What’s making Miami sick? See issues with heat, pollen and our brains

These articles explore how environmental and lifestyle factors affect health in Miami. The articles highlight issues around heat, pollen and mental well-being.

The article titled "What’s Wrong with Your Brain?" discusses the impact of sleep on brain health. It emphasizes the importance of good sleep habits and suggests practical steps like setting a bedtime schedule and reducing blue light exposure. Another article, "Florida has Highest Number of Heat-Related Illnesses," outlines the severe impact of heat on health. It reveals that Florida leads in emergency visits for heat illnesses and that legislative efforts to improve heat safety have fallen short. A third article, "Will Pollen Allergies Get Worse in South Florida?" examines how climate change alters pollen production patterns. It suggests that while warmer temperatures generally increase pollen levels, extreme heat might reduce pollen production in South Florida.

Read the stories below.

NO. 1: WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOUR BRAIN? IT COULD COME DOWN TO WHAT YOU NEED MORE OF EACH NIGHT

Here is some expert medical advice. | Published June 5, 2024 | Read Full Story by Michelle Marchante

NO. 2: FLORIDA HAS HIGHEST NUMBER OF HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES IN THE NATION, NEW REPORT FINDS

“Without common-sense workplace protections, heat-related illness, coupled with Florida’s high uninsured rate, will spell trouble for a growing number of residents” | Published July 26, 2024 | Read Full Story by Ashley Miznazi

NO. 3: WILL POLLEN ALLERGIES GET WORSE IN SOUTH FLORIDA AS CLIMATE TURNS HOTTER?

We’re answering reader questions about climate change | Published April 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ashley Miznazi

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.