Top Banner
In a relatively short Cause or Effect essay, it is important to remember that Cause or Effect essays are not to be about both causes and effects. On the contrary, in a short essay of 350-400 words, it is important to focus on writing about either the causes of something or the effects of something, not both. The reason for this is that it is simply not wise to try to cover too much information in a short essay. Consider a topic such as "Air Pollution in Mexico City" as an example. If you were to write a twenty-page, exhaustive study about air pollution in Mexico City, perhaps it would be possible to write about both the causes and effects, ten pages describing the causes of air pollution and then ten pages describing the effects of air pollution. However, when writing two or three pages about "Air Pollution in Mexico City," it is necessary to limit your topic so you can cover it thoroughly. Using air pollution in Mexico City as an example, it would be very easy to develop a paper about the causes of air pollution in Mexico City as follows: What are the causes of air pollution in Mexico City, for example? Students in the past have said (1) exhaust from automobiles and trucks, (2) soot from industry smokestacks, (3) geography, (4) speed bumps, (5) corruption at emissions inspection stations, (6) more high pollution cars as a result of no-drive days, (7) insufficient low pollution public transportation, etc. Any of these ideas about the causes of air pollution can be developed into a two or three page essay. It would be possible to write about just one cause, the main cause, and explore it in depth, or it would be possible to write about the three main causes, for example. On the other hand, what are the effects of air pollution in Mexico City? Students in the past have said (1) poor visibility, (2) headaches, (3) emphysema, (4) allergies, (5) runny eyes and nose, (6) shorter life span for Mexico City's residents, (7) lower quality of life for Mexico City's residents, (8) necessity to stay indoors, (9) more sitting in front of the television, (10) destruction of wildlife, (11) negative world attention, (12) decrease in tourism, etc. Any of these ideas about the effects of
38

the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

Feb 05, 2016

Download

Documents

the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Page 1: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

In a relatively short Cause or Effect essay, it is important to remember that Cause or Effect essays are not to be about both causes and effects. On the contrary, in a short essay of 350-400 words, it is important to focus on writing about either the causes of something or the effects of something, not both. The reason for this is that it is simply not wise to try to cover too much information in a short essay.

Consider a topic such as "Air Pollution in Mexico City" as an example. If you were to write a twenty-page, exhaustive study about air pollution in Mexico City, perhaps it would be possible to write about both the causes and effects, ten pages describing the causes of air pollution and then ten pages describing the effects of air pollution. However, when writing two or three pages about "Air Pollution in Mexico City," it is necessary to limit your topic so you can cover it thoroughly. Using air pollution in Mexico City as an example, it would be very easy to develop a paper about the causes of air pollution in Mexico City as follows:

What are the causes of air pollution in Mexico City, for example?  Students in the past have said (1) exhaust from automobiles and trucks, (2) soot from industry smokestacks, (3) geography, (4) speed bumps, (5) corruption at emissions inspection stations, (6) more high pollution cars as a result of no-drive days, (7) insufficient low pollution public transportation, etc. Any of these ideas about the causes of air pollution can be developed into a two or three page essay. It would be possible to write about just one cause, the main cause, and explore it in depth, or it would be possible to write about the three main causes, for example.

On the other hand, what are the effects of air pollution in Mexico City?  Students in the past have said (1) poor visibility, (2) headaches, (3) emphysema, (4) allergies, (5) runny eyes and nose, (6) shorter life span for Mexico City's residents, (7) lower quality of life for Mexico City's residents, (8) necessity to stay indoors, (9) more sitting in front of the television, (10) destruction of wildlife, (11) negative world attention, (12) decrease in tourism, etc. Any of these ideas about the effects of air pollution can be developed into a two or three page essay. As above, it would be possible to write about just one effect, the main effect, or it would be possible to write about the three main effects.

Points to remember when writing a Cause or Effect essay.

1. State your organization. In all compositions for an academic audience, you should state your organization. Stating your organization means that you should (1) tell your audience what you are going to tell them, (2) then tell them, and (3) then tell them what you told them.

2. List all of the causes or all of the effects, not necessarily in your essay, but before you begin to write your essay. On a piece of paper before beginning to write your essay, list as many causes or effects you can think of. Using the above example about the effects of pollution in Mexico City, you may write your ideas as follows:

Effects of Air Pollution in Mexico City

 

Page 2: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

more sitting in front of the television

necessity to stay indoors_____destruction of wildlife

negative world attention_______________decrease in tourism

allergies_____________________________emphysema

headaches_______________lower quality of life

poor visibility_______shorter life span

runny eyes and nose 

When looking at all these effects of air pollution in Mexico City—there are twelve of them—it is necessary to consider which ones you want to write about.  It would be impractical to write about the first effect and the second effect all the way up to the eleventh and the twelfth effect.  In a short essay, listing them all would never work.  But would it be possible to list several effects under a single heading such as health effects as shown in the chart on the right? 

From the list above, what other effects could be listed as health effects besides runny eyes and nose and emphysema?  There are at least four or five additional apparent health effects listed.  Please include them under health effects on the right.

Obviously, if you were to write about the Effects of air pollution in Mexico City, health effects would be an important part of your essay.

The full list of the twelve effects listed above contains other negative effects such as (1) negative world attention and (2) decrease of tourism.  How can these effects of air pollution be categorized, and what other effects could be listed in this category? 

Organization of Effects Essay

Health Effects 1.  runny eyes and nose2.  emphysema3.  _________________________4.  _________________________5.  _________________________ 

_____________ Effects 1.  negative world attention2.  decrease of tourism3.  _________________________4.  _________________________ 

Lifestyle Effects 1.  more sitting in front of the TV2.  Necessity to stay indoors3.  lower quality of life4.  _________________________5.  _________________________ 

Page 3: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

 Finally, another important effect of air pollution in Mexico City relates to lifestyle effects.  Pollution effects the day-to-day living among many of Mexico City's residents, especially the aged and the young.  Besides those listed above and in the chart on the right, can you add other lifestyle effects of air pollution?

Question: Is it possible to categorize any other effects of air pollution in Mexico City? Your goal should be to try to organize your information into three or four main points, if possible, so it can be presented to the reader clearly and concisely. If you were to write an essay about the effects of air pollution in Mexico, what are the three or four main categories that you would include? List them in the following spaces.

1. ______________________________________________

2. ______________________________________________

3. ______________________________________________

(4.) ____________________________________________

Other points to remember when writing a Cause or Effect essay are as follows:

3. Support all causes or effects with supporting details. If you believe, for example, that an important effect of air pollution in Mexico City is a lower quality of life for the city's residents, state your point clearly at the beginning of a paragraph and then provide support to help your reader understand how or why that is true.

4. Have a rationale for the order in which you present your information.  There is often one major cause or effect that is most important.  Some sources recommend that you save your most important cause or effect until last.  By saving your most important cause or effect until last, they say, you leave your reader with a very strong impression.  Others say to start with the most important cause or effect because that helps capture your reader's attention.  In reality, there is no single, best answer for the order of major causes or effects.  Experiment, and develop your own rationale for the order in which you present your information.

