The relationship between climate and health was recognized long before “climate change” and “global warming” were household terms. Patients were advised to move to better climates without specific scientific knowledge, but their health improved when they changed their environments. Whether we believe it is caused by mankind or just a natural cyclical phenomenon, global climate change is happening, impacting our health in many ways. 

The American Medical Association (AMA) declared climate change a public health crisis in 2023. According to Dr. Ilse Levin, MPH, an AMA board member, patients are facing more adverse health effects from climate change, such as heat-related injuries, air pollution from wildfires, more vector-borne diseases (such as those diseases spread by mosquitoes), worsening seasonal allergies and storm-related injuries.

Temperature changes and shifts in weather patterns set new records in 2023. A report published in The Lancet, Oct. 29, 2024, illustrated the threats to the health, nutrition and livelihoods of people around the world. 

Marina Romanello, PhD, is the executive director of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change. This organization was established in 2016 and is made up of hundreds of health professionals and multidisciplinary researchers who look at the links between climate change and health on both regional and global levels. Romanello issued a press release after its Nov. 9 report was published online. “This year’s stock take of the imminent health threats of climate inaction reveals the most concerning findings yet in our eight years of monitoring. Once again, last year broke climate change records with extreme heat waves, deadly weather events and devastating wildfires affecting people around the world. No individual or economy on the planet is immune from the health threats of climate change.”

In 2023, heat-related deaths in people over 64 increased by 167% from levels in the 1990s. Three-hundred-eleven deaths were the lowest number of deaths due to extreme heat in 2004. The high thus far was in 2023 with 2,325 deaths. About 48% of the world’s land areas experienced at least one month of extreme drought, the worse since 1951. These droughts and hotter temperatures increased the number of people exposed to dangerously high “particulate matter concentrations,” air pollution we experience with fires and heavy smog. These weather changes also contributed to 151 million people experiencing moderate food insecurity to famine in 124 countries.

While in some areas people died from the excessive heat, 61% of the land across the earth saw an increase in extreme rainfall, increasing the risk for flooding, water contamination and infectious diseases. Actually, moderate to high rainfall can be a positive effect in that it can improve air quality by reducing the concentration of particulate matter in the air, and force people indoors where temperatures are more stable and the exposure to outdoor pollution is lessened. 

Unfortunately, as the intensity and duration of rainfall increases, the adverse effects can be catastrophic. Individual physical effects can include respiratory problems and allergic reactions to an increase of airborne pathogens. 

Shifts in atmospheric pressure and temperature can lead to cardiovascular and respiratory issues. Extreme rainfall can increase stress and anxiety and affect emotional and mental health. As we have seen with recent devastating hurricanes and subsequent flooding, there can be severe infrastructure damage, including disruptions in power and water supplies. Roads become impassable or even destroyed. Food and water quality can be compromised, and people lose access to health care services.

Infectious diseases are on the rise due to worsening climate changes, too. For example, the mosquito populations of aedes albopictus and aedes aegypti have grown markedly in the past few years. These insects spread Dengue Fever. Over 5 million cases of Dengue were reported across 80 countries in 2023 and as of July of this year, the number in the Americas has doubled since last year. 

The Pan American Health Organization reported in July 2024 that as of July 25, there had been a 233% increase over the same time period in 2023 and a 419% increase over the past five years. This is due to climate change.

The Lancet researchers stressed the importance of strengthening our health care systems to protect people from climate change’s extreme effects. It is also imperative that medical and nursing schools address the issue in their curricula. 

Anthony Costello is a pediatrician and was a professor of International Child Health and director of the Institute for Global Health at the University College, London. 

He said in the Lancet Countdown press release, “Amidst global turmoil, the powerful and trusted leadership of the health community could hold the key to reversing these concerning trends and harnessing new opportunities to put the protection and promotion of health and survival at the center of political agendas. For successful reform, people’s health must be put front and center of climate change policy to ensure the funding mechanisms protect well-being, reduce health inequities and maximize health gains, especially for the countries and communities that need it most.”

We have been fortunate here in Southern Arizona with generally mild weather year-round and have not faced some of the weather catastrophes that have hit other parts of the United States and the world. The West Coast, the East and South have felt the impact of climate change with extreme heat, wildfires, floods and hurricanes. Rising seas will decimate some communities and possibly whole countries at sea level. Let’s just be aware.

Mia Smitt is a longtime nurse practitioner. She writes a regular columnist for Tucson Local Media.

