Climate Change is also Disrupting Mental Health
We experience 4 seasons in the same day. Prof. Dr. Şevket Özkaya from Altınbaş University said that the mixing of seasons and the rapid transitions between seasons cause both physical and psychological disorders in people.
In recent years, we have started to experience 4 seasons in the same day. Experts describe this as one of the consequences of climate change.
Altınbaş University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Chest Diseases Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Şevket Özkaya pointed out that the mixing of seasons not only in our country but all over the world and the rapid transitions between seasons cause both physical and psychological disorders in people.
It causes chest and back pain and low energy!
Prof. Dr. Şevket Özkaya stated that the differences between home, work or indoor air temperature and outdoor air temperature have negative effects on people, “This situation primarily affects the choice of physical clothing. People exposed to sudden temperature differences have cold symptoms, especially chest and back pain. It causes symptoms such as prolonged cough, weakness, joint pain and fatigue, low energy.”
Stating that the prolongation of these complaints can lead to instant mood disorder, Özkaya warned, “Our citizens should be careful against restlessness, irritability, anxiety, social insanity and even violent behavior.”
“27% increase in hospital admissions”
Prof. Dr. Şevket Özkaya stated that according to the '2022 Health Statistics Yearbook' prepared by the Ministry of Health, the total number of visits to physicians in Türkiye in 2022 increased by 26 percent compared to the previous year and realized as 854 million 328 thousand 324.
Özkaya said, “This figure was realized as 600 million 261 thousand 131 in 2020 and 675 million 652 thousand 190 in 2021. In other words, there is an average increase of approximately 27% in the number of hospital admissions. Data for 2023 has not yet been given, but this is an important indicator. We observe that most of them have complaints of prolonged cough and fatigue.”
According to Prof. Dr. Özkaya from Altınbaş University, in order to cope with this situation, it is important to adapt to these sudden temperature and climate changes. Prof. Dr. Özkaya said, “Instead of choosing very thick or very thin clothes in daily clothes, you can wear layered clothes. We recommend that you should not consume very hot and very cold drinks and take care not to be exposed to sudden weather events such as rain and wind. Our citizens should not spend too much time in social environments that make them restless, create stress and anger or reduce their energy.”