Our climate plays an important role in the way we live our lives. The environment affects not just our daily routine but also the various functions of our body. Experts say that the rising temperature due to extreme weather conditions many cause kidney failure, strokes, excessive bleeding, and skin cancer. Not a secret to all, the ultraviolet rays of the sun have much to do with these conditions.
So, in what ways are we affected?
A study revealed that the rise in temperature worldwide due to climate change is the cause of kidney disease found in workers that are constantly working under the sun and face dehydration. The kidney slows its working because of loss of water in the form of sweat which ultimately results in temporary or permanent kidney failure.
Brain Hemorrhage
Hot and humid climate decreases the viscosity of the blood which means it can cause excessive bleeding and lead to a hemorrhagic stroke as it is very easy for thinner blood to escape the blood vessels
Skin Cancer
Now, this is not applicable to everyone as being with dark skin has a substance called melanin in their skin that can resist the carcinogenic effect of UV rays which causes cancer. However, skin cancer is very common among the people of Albinos.
Increased Stress
The level of the stress hormone, cortisol, rises in the summer and it helps link heat exposure to violence, suicide, and aggression. There are theories that suggest high temperatures trigger the sympathetic nervous system that makes people more likely to fight.
Meningitis
It is caused due to an infection of the meanings which is the thin layer surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Bacteria, viruses, and protozoa cause these infections. A study suggests that temperature rising due to climate change may lead to the growth of Meningitis cases from 2020 to 2035. Experts say that there has been an increase in Meningitis cases in Nigeria due to the scorching heat.
Other problems
The mentioned problems may be long term, but the immediate effects of extreme heat exposure, as stated in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, include dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. It may also make a pre-existing chronic condition worse and can be fatal to the individual’s health.
So while we all get excited for the summer vacations coming our way, it is necessary to be conscious of the health implications the heat may have on our body. After all the first step to avoiding something is being aware of it, isn’t it?