5. Finally, maintain your focus. In a short cause or effect essay of 350-400 words, limit the range of your topic to either the causes or effects of something. A cause or effect essay doesn't recommend how to change the situation or give opinions about why the situation is good or bad. It simply examines the reasons for it.

Cause And Effect Essay – Show The Cause And Tell The Effect Or Vice Versa

16  February, 2009

Page 4: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

Writing Tips On A Cause And Effect Essay

Cause and effect essay. As the very name suggests it aims to define and explain the cause and present the effects of that cause or happening. It can also be said to be another way of formulating ideas and discussing them. In this essay first the cause or as to why the event or incident took place will have to be pointed out then the discussion will move towards the effect or as to what happened as a result of that cause.

While writing the essay the writer needs to differentiate between the cause and the effect at the first instance. There may be one cause leading to multiple effects or many causes leading to a single effect. For a student it will be better if he or she sticks to the important two to three points only in such a multiple cause or effect scenario.

The introduction like any other essay, will give the main idea(using the terms – cause and effect) as to how the essay will be developed later in the body. It will also put forward the thesis statement which will state whether the writer will be discussing the cause, the effect or both. Definition of important relevant terms may also be given but nothing in detail.

The body will put forward the cause and effect and discuss them in detail. In case of multiple causes or effects scenario the writer can explain them in separate developmental paragraphs. The main body may be organized in three different ways.

1.Single cause and multiple effect : cause – cigarette smoking is injurious to health , effects : a) it can lead to lung cancer b) it can lead to oral cancer c) it is harmful for the people present around the smoker(passive smokers) as they may too fall prey to the above mentioned diseases.

2.Multiple cause and single effect : effect – environmental pollution , causes : a)factories releasing harmful gases b)untreated sewage water running into natural water bodies c)dumping wastes into sea d) burning of low quality coal

3. chain pattern – in this case one event casually leads to the other as for example cutting down trees will bring about destruction and complete ecological disaster. Here the complete chain starting from cutting down trees, to disappearance of forests, to lack of rainfall , the region slowly becoming arid and desert like can be discussed serially in separate paragraphs.

Similarly in the multiple cause and effect scenarios each cause or effect will have to be discussed in separate paragraphs. Supporting evidences and details can be arranged according to order of importance, or chronological order or in a categorical order. Transitional words are very important and are to be used to mix the details smoothly in a cause and effect essay. Transitional words like- because, since, due to, for the causes and for effects transitional words like therefore, as a result, consequently are to be used. The writer can use his or her essay to either inform or convince the reader and the body of the essay must be developed accordingly. It would be wise to dwell on the direct or immediate causes (or effects) rather than working on the unrelated and indirect ones or ones that will occur later in time. The essay must be made credible by giving reliable supporting evidences and examples with proper references and citations.A good cause and effect essay can both inform and convince the reader. It is up to the writer

Page 5: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

how well he or she can write and present facts and use them to create a hard hitting and long lasting impression in the reader’s mind.

Cause and Effect in Childhood Obesity: Solutions for a National Epidemic

J. Michael Wieting, DO, MEd

Address correspondence to J. Michael Wieting, DO, MEd, Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Harrogate, TN 37752-5245. E-mail: [email protected]

Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. As a result, children are at increased risk for myriad preventable acute and chronic medical problems—many of which are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. In addition, childhood obesity has serious psychosocial consequences, such as low self-esteem, lower quality of life, and depression. The multifaceted causes and solutions to this pervasive health issue are discussed in the present review, as are pertinent health policy issues. Osteopathic physicians and other healthcare providers can play an important role in patient and family education, direct care, and advocacy.

Advanced Composition for Non-Native Speakers of Englishhttp://eslbee.com

The Effects of Cigarette Smoking

Page 6: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

There have been numerous campaigns against cigarette smoking communicating that this vice causes death. But a threat to health doesn’t seem to be a good reason for quitting anymore. People somehow block themselves and ignore all the information that is given to them. The purpose of this essay is to discuss three effects of cigarette smoking, besides the broadly mentioned possibility of developing cancer or dying, which are the smell of smoke, the stained teeth, and the cost of doing it.

The first effect of cigarette smoking, and probably the one that the non-smokers hate the most, is that it permeates everything around it. Smokers usually have smelly hair, breath, clothes, and, if they smoke indoors, a smelly room. The stench of cigarette smoke is very penetrating and hard to remove. Even if the person quits smoking the odor remains for a long time.

The second effect of cigarette smoking is one that most people don’t even take into consideration. It stains the teeth yellow or sometimes even brown. Since this effect is long term, most people are not aware of it when they begin smoking. The truth is that a cigarette stain is very hard to eliminate from the teeth, and it will probably end up costing a considerable amount of money. Yellow teeth are disgusting because they give an unhygienic image and make people look older.

The third effect of smoking is that it will eventually end up affecting the smoker’s personal economy. Depending on the country the prices of cigarettes can differ. But even at an affordable price the regular consumption of cigarettes will eventually take its economic toll.

These are only three out of many other effects that cigarette smoking can have, but to any sensible person they are more than enough to realize that smoking is bad. People can’t possibly be proud of calling themselves smokers. It is terrible for health as well as personal appearance. In the end, those who live in poverty, stink of smoke, and have yellow teeth are the people who are affected the most by this life threatening activity.

Please do not Plagiarize!

All essays at ESLBEE.COM are by former students who have given written permission for their work to be posted at ESLBEE.COM.

Many sites, however, copy/paste essays from this site into their sites, which is, in fact, stealing.  It is plagiarism, an unethical practice that shows a complete lack of academic integrity.

THIS PAGE (will open in new window) documents the plagiarism of just a few of many sites to show how essays from ESLBEE.COM are plagiarized.

Page 7: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

The Effects of Cigarette Smoking

There have been numerous campaigns against cigarette smoking communicating that this vice causes death. But a threat to health doesn’t seem to be a good reason for quitting anymore. People somehow block themselves and ignore all the information that is given to them. The purpose of this essay is to discuss three effects of cigarette smoking, besides the broadly mentioned possibility of developing cancer or dying, which are the smell of smoke, the stained teeth, and the cost of doing it.

The first effect of cigarette smoking, and probably the one that the non-smokers hate the most, is that it permeates everything around it. Smokers usually have smelly hair, breath, clothes, and, if they smoke indoors, a smelly room. The stench of cigarette smoke is very penetrating and hard to remove. Even if the person quits smoking the odor remains for a long time.

The second effect of cigarette smoking is one that most people don’t even take into consideration. It stains the teeth yellow or sometimes even brown. Since this effect is long term, most people are not aware of it when they begin smoking. The truth is that a cigarette stain is very hard to eliminate from the teeth, and it will probably end up costing a considerable amount of money. Yellow teeth are disgusting because they give an unhygienic image and make people look older.

