Bad Vibrations: 5 Health Effects of Fracking

In an effort to source gas and oil that lies beneath the earth’s surface, the practice known as fracking was born. The term fracking means to fracture a solid rock using heavy duty hydraulic equipment. The fracking industry has long claimed that fracking is a completly safe and beneficial practice; that it is an efficient way of sourcing American gas and oil. Those who live near fracking sites and have experienced property destruction and health deterioration firsthand disagree. Here are 5 things that we know about the health effects of fracking:

 

1. Cancer

The exposure the environmental toxins is a huge concern for the increase in cancer cases near fracking zones. Some environmental cancers take years to present themselves, but others have been presenting themselves in a rapidly increasing fashion.

 

2. Infertility

Fracking involves a huge amount of toxic chemicals, with a large percentage of these being are endocrine disruptors, which mimic hormones and can wreak havoc on an otherwise healthy body. The reproductive system is especially sensitive to chemical exposure and the alarmingly high rate of infertility in fracking areas has been documented.

3. Respiratory Issues

Venting emissions that occur during the fracking process are a major culprit to the air pollution that is thought to cause intense bouts of respiratory distress among residents living near a fracking site.

 

4. Low Birth Weight

Babies born to mothers living in a fracking zone are at a much increased risk of being born at a low birth weight than babies born outside of the area. The exposure to toxic chemicals does not allow the fetus to grow as it would without the harmful effects of the chemicals.

 

5. Headaches and Dizziness

Constant exposure to toxic chemicals from a fracking site can cause a great deal of distress. Many residents experience some level of headaches and/or dizziness, starting only once the fracking operation began.

 

Fracking is an issue that is currently being hotly debated, and deserves more research and insight. Good Vibrations industrial sensors have been used to prove the impact that fracking has on the surrounding environment. These sensors have shown that fracking has the equivalent effect as a micro earthquake. These findings, along with accounts of health problems plaguing areas near fracking sites must be taken seriously to protect the families that are being affected by the fracking industry.

Categories: babies born, birth weight, Effects, Fracking, fracking industry, fracking site, fracking sites, health, health effects, nbsp, Toxic Chemicals

Lasting Health Effects of Drug Addiction

A few moments of pleasure can easily turn into a lifetime of pain for unsuspecting drug addicts.Even after an addiction has been treated, the health effects of drug addiction can linger. Sadly, many drug users will inject, ingest or inhale a substance without giving any serious thought to the consequences. Outside of lost jobs and ruined relationships, drug addicts will also face setbacks when it comes to their health.

 

Weakened Immune System

Drugs that are inhaled will cause damage to the nose, throat and lungs. This will lead to increased risk of lung infections and upper respiratory tract infections. Methamphetamines contribute to decreased immune function by drying out the mucous membranes. Defective mucous membranes are not able to help the body in its removal of harmful bacteria. This will allow foreign bacteria to wreak havoc on the addict’s body. Even when a drug is used just a few times, the health effects of drug addiction are plentiful, and chilling.

 

Brain Dysfunction

A number of drugs contain chemicals that are structured similarly to those created by the brain. Using such drugs will send those chemicals to the brain and activate nerve cells under false pretenses. Other drugs trick the brain into releasing high amounts of neurotransmitters that stimulate the reward center of the brain. In order to compensate for this release, the brain begins producing less and less of these chemicals. As a result, it becomes increasingly difficult for drug addicts to experience feelings of joy and pleasure.

 

Damage to the Cardiovascular System

Drugs like marijuana and cocaine will create an irregular heart rate and constrict the blood vessels. This will force the heart to work at an elevated intensity. If the heart is forced to work too hard for too long, then it will not be able to supply adequate amounts of oxygen to the rest of the body. This can result in chronic muscle fatigue, stroke and cardiac arrest.

 

Infertility

Long-term drug use can have an impact on a couple’s ability to conceive children naturally. Male addicts may experience low sperm count, poor sperm mobility and low amounts of seminal fluid. Female addicts may experience disruptions in their menstrual cycles and destruction of mature eggs in the ovaries.

 

Tooth Decay

Drugs like ecstasy and meth can cause dry mouth. Without enough saliva in the mouth, harmful bacteria will have free reign on tooth enamel. In other cases, tooth decay occurs in response to cravings brought on by drug use. For example, marijuana use produces cravings for junk food. The additional sugar will eat away at enamel.

