Gesundheitswesen
DOI: 10.1055/a-2903-6433

Changes in everyday life have great potential to promote a long and healthy life. At the same time, these changes are also climate-friendly in many areas, as they either reduce emissions or increase resilience to the impacts of climate change. This article provides an overview of everyday life changes in the areas of physical activity, nutrition and housing. It describes the current lifestyles of older adults in Austria based on statistics on health, time use, mobility and nutrition, as well as consumer surveys. However, lifestyle changes are not presented solely as a matter of individual behavior; the article also highlights the critical role of structural aspects such as infrastructure and public access, supply and price structures. We focus on the impact chains, which, based on the scientific literature, illustrate the pathways through which changes in everyday life have a beneficial effect on health and climate protection or for resilience.Finally, a secondary effect becomes relevant: A more health-promoting everyday life reduces the number of years spent in ill-health, thereby lowering the demand for medical treatment. This benefits both health and the climate, as hospital stays can strain mental health and carry the risk of secondary diseases. Further, as medical care is carbon-intensive, avoiding hospitalizations reduces greenhouse gas emissions.The intensifying impact of climate change increasingly requires a transition in key areas such as mobility, leisure, housing and nutrition. This transition offers an opportunity to make climate-friendly and healthy everyday life the new attractive norm. Health benefits can serve as a compelling argument for climate mitigation, which in turn can act as a lever for creating healthy living conditions in times of inevitable change. As global warming increases, so do the climate risks to human health, and the risk of crop failures, water shortages and damage to settlements and infrastructure. Yet a decisive transition has the potential to promote a good and healthy aging for all.
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Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

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Gesundheitswesen
DOI: 10.1055/a-2872-3795

Regular physical activity promotes health, quality of life, and functional independence in older adults. However, climate change is leading to increasing environmental stressors such as heat, air pollution, and pollen exposure, which increase health risks and hinder adherence to physical activity recommendations. Older adults, particularly those with cardiovascular or respiratory conditions and pollen allergies, are especially affected. The aim of this project was to develop evidence-based recommendations to safely enable physical activity under climatically challenging conditions.The recommendations were developed through a three-step process: (1) a systematic online search of relevant guidelines, professional and governmental publications, and information from patient organisations; (2) an interdisciplinary expert workshop to refine and adapt recommendations for the target group; (3) a modified Delphi process with experts to finalise recommendations through multiple feedback rounds.A total of 54 relevant articles published by 24 institutions were identified and compiled into a preliminary catalogue. The developed recommendations for heat, air pollution, and pollen exposure include: adaptation of activity according to timing and location (using climatically favourable time windows and indoor spaces), selection of appropriate intensity and types of exercise, breaks, hydration, sun protection, and self-monitoring of physiological warning signs. For individuals with pollen allergies, indoor activities, low-pollen locations, and the use of pollen forecasts are recommended. The recommendations provide practical guidance to maintain physical activity despite adverse environmental conditions.An evidence-based, systematic approach to complement physical activity recommendations with climate-change-related environmental stressors is feasible and necessary. Older adults can remain active, reduce health risks, and preserve independence. Tailored presentation and practical implementation of the recommendations represent the next crucial step.Regelmäßige körperliche Aktivität fördert Gesundheit, Lebensqualität und funktionale Selbstständigkeit im höheren Lebensalter. Der Klimawandel führt jedoch zu zunehmenden Umweltbelastungen wie Hitze, Luftverschmutzung und Pollenbelastung, die gesundheitliche Risiken erhöhen und die Umsetzung der Bewegungsempfehlungen erschweren. Ältere Menschen, insbesondere jene mit Herz-Kreislauf- oder Lungenerkrankungen sowie Pollenallergien, sind hiervon besonders betroffen. Ein Ziel dieses Projekts war die Entwicklung evidenzbasierter Empfehlungen, um körperliche Aktivität unter klimatisch herausfordernden Bedingungen sicher zu ermöglichen.Die Empfehlungen wurden in einem dreistufigen Prozess entwickelt: (1) Systematische Internetrecherche relevanter Leitlinien, Fachgesellschafts- und Behördenpublikationen sowie Informationen von Selbsthilfeorganisationen, (2) interdisziplinärer Expert*innenworkshop zur Präzisierung und Zielgruppenanpassung, (3) modifizierter Delphi-Prozess mit Expert*innen zur Finalisierung durch mehrere Rückkoppelungsschleifen.Insgesamt wurden 54 relevante Artikel, herausgegeben von 24 Institutionen, identifiziert und in einem vorläufigen Katalog zusammengefasst. Die erarbeiteten Empfehlungen bei Hitze, Luftverschmutzung und Pollenbelastung enthalten: zeitliche und räumliche Anpassung der Aktivität (Nutzung klimatisch günstiger Zeitfenster und Innenräume), Wahl geeigneter Intensität und Sportarten, Pausen, Flüssigkeitszufuhr, Sonnenschutz sowie Selbstbeobachtung körperlicher Warnsignale. Für Personen mit Pollenallergie werden Innenaktivitäten, pollenarme Orte und die Nutzung von Pollenfluginformationen empfohlen. Die Empfehlungen bieten praxisnahe Handlungshilfen, um körperliche Aktivität trotz klimatisch belastender Bedingungen aufrechtzuerhalten.Ein evidenzbasierter, systematischer Ansatz zur Ergänzung von Bewegungsempfehlungen an die Auswirkungen klimawandelbedingter Umweltbelastungen ist machbar und notwendig. Ältere Menschen können so aktiv bleiben, gesundheitliche Risiken reduzieren und ihre Selbstständigkeit wahren. Zielgruppenspezifische Aufbereitung und praxisgerechte Umsetzung der Empfehlungen sind als nächster wichtiger Schritt entscheidend.
[...]

Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

Article in Thieme eJournals:
Table of contents  |  Abstract  |  open access Full text