The third effect of smoking is that it will eventually end up affecting the smoker’s personal economy. Depending on the country the prices of cigarettes can differ. But even at an affordable price the regular consumption of cigarettes will eventually take its economic toll.

These are only three out of many other effects that cigarette smoking can have, but to any sensible person they are more than enough to realize that smoking is bad. People can’t possibly be proud of calling themselves smokers. It is terrible for health as well as personal appearance. In the end, those who live in poverty, stink of smoke, and have yellow teeth are the people who are affected the most by this life threatening activity.

Please do not Plagiarize!

All essays at ESLBEE.COM are by former students who have given written permission for their work to be posted at ESLBEE.COM.

Many sites, however, copy/paste essays from this site into their sites, which is, in fact, stealing.  It is plagiarism, an unethical practice that shows a complete lack of academic integrity.

THIS PAGE (will open in new window) documents the plagiarism of just a few of many sites to show how essays from ESLBEE.COM are plagiarized.

Page 8: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

The Effects of Alcoholism

How many times have you heard about the consequences of alcoholism? Have you taken them into account? Alcoholism is one of the major problems in society. The effects of this disease are really serious. Many people get used to drink alcohol , and they can easily abuse; that is the problem. The purpose of this essay is to discuss the physical, psychological, and economic effects of alcoholism.

The first effects of alcoholism are physical. These are the most important because these can cause your death. For example, alcoholism causes cancer in the stomach, kidneys, and liver. Besides, alcohol alters the digestion of nutrients that the body needs to stay healthy. Alcoholism also causes severe damage in the neurons, so it causes alterations in the body movements, loss of appetite, and depression. There are other effects in the body like gastritis and cirrhosis of the liver. All these physical consequences could cause your death if you drink alcohol in mass quantities.

The second effects caused by alcoholism are psychological. At the beginning, alcohol makes you feel relaxed, but if you drink it in excess, it increases anxiety and causes depression. It also causes family and legal problems, violence, changes of behavior, suicide, among others. Alcohol is very powerful and alters all your normal behaviors.

The third effects of alcoholism are economic. According to the National Institute and Drug Abuse, drug abuse and dependence cost an estimated $98 billion. Alcohol is not cheap. If you drink two or three times in a week, it could cost you about $1000 pesos or more a week! People do not think about the money and spend almost everything when they are drunk.

In conclusion, the effects of alcoholism which are physical, psychological, and economic can cause many problems that affect your life in all aspects. Alcohol alters your brain, muscles, digestion process, and other disorders that affect your health. It also can cause you depression or changes in your behavior that result in problems with your family, friends, and with yourself. Besides, it will leave you in poverty because it cost a lot. Finally, I invite you to think about it and ask you why drink it?

Please do not Plagiarize!

All essays at ESLBEE.COM are by former students who have given written permission for their work to be posted at ESLBEE.COM.

Many sites, however, copy/paste essays from this site into their sites, which is, in fact, stealing.  It is plagiarism, an unethical practice that shows a complete lack of academic integrity.

THIS PAGE (will open in new window) documents the plagiarism of just a few of many sites to show how essays from ESLBEE.COM are plagiarized.

Page 9: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

Cigarettes Cause and EffectCigarettes have existed in the history of mankind since the historical days. Smoking in the early 1900s was seen as healthful and invigorating. How foolish that notion seems today. Although people are aware of the health risks involved in smoking, many still continue to smoke. When it comes to cigarettes the ingredients, health risks, and treatments must all be examined before their consumption is given consideration. Once all subject areas are examined then a reasonable conclusion can be reached.The ingredients used in the cigarette making process are numerous and cancerous. David Kessler of the food and Drug Administration writes in a letter to an antismoking coalition, "cigarette manufacturers may intend that their products contain nicotine to satisfy an addiction... Although technology to remove nicotine from cigarettes was developed years ago cigarette manufacturers shun it. Instead they control with precision the amount of nicotine in their products, ensuring that it will maintain an addiction."(20). As many as five hundred and ninety-nine ingredients have been found in a single cigarette. Ingredients no one would expect to be in such a small package. Here are some of the su

Cigarette smoking is a major cause of coronary heart disease, which leads to heart attack. Even seemingly innocent additives like caramel have a role in developing addiction. Ammonia is added to increase the body's ability to absorb nicotine. New studies show that nicotine may be as addictive as heroin or cocaine. Never starting is the key to prevention. A new non-nicotine pill also is available as a smoking cessation treatment option. The nicotine patch releases a constant amount of nicotine in the body; the nicotine dissolves right through the skin and enters the body. Even so, people concerned with their health can take their own personal steps to protect themselves. Another type of stroke occurs when a defective artery in the brain ruptures, flooding the surrounding tissue with blood. When all issues surrounding the smoking of cigarettes are addressed, it is evident that smoking is definitely not a wise choice. Smokers have a greater risk of developing chronic disorders such as atherosclerosis (clogged arteries) and other damaging effects to the cardiovascular system. All of these designs and additives are responsible for the addiction that follows. However, recent research has suggested that in the long term, nicotine depresses the ability of the brain to experience pleasure. In conclusion, cigarettes ingredients, health risks, and treatments must all be examined before their consumption is given consideration.

Causes and Effects of Childhood ObesityA few years ago, having a chubby child was considered to be a good thing as it was a sign of well-to-do family, but today a child being overweight is an invitation for chronic diseases like the diabetes and hypertension.

Page 10: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

Childhood obesity is a medical condition which occurs when the weight of the child is disproportionate to his age and height. This condition is mostly observed in children below the age of 15 years. Overeating, i.e. food intake more than the requirement of the body can lead to obesity among growing children.

Obesity in an individual can be measured by a tool known as Body Mass Index or BMI. To obtain BMI the weight of the individual in kilograms should be divided by his height in meter square. The normal range for BMI in individuals varies according to age and sex.

Causes of Childhood Obesity

The root cause for putting on extra weight at a very young age can be traced to the modern day lifestyle or genetically triggered phenomena. In this fast life people don't have the time to prepare healthy foods or even exercise. High calorie fast food has replaced the healthy diet and the absence of physical activity has just added to the woes. Children, today, prefer pizzas and burgers over nutritious salads and fruits. These junk foods with a high calorie count can lead to disproportionate weight gain.

Physical activities and weight gain have an inverse relationship; lesser the physical activity more will be the weight gain and vice versa. In this period of virtual gaming and television, children are hardly to be seen on the playground. Even educational institutes cut down on physical education classes to accommodate extra classroom study sessions in their busy schedule. Playing electronic games and watching television have become a favorite pass time activities for children, this extra rest is very harmful as the excess calories lead to weight gain, eventually leading to obesity. It is recommended to restrict the children from watching the television for more than 2 hours a day, and include some physical activity in their life at least for an hour everyday.

Genes, in living organisms, play a vital role in determining the body type. Statistics show that there are 80 % chances of the child becoming obese if both the parents are obese and 40 % chances if either of the parent is obese. Even some genetic disorders like Prader Willi Syndrome lead to obesity in children, but such cases are very rare.

