Conventional medicine, environmental health, Alcohol use, drug use Flashcards
acupuncture
Insertion of thin needles into the skin at points along meridians, pathways through which qi is believed to flow.
allied health care providers
Health care professionals who typically provide services under the supervision or control of independent practitioners.
bioelectromagnetic-based therapies
CAM therapies based on the notion that electromagnetic fields can be used to promote healing and manage pain.
biological-based therapies
CAM therapies that include biologically based interventions and products; examples include extracts from animal tissues, herbal remedies and dietary supplements.
chiropractic
A system of manual healing used most often to treat musculoskeletal problems; the primary treatment is manipulation of the spine and other joints.
complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)
Therapies or practices that are not part of conventional or mainstream health care and medical practice as taught in most Canadian medical schools and available at most Canadian health care facilities; examples of CAM practices include acupuncture, herbal remedies, and homeopathy.
conventional medicine
A system of medicine based on the application of the scientific method; diseases are thought to be caused by identifiable physical factors and characterized by a representative set of symptoms; also called biomedicine or standard Western medicine.
dentist
A practitioner who holds a Doctor of Medical dentistry or Doctor of Dental Surgery degree and who specializes in the prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries of the teeth, mouth, and jaws.
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
A medical practitioner who has graduated from an osteopathic medical school; osteopathy incorporates the theories and practices of scientific medicine but focuses on musculoskeletal problems and manipulative therapy.
elective surgery
A nonemergency operation that the patient can choose to schedule.
endoscopy
A medical procedure in which a viewing instrument is inserted into a body cavity or opening.
energy therapies
Forms of CAM treatment that use energy fields originating either within the body or from outside sources to promote health and healing.
false positive
A test result that incorrectly detects a disease or condition in a healthy person.
generic drug
A drug that is not registered or protected by a trademark; a drug that does not have a brand name.
homeopathy
An alternative medical system that treats illnesses by giving very small doses of drugs that in larger doses would produce symptoms like those of the illness.
hypnosis
The process by which a practitioner induces a state of deep relaxation in which an individual is more suggestible; commonly used in cases of pain, phobia, and addiction.
medical doctor
An independent practitioner who holds a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from an accredited medical school.
optometrist
A practitioner who holds a Doctor of Optometry degree and is trained to examine the eyes, detect eye diseases, and prescribe corrective lenses.
outpatient
A person receiving medical attention without being admitted to the hospital.
over-the-counter (OTC) medication
A medication or product that can be purchased by the consumer without a prescription.
pharmaceuticals
Medical drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter.
pharmacopoeia
A collection of descriptions and formulas for drugs and medicinal preparations.
podiatrist
A practitioner who holds a doctor of podiatric medicine degree and specializes in the medical and surgical care of the feet.
qigong
A component of traditional Chinese medicine that combines movement, meditation, and regulation of breathing to enhance the flow of qi, improve blood circulation, and enhance immune function.
Reiki
A CAM practice intended to correct disturbances in the flow of life energy and improve the body’s healing powers through the use of 13 hand positions on the patient.
therapeutic touch
A CAM practice based on the premise that healers can identify and correct energy imbalances by passing their hands over the patient’s body.
traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)
The traditional medical system of China, which views illness as the result of a disturbance in the flow of qi, the life force; therapies include acupuncture, herbal medicine, and massage.
What is self-care?
- Self-care saves money and keeps the health-care system from being overwhelmed.
- Most medical symptoms are self diagnosed in self treated
- Effectively managing one’s medical problems requires developing several skills, including the ability to observe your own body, to know what you can and cannot treat, and to know how to safely treat yourself for common medical problems.
- Everyone should develop a partnership with physicians and other health-care providers.
- Informed self-care requires knowing how to evaluate symptoms.
- A physician should be consulted for symptoms that are:
- Severe
- Unusual
- Persistent
- Recurrent
What is a self assessment?
Symptoms are often an expression of the body’s attempt to heal itself
Carefully observing symptoms lets you identify those signals that suggest you need professional assistance
- Self-assessment means knowing what is normal for your body and being able to detect the occurrences that are unusual.
- Understanding what a symptom means and what is happening in your body helps reduce anxiety and enables you to practice self-care.
- Medical self-tests help users make decisions about self-treating and seeking medical care.
What requires a trip to the emergency room
Major trauma or injury such as head injury, broken bone, deep wound, severe burn, eye injury, or animal bite
Uncontrollable bleeding or internal bleeding
Intolerable and uncontrollable pain
Severe shortness of breath
Persistent abdominal pain, especially with nausea and vomiting
Poisoning or drug overdose
Loss of consciousness or seizure
Stupor, drowsiness, or disorientation
Severe or worsening reaction to an insect bite or sting or to a medication, especially if breathing is difficult.
What is health literacy and who is vulnerable to this
Health literacy refers to the skills to enable access, understanding and use of information for health
Three vulnerable populations when it comes to health literacy are seniors, immigrants, and the unemployed
What is self treatment
Self-treatment is based on intelligent consideration of symptoms and knowledge of appropriate measures.
Patience and careful self-observation of symptoms is often the best course of treatment. Many ailments improve after only symptomatic treatment and without using drugs.
