depth look at various medical conditions and just how climate change is potentially affecting care and prevention.
A teacher of emergency medicine at Harvard, Renee Salas said, "The climate crisis is impacting not only health for our patients but the way we deliver care and our ability to do our jobs. And that's happening today." Salas is a co-author of the report.
As the planet continues to warm, simple illnesses are becoming more and more common.
Due to global warming, minor illnesses such as allergies will see a rise not only in cases, but also in severity. Not to mention, "seasonal" allergies are no longer as seasonal as before.
Neelu Tummala, an ear, nose and throat specialist says, "It used to be that tree pollens were only in spring, grasses were just in summer, ragweed was just in fall, but the timing of those is starting to overlap more."
The changing climate is also having an affect on unborn babies. Bruce Bekkar, a San Diego-based obstetrician gynecologist had this to say: "We're finding that we have increasing numbers of children born already in a weakened state from heat and air pollution. That's a totally different story than thinking about climate change as the cause of hurricanes over Florida ... It's a much more pervasive and ongoing impact."
Nearly every illness, common, rare, severe, mild, or even just temporary are likely to be affected by climate change and global warming. But the threat doesn't stop there. The rise in temperatures can also lead to traumatic experiences, as natural disasters are known to cause the loss of property, personal stability, family roots and many other cherished facets of life.
High temperatures are also directly linked to instances of violent behavior or intense aggression and has been connected to mass violence and forced migration the world over.
