Climate Change And Health

Overview

Climate change means long-term shifts in the world's weather — hotter summers, heavier rain and flooding, droughts, wildfires and stronger storms. 'Climate change and health' is about how these changes can affect your body and mind. It is not an illness you catch. Instead, it is a set of health risks that come with our changing environment, such as heat stress, breathing problems from smoky or polluted air, injuries from extreme weather, and worry about the future. Many of these effects can be reduced with simple, practical steps, and health services are working to prepare for them.

The health effects of a changing climate are already widespread and affect every country. Most people will notice some effect at some point, such as more uncomfortable heat, longer allergy seasons, or smoke from wildfires. Serious harm is much less common, and good planning lowers the risk further.

Everyone is affected, but some people face a higher risk. This includes older adults, babies and young children, pregnant women, people with long-term heart or lung conditions, people who work outdoors, people living in poor-quality housing or crowded cities, people with low incomes, and people who are socially isolated. People with disabilities and those who depend on electricity-powered medical equipment also need extra planning.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

• Feeling very hot, dizzy, tired or weak during hot weather (early heat effects)
• Heavy sweating, thirst, dry mouth and dark urine from dehydration
• Prickly heat rash, swollen ankles or feet in the heat
• Headaches, poor sleep and low energy on very hot nights
• Coughing, wheezing or sore eyes when air quality is poor or wildfire smoke is around
• More frequent or longer allergy symptoms such as sneezing and itchy eyes
• Feeling more worried, low or unsettled during extreme weather events
• Skin, stomach or wound infections after flooding or contaminated water

Symptoms in children

• Being thirstier than usual, passing less urine, or having few tears when crying (signs of dehydration)
• Heat rash, sunburn or feeling very hot and irritable
• Wheeze, cough or a flare-up of asthma on smoky or polluted days
• Tummy upset or diarrhoea after contact with flood water or after a power cut affects food storage
• Worry, sleep problems or behaviour changes after a flood, storm or evacuation
• Young children cannot control their body temperature as well as adults, so watch them closely in the heat

Symptoms in older adults

• Confusion, drowsiness or unusual behaviour in the heat — this can be an early warning sign
• Feeling cold, clammy or faint even when it is warm
• Dehydration with a dry mouth, dark urine or low urine output
• Worsening of long-term heart or lung problems, or increased breathlessness
• Some medicines affect how the body handles heat or fluid — ask your pharmacist or doctor if this applies to you
• Reduced ability to notice thirst or heat, especially if living alone

Causes

Main causes

• Burning coal, oil and gas releases gases that trap heat, warming the planet over time
• Higher average temperatures and more frequent, longer and more intense heatwaves
• More extreme weather such as floods, storms, droughts and wildfires
• Air pollution, including tiny particles and smoke, which can harm the heart and lungs
• Changes in rainfall and temperature that let some infections and allergens spread to new areas
• Heat trapped in cities because of concrete, tarmac and fewer green spaces

Risk factors

• Being older, a baby or young child, or pregnant
• Living with heart, lung, kidney or mental health conditions, or diabetes
• Taking medicines that affect sweating, fluid balance or blood pressure
• Working outdoors or doing heavy physical work in the heat
• Living in poor housing, a top-floor flat or an urban area with little shade or greenery
• Not having access to cooling, clean water or safe transport
• Living alone, being housebound, or having limited social support
• Disability, or depending on powered medical equipment at home
• Low income, which can make it harder to prepare and recover

When to see a doctor

See a doctor urgently if:

• Heat exhaustion that does not settle after cooling down and resting for about 30 minutes
• New confusion, fainting or a racing heartbeat during hot weather
• Your long-term heart or lung condition gets worse during a heatwave, smoke event or storm
• You cannot keep fluids down, or your urine is very dark and you feel unwell
• Any wound, skin infection or stomach illness after contact with flood water
• You feel overwhelming anxiety or distress linked to extreme weather that is affecting your daily life

Book a routine appointment if:

• You want advice on how heat or pollution might affect your medicines or health conditions
• You are planning for a heatwave, flood season or wildfire season and want a personal plan
• Seasonal allergies seem longer or worse than before
• You have asthma or another long-term condition and want your action plan updated
• You are worried about the effect of climate-related events on your mental health
• You care for someone vulnerable and need guidance on keeping them safe

Diagnosis

There is no single test for 'climate change and health'. Instead, your healthcare professional looks at your health and the environment you live in. They will ask about symptoms you notice during heat, smoke or extreme weather, your long-term conditions, the medicines you take, your home, your work and who can help you. This helps them find your personal risks and agree a plan with you.

Tests that may be done

• A general check-up, including blood pressure and pulse
• Blood or urine tests if you are dehydrated, unwell after a flood, or your long-term condition has changed
• Breathing tests (lung function tests) if your asthma or other lung condition has worsened
• A review of your medicine list to see whether anything affects heat or fluid balance
• A discussion about your home, work and support network (sometimes called a 'vulnerability' or 'care plan' review)
• Referral to a specialist team only if your symptoms or condition need it

What to expect at your appointment

Expect a conversation rather than a single test. Your clinician will focus on practical advice: how to stay cool and hydrated, what to do if air quality is poor, how to keep medicines safe in the heat, and who to call if things change. You may be given a written plan for heatwaves or emergencies. This is a normal part of care, especially if you have a long-term condition.

