The climate crisis is making it harder for people with lung diseases to breathe
People with lung problems like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have a lot more to worry about in the face of climate change, according to a new report.
This is especially true for babies, children and the elderly. This report was published by the European Respiratory Society, a group that brings together more than 30,000 pulmonologists from 160 different countries.
Doctors warn that climate change will make life much more difficult for people who already have breathing problems.
The climate crisis affects lung health: Here’s how
The report examines many different ways that climate change is making breathing problems worse:
Hotter weather means more allergens: As temperatures rise, there are more things like pollen in the air that can make it difficult to breathe.
Crazy Weather Patterns: We are seeing more wild weather such as heat waves, droughts and large storms. These things lead to really bad air quality and even dust storms.
Rain and Mold: More rain can cause flooding, which can lead to damp homes. Moisture can form mold, which in turn makes it difficult to breathe.
You may have noticed that the weather has become more extreme. Europe alone faced record-breaking heat, massive fires and severe flooding.
And that’s not only bad news for our planet, it’s also terrible for our health, especially for people with sensitive or developing lungs like babies and toddlers.
What needs to change: Clean air and climate protection
The report is not just a warning. In addition, governments around the world, particularly in Europe, are being urged to take action now.
Air quality regulations in the European Union are not strict enough, says Professor Zorana Jovanovic Andersen, one of the report’s authors.
In her opinion, the European Union should comply with more ambitious air quality standards, like those proposed by the World Health Organization, to make it easier for everyone to breathe.
Professor Andersen also stresses that doctors and nurses should be more aware of these additional risks and talk about them with their patients. Knowing the risks can help people take steps to protect themselves.
In the meantime, the European Respiratory Society is doing its part to fight climate change.
Last year they started measuring their own carbon footprint and plan to reduce it. They also focus their efforts on meeting the global goals for a sustainable future.
The message is clear: we must act now to reduce the harmful effects of climate change, not only on the planet but also on our health.
If we don’t make changes, people who are already struggling to breathe will find it even more difficult.
If you care about lung health, please read studies on the effects of marijuana on lung health and why some non-smokers get lung disease and some heavy smokers don’t.
For more information on lung health, see recent studies on minimizing lung damage in COVID patients and the results showing this existing drug can save damaged lungs in COVID-19.
The research results can be found in the European Respiratory Journal.
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