Environmental Health: Nurturing Wellness for Future Generations

A community of living things that interact and survive in a mutually dependent relationship with their physical surroundings is referred to as an ecosystem. For countless years, humanity has coexisted peacefully with the environment. His economic, social, and cultural behaviors, as well as his health, have all been greatly influenced by his environment. Both infectious and non-communicable diseases have an extensive literature demonstrating the influence of the environment on a range of illnesses.

Humanity's physical comfort and economic progress have advanced at an astonishing rate since the start of the industrial revolution 400 years ago in Europe, and since then, it has spread throughout the rest of the world. During the past three decades, this growth was fastest. This is often carried out at the expense of the environment, whether intentionally or not. Because of industrialization, the global temperature has risen sharply over the last 200 years compared to levels approximately 4000 years ago. Furthermore, in addition to global warming, other issues like the rapidly declining amounts of carbon fuels, ozone layer deterioration, and rising sea levels have severely harmed our ecosystem, changing the aquatic biodiversity and extinction of various animals and plants species.

Dense forests are disappearing as a result of increased urbanization. The level of air pollution has increased to the point where the air quality in many major cities worldwide is extremely toxic. Nonetheless, numerous governmental and non-governmental organizations have accomplished very little with hardly any discernible outcomes. It is imperative that the scientific community and the general public become more aware of the ways in which our ecosystem is being deteriorated, the health consequences that these effects are causing, and the solutions for the same. Let’s know why environmental health is important to us in this article.

Also, read: Breathing Life into Environmental Health: How Clean Air and Water Impact Wellness

How Our Body and Environmental Health are Interlinked?

A healthy climate, pure water, clean air, and safe shelter are just a few necessities for human health that are closely related to the environment. Understanding the link between the health of the environment and our own body is most crucial for our survival and preserving it for our future generation. Taking care of the environment is the best way to enhance preservation of both our physical and mental well-being.

More than 90% of people inhale contaminated air brought on by the burning of fossil fuels. Mosquitoes are spreading diseases faster and farther than ever due to the degraded environment conditions. People change their living places that negatively impacts their health due to extreme weather conditions, land degradation, and water scarcity. Even the highest mountains, the bottom of our deepest oceans, and our food chain are all home to pollution and plastics in the current scenario. Systems thriving on excessively processed and unhealthy eatables are responsible for one-third of the world's greenhouse gas emission, causing a rise in cancer and heart disease, and an epidemic of obesity.

Human health is being adversely affected by unintentional poisonings, which are mostly caused by improper use and excessive exposure to toxic chemicals, such as pesticides found in homes and/or workplaces. These poisonings are especially common in low-income nations.

Why is Environmental Health Important to Us?

A healthy environment is important for our physical and mental well-being. Every year on World Mental Health Day, we're reminded of the importance of mental health in our lives. Protecting our planet plays a vital role in this:

• Lowers the chance of getting diseases (both communicable & non-communicable): As we've seen with the recent pandemic, a healthy environment lowers the risk of diseases. Maintaining clean air and water reduces exposure to harmful pathogens and pollutants, ultimately contributing to better mental well-being.
• Prolongs and enhances life quality: Access to clean air, water, and safe shelter directly impacts our quality of life. Studies have shown a link between environmental quality and life expectancy, which can indirectly improve mental health.
• Enhances conservation of habitat and biodiversity: Biodiversity is crucial for healthy ecosystems and our well-being. Environmental awareness helps us protect the natural world, which has been shown to reduce stress and improve mood. Spending time in nature is a well-documented way to improve mental health.
• Prevents global warming: While we can't stop the rise in global temperatures entirely, we can slow it down. Human activity is a major contributor to greenhouse gasses. By reducing industrial emissions and waste, we can significantly improve environmental health and mitigate the effects of climate change, which can have a negative impact on mental well-being through increased stress and anxiety about the future.

How can the Environment Affect Our Health?

It is critical that we acknowledge the needs of the environment as much as our own if we hope to endure and prosper as a species. Following are few risks that humans can face from degraded environment:

• Respiratory Problems: Air pollution can harm our lungs and lead to respiratory illnesses, which can worsen anxiety and depression. Maintaining good air quality is vital for lung health and mental well-being.
• Higher chance of exposure to waterborne diseases: Poor water quality and sanitation can spread diseases like cholera and typhoid, causing stress and impacting daily life. Access to clean water is essential for physical and mental well-being.
• Danger posed by natural calamities: While natural disasters can occur anywhere, healthy environments can lessen their impact. Strong ecosystems can act as buffers against floods and storms, reducing the overall stress and anxiety associated with natural disasters.
• Poor Nutrition: Lack of access to fresh, healthy food can lead to malnutrition, which can negatively impact brain function and mental health. Nutrient-rich food is essential for our physical and mental health.

How to Enhance Environmental Health for Future Generation?

Each of us can contribute to enhancing the health of our environment for our future generation by taking concrete actions. These are some ways that can help in doing so:

• Reduce your carbon emission in the environment by choosing to walk or taking an eco-friendly vehicle to reach your destination.
• Reuse what you already have and recycle as much as you can to help the environment.
• Understanding how to cultivate your own food will teach you important life lessons. It is also a fantastic way to practice self-care.
• We use a lot of products that were produced in factories that abuse environmental resources. You have the option to combat this by making more deliberate decisions about your purchases.
• Conserve water
• Do not use single-use plastic
• Educate your children about environment
• Conserve energy resources by saving electricity
• Plant more trees

Conclusion

A healthy environment is essential for a stable and prosperous future for all living things, and it directly impacts our mental well-being. Every action we take towards environmental justice, no matter how small, benefits humanity as a whole. Let's all work together to create a beautiful and healthy world for ourselves, future generations, and celebrate World Mental Health Day by creating a world that supports both our physical and mental health.