Global Warming and Its Impact on Health

Researchers probe the link between global warming and the increase of people experiencing kidney disease, heart disease, as well as mental illnesses.

A recent study in Australia compared the number of hospital admissions, ambulance trips and deaths during heat waves and normal weather temperatures. The researchers discovered a 7% increase in admissions to the hospital and a 4% increase in ambulance trips during the hotter periods of time.

According to researchers who conducted the study, it is theorized that as the planet continues to warm, there will be more heat-related illnesses.

Heat Wave

A heat wave is described as a period of five or more days in which the temperature exceeds five degrees above the normal temperature. Severe heat waves have been responsible for catastrophic crop failures, deaths from hyperthermia and power outages.

How Can People Protect Themselves from the Heat?

Hyperthermia is an acute condition in which the body absorbs more heat than it can dissipate. In its advanced state, hyperthermia is commonly referred to as heat stroke. It is a real medical emergency that people should be aware of.

Exertion heatstroke can occur when a person physically exerts himself through exercise or physical labor during hot times of the day. When the temperature outside reaches eighty-five degrees, it is recommended that people do not exercise outside unless they are already accustomed to the hot weather. The treatment for heat stroke is intravenous fluids and methods at which the body temperature is cooled.

Non-exertion heat stroke can happen when people, particularly older people, live in a house with no air-conditioning during a time at which temperatures escalate. Researchers recommend getting out of the house that lacks air-conditioning for a couple of hours in order to reduce the risk of heat stroke. For example, going to a movie theater or the shopping mall could cut down on the risk of heatstroke.

Heatstroke can happen very quickly. Call 911 for emergency care and work to lower the person's body temperature by moving him/her to a cool, air-conditioned location indoors or under a shady tree.

At Highest Risk

Those at the highest risk of heat-induced illnesses include infants, children under four years of age and people over sixty-five years of age. Also included in the high-risk category are those that are overweight, or people that are ill or on certain medications.

Ask Your Doctor

If you are uncertain as to whether or not you or a loved one is at a high risk of heat-induced illnesses, it is highly recommended that you speak to a health-care professional.

Health Science News

Check back each week for more health science news that can help you to achieve optimal health.

Global Warming Impacts on Wildlife

At the University of Texas, there are studies performed that research the impacts of global warming and climate changes on wildlife. Climate change means that as we have had a rise in greenhouse gases and carbon emissions, some places around the globe are getting hotter and some places are getting cooler. As the earth retains more heat, the climate changes in local and regional climates. Over the past 100 years there are two main types of responses that are present. One of them is that the timing of events changes, for example, winter is warmer and spring starts at a sooner time. This is due to the gradual rise in temperature. The other one which is less obvious is that the location where animals exist actually changes and this is due to climate changes. As the climate changes, species move and the distribution of plants and animals change.

Butterflies and Climate Change

Bill Parmesan at the University of Texas conducted a study over a four-five year period on butterflies and climate change. Butterflies that live in Western USA from Mexico to Canada are very sensitive to climate. These butterflies do not move much. If they were to change where they live, it would be a gradual change. In the early 1900s these butterflies lived in the Southern region of Mexico. Today, in some places, the population of this butterfly had gone extinct even though the habitat looked fine. But in the upper regions and highest elevations, the butterfly was doing very well. This is exactly what you would expect as a response to the 1 degree F. temperature rise as the butterfly is slowly shifting where it lives to more northerly and higher elevation areas.

International Organizations

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a United Nations Body, that is comprised of scientists that has come out with reports that assess the state of climate science and the impacts of client change. The panel does not make recommendations to policy makers, but rather presents the science in order for the policy makers to come up with their own recommendations. The last IPCC report came out in 2001, and when that report came out many nations were convinced to ratify the Kyoto Protocol - which is an international agreement to reduce carbon emissions.

What can I Do to Help Slow Global Warming?

There are many sources available to give you tips and information. Visit the National Wildlife Federation section on wildlife and global warming. The web site has sections for people just like you and will help you to learn what you can do to confront global warming. Find out what programs are being initiated to help control environmental pollution.

Shrinking Arctic Sea Ice and the Effect on Polar Bears

Arctic sea ice is shrinking and since the 1970s there has been an increase in the number of days each summer where the temperature is warm enough for the ice to melt. The earlier breakup of arctic sea ice limits the polar bear hunting season and forces them to come to shore earlier. It?s now known that if the ice melts earlier in the spring as little as a week, it has significant impact on polar bears. Its basis for survival is being threatened. Polar bears are being sent to land earlier without them having developed enough fat reserves to survive the ice free season. By the end of the summer the bears are very thin and their reproductive success is affected.