Saturday, August 24, 2019

Life with Chronic Conditions: Climate Change/Be a Zero Waste Patient


The lungs of the world are on fire. Brazil’s Amazon rain forest is burning at a record rate.  Considering that this is the world’s largest rain forest,  providing more than 20% of the earth’s oxygen, this is not only very concerning, it’s impact will be felt worldwide. 

The purpose of this post is to a) understand the impact of climate change on people with chronic conditions and b) identify what you can do to make a difference.

While everyone is and will be impacted by climate change, those with chronic conditions are even more vulnerable. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), People with existing medical conditions are at increased risk for illness and death from climate change-related impacts on health, including changing exposures to extreme heat, extreme weather events, and poor air quality. Existing medical conditions can make individuals more sensitive to these exposures, increasing the potential for health impacts and worsening symptoms. For example, individuals with respiratory conditions are more likely to be negatively affected by exposure to poor air quality than those without these conditions. In addition, some underlying health conditions can make it difficult for a person to limit their exposure or adapt to risks. For example, individuals with Alzheimer’s disease may have difficulty responding to and evacuating during an extreme weather event. Certain medications may also impair the body’s ability to regulate temperature or maintain fluid or electrolyte balances. The number of people with common chronic medical conditions (such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and respiratory diseases including asthma) is expected to increase over the coming decades. This means more people will be at risk of medical complications from climate change-related exposures. Climate Change and the Health of People with Existing Medical Conditions.

Make a difference
Do the numbers
• Calculate Your Carbon Footprint: By knowing how big it is, you can learn ways to reduce and/or offset it. Use the Carbon Footprint Calculator

• Check how environmentally friendly your car is at Greener Cars.

Use the Home Energy Checklist The Smarter Home website has lots of tips on saving energy in your home.

What you eat matters: Believe it or not your eating habits impact those around you.
• Eat less meat.
• Grow your own food
• Don’t waste food
• Compost all food scraps
• Use a reusable water bottle and say no to single use cups and water bottles
• Shop farmers markets and bulk food bins- bring your own bags
• Cook from scratch as much as possible
• Purchase food items in containers that are recyclable. Save glass containers and re use to store left overs, as well as bulk food purchases.

Reduce your mobility Carbon footprint: Going car free is the number one most effective action an individual can take. If you can’t walk, ride a bike, use a scooter or skateboard, take public transportation. Next is car sharing using a car share program, particularly an electric or hybrid. If you fly consider offset emissions. 

Consume less: Upcycle, recycle, only purchasing what you need. Buy used when possible. Bring your own shopping bag when you shop and remember Pete Seeger’s lyrics:
If it can't be reduced, reused, repaired
Rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, resold
Recycled or composted
Then it should be restricted, redesigned
Or removed from production
 
Become a Zero Waste Patient
• Skip the freebies when you attend conferences
• When you refill prescriptions, decline the bags and all the inserts.
• Donate unused medications. Many states now have donation drug laws and have started programs specifically for collecting and redistributing. Talk to your pharmacist about programs in your state. You can also call the FDA at 888-INFO-FDA (888-463-6332).
• Before purchasing medical equipment, check for “loan closets” in your area. If your medical provider can’t help you with this, talk to your local home health agency as well as your state’s independent living center. If you have items you no longer need, donate to your local loan closet. Note that many condition specific groups, as well as senior centers, have loan programs.
• When possible use reusable products in place of single use products. For example, some sharps containers and certain medical instruments can be disinfected and reused. Check to see if products are reusable before buying.
• If you need a medical waste container, keep it small, otherwise it can quickly become a regular trash bin. Mark it so others know not to use it.
• Eliminate single use items as much as possible. Carry a reusable water bottle with you and fill up as you need it. Avoid plastic bottles as they can leach plastic
• Choose environmentally friendly cleaning supplies
• Talk to your dentist about replacing flossing with a water pick
• Pay attention to how materials are packaged as well as what they are made of.
• If you need to use a straw, there are excellent reusable ones on the market-silicone, stainless steel or stainless steel with silicone tips all work well and will save money in the long run.

Connect with your state’s Energy Efficiency Program: They offer a wide variety of programs that can help you be energy efficient, while saving money.

Contact Corporations and Local Government about Climate Change: Get involved with local groups. Talk about how climate will affect your health. Organize your condition specific support group to take action. It can include letter writing campaigns, public speaking to discussing ways you can be a Zero Waste patient, lobbying legislatures

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