5 Ways Climate Change Affects Patient Care

The escalating severity of climate change isn’t just altering our environment—it’s also complicating how doctors can care for their patients. Here are five ways Climate change is challenging medical professionals.

Source: CDC/YouTube

1. Heat-Related Injuries On The Rise

Increasing temperatures have led to more cases of heat-related injuries, such as severe burns from hot pavement. Physicians like Dr. Joanne Leovy in Las Vegas have noted an uptick in such injuries, particularly among vulnerable populations. The danger isn’t just the burns themselves but also the difficulty in healing, especially when they occur at joints.

2. Worsening Air Quality Affecting Respiratory Conditions

The smoke from wildfires, intensified by drier, hotter conditions, is traveling farther and affecting air quality over larger areas. Doctors are finding it tougher to manage respiratory conditions like asthma, as patients struggle to control symptoms in the face of poor air quality.

3. Shifts in Infectious Disease Patterns

Warmer temperatures and changes in precipitation are causing infectious diseases to spread to new areas. Diseases like dengue and Lyme disease, once confined to specific regions, are now being diagnosed in places where doctors previously didn’t consider them likely, leading to delays in treatment.

4. Increased Risks From Extreme Weather Events

Hurricanes and floods disrupt healthcare systems by damaging facilities and cutting off access to care. They also pose indirect health risks, such as water contamination and the spread of waterborne diseases, complicating post-disaster medical response.

5. Medication and Treatment Complications

High temperatures can affect medication efficacy, such as the albuterol used in asthma inhalers, and can also reduce the body’s ability to cope with certain pre-existing conditions. Additionally, extreme weather can disrupt medical supply chains, leading to shortages of essential supplies like IV saline.

These changes are prompting healthcare providers to adapt their practices. They are expanding telehealth options, enhancing patient education on climate-related health risks, and updating their knowledge in a rapidly changing environment. As the climate continues to evolve, so too must our approach to healthcare and patient safety.

There’s Only One Green Planet Tee by Tiny Rescue: Climate Collection

Related Content: 

• Climate Change and its Impact on Mental Health
• 10 Invasive Species Impacting Public Health and Ecosystems Due to Climate Change
• Doctors Navigating Climate-Related Health Challenges
• EPA Releases Report Showing Health Impacts of Climate Change on Children in the US
• The Connection Between Seasonal Allergies, Climate Change, and Mental Health

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade repeatedly.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!