Global warming is already terrifying.

Yet most people (SELF readers included) fear more for their future great-grandkids than for their own health.

Only 17 percent of you believe climate change is affecting us today.

But the bone-chilling truth is that global warming isn’t simplythreateningto hurt your bodyit already is.

The following list of nine health dangers is guaranteed to change your mind.

“When you exercise, you take in more air deeper into the lungs,” he explains.

And nobody needs more ozone.

Raging rashesYou learned in third grade that plants need carbon dioxide (CO2) to grow.

Elsewhere, researchers have found poison ivy is already more poisonous than it was a few decades ago.

Mohan speculates that similar changes are likely occurring with poison oak and sumac as well.

In more lush environments, poison ivy may even look like a thick, woody vine.

If you do have a brush with the plant, act fast.

Then wash your skin with laundry detergent for five minutes; its high pH balance helps dissolve the oil.

You may need a short course of steroids," Dr. Webster says.

But the warmer the inner atmosphere becomes, the tougher it becomes for the ozone hole to repair itself.

More UV rays hitting the Earth, more sunburn and more skin cancer.

And, of course, stay in the shade as much as possible.

Infections that biteMany disease-carrying bugs, particularly the ticks that spread Lyme disease, thrive in warm winters.

Left untreated, it can affect the nervous system, heart and joints.

The insect problems don’t end there.

The mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus and dengue fever also thrive during periods of heat and drought.

(The virus attacks the nervous system and can lead to meningitis.)

You also can treat your clothes with a fabric-safe formula that contains deet or permethrin.

Levels of ragweed pollenthe most common weed allergenare also rising right along with the CO2.

People with mold allergies aren’t faring much better.

CO2 also spurs the production of fungi spores.

(Hardware stores sell humidity gauges for as little as $10.)

“Breathing in polluted air is like the opposite of taking an aspirin,” Dr. Solomon says.

“Some of the contaminants increase your risk of developing blood clots.”

Plus, many of the noxious chemicals increase heart rate and blood pressure.

That’s because high temperatures speed the process that creates smog.

So the longer a heat wave lasts, the more persistent the smog becomes.

(Log on towww.epa.gov/airnowto check local conditions.)

And give a shot to stay cool.

If you have air-conditioning, keep the thermostat low enough to bring relief.

A 1993 outbreak of cryptosporidium in Milwaukee sickened nearly a half million.

If not treated early, the infection can lead to amputation or even death.

Protect yourself.Don’t ever wade in rainwater if you could avoid it.

If you notice a skin condition following contact with floodwaters, see a doctor right away.

In July and August 2005, 200 U.S. cities broke heat wave records.

The European heat wave of 2003 was the hottest since 1851 and killed as many as 35,000.

Dehydration is a major contributor to heatstroke, which is why it’s crucial to keep drinking.

It’s also smart to exercise in the morning or evening, when it’s cooler.

Sinister seafoodIn the past 50 years, the oceans have retained 22 times more heat than the atmosphere.

Symptoms include diarrhea, cramping, chills and, in rare cases, blood infections.

Protect yourself.Consider avoiding (or at least limiting) raw shellfish.

The fish will be happierand most important, your body will, too.

Photo Credit: Anja Kroencke