 

Toxic Neuropathy

Putting drugs into the body will interfere with how the body communicates with itself. When nerves are unable to communicate, it is often the result of toxic neuropathy. This disorder produces tingling and numbness in various parts of the body.

 

Addicts who receive treatment may be able to regain some nerve functions. Treatment centers like the Action Recovery Group, for example, will be able to implement a safe 12-step recovery program that will help restore the mind and body of drug addicts.

 

Addicts are constantly chasing the euphoric feeling of their very first high. As they continue to search, they end up taking their bodies down in the process. Once they decide to get help, they can begin taking steps towards reversing some of those damages.

Categories: carcinogens, dangers of drugs, Drug, drug abuse, drug addiction, drug addicts, harmful bacteria, health effects, Health Risks, Infertility, mucous membranes, nbsp addicts

Alcohol and Your Health: The Path Through Your Body

Whether out to dinner or just popping over to a friend’s house, alcohol is everywhere. Though some alcohol, like red wine, has been found to have certain health benefits, regularly tying one on can lead to disastrous results for your health and well-being. From damage to your vital organs to the possibility of a DUI, being aware of your personal alcohol intake can be one of the most important things you can do for your body and your safety.

 

Booze & Your Body

While many people understand that the overuse of alcohol is dangerous, not many people understand why or what particular organs are damaged or effected. The simple fact is that overindulging with alcohol, either just one time or on a regular basis, can have serious and lasting adverse health effects.

 

Brain

Think of your brain as a series of telephone wires which the brain then uses to communicate or send signals to other parts of your body. Drinking can seriously impede these lines of communication, resulting in less control of your basic motor skills. Thought processing times also drop, as does your ability to make good judgement calls. It’s alcohol’s effect on the brain that results in drunk driving and DUI’s, as the driver is unable to process information as quickly as someone who isn’t drinking.

 

Liver

Your liver is pretty much in charge when it comes to dealing with the alcohol you consume. As it’s your liver’s responsibility to mop up most of the damaging effects alcohol can have, it suffers a lot more than most of your other organs. Regular alcohol use can result in life-threatening illness such as cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis and steatosis (fatty liver).

 

Heart

This may come as a surprise to most people, but alcohol can be extremely damaging to your heart and cardiovascular systems. While some studies have shown that moderate use in healthy adults can actually have positive affects on the heart, excessive use can result in a whole host of health problems. Both high blood pressure and strokes can be linked to overuse of alcohol, as can high mortality rate diseases such as cardiomyopathy and arrhythmias.

 

Immune System

Though you may be under the impression that the worst you can get from a heavy drinking session is a hangover, alcohol can actually impede your body’s ability to fight off infections and illnesses. In fact, your body’s immune system can be compromised for up to 24 hours after drinking. Chronic drinkers, unsurprisingly, suffer a worse fate and are more likely to contract serious illnesses such as pneumonia and tuberculosis.

 

Drinking & Your Safety

It’s obvious that engaging in regular and prolonged drinking can result in fairly serious consequences for your health. However, drinking can also impact your safety as well. Lack of motor skills or coordination while drinking can result in trips and falls, many times requiring a visit to the emergency room.

 

DUI’s and drunk driving accidents are also a sad fact of life for the regular drinker. As your ability to make judgements on distance and reaction times are slower, driving after drinking can put both you and other drivers at risk of a crash. There are also the additional social stigmas and legal problems that can come from being convicted of a DUI, which can impact your life for years to follow.

 

Though going out and having a few drinks with your friends or family can seem like fun, it’s important to realize the extent of your drinking and the possible effects it can have on your life and health. If you feel that you are drinking too much, then chances are you probably are. Talk about your drinking with your health professional if you are concerned, and learn more with groups like Alcoholic’s Anonymous. The life you save could be your own.

 

 

Writer Melanie Fleury has often taken on the role of designated driver and has watched friends become physically ill from drinking. She hopes that by reading this article, those that are not dissuaded by the short term hangover or chance of DUI, will be dissuaded by the long term health effects. She used the website of http://jackdiamondlaw.com/ to learn about the consequences, legally and physically, of drinking.

 

 

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/imagensevangelicas/6340176887/

Categories: Alcohol, body, Drinking, drinking nbsp, drunk driving, health, health effects, motor skills, nbsp, nbsp nbsp, people understand