1 / 16

Carbon Dependence

Learn about the physiological, behavioral, and cognitive effects of carbon dependence, its rise to epidemic levels, presentation, complications, interventions, and prognosis. Explore medical, psychological, social, and environmental approaches to tackle this public health crisis.

folse
Download Presentation

Carbon Dependence

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Carbon Dependence A public health challenge

  2. Carbon Dependence Definition* “a cluster of physiological, behavioural, and cognitive phenomena in which the use of carbon-based fuels takes on a much higher priority for a given individual than other behaviours that once had greater value”. *In accordance with ICD-10

  3. Carbon Dependence Epidemiology • Early case reports date back to the 19th century, with prevalence rising exponentially in the last 50 years • Now reached epidemic proportions in the UK – affecting almost 100% of the population • Fears of global pandemic Aetiology • No genetic influences identified • Environmental factors important – e.g. out-of-town shopping

  4. Carbon Dependence Presentation High carbon behaviours: • T-shirt in winter • Travel history • Meat bingeing • New-variant consumption

  5. Carbon Dependence Recognising dependence (ICD-10) • A strong desire or sense of compulsion to take the substance. e.g. compulsive upgrading of mobile phone or other functioning electronic goods; overwhelming desire for overseas weekend-break. • Difficulties in controlling substance-taking behaviour in terms of its onset, termination, or levels of use. e.g. failed attempts to cycle to work; inability to use up contents of fridge in preference to buying new food.

  6. Early Complications • Anxiety, stress – due to lack of psycho-protective effects of physical activity, misdirected attempts to fulfil non-material needs (e.g. companionship) by carbon-intensive material means (e.g. purchase of a new iPod), etc. • Reduced exercise tolerance – NB intractable clinical syndrome when combined with COPD, heart disease • Respiratory symptoms, asthma – in children may be Munchausen by proxy • Constipation

  7. Late Complications • Obesity • Diabetes, cardiovascular disease • Colorectal cancer • Fuel poverty • Falls • Social isolation

  8. Climate toxicity • Already responsible for many deaths worldwide: malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoeal disease (WHO) • Severity not related to intensity of same individual’s carbon addiction

  9. The FART Test Flatus - Air Redistribution Test (not recommended) • Non-invasive, measures methane produced • Disliked by patients • Inaccurate - ?leaks • Fire hazard • Confusing: high methane measurements may correlate with vegetable-based diet

  10. Medical Intervention • Carbon intensity of pharmaceuticals and medical procedures* restrict options • Surgical techniques (unproven) e.g.: Division of patient-car connecting structures Ablation of internet shopping area of brain Stomach stapling *See NHS Carbon Emissions Modelling 2008

  11. Psychological Recommended techniques include: • Motivational interviewing • Cognitive behaviour therapy • Self-help groups

  12. Social: behaviour • Active travel – replaces gym membership + trips to seaside. (Effective in prevention and treatment of depression, coronary heart disease, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, etc) • Diet – gradual meat reduction; exposure to local markets • Occupational therapy – e.g. tea-making (attention to non over-filling of kettle), growing schemes,BTCV green gym

  13. Social: environment • Natural / green spaces – proven therapeutic value in depression, enhancing recovery after surgery, etc. • Protective against urban heat island, and in flood management; absorb CO2 • Built environment – certain features show close correlation with uptake of active travel* *NICE guidance available on creation of physical environments that support physical activity

  14. Social: housing • Housing improvement programmes benefit almost all addicts, but particularly the elderly, living alone, those with cardiovascular or respiratory disease • Suggested home insulation “step” in treatment of asthma; “I for insulation” in NICE guidelines on hypertension • Referral to specialist services is available* * e.g. www.warmfront.co.uk, www.energysavingtrust.co.uk

  15. Prognosis • Recent advances have transformed outcome in what was previously universally disabling disease. • With help of multidisciplinary team, addicts may even achieve full recovery.

  16. For a comprehensive, evidence-based guide to medical management of carbon dependence: www.CarbonAddict.org Carbon Addict is an opensource project of The Climate Connection and The Campaign for Greener Healthcare. The illustrations are by www.worldofinferiors.co.uk and are licensed under a Creative Commons License.

More Related