As
the weather here in New Orleans transitions from being unbearably hot to only
mildly hot, it is beginning to dawn on me that my experiences with the seasonal
patterns of the northeast are a thing of the past. And with the difference in
climate comes a host of different public health concerns that I had never had cause
to think about before now.
One
such health concern is the prevalence of lead in the soil in the New Orleans
area. Lead poisoning can cause severe and sometimes fatal neurological effects,
particularly in children. Dr. John McLachlan (a Tulane Pharmacology professor)
lectured to our class regarding the high degree of correlation between the
number of children exposed to areas of concentrated lead levels and the number
of young adults charged with violent crimes some years later. His report is a
compelling one and it speaks to the need for cheap and efficient methods of detoxifying
lead-heavy areas.
In
contrast to rates of lead poisoning, another rather random public health
concern in New Orleans is what has been conveniently dubbed the “Syphilis
Epidemic” by NOLA news stations. I am curious as to whether these high levels
of syphilis are linked to the similarly high rate of individuals living with
HIV in New Orleans or if this is simply a coincidence. Either way, the
Infectious Disease medical staff here clearly have their work cut out for them
as they face challenges from multiple fronts.
Coming
from upstate New York where vitamin D levels are low and rates of seasonal
affective disorder are high, it has been pretty disorienting to be confronted
with the sun-soaked streets of New Orleans. But with the sun and the humid
climate comes a host of unique and different challenges that medical personnel
here must face on a daily basis. This transition has helped me to see firsthand
that the field of medicine is as dynamic as the individuals who come in for
treatment, and I look forward to learning even more about both the medical field and
this city as I continue my journey in the Masters of Pharmacology program here.
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