Nondrug options such as adequate rest, increased exercise, changes in diet, and stress-management techniques may prevent or relieve many common health problems.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are medications or products that can be purchased by the consumer without a prescription
OTC drugs can be effective, but some are unnecessary or divert attention from better ways of coping
• If one chooses self-medication, many over-the-counter (OTC) preparations will relieve minor symptoms and sometimes cure illness.
• Some drugs that were once available only by prescription are now available over the counter.
Increased choices in OTC drugs also increase each person’s responsibility to use self-treatment wisely and be aware of risks and side effects of each drug.
What are over-the-counter or prescription drugs guidelines for safety
- Safe and effective treatment with OTC or prescription drugs requires following certain guidelines:
- Always read labels and follow directions carefully. If you have any questions, ask a pharmacist or another qualified health care provider.
- Do not exceed recommended dosages.
- Use caution when taking other medications or supplements at the same time. OTC drugs and herbal supplements can interact with some prescription drugs.
- Medications with one active ingredient are preferable to combination products that may contain more chemicals than you need.
- Know the key ingredients of medications and buy generic drugs when possible. Generics contain the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs but cost much less.
- Do not take drugs from an unlabeled container or in the dark when you cannot read the label.
- Women who are pregnant or nursing and people who have a chronic disease should consult a physician before self-medicating.
- Check expiration dates on all medications. The expiration date is an estimate of how long the medication is likely to be safe and effective. The safest ways to dispose of outdated medication is to take it to a pharmacy or hospital.
- Store medication in a cool, dry place, away from the reach of children.
- Take special caution with aspirin. Because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome, aspirin should not be given to children or adolescents who have any viral illness.
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)
Therapies or practices that are not part of conventional or mainstream health care and medical practice as taught in most Canadian medical schools and available at most Canadian health-care facilities
Examples are acupuncture and herbal remedies
• When self-treatment if not appropriate or sufficient, you need to seek professional medical care, whether by going to a hospital emergency room, by scheduling an appointment with your physician or by accessing some other conventional health care. These systems contain a broad network of professionals and organizations, including independent practitioners, health care providers, hospitals, clinics, and public and private insurance programs.
- In recent years, many Canadians have also sought health care from practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), defined as those therapies and practices that do not form part of conventional, or mainstream, healthcare and medical practices as taught in most Canadian medical schools and offered in most Canadian hospitals.
- CAM connotes a concept of ‘along with’ rather than ‘instead of’ when paired with conventional or allopathic medicine. Traditional medicine focuses on integration of mind, body, and spirit and on ways to restore harmony to the whole person, so health can be regained.
- Anecdotal and testimonial evidence is common.
- There is still very little evidence obtained by scientific methods supporting the effectiveness and safety of many types of CAM. One should use caution.
CAM practices are grouped into five domains: alternative medical systems, mind-body interventions, biological-based therapies, manipulative and body-based methods, and energy therapies.
Why do people use CAM
• Through the Natural Health Products Directorate, Health Canada ensures that all Canadians have ready access to natural health products that are safe, effective, and of high quality, while respecting the freedom of choice and philosophical and cultural diversity.
• Products requiring prescriptions are regulated by the Canadian Food and Drug Regulators.
Reasons vary, but users may turn to CAM to:
Boost immune system
Lower cholesterol levels
Lose weight
Quit smoking
Enhance memory
Despite growing in popularity, many CAM practices remain controversial
About 71% of Canadians regularly take natural health products (NHP) such as vitamins and minerals, herbal remedies, homeopathic medicines, traditional medicines, probiotics, and amino acids and essential fatty acids
What is evidence based practice
The practice of health-care in which the practitioner systematically finds, appraises, and uses the most current and valid research findings as the basis for health-related decisions
When research studies are published, health professionals can publicize the findings, which often prompts further research to replicate and confirm the findings, challenge the conclusions, or pursue a related experiment.
What is conventional medicine
• Western medicine identifies the causes of disease as pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses, genetic factors, and unhealthy lifestyles that result in changes at the molecular and cellular levels
• The concept that every disease is defined by a certain set of symptoms and that those symptoms are similar in most patients suffering from the disease is also a basis of Western medicine
• The effort to control pathogens brought about public health measures, such as chlorination of drinking water, sewage disposal, food safety regulations, vaccination programs, and education about hygiene that are responsible for increased life expectancy of Canadians.
• The use of pharmaceuticals (prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications) is closely identified with Western medicine, as is a reliance on surgery and advanced medical technology.
• Western medicine is based on the scientific method of obtaining knowledge and explaining health-related phenomena. Scientific explanations have these characteristics: empirical, rational, testable, parsimonious, general, rigorously evaluated, and tentative.
• Using the scientific method means approaching a problem by carefully defining its parameters, seeking relevant information, and subjecting proposed solutions to rigorous testing
• This method is translated into practice through a highly refined approach to exploring the causes of disease and ensuring the safety and efficacy of treatment.
• Research ranges from case studies describing a single patient’s illness and treatment to randomized controlled trials.
• Drug development is equally rigorous. After testing, and if the drug is approved by Health Canada, the drug’s effects are monitored even after it is on the market. This process can take 12 years or more and only 20% of drugs are eventually approved for marketing.
