Houston Area Public Health Issues

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Although many regions of the planet are experiencing rising temperatures, Houston sets heat records. Julian Gill (2022) reports that people currently taking blood pressure medications are at higher risk of dehydration and exhaustion. The article notes that the combination of heat and particular medications “can lead to fainting, kidney failure or life-threatening heart problems” (Gill, 2022). The author emphasizes that in the US, on average, one in two adults suffers from high blood pressure, and provides doctors’ recommendations for such patients during the hotter months. Gill (2022) details the effects of certain high blood pressure medications and how they may increase the risk of complications during the heat. The article emphasizes that some of them “can become dangerous with prolonged heat exposure” (Gill, 2022). The author of the article cites the opinion of doctors, who also note that prolonged exposure to heat and dehydration are the main risk factors. Moreover, these conditions can also be dangerous for patients with other diseases that are vulnerable to heart problems. Finally, the article reports that local government have proposed legislation providing mandatory breaks for people working outside.

Another important topic of discussion in local publications is the regulation of environmental emissions in Texas. The material by Savanna Strott (2022) discusses the situation with panishement of local manufacturers for unplanned emissions. The article focuses on the case of the Chevron Phillips chemical plant to illustrate how inefficiently the government monitors harmful industrial emissions. Strott (2022) reports that “about 90% of the plant’s accidental releases have gone unpunished.” The article reports that the problem may lie in the ambiguous evaluating system for excessive emissions by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Strott (2022) cites expert opinions that unplanned pollution results in “35 deaths per year among elderly Texans.” The article emphasizes that many emission events in Texas were recognized within the limits and legal by TCEQ, although in reality they were excessive. Strott (2022) reports that experts raise concerns that TCEQ measures are not sufficient to deter pollution, and their data is often difficult to analyze the overall picture. Thus, the article emphasizes that various industries in Texas violate the law and go unpunished, which can ultimately lead to an environmental disaster in the region.

The described articles are directly related to local public health issues. First, Gill (2022) raises important points about the need to develop safer medicines and better treatments for people with high blood pressure. In particular, the threat posed by the heat to a significant portion of the region’s adult population is growing. In recent years, there has been a steady increase in temperature during the hot months, which is especially relevant for Houston (Gill, 2022). Thus, many people may be at risk of strokes and heart attacks, which will only increase every year. The article by Strott (2022) is also related to the local public health issue as it describes the problem of gradual environmental pollution that is not addressed by the government. It is estimated that dozens of people are already victims of illegal emissions every year, but as the situation worsens, these numbers will only grow (Strott, 2022). Unplanned releases of chemicals and other industrial waste pose a long-term threat to public health in the region. Thus, measures are needed to deter pollution and better monitor waste in Texas and other states.