Climate change is a major threat to humanity that is not being talked about quite often. In my area, it's very rare to hear people talk about the negative impacts of climate change to the health and well being of living organisms, including humans.
When I think of the effects of climate change, it actually makes me feel disturbed. In our world today, people are looking for ways to get entertained and remove their minds from any forms of problems. When scientists come on TV to inform us of the climate state of the planet, people tend to see it as boring probably because it is straight to the point and has no form of entertainment attached.
However, the sad reality is that the planet is actually going downhill and a solution to alleviate the problems or protect us from the health challenges caused by this climate change, is very much needed.
There are lots of health conditions that can be triggered by climate change. since I was born till date, I have only witnessed the hot part of the planet. This made me adapt to the weather conditions over here, however, due to the hotness of the weather, dehydration became common.
Dehydration basically occurs when you don't take enough water, or when there is an external factor causing you to lose more water than you take. Climate change can cause dehydration which if not treated, can lead to organ casualty. Organs like the kidneys will be affected.
Climate change can also affect a person's mental health. When there is too many climate events, there can be a negative impact to the mental health due to the unpredictable weather changes that may occur.
Also, i noticed something. When the sun is hot, mentally ill people (popularly known as mad people) tend to be hyperactive probably due to the direct sunlight on them. However, when it's evening and there is no sun, they tend to be more relaxed as compared to when the weather is hot.
Additionally, climate change can contribute to the spread of infections diseases. Hypothetically speaking, that's actually one of the issues we're facing here in my area. Mosquitoes need stagnant water to lay and groom their eggs. With constant rainfall, there will be stagnant water, and grown grasses which will serve as a good place for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. If there is a residential area around, malaria becomes the order of the day. Mosquito bite is one of the major health problems in Aba Abia state.
The quality of breathable air can be affected by climate change. In most cases, it worsens respiratory diseases. Diseases like asthma can be worsen due to the affected air quality.
There are many more health problems that climate change can cause, however, knowing how to adapt to these unfavorable climate is crucial.
To stay safe, it is important to know your health status. Know whether or not you're asthmatic so that you'll be able to navigate through the polluted air.
Also, you may want to clear every stagnated water around you. The fact that it's about 5 or 10 meters away from your house doesn't mean you should leave it. Clear it and avoid malaria. Malaria kills.
Thank you for reading..
All images are mine