Environmental stressors and cardiovascular health multiple environmental exposures, including noise and light pollution, air pollution, water and soil contamination, chemical pollution, and climate change, contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD) through shared and interacting pathways involving oxidative stress, inflammation, autonomic imbalance, and endothelial dysfunction. The interplay among these stressors amplifies overall cardiovascular risk and underscores the need for integrated exposome-based prevention strategies.
Figure 1
Planetary and cardiovascular health, the two indivisible parts of the same token to health. (A) The New Planetary Boundary Framework of Earth System Boundaries, where safe and just boundaries and current global states (Earth icons) are depicted. Minimum access to water, food, energy and infrastructure for all humans could constitute the foundation of a safe and just ‘corridor’. (B) Globally, key provisioning systems that provide food, energy, mobility-connectivity, housing, green infrastructure, water management and waste management and access to health care, lie at the core of human well-being, equity and sustainability. Adapted from Nature. 2023 Jul;619(7968):102–111, an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons CC BY License.
Table 1
Health System Adaptation and Resilience Measures.
| DOMAIN | MEASURE | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
| Governance | Policy and Legislation | Establish legal frameworks for emergency response and resilience building. |
| Multisectoral Collaboration | Foster partnerships across government, private sector, and civil society. | |
| Risk Communication Strategies | Implement effective communication protocols to inform and engage stakeholders. | |
| Infrastructure | Climate-Resilient Facilities | Design health facilities to withstand climate extremes (e.g. floods, heatwaves). |
| Disaster Preparation | Securing Supply Chains | |
| Decentralized Services | Increase the reach of health services by decentralizing healthcare delivery systems. | |
| Sustainable Energy Sources | Equip health facilities with renewable energy systems to ensure continuity during crises. | |
| Healthcare Workforce | Workforce Training | Train healthcare providers on emergency preparedness, climate impact mitigation, and adaptive care. |
| Retention Strategies | Incentivize healthcare professionals to remain in underserved or crisis-prone areas. | |
| Mental Health Support | Provide psychological support to healthcare workers during and after crises. | |
| Service Delivery | Integrated Care Models | Incorporate preventative, curative, and rehabilitative care into resilience strategies. |
| Telemedicine Implementation | Expand telemedicine to ensure access during emergencies or in remote areas. | |
| Stockpiling and Supply Chain Management | Develop robust systems for securing and distributing medical supplies and essentials. | |
| Health Information | Early Warning Systems | Use surveillance systems to detect and respond to health threats early. |
| Data Sharing and Interoperability | Create platforms for sharing health data among institutions and regions. | |
| Community-Based Reporting | Engage communities in health monitoring and reporting for real-time insights. | |
| Community Engagement | Public Awareness Campaigns | Educate communities on health risks and resilience strategies. |
| Empowerment of Local Leaders | Train local leaders to take proactive roles in crisis management. | |
| Behavioral Change Interventions | Promote sustainable behaviours to reduce health risks (e.g. sanitation, handwashing). | |
| Financial Resilience | Emergency Funds | Allocate specific budgets for health system adaptation and crisis response. |
| Health Insurance Schemes | Enhance access to healthcare through universal health coverage or targeted schemes. | |
| Cost-Effective Technologies | Invest in low-cost, high-impact interventions for resource-limited settings. |