Beating the Heat: Rising Temperatures as a Public Health Concern
- Sampurna Chakravorty
- May 26
- 2 min read
According to a 2019 special report, the frequency, intensity, and duration of major weather events have increased significantly due to climate change. Human health is usually not discussed in full detail on how these events are not just devastating in the short term, but in the long term as well. There are multiple factors on how various events affect a person’s health, such as the nature of the storm and socioeconomic factors, so this will break down the main ones. For example, tropical cyclones or hurricanes result in major flooding. Hurricane Katrina resulted in over 2500 direct deaths due to drowning or physical injuries from debris. In the long term, the community suffered an uptick in skin infections, poor mental health, and even preterm births. Researchers are calling for more diverse and robust sets of data so that communities can be better prepared in the health field as these catastrophes become increasingly common. This post explores this concept in the context of rising temperatures as a result of climate change.
Oftentimes, community health in relation to climate change is a combination of both underlying health concerns, exacerbated by climate change. Rising temperatures are a side effect of climate change. People now experience excess heat, putting a strain on hospitals and healthcare workers due to the increase in patient load. It has also been researched that heat contributes to the severity of drug use. Heat has also been tied to increased risk of suicide and behavioral disorders.
In response, scientists recommend better thermoregulation methods, such as shaded community parks or green roofs. The method itself should be tailored to the heat conditions of that specific community. For example, humid areas should focus more on air conditioning, whereas dry areas will do better with handheld fans. However, it is important to acknowledge that income and overall financial standing are major players in determining if someone has access to these methods.
In conclusion, if a person has access to methods of regulating the heat they are exposed to, they should take that chance due to the risks of excess heat exposure. At a larger scale, there needs to be a focused government effort to collect how the temperatures in their communities project and how they affect diverse individuals to best implement the infrastructure to thermoregulate and lessen the impacts of excess heat.
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