25 Medical Geography

Monday, 26 August 2013
2:10 PM - 5:30 PM
Washington III

SOME EXAMPLES OF BENEFICIAL EVOLUTION THAT BECOME DISADVANTAGEOUS WHEN THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT CHANGES

Paper number: 25-3
Program: Sessions
Time: 3:10 PM – 3:30 PM

Authors

  • Sarah Poggi Presenting Author
    Inova Alexandria Perinatal Diagnostic Center, Alexandria, MD

Abstract

Introduction: The physical environment slowly influences human evolution, with selection of certain traits that provide survival advantage in that region. However, a change in an environment can result in such traits transforming from advantageous to disadvantageous.

Methods: In today's society human migration occurs at a pace much more rapid that previously observed, with peoples moving abruptiy to vastly different environments. Various examples of human evolutionary traits unique to certain regions (for example, sickle cell trait in West Africa) that are actually detrimental with a change in physical environment will be discussed. The participant will gain an understanding of the complexity of caring for an extremely heterogenous patient population with the unique health problems their regions of origin may add to common life events, such as pregnancy.

Conclusion: Hypertension, various genetic disorders, obesity and other issues that at face value seem to be simply medical problems to overcome have at their origin a relationshp between the individual and their physical environment. A disruption in that relationship can confer its own unique health risks.