This Warmer-Than-Average Weather Isn't Great News For Our Health

Spring is in the air a little earlier this year, but don’t go celebrating just yet. This year’s weather is shattering norms. Washington, D.C., for example, not only had the warmest February on record, but last month’s temps already surpassed the average records for March, too. The situation is similar for a lot of other spots across the country, and that could be bad news when it comes to public health. Experts theorize climate change may be part of the cause of this year’s early spring phenomenon, and warn the overall warming of the planet can have physical and mental health consequences. Below are just a few ways the rising temperatures can take a toll on our wellbeing.  An earlier spring could lead to an increase in illness. When the weather is colder, the chances of mosquito or other critter-borne illnesses is lower, since the insects don’t typically thrive in the cold. Experts are concerned that the early spring could impact the spread of illnesses like Zika and Lyme disease, Time reported earlier this week. Flooding from rains and premature snow melting could also contribute to this issue. “An overall warming trend opens up the chance for [ticks and mosquitoes] to live in new places and to stay alive for longer periods of time,” Aaron Bernstein, associate director of the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health Center for Health and the Global Environment, told the publication. Hotter temperature...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news