Assault

A woman can reduce the risk of assault by never traveling without a buddy. It would also be important to not be caught alone in places that are sketchy or "the wrong part of town." The way a woman dresses can influence the way assailants look at a woman. If she is dressed skimpy, attackers would be more likely to attack. Taking classes that address the issue is another way to be prepared and learn about defensive and preventative tactics. Overall, it is never a woman's fault she is assaulted, but there are ways to reduce the temptation and take a safer approach to avoid the conflict.

Mental Illness

The stigma surrounding mental illness can be curbed by a change in the way we view the disease itself. Many people have misconceptions or beliefs that mental illness is a punishment from God or a demon who has possessed a person. This is simply a fact of nature that people are born with. Sometimes it only develops later in life, but cannot be seen as anything more abnormal that someone born with a cleft lip, for example. There are sever cases in which people cannot reach a level of sanity in order to interact with daily life, however, many people are able to live happy and fulfilling lives with the help of counseling, special care, and/or medications. People need to see that a person still exists behind the illness and we must move past our own insecurities to be more accepting.

Our Future in Mind?

Would we live differently with our future in mind? I am kind of split on this topic. I think it is easy to say yes, we definitely would change our behaviors. We could see the negative effects our choices have made on our bodies and the life we would end up with as we age. I think people would be motivated to maintain a healthier lifestyle in regard to diet, behaviors(smoking etc.), and life choices(like safety). However, these ideas are easily tossed aside in order to indulge in the pleasures of the "here and now." It is difficult to not live in the moment, especially when consequences can be years down the road.

Disease Prevention

Most disease prevention comes down to maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle. Academic institutions can provide the information on what constitutes a healthy lifestyle and list resources that people can use to achieve this goal. However, this does not do much to motivate people in my experience. I think the biggest motivator for masses of people is to show the consequences of their choices. This could include the side effects as well as the pain and suffering that comes with many diseases. Speakers could visit campuses and tell of their mistakes and the trials they have been through due to their poor choices. This makes the issue more personal and a plausible reality for the audience. Many people have the mindset that they are invincible or "it won't happen to me." I think if we move from textual information to personable experiences, we will have a more positive outcome.

Body Image in the Media

The media definitely plays a huge role in how women view their personal bodies. Celebrities such as Megan Fox are always depicted wearing tiny bikinis and lingerie and that is what we are told is sexy. I actually googled Megan and the only pictures I could find, were ones such as the pictures below.

 The picture of Megan on the right is from a recent film she starred in called Jonah Hex. In the movie, the director instructed her to get her waist as small as possible in the corset. She managed to make her waist a minuscule 18 inches. For those of you who don't know, that is EXTREMELY small. You can see from the picture it looks unnatural. I don't think the media has embraced more diversity in body image. There are a few who stand out such as Tyra Banks and the DOVE commercials, however, most people are taught smaller is better.

I found some startling statistics online:

• —51% of 9 and 10 year old girls feel better about themselves if they are on a diet
• —42% of elementary school students between the 1st and 3rd grades want to be thinner
• —1 out of 4 college-aged women uses unhealthy methods of weight control—including
  —Fasting
  —Skipping meals
  —Excessive exercise
  —Laxative abuse
  —Self-induced vomiting

I thought this was disturbing how young girls are concerned with their weight and appearance. Most have not even reached puberty yet.

Health educators need to enforce the idea that what girls see in magazines and on TV are not necessarily real. Many photos are photo-shopped and the few girls do not need photo shopping are 1 in a million.  We need to promote more positive role models for our children and steer away from the typical Britney Spears idol. I think if we focused on teaching our children to make positive and challenging goals for themselves instead of using their bodies, their self-confidence and self-worth would be on the rise.


This video is by Pink, and basically she is making fun of what and who we idolize today, and more importantly, what our children are looking up to. It's really funny but makes a point!

