What can patients do about climate change?

We might not be able to solve the climate crisis by our individual actions, but every action we take brings us a little closer to governments and organisations taking the action we need. Calculating your carbon footprint can be a useful starting point to identify areas where you could take action.

Here are some easy tools to work out your carbon footprint. No tool is perfect but it might give you some ideas.

The World Wide Fund for Nature carbon footprint calculator

Conservation International also has a tool although this will compare your consumption with an average US consumption which is higher than ours in the UK.

Active travel is a way of incorporating physical activity into necessary journeys, so you can help your own fitness and the planet at the same time.

This product will really help with your active travel intentions. The short video might make you smile too!

Cyclists are exposed to less pollution than car drivers or bus passengers, and have the added benefit of keeping fit as they travel. If you are not confident cycling on the roads Cycling Scotland provides training sessions for adults and children. The Dundee Cycling group helps to run cycling events throughout the city.

If cycling doesn’t appeal, could you walk to work or the shops? Is there a route that would go through a park and away from roads to make it more pleasant?

See if you can recognise this nearby green space.

It’s great news that the healthiest diet for our own health is also the most healthy for the planet!

Diets that are low in animal products and high in vegetables protect us from heart disease, bowel cancer and many other health problems. Here’s an example of a quick and easy swap that’s good for you and good for the planet.

See this document for more ideas.

This planetary health plate from Canada gives some guidance on how to achieve a healthy diet.

We know it can be difficult for people to buy fresh vegetables or to cook from scratch after working long hours. The Douglas Food Cupboard aims to provide low cost food to families whilst reducing food waste. They are open to everyone and no referral is needed.

Living in a cold home is not good for your health. It can increase your chances of developing different health problems, including the common cold, pneumonia and heart attacks. It can also lead to absence from work, social isolation and poor sleep, all of which can affect your mental health.

The cost of living crisis and the increase in energy prices are worrying for a lot of people. For advice about how to save energy, keep your home warm, and reduce water waste see Home Energy Scotland. They also have information about grants and funding to make your home warmer.

By reducing energy wasted at home, for example by improving poor insulation, energy bills can be reduced and it’s better for the planet.

There is increasing evidence that taking part in activities outside in nature is beneficial for physical and mental health, and helps the immune system to work better. Being connected with nature also helps the planet because you are more likely to look after what you value.

The Dundee Green Health Partnership has lots of different Green Health Activities throughout the city, no matter how active you are at the moment. Ask your GP about a Green Health Prescription for this or you can refer yourself.

You can also follow some of the suggestions in this calendar called Your Nature Prescription.

https://www.greenhealth.scot/sites/default/files/pdf/Nature%20Prescription_Jan14.pdf

Being physically active has huge benefits. The greatest health benefits come when people change from doing very little or no activity to doing some activity.

This excellent short video talks about the evidence behind this. There is also lots of information on our Physical Activity page.

The Active10 app gives suggestions for keeping active for 10 minutes at a time.

Get Out Get Active Tayside promotes fun and free physical activity opportunities throughout Tayside for people of all abilities.

Parkrun is an international organisation which organises free, fun and friendly weekly 5km community events. You can walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate – all are welcome! Every Saturday morning at 9.30am people meet in Camperdown Park and West Links Park, Arbroath. Parkrun also run a 2km children’s event every Sunday morning in Baxter Park. There are many other parkrun events throughout Scotland and the world.

If you’re building up to doing a 5k, why not try the Couch to 5k app?

There are lots of interesting things to see and do around Dundee that are accessible by walking or bike. Have a look at the 99 Things to see and do guide for some ideas.

Exercises to improve your balance and strength, especially from the age of 40 onwards, can hugely reduce your risk of falls as you get older, and help you to live longer and with better quality of life. It’s never to late to start. Simple exercises, such as standing on one leg (or if you can’t manage that, standing with one foot in front of the other) whilst brushing your teeth or waiting for the kettle to boil, will help with this.

Have a look at this NHS resource for some simple strength exercises.

Some inhalers have a much higher carbon footprint that others so you may want to review your inhalers.

Please see our Asthma and Inhalers and the Environment sections for more information.

Medication can have negative effects on the environment. Lots of medication is flushed down sinks and toilets or thrown into landfill. Even when medication is taken, a lot of it leaves the body in the urine. Sewage treatment plants can only remove 80% of this. This means that a lot of medication is entering the environment and affecting plants, fish, and animals (Pharma in the Environment).

However, medications are often necessary and help us to stay well. Do not stop taking any medication without speaking to your GP first.

There are different ways that you can help to reduce environmental harm caused by medication.

Firstly, make sure that you only order the medication that you need. If you have a repeat medication which you are no longer taking please let us know. If you are unsure what your medication is for please speak to your GP. We regularly look at the medications that our patients are taking to make sure that they are all necessary and safe.

Secondly, please get rid of any unused medication by returning it to your pharmacy. They are able to dispose of it safely.

You can dispose of empty medication packets at various drop off points including Superdrug pharmacies. We also accept used inhalers at the practice and we will ensure they are disposed of safely. Unfortunately they cannot be recycled.

Lots of people are worried about climate change and what this means for us and our loved ones.

Find out more here about how to manage this.