PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — According to a review of almost 500 studies, exposure to stress from climate change can have an important impact on our cardiovascular health.
The stress from extreme temperatures and hurricanes had the greatest impact. The groups hit the hardest are the elderly and those in economically challenged communities.
The physical impact on the heart includes increased heart rate in response to stress, systemic inflammation after inhalation of particulate matter and increased rates of anxiety and depression.
The report predicts greater health issues if conditions continue to deteriorate.
Get more medical reports from Dr. Brian McDonough.
KYW Newsradio's Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.