—http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR4yQFZK9YM

Menopause

Menopause is not a "disease" that needs to be treated. I know there are a lot of downfalls while enduring the experience, however it does not define the woman.

Many women seem to feel like the exaggerated image to the left. They feel as though going through menopause makes them frumpy, unsexy, and old. This should not be the case. Women have been the caretakers and the center of family for many centuries. It is not right for them to feel abandoned and tossed to the side after they start to endure menopause. Some women find their purpose in bearing and raising children. Keeping that in mind, losing the ability to bear children might be a particularly painful experience. However, we need to change the way we view elderly women and their journey through menopause.  We need to shift the focus from the fact that they cannot bring anymore children into the world to the fact that this can be a time for them to be free and maybe even a little bit selfish. A woman can spend her whole time raising children and taking care of a husband, but not have time for herself. I think we can change this negative view and turn it into positive experience. This time in a woman's life should be focused on reaching goals and doing the things she has always wanted in life. Maybe this is a time to travel and not worry about whether she'll be on her period and whether she should go swimming or not! I believe women should be cherished for the amazing sacrifices and the enduring love they emit through their life, not for what their body can or cannot do anymore.

Is Sharing Always Caring?

 If I had a friend who thought she might be in danger of having an STD, I would definitely encourage her to visit the doctor and get tested as soon as possible. Although it might be scary to have an STD, it is much scarier to find out after much damage has occurred. Infertility, cancers, and all sorts of health risks can follow the contraction of an STD.  The most dangerous of all would definitely be HIV. Fatality can occur swiftly if preventative medicine is not applied. Of course, it is not curable, but many advances have been made in modern medicine that allows people to live a full life outside of a hospital bed. Many STDs do not show obvious signs in women, so damage can be occurring without any knowledge to the infected host. Also, if my friend is not sure whether she has an STD or not, she could possibly pass it on to another partner or loved one. I would sit her down and tell her I understand it is definitely a scary situation, but the risks are too tremendous to ignore. Also, I would have her picture a life without children. For a lot of women, this is enough to motivate, because it is not all about her, it is also about whether or not she may or may not be able to have children and a family.

Should testing be taken advantage of?

I definitely think prenatal testing should be routine for pregnant women. About 96% of women have healthy babies, but many women understandably want to ensure their baby is not one of the unlucky 4%. Oftentimes, a positive result of good health for a baby can allow a mother to let go of some stress and result in a more content pregnancy. Sometimes, problems such as exposed nerves can be detected and notify the doctors that a C-section should be performed. If the testing had not been conducted, the mother could proceed with vaginal birth and cause serious injury to the child. Other problems can include heart deficiencies etc., and the child needs to be delivered at a hospital where an infant heart specialist resides. Otherwise, time and effort spent transporting the child could result in the loss of the child’s life. In some cases, testing may detect an issue that the parents can prepare for at home by getting certain supplies or make special arrangements that will be necessary ahead of time. Many times prenatal testing is decided upon when a parent has a family history of certain diseases or defects. However, it is understandable that some people decide against prenatal testing. This could be for religious reasons or perhaps they prefer to keep the pregnancy all natural. Also, some people do not care for testing because they know they will keep the child no matter the condition in contrast to some couples who may decide to abort the pregnancy if a serious issue is detected. I believe prenatal testing benefits outweigh the cons. If a parent has the opportunity to prepare for a medical issue with their child, I definitely feel the opportunity should be seized eagerly.

