Americans Face Increase In Premature Death Rates Due To Climate Change

The number of premature deaths in U.S. is expected to escalate yearly owing to extreme weather conditions like floods, hurricanes and heat waves in the future. Climate change could also contribute to an increase in mental health problems, a recent study suggests.

It's predicted that heat waves could cause a dramatic jump in the rate of annual premature U.S deaths in the future, which will escalate numbers that are currently in the bracket of 670-1,300 to an alarming 27,000 annually, by 2100. It has also been noted that there may be a decreased effect of increased cold on mortality.

Climate change that could lead to extreme heat will result in increased pollen counts, forest fires and a dip in the quality of air, making it exceedingly polluted which in turn will have an adverse effect on the health of Americans. There could be a marked rise in acute respiratory illness in the next 15 years, and people with asthma and other lung conditions will be at an increased risk of premature deaths.

The study, which was peer reviewed by eight separate federal agencies, also found that apart from physical health, climate change may also have a threatening effect on mental well being; leading to a likely rise in conditions liked anxiety, depression and post traumatic stress disorder, a consequence of extreme weather conditions like hurricanes and floods. In addition, there could be a rise in tick and mosquito borne diseases.

Currently, climate change is being addressed by President Barack Obama's administration, and steps are being taken to lower carbon emissions by shifting the focus to clean energy sources from oil and coal use. The White House faced a blow in its climate control endeavors in February this year, when the Supreme Court put a hold on its of plan of cutting emissions from power plants. However, the plan is now on safe legal footing. Additionally, according to the international agreement reached at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Paris, there will be a focus on curbing emissions by 2030, which can help fight risks to health.