lifestyles – Page 2 – MyWellness Network

Mental Health Impacts of Climate Change

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By Daniel Brouse

The environmental changes and uncertainties associated with climate change can contribute to mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Almost all survivors of climate-related disasters suffer from mental distress and experience PTSD. Of those who have not experienced climate disasters, over two-thirds of U.S. adults (68%) report having climate change anxiety.

Pollution and climate change can have severe health impacts, leading to the loss of lives through various direct and indirect mechanisms. An overview of how pollution and climate change contribute to adverse health outcomes:

Pollution:

Air Pollution:
- Respiratory Issues: Inhalation of air pollutants, such as particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone (O3), can cause or exacerbate respiratory conditions like asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Cardiovascular Effects: Air pollution is linked to cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes. Fine particulate matter can enter the bloodstream, affecting the cardiovascular system.
Water Pollution:
- Waterborne Diseases: Contaminated water sources can harbor pathogens, leading to waterborne diseases like cholera, dysentery, and gastrointestinal infections.
- Chemical Exposure: Industrial pollutants, agricultural runoff, and untreated sewage can introduce harmful chemicals into water supplies, posing long-term health risks.
Soil Pollution:
- Food Contamination: Polluted soil can lead to the contamination of crops with heavy metals, pesticides, and other harmful substances. Consuming contaminated food can result in health issues, including neurological problems and cancer.
Noise Pollution:
- Stress and Mental Health: Chronic exposure to high levels of noise can contribute to stress, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Long-term stress can impact mental health and, indirectly, physical well-being.

Climate Change:

Extreme Heat:
- Heat-Related Illnesses: Increasing temperatures, especially during heatwaves, can cause heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke, leading to organ failure and death.
Extreme Weather Events:
- Injuries and Fatalities: Hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other extreme weather events associated with climate change can cause injuries and fatalities directly. These events may also displace populations, leading to increased vulnerability.
Vector-Borne and Infectious Diseases:
- Changing Disease Patterns: Climate change can alter the distribution and prevalence of vector-borne diseases like malaria, dengue, and Lyme disease. These diseases can lead to severe health complications and death. Climate change can influence the geographic range and seasonality of infectious diseases, potentially leading to the emergence of new health threats. “The magnitude of the vulnerability when you think about one or two diseases — okay, sure, we can deal with that,” professor Camilo Mora said. “But when you’re talking about 58% of the diseases, and 58% of those diseases can be affected or triggered in 1,000 different ways. So that, to me, was also revealing of the fact that we’re not going to be able to adapt to climate change.”
Air Quality Impacts:
- Worsening Respiratory Conditions: Changes in climate patterns can affect air quality, contributing to increased respiratory issues and exacerbating existing health conditions.
Food and Water Scarcity:
- Malnutrition and Dehydration: Climate change can impact agricultural productivity and water availability. This may lead to food and water scarcity, causing malnutrition, dehydration, and related health problems.
Mental Health Impact:
- Psychological Stress: The environmental changes and uncertainties associated with climate change can contribute to mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Almost all survivors of climate-related disasters suffer from mental distress experiencing PTSD. Of those who have not experienced climate disasters, over two-thirds of U.S. adults (68%) report having climate change anxiety.

It’s important to note that vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions, are often disproportionately affected by the health impacts of pollution and climate change. Additionally, global efforts to mitigate these impacts and transition to more sustainable practices are crucial for protecting human health and well-being.

* Our climate model employs chaos theory to comprehensively consider human impacts and projects a potential global average temperature increase of 9℃ above pre-industrial levels.

What Can I Do?
There are numerous actions you can take to contribute to saving the planet. Each person bears the responsibility to minimize pollution, discontinue the use of fossil fuels, reduce consumption, and foster a culture of love and care. The Butterfly Effect illustrates that a small change in one area can lead to significant alterations in conditions anywhere on the globe. Hence, the frequently heard statement that a butterfly in China can cause a hurricane in the Atlantic. Be a butterfly and affect the world.

Here is a list of additional actions you can take.

The Human Induced Climate Change Experiment

Long-COVID Update

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by Daniel Brouse

COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has left an indelible mark on global health, demonstrating not only its immediate threat but also the potential for enduring consequences. This article explores the profound and lasting impact of COVID-19, delving into the virus’s role in chronic conditions and its ability to leave a lasting imprint on various aspects of health.

