Climate change and its effect on Health

It seems like everyone in Halifax is coming down with something lately. Colds, allergies, and strange illnesses are abundant. While it might seem like a seasonal issue, some experts say climate change could be playing a part in why we are experiencing more illness.

Climate change doesn't only affect the environment, but it is also having major impacts on human health. Warmer temperatures and altering weather conditions are leading to new health risks in the making. For example, warmer temperatures dry up the air, consequently leading to more respiratory complications, most especially for asthma patients. Heatwaves increase the risk of dehydration and other heat-related illnesses.

Another huge concern with climate change is air quality. With high temperatures and pollution, allergy seasons are becoming longer and with higher counts of pollen. This could worsen allergies and even trigger asthma attacks; thus, people will not be able to breathe as easily.

Climate change changes how the spread of disease is constructed. Warmer weather allows mosquitoes and ticks to survive in more places, which raises the rates of diseases such as Lyme disease and West Nile virus. As these bugs move into new regions, people who may never have had to deal with such illnesses are now at risk.

As the climate continues to warm, extreme environmental issues such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires will be more frequent, thus leaving individuals without clean water, shelter, or proper health care. Events of this nature will lead to anxiety and depression among those who are directly affected by such occurrences or even those who bear witness to these events.

While it is often thought of as an issue of the future, climate change is already having health consequences. By understanding this connection between our health and the environment we are in, we can hopefully make conscious choices that reduce our impact on the environment and help create a healthier future for all.

Works Cited

“Climate change.” World Health Organization (WHO), 12 November 2023, https://www.who.int/health- topics/climate-change#tab=tab_1. Accessed 12 November 2024.

“Climate change and health.” Canada.ca, 18 July 2024, https://www.canada.ca/en/health- canada/services/climate-change-health.html. Accessed 12 November 2024.

“Mental Health – C-CHANGE | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.” Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/c-change/subtopics/climate-change-and-mental- health/. Accessed 12 November 2024.