Our planet, our health

It is no secret that our world has altered dramatically in how it impacts our health. This year, we recognise not just the negative effects of unhealthy habits but also how our planet's health impacts ours.

For decades, industrial evolution, an increase in the number of chronic diseases, and pandemics have been wreaking havoc on people's quality of life. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is drawing worldwide attention to these challenges in order to promote awareness. This year's World Health Day theme is Our Planet, Our Health.

This year marks the 72nd year of World Health Day. It is no secret that our world has altered dramatically in how it impacts our health. This year, we recognise not just the negative effects of unhealthy habits but also how our planet's health impacts ours.

WHO estimates that preventable environmental factors cause more than 13 million deaths worldwide each year. This includes the climate problem, the most dangerous to humanity's health. The climatic catastrophe is a health crisis as well.

What are the ways in which the Climate Crisis is also a Health Crisis:

Global warming: The steady rise in the planet's temperature has also been shown to harm human health. People from low-income families are disproportionately impacted because they lack the basic requirements to protect themselves from the scorching heat. In the worst-case scenario, exposure to this heat level may result in heatstroke and even death.

Depleting air quality: The air quality has deteriorated dramatically, and around 90% of the world's population is exposed to it. However, it is also to recognise that numerous factors contribute to the deterioration of air quality. To mention a few, increased automobile traffic, smoke from industry, and wildfires all contribute to air quality degradation.

Increase in wildfires: Wildfires have become more likely as the environment has heated up. Wildfires devastate not only the plants but also the wildlife. In addition, the air pollution caused by wildfires may cause respiratory difficulties in humans. The trauma of suffering wildfires or losing loved ones or things may also significantly impact people's mental health.

Industrial waste: Poorly dumped industrial waste contributes to land and water contamination. It harms people's health, and degrades soil quality and turns it barren over time.

Climate change has caused several illnesses and chronic diseases and exacerbated pre-existing conditions. Among them:

Waterborne diseases: Waterborne infections are caused by drinking dirty water. Another explanation might be toxic compounds like lead and mercury in the water bodies. This may induce typhoid, diarrhoea, hepatitis, liver damage, and cancer.

Cancer: Pollution has been linked to some cancers. A weakened immune system may worsen the disease and recovery of cancer patients.

Asthma: Researchers discovered that air pollution is a major cause of asthma. It causes asthma and makes it difficult for persons with asthma to operate normally. Inhaling polluted air is unpleasant in general, but for asthmatics, the swelling and tightness of the airways make it much more so.

Finally, we must make intentional efforts to prevent contact with these contaminants, reduce industrial pollution of the air, land, and water, and reduce waste and littering.