Long-Term Complications and Excess Deaths

A COVID-19 infection often leads to persistent complications that significantly diminish both the quality of life and life expectancy. Shockingly, 10% of excess deaths can be directly attributed to COVID itself, while the remaining 90% are attributed to what can be considered COVID’s silent killers. Individuals who have experienced COVID may face a diminished quality of life and an increased risk of premature death. Dr. Rob Wust underscores this by stating, “There is something inside the body going wrong with the disease.”

Long-COVID: A Looming Reality

For those who have contracted COVID, the probability of developing chronic conditions, known as Long-COVID, is a staggering 99%. This alarming statistic underscores the pervasive and lasting impact of the virus on an individual’s health.

Key Insights into COVID-19’s Long-Term Effects

Direct Impact on Organs:
- COVID-19 has been responsible for millions of deaths and has caused long-term damage to vital organs, leaving many survivors permanently disabled.
Persistent Viral Presence:
- SARS-CoV-2 can persist in the body for months or even years, causing chronic infections and leaving behind viral proteins associated with Long-COVID. This persistence is comparable to other viruses like Chicken Pox leading to Shingles or Epstein-Barr virus contributing to Mononucleosis and Multiple Sclerosis.
Compromised Immune System and Autoimmune Risks:
- Post-COVID individuals often experience a compromised immune system and an increased risk of autoimmune diseases. Local immune responses may be disturbed by both mental and physical exertion in long-COVID patients.
Genetic and Epigenetic Changes:
- SARS-CoV-2 induces genetic and epigenetic alterations to DNA, resulting in a compromised immune system, elevated risks of diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and damage to neurological, circulatory, and cardiovascular systems. Predisposed conditions are likely to escalate to more advanced stages.
Complexity of Long-COVID:
- Long-COVID is likely a multifaceted condition involving persistent virus presence, residual viral proteins, and lasting epigenetic and genetic changes, potentially lasting indefinitely.
Increased Risks with Reinfection:
- Reinfection with COVID amplifies the risks of death, hospitalization, and multi-organ damage, exacerbating underlying conditions across various bodily systems.

Understanding the epigenetic changes induced by COVID, including the downregulation of NAD+ and the impact on tryptophan, sheds light on the physical and mental health challenges faced by individuals. The deficiency in niacin, zinc, and vitamin D is a common consequence. It is crucial to recognize that COVID’s epigenetic changes may vary widely based on an individual’s genetic makeup, requiring tailored treatments for optimal outcomes.

COVID-19 / SARS-CoV-2 / Novel Coronavirus

Long-COVID: What We Know

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by Daniel Brouse
November 29, 2023

In February of 2020, I contracted SARS-CoV-2. Then, I continued to experience long-term complications and chronic conditions. The article Long COVID Update: 3 Years of Living With It describes the symptoms and the knowledge gained from the experience.

Now I am approaching 4 years and continue to get asked for help by others. Here is what I have learned:

Long-COVID has pretty much been classified into three categories — complications from the infection, persistent virus (chronic infection), and epigenetic changes. Complications from infection are lifelong chronic conditions most often seen in the lungs and respiratory system. Persistent virus can sometimes be cured with post-infection vaccination. Epigenetic changes can sometimes be reversed but many times they cannot. It is likely some epigenetic changes can become genetic changes that may be passed on to future generations (similar to cigarette smoking.)

The increase in excess deaths and long-term amplification of genetic conditions indicates most COVID complications cannot be cured. Unfortunately, this means a shorter life-expectancy as well as a diminished quality of life. On October 26, 2023, Insurance News Network reported, “Excess mortality is the difference between the total number of deaths for a specific time period and the number that would have been expected. The numbers were naturally forecast to climb during the pandemic, but some industry and health authorities are concerned the rates haven’t greatly diminished as COVID infection rates have declined.”

Personally, it forever messed with my blood pressure, lipid profile, hepatic function panel, A1C, and others.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The reason I am aware of my condition is because I am actively researching long-COVID and am aggressively pursuing medical testing. If you had COVID, there is a 99% chance that you, too, have chronic conditions. “SARS-CoV-2 causes genetic and epigenetic changes to your DNA. These changes include long-term compromising of the immune system, increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, and cancer, as well as, damaging the neurological, circulatory, and cardiovascular systems. Any ailments for which you are predisposed will likely be elevated to the next stage. See your doctor. Get all the tests you can especially blood work. If you have a family history of inherited genetic disorders, seek counsel from your physician. Many of the epigenetic changes are undetected for a year or two after infection; however, the sooner treatment is started, the better. Medications, diet, and other lifestyle changes can help treat the conditions, improve your quality of life, and increase your life expectancy.