A system of medicine based on the application of the scientific method
Diseases are thought to be caused by identifiable physical factor and characterized by a representative set of symptoms
Also called biomedicine or standard Western medicine
Pharmaceuticals (medical drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter)
Surgery and advanced medical technology
Scientific method to obtain knowledge and explain health-related phenomena
What is the scientific method
Empirical
Rational
Testable
Parsimonious
General
Rigorously evaluated
Tentative
The principles on which the Canada Health Act is based on are:
- Since 1962, Canada has a government-funded national healthcare system founded on five basic principles of the Canada health Act.
- Universally available to permanent residents and citizens
- Comprehensive in the services it covers
- Accessible without income barriers
- portable within and outside the country
- Publicly administered
Who provides conventional medicine
• Canada’s provinces and territories are responsible for administering their own healthcare plans and must provide residents with prepaid coverage for all medically necessary hospital and physician services. Providers of conventional medicine include a variety of health-care professionals. Medical doctors, osteopaths, podiatrists, optometrists, and dentists are permitted to practice independently. • Several kinds of Conventional Medicine are practiced by a wide range of health care professionals in Canada, including medical doctors, osteopaths, podiatrists, optometrists, and dentists are permitted to practice independently. • The various healthcare professionals in Canada are: • Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses. • Licensed practical nurses • Medical laboratory technologists • medical laboratory technicians • respiratory therapists • Medical radiation technologists • Medical sonographers • Audiologists/speech-language pathologists • Physiotherapists • Occupational therapists • Dentists • Dental hygienists and therapists • Dental assistants • Ergonomists • Pharmacists • Physicians • Optometrists Medical doctors (MD) Doctors of osteopathic medicine (DO) Podiatrists (DPM) Optometrists (OD) Dentists (DDS) Allied health care providers who provide services under the supervision or control of independent practitioners (e.g., registered nurses, physical therapists, social workers)
Types of medical practitioners continued
- Medical doctors hold a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from one of 17 accredited Canadian medical schools.
- Education has four stages: 3-4 years of premedical education, with emphasis on the sciences; 3-4 years of medical school, which teaches basic medical skills and awards the MD degree; a residency lasting from 2 to 5 years, during which a specialty is studied, and a medical license is obtained; and continuing medical education.
- Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) receive a medical education like that of medical doctors, but training emphasizes musculoskeletal problems and manipulative therapy.
- Podiatrists specialize in the medical and surgical care of the feet. They can prescribe drugs and do minor surgery in their offices.
- Optometrists are trained to examine the eyes, detect eye diseases, and treat vision problems. All states permit them to prescribe drugs in only seven jurisdictions nationally and prescribe drugs for diagnostic purposes and most permit them to use drugs to treat minor eye problems.
- Dentists specialize in the care of the teeth and mouth. They can perform surgery and prescribe drugs within the scope of their training.
- Other trained health-care professionals, known as allied health-care providers, include registered nurses (RNs), licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), physical therapists, social workers, registered dietitians (RDs), and physician assistants (PAs).
How do you choose a primary care physician
Begin making a list of possible choices
Check insurance limits
Ask for recommendations
Once you have a list of physicians, call their office and find out some information
• Choosing a primary care physician requires careful consideration.
- A primary care physician treats and coordinates referrals to specialists when needed. Primary care physicians include those certified in family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics-gynecology.
- At all ages it is important for men and women to obtain recommended health care screenings and immunizations. Preventive care throughout life is important to maximize wellness.
- Ask for recommendations from family, friends, coworkers, local medical societies, and the physician referral service at a local clinic or hospital.
- When you have a list of possible physicians, learn whether a consumer group or other independent group has rated doctors in your area.
Questions to ask when choosing a primary care physician
Is the physician accepting new patients?
What are the office hours?
Which hospitals does the physician use?
How many other physicians are available to cover when unavailable?
How long does it usually take to get an appointment?
Does the office send reminders
Does the physician give advice over the phone?
How can you get the most out of your medical care
• Getting the most from the medical health-care system requires good communication between patient and physician.
• A successful physician-patient partnership requires good communication. Patients should be assertive but not aggressive and be persistent if questions are not answered adequately. You should consider changing physicians if you and your physician cannot establish a healthy partnership.
• You should prepare for a visit to the physician by:
• Making a written list of concerns, questions, and notes about your symptoms.
• Bringing a list of all medications (prescription, non-prescription, and herbal) you are taking and medical records or tests your physician may not have already.
• Guidelines to follow during the visit include:
• The first step in the diagnostic proves is the medical history, which includes your primary reason for the visit, your current symptoms, your past medical history and your social history.
• The next step is the physical exam, which usually begins with a review of vital signs: blood pressure, heart rate/pulse, breathing rate, and temperature.
• In addition, the physician may order medical tests to complete the diagnosis. Physicians can order X-rays, biopsies, blood and urine tests, scans and endoscopies to view, probe or analyze almost any part of the body.
• At the end of your visit, briefly repeat the physician’s diagnosis, prognosis, and instructions. Be sure you understand your next steps, such as making another appointment, phoning for test results, and watching for new symptoms.
• Approximately 300 million prescriptions are filled in Canada each year, or about 14 prescriptions for each man, woman and child. Health Canada notes that drug use among seniors is notably higher compared to the rest of the population.
