Dr. Hari D. Sharma has recently completed writing his sixth book which deals with human health and the environment. This new book is currently going through the process of publication. This book presents the up-to-date information on human health and the environmental control.

THE WISDOM OF TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT - HOLISTIC APPROACH FOR LIVING A QUALITY LIFE

A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT! CLIMATE CHANGE, SUSTAINABILITY,CLEAN AIR, WATER & SOIL,
ORGANIC FOOD

A HEALTHY BODY! UNDERSTAND MEDICAL BASICS, SENSIBLE EXERCISE, EAT RIGHT

A HEALTHY MIND! UNDERSTAND THE WORKING OF MIND, STRESS MANAGEMENT, RELAXATION

A HEALTY SPIRIT! UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF SPIRIT, PRACTICE GOOD THOUGHTS, DO GOOD AND BE GOOD

Based on research data and case histories as cited in this book it has been concluded that holistic approach to living a quality life includes having a healthy environment. The case histories include examples of numerous elderly individuals who are living and/or have lived long healthy lives and are aging graciously. Based on these and various supporting health research data the book concludes that to live healthy and happy life we need to:

(i) Keeping healthy environment (clean air, water, soil and food),
(ii) Eat right diet (both quality and quantity),
(iii) Engage in regular exercise (both aerobic and flexibility),
(iv) Manage our stress,
(v) Keep our spirit healthy, and
(vi) Regularly track the ?state of our health?.

All these topics are discussed in detail in this new book.

In addition, the book stresses that, as responsible health consumers, we should obtain up-to-date information on health issues and keep track of recent health related research and recommendations. Finally, the book makes a case that to live healthy we not only need to follow ?right life style? but must also be cheerful with positive state of mind about our lives.

Dr Hari D. Sharma, a professional engaged in the field of protection of human health and the environment, a yoga practitioner and a believer in the power of mind, has a Doctoral Degree in Engineering, a Master degree in Business Administration, and has training and experience in yoga, stress relief and relaxation, human behavior, motivation and interaction, and in the field of environmental protection. He has taught courses and given lectures to students at the University level for a number of years. Most recently, he also has served as a National Research Council Committee member. Dr. Sharma has authored and coauthored numerous books and technical papers on topics ranging from spirituality and inspiration to human health and environmental protection.

As Dr Sharma researched, practiced and gained knowledge through training, practical experiences and healthy living he realized that human health and healthy living can only be achieved by the integration of our environment, body, mind, and spirit. His experience, training, research, and keen interest in the field of holistic health have prepared Dr. Sharma to write this book: The Wisdom of Taking Charge of Your Health and Environment.

Even if we follow a healthy life style but live in a polluted environment, our health will fall prey to diseases like cancer, lung and cardiovascular diseases, mental disorders and others. So the first step to maintain good health is to keep healthy environment which encompasses the following issues:

The environmental change issues to be considered are: (i) climate change, (ii) vanishing natural habitats, (iii) disappearing species, and (iv) human overpopulation. All these factors are interrelated, e.g., climate change may be affected by human overpopulation which will also influence our consumption of natural resources resulting in vanishing natural habitats and disappearing species, that could include us - humans if we do not recognize the interactive relationships soon enough.

Tragedies like Love Canal (1977), Bhopal Disaster (1984) Minamata disease (1956) and numerous other environmental hazards due to human activities are the results of: (i) hazardous waste and groundwater contamination, (ii) heavy metal poisoning, and (iii) air pollution. Exposures, ingestions and inhaling of various pollutants caused by these environmental hazards can cause cancers, birth defects, hypertension, mental retardation and other adverse health effects. We must, therefore, understand the harmful concentration levels of these pollutants and should take appropriate actions.

Greenhouse Effect is extra warming up of the earth surface from atmospheric infrared radiation being absorbed by green house gases (e.g., CO2, CH4 etc) which are being emitted due to human activities. Such warming causes: rise in sea level, extremes like, too hot, drought, flooding, reduced agricultural yield, skin cancer from ozone shield depletion, etc. All this is not good for human health; thus requiring worldwide action to reduce green house gas emissions.

Globalization: As international trade barriers are being liberalized goods and services are moving through national boundaries more freely. This has created numerous challenges: requiring uniform global production quality controls and environmental regulations, e.g., recent examples of imported pesticide tainted ginger and lead impacted toys; also numerous deaths have resulted due to the lax quality control on contaminated blood thinner heparin drug. So, we need clean environment globally.

Sustainability is a state of maintaining the longevity of ?human-ecological support system? for perpetuity. Recently, food and energy shortages have resulted due to the rising demand for meat and ethanol production for a few. Similarly wasteful usage of water has caused shrinkage of lakes like Aral Sea resulting in illnesses like cancer, digestive disorders, and liver and kidney ailments. Overall, we must not use renewable and nonrenewable resources faster than they can be regenerated and substituted, respectively. Similarly, we should not emit pollution and waste faster than them being rendered harmless by the natural system. All these are important for our health and wellness.

So, first we need to keep our environment healthy, then we can work on having healthy diet and engaging in sensible physical exercise.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) average global temperature near earth?s surface (air and ocean) rose 1.33 plus minus 0.32 degree Fahrenheit during the hundred years ending 2005. This is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations causing greenhouse effect. This conclusion was supported by the overwhelming majority of scientists working on climate change. Furthermore, climate model projections indicate that average earth?s surface temperature will likely rise further 2.0 to 11.5 degree Fahrenheit during the 21st century. It is expected that increasing global temperatures will cause (i) rise in sea level, (ii) increase the intensity of extreme weather events, e.g., extreme heat, (iii) change in the amount and pattern of precipitation resulting in flooding and droughts, (iv) changes in agricultural yields resulting in hunger, malnutrition and various psychological illnesses, (v) extinction of species and (vi) increase in the ranges of disease vectors. All these adversely impact human health.