High levels of cardiovascular issues have occurred in youth. We do not know why COVID causes this problem; however, it appears NAD+ is another common factor in the youth (in effect causing them to age faster/shortening life expectancy.) We don’t know if the two are related. Niacin is recommended to help stabilize NAD+.

Did you know that milk does not naturally contain vitamin D? How about that Niacin is added to breakfast cereals? This is because most Americans main source of D and Niacin is through their “fortified” breakfast fooda. Chances are large you are starting deficient in D and Niacin. Both of these slow the aging process and prevent diseases.

Niacin is crucial to NAD+. COVID hijacks the precursors that create NAD+. Niacin is a substitute. Niacin does not cure the cause but it does treat the symptoms. At my worst symptoms, I was taking 500mg/day. After the vaccines were invented and I was vaccinated, most of my “long-COVID” symptoms (brain-fog, fatigue, inflammation, etc) subsided. Vaccination appears to have cured the persistent virus part of the disease. The epigenetic changes still persist, though. Now, I take 50mg/day to help my naturally aging NAD+. The most important part of the Niacin protocol is that you are really taking Niacin — nicotinic acid — NOT no-flush Niacin. If you are deficient in Niacin, you will flush. This will help you know you are taking the right supplement. Here is our paper on it… please feel free to ask any questions and to have me on standby the first time you take it if you have concerns. Flushing is normal and will not harm you; nevertheless, you may want to start with a small dose to mentally prepare. The paper COVID, Vitamin B3 (Nicotinic Acid), and the Immune System helps explain Niacin in more detail.

Did you know that milk does not naturally contain vitamin D? How about that Niacin is added to breakfast cereals? This is because most Americans main source of D and Niacin is through their “fortified” breakfast foods. Chances are large you are starting deficient in D and Niacin. Both of these slow the aging process and help prevent diseases. Talk to your doctor about taking supplements.

Coronavirus: Science Based Information on the Covid-19 Virus

How to Protect Yourself From Air Pollution

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By Daniel Brouse

Climate change is a primarily caused by air pollution.

Air pollution is a primary cause of death.

The health impacts of air pollution are both cumulative and irreversible. The more polluted the air, the more severe the effects. The more polluted air you breathe over time, the more severe the effects. That is to say breathing “Moderate” quality air for 3 days might be similar to breathing “Unhealthy for Sensitive Group” quality air for 1 day. In both cases, your respiratory, circulatory, neurological, and immune systems have been damaged.

You can (and should) check your local air quality several times a day at AirNow.gov. The air quality index (AQI) goes from 0 to 500. An AQI value of 50 or below represents good air quality, while an AQI value over 300 represents hazardous air quality.

Particulate Matter (PM)

The EPA defines particulate matter (also called particle pollution): the term for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some particles, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, are large or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye. Others are so small they can only be detected using an electron microscope.

Particle pollution is similar to smoking cigarettes. The more you inhale, the worse it is for you. Also, the more particles in the air you breath, the worse it is for you. Breathing air on a day with an AQI that is unhealthy is similar to smoking a half-pack of cigarettes. If you go running instead of walking, it might be equivalent to smoking 2 packs of cigarettes.

The more particulate matter you breathe in over time, the greater the cumulative effect. The impact on your health will depend on your predisposition. In all cases your risk increases for nasal and upper respiratory tract health problems, heart attacks, strokes, asthma, and bronchitis, as well as premature death from heart ailments, lung disease, and cancer. Studies show that exposure can impair brain development in children and are significantly associated with the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Some of the impacts of particle pollution may be reversed overtime if further exposure to particle pollution is eliminated. After five years of quitting smoking, the risk of developing complications decreases by up to 50%.

The best lifestyle is to avoid particulate matter. Exercise outside only on days with a “Good” AQI under 50. If you must go out on days with an AQI over 50, wear an N95 mask. Indoors build and run a Corsi-Rosenthal Box filter.

Ground-level Ozone

Tropospheric ozone is low level ozone caused by humans. Tropospheric ozone is “bad ozone” that causes health problems in humans, plants to die and other destructive results. (Stratospheric ozone, the good ozone, is the ozone layer in the stratosphere that keeps 95-99% of the suns ultraviolet radiation from striking the earth.)

