Practice Of Medicine: Environmental Threats

The course takes you through the different environmental attributes that affect man in different ways. It begins with the risks associated with travelling from lowlands to higher altitudes and proceeds to discuss the myriad effects of chemical agents like the X rays, gamma rays in the form of radiation, of variations in temperature from hot to cold and vice versa and then the risks associated with man’s interaction with water which include drowning and near drowning. 

• 1. High Altitude Sickness Part 1   FREE 41 min

  This module introduces the term High Altitude Sickness which encompasses numerous conditions that develop when man fails to acclimatize to the environment of high altitudes along with its aetiology, pathophysiology and epidemiology and proceeds to discuss acute and chronic mountain sickness in depth.

• 2. High Altitude Sickness Part 2 52 min

  This module explores the various conditions other than mountain sickness which are covered by the umbrella term of High altitude sickness. Each condition has been dealt with in terms of its aetiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and management.

• 3. Effects of Radiation 26 min

  This module revolves around the impact of radiation on mankind. It enlightens the learner about the different forms of radiation, varieties of radiation exposure, and the clinical presentation of each one along with its management.

• 4. Cold Injuries & Hypothermia 50 min

  This module explores the effects of extremely cold temperature on man in the form of different conditions that develop as a consequence. It begins with the term hypothermia which has been explained in terms of aetiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and management. Then proceeds to discuss these aspects of different conditions that develop as a result of exposure to cold temperature.

• 5. Heat Injuries & Hypothermia 44 min

  On the same continuum of temperature, hyperthermia develops when exposed to very hot temperature. This module explores the effects of extremely hot temperature on man in the form of different conditions that develop as a consequence. It discusses different conditions that develop as a result of exposure to hot temperature in terms of aetiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and management.

• 6. Drowning & Near Drowning 19 min

  A brief reflection of the two major threats that exposure to vast bodies of water predispose man to. Drowning and Near Drowning have been thoroughly explained in terms of aetiology, risk factors in different age groups, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and management.

The interaction between man and the environment is intricate and complex. Understanding the risks that man is predisposed to, while he continues the unavoidable interaction with his environment is but essential in order to lessen the continuously increasing global burden of health problems associated with environmental factors. The importance of studying environmental threats lies in the fact that environmental attributes which threaten man’s health are both unavoidable and non-modifiable. Therefore it is important for all physicians in the making to be well aware of these conditions and thorough in treating them efficiently.

Beneficiaries: UG/PG

Course Benefit:

This course enlightens the learner about the various risks involved with exposures to different attributes of the environment such as extremes of temperature, high altitudes and the depths of water along with radiation which is increasingly being utilized in the daily affairs of man in the name of advancement in technology.

The course talks not just about the theoretical aspect of all these conditions in terms of their aetiology, epidemiology, risk factors and clinical presentation but also throws light upon the clinical aspect which includes the diagnosis and management. Together they enable a learner to deal with environmental threats most efficiently which is the need of the hour.