Global Warming and Environmental Science

The Impact of Climate Change on Human Health

Climate change poses significant risks to human health through various direct and indirect impacts. Rising temperatures contribute to heat-related illnesses and deaths, particularly affecting vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions. Heatwaves also exacerbate air pollution, increasing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Changes in precipitation patterns and extreme weather events, like hurricanes and floods, disrupt access to clean water and sanitation, leading to waterborne diseases and food insecurity. Vector-borne diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever, spread into new regions as warmer temperatures expand the habitats of disease-carrying mosquitoes and ticks. Additionally, climate change affects mental health, causing stress, anxiety, and trauma due to displacement, loss of livelihoods, and community disruption caused by extreme weather events. Indigenous communities and marginalized populations are disproportionately affected due to limited resources and resilience.