Blog #10

                                                           Inspirational Woman

               For my blog I wanted to take a different route than choosing a woman who was in the limelight. I wanted to focus more on how much of an impact a person can have in their local community when they do something for it. My inspirational woman is Carmen P Cortez. She was nonetheless my husband's aunt and when I heard about her life I decided to investigate a little more about her. She was born in Kingsville, TX and came to San Antonio as a young adult to study at Our Lady of the Lake University. Upon noticing how many children were mistreated by their parents and how large the incidence of teenage parents there were in this city, she decided to do something about it. By overcoming the adversity and racism that was present in this city towards hispanics, she was able to create AVANCE. Avance is a non-profit organization in San Antonio that specializes in child care for infants, toddlers and preschoolers for the purpose of a head start as well as for the parents to make a better living for their children. This including an array of parenting classes that are required by participants to assist the young parents in the child's growth and development.  This program was so effective that it was able to remain even after her death and continues to assist young families. This to me is truly an inspirational woman.

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Blog #9

                                          Most Impacting Topic in Semester

        This semester proved to be very informative overall and covered a wide range of topics that are all considerations in women's health. If I had to pinpoint one though, I would choose the topic of sex trade to be the most impacting.  After watching the Frontline video provided in the module, I began to research this act more deeply. It is amazing how global sex trade is as it can span from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East affecting women and causing deep scars and traumas that will follow them forever. I was particularly affected by the Ukrainian woman in the sex trade video who was sold by her friend as she was unexpectedly going to Turkey for shopping purposes. She was pregnant and was given up for sale to a pimp and his wife. A great part of the video focused on her husband trying to bargain and get her back. He was successful, but when the camera focused on her you notice this intense sadness in her eyes that words could not explain. I think this hits close to home as I am a mother and a wife and cannot imagine living with these experiences, all the while trying to go ahead with life and rearing my children. Again, this was a very interesting course and I was very glad to be a part of it in my educational journey.

Blog #8

Is it a sign of personal weakness or strength for a woman to admit that she has a problem with alcohol or drugs?

It is almost everyday that you watch the news and see that someone has passed away due to substance abuse. The latest being Amy Winehouse the famous singer. Although it is currently not for sure that it was the direct cause of her death, what is a fact is that she had been battling substance abuse in her life.
As I was watching CNN, a former musician and ex-drug user gave his take on addiction. He described it as a real disease which you cannot rid if the abuser does not want to rid. I feel that it is a strength of great proportions to admit that you have a substance abuse issue. The strength that it takes to realize that you in fact have a problem and that not only is it hurting you, it is hurting everybody that you love takes a lot of courage. I feel that someone who has a substance abuse problem is comparable to a patient at the hospital for any other medical condition. Substance abusers are commonly people who have experienced traumas in their lives that feel like this is a way for them to cope. I don't agree with the kind of coping mechanism but agree that they should not be shunned from society or not helped. This is why when a woman or man is able to come out and admit that they have a problem, I feel them to be incredibly courageous.

Blog #7

Unfortunately, my family suffers from Diabetes. Out of my father's siblings five out of seven have type II Diabetes. However, they sometimes do not take the necessary steps to control this disease's course of action.
My aunt's name is Dominga and I interviewed her and asked her how she felt about her Diabetes. Her response was rather shocking as she reported that she has continued to live in a similar manner as she had pre-diabetes. She reported symptoms as fatigue most of the time that prevented her from exercising and attributed the cost of food to not allow her to have healthier alternatives. The economic aspect of healthy food is understandable however she also did confess that She would miss her favorite foods.
For insulin level maintenance, my aunt goes periodically from oral meds to injectable insulin which is determined by her doctor and she monitors her glucose daily as that is sometimes her indication of when to medicate.
It was alarming to hear this from my aunt but may possibly be the view of lower educated minority groups as she is. This is why I truly believe that education is a must and public health advocacy should continue especially in these underserved locations. In a personal level, it was sad to hear this from someone that you love, however it may be her reality and choice.

