carolcoxclassroom

Options for Aging Parents

2012-01-23T13:09:00.001-08:00

Nobodywants to think about the mortality of their aging parents. Nobody wants to evenbegin to think about what they’re going to do once their loving parents becomephysically and mentally weakened by the aging process. The truth is that theearlier one starts to plan about their parents’ future, the easier it will befor the whole process.

Beforedeciding to talk to your parents about their future, you might want to discussthis issue among you and your siblings (if you have any siblings) to see who iswilling to do what (finance, taking care of them, etc). Once you have figuredout what efforts you are willing to contribute, you should start discussing theissue with your parents. Some things to ask them would be:

· Would you rather live in a nursing home or liveat home? (some parents would rather live in a nursing home than be a burden totheir children by living at home, so if you are willing to have them live athome with you, LET THEM KNOW!)

* “Fiftymillion Americans currently provide the home care for an adult family member,according to the National Alliance for Caregiving” (1). So know that you’re notalone!

· There is also a choice of assisted living, wherea nurse or CNA comes into their home frequently and takes care of their needs

Having yourparents’ input on the matter is very important for their happiness. One of thebest compromises between nursing homes and living at home with your parents isassisted living. Assisted living comes at a fraction of the cost of nursinghomes and this way, parents are still able to live at home where they arecomfortable. Some may say that they are willing to take on the responsibilityof their aging parents all the way, but what about your job? Or your children?Or your spouse?

Taking care of an elder is difficult and can make peoplestressed and depressed. I’m not saying it is impossible to take care of anelder with a family and a job (because my parents do it with my grandma), butboy is it hard. Whenever I come home, I feel the tension between my mother andmy grandmother. My grandmother has Alzheimer’s, so this makes it even moredifficult for my family. Luckily, my grandmother is physically stable, but hermind often fails her in many things. The worst part about this is that somebodyhas to be at home at all times because my grandma has been known to get intotrouble. She sometimes forgets that she leaves the stove on some occasions thestove is set on “HIGH” and the pans would be burning along with the wasted foodthat was in them.

Below (2) is alink to a story written by a man that had to go through the process of caringfor his aging father. It is just an example of the responsibility and heartachethat comes with taking care of an elder. I know that even thinking about yourparents becoming old and weak is depressing, but the best option anybody can dois have a plan way before the inevitable crisis occurs.

(1)http://www.term.org/999/options-caring-for-aging-parents/

(2)http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/04/letting-go-of-my-father/8001/3/

-Dagmar Velez

Heartland Task Force - 40 Developmental Assets

2012-01-19T17:47:00.000-08:00

What are the 40 DevelopmentalAssets?

Developmentassets are 40 common sense, positive experiences and qualities thathelp influence and mold young people into caring, responsible adults.They represent the relationships, opportunities, and personalqualities that young people need to avoid risks and tothrive.

TheDevelopment Assets framework includes twenty external and twentyinternal assets.

Theexternal assets are essentially health promoting features of theenvironment, they can be broken down into four categories:

Support
Empowerment
Boundaries and Expectations
Constructive Use of Time

Theinternal assets are the skills, values, competencies, andself-perceptions we attain. They are also grouped into fourcategories:

Commitment to Learning
Positive Values
Social Competencies
Positive Identity

Who came up with them?

PeterBenson a researcher from the Minneapolis-based Search Institute cameup with the theoretical framework in the 1990s, he based theframework off of data from positive youth development focusedstudies.

What are the benefits of them?

Research has proven that theyouth who are exposed to the most assets are least likely to engagein four different patterns of high-risk behavior, including problemalcohol use, violence, illicit drug use, and sexual activity.

The Search Institute did a small studythat found that the more Development Assets the youth are exposed topositively correlates with academic achievement.

Another researcher found that academicachievement was tied to frequent participation in community-basedorganizations, this demonstrates the utilization of the empowermentasset.

For more information on theDevelopmental Assets the Search Institute has a youtube video thatexplains the importance of these simple, positive assets:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk6ius0qLv4

References

Anderson,K. (2011). Developmentalassets.Retrieved from http://www.search- institute.org/developmental-assets

Tilley, C. L.(2011). Developmental Assets. School Library Monthly, 27(7),41-44.

Active for Life

2012-01-19T14:25:00.001-08:00

A great PSA educating kids about the easiest way to stay fit and healthy: Play!

Active for Life

Katie Stark

A Healthy Kid is a Healthy County

2012-01-19T14:18:00.001-08:00

Katie Stark

The need for an establishedhealth and physical education program directed toward the youth inKnox County is more urgent now than ever before. According to thelatest Youth Risk Behavior Survey, an astonishing high of 28.8% ofMissouri children are now overweight or obese. Asoverweight or obese children tend to remain overweight or obese inadulthood, this data reveals a significant dangerous trend towardheart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other chronic diseases. Currently, 32% of Knox County adults are obese, with another 38%being overweight, and this number will only increase with the influxof overweight children ("Health & preventative," 2009).

Presentrisk factors in Missouri youth appear to continue tirelessly andinclude the following:

32.4% of Missouri children watch three or more hours of TV a day

22.9% use computers for reasons unrelated to school work more than three hours a day
55.6% of Missouri children report not attending physical education classes in an average week
High rates of unintentional injury precursors (bicycle helmet usage, seat belts, driving/riding under influences, etc.)
Significant mental health issues (depression, bullying, weapon usage, etc)
Tobacco and alcohol use
High rates of unprotected sex at young ages
("High school yrbs," 2009)

Examplesof communities developing community health programs have been studiedand many successful programs have been discovered , including thefollowing:

Community Initiatives Fund (CIF) in Saskatchewan, Canada, with its Physical Activity Program, Gambling Prevention Program, and Aboriginal Sport and Recreation Program
Oak Parks, Illinois, community center with various exercise classes and mental health services and support groups for those living with specific diseases
The Lockwood School District in Montana with a drug and alcohol awareness program for high schoolers and their parents

TheKnox County Community Center, newly erected this year in Edina, hasdedicated itself toward the intervention in the decline of youthhealth in Knox County. Education classes will be availableconcerning nutritional health, sexual health, substance abuse, sleepawareness and many other diverse topics along with a facility forsafe recreation, from organized sports and lessons to use of workoutequipment for all members. In order for the KCCC to be successful inthis intervention, the staff asks for Knox County resident's help inraising both funds and awareness.

References

Drake,K. (2012). Community committed to health of its youth. BillingsGazette,Retrieved from http://billingsgazette.com/news/opinion/mailbag/community-committed-to-health-of-its- youth/article_92cc28a7-b1cd-535f-a3fb-eb2283ed66ee.html

Johnson,M. (2012). Community initiatives fund program help residents buildvibrant communities. Sasknewsnow,Retrieved fromhttp://www.sasknewsnow.com/section/2012- 01-14/article-2864437/Community-Initiatives-Fund-program-help-residents-build- vibrant-communities/1

MICA,(2008). Childhealth profile for Knox residents.Retrieved from Missouri Government website:http://health.mo.gov/data/mica/ASPsChildHealth/Main.php?cnty=103

MICA:County Level Study 2003-2007 Comparison, MICA. (2009). Health& preventative practices for Knox-Scotland-Clark county adults.Retrieved from U.S. Government website:http://health.mo.gov/data/mica/CLS_Compare/header.php?cnty=103&p

YouthRisk Behavior Survey, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.(2009). Highschool yrbs Missouri 2009 results.Retrieved from U.S. Government website: http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/App/Results.aspx?LID=MO

(2012).Oak park and river forest community calendar initiatives fund programhelp residents build vibrant communities. OakLeaves,Retrieved from http://oakpark.suntimes.com/lifestyles/9997817-423/oak-park-and-river-forest- community-calendar.html

Membership

2012-01-19T10:48:00.000-08:00

christy belzer
Membership

Being involved at all ages is a very important aspect in life. There are many ways how being a part of something or going to a designated place where you have membership can enhance your overall lifestyle. Membership can enhance your life dealing with self- confidence, personal health, and can increase your social life. By doing something simple like joining a gym or a community center, you will be able to find possibilities that you never have expected for yourself. It has been proven how keeping kids active can result in more positive outcomes and also exercise with children and families can have positive psychological affects as well. As much as people don’t feel that being a member of a gym or community center isn’t important, there are many great benefits that can give a person a better overall life.

According to Beginner Triathlete being involved at a gym can lead to positive psychological benefits. Exercise can be a confidence booster, mood enhancer, reduce anxiety and depression, and also be a stress reducer. By getting exercise, you release endorphins in your body which will release good feelings in your body. You will be able to burn calories, reduce stress, and get yourself in a better mood when you work out. It is important to stay on a routine in order to get yourself used to the benefits of exercise and see the change in your mood and stress levels. You will be able to notice the physical effects of working out by having your clothes fit better, and see the difference on the scale, but the effect to that is seeing that positive change and therefore will have a better self-confidence (Beginner Triathletes 2011). It has also been proven that people who work out in a gym are more likely to push themselves longer and harder because they are in a room full of people who also want to look good in front of others. It gives you the extra motivation and the push you will need in order to get a great workout. The other benefit is being able to get access to really nice equipment that will be able to give you advantages to a workout that exercising at home won’t be able to. You will be given the opportunity to use different machines that specialize in giving certain results. You will benefit from using the equipment and will be able to see the various results (Article Snatch 2012).

Along with personal benefits of joining a gym or community center, there are also the benefits for your children and as a family. Going to the gym is a great way to get bonding time with your children. By being active you don’t only increase their healthy lifestyle, but also form a good relationship with your kids. It can be something that you all have in common and find a fun thing to do as a family. By keeping your kids active, you will also be able to give them a routine where it will decrease their chances for childhood obesity that could cause other health problems in their future. The best way to get your children involved is to set a good example and set routines. If you show your children the importance of exercise and fun aerobic activities, they will be more interested in doing them as well (Mayo Clinic 2011). There has also been studies conducted that showed how exercise and healthy lifestyles in children will result in less risky behaviors in their future such as wearing a seatbelt, not drinking or smoking, eating more healthier foods, and being more cautious about sexual behaviors. There was also another decrease in risky behaviors that was even more when the parents were involved in the children’s exercise patterns (Grey 2011).

It is important to realize how significant being a member of a gym or being involved in a community center can be for your future. Your health is an important part of life and by getting routine and setting good examples for your family; you can reach your goal of optimal health. It takes the first step of getting involved to start your journey to a healthy lifestyle. So go sign up at your local gym or community center and start the path to living a long healthy, happy life.

sources:

Beginner Triathelet.com. Psychological effects of exercise. (2011) retrieved from:http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=734

Grey, Gina. Benefits of keeping active. (2012) retrieved from:http://family.go.com/parenting/pkg-teen/article-781156-benefits-of-keeping-active-t/

Mayo Clinic. Fitness for kids: getting children off the couch. (2011) retrieved from: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fitness/FL00030

The advantages of belonging to a gym. Article Snatch. Com(2011) retrieved from: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/The-Advantages-Of-Belonging-To-A-Gym-/1017979

Benefits of Not Smoking by Jordan Mormino

2012-01-19T10:12:00.000-08:00

Smoke-Free/Tobacco-FreeLiving-Benefits for family, kids, community

Imaginewaking up every morning and you cannot start or function without a puff of acigarette. Even though it is harmful, the addiction is too strong, and itseems impossible to quit or to even reduce the amount of cigarettes or packsconsumed. Cigarette smoking takes over 443,000 lives each year in theUnited States, and that number continues to rise (Center for Disease Controland Prevention, 2012). To emphasize how detrimental tobacco use is, itcauses more deaths annually than “deaths from human immunodeficiency virus(HIV), illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides, and murderscombined,” (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). By the year2030, due to the current tobacco use status, it will have caused more than 8trillion deaths (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012).

KnoxCounty has a population size of 3,981 as of 2009. The healthdepartment is located in Edina, the community center and one of the biggercities in the county. Edina’s population is 1,110 with a -10.0%population change since 2000 (Onboard Informatics, 2003-2011). Accordingto the Knox County Health Department, in 2009, a smoking cessation class wasnot offered (“Knox county health,”2009). Studies have shown that as of2007, 22.03% of Knox County residents do smoke (Missouri Department of Healthand Senior Services, 2007). Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services(MICA) have estimates on the number of deaths attributable to smoking which are“based on smokers’ increase likelihood of dying of various disease,” (MissouriDepartment of Health and Senior Services, 2007).

Inthe United States, coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death, andsmoking is a major factor (Center for Disease Control and Prevention,2012). For a smoker, the disease is 2 to 4 times more likely to occur(Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). Tobacco use causes 90%of lung cancer deaths in men and 80% in women and 90% of deaths from chroniclung disease for both genders (Center for Disease Control and Prevention,2012). In addition to harming the individual who is smoking, they arealso harming their spouse, children and others around them in thecommunity. This is referred to as secondhand smoke and can cause the samediseases as it would the smoker (Meakem, 2012). Children who live with aparent or parents that smoke are more likely to develop ear infections, asthma,colds, and bronchitis than children living in a tobacco-free home (Meakem,2012). As for the community, smoking can also trigger children in outdoorand public places to become ill or to be influenced by adults who smoke(Meakem, 2012). In a 2009 Missouri Youth Risk Behavior Survey of highschool students, 46% tried smoking, 19% smoked cigarettes on at least 1 dayduring the 30 days before the survey was given, 7% smoked cigarettes on 20 ormore days during the 30 days before the survey, 5% smoked cigarettes on schoolproperty during the 30 days before the survey and 47% did not try to quitsmoking cigarettes (National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and HealthPromotion, 2009). From this survey, the Center for Disease Control (CDC)offered solutions that many communities could consider. The solutions forthis are to have better health education, more family and communityinvolvement, and to enforce healthier school environments (National Center forChronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2009).

Thereare many benefits of not smoking, first off is the cost of tobacco use. Smokingcosts the United States billions of dollars ($193), including the health careexpenses (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). As forsecondhand smoke, this costs the United States more than $10 billion whichincludes health care expenses, morbidity and mortality (Center for DiseaseControl and Prevention, 2012).

Anotherbenefit of not smoking is that you are not harming every organ in yourbody. It is a leading cause of cancer including that of the lungs,esophagus, larynx, mouth, throat, pancreas, stomach and cervix which also isthe main cause of death in individuals (National Cancer Institute, 2012). Also, for the nonsmoking adults and children around you, you are notharming their organs. Secondhand smoke can increase a nonsmoker’s risk ofheart disease by 25 to 30 percent (National Cancer Institute, 2012). Quitting or not even beginning smoking can change the course of this diseaseand prolong a more healthy life. Another benefit of not smoking is your bloodpressure and heart rate will remain normal, as a smokers heart rate and bloodpressure are more likely to be high (National Cancer Institute, 2012). Nonsmokers benefit, again, because they will have normal circulation, lessphlegm production and they will most likely not wheeze and cough as a smokerwould (National Cancer Institute, 2012). These ailments make daily tasks,such as, walking upstairs, playing with your children, working out, etc, ratherdifficult.

References

Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention. (2012, January 10). Smoking and tobacco use: Health effects of cigarettesmoking. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_smoking/

Knox county healthdepartment. (2009, October31). Retrieved from http://health.mo.gov/profiles/CountyInfo/CpiKnox.html\

Missouri Department of Health &Senior Services, D. T. M. (2007). Tobacco use & tobacco cessation forknox-scotland-clark county: Adults. Retrieved from http://health.mo.gov/data/mica/CLS_Compare/header.php?cnty=103&profile_type=3&chkBox=C

Meakem, C. (2012, January 16).Resolve to quit smoking. Strauss News. Retrieved from MissouriDepartment of Health & Senior Services, D. T. M. (2007). Tobacco use &tobacco cessation for knox-scotland-clark county: Adults. Retrieved from http://health.mo.gov/data/mica/CLS_Compare/header.php?cnty=103&profile_type=3&chkBox=C

National Cancer Institute. (2012,January 12). Harms of smoking and health benefits of quitting. Retrievedfrom http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/cessation

National Center for Chronic DiseasePrevention and Health Promotion. (2009). Tobacco use and missouri students.Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/yrbs/pdf/tobacco/mo_tobacco_combo.pdf

OnboardInformatics. (2003-2011). Edina, missouri. Retrievedfrom http://www.city-data.com/city/Edina-Missouri.html

Emergency and Disaster Preparedness

2012-01-19T08:35:00.001-08:00

A disaster is a crisissituation causing wide spread damage which far exceeds our ability to recover.The goal of Emergency and Disaster Preparedness is to reduce the impact ofdamage created by a disaster (Thirunavukarasu, n.d.). Another goalof Emergency and Disaster Preparedness is to reduce vulnerability to hazardsand cope with (Thirunavukarasu, n.d.). To a family or individual,Emergency and Disaster Preparedness means taking the steps to prepare for andsurvive a threat.