Effects of Childhood Obesity

The effects of obesity in children can be divided into 2 categories; psychological effects and physical effects. The psychological effects include lowered self-esteem, depression, fear of being disliked by parents and friends or fear of being bullied by the other children. This may also lead to the child shying

Page 11: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

away, eventually becoming lonely and opting for anti-social things like drug abuse. The psychological effects, which, start showing at an early age, can make an tremendous impact on the whole life of the child.

Although the physical problems for an obese child may start a bit late, but these include life-threatening conditions such as cardiovascular risks like heart failure or stroke. The chances of the child suffering from Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol in future may increase due to obesity. It can also lead to sleep disorders, eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa and early sexual maturity. They may also face problems such as lack of stamina, and bones and joint problems due to their overweight body mass.

Childhood obesity can prove to be a life threatening condition over a period of time. With growing age, the problems may become more severe. Prevention is better than cure so some steps need to be taken to ensure a healthy life for the children. Healthy diet, proper exercise and inculcating good habits in the child are some methods to solve the problem of obesity. Don't bribe the children with sweets and chocolates, don't force them to eat food when they are full; such things will only add to the problem. A doctor or a dietitian can be consulted for their valuable advice regarding a healthy diet plan and prevention of obesity.

Childhood obesity

Obesity is a common problem among all age groups, but the statistics show that children aged 6-11 are the high-risk

group. In fact one in every five children is obese. These children are at more risk to develop type 2 diabetes, sleep

apnea and cardiovascular diseases.

Effects of Childhood Obesity :

Apart from causing various negative health effects, obesity in children also causes the following social and emotional

effects.

The research studies proved that obesity and depression are conversely proportional.

Obesity among children causes social stigma that makes them withdraw from socializing with their peers.

They develop a poor self-image about themselves and feel that they are not being liked at all.

As society views obesity as a negative symptom, obese children are not allowed to interact freely with other

children.

Causes of Childhood Obesity

Imbalance Between Intake and Output

Page 12: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

The main cause for obesity in children is lack of proper balance between what they take in and what they let out.

Nowadays most children are excessively consuming fast foods and go for unhealthy food choices. And, more

importantly they are not expending their calorie intake by doing physical activity and playing sports and games.

Instead they are sitting in front of their computer or television.

Parents’ Habits

In most of the cases of childhood obesity it is found that the parents are the direct causes. The parents go for

unhealthy food choices and won’t do any physical activity. And, the same attitudes develop in their children.

Improper Feeding

Nowadays mothers are encouraging their kids to eat more than what they can. They feel that their children should

gain more weight than what is right for their age. They want them to look chubby, as they think being plump means

healthy and cute. These negligent mothers leave negative impacts on their children’s health.

Heredity

Heredity is also one major cause for childhood obesity. Children born to obese parents are found to have more

chances of being obese compared to those born to normal parents.

Prevention of Childhood Obesity

Avoid Soft Drinks from The Diet

Physicians and nutritionists advise to avoid giving your child carbonated soft drinks, as these don’t have any

nutritional value in them Instead give your child healthier alternatives like low-fat milk, water or fruit juices made from

the real fruit.

Restrict Fast Food

Make sure your child is not taking fast food items like hamburgers, chips, fried chicken, milkshakes and other

fattening products. If your child is already addicted to them, clearly explain him the negative effects of fast foods and

make him not opt them more. Good news is – fast food restaurants hearing the public opinion and providing some

healthy foods in their restaurants. You can make your child take them instead.

Page 13: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

Limit the Time Spent on Television and Computers

Health researchers suggest no television at all for children aged less than two years and not more than two hours of

viewing for children aged more than two years. Most importantly it’s unhealthy to provide your child a separate

television or computer in his room. More time spent on television and computer playing video games or computer

games means less time spent on healthy physical activities.

Promote physical activity

Exercise is the best way to expend your calories, and it is most advised for obese children. All parents should make

sure their children have enough exercise daily. Parents of obese children should especially take more care in this

regard. The schools should also make sports and games daily activity for the children. Exercise not only helps

prevent obesity, it also controls obesity.

Final note - healthy habits prevent and control all sorts of problems in children, especially childhood obesity. And, it

is the responsibility of all parents and society as a whole to make children adopt healthy habits.

Fast Food FeedingIt’s no secret that our generation has become a fast food society. If we don’t feel like cooking or have a long day at work, we order pizza or some other take out meal. Lunch hours don’t give us much time for nourishment. The choices are minimal when we have to choose a meal from a vending machine. We usually have options that are far from appetizing. Such options usually include lunchmeat sandwiched between two slices of bread that is similar to cardboard or microwavable noodles that are more rubbery than a bouncy ball. If you choose to forego the vending machine then you probably end up dashing over to the closest fast food restaurant where you quickly inhale the usual burger and fries. Your taste buds may be content momentarily but your digestive system probably isn’t too happy. There’s nothing wrong with fast food once in awhile but unfortunately for some people it becomes a way of life.

We are seeing more obesity in children at younger ages. The rise in childhood obesity has been steadily climbing in recent years. Children eat more fast food meals as well as junk food for snacks. It seems as if children don’t get much exercise these days either. They spend hours in front of the television playing video games, talking on the phone or spending time on the computer. They don’t spend nearly as much time outside running and playing physical games or sports as children did in the past. This makes healthy eating that much more important. Lack of exercise and fast food feeding are definitely not a healthy combination.

You can break the fast food habit without eliminating fast food from your family’s diet entirely. Limit fast food. If you don’t have time to cook dinner every night, cook when you have time and freeze meals for use when you can’t be home or are too busy to prepare a meal. When shopping for groceries buy more fresh fruit and healthy snacks. Limit the amount of potato chips and cookies you purchase. Most adults as well as children love snacks such as chips but we also tend to gorge ourselves on these items.

Page 14: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

We can set good eating habits for our children by practicing proper nutrition ourselves. Parents can become so concerned with making sure their children are eating enough that nutrient rich food may get overshadowed by empty calories. Such an oversight is not intentional but more likely the result of hectic lifestyles, demanding work schedules and society in general. In order to live up to today’s standards both financially and societal, many people have become workaholics out of necessity. In a majority of families both parents work full-time jobs and juggle a variety of household chores. Conveniences that are time saving and make life easier are welcomed.

Television bombards us with dozens of fast food and junk food commercials every day that make it difficult to resist succumbing to the ease of a fast food restaurant or pizza delivery. As mentioned previously, fast food is fine as long as it doesn’t become the main staple of nutrition. Children need more than burgers, fries and pizza and snacks don’t always have to mean cookies and chips. Make your child’s meal a well-rounded eating experience. Try to gradually introduce your child to new foods by using different recipes and buying food items you usually don’t purchase. Many children are not eager to try new foods and will insist that they don’t like certain foods although they’ve never tried them. Be creative; create your own recipes. Your kids will be amazed at what you can come up with and so will you. The kids may have some ideas of their own too. Eat healthy and have some fun doing it.

