Recently we transcribed Prof Costello’s interview on the BBC in which he expalined the reasoning behind the claims that global warming and climate change -  the biggest threat to world health.

More and more ordianary people are looking for new ways to spread the message that global warming is already causing devastation and misery around the world – social media sites are awash with call for action to raise awareness of global warming.

Rising temperatures and rising sea levels are well reported in association with global warming and now rising blood pressure joins the message from academics who are hoping to drive the urgency of climate change  home by linking the global climate problems with the effect it can have on the health of those currently distanced from regions where the effects are already being felt.

Blood Pressure

The ways that global warming’s raised temperatures will affect blood pressure highlights two very different but non the less dangerous outcomes.

Low blood pressure

When temperatures are high, we perspire (sweat) in order to cool down the body’s core temperature.  Blood is diverted to the skin’s surface where it will  cool, which opens up the blood vessels. As the heart rate rises and blood pressure dropssome may experience dangerous dizzy spells, light headedness or even fainting.

High blood pressure

The heart and its arteries will come under increased stress as the weather gets hotter.

Climate change causing the earth to heat up will result in more furious forest fires raging unchecked for days and far greater pollution- read more about spikes in cardiovascular related illness and hot weather conditions

Polution that results in lung damage to people of all ages, especially in cities,  makes breathing difficult and puts a huge additional strain on the heart. Those bearing the brunt of a hotter planet in cities won’t benefit from the cooling effect of trees and plants in the countryside, possiblysuffering more from even a slight decrease on Oxygen.

Other considerations

Medical scares aside many people just feel threatend by what is seen as unstoppable climate change and arescared of the consequences.  Stress from hearing worsening news on the state of our planet is most likey to be high up on the stress list of many and as such can be associated with high blood pressure.