After watching the video of Rishi Manchanda, I totally
agree that we need to improve health where it begins. Health begins in our
home, work, and community. For example, the video showed a woman who kept going
to the emergency room for a chronic headache then she found out that she
actually have chronic allergies. In the video, the health professional said
that her chronic allergies were caused by the poor condition of the place she
lives at. Therefore, it is important to have upstreamists, healthcare
professionals who work on improving the social and environmental conditions
that are causing people to get sick. These healthcare professionals can
mobilize resources to create a solution.
In
addition, we need to educate ourselves about toxic chemicals that can be found
in our home, household and personal care products. From the “Little
Things Matter” video, I learned that toxins can have a lifelong impact on
children. For example, children’s exposure to lead can lead to low IQ score. It’s
really disturbing to know that children can be exposed to toxic chemicals from
things that are usually found in the home. We need to have better and stronger
regulations for manufacturers to make sure that they are not using toxic
chemicals in their product that can be harmful to people’s health.
Furthermore,
the toxic chemicals can even affect an unborn child. In the “Reproductive
Health and the Environment” video, I learned that some toxic chemicals found in
the environment are causing birth defects. I learned that environmental health
literacy is very important so we can be informed and make better health decisions
and actions. If manufactured pharmaceuticals undergo numerous tests, I think
the government should also require manufactured chemicals to undergo numerous
tests. In the video, they also mentioned that manufactured pharmaceuticals need
to have safety data before people can use it. I think they should also require
manufactured chemicals to have safety data before people use the product. We
need to take action now by writing a letter to our representative and ask them
to address the toxic chemicals found in products and in the environment. Most
importantly, we really need to work together to make the place we live in a better
and healthier place.
Video: Rishi Manchanda: What makes us get sick? Look
upstream.
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJEwC4wCM70
Video: Little Things Matter: The Impact of Toxins on the
Developing Brain
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6KoMAbz1Bw
Video: Reproductive Health and the Environment
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1BBCLlKsjQ
Hi Krissy,
ReplyDeletei think policy regulation is absolutely necessary and crucial in solving this problem. Along with establishing the policy is the enforcing of the policy. We have to put the responsibility and burdens onto these companies to be more transparent and truthful about the chemicals and ingredients they use to make these products that we use on the daily basis. We have to make them accountable for the impacts that these chemicals and products could potentially have on our well-beings. Hence, it is time to take action at the individual, local, county, state, and national level to raise the alarm of this problem and make sure our voices are heard.
Hi Krissy,
ReplyDeleteI agree that upstreamists and education are important elements. Upstreamists can bridge the gap between environmental or household exposures and repeated ER trips for chronic diseases. Education is a key component to educate pregnant women and ourselves about the harmful chemicals we come into contact to in our daily environments.
Hi Krissy,
ReplyDeleteI agree health begins where you live, work, and play. It is extremely alarming that unborn children are the most susceptible to harmful birth defects due to chemicals. Our voices must be heard and we must continue to advocate for reform when policies come out for increasing regulations!