When you’re ready to get out of the kitchen, spend some time outdoors and take the kids with you. There are plenty of outdoor activities for every season of the year. They might actually enjoying spending some time away from the television and video games.

Patient Research Guides

A comprehensive health resource providing information on a wide range of topics such as medications, diseases, nutritional supplements, natural medicine, and more.

By Jacob MabillePublished: 10/22/2006

Fast food and Obesity in ChildrenWe all know what causes obesity, and that is eating too much of the wrong kinds of food and not getting enough exercise. Some studies have shown that fast food causes obesity in children. However, the fast food industry claims that their foods do not cause obesity in kids. So, is there a link between fast food and obesity in children?

Page 15: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

Well, there appears to be both a link between fast food and obesity and fast food and obesity in children. Some of these links are large serving sizes, low fiber content, and increased content of fat, sugar and salt in most fast foods. Also, since kids are usually out running and playing together, lack of exercise does not seem to be a link in most kids. Studies have also shown that there has been a dramatic increase of the number of times per day and per week that families eat out since the 1950's. Therefore, it is conceivable that fast food causes obesity.

Fast food and obesity-a link?The first step is to decide: is there a link between fast food and obesity at all? Yes, there are several things about fast food that contribute to obesity in children. First, there are the large serving sizes that are easy to note. In recent years most fast food restaurants have come out with "super-size" portions of burgers, fries. In addition there are "pizza by the slice" restaurants, where one slice is almost the size of a plate.

Studies on what children eat and where they get it have shown that children got anywhere from 29-38% of their food from fast food sources. This adds up to approximately 6 pounds a year. This taken out to its extreme: a child from age 5-15 can gain an amazing 60 pounds, and that is a lot for someone who for most of that time is less than 5foot tall and should only weigh 100lbs (at 5ft) or even less. This shows that fast food restaurants are responsible for at least some of the overweight kids in our society.

More than just obese kidsThe fast food industry does need to realize that there are other effects of fast food than just obesity. While anyone, but especially overweight children, are eating burgers, fries, pizza and coke products they are not getting the nutritious food that they need. Instead, they are getting empty calories. Calories, which have no nutritional value, are setting themselves up for diabetes, heart problems and other fatal disorders. This also leads to the stark realization that if this poor nutrition in our obese children.

Fast food in schoolSince the late 70's, schools have been offering fast food type meals in place of the regular school lunches. These schools report over 15,000 items sold each week, especially to those from higher income level families. In addition there are those teenagers that who work for the fast food restaurants and eat there at least one meal during their work schedule.

Advertising and obese childrenAdvertising, including television ads, billboards, and other advertising, including toys in boxed meals, has

Page 16: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

had an effect upon children as never before. Children these days are growing up with low concern for their health and more concern for what tastes good.

Without enough parental supervision, these kids grow up with little nutritional discretion and usually these kids grow into adults with both weight and health problems as well as teaching another generation that it is ok to waste money on unhealthy foods. So it is not only the young people of our generation that are being affected by the fast food industry, it is going to have an effect for generations to come, if something isn’t done about the consumption of fast food.

It’s up to us!

As is expected the fast food industry is not going to think it possible to suddenly change its direction after years of offering poor food choices. It will have to come from the consumer demanding healthier food choices. Our vote comes with where we shop and what we buy. Our children and grandchildren will grow up with weight and other health problems if they continue eating the fast food.

We can read all the studies that show links between fast food and obesity and fast food and obesity in children. We can look on as medical science proves that fast food causes obesity, but if we, as consumers do nothing and continue to feed these foods to our children, the health problems that will be the end result will be our own fault.

By Jayashree PakharePublished: 7/9/2007

Cause & Effect of Tobacco UseCause and Effects of Tobacco Use in AmericaTobacco is a plant grown for its leaves that are smoked, chewed, or sniffed for a variety of effects. It is considered an addictive substance because it contains the chemical nicotine. The tobacco plant is believed to have originated in the Western Hemisphere. The cultivated species most often grown for North American and European tobacco products is Nicotine Tabacum. The leaves of the plant are prepared for smoking, chewing, or sniffing. In addition nicotine tobacco contains over 45 carcinogens and more than 4,000 chemicals. (Cain 35)Prior to European influence in the Americas, the Indians of Mexico and Peru used tobacco for their ceremonies, medical purposes and to alleviate hunger pains during famines. Columbus is credited with introducing tobacco into Europe. Tobacco use became widely accepted by the Portuguese, Spanish, French, British, and Scandinavians. Explorers and sailors who became dependent upon tobacco began planting seeds at their ports of call, introducing the product into other parts of Europe and Asia. The colonist introduced tobacco on the American continent in the early 1600's. It became a major crop and trading commodity of the Jamestown Colony. (Hammond 67)

These were two stories with different endings that the women will never forget. Cities and states are starting to ban smoking in public places to keep those who do not smoke healthy. Smokeless tobacco use patterns are higher within the following occupations: athletes, ranchers, farmers, fishermen, lumberjacks, and industrial workers, who have jobs requiring hand freedom. The surgery was performed in the spring of 1991 and was successful; her husband still lives today. the years tobacco has been claimed as a cure for a wide range of ailments with varying forms of administration. Researchers discovered that nicotine is carried to the brain via the bloodstream within a minute or two of smoking; it's then eliminated about a half-hour later, and then the craving returns. With all the current information today why do people continue to smoke? Since 1964, the Surgeon General has warned that smoking is a health

Page 17: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

hazard, this announcement promoted the U. Since the 1970's a 15-fold increase in smokeless tobacco has been noted in adolescents 17 to 19 years old (Target Market).

Effects of Fast Food on ChildrenFast food are ready to eat alternatives to home cooked food. They are readily available and can be eaten at ones own convenience. The number of children who opt for fast food over healthy food have risen considerably. Fast foods have serious health complications. Read on, to know more about the effects of fast food on children.

When one utters the word fast food, 'junk food' is the word that pops up in our minds. Fast food has become synonymous to hamburgers, pizzas, French fries, hot dogs, rolls, etc. Fast foods have high calories, fats, saturated fat, sugar and salt content. Many restaurant chains and fast food joints have established business selling fast food eatables. People have less time to spare for cooking food and eating it. Fast food helps them save the precious time and their inexpensiveness becomes an added attraction.

Children are more prone to the advertisement gimmicks of the fast food chains and get tempted to try out their products. Their easy to eat and lip-smacking tastes, allure them away from healthy vegetables and home made nutritious food. The fats, sugars and salt being appealing to the child's primordial tastes, draw the children. As the foods contain starch, they do not make the child feel full, thus, leading to overeating. Fast foods cause a number of health problems in children.

Effects of Fast Food on ChildrenThe excess sugar in the fast foods and sodas lead to diabetes in children. Children develop type 2 diabetes that generally effects affect our grandparents and parents. Their bodies fail to produce the insulin that controls the sugar levels and metabolism.