• Medication errors: Physicians may over-prescribe drugs, sometimes in response to pressure by patients. Adverse effects can occur if a physician prescribes the wrong drug or a dangerous combination of drugs.
• Off-label drug use: Another potential problem is off-label drug use. Once a drug is approved, by Health Canada for one purpose, it can legally be prescribed for purposes not listed on the label.
• Online pharmacies: Although convenient, some online pharmacies may sell products or engage in practices that are illegal in the offline world, putting consumers at risk of receiving adulterated, expired, ineffective, or counterfeit drugs.
• Costs: International Marketing Services (IMS) Health estimates that Canadians spent $21.4 billion on prescription medications in 2008. Consumers may be able to lower their drug costs by using generic versions of medications.
The physician-patient partnership
Your appointment with your physician
The diagnostic process
Medical and surgical treatments
What are some questions you should ask when you get a prescription
Are there nondrug alternatives?
What is the name of the medication, and what is it supposed to do, within what period of time?
How and when do I take the medication, how much, and for how long? What if I miss a dose?
What other medications, foods, drinks, or activities should I avoid?
What are the side effects, and what do I do if they occur?
Can I take a generic drug rather than a brand-name one?
Is there written information about the medication?
What are some questions you should ask before accepting any Internet medical information
Who runs this site? Who pays for this site?
What is the purpose of this site?
Where does this information come from?
What is the basis of the information?
How is the information selected?
How current is the information?
How does the site choose links to other sites?
What information about you does this site collect and why?
How does the site mange its interactions with visitors?
What are some questions you should ask before surgery
Why do I need surgery?
Are any nonsurgical options available?
What are the risks?
Can the operation be performed on an outpatient basis?
What can I expect before, during, and after surgery?
• Surgery: The overall number of surgeries being performed in Canadian hospitals has increased by 17% between 1995-1996 to 2005-2006, and by another 5% over 2007 according to Canadian Institute for Health Information.
• This indicates that the number of surgeries performed has increased, hence one should be careful prior to electing surgery and ensure that it is absolutely required.
What are the different types of healthcare systems
Health systems are responsible for delivering services that improve, maintain or restore the health of individuals and their communities.
This includes the care provided by hospitals and family doctors, but also less visible tasks such as the prevention and control of communicable disease, health promotion, health workforce planning and improving the social, economic or environmental conditions in which people live.
-Tax funded model
-Employment based insurance model
-National health insurance model CANADA
-Private insurance model USA
-Out of pocket model people in the states without insurance
How to build a better health system
Evidence exists that investing in public health and primary prevention delivers significant health and economic dividends
Reform towards health systems that are more resilient and better centred around what people need
What are some alternative medical systems
- There are a variety of alternative medical systems.
- Many cultures have complete systems of medical philosophy, theory, and practice long before the current biomedical approach was developed. The western allopathic medicine is only about 150 years old, while the Indian Ayurvedic system has been around for thousands of years. The complementary system that are best known in North America are probably the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), chiropractic, naturopathy and homeopathy.
- Alternative medical systems have common concepts, such as the concept of life force or energy.
- Most traditional medical systems think of disease as a disturbance or imbalance, not just of a physical process but also of forces and energies within the body, the mind, and the spirit.
- Treatment aims to re-establish equilibrium, balance, and harmony.
- Because the whole patient is treated, rather than an isolated set of symptoms, a variety of treatments are used and adjusted according to the changes in the patient’s health status.
Traditional Chinese medicine
- Traditional Chinese medicine is based on abstract concepts; a set of techniques and methods; and individualized diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
- No identical disease exists in any two patients in TCM. Two patients with the same symptoms receive different treatments.
- The free and harmonious flow of life force, or “qi,” produces health. Illness occurs when the flow of qi is blocked or disturbed; therefore, the treatment is to restore and balance the flow of qi.
What is accupuncture
- Acupuncture works to correct disturbances in the flow of qi, which is believed to flow through the body along several meridians. One corrects disturbances by inserting long, thin needles at certain points in the skin and then manipulating the needles.
- A National Institutes of Health (NIH) consensus statement has found clear evidence that acupuncture was effective in cases of nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy and pain after surgery. Newer studies show that acupuncture may help relieve the painful symptoms of fibromyalgia and reduce joint pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis. There is not enough evidence to show that acupuncture is effective in treating menstrual cramps, asthma, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, or certain other conditions.
• Very few negative side effects have been reported in conjunction with acupuncture, but problems can result from improper insertion and manipulation of needles and from the use of unsterile needles.
The insertion of thin needles into the skin at points along meridians, pathways through which qi is believed to flow
The most common treatments in TCM are herbal remedies and acupuncture.
Herbal remedies have yin and yang properties. Remedies with yin characteristics are used for treatment when disease is perceived to be due to a yang deficiency, and vice versa. Several different plants are combined in precise proportions, often to make a tea or soup.
Most provinces in Canada regulate licensing for acupuncture practitioners, but requirements vary widely.
What is Homeopathy
- Homeopathy is a medical system of Western origin that is based on two principles: “like cures like” and remedies become more effective with greater dilution.
- “Like cures like” summarizes a concept that a substance that produces symptoms of an illness in a healthy person can cure the illness when given in small quantities.
- Remedies containing small quantities of a substance are obtained by
- repeatedly diluting the original solution.
