Thin Versus Fat-The Controversy
October 20, 2009 at 3:04 am | In Health, Health Information, Healthy eating, Risk Factors, Women's Health | Leave a CommentTags: fat, models, obese, overweight, thin
A read an article delivered to my mail box a few days ago. It was originally in The Globe & Mail in Canada. It was about the controversial topic ‘fat versus thin.’
I write on health topics and I teach health education online to Internet users worldwide. I rely on current data with evidence. There are unavoidable health risk factors such as age, gender and race but overweight is not one of them. Being of a healthy weight does have health benefits and can be avoided.
Being fat may be attractive to some , but beauty is aslo in the eyes of the beholder.
Unfortunately some illnesses may not be apparent until it is too late, while we continue to be physical attractive to the the beholder.
The question is are we having a fat moment?
Read what others had to say from The Globe & Mail
Workplace Wellness Goes online For World Heart Day
September 27, 2009 at 2:32 pm | In Diseases, Health, Health Promotion, WHO | Leave a CommentTags: cardiovascular health, heart, heart disease, workplace wellness
Today is World Heart Day, it is celebrated on September 27 , each year. This year the theme is ”Workplace Wellness’.
Computer workers and Internet users around the world were invited to get involved in a mini boot camp. It was done through their website to stress the importance of workplace welness in preventing cardiovascular disease.
Visitors were give an opportunity to view what they were getting into ahead of time, to prepare.
On September 27, today they would follow instructions given them on the site.
The day was considered a workday for them to incorporate work and health.
They would score themselves at the end.
It was sponsored by their Health E-Managment Program
World Heart Day-2009
September 23, 2009 at 1:17 pm | In Diseases, Health, Health Information, Health Promotion, WHO | Leave a CommentTags: cardiovascular, congenital heart disease, disease, heart, hypertension, physical activity, WHO
World Heart Day is September 27, 2009
The theme is ‘Workplace Wellness”
17.5 million peolpe die each year from cardiovascular disease. Prevention is better than cure.
Do you know your risk for cardiovascular disease? The tell tale signs are:
- High blood pressure?
- High cholesterol?
- Overweight?
- Raised blood sugar?
- Are you are a smoker?
If you are all of the above you are a high risk. If you can answer yes to any of the above you are at risk.
The main causes of heart disease are, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, smoking and obesity. 80% of premature deaths due to cardiovascular disease can be avoided by regular physical activity, a healthy diet and not smoking.
Clinical studies information is available through the National Library of Medicine from ClinicalTrials.gov. It is free for patients family members and the general public.
Symptoms of a heart attack:
- Pain, or discomfrot in the center of the chest,
- Pain or discomfort in the arms, left shoulder, elbows, jaw or back.
- Difficulty in breathing, shortnesss of breath
There may be vomiting, sweating, pallor, dizziness. If you are experiencing any of these, seek medical attention.
Tips for cardiovascular health:
- Keep active: walk, cycle, run daily (30 minutes daily)
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator
- Know your risk
- Develop a healthy eating pattern.
- Keep extra weight off
- Quit smoking.
- Get involved in a workplace wellness program
Suicide Prevention in a Multicultural City
September 10, 2009 at 12:00 pm | In Health, Health Information, Mental Health, Risk Factors, WHO | Leave a CommentTags: Canada, cultural, depression, suicidal behaviour, suicide, suicide prevention
Today is World Suicide Prevention Day
The theme is “Suicide Prevention in Different Cultures
The country is Canada
The place is a large metropolitan city known as Toronto. It is a bustling multicultural city and one of its main attractions is its cultural diversity. There is a large immigrant population in this city; there are socioeconomic factors and cultural influences too.
Resources that are available for suicide prevention are for all with suicidal behaviour. It is therefore one system for all.
Resources available are:
- Health care providers
- Health care professionals
- Crisis Intervention
- Assessments
- Hospitalization
- Medication
- Follow up after discharge
- Crisis centers
Take a look at one health care provider’s suicide prevention initiatives.
This is a large psychiatric inpatient facility of 600 beds and part of the health care system in Ontario. It is also one of the largest mental health facility in the country and is actively involved in research.
The health system is in no way a limited resources system, most resources including all hospitalizations, treatment and medications are funded by the different levels of governments. There is no out of pocket money to the patients.
All suicidal behaviour and suicidal ideations are taken very seriously in this system.
At this facility psychiatric patients with suicidal behaviour are hospitalized unitil they are no longer at risk of suicide; this may be from a few days to weeks.
During hospitalization:
- They are supervised 24 hours a day and behaviour is monitored closely.
- Medication is reviewed and monitored and any necessary changes are made.
- They have access to a multi-disciplinary team
A team includes phychiatrists, clinicians, researchers, mental health nurses, physicians and social workers. The patient with suicidal behaviour would therefore be assigned a team of these professionals. On discharge they have financial and housing support.
More efforts may be needed to address the cultural aspects of suicide prevention.
Based on research findings reported earlier this year, this health system would do well to:
- Focus their prevention efforts to the first 12 week period following hospitalization of their patients.
- Closer monitoring in the first 12 weeks following antidepressants starts.
- They may also do well to address the cultural issues specific to each patient.
Programs and initiatives can be tailored to meet the needs of specific cultural migrant groups. This may require involvement or leadership from cultural leaders and communities. Not just a one program for all.
