Is climate change bad for your health?: Sabeehah Vawda

“Sjoe! This has got to be the hottest summer I have ever experienced, and mind you, I have been living here since I was born. I’m telling you – this climate change is bad.” 

We all have conversations about the weather, primarily because a discussion on the weather is the perfect conversation starter and what better way is there to fill-up that awkward conversation gap, right? As mundane as the weather may seem, everyone experiences it on a daily basis, and so a weather discussion can result in quite lively exchanges. Nowadays, the term climate change is sure to pop up in casual weather conversation, almost proportionally to the level of discomfort experienced, and is generally used as the concluding point. One that no one can argue with. The grand finale to the weather discussion. The ultimate explanation for subjective weather ratings.

In reality, while the term climate change has become quite popular in casual conversations, the print media and social media, very few individuals actually understand the tremendous, multidimensional impact of climate change. Climate change is about more than the weather. For example, has it ever occurred to you that climate change may have a huge impact on one’s health? Possibly not; you may have had to think a bit about that one. So how does climate change affect your health?

Extremes of temperatures are obviously not good, and with climate change causing an increase in the average global temperatures, it’s definitely going to become much warmer. Prolonged exposure to hot conditions can result in many heat-related illnesses ranging from sunburn to heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and the more sinister, sun stroke. While these may occur to literally anyone, the very young, the very old, individuals with underlying medical conditions, those with weakened immune systems, and those lacking proper clothing and/or housing, are particularly at risk. Higher temperatures also result in an increase in air pollutants and pollen, which could trigger asthma and worsen other cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Believe it or not, but temperature extremes can have effects on your mental health too, which in turn, may impact on your work and relationships.

It already sounds pretty dreary right? Unfortunately, there’s more. There are many indirect health effects of climate change as well. Weather-related natural disasters are on the rise. An increase in droughts will lead to instability in food production, hence hunger and famine. Increase in floods will lead to local devastation and disruption, with injuries and death, and affected individuals will be exposed to unclean water sources. This will lead to an escalation in infectious water-borne diseases. The recent cholera outbreak in Mozambique, following Cyclone Idai, is just one, close-to-home example.

Insect and snail populations are also sensitive to climate change. Increasing temperatures would mean a wider distribution of these vector-borne diseases and possibly an escalation in the number of people infected.  

So yes, climate change will definitely impact on health. According to the World Health Organisation, climate change will result in approximately 250 000 additional deaths per year, between 2030 and 2050. These would be as a result of heat stress, malaria, diarrhoea, and malnutrition.

So the next time you are having one of those infamous weather conversations, don’t forget about all the serious health effects of climate change. Try to steer the conversation to ways that we as individuals can impact climate change – waste less food, switch to a more plant-rich diet, make our homes more energy-efficient and commuting on public transport or carpooling, are just some examples. The collective effort of seemingly insignificant changes can make an impact. Let’s do our part to hinder the stride towards climate change.

References

World (2018). Climate change and health. [online] Who.int. Available at: https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-and-health  [Accessed 3 Apr. 2019].

‌ Myers, J., Young, T., Galloway, M., Manyike, P. & Tucker, T. 2019. South African Medical Journal , Vol 101 , No 11 A public health approach to the impact of climate change on health in southern Africa – identifying priority modifiable risks Climate-related health risks. 101(11):1–10.

About the author

Sabeehah is a medical doctor who has specialised in medical virology. She is originally from KwaZulu Natal but currently live and work in Bloemfontein. She is involved in lecturing both undergraduate and postgraduate students, so ‘science communication’ is something she is always involved in. She loves travelling and experiencing new cultures.

BACK