Treatment

Treatment is about lowering your exposure and managing any health problems that appear. For most people, this means cooling down, drinking enough, adjusting activity, and following the plan you already have for conditions like asthma or heart disease. If you become unwell — for example with heat exhaustion, a chest problem or an infection — your clinician will treat that condition in the usual way. No medicine is given for climate change itself.

Self-care at home

• On hot days, stay in the coolest room, close curtains on sunny windows, and open windows at night if it is safe to do so
• Drink regularly through the day, even if you do not feel thirsty, and eat cold foods like salad or fruit if you have a poor appetite
• Avoid heavy activity and direct sun between the hottest hours; move exercise to early morning or evening
• Wear light, loose clothing and a hat, and use shade or a fan safely (fans are not helpful above certain temperatures — follow local advice)
• Check air quality alerts and limit outdoor activity when smoke or pollution is high; keep windows shut
• Store medicines below the recommended temperature — ask your pharmacist how to keep them cool safely
• Keep a small emergency kit ready: water, any regular medicines, a torch, a charged phone and a list of key contacts
• Watch out for neighbours, friends and relatives who live alone or are more vulnerable
• Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, and how to cool someone quickly

Medical treatments

Medical care focuses on treating the health problem caused or worsened by extreme weather. That may include cooling and fluids for heat illness, treatment for dehydration, extra support for asthma or heart conditions, care for infections, and mental health support if distress is affecting daily life. Your clinician will also review your regular medicines and may change the timing or type if heat or dehydration puts you at risk. They will never advise stopping a prescribed medicine without a plan, so always ask first.

When is surgery considered?

Surgery is not relevant to this topic. In rare cases, someone injured in a flood, storm or wildfire may need hospital care, including surgery, but this is handled as an emergency.

Living with this condition

Living well with a changing climate is mostly about small routines. Check the weather and air-quality forecast each morning, plan outdoor tasks for cooler times, and keep water where you can see it. Keep medicines in a cool, dry place and know their safe temperature range. Have a plan for power cuts, especially if you rely on powered equipment. Practise the plan with family or carers so everyone knows what to do, and check in on people who live alone.

Lifestyle tips

• Build a personal 'heatwave plan' and an 'extreme weather plan' with your household
• Sign up for local weather and air-quality alerts if they are available
• Add shade, plants or light-coloured blinds where you live if possible
• Keep a stocked bottle of water and a small emergency bag by the door
• Wear sunscreen and a hat, and do outdoor exercise early or late on hot days
• Join a walking group, community garden or local support network — contact with others helps people stay safe and connected
• Ask your employer about cooling, rest breaks and hydration if you work outdoors or in a hot workplace

Diet and exercise

Eat regular, balanced meals, and include fruit and vegetables that contain water, such as cucumber, melon and tomatoes. Drink water regularly and limit alcohol, which can worsen dehydration. On hot days, choose gentle exercise at cooler times, keep a water bottle with you, and stop if you feel dizzy or unwell. On poor-air days, consider indoor activity instead. Regular movement is good for both physical and mental health, so adjust rather than stop.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

Worry about the climate, extreme weather and the future is very common and understandable — some people call it 'climate anxiety'. It can show up as racing thoughts, trouble sleeping, irritability or a sense of helplessness. These feelings are a normal response to a real issue, and you deserve support. Things that help include talking with people you trust, limiting doom-scrolling, spending time in nature, and taking small actions that build a sense of control. If worry is affecting your sleep, work or relationships, please speak to your doctor or a mental health professional. If you ever feel you cannot keep yourself safe, contact your local crisis line or emergency services straight away — you do not have to cope alone.

Prevention

You cannot stop the climate from changing on your own, but you can greatly reduce its effect on your health. Planning ahead — knowing the signs of heat illness, keeping a personal emergency plan, staying hydrated and checking forecasts — works well and is strongly encouraged. On a wider level, cleaner energy, greener cities, better housing and stronger health services all reduce risk for everyone.

Vaccines

There is no vaccine against climate change, but staying up to date with routine vaccinations, including seasonal flu and any vaccines recommended for your age or health conditions, helps protect you when extreme weather stresses your body or disrupts healthcare. Ask your doctor or pharmacist what is recommended for you.

Screening programmes

There is no screening test for this topic. Instead, keep up with your regular health checks — such as blood pressure, diabetes and asthma reviews — because well-controlled long-term conditions make you more resilient in extreme weather. Ask your GP practice when your next review is due.

Complications

If left untreated

• Heat exhaustion can progress to heatstroke, which is a medical emergency and can damage organs
• Dehydration can cause kidney problems, confusion and falls, particularly in older adults
• Untreated asthma or heart problems made worse by heat, smoke or pollution can become serious
• Infections after flooding can become more severe if not treated early
• Power cuts and disrupted services can mean missed medicines or missed treatment
• Ongoing stress and anxiety can affect sleep, mood and overall health if not supported

Long-term outlook

There is a lot of reason for hope. Communities, cities and health services are adapting — with heat warnings, cooling centres, cleaner transport, greener spaces and better emergency planning. Most personal risk can be lowered with practical, everyday steps, and if you do become unwell, early help works well. Taking care of your health, staying connected with others and knowing your plan are powerful tools.

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