Impacto del cambio climático en la salud

• Main Authors: Oyarzún Gómez, Manuel Jesús, Lanas Zanetti, Fernando Tomás, Wolff Reyes, Marcelo José, Quezada, Arnoldo L.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Soc. Medica Santiago 2021
• Subjects: Cardiovascular system; Communicable diseases; Greenhouse gases; Hot temperature; Nutritional status; Ocean acidification
• Online Access: https://repositorio.uchile.cl/handle/2250/185594

Climate changes evidenced by an increase in our planet’s mean temperature, changes in rainfall, increased sea level and extreme weather conditions, favor air and soil contamination, ocean acidification, droughts, floods, heat waves and forest fires, which affect the health and wellbeing of exposed populations. These changes will exert negative effects on respiratory and cardiovascular systems, nutritional status, burden of infectious diseases, especially vector-borne infections, and human mental health. Moreover, environmental damages, such as loss of biodiversity, ecological collapse and deterioration of socioeconomic factors such as agricultural and fishery production, and the loss of habitable land, will impulse massive migrations. This article summarizes the impact that climate change is expected to have on respiratory, cardiovascular and infectious diseases and its repercussions on people of extreme ages. It is imperative to achieve the immediate commitment of worldwide national governments to control greenhouse gas emissions. The appropriate technology does exist, but political will is urgently needed to accomplish this goal. Versión publicada - versión final del editor