Environmental change is one of the greatest dangers to mankind in a way that it influences us unconsciously. For weather extremes including heat waves to increased air pollution, the consequences are quite extensive.
Climate change is also known as global warming, and it is a long-term change in the climate patterns that have a great influence on the people’s health all over the world through direct and indirect ways.
In this blog, we are going to discuss about 10 easy Ways to Protect Your Health from Climate Change which are quite easy to follow. But first of all we will see how does climate change affect your health?
How does Climate Change Affect Your Health
Climate change affect your health both directly and indirectly. Let’s checkout how?
Heatwaves and Rising Temperatures: Excessive temperatures lead to many health effects such as heat stress, heat fatigue, heat cramps and heat stroke. This means it is especially risky to children, older persons, and those with other chronically existing health complications.
Natural Disasters and Extreme Weather Events: Effects of climate change causes more frequent floods, hurricanes, wildfires, and other related climatic change-related disasters result in injuries, worsening of chronic diseases, and the development of mental disorders.
Airborne Allergens and Air Pollutants: Melting of artic-ice also impacts our climate by raising temperatures; this in turn brings about bad pollen productions that cause allergic reactions such as asthma. The pollution levels must be reduced in a society as it leads to various respiratory diseases.
Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases: Increased temperatures and more climatic occurrences are key threats since they enhance the transposition of diseases through food and water inequalities.
Vector-Borne Diseases: Warmer environments are beneficial to mosquitoes and other biting bugs such as ticks due to extended geographical range and increased occurrence of diseases including malaria, dengue, Lyme diseases among others.
Mental Health Issues: The direct effects of climate change events themselves may evoke stress, anxiety or depression, in combination with the fear of further similar incidents.
10 Ways to Protect Your Health from Climate Change
1. Stay Cool During Heatwaves
Heat stress, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke are some of the effects of working in a very hot environment.
How to Protect Yourself?
Stay Indoors: When outside temperatures are extreme (especially during warm midday), they should find shade or a cooler place inside.
Hydrate: To protect your health from climate change stay hydrated, even if you do not feel the need to drink a lot of water, as you known that Dehydration can lead to a lot of health problems.
Wear Light Clothing: People should wear light and free-fitting apparel when they are in a scorching heat.
2. Monitor Air Quality
Polluted air can cause various respiratory ailments where individuals develop asthma or bronchitis.
How to Protect Yourself?
Check Air Quality Index (AQI): By doing this, you can be able to check occasionally the Air Quality Index AQI in your country or the area that you are living in. Avoid going outside at the time when the Suds index is high.
Ventilate Your Home: To protect your health from climate change, keep your living space ventilated to reduce indoor pollutants.
3. Prepare for Natural Disasters
Climate change in the world leads to more disasters happening frequently. That is why protecting health from climate change is important.
How to Protect Yourself?
Have an Emergency Kit: Basic necessities for hiker should be kept within the backpack such as water, food, medications and first aid kit.
Stay Informed: Stay updated about the weather and other events happening around your country so that you can contain any disasters.
4. Prevention of Vector borne diseases
It’s clear from their life history that they can expand into warmer habitats when the temperature increases.
How to Protect Yourself?
Use Repellents: If one has to walk in an area that is likely to be filled with insects, they should wear clothes that will not expose their skin and should apply some type of insect repellent on the exposed part of the body.
Wear Protective Clothing: Avoid going out in the evening wearing clothes with sleeveless or trousers that reveals legs.
5. Practice Good Hygiene and Food safety
Food safety is an important aspect of every society and its conservation can be affected by many factors, of which this is one of them. In other words, foodborne illnesses are more likely to occur when temperatures are high.
How to Protect Yourself?
Wash Hands Regularly: It is advisable to wash your hands before and after eating to protect your health from climate change..
Handle Food Safely: Wash hands before and after handling food, avoid cross-contamination especially between raw and cooked foods, ensure meat is thoroughly cooked and store perishable foods well.
6. Promote Pure Water Consumption
It should also be noted that climate change is capable of polluting water sources.
How to Protect Yourself?
Drink Filtered Water: If there is doubt over the quality of the water running from the tap, boil it or use water filters or bottled waters.
Boil Water: To get rid of the pathogens in water that may cause some major illnesses, use boiling water in case of emergencies.
7. Need for Better Mental Health
Climate change poses some impact on mental health primarily due to stress and anxiety caused by persistent change.
How to Protect Yourself?
Stay Connected: Consult with people such your friends and relations on the issues troubling you.
Seek Professional Help: It is always advisable to seek the assistance of a doctor in matters concerning your psychological state if you feel that things are getting out of your control.
8. Start Eating a Healthy, Sustainable Diet
Experts have advised on dietary patterns that include greater consumption of plant-based foods because while dietary changes are meant to protect your health from climate change, it can alter levels of greenhouse gas emissions and allow individuals to remain healthy.
How to Protect Yourself?
Eat More Plants: What is good for you? You should eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grain products and beans.
Reduce Meat Consumption: Reduce direct consumption of red meat, and minimize the intake of dairy products.
9. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Why It Matters: Cutting down waste can decrease a company’s overall carbon footprint thus minimizing pollution.
How to Protect Yourself?
Reduce Waste: Purchasing our necessary items, we must minimize the purchases of products that are only useful for a one-time use and mainly made from plastics.
Recycle Properly: Each community has different rules and regulation concerning recycling, to avoid throwing the wrong item into the recycle bin, one should consider consulting the local authorities on the subject.
10. Be informed and get involved
Why It Matters: People had a natural desire to learn and accumulate new knowledge as much as one can because knowledge is power. The knowledge of climate change allows you to prevent possible illnesses and take precautions at once.
How to Protect Yourself?
Educate Yourself: Make sure you are informed on Climate change, and its health implications.
Join Community Efforts: Support local environmental schemes and back any policies that seek curtailing effect of climate change.
Checkout: The Importance of Health and Wellbeing, Ways to Improve It.
Conclusion
Climate change poses a significant threat to our health, affecting us in ways that are both direct and indirect. From heatwaves and natural disasters to increased air pollution and the spread of diseases, the impacts are far-reaching and severe. However, by taking proactive steps, you can protect your health from climate change.
That is how you may preserve your health and make your contribution to preventing negative changes in the climate. Small changes in climate are capable of going a long way in ensuring that the world is a better place hence adopting these tips we could be improving on the standards of our environment.