In order to prepare for disasters,the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), recommends creating a safety oremergency kit. This kit can be used if your family is trapped inside thehouse, cannot use roadways to get to stores, or in case of injury and can makea huge difference during an emergency. A basic emergency kit shouldinclude: one gallon of water per person per day for three days, non-perishablefood for each person for three days, battery powered or hand crank radio andextra batteries, flashlights for each person and extra batteries, first aidkit, whistle, filter mask or a cotton t-shirt for each person, moist towlettes,garbage bags, and plastic ties, wrench or pliers, manual can opener, plasticsheeting and duct tape, important family documents, daily prescriptionmedicine, other things include diapers/formula for babies and special needitems. Typically a three day supply of food and water is the minimumrecommendation, having a larger supply means longer survival (Federal EmergencyManagement Agency [FEMA), n.d.). Small comfort items can be addedlike a few toys for children, a candy bar, or a book to read. Thesesmall items that do not take up much space can come in handy to increase moodsduring survival time.

Federal EmergencyManagement Agency. Build-a-kit. Retrieved on January 18, 2012 from http://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit.

Thirunavukarasu, B. An integrated approach to emergencymanagement. Retrieved on January 18, 2012from http://www.icm.tn.gov.in/article/disaster.htm

Fall and Injury Prevention Stats

2012-01-19T08:29:00.000-08:00

In the United States, unintentional falls are the most common cause ofnonfatal injuries for people older than 65 years. Up to 32 percent ofcommunity-dwelling individuals over the age of 65 fall each year, and femalesfall more frequently than males in this age group, (Centers for Disease controland Prevention, 2006). Fall-related injuries are the most common cause ofaccidental death in those over the age of 65, resulting in approximately 41fall-related deaths per 100,000 people per year. In 2009, Adair County, MO reported6, 588 emergency room visits for falls , a total of 26.5%, higher than thestate average of 25.81%. In the same year 735 individuals were hospitalized fora serious fall or injury, (MO Department of Health & Senior Services,2009). In general, injury and mortality rates rise dramatically for both malesand females across the races after the age of 85, but males older than 85 aremore likely to die from a fall than females, (National Center for InjuryPrevention and Control, 2007).

Siera Ramsey

Depression in Older Adults

2012-01-19T08:08:00.000-08:00

Because the word depression is used so commonly in oursociety, it is important to learn what depression is and what that actuallymeans. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Someone who is depressed has “feelings of sadness or anxiety that lastfor weeks at a time. He or she may also experience feelings of hopelessness andguilt, irritability, restlessness, loss of interest in activities or hobbiesonce pleasurable, fatigue and decreased energy, difficulty concentrating, insomnia,overeating or appetite loss, Thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts, Persistentaches or pains, headaches, and cramps.” When a person has depression, signs areseen and symptoms are felt even after healing time and even treatment. Whilethis is a serious matter at any age, older adults are prone to have aheightened danger of developing depression. According to the CDC, about 80% ofolder adults have at least one chronic health condition, and 50% have two ormore. Depression is more common in people who already have other illnesses orwhen their body’s function and mobility start to lessen (“Depressionand Suicide Facts” n.d.).Because the human body and mind deteriorate with age, older adults are often misdiagnosed and undertreated for depression (“Depressionand Suicide Facts” n.d.).Healthcare providers could easily mistake an older adult's symptoms ofdepression as just a person’s natural reaction to illness life changes. Becauseof this people would not see depression as something to be treated. Olderadults could agree the feelings being felt at that time are just part of life(“Depression and Older Adults” n.d.). Some older adults don't understand thatthey could feel better with appropriate treatment and can continue to live alife that has quality and happiness as its foundation.

Animportant aspect of learning about depression is that there are treatmentsavailable to combat this illness. Costs for the depression care had a mean costof $580 per patient (“Depression and Older Adults” n.d.). If this cost could be reduced and eventuallybe eliminated, that in itself could be seen as a perk to older adults feelinguneasy about treating their depression. A popular treatment method is the homeor clinic based depression care management. This involves using a teamapproach. A trained social worker, nurse, or other practitioner overseespatient education, tracks specific outcomes, and delivers an evidence-basedtreatment that a primary care provider and psychiatrist would prescribe(“Depression in the Elderly” n.d.). This treatment could be in a clinicalsetting when an older individual lives in a nursing home or home care could beprovided where every treatment option happens within the home environment.Another popular treatment option is cognitive therapy. This form of therapygives the patient an opportunity to battle against the negative thoughts triggeringdepression. According to WedMd,patients with depression have continual negative thoughts that feed thedepression. These thoughts are known to be automatic, which is a good benchmarkof knowing when someone has depression. Cognitive therapy, defined by WebMd, is a treatment plan that helpspatients recognize and correct the constant negative thoughts that continuallypop into the patient’s head. Studies have shown that cognitivetherapy works at least as well as antidepressants in helping people with mildto moderate depression (“Depression in the Elderly” n.d.).This plan does not need medication to be effective which can be seen as abenefit. Older adults already take medication for other problems, patientsshould recognize there is treatment available and it does not need to come inthe form of a pill. Treatment withtherapy can shorten the course of depression and can help reduce symptoms seenin depressed patients (“Depression in the Elderly” n.d.).Treatment is such a pivotal part of what depression is and how it can affectsomeone’s life forever but the harsh reality is that 75% of depressed older adults do notreceive appropriate treatment and 80% of nursing home residents fail to receiveappropriate treatment. (“CDCPromotes Public Health Approach” n.d.). There is so much that has been learned aboutdepression over the years through multiple studies and scientific breakthroughsbut there is so much more out there to be learned and even more people thatneed help.

sarah staebell

Depression in the Elderly:Symptoms, Causes, Treatments. (n.d.). WebMD –

Betterinformation. Better health.. Retrieved January 15, 2012,from

http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-elderly

 NIMHOlder Adults: Depression and Suicide Facts (Fact Sheet).(n.d.). NIMHHome. Retrieved January 16, 2012, from

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/older-adults-depression-and-suicide-facts-fact-sheet/index.shtml

Missouri Department of Mental Health. (2006). Depression and OlderAdults.

Mental Health –Mental Illness. Retrieved January 15, 2012, from

http://dmh.mo.gov/docs/mentalillness/elderlydepress.pdf

CDC Data & Statistics. (n.d.). CDC Promotes Public Health Approach

To Address Depression among Older Adults. Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved January 14,2012, http://www.cdc.gov/aging/pdf/CIB_mental_health.pdf

2012-01-19T07:56:00.000-08:00

Nutrition for Weight Loss
By Khrysta Baig

Everyoneenjoys comfort food, that is why we find it comforting, but Knox County, MO hasdecided to jump out of its comfort zone and into a new pair of smaller jeans! Thefirst step to kicking off the pounds is reading this blog!

Here are afew pieces of advice that can help you find your healthiest you:

First, each of us has the power to defeatthe odds. Statistics show that 73.6% of Knox County residents over the ageof 18 are overweight or obese (Missouri Information for Community Assessment, 2010).This means that roughly 3 of every 4 adults are overweight or obese. Hope isnot lost! There are great ways to keep a healthy weight and lose weight! Weightloss and maintenance is about YOU, not about the eating habits or weight ofothers around you. This is about your health and no one else’s.

Second, not all diets are created equal,and some can be dangerous. According to the Academy of Nutrition andDietetics, “If the diet or product sounds too good to be true, it probably is.There are no foods or pills that magically burn fat. No super foods will alteryour genetic code. No products will miraculously melt fat while you watch TV orsleep. Some ingredients in supplements and herbal products can be dangerous andeven deadly for some people” (2011). As we work together towards eatinghealthier, it is important for us to remember that KEEPING THE WEIGHT OFF ourmain goal. If you are overweight and have every tried dieting, it can feel likebeing on a yo-yo. We at the Knox County Community Center suggest that you keepa long-term perspective on losing weight. We want you to feel healthier andlive longer, but to do this, the focus needs to be on making lifestyle changesto how we eat.

Third, there are many great resources aboutweight loss, including tools to help you track progress towards your personalgoals. The website www.choosemyplate.govis a great site for anyone who really wants to understand how to lose weightand maintain a healthy weight. They have an entire section about “WeightManagement & Calories.” It teaches you everything you need to know aboutwhat actually makes you lose weight and how to lose weight safely. There is agreat section called “Make Better Choices” that offers advice for real people,such as: “Being successful at decreasing portion sizes doesn't mean that youhave to measure every meal or snack you eat. Once you've taken the time tomeasure out a few examples, you will be able to estimate portion sizes better.Plus, just eating or drinking less than you normally would means you aredecreasing your portion sizes” (United States Department of Agriculture, 2011).

Another great resource on the site is the"SuperTracker" which lets you track foods, physical activity, andyour weight. It's very simple to fill out and it helps you see where you canmake small improvements towards being more healthy.

The site also has "Food-A-Pedia," a branch of thesite that lets you compare the nutrients in any two foods you suggest. It'sreally great for people trying to lose weight because it's like having apersonal "Eat This, Not That" book that is made of only the thingsyou like!

In closing, the mostimportant thing you can do for weight loss is start making small goals and worktowards larger ones. Remember to stay positive and empowered about eatinghealthy foods: “A healthy eating plan that helps you manage your weightincludes a variety of foods you may not have considered. If ‘healthy eating’makes you think of foods you can’thave, try refocusing on all the new foods you can eat” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011).

This change is about YOU and together WE can eat well tolive well.

References:

Academy ofNutrition and Dietetics. (2011). Staying away from fad diets. Retrieved1-16-12, from http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=6851.

Centers forDisease Control and Prevention. (2011). Healthy eating for a healthy weight. Healthy weight-it’s not a diet, it’s alifestyle. Retrieved 1-16-12, from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/index.html.

Missouri Informationfor Community Assessment [MICA]. (2010). Heart disease provide-for Knox Countyresidents. Missouri Department of Health& Senior Services. Retrieved 1-16-12, from http://health.mo.gov/data/mica/ASPsHeartDisease/header.php?cnty=103.

United StatesDepartment of Agriculture. (2011). Decrease portion sizes. Weight Management. Retrieved 1-16-12, from http://www.choosemyplate.gov/weight-management-calories/weight-management/better-choices/decrease-portions.html.

Depression in Older Adults --Know the Signs!

2012-01-19T07:51:00.000-08:00

Amanda Butler

In most cases, individuals are unable to identify the signsand symptoms of depression due to a lack of health education and because olderadults may show different and less obvious symptoms. The individual is more likely to overlook thesymptoms as not severe, causing the symptoms and illness to worsen. More health education needs to be provided tosenior citizens on depression awareness and the provided steps to help treatthis disease.

Every individual who suffers from symptoms of depression mayincur different experiences and level of severity. Some signs may include: persistent sad,anxious or “empty” mood; feelings of hopelessness/pessimism; feelings of guilt,worthlessness, helplessness; loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies andactivities that were once enjoyed; decreased energy, fatigue, being “sloweddown”; difficulty concentrating, remembering; appetite and/or weight-loss/gain;thoughts of death or suicide; restlessness, irritability; Persistent physicalsymptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestivedisorders, and chronic pain (Grohol, 2008). If these symptoms remain untreated, symptoms of major depression mayworsen and may continue for years. Theycan cause untold suffering and can lead to suicide.

Depression most likely results from family history, lifeexperiences such as trauma or the loss of a loved one, and the individual’senvironment. For older adults whoexperience depression for the first time later in life, other factors may beinvolved. Depression may be related tochanges that occur in the brain and body as a person ages. For example, olderadults may suffer from restricted blood flow, a condition called ischemia. Overtime, blood vessels may harden and prevent blood from flowing normally to thebody's organs, including the brain, later causing vascular depression (NIH,2007). Depression in older adults canalso co-occur with other serious medical illnesses such as diabetes, cancer,and Parkinson’s disease. Medicationtaken for these illnesses can also contribute to the onset of depression.

Throughout the world, many physicians believe thatdepression is a natural part of aging, but in fact, depression is not a normalpart of aging. Suicide is also another major health concern among older adultssuffering from depression. Older whitemales age 85 and older have the highest suicide rate in the UnitedStates.Depression in older adults is extremely detrimental to their life andcan cause more health problems for the individual. Some consequences may include: Diminishingthe quality of life for the senior, as well as for friends and loved ones;Depression increases the risk of substance abuse and substance abuse in¬creasesthe risk of depression; Depressed seniors are up to 3 times more likely to fallthan those without depression; Increased visits to emergency rooms andhospitalizations; Unnecessary or premature nursing facility placement (OlderAdults, n.d.).

If symptoms of depression are identified within anindividual, they should immediately be seen by a physician or familydoctor. A doctor can rule outmedications or another medical condition as the cause of the depression bydoing a complete physical exam, interview, and lab tests (Depression, n.d.). Ifthese factors can be ruled out, he may refer them to a mental healthprofessional such as a psychologist, counselor, social worker, orpsychiatrist. Once diagnosed withdepression, the person can be treated in several ways. Antidepressant medication is the first way anindividual can be treated for depression. These antidepressants primarily work on the neurotransmitters to helpregulate mood within the body. Anotherway an individual can seek treatment is through psychotherapy or “talktherapy.” Therapy helps the person restructure negative thought patterns andchange behaviors that may contribute towards the depression. Support groups can also help link older adultsto other persons going through similar problems.

NIH Senior Health (2007). In National Institute of MentalHealth. Retrieved January 2012.

Depression (n.d.). In National Institute of Mental Health.Retrieved January 2012.

Grohol, J. M. (2008). Types and Symptoms of Depression. InPsychCentral. Retrieved January 2012.

Depression and Older Adults (n.d.). In ComprehensivePsychiatric Services. Retrieved January 2012.

Depression (2007). In ULifeline. Retrieved January 2012.

Drinking and Driving Don't Mix (Emily Detert)

2012-01-18T23:39:00.000-08:00

Drinking and Driving Don't Mix

Motorvehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting formore than one in three deaths in this age group. Per mile driven, teen driversages 16 to 19 are four times more likely than older drivers to crash (CDC). Addingalcohol to this equation only proves more deadly; not just for the drivers, butfor those innocently involved in the motor vehicle accident, and their familiesand friends.

Theissue is that young people are over-represented in vehicle crashes involving alcohol.According to the U.S. Department of Health and human services, young people arealso over-represented in drinking driver injuries and deaths. Even when the bloodalcohol contents of a minor are not high, young drinkers are involved indriving accidents at higher rates than older drivers with similar BAC’s (NIAAA2006). But how big is this issue? In 2009, about 3,000 teens in the UnitedStates aged 15–19 were killed and morethan 350,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered inmotor-vehicle crashes (CDC, NHTSA 2011).

Dr. DavidHanson, a professor at the State University of New York- Potsdam suggests thatteens tend to be “relatively inexperienced drivers, relatively inexperiencedconsumers of alcohol, more likely to use illegal drugs, and have a false senseof invincibility and immortality” (Hanson 2011).

The firstfactor Dr. Hanson suggests is that teens are relatively experiences drivers.Stephanie Rogers, from MNN.com, gives advice on how to determine if one’s teenis ready to drive. Rogers tells the reader that there are crucial factors thatparents and guardians should consider when their son or daughter is ready toget behind the wheel. Rogers writes:

· “Does your teen make consistentlypoor judgment calls? Teenagers are still getting familiar with the ins and outsof decision-making, and even teens that are mature for their age willoccasionally make the wrong choice. But a repeated pattern of poor judgment,like participating in unsafe activities, getting into trouble at school orbinge drinking at parties, should be a big warning sign.

· Are your household rules regardedas mere 'suggestions?' You tell your daughter to be home at 10, but she showsup at 10:45. You stress that your son shouldn't have friends over while you'reout of town, but he decides to throw a party. If your teen treats yourauthority in such a casual way, he or she may view speed limits, traffic laws,seat belts and blood alcohol limits as suggestions, too.

· Is your teen particularly susceptibleto peer pressure? The need to fit in with friends affects nearly everyteenager, but for some, it's taken to an unhealthy extreme. Teens that give intoo easily to the demands of their peers, or make poor decisions to impresstheir friends, may engage in risky behavior like speeding or drinking anddriving.

· Has he or she demonstrated a goodlevel of responsibility? If your teenager is helpful around the house, workshard at school and maintains a job - whether it's working at a fast foodrestaurant or just mowing the lawn every week - there's good reason to believethat he'll treat driving in much the same way.” (Rogers 2012).

Dr. Hansonnext proposes that teens are inexperienced consumers of alcohol. “Researchindicates that the human brain continues to develop into a person's early 20's,and that exposure of the developing brain to alcohol may have long-lastingeffects on intellectual capabilities and may increase the likelihood of alcoholaddiction” (Federal Trade Commission, 2011). “Each year, approximately 5,000young people under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking; thisincludes about 1,900 deaths from motor vehicle crashes” according to theNational Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Despite this statistic,drinking continues to be widespread among youth, as shown by a nationwidesurveys conducted by the NIAAA.

