What are the risks of climate change?

More frequent and intense drought, storms, heat waves, rising sea levels, melting glaciers and warming oceans can directly harm animals, destroy the places they live, and wreak havoc on people’s livelihoods and communities. As climate change worsens, dangerous weather events are becoming more frequent or severe.

Is cardiovascular disease climate sensitive?

Health Impacts of Climate Change Extreme cold and extreme heat directly affect the incidence of hospital admissions for chest pain, stroke, cardiac dysrhythmia (irregular heart beat), and other cardiovascular diseases.

How does extreme temperature affect the cardiovascular system?

Low temperature causes blood vessels to narrow, which increases blood pressure and the risk of stroke and other cardiovascular events (24) while high temperature causes blood vessels to dilate, which increases cardiac output and risk of decompensate heart failure (25, 26).

What are the effects of climate change on human health?

Climate change increases the risk of illness through increasing temperature, more frequent heavy rains and runoff, and the effects of storms. Health impacts may include gastrointestinal illness like diarrhea, effects on the body’s nervous and respiratory systems, or liver and kidney damage.

Who is most at risk from climate change?

Other groups that are particularly vulnerable to the health effects of climate change include: pregnant women, immigrant groups (including those with limited English proficiency), indigenous peoples, the disabled, vulnerable occupational groups, such as workers who are exposed to extreme weather, and people with pre- …

What are cardiovascular diseases?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels. It’s usually associated with a build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries (atherosclerosis) and an increased risk of blood clots.

Is a stroke cardiovascular disease?

Heart disease and stroke are both types of cardiovascular disease. The cardiovascular system, also called the circulatory system, comprises the heart and all the blood vessels that pump and move blood around the body. The condition of your cardiovascular system is to a large extent determined by your lifestyle.

How does hyperthermia lead to cardiovascular collapse?

An increase in the body core temperature (hyperthermia) from approximately 36.5 to 39 degrees C causes a doubling of the cardiac output. In connection with vasoconstriction in the splanchnic circulation and in skeletal muscle this results in large increases of skin blood flow.

Does cold temperature affect heart rate?

Cold weather makes your heart work harder to keep your body warm, so your heart rate and blood pressure may increase.