Dr RK Chopra, MD (medicine), MD (Respiratory medicine), FCCP(USA), Senior Consultant Respiratory Medicine, Ruby Hall Clinic and Grant Medical Foundation Pune, Maharastra shares the impact of climate change on asthma epidemics
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As the Earth’s climate undergoes transformation, it’s manifesting in more frequent and severe extreme weather events worldwide. These include record-breaking heatwaves on both land and sea, heavy rainfall leading to floods, thunderstorms, prolonged droughts, and intense wildfires. The primary culprit behind this shift is the increased emission of greenhouse gases, primarily from burning fossil fuels, which act as a thermal blanket, trapping heat and elevating global temperatures. Consequently, this disrupts the water cycle, alters weather patterns, and accelerates the melting of land ice, exacerbating the intensity of extreme weather phenomena.
The escalation in extreme weather occurrences is directly tied to health concerns, particularly respiratory health. Research has established a clear connection between climate change-induced extreme weather events and a surge in asthma cases, leading to heightened asthma exacerbations, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and mortality rates. The latest assessment from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC AR6) in 2022 underscores the immediate threat climate change poses to respiratory health, including asthma, while also outlining methods for cutting greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change.
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Studies highlight certain demographics, including children, women, and the elderly, as particularly vulnerable to asthma exacerbations triggered by extreme weather conditions. The relationship between temperature and asthma risk follows a U or J-shaped curve, indicating that both extreme heat and cold can increase the likelihood of asthma attacks through mechanisms such as airway inflammation and exposure to air pollutants like particulate matter and ozone.
Asthma, a complex condition influenced by environmental factors and individual susceptibilities, is intricately linked to temperature fluctuations.
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Extreme temperatures not only heighten vulnerability to allergens and respiratory viruses but also impair lung function and weaken immunity, further exacerbating asthma symptoms. Consequently, effective asthma management in the face of climate change and extreme weather events emerges as a critical priority.