Teens reportedthat they drank because of peer pressures, it help alleviate their problems,and they had nothing better to do. Teens also reported that seeing advertising towardsalcohol encouraged them to drink (PBS, 2011). Teens who drink alcohol are more likely than nondrinkers to smokemarijuana, use inhalants, or carry a weapon (Federal Trade Commission, 2011),which emphasizes Dr. Hanson’s third point mentioned prior.

Lastly, teens havea false sense of invincibility and immortality. Scientists believe that longdevelopmental period of the brain may help explain some of the behavior whichis characterized by adolescence, such as their propensity to seek out new andpotentially dangerous situations. For some teens, thrill-seeking might includeexperimenting with alcohol, as well as drugs and other dangerous, promiscuous activity.“Developmental changes also offer a possible physiological explanation for whyteens act so impulsively, often not recognizing that their actions, such asdrinking, have consequences” (NIAAA, 2006). Also, in 2008 nearly three out ofevery four teen drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes after drinking anddriving were not wearing a seat belt (CDC).

There is goodnews. Despite popular belief that alcohol issues are rising, there is actuallya decline in alcohol abuse and vehicle fatalities. For example, statisticsdemonstrate that within a period of about 20 years, the proportion of Americanhigh school seniors who:

· have ever consumed alcohol isdown 13%

· have consumed alcohol within theprevious year is down 15%

· have consumed alcohol withinprevious 30 days is down 27%

· have recently consumed alcoholdaily is down 67%

· have "binged" (consumed5 or more drinks on an occasion within previous two weeks) is down 24%

The task nowis to continue to educate youth on the dangers of drinking and driving so thedecrease of accidents is a continuous trend. The National Institute for AlcoholAbuse and Alcoholism suggests environmental interventions to help eliminatedrinking and driving all together. To date, the most successful law incombating drinking and driving has been raising the minimum drinking age to 21(NIAAA, 2011). NHTSA estimates that a legal drinking age of 21 saves 700 to1,000 lives annually. Since 1976, these laws have prevented more than 21,000traffic deaths. Other suggestions include raising taxes, enactingzero-tolerance laws, stepping up enforcement, school-based prevention programs,and family based prevention programs.

Today, alcoholis widely available and socially acceptable in society. Yet, it is proven to bedangerous and fatal to underage drinkers and society, as one sees motorcrashes, homicides, suicides, and other alcohol related injuries. Identifyingadolescents at the greatest risk can help stop problems before they develop. Innovative,comprehensive approaches to prevention are showing success in reducing experimentationwith alcohol as well as the problems that accompany alcohol use by young people(NIAAA, 2011).

Resources:

Campbell, K. E., et al. Trends in Alcohol-Related Fatal Traffic Accidents: NIAAA Surveillance Report #38. Bethesda, Maryland: USPHS, 1996.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) [Online]. (2010). National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (producer). [Cited 2010 Oct 18].

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2007 [Online]. (2009). National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (producer). [Cited 2009 Nov 6 ].

Federal Trade Commission. (2012). “Dangers of Teen Drinking” We Don’t Serve Teens. Retrieved 19 January 2012. http://www.dontserveteens.gov/dangers.html

Johnson, L. D., O'Malley, P. M., and Bachman, J. G. National Survey Results on Drug Use from The Monitoring The Future Study, 1975-1997. Washington, D. C.: National Institute on Drug Abuse, Vol. I: Secondary School Students, 1998; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (www.nhtsa.dot.gov).

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). (2003). Traffic Safety Facts 2002: Alcohol. DOT Pub. No. HS–809–606. Washington, DC: NHTSA, National Center for Statistics & Analysis, 2003. Available online at: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/TSF2002/2002alcfacts.pdf

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Alcohol Alert: Drinking and Driving. No. 31 PH. (January 1996) Available at www://silk.nih.gov/silk/niaaa1/aa31.htm.

NHTSA[2009]. Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2009. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analysis.

PBS. (2012). “Teens and Drinking.” Drinking and Driving.Retrieved 19 January 2012. http://www.pbs.org/justone/justo9.htm

Rogers, Stephanie. (2012). “When are Teens Ready to Drive?” Mother Nature Network. Retrieved 19 January 2012. http://www.mnn.com/family/protection-safety/stories/when-are-teens-ready-to-drive

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2012) Ninth Special Report to The U.S. Congress on Alcohol and Health. (June, 1997) Available at http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/pubs/HP2000/hppub97.htm.

Hyperthermia: MDC

2012-01-18T23:12:00.001-08:00

Lisa Dworak

Hyperthermia

Regardless of how strenuous anactivity may be, any outdoor endeavor should be planned for accordingly withthe correct clothing, fluids, snacks etc. The environment is important ininfluencing health conditions, one such being hyperthermia. While poor-physicalfitness can greatly contribute to the onset and severity of a heat-relatedillness, anyone can be prone to illnesses such as heat cramps, heat stroke, andheat exhaustion (Howley & Franks, 2003, p. 384).

Exercise combined with outdoorconditions can significantly increase an individual’s internal temperature.Excessive body heat causes sweating, which is the mechanism for cooling oneself(evaporation). As a result, the body will experience water loss and coretemperature will rise to dangerous levels. This combination results inhyperthermia, which can lead to circulatory failure and death (Howley &Franks, 2003, p. 383).

Heat illnesses vary in severity.These are common ones experienced by outdoor enthusiasts who become overheatedand/or dehydrated while hiking, fishing, camping etc.

Heat Cramps:

This heat related illness is aresult of an electrolyte imbalance meaning the body is lacking in sodium,potassium, and/or calcium. Most often heat cramps are a short-term problem thatcan be resolved by hydrating oneself and by replacing lost electrolytes (Howley& Franks, 2003, p. 384).

Heat Exhaustion:

This heat related illness may beslightly more serious than heat cramps because it is comparable to hypolvolemicshock, which is shock caused by blood loss. Dehydration to this point causes areduction in blood plasma volume, which manifests in symptoms similar to shocksuch as fatigue, dizziness, etc. The best treatment is to hydrate oneself, replacelost electrolytes and rest (Howley& Franks, 2003, p. 385).

Heat Stroke:

This heat related illness is atrue medical emergency because it is a complete failure of the body’s coolingmechanisms. If the body is incapable of cooling down, internal core temperaturewill rise rapidly. The body can be damaged permanently so it is imperative thatthe victim is cooled down rapidly and is taken immediately to a medicalprovider (Howley & Franks, 2003, p. 385).

Resource:

Howley, E. T., & Franks, B. D. (2003). Fitness Professionals Handbook. Champaign,IL: Human Kinetics.

Cataracts

2012-01-18T22:21:00.000-08:00

Lynley Aleksandrian

Cataracts are themost common cause of blindness throughout the world (Quillen). Twenty percent of older adults have acataract and fifty percent of adults after age seventy-four have a cataract(“Vision”). Cataracts become muchmore common as age increases. Lessthan five percent of persons under the age of sixty-five (Quillen), and fifty percent of adults over the age ofseventy-five (“Vision”). Each eyehas a lens that helps the eye focus images. The lens is made of protein and as a person ages the proteinbuilds up on the lens (Stibich). This causes the lens to appear cloudy or opaque (“Vision”). This cloudiness may make it seem likethe person is looking out of a frosted or yellowed window. Besides blurred vision, cataracts areaccompanied by other symptoms such as: glare, light sensitivity, poor nightvision, double vision, a need for brighter light to read, and fading oryellowing of colors. Cataracts canbe detected by an eye care professional, like an optometrist or ophthalmologist(“American”). The progression ofcataracts is typically slow (Quillen). Eyeglasses or contact lenses can aid vision if the cataracts have notprogressed very far (“Vision”). Ifthe cataracts have progressed, the cataract will need to be removed by surgeryto improve vision. Surgery issuggested when the cataract is developed enough to interfere with the personsjob or his or her ability to drive, read, or perform other daily taskscomfortably (“American”). Cataractsurgery is easily available, safe, and effective in treating cataracts(Quillen). About 1.5 millioncataract surgeries are performed each year in the United States. The surgery usually takes less thanfifteen minutes and is done under local or topical anesthesia (“Vision”). Cataract surgery is a very low riskprocedure. Ninety percent of patients notice improved vision following cataractsurgery (Quillen).

References

AmericanAcademy of Opthalmology. (2007). Eye disease on the rise among older Americans,few realize risk [Press release]. Retrieved from http://www.aao.org/newsroom/ press_kit/upload/eyesmart_MEDIA_KIT.pdf

Quillen,D., M.D. (1999, July 1). Common causes of vision loss in elderly patients. AmericanFamily Physician, 60(1), 99-108. Retrieved fromhttp://www.aafp.org/afp/1999/0701/

p99.html?printable=afp

Stibich,M., Ph.D. (2007, May 24). Aging and eye diseases. Retrieved January 18, 2012,from about.com website: http://longevity.about.com/od/healthyagingandlongevity/a/aging_eyes.htm

Vision loss and other eye diseases. (2005, April 1).Retrieved January 18, 2012, from American

Geriatrics Society website: http://www.healthinaging.org/agingintheknow/

chapters_ch_trial.asp?ch=26

AEDs in Kirksville

2012-01-18T21:24:00.000-08:00

Automated External Defibrillators in the Kirksville Community

Heartattacks occur when he blood flow to part of the heart is blocked by a bloodclot. Symptoms of a heart attack include discomfort of the chest such aspressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. Additionally, there could be discomfortin the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach. Shortness of breath can occur alongwith cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness ("What is sudden," 2011).

Aheart attack occurs about every 20 seconds in the United States with a heartattack death occurring about every minute. Up to 60% of these victims could have been saved with an automatedelectrical defibrillator (AED). An AED is a light weight, battery operated,portable device that can check heart rhythm and send an electric shock torestore normal heart rhythm if needed. The American Red Cross estimates that50,000 lives could be saved each year if AEDs were more used. In fact, thechances of survival after a sudden cardiac arrest diminish by 10 percent foreach minute without the use of an AED("Automated external defibrillators," 2011).

AEDsare advantageous in several ways. If one is present, any bystander could grabit and easily connect it to the victim to check for an abnormal heart beat. Alldevices that are out on market are FDA approved and work reliably. They havevisual and voice prompts to guide the rescuer and can perform electronicself-tests to determine readiness to use (“AED - defibrillators," 2011).

AEDsare critical, especially in Adair county where cardiac attacks constituted 68%of all deaths in 2008 ("Heartdisease profile,2011"). It is estimated that 95% of all cardiacarrest victims die before reaching the hospital. In an emergency like thiswhere an AED is not present, the average call-to-shock time is 9 minutes with aresponse time for emergency personnel of 6.6 minutes. This seems like a small amount of time, but it only takes 10 minuteswithout oxygen to cause permanent damage ("Emergency room: Residents," 2009).

It is because of these alarming facts and lack of AEDs inthe Kirksville community of Adair County that the goal of the NEMO Heart HealthCorporation was form. The goal is to install at least 50 AEDs in businessesaround the Kirksville community in a five year period to provide a safer workand public environment. The group is starting their third year with nearly 30AEDs already placed in businesses around the community and is preparing tounveil several more this year (“NEMO hearthealth," 2011).

RESOURCES:

Automated external defibrillators (aeds). (2011). Retrieved from http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/aed/index.html

Aed - defibrillators.(2011). Retrieved from http://www.themedsupplyguide.com/aed/

Emergency room: Residents of adair county. (2009). Retrieved from http://health.mo.gov/data/mica/mica/er.php?&row=6&col=4&sort=0&geo=3&configfile=configs/config_er.php&screen_id=&bw=0&seladj=3&uadj=1&prob=0&menu=0&dwn=0&flip=0&pasrc=1&rc=4&sx=3&pa=9&yr[]=2009&ct[]=001&pasag=1&ag=6&et=9&ca[]=520&pasca=3

Heart disease profile - for adair county. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://health.mo.gov/data/mica/ASPsHeartDisease/header.php?cnty=001

nemo heart health brings aeds to city. (2011, December 22). Kirksville Daily Express.Retrieved from http://www.kirksvilledailyexpress.com/features/x1980196202/-7-NEMO-Heart-Health-brings-AEDs-to-city

What is sudden cardiac arrest? (2011, April 1). Retrieved fromhttp://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/scda/

BY: Aurora Powell

Drinking and Driving Don't Mix Video (Emily Detert)

2012-01-18T19:07:00.001-08:00

This was a very powerful video that I found in regards to teen drinking and driving.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6771ENEdrBY&feature=channel_video_title

FLATS

2011-12-08T01:01:00.001-08:00

Did you know that Thousand Hills State Park is a 7 miledrive from downtown Kirksville, but merely a 4 mile bike ride? FLATS, or the Forest Lake Area Trail Systemis working to make this 4 mile bike ride a possibility. FLATS is dedicated tothe use, development, promotion, and maintenance of trails in Adaircounty. The first phase of the trailwill begin construction in the spring of 2012; this phase will connect themarina to the petroglyph site, which is roughly 6/10ths of a mile stretch. The second phase is to connect phase 1 to thenorth campground. And lastly, the third phase, which will take place in severalstages, will be connecting the park trail to a currently existing Kirksvillebike route.

Funding sources are from business or individual donations, grants,foundations, and state or government agencies. No tax dollars are going towards the development of this trail. $100,000 has already been donated to FLATS bythe Recreational Trails Program which is funded by the Federal HighwayAdministration; fifty-seven percent of the phase 1 costs were covered by theRecreational Trails Program.

The trail will be constructed out of concrete, which has a longerlifespan and maintenance cost than gravel or asphalt. The FLATS trail will be within ADA, Americanswith Disabilities Act, standards, so anyone with any disability is able toaccess and use the trail. FLATS iscommitted to trail maintenance so that the trail can remain as useful to Kirksvilleresidents as anticipated.

FLATS is pursuing this projectbecause of the positive impact it will make on the community. “Before a trail is built residents oftenexpress concern about property values, safety, and liability. Once trails arebuilt residents report that trails have clear positive effects on theirneighbors, friends, and families. Trails users can make neighborhoods safer,serving as an informal neighborhood patrol, and trails both raise propertyvalues and decrease selling time for houses.” In Columbia, MO where a similar trailwas paved, “93% of nearby felt the trail would make their home easier to sellor have no effect.” “The value of a home increases by $6.77for every foot of decrease in the distance to the nearest trailhead.” Concerning safety and crime rates, accordingto the City of Columbia, “homes bordering the trail actually had lower rates ofburglary and vandalism that the neighborhood average.” Lastly, “legislationprotects adjacent property owners from liability from trail users.”

Consider the immense environmentalimpact the trail will have when individuals are walking, biking, running, orrollerblading to Thousand Hills state park instead of driving. Also, walking, biking, running, androllerblading are great ways to exercise. According to the World Health Organization, physical inactivity issecond only to tobacco smoking as a health risk in developed countries, andthis is associated with tens of billions of healthcare costs. The WHO's report suggests that increasingphysical activity is a public health 'best buy', and that cycling is a 'highlysuitable activity' for this purpose. Ithas been estimated that, on average, approximately 20 life-years are gainedfrom the health benefits of road bicycling for every life-year lost throughinjury. Cycling is especially helpfulfor those with arthritis of the lower limbs who are unable to pursue sportsthat cause impact to the knees and other joints. Since cycling can be used forthe practical purpose of transportation, there can be less need forself-discipline to exercise.

City of Columbia. (2007). Trail Information for Property Owners.Retrieved 2011, from Go Columbia MO:http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/ParksandRec/Trails/trail_brochure.php

FLATS. (2011). Retrieved 2011, from FLATS - Forest Lake Area Trail System:http://www.kvflats.org/

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2010, December 18). Walking: Trim your waistline,improve your health. Retrieved 2011, from Mayo Clinic:http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/walking/HQ01612

Racioppi, F., Dora, C., Krech, R., & Von Ehrenstein, O. (2002). APhysically Active Life Through Everyday Transport. Copenhagen: World HealthOrganization.

Loraine Feldmeier

Suicide Prevention

2011-12-06T09:31:00.001-08:00

SuicidePrevention

Suicideis a tragic public health problem that negatively affects millions of Americansevery year. It is the tenth leadingcause of death in the United States. The good news is it is preventableif the warning signs are recognized. Itis important for the entire public, but especially health care providers andeducators, to be able to recognize the warning signs of an impending suicideattempt (NIMH 2010).

Thepath to someone choosing to attempt suicide can be complicated and it is differentfor every person. Common reasons forwanting to commit suicide include too much stress, bullying, financialproblems, and extreme depression, or a combination of the above. These stressors can exacerbate and triggerwarning signs of a suicide attempt (QPR 2007).

