Effect of Climate Change on Health and Disease (Essay Sample)

Effect of Climate Change on Health and Disease
Date
Institution
Introduction
Climate change is a state where the typical weather patterns once experienced regionally or globally change to the unexpected where temperatures on the surface of the earth rise. It is usually as a result of human activity especially the burning of fossil fuels which in turn emit carbon IV oxide into the atmosphere (Houghton, 1995). This state of events is what many refer to as global warming, and since man still relies heavily on fossil fuels the phenomenon continues to take root as days pass. New Hampshire has not been left out by changes in climate and global warming (PSR, 1999). Residents in many regions have felt the effects climate change has on health and disease; hence, the world cannot continue ignoring.
Although a complicated phenomenon, most scientists share the consensus that the temperature of the earth is increasing steadily with weather patterns changing in ways that can significantly harm man and his/her health. Everyday models of forecasting using mathematics gain credibility as weather and certain natural events confirm scenarios once hypothetical (PSR, 1999). Analyzing the effects of climate change on health and disease while focusing on New Hampshire one cannot overlook the facts recorded on the climate change experienced in the region. For starters, Granite State residents though accustomed to turbulent weather and fluctuations in temperature, they are taking note of an increase in storms’ fury, high temperature, and ice storm. People associate global warming with warmer weather that can destroy New Hampshire’s maple syrup, skiing, and tourism industries forgetting the fact that its consequences are potential health hazards.
Climate change however pimped still refers to extremes in weather conditions. Therefore, global warming means more than warmer temperatures, the unpredictable patterns of the weather. For instance, torrential rains result in floods which in turn wash raw sewage into water supplies contaminating drinking water. Therefore, infectious diseases spread across New Hampshire leading to cases of Giardiasis, Salmonella, and Cryptosporidiosis being reported (PSR, 1999). As a result of torrential rains floods displace residents from their homes, and this leads them to experience psychological traumas such as depression and post-traumatic stress syndrome. Extreme and Severe storms are known to cripple facilities and emergency care systems, and this was observed in the 1998 ice storm which rocked and frustrated emergency care systems with 47% of patients missing treatment.
Large snowfalls and cold weather when unexpected pose an array of certain health risks such as hypothermia, accidents, and cardiac deaths. However, the less noted risk comes from carbon monoxide. Its effects were felt in New England and New York in 1998 where carbon monoxide claimed 17 lives through asphyxiation and poisoning. All these were as a result of improper power generators' ventilation. In October 1999, New Hampshire suffered a blow of Mother Nature with Tropical Storm Floyd hitting. Therefore, it was declared a major disaster region that federal assistance had to be approved to help residents of Cheshire, Belknap, and Grafton counties (PSR, 1999). With severe climatic conditions, infrastructure tends to fail. Such was the case in New Hampshire where electricity went off after the 1998 ice storm. A survey done in 111 households in Maine showed 36 households were without heat leading to cold exposure, lower respiratory tract disease, and cardiac complaints.
1997 did not have good yields for the people of New Hampshire. For instance, in the summer of that year a prolonged drought hit with water shortages forcing people to minimize water use to that of food and livestock hence ignoring hygiene. As if that was not enough the drought resulted in forest fires which posed the risks such as asthma, injury to firefighters, and fatalities to residents nearby. In 1995, Chicago experienced a deadly heat wave which saw 600 people die, with scientist and researchers attributing this to the lack of air conditioning in homes (Cooney, 2011). Concord has been experiencing an increase in heat waves occurrence with recent observations placing the period for four continuous days over the past century resulting in a rise in reported cases of heat stress.
Smog is composed of a component known as ground-level ozone. Science has it that smog is usually most abundant during hot days and with climate change taking effect such is likely to occur in New Hampshire. Smog is an irritating, toxic gas which even in its minute amounts can affect lungs and one’s entire health. In 1999, Clean Air Network reported that measurements of ozone in some White Mountains spots and the seacoast did exceed Boston and Nashua ozone levels. In the summer of 1999, 18 smog alerts were recorded over a period of nine days affecting communities in Nashua, Keene, Portsmouth, Rochester, and Rye (NRDC, 2011). Research carried out has shown that exposure to smog can and will lead an individual suffer from diseases such as acute coughing, breathing pain, and breath shortness. New Hampshire has witnessed an approximate 690 people sent to hospital emergency rooms by smog with respiratory illnesses.
Climate change may be unfavorable to human beings, but other insects, animals, and microorganism differ. With warm and wet climates rodents and insects multiply at an exponential rate and with prolonged weather conditions due to climate change they flourish. Conditions as such in terms translate to increase in possible diseases such creatures can spread to the man, for example, vector-borne diseases. In New Hampshire, Lyme disease is on its rise already, taking into account the fact that in 1997 countywide New Hampshire was ranked 11th for Lyme disease...