Climate change is no longer a distant scientific warning—it is the air we breathe, the storms we flee, the heat that strains our hearts, and the unseen stress carried in our communities. As typhoons grow stronger and heatwaves more relentless, our health becomes the first and most fragile casualty. This in-depth H&L cover story explores how climate disasters attack the body and mind, why Filipinos are uniquely vulnerable, and what families and communities can do to build true “stormproof health” in an age when resilience is both a science and a spiritual calling.

By Rafael R. Castillo, MD

Typhoons that feel stronger than ever, heat that presses on the chest like a weight, flash floods that rise in minutes—climate change is no longer a distant environmental issue. It is a present health emergency, shaping how Filipinos live, get sick, heal, and even how our hospitals function.

Global health authorities now describe climate change as the greatest health threat of the 21st century. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that between 2030 and 2050, climate change will cause about 250,000 additional deaths each year from undernutrition, malaria, diarrhea and heat stress alone.  

Recent reports from the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change show that heat-related deaths have already risen by around 23% since the 1990s, with an average of more than half a million people dying annually from extreme heat worldwide.

For a country like the Philippines—regularly battered by typhoons, floods, and rising temperatures—“stormproof health” is not a metaphor. It is a survival plan.

How Climate Disasters Attack the Body

Extreme weather harms health in multiple, overlapping ways.

1. Injuries and acute emergencies.

Strong typhoons and floods cause immediate trauma: drowning, fractures, lacerations, head injuries, and electrocution. Disrupted roads and communication can delay emergency care, turning survivable injuries into fatal ones.

2. Infectious diseases.

Standing water after floods becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes, raising the risk of dengue and other vector-borne illnesses. Contaminated water supplies trigger outbreaks of diarrhoeal diseases such as cholera and other acute gastroenteritis, especially in crowded evacuation centers with limited toilets and handwashing facilities.

3. Chronic disease flare-ups.

People with hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, or chronic kidney disease are especially vulnerable. High heat strains the heart and blood vessels; dehydration can destabilize blood pressure and blood sugar; interruptions in dialysis, oxygen supply, or maintenance medications can rapidly become life-threatening. Global data show a rapid rise in heat-related mortality, particularly among older adults and those with chronic illnesses.

4. Air pollution and respiratory disease.

Climate change also fuels wildfires and worsens urban air pollution, increasing the burden of asthma, COPD, and heart attacks. The climate–health alliance notes that air pollution alone is responsible for millions of deaths annually worldwide, many from heart and lung disease.

The Philippine Reality: A Hotspot for Climate-Linked Illness

The Philippines consistently ranks among the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world. From 2010 to 2015, the country recorded nearly a hundred climate-related disasters affecting an average of 11 million people each year, with massive damage to homes, livelihoods—and health facilities themselves.

Heat is fast becoming a silent emergency. A 2025 analysis projected that by 2030, up to 11 million Filipinos could be exposed to dangerous heat indices above 42°C, rising to as many as 74 million by 2050. School closures, work stoppages, and a surge in heatstroke, dehydration, and kidney complications are already being reported.

When disasters strike, hospitals and barangay health stations are not spared. Super typhoons in recent years have damaged a significant fraction of healthcare facilities in affected regions, forcing patients to travel farther—or go without care entirely—at precisely the moment when they need help most.

Invisible Wounds: Mental Health in the Age of Climate Disasters

Beyond physical injuries, climate disasters leave deep psychological scars.

Research in the Philippines has documented high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, insomnia, and “intrusive thoughts” among survivors of super typhoons. Health workers and volunteers involved in disaster response are also at elevated risk for burnout and mental illness.

A recent systematic review on climate change and mental health in the Philippines found that extreme weather events, displacement, and the slow loss of homes and livelihoods are strongly associated with psychological distress and climate-related anxiety. Young people, in particular, report intense fear and grief about their future, sometimes called “eco-anxiety.”

Yet mental health services remain under-resourced, and disasters often damage the few psychiatric and psychological services available in affected regions. Stormproof health must therefore include not only first aid kits and bottled water, but also emotional first aid and community-based psychosocial support.

Who Is Most at Risk?

Climate-related health risks do not fall equally.

• Older adults are more sensitive to heat, more likely to have chronic diseases, and often less mobile during evacuations.
• Infants and children dehydrate quickly, are vulnerable to infections, and can be traumatized by chaotic evacuations and destruction of familiar surroundings.
• People with disabilities or chronic illness depend on regular medications, electricity (for oxygen concentrators, nebulizers, or dialysis), and accessible transport.
• Poor and informal-settlement communities are more likely to live in flood-prone or landslide-prone areas, with weaker housing and limited access to healthcare.

Recognizing these layers of vulnerability helps families and communities prioritize who needs extra help before, during, and after a disaster.

