Planet Earth is facing a climate emergency.
- Climate change, through its association with extreme weather events particularly heat and air pollution, increases Cardiovascular Mortality and Morbidity.
- Extreme heat and heatwaves worsens Cardiovascular disease; increasing Ischaemic Heart Disease, Congestive heart failure and hospital admissions.
- Air pollution, particularly PM2.5, increases Cardiovascular Mortality, Ischaemic Heart Disease/Myocardial infarctions, Cardiovascular hospital admissions, Congestive Heart Failure, Stroke, Hypertension, Diabetes, Arrhythmias and Atherosclerosis.
- Extreme heat/heatwaves and Air pollution effects act synergistically.
- Wildfire smoke contains many air pollutants that increase Cardiovascular mortality.
- A sudden cardiac event is the leading cause of fire duty-related deaths.
- Reducing Greenhouse gas emissions has many cardiac co-benefits. Examples include having a plant based diet, increasing active transport, changing to renewable energy sources, increasing green spaces, and stopping smoking.
- There are many ways each individual can reduce their own personal carbon footprint. Changing to renewable energy sources and financial divestment away from fossil fuel and related industries will have the greatest impact.
Podcasts on Climate Change and CVD:
https://www.healthed.com.au/podcasts/climate-change-and-cardiovascular-disease-part-1/
https://www.healthed.com.au/podcasts/air-pollution-and-cardiovascular-disease-part-2/
Presentation on Cardiac Co-Benefits of Climate Change Mitigation (Port Douglas Heart Meeting 2024)
Climate Change and CVD and GreeningCardiology (FIT Heart webinar)
https://vimeo.com/962981440/c0e5f46eb9
The co-benefits of climate change mitigation strategies on cardiovascular health: a systematic review
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666606524000920
Pallavi Shrestha, Sai Keerthana Nukala, Fariha Islam, Tim Badgery-Parker, Fiona Foo,
The co-benefits of climate change mitigation strategies on cardiovascular health: a systematic review,
The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific,Volume 48,2024,101098,ISSN 2666-6065, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanwpc.2024.101098.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666606524000920)
SAN Doctor Editorial: BURNING HEARTS: HOW CLIMATE CHANGE IS A HEART ATTACK!
Editorial printed/online in ACM newspapers: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7487695/climate-change-is-a-danger-to-our-hearts/
Burning Hearts, How Climate Change is a Heart Attack! Video Presentation for ECO living festival: https://youtu.be/O9aVVp3aZ9M?si=se1o3eFa8VpZtaGQ
Interview with the Hon. Kylea Tink on Climate Change and CVD: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=490739239355097
Climate Change and CVD Presentation for Medical professionals:
For more in depth information read Dr Foo's article on Climate Change and Cardiovascular Disease: htt_environmental_change_and_cardiovascular_disease_22jan21
Healthcare sustainability:
The Australian Healthcare sector contributes ~7% of Australia's GHGe. Nearly 50% of this is from Public and Private Hospitals. Dr Fiona Foo is leading the Macquarie University Hospital Sustainability Committee: https://macquni.e-newsletter.com.au/pub/pubType/EO/pubID/zzzz63d07b460666d650/?aid=7af9b30f0fddf172af9b30f0fddf172