“Tropospheric ozone is formed by the interaction of sunlight, particularly ultraviolet light, with hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, which are emitted by automobiles, gasoline vapors, fossil fuel power plants, refineries, and certain other industries.” — National Center for Atmospheric Research

Ozone primarily affects the respiratory and immune systems. The damage is permanent, untreatable and often results in death. The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District reports, “Roughly one out of three people in the U.S. is at risk of experiencing ozone-related health effects.”

The best lifestyle is to avoid ozone exposure. Since heat and ultraviolet light are needed to create ozone, staying indoors offers the best protection. Neither masks nor air purifiers protect from ozone exposure. (Ozone is O3 and almost the same size as Oxygen O2)

REFERENCES
Death by Ozone
COVID-19 and Air Pollution
Ozone Know Zone
Air Pollution Kills
Indoor Air Pollution: How to Purify the Air, Aromatic Plants, and Phytoncides
Corsi-Rosenthal Box filter
The Human Induced Climate Change Experiment

Natural Air Purifiers, Aromatic Plants, and Phytoncides

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By Daniel Brouse

Air pollution is: a leading cause of death worldwide, the leading cause of climate change, and the greatest threat to humankind. There is not much an individual can do about the outdoor air quality; however, there is a lot one can do to improve their individual air quality. The EPA reports, risks from long-term exposure to indoor pollution “include some respiratory diseases, heart disease and cancer, can be severely debilitating or fatal. It is prudent to try to improve the indoor air quality in your home even if symptoms are not noticeable.” In the Spring of 2023, wildfires in Canada made the symptoms noticeable to many residents in the United States. Outdoor air quality measured hazardous for days in a row. When people could see and smell the air quality, it became obvious. Their indoor air quality also became noticeably poor.

With extreme weather events increasingly impacting both outdoor and indoor air quality, a long-term breathing experiment is underway.

No matter where your virgin air comes from, most likely the best way to purify the air is with plants.

The most famous study was conducted by NASA to remove formaldehyde from the air and found spider plants removed 95 percent of the toxic substance from a sealed Plexiglas chamber in 24 hours.

As part of the long-term breathing experiment we have cultivated multiple generations of spider plants. They are a great place for a novice to get started. Spider plants thrive in bright to moderate light. In the spring and summer, once-a-week watering is sufficient. During the winter, the soil should dry between waterings. (Spider plants are almost as easy to care for as cacti.) Snake plants are also easy to grow in all kinds of lighting situations, require little watering, and are one of the best air purifying plants.

Aromatic Plants and Phytoncides
Almost all plants are good for air purification. The spider plant and snake plants are great for taking pollutants out of the air, as well as optimize sustainability. The long-term breathing experiment is also looking at adding to the air quality.

Aromatherapy and Forest Bathing are easy to implement in your natural air purification experiment. Many plants can help take contaminants out of the air while adding medicinal properties to the air. Rosemary, mints, basil, sage, and most other herbs can add anti-bacterial, anti-depressant, anti-anxiety, stress, pain relief and other beneficial properties to air quality.

During the Air Quality Crisis of 2023, the long-term breathing experiment collided with the Tree Extinction Experiment. As part of the tree experiment, we grow a small nursery of trees in containers. Their main purpose is usually outside to act as a windblock for the structure to help reduce heating and cooling energy needs. Luckily, during the hazardous air quality days we were able to bring some (spruce and oak) inside to help purify the air and add phytoncides. The US Department of Agriculture reports, “These chemicals are natural oils that plants use to defend themselves against unwanted pests such as insects, bacteria or fungi. Phytoncides improve the human immune system by increasing natural killer cell activity. These cells respond rapidly to virus-infected cells and tumor formation. Studies show that increased natural cell activity can last for more than 30 days after a trip to a forest, suggesting that a trip once a month would enable individuals to maintain a higher level of natural killer cell activity. Other benefits from phytoncides include an increase in anti-cancer proteins; a reduction in blood pressure, heart rate and stress hormones; reduced test scores for anxiety, depression, anger, fatigue, and confusion; and increased scores for vigor.”

Trees known to produce especially high levels of phytoncides include the evergreen trees (Cedars, Spruces, Conifers and Pine) and Oak trees.

Read the full article.

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