Blog #6

                                                     Weight issues at home

                 I can be quite honest about this topic without any protection of identity. The topic of weight is important to bring up at home although can be very harmful if not in a healthy perspective. I personally grew up in a home where weight was not only important to monitor for health reasons, but was the revolving focus of beauty and self esteem. It took me many, many years to figure out where I could be in weight, yet still be healthy and enjoy the joys of life such as food.
                The topic of weight was discussed in a rather humiliating tone as the heavier women were teased and labeled for their size and not for who they are. I recall moments where I did not want to go shopping or swimming as a teenager because I felt as though I did not look good enough. There were also moments in my adolescence where I strived to not eat much in the day or feel totally guilty and run for hours on end to burn the calories consumed.
               I believe that my family did not realize how much this affected my growth and self perception. We are much healthier now and enjoy balanced diet and exercise together as a way of bonding and sharing time together. I really caution care with this topic, I will exercise this as I have a young daughter and want her to feel confident in herself and love herself.

Blog #5

Health Beliefs and Women’s Use of Hormone Replacement Therapy Review

Even as we become more advanced in our technology and create more ways to fight serious diseases, we remain rather stumped when it comes to the study of women who have menopause.  Hormone replacement therapy has been a treatment available for years now, however the complications linked to its use create debate over whether it is worth taking. The article titled “Health Beliefs and Women’s Use of Hormone Replacement Therapy” touches the topic of whether they feel they should take HRT in correlation to a questionnaire that asks questions about preventative measures called the HBM. The HBM poses questions related to barriers they feel are present in their care.  The HBM asks these questions:

1. People do not believe they are susceptible to this disease.


      2. People believe that if they contracted the disease, it would not have serious effects on their lives.

      3. People do not know the positive effects of actions, to avoid the disease or problem.

      4. The perceived threat of taking necessary action is greater than the disease.

      5. There is no driving force for many people to be healthy.

      6. People may not feel competent to overcome perceived barriers to taking action.

According to the study, the more barriers listed by the participants the least likely they were to take HRT. Vice Versa, the less barriers indicated by the participant, the more likely they were to take HRT to help them with their symptoms.  What seemed to be the trend in this study was the fact that most of the participants were Caucasian women as well as healthcare workers. It was not possible for the study to include a wider variety of race or socioeconomic models, most participants made more than $80,000 annually. I personally concluded in this study the possibility that women with this degree of education and income will be less likely to listen to perceptions of HRT but be more objective in the information of its use based on true statistics.  This is a topic to continue studying as there are continuous streams of information coming often.

References

McGinley, Anne. Health Beliefs and Women's Use of Hormone Replacement Therapy. Hollistic Nursing Practice. 2004.

Blog 4

 List the top 5 questions a woman might have who recently found out she was pregnant. Provide the answers to each of these questions in your own words and list the source of information. 

   5  Frequently Asked Questions About Pregnancy

1. What should I do before I get pregnant to ensure a healthy pregnancy for me and my baby?

    According to the information recommended on WedMD, you should consider planning before getting pregnant to receive prepregnancy checkups with your doctor. This should include addressing any questions about family medical history, genetic conditions, chronic diseases etc. A healthy diet is very important as it is recommended that you eat lots of leafy greens, fiber and lean proteins. A prenatal vitamin that includes folic acid should be included in your daily regimen to prevent Spina Bifida.  If you are a smoker, it is advised that you quit.

2. What should and shouldn't I eat while I'm pregnant?

  

 For a healthy start, it is important to eat lean meats, such as chicken and turkey, calcium rich foods, leafy greens, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.  It is recommended that you also continue to take prenatal vitamins before, during and after pregnancy.  Foods to avoid are those with high levels of Mercury such as certain kinds of fish. Raw foods and unpasteurized cheeses such as sushi and brie should also be avoided due to the risk of bacterial infections. Alcohol should be avoided during the entire pregnancy as it is not exactly known what levels are safe.

