Most Americans understand the basic ways that global warming is damaging our planet. They recognize that warmer temperatures mean bigger storms, longer droughts, and higher sea levels, but they don't realize the ways that climate change impacts their personal health.

According to a new study from Yale University, sixty percent of Americans have given “little or no thought” to the health consequences of global warming. EcoWatch.com summarized that recent study, and explained that only one out of every 10 people gave this issue a “great deal” of thought.

To make matters worse, the fact that many are not thinking about these issues means that they don't even know what health impacts are caused or worsened by global warming. Only 14 percent of those surveyed by Yale researchers were able to correctly name asthma as one health problem effected by climate change, and fewer than 5 percent of people were able to name anything else.

Most people have no idea that smog and air pollution contributes to lung disease, or that food and water-born illnesses become more common in warmer temperatures. Many Americans are unaware that ticks and other insects spread disease more rapidly in hotter climates, or that heat strokes and injuries become more common with heat waves and super storms.

These are only a few of the ways that rising temperatures already impact our health, but too many of us have no idea that these issues are linked to the destruction of our planet. The Yale researchers said, “Public health actions, especially preparedness and prevention, can do much to protect people from some impacts of climate change.”

Fighting for our environment isn't only about saving the future of our species; it's about protecting our health right now. Perhaps if people understood how they are personally being effected by global warming, they'd be more involved in the fight to protect our planet.