Question

5. Environmental health problems arising from environmental emergencies are connected to their effects on the physical, biological and social environment that pose a threat to human health. Specify one (1) effect of the following environmental emergencies on human body and mention any three (3) signs and symptoms of the particular effect. Environmental emergencies 5.1 Diving Effect on human body (1) Signs and symptoms (3) 5.2 High altitude 5.3 Temperature

Answer 1

5.1 DIVING:

Effect on Human body

Sign and symptoms

Diving can effect the human circulatory system and this can produce many effects including cold,hyperbaric gases, immersion, exercise and stress as well as risk in the formation of gas bubbles in the human blood. Body losses more heat when immersed in water because water has high high thermal conductivity. Body loses heat that may leads to narrowing of blood vessels than filling pressure will be increased on the right side of heart that pump more blood.Constriction of arteries increase the resistance of blood flowing that will raises blood pressure. Diving that can increased carbon dioxide level that may accumulate in the body that can be caused by the reduces pulmonary ventilation that can increases the flow of blood to the brain,which can speed up for reaching to the brain that leads to oxygen toxicity. Diving effect the autonomic nervous system which is responsible for internal function such as respiratory rate,digestion and heart rate. Diving increase the parasympathetic effect such as heart rate.Stress while diving that pushes the autonomic nervous system in the opposite direction that has high risk of developing of arrhythmia.

Seizures Urinary incontinence Visual abnormalities Nausea Chest pain Amnesia Altered sensation Subcutaneous crepitation Paralysis Swelling of skin Itching

5.2 HIGH ALTITUDE

Effect on Human body

Signs and symptoms

High altitude effect the respiratory system,digestive system and circulatory system and When exposure to high altitude,ventilation gets increased because oxygen level at high altitude is very low that less amount of oxygen that is present in circulatory system and amount of oxygen that reaches to muscles is low. At high altitude the water loss will also get increased which can leads to dehydration that will increase metabolism and suppress appetite that people will feel that they ate more. When exposed for days to weeks their body start to adapt to low oxygen level environment that will increase the breathing was initiated with in few seconds as well as increased hemoglobin level.

Dizziness Fatigue Congestion in heart Shortness of breath Bluish skin tone Inability to walk Sleep problems

5.3:TEMPERATURE

Effect on human body

Signs and Symptoms

When temperature raises above the normal range that ca cause health problems.As the temperature raises the people may feel dehydration due to decreased water content in the body,loss of concentration,decreased ability to work. If temperature increase the heart rate will increase to pump more blood throughout the body and excess is lost from the skin though sweating. Temperature will effect the blood flow and excessive sweating can reduced the person's work ability both mental and physical.

Headache Dehydration Nausea Weakness Rashes Edema Itching Stroke Palpitation Numbness of legs