- Even with many scientific experiments supporting homeopathy as being compatible with biomedical observations, homeopathy remains one of the most controversial forms of CAM.
- Regulators have not found any serious adverse events associated with homeopathy.
• In Canada homeopathic medicine is within provincial jurisdiction, while the regulation of homeopathic medicine is federal in jurisdiction. The medicines are regulated under the Natural Health Products Regulations, 2004.
Homeopathy is an alternative medical system that treats illnesses by giving very small doses of drugs that in larger doses would produce symptoms like those of the illness
More than 1,000 substances can be used to prepare homeopathic remedies that are thought to have different effects at different dilutions.
The treatment is determined by the overall condition of the patient rather than by specific signs and symptoms.
In Canada, the practice of homeopathic medicine is within provincial and territorial jurisdiction while the regulation of homeopathic medicines is federal
What are mind-body interventions
Makes use of the integral connection between mind and body and the effect each can have on the other.
Meditation
Yoga
Visualization
Taijiquan – Read this article and the abstract of this article.
Biofeedback
Hypnosis
• Mind-body interventions make an integral connection between mind and body and the effect each can have on the other.
• They include many stress-management techniques, such as meditation, yoga, visualization, t’ai chi ch’uan, and biofeedback.
• The placebo effect is one of the most widely known examples of mind-body interdependence.
• Some forms of hypnosis are considered CAM therapies.
• Hypnosis is the practice of inducing a state of deep relaxation during which a patient is easily influenced.
• Practitioners try to help patients change an unwanted behavior or deal with pain or other symptoms during the hypnotic state. It is used for smoking cessation programs, for anxiety disorders, and for pain control for chronic conditions. It has been shown to help some women deal with the pain of childbirth with less medication.
• It can be practiced by MDs, DOs, DDSs, and hypnotherapists. Physicians are licensed by their own associations; however, hypnotherapy is not an insured physician service in Canada.
What are biological based therapies
- Biological-based therapies include substances derived from plant or animal origin. They consist primarily of herbal remedies, botanicals, extracts from animal tissues (such as shark cartilage) and dietary supplements.
- Herbal remedies include a variety of compounds other than just herbs, such as botanicals, algae, bacteria, fungi, and minerals. They are a major component of many forms of medicine and are a common element of most systems of traditional medicine.
- A variety of botanical products are sold as dietary supplements in the form of tablets, pills, liquid extracts, and teas.
- Like foods, dietary supplements must carry ingredient labels, and manufacturers must ensure that they are safe and properly labeled.
- Extract from animal tissues
- The Natural Health Products Directorate branch of Health Canada regulates these products.
- Well-designed clinical studies have been performed on only a small number of biologically-based therapies. Participants in clinical trials with St. John’s wort, ginkgo, and echinacea experienced only minor adverse events.
- Most clinical trials lasted only a few weeks, so these tests do not indicate the safety of botanical consumption over a long period of time.
- Studies also do not examine the effects of different dosages or how these therapies interact with conventional drugs.
- Although most drug-herb interactions are relatively minor compared to conventional drug-drug interactions, some can be potentially serious. An example is concurrent herb use that has anticoagulant properties, such as ginkgo biloba, with the commonly prescribed anticoagulant Coumadin.
- Studies show that most people do not reveal their use of CAM therapies to their conventional health care providers which can have severe health consequences.
Manipulative and body based methods
- Manipulative and body-based methods are long-standing forms of health care.
- Manual healing techniques are based on the idea that misalignment or dysfunction in one part of the body can cause pain or dysfunction in another part. Realignment can return the body to optimal health.
- This is an integral part of physical therapy and osteopathic medicine.
- Massage, acupressure, Feldenkrais, and Rolfing are some of the other physical healing methods.
- The most commonly used CAM healing method is chiropractic.
- This method focuses on the relationship between structure, primarily of joints and muscles; and function, primarily of the nervous system, to maintain and restore health.
- An important procedure is the manipulation of joints, particularly those of the spinal column. Other techniques that chiropractors use include exercise, patient education, lifestyle modification, nutritional supplements, and orthotics. They do not use conventional drugs or surgery.
- Chiropractors are trained for a minimum of four academic years at accredited chiropractic colleges and can complete postgraduate training in many countries.
- Chiropractic care is accepted by health-care and insurance providers to a far greater extent than other CAM therapies.
- Spinal manipulation is included in the federal guideline for the treatment of low back pain. In fact, electro-diagnostic tests show that chiropractic is effective in controlling back pain. Treatment also has shown promising results in treating neck pain and headaches.
Energy therapies
- Energy therapies are based on the idea that energy fields surround and penetrate the body and can be affected by movement, touch, pressure, or the placement of hands in or through the energy fields. It uses energy originating either within the body, Biofield, or from other sources, electromagnetic fields.
- Reiki
- Qigong, a component of TCM, combines movement, meditation, and regulation of breathing to improve qi, blood circulation, and immune function.
- Therapeutic touch is based on the premise that healers can identify and correct energy imbalances by passing hands over the patient’s body. Reiki is one form of healing touch.
- Bioelectromagnetics is the study of the interaction between living organisms and electromagnetic fields produced by the organism itself and outside sources.
- The recognition that the body produces electromagnetic fields has led to the development of many diagnostic procedures in Western medicine, such as electroencephalography (EEG), electrocardiography (ECG), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) scans.