3. Are there other activities I should steer clear of while pregnant?

   Certain activities should not be performed such as lying flat on your back during the later stages of pregnancy, changing a litter box,  using hot tubs and saunas, riding roller coasters and x-rays.

4. How can I safely exercise while pregnant?

   Light to moderate exercise is actually recommended. Back and abdominal strengthening are beneficial as this will assist you in post delivery recovery. As a rule of thumb, do not begin another exercise regimen without consulting your doctor. It is safe to continue performing the same exercise program that you had been performing before pregnancy.
 

5. How much weight should I gain during pregnancy?

    If you are within a normal weight, 25 to 35 pounds is the recommended total weight gain. For women who are overweight 15 to 25 pounds are recommended. Consultation with your doctor is important if you are expecting more than one child.

References

Frequently Asked Questions about Pregnancy. 2010. Retrieved June 28, 2011.     http://www.webmd.com/baby/frequently-asked-questions-about-pregnancy

Blog 3

        As the world continues to evolve, we make many changes to accomodate people of all different backgrounds of life. Public schools are now leaning towards uniforms as the dress code for students as well as have banned prayer in efforts to remain true to the public. There are some things that I feel should not be abandoned in accomodation, the topic of sex education is one very important to me.
       Many children are not receiving the "talk" about sex and pregnancy from their parents as they may not feel comfortable speaking about it. Other parents may choose not to mention it due to moral standards etc. What is true is that young people should be knowledgeable about what their body is capable of doing. I believe that sex education should be a part of public school curriculum and should recommend abstinence, however should include methods of contraception and STD prevention education.  Young people have been having sex through human existence and if that is the choice, they should have the knowledge of how to decrease the detrimental effects that come with this choice.
     An anecdote I heard was from a young woman's experience with her initial menarche. Her name is Jessica Hernandez and is a first generation american from mexican descendence. Sex education was very taboo for her family as it was deemed shameful for young people to know about sex, therefore she never received information about her menstrual cycle and what would happen to her body as she reached puberty. However, she had an older cousin who she would visit and who was just experiencing her first menstrual cycle. Horrified, she asked her cousin why she had blood stained pads in the trash can. Her cousin calmly told her that it was due to her menstrual cycle and that she would eventually go through the same thing as she aged. Jessica understood and didn't mention anything to her mother anymore. A month after she turned ten years old, she suddenly felt the urge to use the restrooom and noticed her stained panties. She recognized what this was due to her cousin's information and calmly went to ask her mother if she had a sanitary napkin. Her mother was surprised and quickly gave her a napkin and walked to the restroom with her. Her mother's response was "pobrecita", which is the equivalent of "poor child" in english. Jessica was fine with what happened to her body.
     In conclusion to this story, that is why we as parents have to speak to our children about sex and their bodies. It goes along with teachings as important as manners, college and morals in my opinion.  The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy website give tips to what to tell our child when we have the "talk". This includes a series of steps and recommendation as follows:

• First and foremost, you matter more than you think.
• Remember, it matters what you do, not just what you say.
• The success sequence.
• Who's in charge.
• Am I ready for a relationship?
• Am I in love?
• The older partner thing.
• How to deal with pressure.
• Be respectful and talk honestly about relationships.
• Remember, it's not just what's safe, it's what's right.
• Let them know that you are on call 24/7

       I encourage you to read more information about this campaign in the resource posted below.
   
       The perfect scenario would include both parents calmly sitting at home with no distractions and all ears open to what their child can tell them about their life. A calm and open perspective is necessary as children are being exposed to various subjects from a very young age and becoming defensive will not assist in learning.

    The Talk, It's More than just Sex. 2011. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen        and Unplanned Pregnancy. Retreived June 23, 2011. http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/parents/relationships.aspx

Blog #2

How can we encourage adolescents to follow healthy behaviors?  Any ideas for parents, healthcare providers, health educators, media, society, etc?