Children and Contraception

Birth Control seems to be a rising controversy. I think it really comes down to a person’s own personal view of sex, or even society. Many people believe sex is solely intended for procreation, and thus birth control should not be used because it is a barrier to procreating. This often stems of religious views. A few of my close Catholic friends have experienced trouble and inner turmoil when trying to decide whether to use birth control. The Church advises against it and their families stood firmly against the use. However, these girls did not necessarily agree with the opinions being thrown at them because they wanted to be safe and prevent against unplanned teen pregnancy. In some less fortunate countries, it is necessary for a woman to provide a large family in order to have children to work a farm or field etc. Also, access to contraception may be extremely limited due to supply or cost.  Across the world, many cultures believe it is a blessing to have a large family, so the use of contraception may be frowned upon. I grew up in a typical Southern Baptist family. I had severe cramps every month growing up, thanks to Mother Nature. I started taking birth control to dull the effects of the womanly cycle so I could actually participate in life. Well, I met my first love and we had sex. My family found out and freaked out because they thought I would not have made the same decision if I hadn’t been taking birth control. On the other hand, abortion is an even more extreme topic and would cause huge divisions in my family. I’m not ready or capable of taking care of a baby at this point in my life, so ultimately, it is my decision and I continue to take it.

Sex Education

Sex education is definitely a controversial topic these days. Schools are meant to teach our children, but the question is how much do they teach? Are the school systems responsible for teaching our children morals and values? Is sex education a matter of morals or is it factual? I appreciate all that the school and government provides for us, but in my opinion, who and when to have sex should be taught by parents. I think how and how to be safe can be taught by schools but gradually so children aren't exposed too early without a chance for the parent to act first. Notices definitely need to be sent to parents before the education is taught in order to provide parents with the chance to teach them their own views and values or withhold their child if they deem necessary, such as in a case of abuse etc. I believe abstinence only education is naive and teaching children how to protect themselves and be safe is extremely important. People have sex.. end of story. Because of that, children/teens today need to be informed about what they're getting themselves into and how to be proactive. I know there are parents out there who think their son/daughter would NEVER have sex at such a young age, but the fact of the matter is, it has been done before and it is becoming more common. I am a firm believer in facing the truth head on and straight forward. I think if our children are shown the unfortunate and very real consequences of unprotected sex, they will be more likely to  not engage in unsafe activity rather than having someone point a finger and say "no."

Healthy Behavior in Adolescents

When I hear "healthy behavior," the first thing I think of is my mother chanting "eat your veggies, drink your milk etc." Honestly there are more pressing issues that need to be addressed to modern day adolescents. I grew up as the typical nerdy, loser who had no friends for most of my childhood until high school. I then dated an older guy and it got pretty serious. In an attempt to impress him and his friends, I was eager to go along and try everything they were into including drugs, alcohol, and criminal activity. I'm not going to lie, I had a lot of fun in high school and really don't regret trying the things I did because I learned from it. However, what I learned was also a tough, painful lesson. The two issues I want to bring to light are drugs and abuse in teen relationships. I wish I could have recorded all the violence and loss my group of friends experienced, and then shown future generations the turmoil we all went through in a search to get high, or plain stupidity. I feel that may be the best option to really try to prevent these kids from starting down the road to drug addiction. Most of my friends became dealers or middle men at one point or another, and some, continue. I've known a lot of people who have overdosed and died, or simply were fighting over drugs and it got out of hand. I was one of the few lucky ones, but most my girlfriends were treated as objects and pure entertainment for the boys. The "relationships" they were in were unhealthy. Abuse, physical and emotional, was common, and it has affected their self esteem and self worth to this day. I know this sounds like I lived on the streets, or lived at a crackhouse. No, I grew up in typical, middle-class suburbs. All the houses were neatly lined up and the neighborhood "yard of the month" sign stood out front. I wonder if I grew up in an environment like mine and still was introduced and maintained a lifestyle like I described, what IS happening in the streets? What are the kids with no hope for a future living through? Most certainly, a living hell. I think we need to start early while kids are young. Remember the "just say no" campaigns? Yeah, they weren't very effective. Kids got excited to get a T-shirt and then went right back to it. I think raw, real information needs to be put out there. Stories of lost loved ones and friends. Visits from people permanently disabled from drugs. We need women to tell their stories of abuse and how there is a way out and a brighter future. I think the hard truth needs to be told, and it needs to be blunt. I hope no one else has to deal with the pain of losing a friend to drugs, but I know they will. Hopefully, we can diminish that number with campaigns, guest speakers, and presentations. Raw footage(like that show intervention) would have been much more effective to me, and hopefully will be to kids today.