Page 18: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

Fats and saturated fats lead to high levels of cholesterol in the blood. Cholesterol leads to various heart problems. These heart problems increase the risk of major heart diseases. It may lead to dyslipidemia when the LDL levels and triglycerides are abnormally high. It puts one at risk of coronary heart diseases.

The excessive sodium leads to high blood pressure. High blood pressure leads to ruptures and cracks in the blood vessel walls. The body uses lipoprotein to repair these walls converting it into a substance that contains cholesterol thus, indirectly increasing the cholesterol levels.

Children become anemic as they do not get the required vitamins and iron supplements necessary for their growth. Children become lethargic and become tired easily. Green vegetables and fresh fruits become almost non-existent in their diet, causing a deficiency in macro and micro nutrient supplements in their bodies. This decreases the immunity and children become susceptible to various diseases and ailments. Deficiency in calcium makes their teeth, nails and bones brittle. Many times the added preservatives and coloring agents used in fast foods can cause cancer in children.

The most common and the root cause of all the diseases in children, due to fast food is obesity. Fast food obesity is the root cause for major diseases that can develop in children. According to research, 15-20% of American children in the age group of 12-18 years are overweight. Obese children spend little time in physical activity or sports, leading to a sedentary life style which leads to mental stress and other emotional disturbances. Even if children are active, they tend to weigh more than their peers, who do not consume fast foods. As mentioned earlier, fast foods do not give the children a feeling of fullness. This makes them feel hungry most of the time, which leads to overeating and increase in weight.

Alternatives to Fast FoodsYou can't prevent your children from eating fast food, but you can ask them to make healthier choices. You can ask them to ask for less cheese topping on their pizza and have more of low-fat toppings like onions, mushrooms, green peppers, tomatoes and other vegetables of their choice. They can order roast beef, turkey or chicken sandwiches made of whole wheat breads or biscuits. Burgers can be single meat patty with extra lettuce leaves, tomatoes and onions. They can opt for salads with lettuce leaves and assorted vegetables. Grilled bake, roasted or broiled meats are a better choice over breaded or fried types. They can avoid anything that is cream based like 'creamy tomato soups'. They can choose low-fat milkshakes or juices over sodas and colas. Low-fat frozen yogurts, fruit ices, etc. make excellent dessert choices.

Following the above guidelines while ordering fast foods can help decrease the effects of fast food on children. You can try making spicy and healthy recipes at home from tomatoes, pickles, potatoes, onions and other vegetables and use it as sandwich or burger fillings. You can make variety of baked recipes using chicken and meat and serve salads made of fruits and vegetables with every meal. This will prevent children from buying fast food. The effects of fast food can be very damaging. For the brighter, healthier and safer future of your kids, prevent them from eating excessive fast food, rightly known as, 'junk food'.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Fast FoodFast food saves time and effort of cooking a meal at home. It suits perfectly into the fast paced life of a working individual. However, high amounts of fats and salt in fast food are raising concerns about their adverse effect on health. In this article, let us discuss the advantages and disadvantages of fast food.

Page 19: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

More than 13,000 McDonald's restaurants in the United States itself, and over 8000 KFCs in 80 countries, only goes to reflect the popularity of fast food all over the world. There is nothing more than ready-made food that a hard working professional living in the city away from family could ask for. However, those who are against fast food highlight the adverse effect that it has on our health. Despite all the debate about the advantages and disadvantages of fast food, the industry is flourishing. Is fast food good or bad? Let's see for ourselves in this article!

Advantages of Fast Food

The most evident advantage of fast food is that it saves time. In today's fast-paced life, there is nothing better than getting a ready meal. No matter how much the chefs praise the benefits of fresh food, at the end of a hard working day, when one returns home all tired and hungry, a pizza or a burger can be godsend. Besides the time an individual has to spend in the kitchen, cooking a meal also requires one to make a trip to the supermarket to buy the ingredients for the dish. Then there is the added effort and time consumed in washing and peeling the vegetables. All this makes eating fast food score more preferably over cooking a meal for a busy individual.

Besides time, cost saving gives fast food an edge over the meal prepared in the kitchen. If one lives alone, then it is cheaper to buy a meal at the supermarket instead of cooking it at home. Also certain fast foods like fries and burgers come pretty cheap.

Fast food does raise health concerns. However, if careful, you can find some options on the menu of a fast food restaurant that could be healthier. Salads are a smart choice. Go for bread products that are made from wheat bread. Opt for lean meat. If you could choose between the fried and boiled options, order the boiled preparation. Avoid ordering carbonic drinks when you are thirsty. Go for fruit juices, low-fat milk, diet soda. Is there anything better than plain water to quench your thirst? You could always resort to the 'make to order' option that certain fast food outlets offer, where you could restrict the use of ingredients that are not healthy.

Page 20: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

Disadvantages of Fast Food

The greatest disadvantage of fast food is the adverse effect that it has on one's health. It is a fact that fast food is more unhealthy than home-cooked meals, as they contain higher amounts of salt, fats and calories. Fast food is an important contributor to obesity in the American population. Obesity in children is on the rise and a direct link is being cited between fast food and obesity in children. Given the sedentary lifestyle that we lead today, the excess fats and calories that we take in with fast food is not used up completely. The result is that these accumulate in our body as fat deposits that cause complications like cardiovascular diseases and other related diseases of the heart. With obesity come other problems like high

blood pressure and diseases of the joints. It is like a chain reaction set off by fast food and carried forward by our unhealthy lifestyle. In fact, a recent study has shown that people who live within walking distance of a fast food restaurant are at 13% higher risk of suffering from strokes than those who live a considerable distance away.

The greater the number of people at a meal in a fast food restaurant, the larger is the bill. Eating at fast food outlets is economical only for a single person. Going out to a fast food eating joint with family once in a while won't matter much. However, frequent visits to such restaurants with one's family can become quite an expensive affair, besides being unhealthy.

Fast food joints are also being seen as a factor that is making a number of families spend less and less time together. Family meal time is something that is considered as an opportunity for all the members to come together and share their experiences. However, the fast food centers are quickly eating into this quality time. This is especially true about youngsters for whom a fast food center is a good place to hangout with friends and peers.

Fast food is an invention of the modern times. Ready-made food being served fast and right in front of us is like a blessing after a hard day's work. However, like everything, it has its own pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages of fast food also exist. Citing a few points about the advantages of fast food does not mean that I am denying its drawbacks. However, by making some smart choices while placing the order and also resorting to an active lifestyle, we can definitely minimize the drawbacks of fast food.