     The adolesent years are marked and highlighted by the challenges of growing into one's own autonomy and at the same time, not having the cognitive capacity to think through every experience that comes our way.  There was once a story I heard about a child who took his father's vehicle out for a ride without permission and ended up in a collision, needless to say the vehicle was totaled. When confronted by the father, he asked "What were you thinking?", the child responded, "I wasn't thinking!" This is a prime scenario and example of the teenage years. Adolescent brains are marked by impulse and temporary desire due to their brains not being developed enough.
     This is why it is most challenging to confront topics such as healthy behaviors and lifestyles. The link attached is a link to the CDC and states statistics from the Dallas, TX region on risky adolescent behavior. Topics such as condom use, alcohol consumption and safety range from the unsafest behaviors by adolescents.
http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/App/Results.aspx?LID=DA
      I personally believe that prevention  can best be created by means of education. If you educate this population on the first hand effects of healthy lifestyles versus the unhealthy through interview or visual aids, they are most likely to be impacted. If faced with a diabetic amputee who is having to modify his or her entire life due to this disease that could have been prevented or managed, I believe adolescents will think twice.  The same goes for smokers, introduce the child to an oxygen dependent individual and see what effect this will cause. This approach can be applied to a wide range of preventable diseases.
    Communication and education seem to remain the best way for adolescents to begin to modify their choices of action.  Adolescents do not know it all, they need their parents and loved ones to continue to grow and thrive.

Dallas, TX High School Youth Risk Behavioral Survey. 2009. Retrieved on June 15, 2011.  
    http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/App/Results.aspx?LID=DA

Blog 1

  What health issues you are most concerned about? Why? Interview 2-3 women (different    ages, ethnicities and/or cultures if possible) and ask them the same question. Are your concerns similar or different? Explain.

      As I began gathering ideas on what kinds of subjects to perform interviews on and how to approach them, I caught myself wondering if most of us as women tend to worry about similar things? Do we as women of very different lifestyles all worry about house maintenance, laundry, our weight, feeling sexy, our sex lives and keeping our children and husbands happy? Do we worry about ourselves and whether or not we are keepig ourselves healthy?
     I interviewed two women of different socioeconomic backgrounds for this blog. The first woman was a middle aged woman of about 50 years of age who is a Physical Therapist of caucasian race, makes great money as a Department Director and has three lovely adolescent to young adult children and also married to a Doctor. The second woman is a woman of the poverty level, hispanic with five children and a modest home with a husband who owns a small mechanic shop.
     When the first subject was asked the question about what health issues are most concerning to her, she mentioned the fact that stress takes a toll on her as she finds herself trying to keep a competent and competitive professional life as well as keeping her children on the right track and keeping her husband and her relationship happy.
      Now the second subject had a very comparable answer as she mentioned that her day is never ending as she is always on the run with her childrens' events as well as keeps her household and husband as happy as possible.
     Clearly, without going into an in depth past medical history of these two woman, we see that there is a direct similarity. Stress is a key factor in these two very different lives. These two woman are of very different background and means, but both battle stress and at times have trouble managing it appropriately. Stress is a very ignored symptom that can lead to very alarming diseases such as but surely not limited to Acid Peptic Disease, Alcoholism, Asthma, Fatigue, Tension Headache, Hypertension, Insomnia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Ischemic Heart Disease, Psychoneuroses, Sexual Dysfunction, Skin diseases like Psoriasis ,Lichen planus ,Urticaria, Pruritus, Neurodermatitis etc (Babu, 2007).
     The similarity between these two interviews highlights the importance on stress management and how we should cope with the demands of our lives. We are constantly pressured on perfection that it can take very severe effects on our health. Hopefully as we cope with stress in a more effective manner, our overall health and concerns will improve greatly. 

      Babu, Hanish. (2007). Diseases caused by stress. Retrieved June 9, 2011. http://www.lesstress.net/diseases-caused-by-stress.htm