How does climate change affect human health?

Climate change, especially extreme heat and extreme weather events, can have more direct effects on the human body, sometimes in unexpected ways.

A recent study by the Karolinska Institute in Sweden found that more people are being hospitalized with hyponatremia - abnormally low sodium levels due to high outdoor temperatures.

"Simply put, hyponatremia could be the result of sodium deficiency (low intake or high loss) or excess water," study co-author Dr. Jakob Skov told Medical News Today.

"There are two plausible explanations for heat-related hyponatremia - salt loss through sweating, leading to sodium deficiency, or overhydration due to exaggerated fear of dehydration," he said.

There is also some evidence that temperature fluctuations can affect how the immune system responds to pathogens such as viruses. For example, a study published in the journal PNAS in 2019 examined how effectively the immune system of mice responds to influenza viruses under different temperature conditions.

The researchers found that in mice that were exposed to high ambient temperatures - 36 degrees Celsius (96.8 degrees Fahrenheit) - the immune response to the flu virus was weakened.

According to scientists, there is some evidence that neurological diseases are exacerbated when exposed to extreme heat, such as in people who suffer from seizures or other neurological problems.

 One systematic review from August 2021 did show that there is a link between elevated ambient temperatures and worsening symptoms of neurological diseases, from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's to epilepsy and migraine.

The review analyzed at least 84 studies on climate change and neurological health and concluded that global warming may indeed contribute to worsening symptoms, increased hospitalizations, and an increased risk of death due to these diseases.

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