It’s never a comfortable conversation, but it’s one that doctors like us have learned to deliver to our patients: Your behavior is endangering your health, and you need to recognize the risks.
Usually, clear-eyed patients can see the symptoms themselves — weight gain, let’s say, or difficulty breathing — as well as the changes necessary to improve their health.
Now, the nation’s leading medical practitioners — with the White House behind them — are stepping forward with a diagnosis that all of us should heed, because the symptoms are becoming undeniable and the risks tremendous: Climate change is a health threat.
The nation’s public health leaders, doctors, and nurses are seeing more and more evidence — both in their patients and in epidemiological data — showing the direct and indirect links. We’re seeing more respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular disease, and heat-related deaths.
As leaders of public health institutions, we cannot overstate the importance of the commitment from President Obama and the highest levels of our government to shine a light on the health impacts of climate change.
Last month, President ... Read more
