This reduces people’s access to medical care and safe food and water. Not only do extreme weather events injure and kill people, they can also disrupt important infrastructure (such as utilities, roads, bridges, and power supplies). Hurricanes caused more than 1,000 deaths while floods caused less than 800. Extreme heat was the leading cause of weather-related deaths (more than 1,200) in the United States between 20. The correct answer is based on data from the National Weather Service. Floods, hurricanes, heat waves Answer to Q5: Heat waves, hurricanes, floods (correct)ĭ. Which list arranges climate change-related extreme weather events in the United States in order from most to least dangerous (based on a 10-year average of resulting deaths)?Ĭ. Learn more about the health impacts of extreme heat, as well as extreme cold. Even small differences in seasonal average temperatures can result in increased illnesses and deaths. Extreme heat compromises the body's ability to regulate temperature and can particularly harm people who already suffer from chronic illnesses like heart, kidney, and lung disorders. However, extremely hot days can lead to dehydration, heat cramps, heatstroke, and other conditions.

Which illness does NOT increase in frequency along with higher temperatures?Ĭases of arthritis are not expected to increase with higher temperatures. Learn more about how who you are influences your climate health risks. High-risk communities include low-income groups, people of color, and immigrant groups. People with mental illness, disabilities, or chronic medical conditions also face higher risks. Other people who are more vulnerable to climate change include pregnant women, children, and people who work outdoors. Some groups will experience worse health challenges than others. In general, health risks from climate change will not be evenly spread among people. Older adults are particularly at risk from extreme heat events, especially if they take certain medications that make it harder to maintain a healthy body temperature.

The elderly have a higher risk of becoming ill or dying during heat waves as compared to other groups. Learn more about these air quality impacts, as well as the health effects from changes in wildfires, increased pollution, and indoor air conditions. Rising temperatures, altered rain patterns, and more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will lead to higher pollen counts, longer pollen seasons, and associated increases in asthma episodes and other allergic illnesses. These factors all play a role in making the air we breathe indoors and outdoors better or worse. Will climate change lead to an increase or decrease in asthma attacks?Ĭlimate influences temperatures, cloudiness, humidity, wind, and how much and how hard it rains. Learn more about how changes in temperature, rainfall, extreme weather, and sea levels will affect our health. Periodic health risks, like allergy seasons, may shift in timing or have a longer window. Climate change can also bring unfamiliar health risks to new areas (such as when Lyme disease-carrying ticks expand their territory). For example, heat waves and floods may become more frequent and intense.

With climate change, existing health risks may worsen. Shift the timing of seasonal health risksĭ. Introduce health risks to geographic regions where they have not previously occurredĬ. How can the changing climate and weather affect human health?Ī. Increase frequency or severity of existing health risksī. How much do you know? How much will you learn? Take this quiz to find out! 1. Knowing your health risks gives you the power to manage them. Take this quiz to see how much you know about the health impacts of climate change. Understanding the threats that climate change pose to human health can help us work together to lower risks and be prepared. Visit the interactive version of this quiz.

Weather quiz for kids