Air Pollution, Your Health and Increased Health Care Costs
Submitted by Barb Cronin on Mon, 02/02/2009 - 16:59.
By Barb Cronin - Posted on February 2nd, 2009
If you're concerned about the state of your health and either maintaining it or improving it then you must pay attention to numerous factors in your life one of these is air pollution in your environment.
Air pollution has been shown in recent studies to significantly impact health; especially health of the elderly (considered 65 to 84). Studies show that in areas with higher rates of air pollution there are increased numbers of hospitalizations especially of the elderly. This obviously causes more expenses associated with health care.
Studies Link Air Pollution to Higher Hospitalization Rates
In a study by Victor R. Fuchs (professor emeritus) at Stanford University and Sarah Rosen Franks, a doctoral student at the University of California, Berkeley millions of records of people aged 65 to 84 were studied. The researchers compared medical records, including hospitalizations and pollution measures in 184 metropolitan areas. The findings were adjusted for differences in education, income, race, obesity and cigarette smoking as well as region and population size.
The results indicated that in areas with more pollution, admissions to the hospital for respiratory problems were higher also. The difference was 19% more admittance in areas with higher rates of pollution.
Areas with Higher Respiratory Hospitalization Rates and High Levels of Air Pollution
Hospital admissions for respiratory problems were greatest in the Deep South and the West South (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana.)
This study provides information that controlling and correcting air pollution can be key in reducing health care costs as well as decreasing respiratory problems in all of the population, not just the elderly.
Look at the Big Picture with Improving Your Health
When we look at our health it's vital to take a look at the whole. Everything that goes into our bodies must be taken into account. From the foods we eat to the water we drink the personal care products we choose to the air we breathe. If we truly want to become healthy, "non-toxic" individuals it's essential to keep all that goes into our body toxin free as much as we are able.
Escaping a Toxic Society: Let Your Voice be Heard
The society has become toxic from the continual exposure to environmental toxins. Some of these toxins we control our intake of; personal care products, foods, water. Others, like air we must rely on others, particularly in government to help fix and control. This makes it essential to use your voice and vote to express your wants and needs as a citizen of the United States of America. This is how you can help to limit the toxins in the air and combat air pollution.
