When people talk about climate change, the picture is usually melting glaciers, rising seas, or endangered wildlife. But for those of us living with chronic illnesses like endometriosis, the impact feels much closer. It’s not just about the planet, it’s about our bodies.
I live with endometriosis, and one of the hardest parts for me is neuropathy. My hands, feet, and legs swell badly, and it feels like fire is trapped inside them. The burning sensation can get so intense that I sometimes struggle to hold things, walk, or even move. Hot weather makes it worse because heat on top of heat is unbearable. Cold weather eases the burning but stiffens my joints. I’m constantly trying to find a balance, and it also makes me realize how much climate and weather changes affect my condition.
And I’m not alone. For many of us, rising temperatures, toxic air, and unpredictable weather patterns don’t just exist “out there.” They show up in our daily pain levels, our nervous systems, our access to care, and our ability to function.
Toxic Air and Hormones
Air pollution doesn’t just harm the environment, it harms our bodies too. Burning fossil fuels releases endocrine disrupting chemicals such as dioxins and phthalates. Phthalates are chemicals found in plastics and personal care products that can interfere with hormones. Since hormones are at the core of endometriosis, this disruption can mean more flare ups, faster progression, and harder days.
Hormones are at the heart of endometriosis, and disruption to this delicate balance can trigger its development, accelerate progression, and worsen symptoms. Studies, including landmark research by Rier et al. (2001), have shown higher rates of endometriosis in those exposed to dioxin.
When the air we breathe disrupts our hormones, climate change becomes not just an environmental problem but a deeply personal health threat.
Breathing Inflammation
Endometriosis is already an inflammatory condition. Add polluted air filled with fine particles, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide, and it becomes harder to cope. These pollutants travel through the bloodstream and can heighten swelling, nerve pain, and fatigue. For me, during a neuropathy flare up, my body is already on fire and the air then just adds more fuel to it. For someone with endometriosis, this can mean more swelling, heightened nerve sensitivity, and more days lost to pain.
Climate Stress Is Body Stress
For people with chronic illnesses, stress is not just mental, it’s physical. Many people living with chronic illnesses often have hypersensitive nervous systems. Climate disasters, unpredictable seasons, and the constant stream of worrying news can raise cortisol levels, which may trigger flares.
While we can’t control these external events, finding grounding routines, practicing self-care, and creating supportive spaces can help us manage stress more gently. It reminds us that resilience is possible, even in uncertain times.
Heatwaves and Symptom Management
Hot water bottles were more than just a comfort for me when I was living with daily pain. They became part of my survival kit, something I reached for during flares or nights when sleep was impossible. The relief was real, but it came at a cost. Over time, the constant use left burns and rash like marks on my skin. It might sound like a small thing, but seeing those marks every day affected how I felt about my body, and it weighed on my mental health.
I also relied on heat therapy in other forms, like heating pads, to ease cramps and pelvic pain. The problem was that the world around me was changing. Climate change brought longer, hotter heatwaves that made it harder to use the very tools that gave me relief. On those days, applying heat felt unsafe, especially without cooling or air conditioning. Instead of easing symptoms, the added warmth sometimes left me dizzy, drained, and fighting fatigue that felt overwhelming. At times it even triggered circulation issues and POTS like symptoms that some people with endometriosis experience.
When Climate Disrupts Care
Climate disasters such as floods, fires, and droughts don’t just damage homes. They cut people off from healthcare, surgeries, medication, and support systems. For someone with endometriosis, that gap can mean irreversible progression or losing access to specialists we’ve waited months or years to see.
Healthcare systems are already fragile. Climate change is placing even greater strain on them, making access to consistent and timely care more uncertain.
Why This Matters for Women’s Health
In recent years, the summers have become more unbearable. The rising heat has intensified my hot flashes to the point where I now rely on a portable fan just to get through the day. Add to that the burning sensation from neuropathy, and the heat of a hot water bottle pressed against my body for comfort, and it often feels like I am living through an internal and external heatwave at the same time.
This is not just about me. Our health is deeply tied to the health of the planet. When ecosystems are poisoned, overheated, or destabilized, our bodies, especially those already managing chronic illness, feel the effects first and most severely. Endometriosis is not just a reproductive disease. It affects the whole body including immunity, digestion, nerves, and mental health. Climate change makes all of these systems more fragile, and that extra strain can mean more flares, more fatigue, and more days lost to pain.
For many women and people with chronic illness, this intersection of climate change and health is not abstract. It is lived reality. And it makes climate change not only an environmental issue, but also a gender and health equity issue that we cannot afford to ignore.
Empowering Actions You Can Take
We can’t solve climate change alone, but we can take steps to protect ourselves while pushing for bigger change:
- Use indoor air filters when pollution is high
- Limit plastics and chemicals where possible
- Choose organic foods when accessible to reduce toxins
- Create a plan for heatwaves including cooling strategies and alternatives to heat therapy
- Get involved in advocacy because climate justice and health justice go hand in hand
Final Word
Living with endometriosis means I feel the climate crisis in my own body every day. My pain is real, and so is yours. Our health matters. And our voices matter too, because this fight isn’t just about saving polar bears or ice caps. It’s about saving lives, protecting health, and making sure our bodies and our planet are cared for.
Photo by cottonbro studio