Climate crisis damaging mental and physical health in 5 big ways :
Climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year because of undernutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress alone, says the World Health Organization. A recent World Economic Forum report – Quantifying the Impact of Climate Change on Human Health – finds that, by 2050, it will cause 14.5 million deaths and over two billion healthy life years lost.
Here are some of the emerging health risks as a result of the climate crisis.
1. Rising malnutrition and undernutrition :
Climate change and environmental degradation are affecting growing conditions and harvests for many crops, leading to food shortages and failed harvests.
The impact of malnutrition and hunger is greatest on babies and children. Approaching 150 million children under five around the world are stunted as a result of lack of nutrients.
2. More vector-borne diseases like malaria :
In recent years, tropical diseases like malaria and dengue have been found over a much wider field. Warmer climates are allowing disease-bearing mosquitos to thrive in new areas and live longer before colder winter snaps kill them off.
Standing water after flooding and heavy downpours exacerbates the problem, as well as contributing to a rise in diarrhoeal diseases. .
3. Worsening degenerative brain diseases :
Higher temperatures have also been linked to an increased incidence of neurological diseases including Alzheimer’s, dementia and motor neurone disease. Scientists believe that the warmer temperatures affect biological pathways in the brain and accelerate or cause disruption to crucial proteins.
4. Greater risk from non-communicable diseases :
Three-quarters of deaths globally each year are caused by non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes, says the WHO. The majority of these occur in low- and middle-income countries.
As well as directly contributing to these diseases – for example, heat waves or air pollution increasing the likelihood of strokes, heart attacks and cancer – there are also less direct impacts.
5. Damage to our mental health :
It is not just physical illnesses that climate change causes – increasing temperatures have been linked to aggression, depression, violent suicides, anxiety and stress. Hospitalizations for mental health disorders also increase with higher temperatures, studies show.
Extreme weather has an impact on the social and economic determinants of good mental health, as it can lead to homelessness, food and water insecurity and unemployment.
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Corporate Director at ssmc group of hospitals and clinics, inc.
4moSad and disheartening. That is why the world needs more enviro warriors like you. Many individuals and leaders are seemingly unaware or unwilling to face the true gravity of environmental degradation. Earth is a closed system. It is the only one we got. It should be everyone’s duty to protect it.