Impact of Recent Climate Change Events on Health – The Cardiology Advisor
Excerpt via The Cardiology Advisor:
Climate Change Is a Public Health Crisis
At the 2022 annual meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA), climate change was declared a public health crisis. AMA Board Member Ilse R. Levin, DO, MPH, stated that “the scientific evidence is clear — our patients are already facing adverse health effects associated with climate change, from heat-related injuries, vector-borne diseases, and air pollution from wildfires to worsening seasonal allergies and storm-related illness and injuries. Taking action now won’t reverse all of the harm done, but it will help prevent further damage to our planet and our patients’ health and well-being.”3
Climate change affects human health in widespread and complex ways. Physicians therefore need to be prepared to handle the health-related effects of climate change.
The first step toward helping patients is to become educated on how climate change can affect health. The health effects of climate change are expansive and multifaceted. Numerous online continuing medical education (CME) courses on the health effects of climate change are available for physicians.20-22 These courses provide background information on the types of events caused by climate change, as well as the health risks to patients and treatment options for physicians.
Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) provides information on climate change and how it affects human health, and this information can serve as a useful tool for physicians.23 The WHO also organizes a Global Conference on Health and Climate Change every 2 years; this symposium supports engagement, education, and policy change.24
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How Can Physicians Be Prepared To Discuss Climate Change With Patients?
By recognizing the effects of extreme weather caused by climate change, physicians can be better prepared to address symptoms and appropriately diagnose patients.
Physicians should also be aware of the mental health changes that can occur due to extreme weather events resulting from climate change, as well as the mental health changes that could be expected within their geographic region. Physicians should be prepared to talk to their patients about mental health and be aware of the resources available to them — including referring patients to mental health providers, when necessary.
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Physicians can broach the topic of climate change and health by using brief educational messages with their patients. … An effective method for discussing the effects of climate change is to emphasize the health consequences of the weather event. By starting a discussion about how a particular symptom is caused by climate change, physicians can appeal to the patient’s main interest. For example, if a patient presents with asthma and difficulty breathing, physicians can start the conversation by mentioning that the difficulty breathing is likely a result of high air pollution caused by climate change. …
Physicians can also encourage eco-friendly transportation, such as the use of bike paths and public transportation, instead of commuting by car.
At the 2022 annual meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA), climate change was declared a public health crisis. AMA Board Member Ilse R. Levin, DO, MPH, stated that “the scientific evidence is clear — our patients are already facing adverse health effects associated with climate change, from heat-related injuries, vector-borne diseases, and air pollution from wildfires to worsening seasonal allergies and storm-related illness and injuries.” …
“How Can Physicians Be Prepared To Discuss Climate Change With Patients?…By recognizing the effects of extreme weather caused by climate change, physicians can be better prepared to address symptoms and appropriately diagnose patients. An effective method for discussing the effects of climate change is to emphasize the health consequences of the weather event. By starting a discussion about how a particular symptom is caused by climate change, physicians can appeal to the patient’s main interest...
Physicians can broach the topic of climate change and health by using brief educational messages with their patients. … An effective method for discussing the effects of climate change is to emphasize the health consequences of the weather event. By starting a discussion about how a particular symptom is caused by climate change, physicians can appeal to the patient’s main interest. For example, if a patient presents with asthma and difficulty breathing, physicians can start the conversation by mentioning that the difficulty breathing is likely a result of high air pollution caused by climate change…
Physicians can also encourage eco-friendly transportation, such as the use of bike paths and public transportation, instead of commuting by car.”