By Mia Smitt

Tucson Local Media Columnist

T

he relationship between climate and health was recognized long before “climate change” and “global warming” were household terms. Patients were advised to move to better climates without specific scientific knowledge, but their health improved when they changed their environments. Whether we believe it is caused by mankind or just a natural cyclical phenomenon, global climate change is happening, impacting our health in many ways. 

The American Medical Association (AMA) declared climate change a public health crisis in 2023. According to Dr. Ilse Levin, MPH, an AMA board member, patients are facing more adverse health effects from climate change, such as heat-related injuries, air pollution from wildfires, more vector-borne diseases (such as those diseases spread by mosquitoes), worsening seasonal allergies and storm-related injuries.

Temperature changes and shifts in weather patterns set new records in 2023. A report published in The Lancet, Oct. 29, 2024, illustrated the threats to the health, nutrition and livelihoods of people around the world. 

Marina Romanello, PhD, is the executive director of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change. This organization was established in 2016 and is made up of hundreds of health professionals and multidisciplinary researchers who look at the links between climate change and health on both regional and global levels. Romanello issued a press release after its Nov. 9 report was published online. “This year’s stock take of the imminent health threats of climate inaction reveals the most concerning findings yet in our eight years of monitoring. Once again, last year broke climate change records with extreme heat waves, deadly weather events and devastating wildfires affecting people around the world. No individual or economy on the planet is immune from the health threats of climate change.”

In 2023, heat-related deaths in people over 64 increased by 167% from levels in the 1990s. Three-hundred-eleven deaths were the lowest number of deaths due to extreme heat in 2004. The high thus far was in 2023 with 2,325 deaths. About 48% of the world’s land areas experienced at least one month of extreme drought, the worse since 1951. These droughts and hotter temperatures increased the number of people exposed to dangerously high “particulate matter concentrations,” air pollution we experience with fires and heavy smog. These weather changes also contributed to 151 million people experiencing moderate food insecurity to famine in 124 countries.

While in some areas people died from the excessive heat, 61% of the land across the earth saw an increase in extreme rainfall, increasing the risk for flooding, water contamination and infectious diseases. Actually, moderate to high rainfall can be a positive effect in that it can improve air quality by reducing the concentration of particulate matter in the air, and force people indoors where temperatures are more stable and the exposure to outdoor pollution is lessened. 

Unfortunately, as the intensity and duration of rainfall increases, the adverse effects can be catastrophic. Individual physical effects can include respiratory problems and allergic reactions to an increase of airborne pathogens. 

Shifts in atmospheric pressure and temperature can lead to cardiovascular and respiratory issues. Extreme rainfall can increase stress and anxiety and affect emotional and mental health. As we have seen with recent devastating hurricanes and subsequent flooding, there can be severe infrastructure damage, including disruptions in power and water supplies. Roads become impassable or even destroyed. Food and water quality can be compromised, and people lose access to health care services.

Infectious diseases are on the rise due to worsening climate changes, too. For example, the mosquito populations of aedes albopictus and aedes aegypti have grown markedly in the past few years. These insects spread Dengue Fever. Over 5 million cases of Dengue were reported across 80 countries in 2023 and as of July of this year, the number in the Americas has doubled since last year. 

The Pan American Health Organization reported in July 2024 that as of July 25, there had been a 233% increase over the same time period in 2023 and a 419% increase over the past five years. This is due to climate change.

The Lancet researchers stressed the importance of strengthening our health care systems to protect people from climate change’s extreme effects. It is also imperative that medical and nursing schools address the issue in their curricula. 

Anthony Costello is a pediatrician and was a professor of International Child Health and director of the Institute for Global Health at the University College, London. 

He said in the Lancet Countdown press release, “Amidst global turmoil, the powerful and trusted leadership of the health community could hold the key to reversing these concerning trends and harnessing new opportunities to put the protection and promotion of health and survival at the center of political agendas. For successful reform, people’s health must be put front and center of climate change policy to ensure the funding mechanisms protect well-being, reduce health inequities and maximize health gains, especially for the countries and communities that need it most.”

We have been fortunate here in Southern Arizona with generally mild weather year-round and have not faced some of the weather catastrophes that have hit other parts of the United States and the world. The West Coast, the East and South have felt the impact of climate change with extreme heat, wildfires, floods and hurricanes. Rising seas will decimate some communities and possibly whole countries at sea level. Let’s just be aware.

 

Mia Smitt is a longtime nurse practitioner. She writes a regular columnist for Tucson Local Media.