Essay Example on Public Health & Climate Change: Identifying Populations at Risk

Introduction

Numerous public health issues arise due to changes in the environment. The health challenges may impact a diverse range of individuals, from infants to the elderly. Particular populations are more predisposed and vulnerable to the different effects on health arising due to changes in the climate (Runkle et al. 2018). The populations commonly experience significant harmful effects from the changes in the climate. It, therefore, results in the occurrence of numerous disparities in health. Numerous environmental changes have contributed to the development of severe health conditions. Numerous factors determine the health status, and one of these is the environment at which they are located (Eckelman & Sherman, 2016). The environment is a determinant majorly because every person is dependent on it for essential resources to sustain life. The environment provides resources such as water, air, and a place for sheltering. The paper addresses climate change as an environmental issue affecting health.

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Description of The Policy Health Issue

In recent years, there has been an increased change in the climate. It is because of the numerous activities that humans engage in (Runkle et al. 2018). It has resulted in the development of imbalances in the temperatures of the earth. One factor that has led to climate change is three variations in the energy of the sun reaching the surface of the earth. The greenhouse effect is the other factor that has contributed to an increase in the climate. The greenhouse effect results in the retention of the heat maintained in the atmosphere (Eckelman & Sherman, 2016). The changes in climate have led to precipitation levels in the environment. Human Events and activities such as the burning of fossil fuels resulting in the release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere

There is a wide range of individuals affected by climate change. Every individual in a population is affected by climate change. It is because the environment supplies air and water to every person (Jensen et al. 2018). Climate change, however, mainly affects individuals of the low class. It is because they lack resources in terms of finances to take measures of treating the water and other resources. Individuals of color are also at a higher predisposition of infection as a result of climate change and other environmental issues. Effects on climate change are witnessed in numerous levels and at the national, state, and local levels.

Problem Statement

Climate change has resulted in the occurrence of numerous health issues within the communities having individuals with low incomes. These individuals being the most affected as a result of inaccessibility to specialized health care systems and the unavailability of funds for accessing health. Therefore, the environmental issue of climate change should be thoroughly addressed. Enough efforts must be put in place to curb the adverse effects realized as a result of climate change (Sharma, 2019). A heatwave is one instance of climate change that brings about a diverse range of effects on people.

Air pollution, for instance, increases the frequency of asthma attacks in children and asthmatic patients. Such is usually the case to individuals of color and those individuals residing in areas highly exposed to air pollution. Heatwave climate change results in complications during delivery (Eckelman & Sherman, 2016). It majorly occurs in buildings having no insulation. It is common in poor individuals and those lacking efficient social support. Heatwave also leads to heatstroke in particular individuals, which ultimately leads to coma and even death. It majorly develops in individuals with hypertension and majorly in individuals lacking health insurance. It is also common in individuals lacking proper documentation to be in a country (Uimonen & Whalley, 2016). Finally, heatwaves may result in heart failures occurring due to heat. The condition will majorly be experienced in the elderly and individuals

Addressing the Health Issue

Measures must be put in place to provide strategies for addressing the health issues brought about by the current policy. The following are steps that should be followed to provide for a change in the policy. First, there needs identification of the problem that needs the policy to address it. The second step is the identification of the necessary stakeholders to be involved in the policymaking procedure. The stakeholders range from the general population affected by the policy. The citizens provide their ideas and opinions about the policy. It must increase the chances of acceptance of the policy. It also includes shareholders who will provide funding for the policy. The stakeholders also include individuals skilled in public health and environmental issues. Funding is a critical component that ensures resources are in place to ensure the policy is implemented. The next step is planning, followed by the execution and implementation of the policy after its formation. Constant monitoring and evaluation of the policy are critical to ensure that it achieves its objectives (Jensen et al. 2018).

Impact on the Health Care Delivery System

Implementation of the policy change results in the achievement of benefits regarding health. It increases efficiency and effectiveness through which health care is provided. There will be the availability of adequate warnings to individuals vulnerable (Jensen et al. 2018). It also provides proactive information on how to deal with such instances. It will result in the availability of regulations to guide the delivery of care.

References

Eckelman, M. J., Sherman, J. (2016). Environmental impacts of the US health care system and effects on public health. PLOS ONE, 11(6). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0157014

Jensen, L. B., Lukic, I., Gullis, G. (2018). The delivery of health promotion and environmental health services: public health or primary care settings? Healthcare, 6(2), 42. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare6020042

Runkle, J., Svendsen, E. R., Hamann, M., Kwok, R. K., Pearce, J. (2018). Population health adaptation approaches to the increasing severity and frequency of weather-related disasters resulting from our changing climate: A literature review and application to Charleston, South Carolina. Current Environmental Health Reports, 5, 439-452. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-018-0223-y

Sharma, R. (2019). Environmental issues of deep-sea mining: impacts, consequences, and policy perspectives. Springer. Retrieved from https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=k8OWDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=Policy+and+Environmental+Issues&ots=evFEsfcD8o&sig=u7OaADid4a9TKREi9I3KOxSOAP4&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Policy%20and%20Environmental%20Issues&f=false

Uimonen, P., Whalley, J. (2016). Environmental issues in the new world trading system. MacMillan Press. Retrieved from https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=MSW_DAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=Policy+and+Environmental+Issues&ots=qdJYvlTT-D&sig=YOPPtSINTanw5k9NWaxrygA4DSE&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Policy%20and%20Environmental%20Issues&f=false