Thesewarning signs are where a person known as a “gatekeeper” should take notice andthen take action. A gatekeeper issomeone who regularly comes in contact with an individual and knows them well.For example, a guidance counselor or teacher would be the gatekeeper for apopulation of students, or a parent would be the gatekeeper for their kids. If they notice something wrong or a student/childbehaving differently than normal then they know it is time to take preventativesteps to reduce the chance of a person committing or attempting suicide (QPR2007).

Commonwarning signs of a possible suicide attempt include: a loss of interest inthings they used to enjoy, appearing to feel hopeless, writing about death ordying, talking about death, and mentioning suicide even in passing. A gatekeeper should easily be able torecognize these kinds of changes in a person’s behavior (NIMH 2010).

Inaddition to the above warning signs, a person contemplating suicide mayincrease their alcohol or drug use. Alcohol abuse especially needs to be dealt with in a swift manor as itincreases feelings of depression and hopelessness, which can lead to anindividual attempting suicide sooner than they originally planned. If a person is threatening suicide you mustimmediately remove their access to alcohol and other drugs (QPR 2007).

Removinga suicidal person’s access to means of killing themselves is also veryimportant. Firearms are the mostdangerous item for an at risk individual to have access to. It is the most commonly used method ofcommitting suicide in the U.S (NIMH 2010). Any dangerous weapons as well as medications and car keys should beremoved from the person’s possession or locked up in a safe. This helps prevent an impulsive suicidedecision when the individual is experiencing intense psychological pain. If there is no easy access to a means ofending ones life, it prevents rash, split-second decisions that have permanentconsequences (QPR 1993).

Oncea person is identified as being at risk for suicide, it is time tointervene. There are several methods fordoing this, but the most widely used and well known method is Question,Persuade, Refer (QPR for short). Questionrefers to openly asking a person if the suicide warning signs they are showingshould be of concern to the people who care about them. This single handedly opens the door to moredialogue, which may defuse the situation and lead to a sense of hope for the atrisk individual. Persuade is when you encourage the person to seek professionalhelp. If persuading doesn’t work, thenit is time to refer the individual to a professional. If the individual is a minor or adolescent itis important to contact their parents, minister, teacher, or counselor andalert them to the situation (QPR 2007).

Suicidehotlines are a method of suicide prevention available 24 hours a day, sevendays a week. A simple phone call to oneof these crisis lines gives you access to a counselor who can provideconfidential help. This kind of help maybe all it takes to immediately defuse a potentially deadly situation. People who are thinking about attemptingsuicide as well as those who are seeking advice or help for a family member orfriend thinking about suicide are encouraged to call for help whenever the needarises.

Ithas been determined that adolescents who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bi,Transgender, or Questioning (LGBTQ) are at an increased risk of suicide. They are often subjected to more bullyingwhile at school, and may not feel accepted in social groups. This can lead to severe depression andeventually a suicide attempt if the warning signs are not identified.

It is vital forthe gatekeepers (counselors, teachers, and nurses) at high schools (as well asthe parents) to have training to be aware of the warning signs of a bulliedteen. These warning signs include a lossof interest in or fear of going to school, appearing anxious when asked aboutschool, few or no friends, problems sleeping, and coming home from school withunexplained scrapes or bruises (Bullying Statistics 2009).

Itis estimated that about half of all children will be bullied at some time whilethey are in school. Around ten percentof children suffer from repeated bullying. That is quite a large number of children being subjected to unnecessaryemotional and physical distress. Teaching your children how to avoid bullies, and tactics to deal withbullying situations will give them necessary tools to circumvent the wholeproblem. However, if a bully is still aproblem for the child, it’s time to talk to the child’s teacher, counselor, andprincipal to get the problem resolved (Bullying Statistics 2009).

Suicideis not an easy topic to talk about, but knowing how to recognize warning signsand what to do to if a suicide attempt is imminent can help you save a life.Taking the time to learn prevention techniques is an invaluable asset thatcould just be the most important knowledge you ever gain.

WorksCited

U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services,National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. (2006). Afteran attempt: A guide for taking care of your family member after treatment inthe emergency

U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services,National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. (2006). Afteran attempt: A guide for medical providers in the emergency department takingcare of suicide

Quinnett, Ph.D.,Paul. (1993). The Tender Leaves of Hope[Brochure].

United States of America

: QPR

Quinnett, Ph.D., P. (2007). Qpr gatekeeper training for suicideprevention the model, rationale and theory. Retrieved fromhttp://www.qprinstitute.com/pdfs/QPR Theory

Bullying statistics. (2009). Retrieved from http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/

Brian Strode

Heart Health in Adair County

2011-12-05T18:25:00.001-08:00

A man wakes up early one morning to go about his daily routine: eatbreakfast at the local diner, do some yard work, and visit old friends andacquaintances in the various near-by hospitals and nursing homes. When he arrives at the diner the sameinviting smells and friendly faces greet him as he walks in. However, today is not like other days:the man has been suffering from a persistent pain in his chest and before hiseggs and bacon are served he’s collapsed on the floor of the diner. By the time EMS are able to arrive andprovide treatment it’s too late, and the old man is beyond help. He dies before reaching thehospital. The yard is leftunclipped and his friends are left wondering why he hasn’t stopped by for avisit today, like he does every day.

Theman in this story was killed by a disease that is spreading across America,killing thousands of friends and loved ones each year. It isn’t a virus or cancer, but adisease more subtle and elusive and the number one cause of death in America:it is heart disease. Heart diseaseis defined as a build-up of plaque in the heart that leads to lack of bloodflow and ultimately heart failure (AHA, 2011).

Thereare many risk factors to heart disease, including smoking, high cholesterol,high blood pressure, physical inactivity, obesity, and diabetes mellitus. A person with any or all of these riskfactors is at risk for heart disease, and because the risks factors are sonumerous, it is unsurprising why this illness is the number one killer inAmerica (2011).

Justlike in the rest of the United States, heart disease is a major problem forAdair County, Missouri: 25% ofdeaths in the county are related to heart disease. Most of the risk factors for heart disease are very presentin the area as well. 30.8% ofAdair county residents suffer from high blood pressure, 41.4% of residents overthe age of 35 are diagnosed with high cholesterol, 35% are obese, 19% smoke, andthe rate of inactivity is 25% (MDHSS 2007).

Withthe risks and prevalence of heart disease so high, it is important for AdairCounty to be prepared to handle any heart-related emergencies that might occur,such as cardiac arrest. Cardiacarrest is a syndrome where an individual’s heart stops beating and can happento anyone—children, adults, elderly, athletes—at anytime with little or noprior warning signs. If the heart is not beating, it is notpumping blood; if blood flow is not restored immediately, a victim can sufferpermanent brain damage or die. Using defibrillation is the only effective way to resuscitate a victimwhose heart has stopped. Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) send anelectrical shock to a malfunctioning heart in order to jolt the heart back tolife. Once installed, the devicesare easy to access and can be used by any person, whether they are experiencedin life’s-saving techniques or not. The chance of a victim surviving sudden cardiac arrest diminishes 7-10%for every minute a victim goes without immediate CPR or defibrillation and in10 short minutes, reviving a victim that has received no immediate care israrely successful. For thisreason, only 5% of individuals who suffer from sudden cardiac arrest survive(WebMD, 2008). Chances ofsurviving could be increased as much as 60% if an AED is used in a timelyfashion (OSHA, 2011).

Manyplaces around the world have taken the initiative to supply their communitieswith AEDs. From 1999-2002, 475AEDs were placed around Seattle, WA and hundreds of people were trained to usethe devices. As a result, 50 casesof sudden cardiac arrest were treated before EMS arrived and half of thevictims involved in those cases survived until hospital discharge (Culley, Rea,Murray, Welles, Fahrenbruch, Ulsufka, Eisenberg, Copass, 2004). In the Piacenza region of Italy, 39AEDs were placed around the community and 1,285 lay volunteers were trained touse the AEDs. As a result, thesurvival rate from sudden cardiac arrest tripled from 3.3%-10.5% (Capucci, Aschieri, Piepoli, Bardy,Iconomu, Arvedi, 2002).

Just as Seattle and Piacenza has done, the NortheastMissouri Heart Health Corporation has made it their mission to supplybusinesses around the Kirksville area with AEDs. The initiative is a result of the loss of Kirksvilleresident Peggy Rynerson, who passed away on April 9, 2009. Peggy suffered from sudden cardiacarrest, and if an AED had been near by, she might have been saved.

With the prevalence of heart disease so high in AdairCounty and sudden cardiac arrest being so unpredictable, disaster could strikeat any time. If the Kirksville iscommunity is more prepared to handle these instances if and when they occur,more people like Peggy could be saved, less breakfast dates missed, and fewerfriends left waiting for a visit from a friendly face.

Sources

(2011). AmericanHeart Association. Understand Your Risk of Heart Attack. Retrieved from: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/ HeartAttack/UnderstandYourRiskofHeartAttack/Understand-Your-Risk-of-HeartAttack_UCM_002040_ Article.jsp

(2009). MissouriDepartment of Health and Senior Services. Heart Disease Profile for AdairCounty. Retrieved from: http://health.mo.gov/data/mica/ASPsHeartDisease/

header.php?cnty=001

(2011).United States Department of Labor,Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Automated externaldefibrillators. Retrieved from: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/aed/index.html

Culley,Rea, Murray, Welles, Fahrenbruch, Ulsufka, Eisenberg, Copass. (2004). American HeartAssociation. Public Access Defibrillation in Out-of-Hospital CardiacArrest. Retrieved from:http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/109/

15/1859.abstract?sid=70441a91-4e37-41cc-81b6-5f31b355c29a

Capucci,Aschieri, Piepoli, Bardy, Iconomu, Arvedi. (2002). American Heart Association. Tripling Survival from Sudden CardiacArrest Via Early Defibrillation Without Tradition Education in CardiopulmonaryResuscitation. Retrieved from:http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/

106/9/1065.abstract

Youth Tobacco Use and How to Combat It

2011-12-03T23:06:00.001-08:00

According to the CDC, tobacco useis the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Each year,roughly 443,000 deaths in the United States can be attributed to smokingcigarettes. So the question here is why do people start smoking or chewingtobacco when they know it is bad for them? For the older population, a lot of them did not know thattobacco was harmful to them when they started to smoke or chew. They grew up ina time where smoking or chewing tobacco was widely accepted, and promotedheavily. It was not until they were heavily addicted to smoking or chewing thatthey found out how bad tobacco use really is. So that is one explanation as towhy the older population in the United States smokes, but it does not explainwhy today, an estimated 850 youth start smoking cigarettes on a daily basis everyday.

In 2009, 17.2% of high schoolstudents and 5.2% of middle school students were current cigarette smokers. Onan average day in the United States, 3,450 people between the ages of 12 and 17smoke a cigarette for the first time. Why is this happening? And how is thishappening? There are a lot of factors associated with youth tobacco use.Low self-esteem and low academic achievement are common signs seen with youthtobacco users. When a child has low self-esteem, they will look for ways toraise it, and often do not pick the best ways of going about raising it.Instead of choosing a positive way to raise their self-esteem, an example beingachieving better grades in school, they go for the negative option, such asstarting to smoke or chew tobacco.

Parents and socioeconomic statusare other big factors that contribute to youth tobacco use. Parents that smokewill often have children that smoke. Children learn from watching others andthen repeating what others do. If children see their parents smoking or chewing,they are more likely to grow up thinking tobacco use is normal and fine becausetheir parents use tobacco and they are normal and fine. This “normal and fine”outlook about tobacco use will make children want to try tobacco products morebecause in their mind they are thinking “What harm could come from trying it?” Childrencan also more easily get their hands on tobacco products when their parentssmoke or chew. All they have to do is take cigarettes or chew from theirparent's stash.

Socioeconomic status is a big riskfactor because it is usually correlated with levels of education. Typically, theless educated you are, the lower your socioeconomic status is. People withlower socioeconomic statuses tend to start smoking or chewing tobacco more sothan people with high socioeconomic statuses because they have not had thatcontinuing education about the effects of tobacco use. So, when people with lowsocioeconomic statuses have children, they do not educate their children abouttobacco use in the most efficient way because they themselves are not aseducated on the topic. What happens then is that these children will more thanlikely start smoking or chewing and the vicious cycle will continue.

So, how can we put a stop to youthtobacco use? For starters, DO NOT smoke or chew around children. Setting a goodexample for children is key to helping them be successful and healthy inlife. Also, by not having tobaccoproducts around children, you make it a lot harder for them to get their handson cigarettes or chew and try it out.

Tobacco education programs inschools are also beneficial in helping keep youth from using tobacco. The moreeducation they have on tobacco, the more likely they will resist tobacco whenthey are confronted with it in the future. Better decisions can be made abouttobacco when you all the information on it. By keeping children from startingto smoke or chew, we can break the cycle and create a healthier nation.

Rachel Van Cleave

Youthand tobacoo use. (2011,July 11). Retrieved fromhttp://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/youth_data/tobacco_use/index.htm

Lifeline Pregnancy help clinic

2011-12-03T13:23:00.001-08:00

Teen Pregnancy has become a big problem in America. There are so many tough issues surrounding the problem of teen pregnancy. Teen pregnancy is a problem because teenagers are too young to take care of a child adequately. They are usually unmarried and have no mate to help them take care of the child. Sometimes, if the teen does take the child to term, her parents have a large role in helping to raise the child. There is some good news however because teen pregnancy rates have been declining since 2009. In dealing with teen pregnancy, health educators seek to prevent teen pregnancy, while also offering support to those who have already become pregnant.

Teen Pregnancy prevention is important because of the effect teen pregnancy has on society. It puts an incredible amount of stress on girls who are unable to take care of a baby. That’s not the only problem. In view of the nation’s present economic stress, teen pregnancy costs the United States about 7 billion dollars every year. The two major forms of pregnancy prevention are abstinence and contraception. Abstinence is the surest way to avoid teen pregnancy as contraceptives can occasionally fail. Abstinence can be difficult for teenage girls because of social pressure to fit in with their society as well as their own natural desires urging them toward sexual activity. Even though abstinence can be a difficult, it is still the best form of prevention. Because teenagers lack self-control, it is important that health educators teach about the proper use of contraceptives in order to prevent teen pregnancies.

The statistics on teen pregnancy seem to be getting better, although there is still a lot of work to be done. Every year about 2 million women lose their baby before it is born. These babies die because of miscarriages, complicated pregnancies, abortions, and still births. Every year there are about 6 million pregnancies, so that means that about 30% of babies do not end up having a live birth.

The next thing that health educators seek to do is to offer support to those pregnant mothers in need. There are various pregnancy centers in communities whose mission is to help teen mothers. In Kirksville, the pregnancy center is called Lifeline pregnancy center. Lifeline offers many different services in order to help women in need. These services include ultrasounds, pregnancy tests, counseling, educational classes, service referrals, baby supplies, clothes, spiritual support, and awareness events. These are all free of charge and are a necessity for women who feel helpless and trapped. Lifeline seeks to support women by listening to them and showing them compassion. They seek to provide information to pregnant teens in order to help them make an informed decision. They do not pass judgment on the teenage girls nor do they force them into making a decision about the life of their baby. The best thing that lifeline can do is show love to those who come to them in need. They also seek to offer parenting advice so that the teen mother does not feel completely lost if she chooses to raise the child herself. The mission of Lifeline Pregnancy Center is essential to the community of Kirksville as well as to those girls who utilize their services.

Lifeline also seeks to provide information regarding abortions to those women in need because many people do not have all the facts. Lifeline describes many of the various types of abortion procedures in detail because most women do not have an adequate knowledge of how abortion actually works. Lifeline describes the pill which kills the embryo and then causes the body to expel it. Another type of abortion is manual vacuum aspiration. This procedure involves using a long thin needle with a suction attached to it causing the embryo to be sucked out. Suction Curettage is the most common abortion procedure. In this procedure, the doctor uses metal rods to pry open the cervix and then puts a suction tube into the uterus and sucks the fetus’s body apart. The doctor then uses a curette to scrape the uterus so that there are no fetal remains left in the uterus after the procedure. Another procedure is called dilation and evacuation. In this procedure, a couple days before the abortion, the doctor uses many thin rods of seaweed to open the cervix, he then takes forceps and pulls the fetus’s body out. The skull of the fetus is smashed in this procedure to make it easier to remove the rest of the body. After the procedure, the doctor uses a curette to scrape the rest of the parts out. The final procedure is called dilation and extraction but is more popularly known as partial birth abortion. In this procedure, the doctor again uses the rods of seaweed to open the cervix a couple of days early. Then the doctor uses forceps to grasp the fetus by its legs. The doctor then delivers the fetus until everything is exposed except for its head. Then the physician cuts open a hole at the base of the skull. A suction tube is placed in the hole and the brain is sucked out. This causes the skull to collapse down making it easier to extract the rest of the fetus. These abortion descriptions are accurate, and lifeline hopes that they may discourage women from rushing into abortions. Lifeline fights for a noble cause to help women in their struggles with pregnancy. Lifeline is a beacon of hope to the pregnant teens around Kirksville.

