Tips for Spring

As spring has arrived, so have the allergies, asthmas and colds. Temperature changes in the air bring the animals out, the plants to grow and the bacteria to survive. With the changes in the air everyone seems to be sneezing, coughing and sniffling. Avoiding the bacteria in these situations could be your survival guide to the transition into the spring.
As known, it is not pleasant to be ill in the spring. After all the snow is melting the sun is shinning and the birds are out, its time to be healthily.
Some tips for the transition would be to continuously wash your hands throughout the day, clean surfaces and commonly touched places. Take daily vitamins and focus on your diet. A healthy immune system is the key to a successful spring transition.

American Diabeets Alert Day

The American Diabetes Associates has enacted a day to educate American about Diabetes every year. March 24th stands to be the American Diabetes Alert Day. This day is to be a wake-up call to Americans and to inform them of the dangers of the disease. As type one diabetes is known as juvenile diabetes because it is a disease you are more commonly born with, the day of alert is for all types of diabetes. The major concern in America is for obesity and type two diabetes.
This day of recognition and awareness is the 21st annual alert day for America. Currently over 23.6 million children and adults are living with diabetes. Nearly one-fourth of those with diabetes do not know they have at risk or are living with the disease.
Those who are most at risk for diabetes are those with genetic onset, obesity, certain ethnicities and those over the age of 45 years-old.
For more information about diabetes visit, http://www.americandiabetesassociation.com/.

Maines Makes the Grade

The 2007 U.S. News and World Report “Americans best hospitals” ranking, included a Maine facility for the first time. The Maine Medical Center is one of the 173 medical centers listed in the report. The ranking were based out of the 5,462 medical facilities observed.
Within the report there are different categories to qualify for, one being the “heart and heart surgery”, where MMC ranked a 50 out of 50. The report also showed a strong nurse to patient ratio as well as an above average survival rates.
Those listed in the report as prestigious hospitals such as John Hopkins Hospital and Yale-New Haven Medical Center.

Fast Food Leading to Child Obesity

A resent study preformed by Columbia University found that ninth grades whose schools are within a block of a fast food chain are more prone to be obese.
The studies main purpose was to determine the correlation between the proximity of fast food chains to the children. The research proved, those ninth grade students were 5% more likely to be obese, based on the proximity of the fast food restaurants.
The logic behind the study is that is the restaurants are more available to the students they will be more prone to purchase there products. The main controversy surround the study concerns the variables involved. The study did not take into account the physical exercise to walk to the restaurant and thetime period of the study was over a vast amount of years.

Risk of Diabetes Increased by Lack of Sleep

A United States research study preformed in March of 2009 tested the lack of sleep to health. It is proven that Americans average night sleep have decreased over the years, but the question is to what risk is this for our bodies.
The study proved, for those who received less then six hours a sleep a night had higher blood sugar levels. The higher levels of blood sugar could result in future diabetes for type two victims. Those with the lower average sleep patterns were 4.5 times more at risk for developing diabetes.
In children the risks of lack of sleep increase. Resent studies show children who receive less then six hours a sleep a night could be at risk for depression, obesity and high blood pressure.
In order to avoid these dangers, specialists recommend the average American adult to get seven to nine hours of sleep a night.

Altering Taste Buds

A small fruit, the color of a cranberry and the size of an almond, has been discovered in West Africa.
The tasteless berry has the ability to reverse the taste buds up to 30 minutes. The berry is applied to the tongue and releases a sweetening potency that alters the taste buds.
The small berry is known to as Synsepalum Dulcificum but has gained the nickname of “miracle fruit”.
Five years ago in a Miami, Florida hospital a study found the berries to be helpful in restoring the appetite of cancer patients.
Researchers are looking for a way the help those with diabetes and obesity by applying the sweetener to foods to increase the taste. Unlike artificial sweeteners, the berries are natural and contain very few calories.

Is he Economy Hurting More Than Your Pocket?

The year 2009 brought a new president to face America. With President Obama entering the white house with record approval rates and the economy in turmoil, we watched his approval dwindle.
With over 25 million jobs lost during 2008, Americans 401(k) plans being reduced and the stock market decline, Obama struggles with America. His approval rate has declined to 59% according to an online CNN research poll.
As our economy sinks into recession and many fear a second depression, others worry about America’s health.
According to the American Psychological Association, 80% of all Americans are stressed.
Those stressed are experiencing anxiety, headaches, lack of sleep and muscle tension.
48% of those stressed also report having overeaten or consumed large amounts of unhealthy food to cope with the stress.

Dont Forget Me

While many of us are focused on a healthier lifestyle, counting calories, carbohydrates and fat intake levels, there is one level we have neglected: triglycerides.
Fat is the number one concern for those trying to remain healthy. There are two main forms of fat in the blood, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol. Both are fat particles that are found throughout the body’s blood. HDL cholesterol is known as the good form of fat that the body needs for survival.
While LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol are important factors of health, the third component often forgot is triglycerides.
The body stores excess calories as triglycerides, causing the levels to be high due to lack of exercise, being overweight, drinking alcohol and consuming large portions of saturated fats.
According to the Center for Disease Control, one-third of American adults have high levels of triglycerides.
Those with diabetes also tend to have higher levels of triglycerides.
High levels of triglycerides are a risk marker for other diseases such as heart disease and could potentially lead to early death.
Triglyceride levels 150 milligrams per deciliter and higher is considered to be high.
The way to lower the levels is to lose weight, eat healthy and become more active.

Diabetes Impact on Cancer

The two most common diseases in the United States are diabetes and cancer. Although, both diseases appear distant, there has recently been a strong link between the two diseases.
Cancer patients who already have diabetes have a greater risk of dying of diabetes then cancer patients who do not have the blood-sugar disorder, according to the American Medical Association.
An estimated 24 million Americans within the United States have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association, and about 18 percent of newly diagnosed cancer patients also have the disease.
Frederick Broncati at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, in the Baltimore, Maryland found that those with diabetes and cancer have a 1.4 times higher percent change of dying of cancer. Broncoti’s study also showed those with diabetes have a greater risk of developing cancer, this may be due to the fact many of those with type two diabetes are overweight or obese.

Average Life Span Lowered by Obesity

Recent studies, including over 900,000 people, indicate obesity may shorten the average life span up to ten years.
There were over 57 studies preformed showing a direct connection between an overweight or obese Body Mass Index (BMI) and early mortality.
For those obese, the average life span could shorten by two to four years, while those extremely obese the life span could be reduced eight to ten years.
A study conducted by the University of Oxford worked to discover the link between BMI and mortality. The study began in 1979 and contained 894,578 people, from North American and Western Europe. The average participant was 46-year-old, with a BMI of 25.
A normal, healthy BMI for a 5 feet 5 inch person would be 18.5 to 24.9. An overweight individual BMI would be 25-29.9, while obese is 30 or more.
According to the study, during the follow-up period those with a 22.5 to 25 were more likely to sustain the average mortality rates. But every additional 5 BMI points raised the mortality risk by over 30 percent.
For the increased mortality rate the death were most commonly associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney and liver disease.

First Post

Hey everyone, my name is Ashley and I am a third year journalism major at the University of Maine at Orono. I will be using this space to discuss and inform about societal health issues. With increasing obesity, cancer causes and diabetes rates, I think everybody needs some education. The top two preventable causes of death are surrounding tobacco use and diabetes, both which may be due to lack of knowledge. Although, I am not a doctor or a health educator, I would like to use the knowledge I have collected to share information. In my studies at the University, I am involved in a communication Health Campaign class where we are to provide knowledge of a health concern, this is what i would like to do here. Enjoy and get informed!