Climate Change and Your Health: 11 Diseases on the Rise

Climate change isn't just melting sea levels and ice caps—it's also changing human health worldwide. With more unpredictable weather and increased temperatures, we are experiencing more diseases that previously only happened in specific locations or only at specific times of the year. From heatstroke to insect-borne diseases, the health implications of our warming planet are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

Discover how climate change influences disease patterns to help build a healthier, more resilient world. Take a look at 11 diseases closely associated with climate change—and how the global problem is redesigning public health.

 

1. Heat-Related Illnesses

As temperatures keep on rising globally, more and more individuals are falling victim to heat exhaustion, dehydration, and heatstroke. Heatwaves persisting for weeks on end are making it increasingly difficult for our bodies to cool, especially for the most susceptible groups, including the elderly, young children, and those with chronic conditions.

Out-of-door laborers, athletes, and homeless people are especially at risk. Spending long hours under the sun with poor water and facilities for cooling down can easily lead to serious health problems. Moreover, excess heat worsens air pollution, which can further damage people with respiratory problems like asthma and COPD.

Evidence proves that human-induced climate change is responsible for approximately 37% of heat-related deaths, which clearly demonstrates how unprecedented the increases in temperature are.

 

2. Malaria

Climate change is also altering habitats where mosquitoes can survive and breed, enabling malaria to expand to new locations. As the globe warms and rain patterns change, mosquitoes have more favorable environments in which to thrive—even in places previously too cold or arid.

Increased temperatures make the mosquitoes breed quicker and assist the parasite for malaria to mature quicker in the insect. In addition, rain fluctuations can make areas of still water, which are perfect for breeding mosquitoes.

This growing threat is a critical issue for populations that have never seen malaria in their lives. Since healthcare systems are not equipped, effective means to control it, like the utilization of insecticide-treated nets and early medical care, become hugely important.

 

3. Dengue Fever

Dengue fever, which is also transmitted by mosquitoes, is rapidly spreading with rising temperatures and urbanization. Rising temperatures and humidity enable the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the main vector of dengue, to breed more readily, even in the city.

Dengue symptoms can be mild, like the flu, or very serious with pains, bleeding, and sometimes death. Because of global warming, climate change has allowed mosquitoes to move into areas that were too cold for dengue to spread before.

Outbreaks occur more frequently and in more locations. To avoid it, begin at home: eliminate standing water, spray for mosquitoes, and stay informed about local outbreak activity.

 

4. Lyme Disease

Milder winters and extended growing seasons have led to increased populations of ticks, particularly black-legged ticks that spread Lyme disease. The ticks are now emerging in areas where they used not to be.

Lyme disease begins with a bull's-eye rash and flu-like symptoms but can be serious, leading to chronic arthritis and nerve issues if left untreated. Global warming, warmer weather, and increased humidity have caused ticks to be active longer and in more places.

To guard yourself, take precautions when you are outside: wear long-sleeved shirts, spray for ticks, and inspect your body and clothing after being in woods or tall grass.

 

5. Cholera

Cholera outbreaks are becoming more common because of excess rains and floods caused by climate change. Cholera is caused by contaminated water and flourishes in places where sanitation systems are weak.

Floods can contaminate waste systems, and toxic bacteria such as Vibrio cholerae can migrate into drinking water. Cholera causes watery diarrhea and dehydration, which can be lethal if not treated. Low-income and rural areas with low access to clean water are particularly vulnerable. As climate-related catastrophes occur increasingly frequently, it is more urgent than ever to invest in clean water infrastructure.

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