{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Glossary","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.healthbenefitstimes.com\/glossary","author_name":"Glossary","author_url":"https:\/\/www.healthbenefitstimes.com\/glossary\/author\/adminglossary\/","title":"Environmental medicine - Definition of Environmental medicine","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"NAPH3EHsmI\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthbenefitstimes.com\/glossary\/environmental-medicine\/\">Environmental medicine<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/www.healthbenefitstimes.com\/glossary\/environmental-medicine\/embed\/#?secret=NAPH3EHsmI\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Environmental medicine&#8221; &#8212; Glossary\" data-secret=\"NAPH3EHsmI\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/www.healthbenefitstimes.com\/glossary\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n","description":"A branch of medical practice that is concerned with the study of environmental causes of disease, clinical ecologist.A branch of medicine concerned with illnesses that are caused by pollutants or toxins. These include problems such as food allergies\u00a0and hay fever. In some cases, environmental practitioners use a variety of holistic and homeopathic treatments, as well as regular pharmaceutical therapies.The study of the consequences for people's health of the natural environment. This includes the effects of climate, geography, sunlight and natural vegetation.Branch of medicine concerned with the effects of the environment (temperature, rainfall, population size, pollution, radiation) on humans.The exploration of ecological factors that impact the emergence and progression of illness, including but not limited to, electromagnetic radiation (EMR), exposure to pesticides, allergens, and solar radiation.Environmental medicine is the study of how natural environmental factors, such as climate, altitude, sunlight, and the presence of minerals, impact health. This field also overlaps with occupational medicine, which focuses on studying how people's working environments affect their well-being.Certain climates can influence the symptoms experienced by individuals with specific types of illnesses. For instance, people with chest disorders like chronic bronchitis and asthma often find relief from their symptoms in warm, relatively dry climates. On the other hand, respiratory complaints are more prevalent during the winter season.While mountainous regions tend to have lower atmospheric pollution, they may not necessarily be beneficial to health due to the thinning of the air as altitude increases. People with chest conditions may experience worsening breathing difficulties if they ascend rapidly from sea level to 1,500 m. At altitudes above approximately 3,000 m, even healthy individuals may find it challenging to breathe. A rapid ascent from sea level to 3,600 m or higher carries the risk of altitude sickness, which can cause symptoms like sleeplessness, nausea, coma (a state of unconsciousness and unresponsiveness to stimuli), or even death.Above 6,000 m, sustaining life appears to be unfeasible due to the fact that, at this altitude, the number of blood cells increases to counteract the oxygen deficiency. This elevation-induced increase in blood cells puts considerable strain on the heart and raises the risk of thrombosis, which is abnormal blood clotting.People with fair skin who reside in sunny climates may experience adverse effects from frequent exposure to sunlight. These effects can include premature wrinkling of the skin and an elevated risk of developing cataracts, which is the loss of transparency in the lens of the eye. Additionally, there is a higher likelihood of developing skin cancers like malignant melanoma and basal cell carcinoma, as well as the precancerous condition known as solar keratosis. These risks have been amplified by damage to the protective ozone layers in the upper atmosphere caused by environmental pollutants. To reduce health risks from sunlight, protecting the skin through measures like using sunscreens is essential.Differences in the presence and distribution of specific minerals in the environment can significantly impact health. For instance, regions with elevated emissions of the radioactive gas radon from granitic rocks tend to have a higher-than-average incidence of cancer. Conversely, populations residing in areas with water containing high fluoride levels typically experience a lower-than-average incidence of tooth decay."}