Climate change: a critical time for respiratory health
Abstract
Climate change has consistently been shown to result from human activity. The rise in average global temperature, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, has increased the frequency of extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, hurricanes, wildfires, and heat waves, as well as increasing airborne allergens and air pollution levels. These consequences have direct and indirect impacts on human health, particularly affecting individuals with cardiorespiratory disease. This review analyzed the main mechanisms whereby climate change impacts human health, with a focus on respiratory effects. Urgent mitigation efforts to reduce carbon emissions and prepare for extreme weather events are needed and must involve coordinated efforts across society. Physicians play a crucial role in communicating to patients how climate change affects health and in encouraging contributions to mitigation efforts by everyone.
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