Works Cited

"Abortion Education." Lifeline Pregancy Center. 13 Sep. 2011. .

"Home." Lifeline Pregnancy Center. 13 Sep. 2011. <. http://lifelineprc.com/index.html>.

"Statistics." American Pregnancy Association. 13 Sep. 2011. http://www.americanpregnancy.org/main/statistics.html.

"Teen Pregnancy Stats, Facts and Prevention." Family First Aid. 13 Sep. 2011. .

Alexander Boerckel

Effects of Secondhand Smoke

2011-12-01T10:38:00.000-08:00

Within secondhand smoke there are more than 7000 chemicals, hundreds of toxic substances and seventy of these chemicals that are known for causing cancer (Smoking & tobacco use). The factors that affect which chemicals are found within secondhand smoke include: the type of tobacco, the way the tobacco is smoked, and the type of material the cigarettes and cigars are wrapped in. For example, the amount of secondhand smoke emitted by one cigar is equal to the amount of smoke from a full pack of cigarettes (Secondhand smoke and cancer). The Environmental Protective Agency (Health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke), the U.S. National Toxicology Program and the U.S. Surgeon General have classified secondhand smoke as a known human carcinogen. As a result to secondhand smoke, around 3000 non-smokers die each year from cancer that was caused by secondhand smoke. A non-smoker can be exposed to second hand smoke within home, work, public places, in vehicles and many other places. When living with a smoker, a non-smoker will be twenty to thirty percent more likely to develop lung cancer from secondhand smoke (Secondhand smoke and cancer).

Secondhand smoke not only puts a non-smoker at a higher risk for cancer, but it also increases the risk of other life threatening diseases. In children, secondhand smoke can cause asthma. This can occur in children that have never experience any asthma symptoms before exposure to secondhand smoke. The smoke can trigger the child to have asthma attack and make the symptoms more severe (Health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke). Children exposed to secondhand smoke also have a greater risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). In June of 2006 the U.S. Surgeon General released a major report that shows the casual relationship between SIDS and secondhand smoke (Health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke). This also showed that the home is the main location where children are exposed to the most significant secondhand smoke. In the National Survey on Environmental Management of Asthma and Children’s Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke, they found that ninety percent of children experience secondhand smoke from their parents. This also found that eleven percent of children six years and younger are exposed to ETS at home on a regular basis. (Regular basis is at least four times per week.) (Health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke). Another issue with secondhand smoke in children is the increased risk of developing lower respiratory tract infections like pneumonia and bronchitis. This mainly occurs in infants and children under the age of six years old. Another risk for children being exposed to secondhand smoke is developing middle ear infections. Children are very vulnerable population because they are still developing physically, they have less control over their indoor environments and they have a higher respiration rate than adults.

Adults are also adversely affected by secondhand smoke. Other then lung cancer, secondhand smoke can lead to premature deaths in the adult population. The smoke irritates the airways which effects a person’s heart and blood vessels. Putting such a damper on the cardiovascular system can lead to heart disease or even heart attacks. A person that is exposed to secondhand smoke at work or home increases their risk of heart disease by twenty-five to thirty percent. Within the United States, ETS causes around 46,000 heart disease deaths annually (Smoking & tobacco use). Chemicals that are found in sidestream smoke are able to enter a women’s breast tissue and enter the milk while pregnant.

Not only are children and adults affected by secondhand smoke, but so are animals that are around tobacco smoke. In a study by the Tufts College of Veterinary Medicine found that the rate of oral cancer within cats are much higher if they live in a home of a smoker. The carcinogen elements from secondhand smoke stay on the fur of cats and because of hygiene habits of cats they lick these elements off of their fur coats. Cats are also twice likely to develop cancer within their lymph nodes. Another animal affected by secondhand smoke is dogs. Dogs are likely to develop cancers in their nose or sinus areas. Dogs will longer noses are more susceptible because of the increase in surface area they are able to pick up more carcinogen elements from secondhand smoke (Thompson, 2007).

One way to fix health problems in humans and animals is to implement smoking bans within the communities. This can be by banning smoking within business or public places. One research survey that was conducted found that after implementing a smoking ban within a worksite, the number of people smoking decreased 5.7%. Not only did the number of people smoking decrease, but the number of cigarettes being smoked daily dropped 2.67 cigarettes on average. Having a worksite smoking ban has the greatest effect of decreasing the rates of smoking (Farrelly, Evans, Sfekas, 1999). An average person spends most of the day at their place of employment. This is logical because people engage in tobacco use for many reasons, which include: social factors, stress management etc.

References

Farrelly, M., Evans, W., & Sfekas, A. (1999, March 25). The impact of workplace smoking bans: results from a national survey. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1763942/pdf/v008p00272.pdf

Health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/smokefree/healtheffects.html

Secondhand smoke. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerCauses/TobaccoCancer/secondhand-smoke

Secondhand smoke and cancer. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/ETS

Smoking & tobacco use. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/general_facts/index.htm

Thompson, A, (2007, August 31). Secondhand smoke causes cancer in pets. Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/7378-secondhand-smoke-cancer-pets.html

Suicide Prevention

2011-11-29T19:42:00.000-08:00

In a time such as we are in now, with work never ending, bills to pay and life moving at 100 miles per hour, it is either no surprise the suicide rate is high or a modern mystery of how people have the time to think about the act. In reality, suicide is no new subject. Since before the time of Jesus, historical records have indicated the incidence of suicide. The biggest celebrity of 30 B.C. Egypt, Cleopatra, tragically took her own life when her forces could not defeat an army. One does not have to have the weight of a failed army over their shoulders to be suicidal, however. According to the World Health Organization, nearly one million people lose their lives from suicide every year. That equates to about one death every 40 seconds. One million people is a scary statistic, and it is even more tragic that those deaths were preventable. For everyone one person who succeeds in their suicide, 20 people have attempted suicide. Here, just in the United States, suicide is the 6^th leading cause of death and the 3^rd leading cause for 15 to 24 year olds. With such a large number of people suffering enough to feel the need to end their life, it is natural to want to do something for them. Everyone can become informed with the common signs and symptoms a suicidal person may display and possibly save a life. More often than not, a suicidal person suffers from fairly severe depression, and many of the signs and symptoms of suicide coincide with symptoms of depression. These include a bad or poor mood that persists, strong pessimism, hopelessness, insomnia, rage not typical to their temperament, desperation, risky behaviors, impulsiveness and increased alcohol and/or drug consumption. Something that is noteworthy to look out for are signs of preparation. This could be giving away possessions, writing a suicide plan, or even purchasing weapons or tools that could kill a person. Again, it is often hard to know if someone is suicidal or if they are just going through a rough time. However, if there is any chance that you believe they may take their own life, make no hesitations. You will regret your doubt if you are wrong. If you believe a person is at very high risk of killing themselves, do not leave them alone. Be with them at all times until a medical professional can be available. It is acceptable to bring a suicidal person to the nearest emergency room as they can be observed and their depression issues can be treated. If you have someone who you strongly believe is not so serious of a case, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention suggests you do not say things such as, ‘You have so much to live for,” or arguing down suicide as an option. The best way to confront an individual whom you believe may be suicidal is through direct questions such as, “Are you thinking about ending your life?” “Have you made a suicide plan?” It may seem nerve racking or scary to the individual asking the questions, but a funny thing often happens with the depressed person. In more cases than not, the unstable person seemingly wanted to be asked the question. It is as if a private barrier has been lifted and they finally have been granted permission to verbalize their internal pain. However, some do react strongly and deny and repel the seemingly accusatory questions. It is often worth the risk. For those that realize their own battle and want to seek help, there are numerous resources available. For example, most cities have support groups for depressed people and people who have attempted suicide in the past. There are also many free suicide hotlines in which you can call in and talk to someone anonymously. One of the largest hotlines that is open 24 hours per day is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK).

When it comes down to it, life is hard, unfair, infuriating, and the hardest thing you will ever do. However, it is simultaneously the craziest, most beautiful phenomenon. For you to be able to preserve your own life, or keep someone from taking their own is an incredibly heroic feat. Be a super hero. Save a life.

Facts from blog pulled from:

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=182096

http://www.kplctv.com/story/15568620/youth-suicide-prevention-conference-underway

http://www.tribune.com.ng/sun/crime-features/5082-world-suicide-prevention-day-why-suicide-has-been-on-the-increase-clerics

http://www.medicinenet.com/suicide/article.htm

http://www.newstrib.com/articles/news/local/default.asp?article=29663&aname=Suicide+prevention+walk+Sept.+25+at+Baker+Lake

Healthy Habits

2011-11-29T17:59:00.000-08:00

Food choices are influenced by many factors, personal likes, family influences, peer influences and cultural influences. Although the main purpose of food is to nourish the body, food means far more than that to many people, especially Americans. It can symbolize much of whom and what we are.

Knox County, a small Northeast Missouri community, is a prime example of a unhealthy population. Knox County has a population of 4, 131 residents (QuickFacts Knox co. census, 2011). The 2007 statistics showed 38% of Knox County residents were overweight and 30% were obese. When surveyed about their overall health problems, 24% of residents in Knox County believed they had fair or poor health status. Twenty one percent of Knox County residents have hypertension and 24% high cholesterol. As if obesity, hypertension and high cholesterol was not already negatively affecting their health, 22% smoke cigarettes. The residents of Knox County need to seek care for these health problems, however; 25% of the residents are without health care coverage (Health & preventative practices for Knox county adults, 2007). Better dietary choices along with an increase in physical activity would improve the health status of Knox County residents tremendously.

About half of the population in Knox County is in the workforce, a total of 1,982 residents (ACS profile report, 2009). Because half of the population is employed, stress of the residents work and personal lives can get in the way of healthy living. Stress related eating is an unhealthy coping strategy brought on by depression or anxiety (HealthTeacher). Diverting oneself with a walk in the park or office rather than a bag of greasy potato chips might prevent emotional eating. When the need to eat happens, eat something healthy. Lack of time management is also a factor that prevents people from nutritious eating. Parents have to work, pick up kids and drive to and from practice. They use the excuse “I went through the drive through because I did not have time to make anything today”. Suggestions for avoiding the fast food restaurants are shopping for groceries as a family, selecting foods low in fat and sugar, planning meals and snacks before leaving home and attempt to eat around the dinner table as a family. It is crucial for people know how to fit proper nutrition into their stressful and busy lives (HealthTeacher).

Unhealthy nutrition habits, paired with physical inactivity, have become a major reason of health problems not only in Knox County, but also in the United States. Poor eating behaviors and physical inactivity contribute to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, and certain cancers. These health problems can result in an energy imbalance (more calories are eaten than are burned off in physical activity) has become the most important factor contributing to the increase in overweight and obesity in this country (MyPlate.gov).

Fruits and vegetables, as a part of a healthy diet, are vital for optimal child growth, weight management and chronic disease prevention (National Action Guide). The national Healthy People 2010 fruit and vegetable objective reported that only 32% of Americans are eating the recommended dose of fruits and vegetables. An astounding 8% of Missourians are eating both fruits and vegetables (State Indicator Report). According to the CDC, supporting increased fruits and vegetables access, availability, and reduced price are key strategies to help increase fruits and vegetable consumption and thus improve nutrition.

Mayo clinic states that

Although most Americans get too many calories, they don't get enough health-enhancing and disease-preventing nutrients. To address this problem, energy-dense foods — especially foods high in SoFAS — should be replaced with lower calorie, nutrient-rich vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products.

Calories are burned in the three ways: BMR, Physical Activity and Thermic Effect (Physical activity and health: adults, 1999). The metabolic rate that elevates while exercising continues to function at a higher level for an additional two hours once finished, thus resulting in extra burned calories, therefore one of the many benefits of exercise (HealthTeacher.com). Combined with adequate daily physical activity, following a nutritious diet that does not provide excess calories and follows the 2010 Dietary Guidelines should improve the health of most individuals (Mayo Clinic).

Adolescents are easily influenced by their peers and may influence each others food choices. Parents need to educate their children that not everyone is built the same way. People in general metabolize food at a different rate. A school lunch consisting of french fries, cheeseburger, cookie and large soda may make a teenager gain a pound, yet another teenager same age gender is not affected. The USDA recommends that children and adults engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity everyday in order to maintain average body weight. Children of obese parents have a 25-30% chance of becoming obese themselves, primarily due to poor eating habits rather than genetics (CDC). The USDA also recommends that overweight children increase their physical activity and consume fewer calories while under the care of a physician (MyPlate.gov).

There are many benefits to living a healthy lifestyle. The Knox County Community Center will promote, educate and enable its members embrace a healthy and active lifestyle. The Knox County Community Center is a place where health, education and community meet.

Works Cited

"Fruits & Veggies Matter: Health Professionals: Research
CDC." Fruits & Veggies Matter: Home: Eat a Colorful Variety of Fruits and Vegetables Every Day for Better Health
CDC. CDC and DHHS, 2009. Web. 23 Nov. 2011. .

2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. (2009, July). Retrieved September 21, 2011, from CDC Fact Sheet for Health Professionals on Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnps/physical/prf/PA_Fact_Sheet_Adults.pdf

County Level Estimates of Leisure-Time Physical Inactivity. (2008). Retrieved September 21, 2011, from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/DDT_STRS2/CountyPrevalenceData.aspx?mode=PHY

Health & Preventative Practices for Knox-Scotland-Clark County Adults. (2007). Retrieved September 15, 2011, from Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services: http://health.mo.gov/data/mica/CLS_Compare/header.php?cnty=103&profile_type=1 chkBox=C

"HealthTeacher :: Barriers to Making Healthy Food Choices." HealthTeacher :: Welcome. HealthTeacher, July 2011. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. .

Mayo Clinic Staff. "New Dietary Guidelines: How to Make Smart Choices." Mayo Clinic: Health Information. Mayo Clinic, 2 Feb. 2011. Web. 10 Nov. 2011. .

Physical Activity and Health Adults. (1999). Retrieved September 21, 2011, from Centers for Disease Contro QuickFacts Knox Co. Census. (2011, June 2). Retrieved September 15, 2011, from U.S. Census Bureau: http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/29103.html

State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables. Rep. CDC, 2009. Web. 23 Oct. 2011. .

"Tips and Resources." USDA's MyPlate - Home Page. United States Department of Agriculture, 30 Sept. 2011. Web. 14 Oct. 2011. .

Work and Jobs in Knox County, Missouri. (2010). Retrieved October 12, 2011, from City-Data : http://www.city-data.com/work/work-Knox-City-Missouri.htmll and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/sgr/adults.htm

Physical Activity for the Family

2011-11-29T17:21:00.000-08:00

The evidence is overwhelming. With nearly two thirds of the population overweight, Americans today are heavier than ever before. Fast food, frozen dinners, computers, television, and a constant need to be “on the go” bolster poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyles. These are the primary contributing factors to this major public health epidemic. An article written by the American Medical Association (2004) states, “If doctors could prescribe only one treatment to ensure a long, healthy life, it would be exercise” (p. 45). Physical activity holds numerous benefits both physically and mentally, and reduces risk factors that often lead to disease and premature death. Environment has much to do with an active lifestyle, and children learn these behaviors early from their parents, peers, and teachers. Promoting healthy habits within the whole family can not only be enjoyable, but also will decrease the risk of common chronic illnesses and prevent obesity.

There are an infinite number of ways to promote fitness within the family. A major factor is reducing the amount of time children and parents spend watching television, working or playing at the computer, and playing video games. The National Institutes of Health suggests discouraging sedentary time by limiting screen usage to two hours or less per day (2005). Setting an established and agreed upon limit in the family, leads to clear expectations and discourages using television and computer as easy ways to cure boredom. It will force everyone to be more creative and come up with other activities (Dreisbach, 2011). Their input should be considered when brainstorming physical activities and ideas (National Institutes of Health, 2005). It is important that the pursuits of the family are geared towards the passions and interests of the children as this keeps them excited and engaged in the activities. Lastly, encourage the family to try new activities (Dreisbach, 2011). Finding new hobbies and sports for the family to enjoy will keep physical activity entertaining and enjoyable!

References

American medical association (2004).Exercise, fitness, and health. American Medical Association Family Medical Guide (45-50). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Dreisbach, S. (2011). Family fitness makeover. Parenting School Years. Retrieved from http://www.parenting.com

National Institutes of Health (2005). We can! Retrieved from http://wecan.nhlbi.nih.gov

Community Center Coming to Knox County

2011-11-29T11:15:00.000-08:00

Knox County is home to 1,110 residents. Those residents have faced many challenges when it comes to getting regular physical activity. Because there is currently no indoor facility to utilize, residents have been influenced by weather, air quality, and time. Weather in Knox County follows general seasonal patterns; however temperatures from November to March are typically too cold for outdoor exercise. Snowfall also hinders outdoor physical activity during these winter months. On the other hand, temperatures have the potential to reach too high of a level during the months of June, July, and August for it to be considered safe to exercise outdoors. Air quality across Knox County does not fall below state levels, but because three of the largest industries in the area include construction, transportation, and warehousing, air quality could be a concern in areas near these industries. Outdoor exercise in these areas could be detrimental to health and would not be advisable. Knox County’s rural location has an effect on the amount of time residents have to exercise as well. Residents must spend a considerable amount of their day traveling to work, in fact, 36% of residents have a commute of 50 minutes or more. When this much time is spent being sedentary in a vehicle, it is difficult to make time to commit to physical activity. These are just a few reasons why Knox County is the perfect location for this new community center (Onboard Informatics, 2011).

