How Does Climate Change Affect Your Health?

Climate change is a hot topic these days. Perhaps because the world is ... well, getting hotter (or colder, wetter or drier, depending on where you live).

“Climate change refers to an extended shift in global weather patterns and temperatures beyond what we’ve witnessed in the past,” says family medicine specialist Neha Vyas, MD.

You may already know that seasonal weather changes increase your risk for certain illnesses. Climate change packs an even bigger punch. As early as 2030, climate-related health problems are expected to claim the lives of an estimated 250,000 people worldwide each year.

5 health effects of climate change

Climate change increases your risk for a host of health problems. Dr. Vyas shares five common health impacts of climate change and what you can do to protect yourself.

1. Heat-related illnesses

As temperatures rise, so do heat-related illnesses and deaths. Extreme heat claimed the lives of 207 people in the U.S. in 2023, making it the country’s top cause of weather-related deaths.

Prolonged exposure to extremely high temperatures puts you at risk for:

• Dehydration, blood pressure changes and kidney problems
• Heart problems, including arrhythmia, stroke, heart attacks and heart failure
• Heat exhaustion and heat stroke
• Pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia, preterm births and miscarriage

2. Breathing problems

Climate change worsens air pollution. Plus, drought-like conditions mean more wildfires, dust and allergens. All of these factors contribute to poor air quality.

“Climate change can make it more difficult to breathe if you have existing lung conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,” Dr. Vyas states. “You could also develop allergies or allergic asthma for the first time.”

Lack of oxygen and extra strain on your lungs make your heart work harder. Extremely cold temperatures also mean trouble.

“Your heart has to pump more blood to keep you warm,” she explains. “Plus, cold air can bring on lung spasms.”

3. Insect- and tick-borne diseases

While humans might not enjoy extremely hot temperatures, disease-carrying ticks and insects are at their happiest.

Ticks that carry Lyme disease and alpha-gal syndrome have moved into areas that once were too cold for them. Cases of Lyme disease, which is caused by tick bites, have nearly doubled since 1991, and experts believe climate change is a contributing factor.

Milder winters also mean that mosquitos live longer, have a longer active season and have more opportunities to breed. That means more mosquito bites for humans, which means a higher risk of the viral infections they carry, like West Nile and Zika.

4. Waterborne illnesses

Increased water temperatures, storms and stormwater runoff make it easier for bacteria and parasites that cause waterborne illnesses to thrive.

These illnesses cause severe stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting and other symptoms. In some instances, they can even become life-threatening.

Swallowing just a small amount of contaminated water puts you at risk for waterborne illnesses like:

• Cryptosporidiosis
• E. coli
• Giardiasis
• Leptospirosis
• Salmonella

5. Fungal infections

Fungal infections are a growing health threat as fungi spread to new geographic areas.

For example, historically, the Coccidioides fungus that causes Valley fever is found in warm, dry southwestern states like Arizona and New Mexico. But a study suggests that warm temperatures will bring the fungus northward to Nebraska, Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas. By 2100, Valley fever cases are expected to increase by 50%.

Another study shows that climate change is contributing to the emergence of new or evolved fungi that are more resistant to heat.

Who’s at risk for climate-related health problems?

The health effects of climate change can affect all of us, but certain groups feel them more:

• Adults over 60: Older adults are more likely to have heart, lung or other health conditions that make them more sensitive to weather changes and pollution.
• Infants and children: Kids’ bodies and immune systems are still maturing. Children also breathe at a faster rate and spend more time outdoors breathing in pollutants.
• People with disabilities and chronic illnesses: People with certain physical and mental health conditions may be especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Plus, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) explains, people with disabilities “are more likely to need ongoing medical care, which can be disrupted before, during, and after a natural disaster or extreme weather event.”
• Socially vulnerable groups: People of color, immigrants and lower-income families often live in areas prone to climate-related health hazards. They’re more likely to have health conditions like asthma and less likely to have easy access to quality medical care.

Talk to your healthcare provider about steps you can take to protect your health, especially if you’re in a high-risk group or have an existing health condition. Together, you can come up with a plan to help keep you feeling your best.

7 ways to protect the planet (and yourself)

Worrying about your health and the planet’s health can bring on climate anxiety. But you can take steps today to protect the Earth for generations to come.

“Saving the planet is a team effort,” says Dr. Vyas. “We all need to do our part to slow climate change.”

These actions can make a difference:

1. Bike, walk or take public transportation, when possible, instead of driving.
2. Compost food scraps. Reduce waste. Reuse or recycle containers.
3. Conserve water and energy by taking shorter, cooler showers and washing your clothes in cold water.
4. Cut back on single-use plastic containers and shop with reusable grocery bags.
5. Decrease indoor air pollutants and use air purifiers.
6. Switch to energy-efficient appliances, lawnmowers and vehicles.
7. Call your elected officials and request they enact climate change-friendly regulations.