Climate Change Impacts on Cardiovascular Disease

Presenter

Brickelle Leitl

Campus

Springfield Technical Community College

Sponsor

Reena Randhir, Department of Biology, Springfield Technical Community College

Schedule

Session 4, 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A5, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 1 (A1-A20) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is number one cause of death worldwide and this is exuberated with the greenhouse gas emissions accompanied by the changing climate. Human activities mainly by using fossil fuel as the prime energy source has increases gases such as nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, ozone and methane in our atmosphere resulting in global warming. A report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change announced how this has led to erratic weather patterns such as severe droughts, flooding, ice melts and storms that affect our environment, livelihoods and health. The aim of this research is to study how this climate change influences human health and CVD in particular by using a systematic literature review and data published in government websites. In this poster I discuss how air pollution and increasing temperatures affect CVD. The current air pollution is due to increase in CO2, SO2, particulate matter and other gases. They cause inflammation and oxidative stress which damage our blood vessels increasing atherosclerosis or blood clots that leads to heart attacks or strokes. Other CVD conditions such as myocardial infraction and arrhythmias are also documented. On the other hand high temperatures cause widening of blood vessels leading dehydration and imbalances in electrolytes causing increased blood pressure that leads to heart attacks. In conclusion, the relationship between climate change and CVD is serious and needs collaborative efforts by scientists, politicians and citizens working towards long-term environmental sustainability goals and health.

Keywords

Global climate change, Cardiovascular disease, Increasing temperatures , Pollutants, Fossil fuels

Research Area

Climate Science

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