Global Warming    Uploaded by Christa on Oct 25, 2006

Global warming is an increase in the earth's temperature due to fossil fuels, industry, and agricultural processes caused by human, natural, and other gas emissions. This results in an increased emission of greenhouse gases. Short-wave solar radiation sinks into the Earth's atmosphere and warms its surface; while long wave infrared radiation emitted by earth's surface is absorbed, and then re-emitted by trace gases. Climate changes occur in our earth's atmosphere due to a buildup of

Page 21: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases can occur naturally as well as a result of human activities. Problems can occur when higher concentrations of greenhouse gases are present in our atmosphere because they have enhanced our earth's heat trapping capability. There are many misconceptions about global warming. Some believe that pollution causes global warming, but the fact is global warming is the result of burning fossil fuels, coal, and oil that release carbon dioxide. Another misconception is nuclear power causes climate change. Nuclear power actually reduces emissions of carbon dioxide when used in place of coal. Some believe that global warming means that it will become warmer all over. The name is misleading because in some places, it will actually become colder. The majority of scientists believe global warming is a process underway and that it is human-induced. The greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. These gases occur naturally. The Earth uses those gases to warm its surface. Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere when solid waste, fossil fuels, wood, and wood products are burned. Each greenhouse gas absorbs heat differently. If natural gases did not occur, the temperatures would be 91.4 degrees cooler than the current temperatures. These gases trap heat and cause the greenhouse effect, rising global temperatures. Human activities add to the levels of these gasses, causing more problems. The burning of solid waste, fossil fuels, and wood products are major causes. Automobiles, heat from homes and businesses, and factories are responsible for about 80% of today's carbon dioxide emissions, 25% of methane, and 20% of the nitrous oxide emissions. The increase in agriculture, deforestation, landfills, industrial production, and mining contribute a significant share of emissions too. The gases released into the atmosphere are tracked by emission inventories. An emission inventory counts the amount of air pollutants discharged into the atmosphere. These emission inventories are used by many organizations. The Centers for Disease Control have been involved in studying global warming's effect on human health. Global warming is a danger to a human's health. Its affect on climate can adversely affect humans. Plagues have been attributed to global warming. An increase in temperature can result in a longer life cycle for diseases or the agents spreading them. Living in a warm area makes egg production a quicker process. Global warming will lead to more precipitation, which enables infectious diseases to be more easily contracted and spread. Effects of global warming on human health might not be immediately detected.

Page 22: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

Global warming can affect our future ability to obtain food. As climates change, plants and animals will change, leading to a change in the eating patterns of humans. An increase in precipitation is one result of global warming that could have devastating effects. First, the quality of crops would be affected by an increase in precipitation. Second, increasing rain could lead to an increase in soil erosion. There are ways that you can help prevent global warming. Car pooling, auditing the energy in your home, buying fuel-efficient cars, and reducing the electricity in your home are ways to help prevent global warming. You can also write to your local congress representative or your local newspaper in response to stories, which say global warming, does not exist. Government authorities can help by passing laws to reduce emissions from factories. They can also form a treaty with other countries to legally bind limits on emissions of heat trapping gases. The future of emissions damage depends on several factors, demographics, economics, technology, policies and institutional developments. Future predictions do not look good for this planet if nothing is done. Without the help of emissions control policies, CO2 levels are projected to be 30 -150% higher in 2100. Our renewable resources will be very limited. With cooperation from citizens and government officials, we can slow the effect of global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Environmental Effects of Global Warming    Uploaded by ilovethissite on Mar 28, 2005

Environmental Effects of Global Warming

In order to talk about global warming, we must first learn what causes the greenhouse effect. A lot of the rays from the sun are absorbed by water vapor that is naturally in our atmosphere. Water vapor accounts for "80 percent of natural greenhouse warming. The remaining 20 percent is due to other gasses that are present in very small amounts1". Carbon dioxide is also a big absorber of the sun's heat rays.

Global warming will not just make sea levels rise, it will also affect sea life. Corals "are intolerant of temperatures just a few degrees warmer than usual7". Small increases in the temperature can kill corals. There have been problems with corals dying in the past few years because of increased water temperatures. Other marine life may migrate northward or southward because the waters are warmer. The warm water would make them think that

Page 23: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

they were in their natural habitat, when they were actually migrating toward the poles. Food would be scarce in their new habitat.

Patterns of the circulation of sea water are disturbed by global warming. Cold water moves along the sea floor towards the equator and warm water around the equator moves toward the poles across the surface of the ocean. It is known as thermohaline circulation. It is a very important process concerning ocean life. This circulation process brings oxygenated water to the sea floor. If this did not happen, "water along the sea floor would become depleted of the oxygen organisms need to survive8".

Fish, such as salmon, are also sensitive to the temperature of the water. During the summer when the water is warm, salmon have a higher metabolic rate. During the winter months, their metabolism slows down, which is good because less food is available. With global warming and increased water temperatures, salmon would have a higher metabolic rate, even if it were during the winter. Less food would be available for them and many salmon would die.

Another impact of global warming will be that some diseases are likely to be spread more easily. Mosquitoes are a major carrier of tropical diseases. Malaria outbreaks are usually confined to "where the minimum winter temperature reaches no lower than 16 [degrees Celsius]," according to the World Wide Fund for Nature, an independent conservation organization9. Scientists are beginning to notice that malaria outbreaks are occurring outside these places. They are attributing this to increased temperatures from global warming. Places such as California, Texas, Florida, Michigan, and New York have had more cases of malaria. People from these states know that the summers have been very hot and humid lately. Malaria mosquitoes thrive in hot and humid weather. Increased temperatures and more rain in some areas will cause hot and humid weather, which will allow for mosquitoes to migrate to new places and spread the disease. A study suggests that "malaria transmission would increase from 45% of the globe to 60%, if atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases reach concentrations equivalent to a doubling of CO2 since the industrial revolution10". Cholera and dengue fever are also carried by mosquitoes and thrive in warm and moist climates. As with malaria, more cholera and dengue fever outbreaks would occur because of migrating mosquitoes.

As stated earlier, the warming of the oceans will increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and will make global warming a problem of increasing severity. There are other ways that this happens too. As the weather becomes warmer, more organic matter in the ground will be decomposed. This causes carbon dioxide to be released into the atmosphere: "If average temperatures would rise by .3 degrees C per decade, soils will release an amount of CO2 equal to nearly 20 percent of the projected amount released by combustion of fossil fuels11". Gas hydrates will also decompose with warmer temperatures. Gas hydrates are "icelike solids in which molecules of gas, mainly methane, are locked in the structure of water" and are usually found in frozen soil or in ocean sediments12. Scientists have found that "gas hydrates worldwide hold a total of 10,000 billion metric tons of carbon, twice the amount contained in all the known coal, gas, and oil reserves on the land13". When temperatures increase, frozen soil will melt and release gas hydrates, and hydrates from ocean sediment will also break down. Because of this, more methane and carbon will be released into the atmosphere, making the greenhouse effect even stronger. This will damage our environment even more.

