The problem is not a difficult patient but an ignorant doctor. An EOMH relates physical or psychological signs and symptoms to a patient's environmental exposures at home, work or school, different seasons or effects of diet. Any psychological factor can trigger prolonged environmental sickness and likewise, psychological problems often cannot be solved unless underlying environmental factors which can diminish coping abilities are dealt with as well. Negativism and rejection of poorly recognized environmental factors by family or medical staff can cause secondary psychological stress. It should also be realized that environmental factors can also affect genes creating inborn errors of metabolism which make individuals susceptible to specific illnesses.
Environmental medicine has a broad approach to the problem of health and disease.
Dietary and neurology, pulmonology, etc. Hi-tech medicine, as superb as it is in acute interventions, will cure neither the growing number of chronic and degenerative illnesses nor ballooning health care costs. Environmental medicine presents an opportunity for individuals to have a measure of control over their health. It also presents a challenge to each member of society to take responsibility for his or her actions, as an individual, a consumer, a producer, a manufacturer, etc. Environmental Medicine is perceived to be controversial more for political and economic reasons rather than scientific ones.