Once Knox County Community Center is built and open, residents will have access to high quality fitness equipment, including both cardiovascular machines and weight training machines. Residents will gain many benefits from having this equipment readily available. First, exercise controls weight, and since 30% of Knox County’s population is considered to be obese, this has the potential to really influence overall county health. Exercise also helps combat diseases such as diabetes, which Knox County has a higher rate than the state of. Exercise also improves mood, boosts energy, promotes better sleep and can even jumpstart a person’s sexual drive. The fitness portion will be open to all members of the community center and families will be encouraged to develop healthy habits as a unit (Mayo Foundation, 2011).

Nutrition is also an area of health that the community center is hoping to target. The conference room will include a kitchen component in order to accommodate nutritious cooking lessons. Through nutrition promotion, residents will gain the education they need in order to reap the benefits of good nutrition. Benefits include having the fuel necessary to perform daily activities, providing nutrients for the body’s cells, growing and repairing tissue, reinforcing the immune system, preventing chronic diseases of lifestyle, maintaining good mental health, and ensuring healthy teeth and bones (Rooyen, 2007).

Knox County Community Center also plans to target worksite health as part of their comprehensive health campaign. Prior to the grand opening of the center, businesses and organizations in Knox County will be asked to partner with the community center. These partnerships will include a discounted membership to employees of contracted worksites. As a result of the partnerships, health insurance costs will be negotiated as well as breaks and lunch policies to accommodate daily workout times. By targeting worksites, many residents who may not have originally considered becoming a member will be influenced to examine the option (Tarek, 2009).

The final goal of the Knox County Community Center is to build community relationships in an effort to unite the residents. Seasonal competitions involving fitness goals will be facilitated through the community center and patrons will be encouraged to work out as a family unit or with friends. The conference room will be available for organizations to hold meetings and develop further ideas to benefit the community. The conference room will also be available for rent by individuals seeking a space to host a birthday party, reception, reunion, etc.

Knox County is very fortunate to be faced with an opportunity as beneficial as this. Through various goals, Knox County has the potential to become a healthier and happier community through the unity of health, education, and community.
References:

Mayo Foundation. (2011, August 02). Fitness. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise/HQ01676/NSECTIONGROUP=2

Onboard Informatics. (2011, March). Knox county, mo. Retrieved from http://www.city- data.com/city/Edina-Missouri.html

Rooyen, C. (2007, August). The benefits of good nutrition. Retrieved from http://www.health24.com/dietnfood/Diet_basics/15-1168-1173,34569.asp

Tarek, L. (2009, November). Worksite health promotion. Retrieved from http://citationmachine.net/index2.php?lastName[1]=Rooyen&firstName[1]=C.&lastNam e2=&firstName2=&lastName3=&firstName3=&lastName4=&firstName4=&lastName5= &firstName5=&monthPublished=August&dayPublished=&yearPublished=2007&titleW ork=The+benefits+of+good+nutrition&specialDiscriptors=&description=&url=http%3A %2F%2Fwww.health24.com%2Fdietnfood%2FDiet_basics%2F15-1168- 1173%2C34569.asp&doi=&more=yes&reqsrcid=APAWebPage&reqstyleid=2&nameCnt =1&mode=form

Adair County Substance Abuse Problem

2011-11-29T06:39:00.000-08:00

Adair County is located in the Northeast Missouri region and has a population of 25,607 (Behavioral Health Profile for Adair County, 2011, p. 1). It is 1 of Missouri’s 114 counties and is ranked 42^nd in terms of population (Behavioral Health Profile for Adair County, 2011, p. 1). Adair County is not considered a primary healthcare shortage area but is considered a mental health professional shortage area by the Health Resources and Services Administration. In Adair County, 50.98% of youth believe that it would be easy to get cigarettes and 41.78% have friends who smoke (Behavioral Health Profile for Adair County, 2011, p. 1). One of the objectives in Healthy People 2020 is to reduce tobacco initiation and use by adolescents and adults. An estimated 60.59% of youth in Adair County believe that it would be easy to get alcohol and 53.24% have friends who drink alcohol (Behavioral Health Profile for Adair County, 2011, p. 1). Youth who use alcohol are at greater risk of developing abuse problems later on in life due to chronic abuse in early years of life. In Adair County, 29.34% of youth believe that it would be easy to get marijuana and 17.58% of youth believe that it would be easy to get other drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and ecstasy (Behavioral Health Profile for Adair County, 2011, p. 1). Missouri youth tend to perceive marijuana as being safer than other illegal drugs and safer than tobacco (Behavioral Health Profile for Adair County, 2011, p. 1).

Current Substance Use for Grades 6 through 12

Substance	Adair County %	Missouri %
Cigarettes	18.1	13.7
Chewing Tobacco	5.93	6.1
Alcohol	19.3	19.8
Binge Drinking	14.33	11.40
Marijuana	5.34	9.4
Inhalants	3.24	3.0
Prescription drugs not prescribed for student	4.47	6.70
Over the counter drugs	4.63	4.80

In Central Missouri, an estimated 6.93% of residents age 12 and over use illegal drugs and 7.65% are abusing alcohol (Behavioral Health Profile for Adair County, 2011, p. 1). Public safety, health care, crime, and public assistance are among the areas impacted by substance abuse. In 2009, Adair County had 24 alcohol-related traffic crashes, a higher rate than the previous year (Behavioral Health Profile for Adair County, 2011, p. 1). Of the 2009 alcohol-related crashes, 1 crash resulted in the loss of life and 7 resulted in injuries (Behavioral Health Profile for Adair County, 2011, p. 1). Alcohol-related crashes are more likely to produce fatalities and injuries compared to non-alcohol-related crashes.

In 2009, Adair County had 137 DUI arrests, 160 liquor law violations, 131 drug arrests and 24 methamphetamine laboratory seizures in 2009 (Behavioral Health Profile for Adair County, 2011, p. 1). The manufacture of methamphetamine has been particularly problematic for rural Missouri. Missouri is the number one state in the country for methamphetamine trafficking. In 2002, one of every six methamphetamine labs confiscated in the United States was Missouri (Gundy, 2006, p. 7). According to the Kirksville Police Department, methamphetamine is their number one crime problem. This high prevalence of methamphetamine abuse leads to 40% of school dropouts in Adair County (Gundy, 2006, p. 7).

In state fiscal year 2010, 229 Adair County residents were admitted to substance abuse treatment at publicly-funded facilities. Perceptions, attitudes, and community norms of students, parents, and community members about substance abuse and violence were recently surveyed community-wide. In Northeast Missouri and statewide, alcohol and marijuana are the most common substance abuse problems presenting for treatment. In Northeast Missouri, the next most common drug problem is methamphetamine (Behavioral Health Profile for Adair County, 2011, p. 2). Peer pressure was felt to be a primary reason for substance abuse for students in the middle and high school schools (Behavioral Health Profile for Adair County, 2011, p. 2).

References:

Behavioral Health Profile for Adair County (2011, July 1). In Missouri Department of Mental Health.

Retrieved October 16, 2011, from http://dmh.mo.gov/ada/countylinks/adair_link.htm

Gundy, K.V. (2006). Substance Abuse in Rural and Small Town America [Electronic Version]. Reports on

Rural America, 1(2), 7-10.

Sip Smart

2011-11-28T17:04:00.000-08:00

Introduction:

The amount of overweight or obese citizens of Missouri has been steadily increasing. One culprit behind the gain in weight may be sugary drinks. They can range from soda, sweetened teas, to fruit juices. A typical 12 ounce can of soda has about 150 calories. To put this into perspective, if a person were to drink one can of soda per day, they would gain about 1.2 pounds a month, or over 14 pounds a year. In Missouri, the percentage of citizens that are either overweight or obese is 65.8 (1). This rate exceeds the overweight or obese rate of the United States, which is at 63.8 percent. Someone who is overweight or obese has an increase risk of developing many problems including: heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes (3). For these reasons, it is important to reduce the occurrence of overweight and obese individuals in the state of Missouri. One way to achieve this goal is to ban sugary drinks.

Risks of consuming sugary drinks:

The Nurses’ Health Study conducted a prospective cohort study which examined approximately 91,000 women, initially diabetes free, over 8 years. After the study, the researchers analyzed the data and found that the women who consumed one or more sugary drinks per day were twice as likely to develop type II diabetes as those who consumed less than one drink per month. Here is a short overview of how diabetes works:

Prolonged consumption of sugary drinks may lead to type II diabetes. Diets high in simple sugars, the same sugars present in sugary drinks, can cause desensitivity to insulin receptors. In turn, the body will not be able to absorb insulin as efficiently. This condition is known as type II diabetes. However, there are two main ways to prevent diabetes, exercise and nutrition. In the long term, exercise can increase your body's sensitivity to insulin (4). Exercise can also decrease the amount of body fat. This is important because adipose tissue, or fat cells, release a hormone called leptin. Leptin decreases your body's sensitivity to insulin, thus making you more likely to develop type II diabetes (9).

In addition to diabetes, sugary drinks may also increase the risk of developing heart disease. According to the CDC, more than one in four Missourians die from heart disease every year (2). The Nurses’ Health Study also conducted research on heart disease and sugary drinks. They found that the women who drank more than two servings of sugary drinks a day had a 40 percent higher risk of developing heart disease than those who rarely drank them. Now, the researchers knew that it was likely that the women who consumed more than two sugary drinks a day probably did not have the best diets and did not exercise regularly. So, the researchers took these problems into consideration. They then found that even with regular exercise and a clean diet, the risk of developing heart disease only decreased slightly (3).

In a meta-analysis of 88 studies, drinking soda correlates with a decrease in milk consumption along with the vitamin D, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, calcium, protein and other micronutrients (3). Phosphorus, a micronutrient, can be found cola-type beverages, but there may be a risk in consuming too much (3). Phosphorus and calcium are used in the body to create calcium-phosphate, which is the main component of bone. However, the combination of too much phosphorus with too little calcium in the body can lead to a degeneration of bone mass (3).

Finally, since there are so many risks associated with soft drink consumption, people should strive to take these drinks out of their diet or at least consume them in moderation. However, sometimes this is not enough and the next step would be to ban soft drinks from vending machines in areas such as schools and workplaces to ensure that people are cutting down. The ban should start with only a few cities and eventually spread to more and more cities once support is gained and the statistics agree that obesity is dropping. But this is not an easy task because citizens must put together a petition so that the policy change can be put on a ballot for voting. To aid this process along, community leaders from each city should be gathered to help persuade voters to pass the change.

References

(1) "BRFSS | Health & Senior Services." Home | Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services. .

(2) "CDC - Health Effects - Heart Disease - Smoking & Tobacco Use." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web. 28 Nov. 2011. .

(3) "Sugary Drinks or Diet Drinks: What's the Best Choice? - Healthy Drinks - The Nutrition Source - Harvard School of Public Health." Harvard School of Public Health - HSPH. .

(4) Backx, K., McCann, A., Wasley, D., Dunseath, G., Luzio, S., & Owens, D. (2011). The effect of a supported exercise programme in patients with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes: A pilot study. Journal of Sports Sciences, 29(6), 579-586. doi:10.1080/02640414.2010.544666

(5) Brown, E. W. (1998). Healthy Gums and Heart Disease. Medical Update, 22(2), 5. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

(6) Burgos-Ramos, E., Chowen, J. A., Arilla-Ferreiro, E., Canelles, S., Argente, J., & Barrios, V. (2011). Chronic central leptin infusion modifies the response to acute central insulin injection by reducing the interaction of the insulin receptor with IRS2 and increasing its association with SOCS3. Journal of Neurochemistry, 117(1), 175-185. doi:10.1111/j.1471-4159.2011.07191.x

(7) Daily Flossing Is Essential. (2003). Nutrition Health Review: The Consumer's Medical Journal, (86), 4. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

(8) Larkin, M. (2002). Can flossing teeth foil heart disease?. Lancet, 360(9327), 147. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

(9) Marino, J. S., Xu, Y., & Hill, J. W. (2011). Central insulin and leptin-mediated autonomic control of glucose homeostasis.Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism, 22(7), 275-285. doi:10.1016/j.tem.2011.03.001

Adair County 4-H Benefits Youth

2011-10-25T17:13:00.000-07:00

Kirksville, MO is the largest town located in Adair County, with around 17,500 residents. The area is considered rural, however the majority of the citizens of Kirksville do not own land or work in agriculture. There is a local 4-H program with around 200 participants ranging from kindergarten to seniors in high school. The total number of citizens below the age of 18 is roughly 2,700 meaning the participating rate in 4-H would be about 7%, a rather low number. What many people do not realize is that 4-H has a lot more to offer than just showing livestock at the local fair. Programs in 4-H range anywhere from healthy living to science; while there still are opportunities to show your cow and bake cookies there are many other positive fun activities for students to participate in. After all, the four H’s stand for Head, Heart, Hands and Health; the goal being to develop children into healthy adults.

In a town where the poverty rate is about 23%, with a total of around 17% of all children under 18 living below poverty, low cost or free after school opportunities are crucial. The local Adair County 4-H is fairly inexpensive for all participants with a fee of $25 annually and for those students who receive free or reduced school lunch prices the United Way funds their participation in 4-H.

According to OSEDA 66.5% of adults ages 25 and up have obtained a high school diploma or equivalent. The national average for adults who have earned a high school diploma over the past decade is around 83%, significantly higher than the average of Kirksville, MO (LaFontaine & Heckman, 2007). Research conducted on students participating in 4-H and those not participating in 4-H (and possibly another extracurricular activity) show that students involved in 4-H “Have higher educational achievement and motivation for future education” (Lerner & Lerner, 2005). Along with education they are also more active in their communities and volunteer more. The youth of Adair County, with Kirksville having a lower than average high school graduation rate, could use a constructive extracurricular program such as 4-H to help them be the best they can be and reach their goals of graduating high school or attending college. On average 4-H participants are twice as likely to plan on attending college and they do overall better in school than their non-4-H participant counterparts (Lerner & Lerner, 2005).

Healthy choices is another area in which 4-H youth participants excel in, with participants being 2.4 times more likely to avoid having sexual intercourse by junior year of high school. This is extremely important for a county located in Missouri where the teen pregnancy rate for the state is 55.3 births out of 1,000 for women ages 15-19 ("Affordable care act," 2009). If programs exist to encourage students to make healthy choices regarding their bodies and sexuality it is important for students to participate and take that information and healthy attitude with them. Students who participate in 4-H are also proven to have lower cigarette, alcohol and drug use than their peers. If we can lower the use of cigarettes, alcohol and drugs it is possible that the overall health of Adair County will increase, with an increase in quality of life and life expectancy.

Another huge benefit that many 4-H youth participants have statistically shown is that they are 2.3 times more likely to exercise and be physically active than those who do not participate. According to the CDC, if youth learn healthy habits at an early age and begin practicing them such as exercising regularly and making good nutritional decisions they are more likely to carry those habits into adulthood and less likely to die of preventable diseases ("Safe and healthy," 2009). Just another way to improve the overall health of the citizens of Adair County and help kids achieve optimal health to prevent future illness, increasing their quality of life.

There have also been national campaigns to encourage more young girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM); traditionally male dominated fields. The study of 4-H students shoes that girls who participate are 1.6 times more likely to pursue careers in science than their counterparts. If the national goal is to encourage more young women to pursue STEM careers than 4-H is a great extracurricular program that has already begun to give these girls confidence to enter those male dominated fields.

If you are in need of further proof as to how 4-H youth programs encourage our youth to become the best individuals they can be, according to the study 4-H youth in grade 11 are “3.3 times more likely to actively contribute to their communities when compared with youth who do not participate in 4-H” (Tufts). More service in the community will possibly give kids a positive outlook on helping others and encourage service into adulthood.

4-H’s motto is “to make the best, better”. The 4-H youth programs are aimed at making great kids great healthy adults. With Adair County having a lower than average high school graduation rate, a high teen pregnancy rate and high drug use a program like 4-H could benefit many students. Cost of joining is very low or free for those who cannot afford it, participating rates will hopefully increase as more individuals become aware of the great opportunities 4-H has to offer the youth and families of Adair County.

WORKS CITED

Affordable care act maternal, infant and early childhood home visiting program needs assessment. 47.(2009).