Global warming is becoming a major problem as we move to the 21st century and beyond. When more greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide and methane are released, they trap heat rays and keep them in our atmosphere. This causes an increase in temperature. Increases in temperature can do a lot of damage, even in small increases. Only a few degrees ended the ice age thousands of years ago. Another warming like that can have huge environmental effects. Changes in temperature will upset water cycles. Some areas will get more precipitation, some will get less. A warming of a few degrees would cause glaciers and sea ice to melt. This would lead to ocean levels rising and would damage coastal cities and islands. It would also cause a disruption in different species living in the ocean and increase the levels of some disease, especially ones carried by mosquitoes, which thrive in warm climates. In order to stop global warming, much has to be done. Although it is very difficult to reverse once the process is started, global warming has to be stopped if we want to live like we are now. Emission of fossil fuels by humans is a big factor in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Controlling these emissions is one of the first of many steps that we must take in order to combat global warming. If it is not controlled, problems such as the aforementioned ones, along with others, will definitely disrupt our living patterns.

Page 24: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

The Effects Of Melting Ice GlaciersGlaciers present today have taken centuries to form. They keep on melting, forming rivers and lakes; essential for human survival in many places across the world. This melted ice is replaced by fresh snow that is converted into ice over time. Things start going wrong when the water that is melting is more than the snow that is replacing it.

What are Glaciers Glaciers are formed by fallen snow that gets compressed into solid ice over a period of time. New layers of snow fall over the formed ice, compacting the layers of ice below. This is a constant process, making the glacier thicker and bigger over a period of time.

Glaciers are also known as 'rivers of ice' because they are not stationary but moving constantly like the water of a river; only much slower, from a few millimeters a day to a few meters a day.

How are Glaciers Formed Glaciers are formed by snow. This snow keeps on freezing and thawing (depending on the climate and temperature) and finally gets converted into ice. This ice gets compacted and firmer when a new layer of snow falls over it and compresses it under pressure. As more snow gets converted into ice, the weight and size of the glacier keeps increasing. An increased weight helps the layers of ice to start moving slowly (thus the nickname 'rivers of ice'). The upper layers of the glacier are usually not compressed to the levels of the lower layers and are more brittle, forming deep cracks (crevasses) as they move.

Is Ice Glaciers Melting Normal It is normal for ice glaciers to melt. Ice glaciers either break off into smaller icebergs and melt directly into the sea, or melt on land and form rivers that will empty into the sea.

Sea water is evaporating constantly and is replaced by melting glacier water. A problem here occurs when the snow replenishing it is less than the melted water. This is exactly what is happening with most of the glaciers around the world today, gradually reducing the size of the glacier, at the same increasing

Page 25: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

the sea water level.

Effects of Melting Ice Glaciers Glacier ice is melting much faster today than was expected. This has got serious effects on the earth, mostly negative.

Global Warming Temperatures across the globe have gone upward, helping the cause of ice glaciers melting faster than required. In certain places across the world small ice glaciers have totally vanished, exposing the earth below. Ice glaciers are able to deflect almost 80% heat of the sun, absorbing approximately 20% heat. This figure gets reversed when sunlight falls on earth, 80% is absorbed and only 20% is deflected back. This in turn helps in increasing global temperatures. This leads to an increase in the temperature of sea water. Icebergs melt faster. Added to this is the expansion of sea water, leading to a rise in sea water levels.

Fresh Water Shortage When seen from outer space, the earth looks self-sufficient in its need for water; in reality it is just the reverse. Almost all this water seen from space is salt water; unfit for human use. Just over 2% of this water is freshwater that is fit for human use; and over 70% of this 2% make-up the earths glaciers. Many on earth depend on the melting water from glaciers for their fresh water supply through lakes and rivers. The melted water gets renewed as ice on the glacier through a process known as precipitation. In many parts of the world this is the 'only' source of fresh water supply throughout the year. An ever-increasing human population and a rapidly decreasing glacier mass will lead to severe fresh water shortage in the near future (some places like those surrounding the Himalayas are already facing a crisis of fresh water shortage, especially in the dry months).

Reduced Agricultural Output Agriculture that depends solely on rain will be mostly unaffected by the effects of ice glaciers melting. Such areas are very few worldwide and do not contribute to the major chunk of farmland. Areas affected will be those that depend on water emanating from ice glaciers. During the dry seasons there will be a shortage of fresh water from ice glaciers, making the land dry and unsuitable for agriculture. Total agricultural output will reduce, leading to a shortage of foodgrains.

Shortage of Electricity (Hydroelectric) There are many places across the planet that depend solely on the constant flow of water from melting glaciers for the production of electricity. Once this flow of water is reduced or stops, the production of electricity will stop too. Absolutely no nation can do without electricity, and will force such places to adopt different sources to produce electricity, most of them that will pollute the earth, and possibly even help increase global warming.

Excessive Flooding How can the same situation of rapidly melting ice glaciers have two opposite effects; draught and flooding. This is a possibility. In places where there are ice glaciers on higher altitudes and they are all melting rapidly, it will lead to a sudden increase in water input to rivers, causing floods all along the river. This excess water could also lead to the formation of new lakes which will keep on increasing in size. This is a serious cause of worry, since the water contained in these lakes could be tremendous, and the bursting of such lakes could cause a major catastrophe all around, destroying everything in its path.

Rise in Sea-level

Page 26: the relatively short Cause or Effect health essay.doc

Water from melting ice glaciers on higher altitudes will form rivers and be emptied into the sea. A lot of water that melts on sea-level glaciers gets emptied directly into the sea. The sea level is rising constantly at a rate of approximately 1mm to 2mm per year. Melting glaciers have a part to do with this rise. The more faster glaciers across the globe melt, the more will be the increase in sea level. The effects of this will be of unimaginable magnitude. Coastal regions across the globe will have to relocate due to flooding, soil erosion, and contamination of underground fresh water with salt water. The effects of a rising sea level will be felt first in most coastal areas of America (north, central, and south) and most of Asia.

Animal, Bird, and Fish Habitat Loss There are many animals, birds, and fish that depend solely on glaciers for survival. Certain animals need the temperatures of glaciers for survival. Some bird species depend on fish that are found in fresh melting waters of a glacier. With an increase in sea water temperature, and rising sea levels, sea-plants that these fish thrive on will be lost, reducing the number of fish, which in-turn will make survival of many bird species difficult.

Coral Reefs will Vanish Corals require sunlight for photosynthesis to survive and thrive. As the sea level rises, enough sunlight will not reach these corals, deteriorating their quality and even possibly killing them in time. Fish that depend on these corals for food will not survive. This will have an effect on the people who fish for survival in these areas.

Earth Will Get Recontaminated Many today would never have heard of DDT and many such pesticides that were banned worldwide years ago. Most of the pesticides got airborne and were finally deposited in cool areas containing glaciers. Upto a few years ago, these harmful chemicals remained trapped in the layers of glaciers. Rapid melting of these glaciers is now releasing these chemicals back into the environment, in many lakes and rivers formed by these melting glaciers.

Melting Ice Glaciers Affects the Whole World The effects of melting ice glaciers is not confined only to one part of the planet; it is currently affecting the entire planet. Every continent on earth is feeling the effects of rapidly melting ice glaciers. Global warming is worsening the situation. We can not stop the glaciers from melting faster than they should, but let us all do whatever we can (however small) to help reduce global warming. It will help make earth a less hazardous place to live in.