Health

(Climate hot map/ health)  If high temperatures especially when combined with high relative humidity are persistent for several days (heat waves) and also if night time temps don’t drop, extreme heat could be a killer. Higher temps are also said to be the most influenced by humans and their behavior. The fewer heat-emissions we release into our atmosphere, the cooler we can keep our planet. Since winter temperatures are rising way faster than the summer ones, cold-related deaths are likely to decline. Changing precipitation patterns and prolonged heat can create drought, which can cause forests and peat fires, putting residents and firefighters in danger. Although a warming atmosphere also holds more moisture so the chance of extreme rainfall and flooding continues to rise in certain regions. In heavily populated areas, sea level rise is more likely to but people through storm surges and coastal flooding. Warmer ocean waters may even cause more intense tropical hurricanes. Sunlight, warm air and pollution from power plants and cars that burn coal and gasoline, combine to produce ground-level ozone (smog) which humans experience as poor air quality. Higher air temps increase smog if all of the contributing factors remain the same.

(Health threats) Climate change is one of the most serious public health threats facing the nation but few people are aware how it can affect them. Elderly people, children and communities that live in poverty are among the most vulnerable. Climate change will worsen smog and cause plants to produce more pollen pollution, increasing respiratory health threats, this particularly for people with allergies and asthma. (South Dakota)

(Heating and cooling system) Older people should set their central heating lower during the day in the winter to save money and help combat climate change, health officials have said. Last yeats guidance to heat living rooms to 70(F) during daylight house and 64.5(F) at night was based on “30-year-old evidence” government scientists admitted. Analysis of more recent studies showed the “minimum” room temperature for households this winter should be 64.5(F) both day and night. Households could adjust their thermostats to stop “spending money unnecessarily”, according to the Public Health of England as well as to “lower carbon emissions” and ease climate change problems. Dr.Angie Bone, head of extreme events and health protection said: “we know cold weather is bad for health, so knowing the threshold (which coldness becomes a danger) is very valuable.

(Disease) She said there is a defined relationship between new weather patterns caused by climate change and diseases that are spread through organisms like mosquitoes. Climate change plays a role in the spread of diseases like salmonella but it can be hard to pinpoint the cause of an epidemic because so many factors can contribute to an outbreak. Scientist said warm weather has shown to help increase the spread of disease. Bacterial diseases tend to thrive in warmer weather. Having it be more dangerous for humans as global temperatures rise in certain areas of the world. Obama launched a program last year called President Barack Obama’s climate data initiative. Obama to encourage government agencies to educate Americans on how they can slow climate change and prevent significant public health issues.

(Extra)