LaFontaine, P., & Heckman, J. (2007). The american high school graduation rate: trends and levels. The Institute for the Study of Labor, 6.

Lerner, R. M., & Lerner, J. V. (2005). Report of the findings from the first six years of the 4-h study of positive youth development. Institute for applied research in youth development Tufts University,

Safe and healthy kids and teens. (2009, October 15). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/family/kids/

Cigarette Smoking

2011-10-17T11:27:00.000-07:00

Cigarette smoking is the most preventable cause of morbidity (disease and illness) and premature mortality (death) worldwide, (General Smoking Facts, 2). Smoking related diseases claim an estimated 443,000 American lives each year, (General Smoking Facts, 2). In recent years, smoking has cost the United States an outrageous amount of money, (General Smoking Facts, 2). In 2004, smoking cost the United States over $193 billion, which includes $97 billion in lost productivity and $96 million in direct health care expenditures, (General Smoking Facts, 2).

    Cigarette smoking is very harmful to a person’s body, (General Smoking Facts, 2).    Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, (General Smoking Facts, 2). Sixty nine of the chemicals are known to cause cancer, (General Smoking Facts, 2). Cigarettes contain tar, carbon monoxide and chemicals like DDT, arsenic and formaldehyde-a gas that is used to preserve dead animals, (Smoking, 1). The tar and carbon monoxide in cigarettes can cause serious breathing problems, (Smoking, 1). The tobacco in cigarettes contains nicotine which is a drug that makes smoking addictive, (Smoking, 1). The longer that an individual smokes, then the more cigarettes the individual smokes, and then the harder it is to quit, (Smoking, 1).

Smoking causes 90 percent of lung cancer deaths and 80-90 percent of COPD deaths, (General Smoking Facts, 2). Around 8.6 million people in the U.S. have at least one serious illness caused by smoking, (General Smoking Facts, 2). Diseases caused by smoking include: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary heart disease, stroke, abdominal aortic aneurysm, acute myeloid leukemia, cataract, pneumonia, periodontitis, and bladder, esophageal, laryngeal, lung, oral, throat, cervical, kidney, stomach, and pancreatic cancers, (Tobacco Facts, 1).   Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women in the United States and 90 percent of lung cancer deaths in men and 80 percent of lung cancer deaths in women are from smoking, (Tobacco Facts, 1)   Smoking also can cause many other conditions that were not mentioned above, (General Smoking Facts, 2). People who smoke are six times more likely to suffer a heart attack than nonsmokers, (Tobacco Facts, 1).

Many people in the United States are smokers, (General Smoking Facts, 1). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that more than 46 million US adults were current smokers in 2009, (General Smoking Facts, 1). This means that 20.6% of all adults smoke which is 1 out of 5 people, (General Smoking Facts, 1). 23.5% of all men smoke and 17.9% of all women smoke, (General Smoking Facts, 1).   Smoking prevalence is highest among non-Hispanic whites (22.2%) and lowest among Hispanics (14.5%) and Asians (12.0%), General Smoking Facts, 1). High school students and middle school students are also smoking, (General Smoking Facts, 1). Across the nation, 20% of high school students were smoking cigarettes in 2009, (General Smoking Facts, 1). A survey that was conducted in 2009 of middle school students showed that around 5% of them were smoking, (General Smoking Facts, 1).

Individuals, who smoke while they are pregnant, can cause serious harm to their unborn child, (General Smoking Facts, 1). Smoking during pregnancy accounts for around 20 to 30 percent of low-birth weight babies, (General Smoking Facts, 1). Smoking during pregnancy also accounts for up to 14 percent of preterm deliveries and up to 10 percent of all infant deaths, (General Smoking Facts, 1). Even the babies that appear to be healthy when they are born and are full term have been found to be born with narrowed airways and reduced lung function, (General Smoking Facts, 1).

It is never too late to quit smoking and there are many reasons why individual’s should quit smoking, (Smoking, 1). Some reasons to quit smoking include: Expensive, bad breath, stained teeth and hands, cough/sore throat, problems breathing, feeling tired and out of breath, wrinkles sooner and before the average person, arguments with parents and friend, cancer risk, heart disease risk, gum diseases risk, many other health problems, bad smell in your clothes, hair and skin, cigarette burns in your car or on your clothes, and the risk of secondhand smoke to people around you, (Smoking, 1). There are many other things that people can do instead of smoking, which include: Chew sugarless gum, call a friend, chew sunflower seeds, go to a movie or another place where you cannot smoke, take a walk or work out, remind yourself why you want to quit, etc, (Smoking, 1).

There are steps that individuals can take to make quitting easier, which include: Pick a stop date, make a list of the reasons why you want to quit, keep track of where, when and why you smoke, throw away all of your tobacco, tell your friends that you’re quitting, and when your stop date arrives, stop, (Smoking, 1). When picking a stop date, choose a date that is two to four weeks from today so that you can get ready to quit, (Smoking, 1). When keeping track of where, when and why you smoke, you might want to make notes so that you know the activities or the people that you are around when you smoke and write down things you plan to do instead of smoking, (Smoking, 1). When your stop date arrives, plan little rewards for yourself for each cigarette-free day, week or month, (Smoking, 1).

References
"General Smoking Facts." American Lung Association. 2011. Web. 1 Oct. 2011. .
"Smoking." American Academy of Family Physicians, 2011. Web. 1 Oct. 2011. .
"Tobacco Facts." CDC. Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, 22 June 2011. Web. 1 Oct. 2011. .

Automated External Defibrilator (AED)

2011-10-12T20:01:00.000-07:00

Student: AB

Health Communication

Automated External Defibrillator

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a leading cause of death in the United States and Canada.¹There is a difference between cardiac arrest and a heart attack in that a heart attack involves a blockage in a portion of the heart, while cardiac arrest stems from the insufficient function or stopped function of the heart.⁴ Problems associated with the heart can occur anywhere and at any time. Trained medical personnel will not always be near individuals experiencing heart trouble, so it is imperative that a standard is set in place to reduce the death, hospitalization, and long-terms effects associated with experiencing any cardiac problem.

The American Heart Association estimates that over 300,000 individuals suffer the effects of SCA every year in the United States alone. Roughly half of those incidences take place outside of a medical facility. This fact necessitates the need for an automated external defibrillator (AED) to be place in more public areas. It may take more than just supplying places with an AED, but rather equipping the public of knowledge of what an AED is, and how it can be used to help an individual experiencing a SCA.

An AED can be used to save lives if the machine is readily accessible.²Sherry L. Caffery et al. conducted a survey in Chicago at the O’Hare Airport demonstrating that when an AED was nearby and used within the first five minutes of the cardiac arrest, the survival rate of the individual increased. A majority of the individuals who operated the AED were bystanders acting in good faith. Approximately half of the bystanders had no medical degrees, no training, or no experience with using an AED. If these bystanders could operate an AED without training or experience, it goes to show that almost anybody can operate an AED.

A study conducted by John W. Gundry et al. showed that naïve sixth graders, without prior experience of operating an AED, could operate an AED only moderately slower than trained professionals.³The findings of this study compounded with the findings from Caffery’s airport study, shows that adults and children alike can operate an AED with or without training or previous experience. The location of an AED should then be placed in reasonable distances for both children and adults to access in case of an emergency.

A trained professional knows that an AED can deliver an electric shock to an individual experiencing SCA to help restore the function of the heart. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute define an AED as “a portable device that checks the heart rhythm and can send an electric shock to the heart to try to restore a normal rhythm”. Some trained professionals such as EMS workers can be equipped to use multiple methods to stabilize an individual.

Since it is known that an AED can deliver a shock to an individual in order to help restore a normal rhythm, a cross comparison should be analyzed between the cost of an AED to traditional, historical EMS methods. A study by G. Nichol concluded that, “Where cardiac arrest is frequent and response time intervals are short, rapid defibrillation by targeted nontraditional responders may be a good value for the money compared with standard EMS.”The findings of this study are evaluated from a median quality-adjusted years using interquartile ranges. AEDs were found to be cost effective for a public institution if the treatment time was short and/or the probability or cardiac arrest is on the upper, or high rate.⁶

There are grants available to not only help individuals supply a public place with an AED, but to also train employees of a public institution where an AED shall be housed on the proper protocols and operating procedures. Funding can be found online at www.aedgrant.com/aed-grant-news.htm. This site offers trainings in AED and CPR, a method for comparing AEDs to see which would suit your institution the best, and an option to donate to the cause amongst other links. Some community organizations may already have initiatives in place to help supply various public institutions with an AED.

One should always be familiar with the various laws associated with the use of an AED. The Sudden Cardiac Arrest foundation has provided links to laws with explanations on their website, www.sca-aware.org/aed-laws . There are federal and state laws for AED use, so one should govern their use accordingly. Many states now allow The Good Samaritan Law to give critical protection to an individual seeking to own an in-home AED.⁷

A key thing to note and remember is that an AED will not be a means to treat every heart problem, nor should it be considered an be-all and end-all. AEDs are used to restore a normal heart rhythm. In the case of a blockage or other nonrhythmic problem, an AED shock would be just as viable as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CRP).⁵ If the use of an AED is required by a bystander, medical attention by certified medical professionals such as those at the nearest hospital should be alerted. With multiple programs already established to equip public places with AEDs such as Public Access Defibrillaton (PAD), it is a goal to reduce the rate or individuals succumbing to the ill effects of SCA.

References:

1. Abella, Benjamin A. et al (2008). “Reducing Barriers for Implementation of Bystander-Initiated Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association for Healthcare Providers, Policymakers, and Community Leaders Regarding the Effectiveness of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation”. Circulation Journal of the American Heart Association. 117:704-709

2. Caffery, Sherry L. et al (2002). “Public use of Automated External defibrillators” The New England Journal of Medicine. 347:1242-1247

3. Gundry, John W. et al.(1999) “Comparison of Naïve Sixth-Grade Children with Trained Professionals in the use of an Automated External Defibrillator” Circulation Journal of the American Heart Association. 100:1703-1707

4. Mayo Clinic Staff (2010). “ Sudden Cardiac Arrest Defintion” retrieved on 9/23/11 at www.mayoclinic.com/health/sudden-cardiac-arrest/DS00764

5. Mayo Clinic Staff (2011). “Automated External defibrillators: Do you need an AED?” Heart arrhythmias. Retrieved on 9/23/11 at www.mayoclinic.com/health/automated-external-defibrillators/HB00053

6. Nichol, G. et al (2003). “Cost Effectiveness of Defibrillation by Targeted Responders in Public Settings” Circulation Journal of the American Heart. 108:697-703

7. “The Good Samaritan Law for AED users” The Good Samaritan Law. Retrieved on 9/24/11 at chfs.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/B954EF52-7BE0-440A-84B6-3C2C8B8709E4/0/KentuckyGoodSamLaw.pdf

Drink Up! The Best Beverage Choices for Your Kids

2011-10-06T17:45:00.000-07:00

The two most important liquids for preschool age children to drink are water and milk. Water and milk provide children with the nutrients they need and keep them hydrated and healthy. In some cases, juice can be an okay alternative, but you have to be careful when choosing the type of juice to drink. Try to avoid soda, energy drinks, and other sugary drinks as much as possible.

The body is 70% water and we lose water every day through sweat, urine, and other daily activities. The best way to rehydrate ourselves is to drink more water to put it back in our bodies. For kids of all ages, water is one of the best choices for a drink. Water is calorie-free, and drinking it allows children to accept a low-flavor, no-sugar beverage as a thirst-quencher. It is suggested that you always offer water first to your children because it is the best thirst quencher. It also helps if you let your child see you enjoying water as a drink of choice, because your kids want to be like you.

According to whymilk.com, a cup of milk can give children as much vitamin A as two hard boiled eggs, as much calcium as 10 cups of raw spinach, as much phosphorus as 1 cup of kidney beans, as much vitamin D as ¾ ounce of cooked salmon, as much riboflavin as 1/3 cup of whole almonds, and as much potassium as one small banana (“The Facts on Flavored Milk in Schools”, 2011). Milk has 9 nutrients in it that are essential for children to grow healthily. These include: calcium, vitamin D, vitamin A, protein, potassium, riboflavin, phosphorus, vitamin B-12, and niacin (“The Facts on Flavored Milk in Schools”, 2011).

There is some debate over whether or not flavored milk is okay, and some schools have even gone so far as to ban flavored milks. However, flavored milks still offer the same nutrients as white milk and does not add that much sugar, so it can still be a good option for your child to drink. In fact, studies have shown that those who drink flavored milk meet more of their nutritional needs, do not consume more added sugar or fat and are not heavier than non-milk drinkers (“The Facts on Flavored Milk in Schools”, 2011). Those who drink flavored milk also tend to drink fewer sodas and other fruit drinks (“The Facts on Flavored Milk in Schools”, 2011). If your child will only drink flavored milk, don’t worry, flavored milk is better than no milk at all, just be sure to keep it fat-free or 1%. In the past 5 years, the average calories in flavored milk have decreased to about 40 more calories than white and the added sugar has declined by 30% (Hayes, 2011). The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans listed calcium, vitamin D, potassium, dietary fiber as four nutrients of concern, and milk, flavored or white, contains 3 of these four nutrients (Hayes, 2011). Your child needs 1000 miligrams of calcium per day, which can be obtained in about 3 glasses of milk since each cup has about 300 milligrams.

Juice does not have to be a bad choice of drink, and is still better than soda or some other drinks, but you have to be careful with what kinds you offer and how much. Remember, giving your child real fruit is always better than fruit juice. Juice can be a good source of vitamins but use it in moderation (Bradford, 2011). Make sure that you are buying 100% fruit juice with very little or no added sugar. Many juices can even be just as high in calories as soft drinks. Try to stick to one serving a day and mix the juice with water to dilute it but still keep the flavor (Davis, 2007). Drinking too much juice can also decrease the amount of healthier beverages your child drinks.

It has been reported that the average child drinks a couple of sodas every day, and a study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that found that girls who drank soda continued the habit as adults, opting for sodas over nutrient-rich drinks, such as milk (Dove, n.d.). Soda can cause many problems for a child. Soda has no nutritional value and is extremely high in sugar. Many boys get 15 teaspoons of refined sugar and many girls get about 10 just from sweetened beverages, such as soft drinks (Davis, 2007). This is the maximum amount of sugar a child needs from all foods in a day’s time. Almost 90 studies have linked sweetened beverages and children's weight problems. Even one or two sweet drinks a day can cause a problem. In addition, drinking soda does not make a child feel full so they will still eat the same amount of food as they normally would, and sometimes, it can lead to kids eating more. In most cases soft drinks just serve as extra, unnecessary calories for your child. Soft drinks can also rot kids’ teeth. Their high sugar content and high levels of acidity pose problems to teeth (Davis, 2007). In addition, because kids usually substitute soft drinks for healthier beverages, such as milk, they are not getting enough calcium to keeps bones and teeth strong (Davis, 2007). This does not mean that you should never let your kids indulge in a soft drink, but try to keep it as an occasional treat, not an everyday occurrence. By educating kids on the hazards of soft drinks and other sweet drinks -- and stocking the kitchen with the right drinks -- it's possible to lower the connection between children and soft drinks.

Resources:

Hayes, D. (29 August 2011). The flavored milk wars: Is a tempest in a milk carton good for kids’ nutrition? International Food Information Council Foundation. Retrieved September 16. From http://www.foodinsight.org/Blog/tabid/60/EntryId/507/The-Flavored-Milk-Wars-Is-a-Tempest-in-a-Milk-Carton-Good-for-Kids-Nutrition.aspx.

No author. (2011). The facts on flavored milk in schools. Got Milk? Retrieved September 16. From http://www.whymilk.com/school_milk.php?gclid=CMrkhcHOjKsCFQteTAodXQR-wg

Davis, J. L. (18 July 2007). Children and sweetened drinks: What's a parent to do? WebMD. Retrieved Sept. 7 From http://children.webmd.com/features/children-and- sweetened-drinks-whats-a-parent-to-do?page=2.

Dove, L. (n.d.). 10 drinks your kids should not be drinking. TLC A Discovery Company. Retrieved September 9. From http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/10-drinks-kids-should-not-drink11.htm.

Bradford, A. (4 April 2011).What juice to give toddlers? Livestrong.com. Retrieved September 10. From http://www.livestrong.com/article/534804-what-juice-to-give-toddlers/.

Worksite Health and Fitness

2011-10-04T18:00:00.000-07:00

       Knox County is a small community located in Northeast Missouri with a population of 4,131 (QuickFacts Knox co. census, 2011). Like many communities, residents of Knox County struggle with certain health problems. In 2007, 24% of residents in Knox County believed they had fair or poor general health status, 38% were overweight, and an overwhelming 30% were obese. 25% of these residents are without health care coverage, even though 21% have high blood pressure, 22% smoke cigarettes and 24% reported high cholesterol (Health & preventative practices for Knox county adults, 2007). Physical activity would help to lower these statistics, but according to County Level Estimates of Leisure-Time Physical Inactivity, 27.2% of adults in Knox County are physically inactive (2008).