- Bioelectromagnetic-based therapies involve the use of electromagnetic fields to manage pain and to treat conditions such as asthma.
- Although these therapies are promising, the available research is insufficient to make firm conclusions about the efficacy of such treatments.
Evaluating complementary and alternative therapies
- It is important to carefully evaluate complementary and alternative therapies before choosing treatment.
- Your first source of information should be your physician or primary health-care provider for an evaluation and diagnosis of symptoms.
- Discuss and try conventional treatments that are known to be helpful for your condition.
- Inform your physician if you are thinking of trying a CAM therapy to avoid dangerous interactions with conventional treatments.
- Discuss the following issues related to CAM therapies with your physician or pharmacist: safety, effectiveness, timing, cost, and whether the immediate use of conventional treatment is necessary.
- Your physician should take you and your concerns seriously, respect your interest in CAM therapy, be informed about CAM approaches or at least try to learn about them, and be willing to discuss the evidence for and against them with you
- If appropriate, schedule a follow-up visit with your physician to assess your condition and progress after using CAM for a certain period.
- Keep a symptom diary to track your symptoms and gauge your progress.
- If you plan to pursue therapy against your physician’s advice, you need to tell him or her.
- You can also get information from your CAM practitioner, professional organizations, and state licensing boards.
- Ask your practitioner about education, training, licensing, and certification.
- Ask whether the practitioner believes the therapy will be beneficial for your condition and whether there are any potential side effects. Demand an evidence-based approach.
- Describe any conventional treatments you are receiving or plan to receive.
- Discuss how long therapy should continue before you can determine its effectiveness.
- Ask about the expected cost of the treatment and whether your health insurance will pay for some or all the expenses.
- Check with local and state regulatory agencies and consumer affairs departments to determine whether any formal complaints have been lodged against the practitioner.
- Do your own research by investigating websites of government agencies, universities, and organizations that conduct government-sponsored research on CAM approaches. Erroneous information about CAM is rampant among unscientific and “pop” resources.
- Talk with people with the same condition who have received the same treatment you are considering.
- Controlled scientific trials usually offer the best information and should be consulted whenever possible.
The current healthcare system in Canada
Canada’s national health insurance program, known as medicare, is designed to ensure that all residents have reasonable access to medically necessary hospital and physician services, on a prepaid basis
The roles and responsibilities for Canada’s health care system are shared between the federal and provincial or territorial governments
Paying for health care
• The cost of healthcare spending in Canada was projected to excced $242 billion in 2017 or $6,604 per person. Many factors contribute to the high cost of health care in Canada, including the cost of advanced equipment and new technology, expensive treatments for some illnesses, the aging of the population, high earnings by some people in the healthcare industry, and the demand for profits by investors.
• The Canadian national healthcare insurance program often referred to as medicare, is designed to ensure that all residents have reasonable access to medically necessary hospital and physician services on a prepaid basis.
• Instead of having a single national plan, we have a national program that is composed of 13 interlocking provincial and territorial health insurance plans.
• All plans are framed by the Canada Health Act, the principles of governing our health care system are symbols of underlying Canadian values of equity and solidarity.
• Roles and responsibilities for Canada’s health care system are shared between the federal and provincial-territorial governments.
• As per the Canada Health Act, the federal health insurance legislation, criteria and conditions are specified that must be satisfied by the provincial and territorial health care insurance plans, for them to qualify for their full share of the federal cash contribution available under the Canada Health Transfer (CHT).
• Provincial and territorial governments are responsible for the management, organization and delivery of health services for their residents.
Healthcare insurance
- Health insurance is a method of budgeting in advance for health-care costs that may otherwise be ruinously high.
- In 2007, out-of-pocket expenses by individual Canadians represented 15% of total health expenditure, or $ 23.4 billion. Private insurance accounted for 12% or $19.5 billion. Thus 73% of the total health care costs were paid for by the provincial and federal governments.
- Health insurance enables people to receive health care they might not otherwise be ale to afford.
• Hospital care costs hundreds of dollars a day, and surgical fees can cost thousands, hence the health insurance is important for everyone, especially as healthcare costs continue to rise.
Health insurance enables people to receive health care they might not otherwise be able to afford
Health insurance enables people to receive health care they might not otherwise be ale to afford.
Become literate in how to utilize the insurance plan that comes with school or work
Ask your health providers questions if you don’t understand something
Contact your insurance company and ask questions about what is covered, not covered
Maximizing your insurance takes time, be your own self-advocate and stay motivated.
Stay on top of submitting receipts
Seek out care that is covered in your benefits
Air Quality Health Index (AQHI)
A measure to indicate whether air pollution levels pose a health concern for Canadians
asbestosis
A lung condition caused by inhalation of microscopic asbestos fibres, which inflame the lung and can lead to lung cancer.
biodegradable
Refers to the ability of some materials to break down naturally and disappear back into the environment.
biodiversity
The variety of living things on the earth, including all the different species of flora and fauna and the genetic diversity among individuals of the same species.
biomagnification
The accumulation of a substance in a food chain.