Health Care in the U.S.

Reading through all these health concerns/hazards or whatever you wish to call them, I stumbled upon something that was truly dumbfounding. According to Cesarean Delivery on Maternal Request, "Virtually no studies exist on CDMR." CDMR means Cesarean Delivery on Maternal Request. Haven't women been giving birth to babies since the beginning of time? I just could not believe there is so little research on such a common place event, especially considering the risks involved with mandatory Cesarean Delivery for mothers with previa(when the baby's placenta blocks the path through the cervix for traditional delivery). Women who go through with Cesarean delivery are 10 times more likely to develop an infection within 48 hours than those who proceed with traditional delivery(Uterus Infection and C section). If infection occurs, treatments can include simple antibiotics or even a hysterectomy. However, in the worst cases, a patient can die. Also, if the mother chooses to have another child, she is 17.2% more likely to need a blood transfusion, 6-9% more likely to need a hysterectomy, and 8-15% more likely to experience maternal morbidity.(Vaginal Birth after Cesarean)

I definitely believe everyone should have access to healthcare, but to a certain extent. I don't think it is a given right unless you follow the necessary procedures that everyone else does to get it. Mommy and Daddy might have told you that you were special when you were little, but it's the real world now, and you have to work hard and follow the rules like everyone else. I do not agree with the universal healthcare Obama proposed. I can agree some reform is in need, but deep down I still believe in the philosophy this country was founded on, and that is you get what you work for. I honestly think changing the healthcare will give us slower and subpar service. Sure, there are extenuating circumstances, but I work hard for what I have and part of that is the freedom to choose. A lot more debt would be certain as well.

As I was looking up the healthcare situation, I found this which was pretty cool--http://www.usdebtclock.org/

I had no idea that medicare/medicaid were our largest budget items.

         Cesarean Delivery on Maternal Request, Structured Abstract. March 2006. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/tp/cesarreqtp.htm


      "Uterus Infection And C Section." Practical Parenting And Child Development. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2011. <http://www.newbiemommy.com/c-section/Uterus-Infection-And-C-Section.html>.

What Should You Be Asking Your Doctor?

It's rather interesting to discover details about others in your life. Perhaps, something even more intriguing, is their fears. I took the time to interview two of the most dear ladies in my life and had them depict their biggest health scares.

Joanna is a 22-year old college student who has grown up in a house full of struggle. She attends college as a full-time student and maintains a steady job in order to keep a tight grip on her finances. She explained to me her greatest fear is Alzheimer's. A large majority of her family members have suffered with this disease. Joanna's dream is to raise a loving and nurturing family. Her greatest fear from this disease is not being able to remember who her children and husband are, and ultimately, hurting them.

Amy is a 45-year old single mother of 1. She works hard to put her daughter through school, and as a result, has a lot of stress from the late nights at work. Amy smokes to cope with this stress, as did her parents and grandparents before her. Amy had a scare on a business flight back from Chicago. She was caught in a coughing spell and eventually started to cough up blood. It was then that the heavy fear of Lung Cancer set in. Flashbacks of her uncle and grandparents set before her. She has been to the doctor and does not have cancer yet, but if she does not stop smoking, she could be in some serious heart and lung trouble.

As for me, I am in the same boat as Amy. I smoke in order to deal with stress. This year I found out I had contracted HPV from a current boyfriend. HPV is called the silent killer because, a lot of women do not know they have it, until it's already done serious damage. I thought I could never get it because I had taken the preventative shots years before. However, I was unlucky and managed to get one of the rare strains not protected by the shot. The combination of smoking, the HPV, and my sucky immune system has led me to the first signs of cervical cancer. I have to wait another 3 months and be tested again, to see if it has progressed or improved on its own.