Environmental Stressors Take a Toll on Human Health

As a heart and lung transplant surgeon, Dr. Bill Frist has seen firsthand how environmental factors can impact human health. He notes that while we often focus on individual risk factors like blood pressure and genetics, another set of forces is acting on us every day: the air we breathe, the heat we endure, and the landscapes surrounding us.

The science now allows us to see these environmental effects at work inside the body. Climate change and degradation show up in various organs, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, nervous system, hormonal stress response, and immune system. Dr. Frist cites a study that linked extreme heat, worsening air quality, and severe weather with higher rates of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death.

The author also highlights the impact on children's health. Every breath brings pollutants into their developing lungs, exacerbating asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). A study in Southern California found that improved air quality led to significant gains in lung function among children living in polluted areas.