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Chemicals used as spray-can propellants, refrigerants, and industrial solvents, implicated in the destruction of the ozone layer.
decibel
A unit for expressing the relative intensity of sounds on a scale from 0 for the average least perceptible sound to about 120 for the average pain threshold.
environmental health
The collective interactions of humans with the environment and the short-term and long-term health consequences of those interactions.
ecosystem
The community of organisms (plants and animals) in an area and the nonliving physical factors with which they interact.
fluoridation
The addition of fluoride to the water supply to reduce tooth decay.
food chain
The transfers of food energy and other substances in which one type of organism consumes another.
fossil fuels
Buried deposits of decayed animals and plants that are converted into carbon-rich fuels by exposure to heat and pressure over millions of years; oil, coal, and natural gas are fossil fuels.
global warming
An increase in the earth’s atmospheric temperature when
averaged across seasons and geographical regions; also called climate change.
greenhouse effect
A warming of the earth due to a buildup of carbon dioxide and certain other gases.
greenhouse gas
A gas (such as carbon dioxide) or vapour that traps infrared radiation instead of allowing it to escape through the atmosphere, resulting in a warming of the earth (the greenhouse effect).
heavy metal
A metal with a high specific gravity, such as lead, copper, or tin.
nuclear power
The use of controlled nuclear reactions to produce steam, which in turn drives turbines to produce electricity.
ozone layer
A layer of ozone molecules (O3) in the upper atmosphere that screens out UV rays from the sun.
pesticides
Chemicals used to prevent the spread of diseases transmitted by insects and to maximize food production by killing insects that eat crops.
polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)
An industrial chemical used as an insulator in electrical transformers and linked to certain human cancers.
radiation
Energy transmitted in the form of rays, waves, or particles.
radiation sickness
An illness caused by excess radiation exposure, marked by low white blood cell counts and nausea; possibly fatal.
radon
A naturally occurring radioactive gas emitted from rocks and natural building materials that can become concentrated in insulated homes, causing lung cancer.
recycling
The use of waste materials as raw materials in the production of new products.
sanitary landfill
A disposal site where solid wastes are buried.
septic system
A self-contained sewage disposal system, often used in rural areas, in which waste material is decomposed by bacteria.
smog
Hazy atmospheric conditions resulting from increased concentrations of ground-level ozone and other pollutants
What is environmental health?
• Humans should protect the world for future generations, and for other forms of life.
• Although many environmental problems are complex and seen beyond the control of the individual, there are ways that people can make a difference to the future of the planet.
-Environmental Health is the collective interactions of humans with the environment and the short-term and long- term health consequences of those interactions.
What is the connection between environmental health?
• Environmental health grew out of efforts to control communicable diseases
• When certain insects and rodents were found to carry microorganisms that cause disease in humans, steps were taken to control these animal hosts, called vectors.
• Systematic garbage collection, sewage treatment, water protection, food inspection, and public health agencies all evolved from these early discoveries.
• Canadians rarely contract cholera, typhoid fever, plague, diphtheria, or other diseases that once killed large numbers of people, but these diseases have not been eradicated worldwide (this is why many travellers have to get vaccines before entering these countries)
• It is important to understand that clean water, sanitary waste disposal, safe food, and insect and rodent control continue to be major issues throughout
the world.
What does environmental Health and Canada look like?
- In Canada, a huge, complex, public health system is constantly at work behind the scenes attending to the details of critical health concerns
- Over the last few decades, the focus of environmental health has expanded and become more complex
- Countering effects of natural disaster, terrorism or a human made disaster with quick restoration of public health services becomes crucial to human survival.
Population control in the world
- The world’s population is increasing at a rate of about 83 million per year – 160 people every minute
- United Nations projects that world population will reach 11.2 billion by 2100
- Much of the growth is taking place in the developing world.
- A growing population makes it difficult to provide the basic components of environmental health and is a driving force behind newer environmental health concerns, such as chemical pollution, global warming, and thinning of the ozone layer of the atmosphere.
- Recent rapid population growth is responsible for most of the stress humans put on the environment.
- The world’s population is 7.6 billion and is increasing at a rate of 83 million per year.
- The United Nations projects that world population will reach 8.6 billion by 2030, 9.8 billion in 2050, and 11.2 billion in 2100.
- All this increase is observed in the less-developed regions of the world. In 1950, the more-developed regions accounted for 32% of the worlds population, which dropped to 20% in 2000 and is expected to further decline to 13% in 2050.
- Changes also are projected for the world’s age distribution. The number of people age 60 and over will increase from 962 million in 2017 to 2.1 billion in 2050 and 3.1 billion in 2100.
What are some factors that can limit the worlds population?
- Factors that may limit the world’s population include:
- Food. Today, economic and sociopolitical factors rather than production problems have led to food shortages and famine. To continue to supply adequate nutrition, the makeup of the world’s diet may need to change.
- Available land and water. A growing population cuts forests, depletes soil, and withdraws water. Habitat destruction and species extinction also result.
- Energy. A shift to renewable resources such as hydropower, solar, and wind is necessary
- Minimum acceptable standard of living. The earth cannot support our current levels of energy consumption on a worldwide basis. Population must be limited to a number that the earth’s available resources can support.
What are some factors that contribute to population growth?
- The current population explosion is fueled by interconnecting factors:
- High fertility rates in the developing world, caused by a combination of poverty, high child mortality, and lack of social services.
