3 Main Health Concerns

Question 1

what are the three factors to consider in health and climate change?

Answer 1

1. hazards
2. who/what is exposed to hazards
3. level of vulnerability of exposed individuals and/or communities (related to SDHs)

Question 2

what are direct effects of climate change on health?

Answer 2

• caused by rising global temperatures that lead to more extreme and frequent weather events
• events/things that immediately affect health
• hurricane → injuries, extreme temperatures → impaired thermoregulation

Question 3

what are indirect effects of climate change on health?

Answer 3

• caused by disruption to essential resources/services that can lead to further exacerbation of health issues
• droughts → inadequate access to food → malnutrition

Question 4

what are noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)?

Answer 4

• diseases that are not spread through infection or through other people
• contribute to 70% of deaths worldwide (82% of which take place in low/middle income countries
• several contributing risk factors; modifiable vs. nonmodifiable risk factors

Question 5

what are modifiable vs. nonmodifiable risk factors?

Answer 5

• modifiable - smoking, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet
• nonmodifiable - age, gender, ethnicity

Question 6

what are some examples of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)?

Answer 6

• cardiovascular disease
• cancer
• mental health conditions
• diabetes
• chronic respiratory disease
• neurological, endocrine, gastrointestinal, renal, allergic, autoimmune

Question 7

how does climate change affect cardiovascular conditions?

Answer 7

• risk of cardiovascular disease increases as climate change worsens
  
  • climate change affects the endothelium
• thin layer lining every artery that assists in effective blood flow throughout the body
• releases chemicals to affect how much our arteries dilate
• climate change/pollutants increases risk of plaque forming which increases risk of cardiovascular diseases

Question 8

how does climate change affect respiratory conditions?

Answer 8

• pollutants settle in our lungs and cause problems with breathing
• increases triggers of asthma attacks
  
  • non-allergic triggers - smoke, ozone, other pollutants, cold air, intense emotions
  • allergic triggers - pets, dust

Question 9

what are short term vs long term healthy effects?

Answer 9

• short term are usually acute, more intense but don’t last long
• long term are usually chronic, and due to longer exposure to pollutants
• being constantly exposed to risk factors cause long term health effects

Question 10

what is the difference between mental illness and mental health?

Answer 10

• mental illness is something that is diagnosable and a result of biological factors
• mental health is overall mental wellbeing

Question 11

what are some mental health problems that are a direct effect of climate change?

Answer 11

• direct effects are more likely in places that are socio-economically disadvantaged and communities that are connected to the land

PTSD
* flashbacks, nightmares
* can be short term or long term

**Acute Anxiety Disorders
*** connection between anxiety and acute weather events (earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunami)
* high levels of impact in refugees who lost their homes to an acute weather event

Question 12

what are some mental health problems that are a indirect effect of climate change?

Answer 12

indirect effects include increased violence, migration, chronic stress, food insecurity, mental health problems, increased hospitalization

Question 13

how is aggression, violence, and suicide an indirect effect of climate change?

Answer 13

• related to higher temperatures because people are outside more
• higher temperature increase dopamine and serotonin
  
  • affects self-regulation, focus
• increase in one degree celsius will yield a 6% increase in violent crime rates

Question 14

how is climate justice and migration an indirect effect of climate change?

Answer 14

• more conflict because of resource limit
• less developed countries are less able to deal with mental health problems
  
  • they are already dealing with infectious diseases and NCDs
• increases inequities

Question 15

how is food and mental health affected indirectly by climate change?

Answer 15

• food insecurity, depletion of fresh water
• increase in psychopathic and antisocial behaviour in children due to malnutrition
• people lose their land so there are more suicide among farmers

Question 16

how is the seasonality of mood disorders an indirect effect of climate change?

Answer 16

eating disorders like bulimia increase in the summer, and we will have increased summer months