Building a “Stormproof” Body and Mind

While we cannot control the path of every storm, we can strengthen our bodies and minds to better withstand them.

1. Control chronic diseases now, not later.

Good blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol control are forms of climate resilience. Stable patients are more likely to survive periods of stress, heat, and temporary interruption of services. Regular check-ups, adherence to medicines, and lifestyle changes (healthy diet, physical activity, smoking cessation, adequate sleep) are no longer optional—they are disaster-preparedness measures.

2. Prepare a health-focused “go bag.”

Every family should have a grab-and-go kit that includes:

• 2–4 weeks’ supply of essential maintenance medications
• Copies (and smartphone photos) of prescriptions and recent medical summaries
• A basic first-aid kit (wound care, oral rehydration salts, paracetamol, antihistamine)
• Face masks and alcohol/hand sanitizer
• Flashlight, whistle, power bank, and a list of emergency contacts

For those with special needs—insulin users, those on oxygen or dialysis—discuss contingency plans with your doctor before disaster season.

3. Protect against heat.

• Schedule outdoor activities in the cooler early morning or late afternoon.
• Use fans, ventilation, and, where possible, cooling centers during extreme heat alerts.
• Drink water regularly; avoid excessive alcohol, sugary drinks, and heavy meals.
• Check on elderly neighbors and relatives—if they stop sweating, become confused, or very weak, seek urgent care.
  
  Community and System-Level Resilience: From Barangay to Nation

No family can stormproof health alone. Systems matter.

The Philippines is beginning to integrate climate considerations into health policy. The Department of Health has created a dedicated Health and Climate Change Office to mainstream climate–health action across programs and investments, including work with other agencies on adaptation and disaster risk reduction. 

 A climate-resilient health toolkit is being rolled out to help local governments, rural health units, and barangay health stations incorporate climate risk into their planning and health promotion work.

International partners and national planners are also emphasizing that universal health care, climate-resilient health facilities, and trained local health workers are key pillars of adaptation. Hospitals are encouraged to:

• Build or retrofit to withstand stronger storms and flooding
• Secure backup power, water, and supply chains
• Integrate early warning systems and heat-health action plans
• Protect health workers’ physical and mental well-being

At the community level, churches, schools, civic groups, and faith-based organizations can serve as hubs for health education, evacuation planning, psychosocial support, and distribution of clean water and essential supplies.

“In a climate-changed Philippines, good health is no longer just wellness—it is survival.”

Turning Crisis into Catalyst

The latest Lancet Countdown reports and WHO briefings paint a sobering picture: climate inaction is already costing lives through heat, air pollution, disasters, and shifting disease patterns, and the indicators of climate–health harm are hitting record highs. But they also emphasize a crucial truth: the same actions that protect the planet can greatly improve human health.

Transitioning to cleaner energy reduces air pollution and heart and lung disease. Designing walkable, green cities encourages physical activity and supports mental well-being. Shifting diets toward more plant-based, minimally processed foods can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and certain cancers while reducing environmental impact.

For Filipino families, stormproof health means:

• Taking chronic disease prevention seriously
• Preparing practical health “go bags” and evacuation plans
• Building social connections and community support
• Advocating for stronger, greener, and more resilient health systems

Climate disasters will continue to test our resilience. But by strengthening our bodies, minds, families, and institutions today, we can face the storms of tomorrow with greater safety, dignity, and hope.

“Stormproofing our bodies and minds is as essential as stormproofing our homes.”

References

1. World Health Organization. Climate Change and Health – Fact Sheet. 2023.
2. World Health Organization. Climate Change and Health (Health Topics). 2023.
3. Romanello M, et al. The 2025 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change. The Lancet. 2025.
4. The Lancet Countdown. 2024 Report: Facing Record-Breaking Threats from Delayed Action. 2024.
5. Climate and Health Alliance. The Climate Crisis and Health: Key Facts 2024.
6. Climate Change Commission (Philippines). Climate Change Impacts in the Philippines.
7. Wikipedia. Effects of Climate Change on Health in the Philippines (compiled from primary sources).
8. Alibudbud RC. Climate change and mental health in the Philippines. BJPsych International. 2023.
9. Tito VR, et al. Climate Change and Mental Health in the Philippines: A Systematic Review. 2024.
10. Guinto RR. Building climate-resilient local health systems in the Philippines. In: InterAcademy Partnership Climate and Health Report. 2024.
11. Department of Health / ATACH. Institutionalising Climate and Health Action in the Philippines. 2025.
12. Philippine Information Agency. A Toolkit for Climate-Resilient Health in PH. 2025.
13. WHO Western Pacific Region. Funding the Future We Want: Making Health Systems Climate-Resilient in the Western Pacific. 2025.
14. Scorched Future: The Rising Toll of Extreme Heat in the Philippines. PrepareCenter / BCG. 2025.