Climate Change and Your Health: What to Watch and What to Do

Weather is changing fast, and that affects more than crops and coastlines. Heat waves, floods, wildfires, and shifting disease patterns change how we get sick and how medicines work. This page gives clear, practical steps you can use today to protect your health and your prescriptions.

How climate change affects your meds and health

Higher temperatures and humidity can damage temperature-sensitive drugs like insulin, some biologics, and vaccines. Power outages during storms make refrigeration unreliable. Supply chains stretch as extreme events close factories or ports, causing shortages or delays for essential medicines. Warmer climates also spread vector-borne diseases (think mosquitoes carrying dengue or Zika), and air pollution from wildfires worsens asthma and heart conditions. Even mental health is affected: stress, displacement, and loss after disasters increase anxiety and depression.

These effects are practical, not theoretical. For example, several hospitals in heatwave zones report more ER visits for dehydration, asthma flares, and heart trouble. Pharmacies in flood-prone areas report occasional stock gaps after storms. Knowing these risks helps you plan.

Simple, practical steps you can take now

1) Review your meds with a healthcare provider. Ask which drugs need cool storage, whether an extra supply is safe, and any alternative options if a specific drug becomes scarce. If you rely on a specialty biologic or refrigerated drug, get a written plan for storage during power loss.

2) Store medicines correctly. Keep insulin and vaccines in the fridge between 2–8°C (36–46°F) if required. Use a thermometer in the medicine fridge. When travelling or during outages, use insulated bags or cool packs and avoid direct sunlight. Never freeze drugs unless the label says it’s OK.

3) Prep for power outages. Small battery-powered coolers, a charged power bank for medical devices, and a list of nearby clinics or pharmacies that can store refrigerated meds can save you hours or days of stress. Put a sticker on your fridge or a note in your phone with emergency contacts and medication names.

4) Watch local health alerts. Sign up for community weather and public health alerts. If your area warns about poor air quality from fires, limit outdoor activity and have inhalers or rescue meds ready. If mosquito-borne diseases rise locally, use repellent and remove standing water.

5) Keep a basic kit. Include a 7–14 day supply of essential meds (if clinically safe), copies of prescriptions, a list of allergies, and dosing info. Store copies digitally in a secure app and physically in a waterproof bag.

Climate change affects everyone differently, but small steps reduce risk. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor about personalized plans, especially if you depend on temperature-sensitive drugs, oxygen, or continuous therapies. A little planning today avoids bigger problems later.