The facility is The Center For Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
Suicidal Behaviour -Risk Factors
August 5, 2009 at 1:43 am | In Disorders, Health, Health Information, Mental Health, Risk Factors, WHO | Leave a CommentTags: depression, mental illness, suicidal behaviour, suicide
One million people die each year prematurely by suicide.
Knowledge of the risk of suicidal behaviour will allow us to identify those who need help most.
The most common risk factor is mental illness. The predisposing mental disorders are:
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Alcohol
- Substance abuse
The risk of suicidal behaviour is increased 10 times in the mentally ill. In the USA, 90% of suicides were diagnosed as mentally ill before dying.
Othe risk factors include:
- Family history of suicidal behaviour or suicide.
- Previous suicide attempt
- Poor socio-economic status
- Poor physical health
- Stressful events
- Relationship breakup
- Financial difficulties
- Disagreements with family/spouse
September 10, 2009 is World Suicide Prevention Day
World Suicide Prevention Day site
International Association for Suicide Prevention – Home – IASP
July 20, 2009 at 10:04 pm | In Health | Leave a CommentYou May Be Healthier If You Are Optimistic
October 20, 2009 at 3:06 am | In Health, Health Information, Health Promotion | Leave a CommentIf you are optimistic about your health, you may live longer and be healthier. Researchers reported that optimism is a good predictor of disease resiliency.
Optimism and cynicsim were compared
Tracking Side Effects For Swine Flu Shots
October 3, 2009 at 1:34 am | In Health, Health Information, Health Promotion, Infections, Swine Flu | Leave a CommentTags: adverse reactions, CDC, side effects, vaccines
As mass flu vaccinations begin there is a concern among government officials about the side effects of swine flu shots.
They are prepared to track these side effects to detect any rare problems as quickly as possible. Some are optimistic that there will be no health problems related to the vaccines, while others are saying ” How do we know they are safe”?
The idea is to develop confidence in the safety of the vaccine. How many race for them will depend on this.
The Center For Disease Control (CDC) is preparing cards with instructions to report any adverse reactions.
Computer Users May Suffer from Dry Eye
August 19, 2009 at 11:30 pm | In Disorders, Health, Health Information, Risk Factors | Leave a CommentTags: artificial tears, Eyes, sight
Computer users suffer from dry eyes due to blinking infrequently. Opthalmogolists have reported help for those who are affected by this eye irritation.
According to a recent report artificial tears or mist can help with the burning and blurring associated with it.
Tips for Computer users
- Close eyes for a minute or two.
- Take a break from staring at the screen to look at other items at various distances
Breastfeeding Week, 2009-Theme
July 22, 2009 at 9:58 pm | In Children's Health, Health, Health Information, Newborn, Nutrition, WHO, Women's Health | 1 CommentTags: breast milk, Breastfeeding
August 01-07 is World Breastfeeding Week
The theme: ‘Emergency, a Vital response. Are You Ready?’
Breastfeeding is a shield that protects infants in emergency. One of the objectives of this year’s World Breastfeeding Week is to reinforce the vital role that breastfeeding plays in emergency situations.
Myths about breastfeeding:
- Malnourished mothers cannot breastfeed
- Stress prevents mothers from producing milk
- Once a mother stops breastfeeding , she cannot start again
- When a mother has been raped, she cannot breastfeed
- HIV positive mothers should never breastfeed
These myths are common misconceptions that can affect breastfeeding in an emergency
Watch this Video
Celebrate World Brestfeeding Day
WHO Update on Bird Flu- Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 23 September 24, 2009
- Cumulative Number of Confirmed Human Cases of Avian Influenza A/(H5N1) Reported to WHO September 24, 2009
- Proposals to finalize remaining elements of the “Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework for sharing influenza viruses and access to vaccines and other benefits” September 18, 2009
- Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 22 August 31, 2009
- Vaccinations & Immunisations
- Depressed and Pregnant? Flu Shot May Be Needed newsSymptoms of seasonal flu could be severe in this group of women, study finds
- Swine Flu Virus Dominant Strain Worldwide: WHO newsAgency says pathogen continues to target younger adults, producing mild-to-moderate illness
- New HPV Vaccine Might Stop Vulvar Cancer in its Tracks newsWorking differently than Gardasil, Cervarix, it targets inside of virus, study shows
- CDC Urges Patience As More Swine Flu Shots Arrive newsTotal should near 42 million by week's end; more health-care workers getting vaccine
- Depressed and Pregnant? Flu Shot May Be Needed news
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- Swine Flu Update
- Agreement for donation of pandemic H1N1 vaccine signed November 10, 2009
- Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 73 November 6, 2009
- Infection of farmed animals with the pandemic virus November 5, 2009
- Pandemic (H1N1) 2009, Ukraine - update 1 November 3, 2009
- Pandemic (H1N1) 2009, Ukraine November 1, 2009
- Malaria In The News
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- Health News
- Health &Nutrition
- Your Health Resources
- Combat Swine Flu -Boost Your Immune System November 2, 2009
- Alternative Medicine Is Used Against Swine flue November 2, 2009
- Reducing Mistakes In Medical Emergiences October 20, 2009
- Encounters With Holistic Practitioners October 11, 2009
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