HOW WILL CLIMATE CHANGE
AFFECT MY HEALTH?

Below are examples of how climate change can
affect your health at different stages of your life.
PREGNANT
WOMEN who
experience
extreme
weather, like
floods and heat
waves, can
experience
mental health
effects, injuries,
and other health
risks that affect
their pregnancies
and newborn
infants.
RISING TEMPERATURES
Increasing temperatures mean heat waves are more frequent, more intense,
and last longer. Health risks: dehydration, heat stroke, worsened heart and
lung disease, death.
REDUCED AIR QUALITY
Rising temperatures, changes in rain patterns, and increasing wildfires lead to
more smog, plant allergens, and other air pollutants. Health risks: increased
episodes of asthma and chronic lung disease, heart disease, death.
INFANTS AND TODDLERS have developing
immune systems that make them sensitive to
heat, allergens, diseases carried by ticks and
mosquitoes, and food and water-related illness.
INCREASING EXTREME WEATHER
Hurricanes, severe storms, flooding, droughts, and wildfires are already
increasing in frequency, intensity, or length. Health risks: water and
food-related illnesses, respiratory illness, injuries, mental health problems.
SPREADING DISEASES FROM MOSQUITOES AND TICKS
Changes in temperatures and precipitation patterns affect when and where
diseases carried by mosquitoes and ticks occur. Health risks: Lyme disease,
West Nile virus.
ADOLESCENTS can suffer heat-related
illness, asthma or allergies while playing
outdoors or competing in sports.
CHILDREN are
sensitive to
heat, poor air
quality, water
and food-
related illnesses.
They are often
exposed to
mosquitoes and
ticks during
outdoor play.
ADULTS who
work in active
or outdoor jobs
have increased
exposure to
heat, allergens,
poor air quality,
and ticks or
mosquitoes.
They may have
greater
sensitivity to
heat stress if
taking certain
medications.
EXPANDING WATER-RELATED ILLNESS
Increasing water and air temperatures, heavy rainfall, flooding, and sea
level rise can expose people to contaminated waters. Health risks:
diarrhea, skin and eye infections.
DECREASED FOOD SAFETY
Increasing air and water temperatures and extreme weather lead to food
contamination, spoilage, and disrupted food distribution. Health risks:
food poisoning, diarrhea, reduced access to food.
OLDER ADULTS are sensitive to heat because they are less able
to regulate body temperatures. They are less able to respond to
extreme weather due to normal aging processes that affect
physical or mental ability.
Read more in the Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States:
A Scientific Assessment at https:/^health2016.globalchange.gov.

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