“Climate Change Crisis: How Extreme Weather Events Impact Public Health and What Physicians Need to Know”
Climate change has been declared a public health crisis by the American Medical Association (AMA) at their 2022 annual meeting. The effects of climate change on health are already being felt, with patients experiencing adverse health effects such as heat-related injuries, vector-borne diseases, air pollution from wildfires, worsening seasonal allergies, and storm-related illnesses and injuries. These health effects are a result of the increase in severe weather events caused by rising global temperatures.
Currently, there are over 800 active wildfires burning in Canada and more than 200 wildfires in the United States, leading to serious air pollution across both nations. The smoke from these wildfires contains toxic gases and fine particulate matter that can cause irreparable damage to the lungs. This air pollution has been linked to cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. Additionally, damage to the lungs and heart can make patients more susceptible to infectious diseases, which is a significant concern given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Severe weather events, such as the 2016 summer storm in Louisiana that resulted in disastrous flooding, are also attributed to climate change. The increase in precipitation and rising temperatures due to climate change can lead to a rise in mosquito populations, increasing the spread of vector-borne diseases like malaria, Zika, Lyme disease, and plague. Malaria outbreaks in the United States are rare, but there have been 8 confirmed locally acquired cases in 2023, with more expected by the end of the year.
In addition to physical health effects, climate change is also impacting mental health. Climate grief, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder are some of the mental health issues that can arise from experiencing natural disasters like floods and wildfires. Patients living in communities affected by heavy smoke exposure are at increased risk of developing anxiety and depressive disorders due to elevated air pollution levels.
Physicians play a crucial role in addressing the health effects of climate change and should be prepared to discuss these issues with their patients. By becoming educated on how climate change affects health, physicians can better diagnose and treat patients. They can also help counter misinformation by accurately educating patients on climate change and its health effects. Physicians can incorporate brief educational messages, ask permission to discuss controversial topics, emphasize the consequences to the patient, acknowledge the difficulties associated with changes, and be open to different approaches when discussing climate change with patients.
Physicians can also advocate for change by providing community assistance, volunteering at local shelters and food banks, giving talks on preparing for weather-related health events, and supporting programs that reduce the environmental footprint. Small changes can have a significant impact, and encouraging others to make changes is essential in addressing the global effects of climate change.
In conclusion, climate change is a widespread, rapid, and intensifying issue that is already affecting human health. Physicians must be prepared to educate their patients on the health effects of climate change, communicate effectively about these risks, and advocate for changes that can mitigate the impact of climate change on health.