Impact of Global Climate Change on Health

Impact of Climate Change on Health
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Scientists hold that the high rise in temperature is mainly due to the burning of fossil fuels, which in turn produce carbon dioxide into the atmosphere alongside other greenhouse gases (Costello et al., 2009). These gases interfere with air regulation in the atmosphere as they trap heat. It brings about effects such as changes in weather patterns, rising of sea level and droughts, which affect the human ecosystem. Additionally, the rise in sea level which is also caused by climate change damage the storm and, thus, increased temperatures in the ocean may lead to additional rainfall and more winds. Global climate change, therefore, puts our health at risk by affecting the food, air and water and also our environment. The severity of such health-related risks will be contingent on the ability of the public health to address the issue as well as the individual’s gender, age and economic status. Also, the impacts may depend on the individual’s previous exposure to these agents and how well they can adapt to change. While people from developing countries may be at a higher health risk, global climate change poses a threat to developed countries like the United States. In light of this, this essay discusses heat-related illnesses and vectors that transmit West Nile virus, comparison of the concerns with one developed and one developing country and the health protection strategies a nurse could implement.
High temperatures lead to increased heat waves, which leads to an increased number of deaths. According to research, extreme heat exposure may lead to dehydration and stroke as well as respiratory, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. Excess heat may affect people living in northern attitudes, where people may not be used to coping with such high temperatures. However, certain target populations are more prone to these effects such as athletes, outdoor workers and homeless people. Older adults and low-income earners may not access to air conditioning, which leads to higher heat. Unlike rural boroughs, urban areas generally experience higher temperatures. Towns such as St. Louis, Chicago and Philadelphia have recorded massive deaths due to heat waves (Shindell et al., 2012). Therefore, scientists project climate change to make more people vulnerable to climate change in the future, something which will lead to more deaths and associated effects on health.
Global climate change also leads to vectors that transmit diseases such as fleas, mosquitoes and ticks. The vectors have infectious pathogens such as bacteria, protozoa and viruses, which they transfer to humans from animals. The changes in temperature and precipitation upsurges diseases spread by vectors and this may lead to illnesses. Temperature limits the range of diseases transmitted by ticks, which carry lime disease. Ticks become more active with the increase in temperature. Lime disease may be characterized by a headache, fever, fatigue and skin rash.
Moreover, mosquitoes may thrive in certain areas and spread the West Nile virus. However, extreme temperatures, hot or cold influence the number and location of mosquitoes which transmit the disease. Notably, beginn...