The impacts of climate change on your health
Here's your fact of the day: Climate change affects human health in a variety of ways.
Think about it, the extremes in weather and an increase in pollution cause health problems because it affects the essential factors that influence our well-being.
Engr. Luis Cruz Supervising Health Program Officer of DOH / Source: GMA Public Affairs (YouTube)
As climate change progresses year after year, experts also expect an increase in related health issues.
According to the Engr. Luis Cruz from the Department of Health (DOH), health conditions related to climate change contribute to the increasing number of deaths per year.
He told The Healthy Juan, “Ang climate change ay nagdudulot ng mga kalamidad o disaster gaya ng heatwave, baha, tagtuyot, na maaring magdala ng sakit o karamdaman.”
Aside from health-related issues, other effects of climate change include drought, flash floods, and the plummeting of food stocks leading the rural population to move to urban centers.
Because the Philippines is a tropical country, certain heat and weather-related conditions are also linked to health problems.
Prolonged exposure to extreme heat can cause heatstroke, muscle cramps, worsening of existing medical conditions, and also, death. The increase in temperature also has a significant effect on certain groups of people most especially senior citizens and people prone to chronic ailments.
Engr. Cruz said, “Nangyayari ang heatstroke sa isang tao na vulnerable o mahina ang resistensya dahil sa tumtinding init na hindi nakakayanan ng kanyang katawan. Nangyayari ito sa mga taong may edad o senior citizens lalung-lalo na tuwing tag-init.
“Ang katawan niya ay pumapatak sa 40 degrees pataas, may pamumula ng balat, at may sakit ng ulo at pagkahilo.”
Source: eugeneshemyakin9 for Freepik.com
Meanwhile, severe flooding and flash floods can also be very dangerous to people living in rural and urban cities.
The Department of Health tallies that there are more than 2,000 disaster-related deaths in 2012 and over 6,000 deaths in 2013 due to Yolanda alone.
While the immediate dangers of flooding include drowning and injury from damaged buildings, other risks of flooding include common illnesses such as leptospirosis and of course, dengue fever.
As explained by Engr. Cruz, “Nagbabago ang pattern at habitat ng mga insekto dahil umaayon o uma-adapt sila sa sitwasyon ng kanilang kapaligiran.
“Lumalakas o dumadami din sila kaya mas dumadami ang matinding problema kagaya ng malawak at mas maraming tao ang nagkakasakit.”
Source: naypong for Freepik.com
So, what can you do about it?
Many government policies and individual choices can potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and produce major health benefits.
For example, cleaner energy systems, promoting safe use of public transportation and movement --- cycling to work or walking than using private vehicles --- could reduce carbon emission and cut air pollution.
If we all work together, our small acts of service to Mother Earth can help impact not only our environment but also ourselves. Be more mindful of your surroundings because this is the only planet we have. The planet, we call home.