       Physical inactivity is not only an issue in Knox County. The CDC reports that more than 60% of U.S. adults do not engage in the recommended amount of activity and approximately 25% of U.S. adults are not active at all (Physical activity and health: adults, 1999). The CDC also reported that only 15% of U.S. adults engage in vigorous activity regularly during their leisure time while only 22% of adults engage in exercise of any intensity regularly during leisure time (Publications, 2011). With these alarming statistics, it is important that adults learn ways to increase their physical activity and the benefits that come with this positive behavior change.

       Increasing physical activity can be difficult for adults who are employed. Worksite Wellness is becoming an increasingly popular topic, not only because of the statistics mentioned above but because sedentary lifestyles are a major contributor to the increase in obesity and chronic diseases (Physical activity and older americans, 2002). Those in the workforce are particularly threatened to a sedentary lifestyle because of the many hours a day spent at work that may not allow them to be active.
     About half of the population in Knox County is in the workforce, a total of 1,982 residents (ACS profile report, 2009). Because half of the population is employed, and a third of that population did not participate in physical activity aside from their jobs, it is essential people know how to fit exercise into their busy schedules. On top of spending the majority of their time at work, the mean travel time to work is 22.4 minutes, taking almost another hour away from their leisure time (QuickFacts Knox co. census, 2011).
       Even if companies do not have Workplace Health Promotion Programs, there are still many ways employees can add healthy behaviors to their workdays. Some ideas include:

• Initiating a stair climbing challenge where employees use stairs rather than taking the elevator (100 ways to wellness).
• Drinking water instead of soda or other sugary drinks
• Launching a pedometer challenge among coworkers. Although walking is a low-impact exercise, it has numerous health benefits such as lowering blood pressure, reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, lowering cholesterol, managing weight and improving mood (Fitness, 2010).
• Working out with resistance bands or dumbbells during coffee breaks
• Using dumbbells at the desk while talking on the phone
• Incorporating stretching breaks during long meetings
• Taking a lap around the office every hour
• Eating healthier lunches instead of fast food
• Encouraging coworkers to take turns bringing in healthy snacks such as fruits and vegetables (100 ways to wellness).

       Social support from friends has been consistently related to regular physical activity, so encouraging fellow coworkers in starting healthy behaviors is essential.

       The CDC recommends adults engage in 2 hours and 30 minutes each week of moderate-intensity exercise, or 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise (2008 Physical activity guidelines for americans, 2009). Moderate-intensity exercise can include brisk walking, riding a bike on level ground, or anything that will raise the heart rate and break a sweat. Vigorous-intensity exercise includes jogging, playing basketball, or working out hard enough that heart rate has gone up quite a bit and breathing is hard and fast. The CDC also recommends that this aerobic activity should be performed for at least 10 minutes at a time, preferably spread through the week (2008 Physical activity guidelines for americans, 2009).

       There are also recommendations for muscle strengthening activities. Adults should engage in muscular strength exercises at least 2 days a week at moderate to high intensity levels (2008 Physical activity guidelines for americans, 2009). These exercises should work all of the major muscle groups, including the legs, hips, back, chest, abdomen, shoulders and arms.

       There are many benefits to living a healthy lifestyle. Some benefits include lowering the risk of stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, high cholesterol or early death (Physical activity and health: adults, 1999). Physical activity helps maintain healthy bones, muscles, joints and reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression. It can also prevent weight gain, and when combined with a healthy diet can help with weight loss.

       Employers can also benefit from an increase in worksite health. Employees have shown to be more productive and be absent less once they engage in healthy behaviors (Promoting workplace health, 2008). Employers can also see a decrease in health care costs, and employee morale’s are often boosted.

Works Cited

101 Ways to Wellness. (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2011, from Wellness Council of America: http://www.fitness.gov/execsum.htm#5

2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. (2009, July). Retrieved September 21, 2011, from CDC Fact Sheet for Health Professionals on Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnps/physical/prf/PA_Fact_Sheet_Adults.pdf

ACS Profile Report. (2009). Retrieved September 15, 2011, from Missouri Census Data Center: http://mcdc.missouri.edu/websas/acsprofile.usage_notes.shtml#MOEs

County Level Estimates of Leisure-Time Physical Inactivity. (2008). Retrieved September 21, 2011, from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/DDT_STRS2/CountyPrevalenceData.aspx?mode=PHY

Fitness. (2010). Retrieved September 24, 2011 from Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/walking/HQ01612

Health & Preventative Practices for Knox-Scotland-Clark County Adults. (2007). Retrieved September 15, 2011, from Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services: http://health.mo.gov/data/mica/CLS_Compare/header.php?cnty=103&profile_type=1 chkBox=C

Physical Activity and Health Adults. (1999). Retrieved September 21, 2011, from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/sgr/adults.htm

Physical Activity and Older Americans. (2002). Retrieved September 24, 2011, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/activity.htm

Promoting workplace health. (2008, January). Retrieved from http://www.healthystates.csg.org/NR/rdonlyres/B6FC0AB2-A14A-4321-AAF8 778E57AA9752/0/LPBWorkplaceHealth_screen.pdf

Publications. (2011). Retrieved September 21, 2011, from The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports: http://www.fitness.gov/execsum.htm#5

QuickFacts Knox Co. Census. (2011, June 2). Retrieved September 15, 2011, from U.S. Census Bureau: http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/29103.html

Work and Jobs in Knox County, Missouri. (2010). Retrieved September 15, 2011, from City-Data : http://www.city-data.com/work/work-Knox-City-Missouri.html

Hunting and Heat Exhaustion

2011-10-01T12:16:00.000-07:00

Heat exhaustion is the number one cause of outdoor illness during the summer months. Temperatures in Adair County reach on average about eighty degrees in the summer, and with increasing humidity, heat exhaustion is a very real threat (Adair County Weather).

“If heat exhaustion is left untreated, it may lead to heat stroke. The key difference between heat stroke and heat exhaustion is the presence of confusion and other mental status changes during heat stroke. During heat stroke, the neurological system is affected and can cause odd behavior, delusions, hallucinations, and eventually seizures or a coma. At the first signs of heat exhaustion, you should stop activity and cool the body by seeking shade, shelter or a cool room, and drinking cold fluids. Seek medical attention immediately if symptoms are severe (Heat Exhaustion Symptoms).

Heat exhaustion-symptoms. (2006). Retrieved from http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/enviromentalissues/a/Heat-Exhaustion.htm

Hypothermia: Extreme Weather Hunting

2011-10-01T12:15:00.000-07:00

Hypothermia occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce it, causing your core body temperature to fall. Hypothermia is often induced by cold, wet conditions, such as rain, snow, sleet, or immersion in water. However, hypothermia can occur at temperatures as high as 50° Fahrenheit. Moisture from perspiration, humidity, and dew or rain on bushes and trees also can soak your clothing over time, putting you at risk in cold weather. Wet or damp clothes will draw heat out of your body more rapidly than cold air. Wind lowers your body temperature as it evaporates moisture from your body. Resting against cold surfaces also will draw heat from your body (Michigan Hunter Safety Course).

Michigan hunter safety course. (2011, February 08). Retrieved from http://www.hunter-ed.com/mi/course/ch8_coping_with_extreme_weather.htm

Eat Light, Think Right

2011-09-29T17:23:00.000-07:00

With all the responsibilities your job requires, your boss is now asking you to bring a dish to the next luncheon meeting. What are you going to say? No! Of course not. The next question is, what in the world are you going to bring? You think back to past luncheon meetings and remember the standard buffet; fried chicken, mashed potatoes, a cheesy casserole, creamy pasta salad and some type of rich dessert. Then think about how you feel after the meeting, drowsy and lazy, like your brain decided to shut off for the rest of the afternoon. Luncheon meetings always ruin your days’ productivity and you get nothing done. Have you thought about Eat Light and Think Right?

You as an Individual

Why not bring something light to your next luncheon meeting. Maybe try a salad or a light fruity dish. Eating light actually prevents your brain from ‘shutting off’ and helps you stay focused at work. In fact, eating light and healthy for lunch everyday increases your alertness and your energy. You are also a healthier person and you feel better. Think about it, you are working in the hopes of making money. But if you are eating poor lunches, drinking too much soda, as well as living an unhealthy lifestyle, you’ll be using all that money on medical expenses when you’re older. “Two comprehensive scientific reviews identified 83 peer-reviewed studies reporting that people with unhealthy lifestyle habits have higher medical costs (WELCOA: The Wellness Council of America , 2011).” And “Each year over $40 billion in medical costs and lost productivity are attributed to poor nutrition (Partnership for Prevention, 2009 ).” Eating healthy is the best way to prevent diseases such as heart disease, strokes and diabetes. Water is also a vital part of our bodies. Drinking water gives us energy because it assists in the absorption of nutrients in our bodies. It also helps move oxygen through the blood stream and moves toxins out of our body to aid in preventing illness.

How can you help yourself?

We all know how busy you are, you’re a working woman for goodness sake. So I’ll let you in on a few secrets.

§ Put up the new My plate diagram (http://www.choosemyplate.gov/) developed by the US Department of Agriculture in your break room, cube or office, cafeteria and even on your refrigerator at home. Having that constant reminder of what your plate should look like will be the first step in changing bad habits.

§ Eat fast food. No, not the drive through kind, the fast food in your kitchen kind. Grabbing and going is really not that hard, all you have to do is plan. And no, this is not another thing to add to your to do list. While you’re at the store this week (or when you send your husband to the store), ask him to pick up a few more snack like vegetables and fruits. Baby carrots, apples, grapes, peaches, salad, celery, potatoes, tomatoes, anything you like or want to try. Pre-pack these snacks the night before and grab n’ go the next morning along with whatever you normally bring.

§ Also, aim to drink water throughout the day. If you want more flavor, stick little packages of water flavoring in your bag before heading to work. Try these small changes for a week and see how it goes. See if you’re energy level has changed and if you’re more productive at work. Then the next luncheon meeting you are asked to bring something, consider bringing a side vegetable dish. You could even make a simple dip and veggie tray or a nice tossed salad. Something nice and light that you would enjoy eating, that way you know you won’t go hungry.

If your business meeting is catered or you go out to eat here are a few pointers. One, if it’s available, get on the catering or restaurant website and look at the nutrition break down of their meals. Remember, meals should be no more than 500-700 calories. Other things you can do is hold the dressing and cheese on the side of salads, use nonfat dressings or light dressings if possible, stay away from fried foods and make sure you get a healthy side such as steamed vegetables, plain baked potato or fruit. Also, remember to drink water and eat slowly. Stop when you’re full, don’t deprive yourself. Strive to eat everything in moderation and you will be energized and ready to work the rest of the day.

Make a Difference!

Many adults aren’t getting their recommended amount of fruits and vegetables a day. Only 20% of Missouri adults are receiving the daily recommendation of 5 vegetables and fruits (MO Deptartment of Health & Senior Services, 2009). So bringing a fruit or vegetable dish to a luncheon meeting would help your co-workers receive their recommended daily amount of vegetables and fruits. It’s a win, win situation.

Plus, if your co-workers see you bringing in healthy dishes, it’ll make them think about what they’re eating for lunch. They will start rethinking their normal eating patterns and change their way of thinking about meals. You could even make eating healthy fun in the break room. For instance, start a recipe bulletin board or binder anyone can post on to exchange new healthy recipes. Make sure you write on the recipe if it’s good or absolutely terrible, we don’t want to waste food. Also, you could make it a challenge. Try bringing in mocktails one day and share with co-workers your favorite light non-alcoholic drink.

Influence Policy Change

Making changes individually can help influence the policy and regulations at work as well. Vending machines are a great place to start. Every once in a while everyone wants that salty or sweet snack from the vending machine, but is that all your vending machine offers? A good combination of snacks in the vending machine is possible and those changes can be made. Talk it up with your coworkers and begin to reach out to those decision makers that can influence the change.

Making changes to your environment makes it easier for you to maintain your healthy behaviors. Encourage policy makers to put in pretzels, fig bars, light popcorn, and granola bars in vending machines. Ask to make some policy changes in regards to food at business functions such as luncheons and parties. For instance, promote no fried foods at business functions calling it No Fried Minds at Meetings. If you’re really adamant about making a change, talk your boss into bringing a Registered Dietitian in during lunch to teach a cooking class.

Any change you can make, do it. Everything helps. And if you don’t feel like you’re helping yourself by making changes, think about your co-workers and those that are around you. They need help too. Temptations are hard to overcome, but if your environment and the people around you are promoting healthy behaviors, it makes it that much easier for you to make those healthy decisions for yourself. Have more energy, be more productive and live a longer, healthier life by following this tip: Eat Light, Think Right!

Works Cited

(n.d.). Retrieved September 2011, from Fit City Challenge : http://www.fitcitychallenge.org/

Fosdick, A. (n.d.). Eating Heathy Foods. Retrieved September 2011, from Top Benefits of Eating Healthy: Ideas that go Beyond the Ordinary: http://www.eatinghealthyfoods.org/top-benefits-of-eating-healthy.html

MO Deptartment of Health & Senior Services. (2009). Retrieved September 2011 , from Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS): http://health.mo.gov/data/brfss/index.php

N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Retrieved September 2011, from Eat Smart North Carolina: Guidelines for Healthy Foods and Beverges at Meetings, Gatherings and Events: http://www.eatsmartmovemorenc.com/HealthyMeetingGuide/Texts/ES_Healthy_Meeting_Guide.pdf

NYC Health . (n.d.). Retrieved September 2011, from Food and Drink at Meetings: What to Serve : http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/cdp/cdp-pan-hwp-nutrition-standards.pdf

Optima Health . (n.d.). Retrieved September 2011, from Worksite Wellness Program Ideas: http://public.optimahealth.com/Lists/OptimaFormsLibrary/mlmp-healthy-at-work-members-workwellnessideas-ideas-overview.pdf

Partnership for Prevention. (2009 ). Retrieved September 16, 2011, from Healthy Workforce 2010 and Beyond: http://www.welcoa.org/freeresources/pdf/healthy_workforce_2010_and_beyond.pdf

US Deptartment of Agiculture. (2011, August 26). Retrieved September 2011, from Choose Myplate: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/

WELCOA: The Wellness Council of America . (2011). Retrieved September 2011, from Making the Case for Workplace Wellness Programs: http://www.welcoa.org/freeresources/pdf/making_the_case_0311.pdf

fall 2011 test re-post

2011-09-28T09:05:00.001-07:00

test

Integrated Pest Management in Schools.

2011-04-28T02:21:00.000-07:00

IPM, which stands for Integrated Pest Management, is a program created by the Missouri Department of Agriculture. The purpose of the program is to keep pest below an economic injury level for educational and demonstration purposes. It basically employs tools like cultural, biological, chemical, and regulatory control methods. It carries out its program in association with the Environmental Protection Agency in a compatible manner that is economically and environmentally sounds.

IPM in School

The IPM Program is working with the Missouri Center for Safe Schools on a cooperative Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant titled, "Implementing IPM in Missouri Schools (“IPM”).

Pests are everywhere. Even the best of schools have pest problem. Rodents, rats, roaches, rats etc are some of the common pests and can have leave airborne dander and pest residues from their feces and hair, which can cause various health problems. One of the most serious problems caused by pests are allergies, which can trigger asthma attacks or allergy flare-ups. Mold is also another allergen that can be minimized through IPM approach. Along with control of pests, controlling the use of pesticides is another major goal of IPM. People vary widely sensitive to chemicals like pesticides. So, in order to ensure good health and in a safe learning environment in schools IPM uses various tactics like exclusion, sanitation and monitoring. It is very important for schools to maintain balance among the known health risks of uncontrolled pest infestations, the safety of school staff and students and the use of pesticides. Thus for creating such an environment, IPM could be very useful for any school.

Instead of routine chemical applications, IPM is the best approach to pest control utilizing cultural, mechanical, educational, biological and physical controls with selective use of pesticides. Chemical controls are used only when needed and in the least-toxic formulation that is still effective against pests. Under IPM, a well-organized and comprehensive approach is in place to prevent pests from reaching unacceptable levels utilizing low-risk control strategies when necessary. IPM is not a quick fix but can be achieved through administrative support, involvement of the school community and communication with Pest Management Professionals. (IPM)

IPM has been adopted in various regions of United Stated and so far has been very effective in managing pests in those places saving tens and thousands of dollars. Through the use of IPM, pesticides use in schools has decreased by 80%. The Montgomery County school district has had an IPM program since 1984-1990. And In a six years period, there was a 90% reduction of pesticide and the district saved over $110,000 in the first six years ("What organizations are," 2011).

IPM uses very comprehensive tactics to control pests in schools and uses pesticides only as a last resort. Along with reducing pests and use of pesticides, It is also less expensive than all the other traditional pest management approaches.