- Lack of family planning resources.
- Lower death rates.
- To be successful, population management must change the condition of people’s lives to remove the pressure for large families. Improved health, better education, increased literacy, and more jobs for women all help to reduce fertility rates.
What does population management need to do?
- Improve the conditions of people’s lives
- Remove the pressures for having a large family
- Improve health
- Provide better education
- Increase literacy
- Increase employment opportunities for women
- Provide family planning resources
Air quality and smog
• Air pollution is not a human invention or even a new problem. The air is polluted naturally with every forest fire, pollen bloom, and dust storm, as well as with countless other natural pollutants.
• Air pollution is linked to a wide range of health problems; the very young and elderly are among those most susceptible to air pollution’s effects.
• Health Canada and Environment Canada have developed a new measure called the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) to indicate whether air pollution levels pose a health concern for Canadians. The AQHI is calculated based on the relative risks of a mixture of air pollutants listed below.
• Nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Major sources include motor vehicles and power plants. In people with upper respiratory diseases, NO2 affects lung function and may increase the risk of respiratory infections.
• Particulate matter (PM) is released into the atmosphere by the combustion of fossil fuels, crushing or grinding operations, industrial processes, and dust from roadways. PM can accumulate in the respiratory system and aggravate cardiovascular and lung diseases and increase the risk of respiratory infections.
• Ground level ozone is formed when pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, chemical plants, industrial boilers, and refineries chemically react in the presence of sunlight. Ozone can irritate the respiratory system, reduce lung function, aggravate asthma, increase susceptibility to respiratory infections, and inflame and damage the lining of the lungs.
• AQHI values range from 1 to 10+; the higher the AQHI, the greater the level of pollution and associated health danger. When the AQHI exceeds 7, the health risk is considered high, particularly for sensitive groups of people and then for everyone as AQHI values get higher.
Smog, a term coined in London in the early 1900s, is a combination of smoke and fog. However, what we typically call smog today is a mixture of pollutants with ground-level ozone being the key ingredient.
What is a greenhouse effect and global warming
- The greenhouse effect is the phenomenon in which the temperature of the earth’s atmosphere depends on the balance between the amount of energy the planet absorbs from the sun (mainly as high-energy ultraviolet radiation) and the amount of energy radiated back into space as lower-energy infrared radiation.
- The various key components of temperature regulation are carbon dioxide, water vapour, methane and other greenhouse gases.
- The levels of these gases are being increased by consumption of fossil fuels and deforestation is reducing the number of trees that convert carbon dioxide to oxygen, the effect is intensifying.
- Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have increased rapidly in recent decades. The use of fossil fuels pumps more than 20 billion tones of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year.
- Some experts believe that carbon dioxide may account for about 60% of the greenhouse effect.
- The year 2016 was the warmest on record, globally, since record keeping began in 1880. 2017 was the second warmest year, according to NASA. The average global temperature has risen approximately one degree Celsius since 1880.
- There is growing agreement among scientists that temperatures will continue to rise, although estimates vary as to how much they will change. If global warming persists, experts say the impact may be devastating.
What are some possible consequences of global warming
- Increased rainfall and flooding
- Increased mortality from heat stress
- Poleward shift in the location of vegetation zones
- Rapid and drastic melting of the polar ice caps
What is causing the thinning of the ozone layer?
• The ozone layer, a fragile invisible layer 11-40 km above the earth, shields the earth from the dangerous ultraviolet rays of the sun.
• Since the mid-1980s, scientists have observed the seasonal appearance of a “hole” in the ozone layer over Antarctica and thinning over areas of the north.
• The ozone layer is being destroyed primarily by the release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from refrigerants in air conditioners and discarded refrigerators, foaming agents in some rigid foam products, propellants in aerosol sprays (most have been banned now), and solvents in the electronic industry. CFCs react with air-borne ice crystals, releasing chlorine atoms, which destroy ozone.
• Worldwide production of CFCs declined rapidly, but they can persist in the atmosphere for more than a century.
• The ozone layer is a layer of ozone molecules (O3) in the upper atmosphere that screens out UV rays from the sun. It is a fragile, invisible layer about 16-48 km above the Earth’s surface
• The ozone layer is being destroyed primarily by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
- Coolants in refrigerators and air conditioners
- Foaming agents in insulation
- Propellants in aerosol sprays - Solvents
Energy used and air pollution in Canada and Alberta
- Canadians are large consumers of energy. North Americans use energy to create electricity, transport, power our industries, and run our homes. About 40% of the energy we use in Canada comes from oil, followed by natural gas (34%), hydroelectricity (23%), and coal (1%). The reminder comes from nuclear power and renewable energy sources (wind and solar).
- Energy consumptions is at the root of many environmental problems, especially those relating to air pollution.
- Car exhaust and industrial oil burning, and coal burning are primary causes of smog, acid precipitation, and the greenhouse effect.
- The mining of coal and the extraction and transportation of oil cause pollution on land and in the water; coal miners often suffer from serious health problems related to their jobs.
- Nuclear power generation creates hazardous wastes and carries the risk of dangerous releases of radiation.
- Conservation and development of renewable energy sources are key strategies for controlling energy use.
- North Americans use energy to create electricity, transport us, power our industries, and run our homes
- About 41% of the energy we use in Canada comes from oil
