Climate change is already affecting our health in lots of different ways.
Air pollution is a major risk to people’s health in Scotland and the UK. See Air pollution for more information.
Severe weather events are becoming more common (see the Lancet Countdown for more information). Major flooding, such as that around the Dighty Burn during Storm Babet in 2023, is made more likely by climate change. Severe flooding can cause injuries and death, as well as having a significant impact on people’s mental health. For information about how to manage during severe weather events see Ready Scot.
Heat waves are also becoming more common in Scotland (see Changing Climate ScotGov). Studies have shown that heart attacks, strokes, asthma attacks and COPD exacerbations are all more common during heat waves (see CDC). Severe heat can also cause heat stroke and dehydration. Patients with kidney problems and those on certain medications such as frusemide (water tablets) need to be particularly careful during prolonged hot weather. For more information see NHS Heatwave.
Climate change is also affecting creatures which spread disease. Lyme disease, which is spread by ticks, is now much more widespread across Scotland (see this study). If you get a tick bite please follow this advice on NHS Inform Tick Bites.
Other diseases such as malaria and dengue are also spreading to new areas of the world due to climate change (see CDC). For travel health advice, please see NHS Inform Travel Health.
Damage to the beautiful green spaces in our country is harming people’s mental health. You can help to keep our green spaces beautiful for us and the next generation. Find out more at Keep Scotland Beautiful.
As climate changes affects every part of the world, food and water insecurity is becoming a larger problem (CDC). This can increase prices for us all.
People in low income and disadvantaged communities and countries are particularly at risk from the health impacts of climate change. They are also the least likely to contribute to climate change. Find out more here.
Read more about the links between medication and the environment and what we are doing as a practice to address this, both clinical and non-clinical.