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This article was featured in the June 2009 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
How to cope with a warmer world
This article is the archived version of a report that appeared in the June 2009 Consumer Reports magazine.
Close to half of Americans say global warming threatens their future well-being and safety, according to a 2008 survey by researchers at George Mason University. Increasingly, evidence shows they're right. Here are some climate-related problems you're apt to hear more about in coming years and how to limit their effects:
Allergies and asthma
Warmer temperatures and higher carbon-dioxide levels might boost pollen growth and lengthen blooming seasons. In a study by a plant physiologist at the Department of Agriculture, ragweed plants were grown in a rural area and in a city with warmer temperatures and 30 percent more CO2. The city plants produced five times as much pollen. For asthma sufferers, more ground-level ozone (which increases with hotter weather) could mean more attacks.
What to do: Keep windows closed and air conditioning on when pollen counts are high (see counts at www.aaaai.org). For more on dealing with allergies and asthma, go to www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.
Insect-borne diseases
With rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns, mosquitoes that carry malaria and the West Nile virus have spread northward and to higher elevations. Also expected to spread: Lyme disease and dengue fever, a mosquito-borne virus that caused illness in Texas in 2005.
What to do: Rid your yard of water-filled containers. Use a repellent that has at least 30 percent deet. In areas that might harbor ticks, wear long pants tucked into socks and use a repellent with deet (on exposed skin) or permethrin (on clothes).
Poison ivy
Research indicates that a rise in CO2 boosts its growth and potency.
What to do: If you know you'll be near a poison plant, cover up. Ivy Block can cut the risk of a rash when used before contact. As soon as you've brushed against a plant, wash skin with soap and water, and wash affected clothes.
Heat-related illness
Heat waves might become longer, more intense, and more frequent, which could be especially bad for the elderly.
What to do: Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing, drink lots of water, and stay indoors when possible. Be aware of hot-weather warnings.
Mental health
Severe weather events, expected to be more frequent with climate change, can cause emotional distress.
What to do: Consult local mental-health services if you have flashbacks or nightmares about the event. Talk therapy, medication, or both may help.
