Part – 2 Adverse effects of climate change driven by global warming on life that exists on planet earth in particular human life.
Every year, the planet is heating up more. Experts say that 2023 was the hottest year ever in the planets recorded history. The problem appears to get worse as years pass by.
The health of all living be it, human or animal or plants is going to severely affected adversely. The major effects of global warming would be in an increase of extreme weather events, water scarcity, vector borne and water borne infections, non-communicable disease. This may even lead to mental health disorder, food and nutrition insecurity.
As temperatures increase, more water evaporates from oceans, rivers, and other bodies of water, increasing moisture content in the atmosphere. This leads to higher humidity levels. When humidity is high, the air already contains a significant amount of moisture, making it difficult for sweat to evaporate effectively from the skin.
Evaporation is the body’s primary mechanism for cooling down. When sweat doesn’t evaporate efficiently, the body’s ability to regulate its temperature is compromised, leading to increased heat stress.
A heat wave is typically defined as a prolonged period of excessively hot weather, often accompanied by high humidity, that significantly exceeds the average temperatures for a particular region and time of year.
Dehydration can have several adverse effects on the composition of the blood and its circulation:
1. Increased Blood Viscosity: Dehydration leads to a decrease in blood volume, which increases the concentration of blood cells and proteins in the bloodstream. This increased concentration, or viscosity, makes it harder for the blood to flow smoothly through the blood vessels, putting strain on the heart and potentially leading to HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.
2. Reduced Circulation: With decreased blood volume, the heart has to work harder to pump blood throughout the body. This can lead to reduced circulation, impairing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to cells and tissues. In severe cases, reduced circulation can lead to organ damage and dysfunction.
3. Electrolyte Imbalance: Dehydration often involves the loss of electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and chloride through sweating and urination. These electrolytes play crucial roles in maintaining the balance of fluids and regulating various bodily functions, including nerve and muscle function. An imbalance in electrolytes can disrupt the normal functioning of cells and tissues, affecting overall circulation.
4. Impaired Thermoregulation: Adequate hydration is essential for the body’s ability to regulate temperature through processes such as sweating and vasodilation. Dehydration impairs these mechanisms, making it harder for the body to dissipate heat and increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
In summary, dehydration can lead to increased blood viscosity, reduced circulation, electrolyte imbalances, and impaired thermoregulation, all of which can have detrimental effects on the composition of the blood and its circulation throughout the body.
Heat increases the risk of brain strokes due to THROMBOSIS in blood vessels of the brain.
Studies has shown that there is a significant increase in mortality due to/and coronary heart disease. In an ageing population the risk of cardiovascular events will exponentially increase with increate in every one degree centigrade.
Both South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa are regions where staple crops like rice and wheat are grown extensively. These crops have optimal temperature ranges for growth, and exceeding these ranges can indeed lead to decreased yields. Research suggests that each crop has a specific temperature range within which it thrives, and beyond which its growth and productivity decline.
For example, studies have shown that both rice and wheat have heat thresholds beyond which their yields decrease. Even small increases in temperature can have significant impacts on crop yields, with some estimates suggesting that for every 1 degree Celsius increase in temperature, yields can decrease by around 5-10%.
Broadly speaking, there are two major strategies that we should develop for human survival. One, is to mitigate the drivers of climate change and the second is the roadmap for adaptation. These will include heat action plans designed, specially for urban and ruler areas, climate, smart and climate, resilient, food and healthcare systems, education of public and healthcare providers and anticipatory planning to meet the increased healthcare demands that heat waves will bring in their wake. Heat shelters, water stations, heat reflective roofs and walls, paints for housing, well, ventilated homes, and an increase in green spaces must become part of urban planning.
To be continued.