Blog 10: Yoga Helps Women With PTSD

Summary: Women who recently participated in a study to see the reduction of post traumatic stress disorder recently tried yoga. Women who were in the control study group also reported similar symptoms however researchers found. Both who were and were not affected by PTSD reported to improve emotionally. One in 10 U.S. women is affected by PTSD, yoga helps these ladies with their sleeping and flashbacks to traumatic experiences. In actuality PTSD affects women twice as often then men. 

The women’s average was forty four years old and completed a follow-up assessment one month after each session ended. The improvements were decrease in flashbacks and hyperarousal symptoms. Yoga may help regulate the endocrine system as well as the nervous system which in turn may balance issues associated with PTSD, along with stress hormones. 

Analysis: New research has been found that both women who are and not affected by post traumatic stress disorder may find a new outlet to help them through the stressors of everyday life as well as the horrific traumas they may have experienced. Yoga was studied recently to see the effects that it produces and for both the control group and study group it presented positive effects. This new finding could help women across the globe find relief through this exercise and finally receive the help needed. Many women who are in areas of war as well as high crime rate may experience PTSD dramatically more than others. This new research is promising in helping women across the globe be able to receive help without need of medicine. Women in lower developed countries may not even be able to receive medication for their traumatic experiences, and in turn yoga could greatly help especially since no need of equipment is really needed. PTSD can also make you have physical health problems, so reduction is especially important. Hopefully with well educated instructors teaching others about this new found treatment which is relatively cost efficient will help the health of women across the globe.

Source:http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/thomson-reuters/140418/yoga-may-help-women-ease-ptsd-symptoms

Blog 10: April: Global Healthcare Worker Appreciation Month

This year April is devoted to international healthcare workers. These recruits work in under developed and developing countries where healthcare workers are scarce. They teach communities basic means of staying healthy like good hygiene, disease and virus prevention, and post natal care. Healthcare workers also provide immunizations and simple treatments. The workers are very dedicated to helping people in these villages; many travel a long distance by foot or bike to reach the villages. One man leaves his home open 24/7 to the people of his village to take care of their medical needs. The World Health Organization stated that 57 countries are in terrible need of more healthcare workers. Many healthcare workers have put their lives in danger working is Syria while countless workers have lost their lives taking care of sick and injured civilians and oppositions fighters.

The World Healthcare Organization is working this month to show appreciation, awareness, and the importance of the healthcare workers. These employees are making a big difference in the underdeveloped and war locked countries. Just simply educating these people how to live healthier provides enough to keep a village or community to prosper and progress. The WHO anticipates that 4 million more healthcare workers should be in these countries to provide proper primary health care. Raising awareness this month for the workers can inspire other medical care takers to take part in this field to help those civilians. This can even encourage poor civilians to become care takers or workers which will employ them and headway to a slow development within a village or community.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20140419202375 

Blog 10- Binge Drinking

In the world it is a stereotype that Russian and Irish men can drink the most and drink the most in the world. This is actually not true. There is statistics showing that this is not necessarily true. Yes Irish men do drink a lot, but there are actually women in Vietnam who drink more than the men in Russia. This just shows that binge drinking is actually a problem everywhere, not only in Russia or Ireland. There are also statistics that show that some African countries drink more drinks per week than Ireland does. People only believe that alcoholism is very common in Europe or America, but what people do not know is binge drinking is a growing problem everywhere and it is hurting many people. Another stereotype that people have is men drink more than women, but like I stated earlier there are many countries where the women drink more than the men. This is something that needs to be solved. 

Binge drinking is a problem that will always exist, but it could be reduced. I believe that if people would be taught to drink more responsibly then many problems would go away and many people would not drink to only get drunk. Prohibition would not work and I believe it would make things worse, but like I said it would be better if we taught everyone the dangers of binge drinking. This problem is not only in America or Europe, but it is in every nation and this is a global health issue because binge drinking is killing many people and it is becoming more and more popular  because people are curious. Alcohol is something that needs to be taken more serious around the world and if it is not it will continue to kill more people worldwide.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/140415/how-the-world-gets-drunk-4-surprising-charts

Blog 10: Polio in Equatorial Guinea

The article, “Polio hits Equatorial Guinea, Threatens Central America”, is about how polio has become apparent again in Equatorial Guinea. Polio has been out of the picture for about 15 years now and there have been two cases of polio in Guinea. Two children were paralyzed on the opposite parts of the country, so this disease could be widely spread in Equatorial Guinea. It is presumed that the disease came from Cameroon, where seven children have been diagnosed and paralyzed since October. Last week, the United Nations approved sending 12,000 peacekeepers over to Equatorial Guinea to prevent any more outbursts from occurring. Nigeria has been the one country that has failed to get rid of this virus, because the primary reservoir resides there, but this year they have seemed to stray from this virus. They have gotten rid of a lot of the cases there and they have done an excellent job at preventing the disease from occurring in more people. Whenever polio is on a move in Africa, it is detrimental and dangerous.

This article is very important to note because polio is a disease that affects many people and it can have very serious side effects if not treated appropriately. It is important to note of this globally because it can affect and reach people all around the world. This outbreak in Guinea is dangerous because Equatorial Guinea has the worst polio vaccination rate in the world, so if it starts to spread it can hurt and affect many people. They have sent 12,000 peacemakers there to relieve stress and prevent the disease so other countries do not come into contact with it. Even though they are trying to prevent it, we need to be aware and follow the polio vaccine so that we can keep it clear of America and other countries worldwide. We should have faith that this disease will not reach us or others though, because Nigeria, a country that was full of polio viruses, is starting to stray from the virus and the environment is starting to become polio-free. We need to do everything we can to prevent polio and treat those that have it with effective vaccines.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/04/17/303403242/polio-hits-equatorial-guinea-threatens-central-africa

Blog 10: I Touch Myself: For Breast Cancer

Summary

In Australia, The Cancer Council started a campaign and used Chrissy Amphlett’s ‘I Touch Myself’ song and remade it into a breast cancer awareness song. It launched on April 14^th and used numerous Australian female singers. The original song was about masturbation but these women took this song and turned it into something greater and more positive. The lyrics now “I touch myself” refers to a woman touching her breast, examining for lumps or signs of breast cancer. The video portrays the Australian singers and all of them are topless. Though as stated it is becoming more difficult to deliver a positive message through media due to all the negativity you see from it, this song has captured people’s hearts and won their trust and recognition. This song and video has created an intimate relationship with females and families of breast cancer victims and survivors through media.

Analysis

This is another article which exhibits media in a positive way. Many times you see media having a negative influence on women by making beauty be the ultimate goal or desire. This campaign has used a song that was originally about a sexual concept and turned it into an empowering song encouraging health. Normally portraying a woman in a video in her nudity is used to sexualize or make something sexy. These women were topless for a good cause a good reason, to show the beauty of breast and how important it is to take care of them by self-examination in prevention of breast cancer. I wish that media was used for more positive reasons like this one. 

I touch myself  

Blog 10: Desalination Plant Said to Be Planned for Thirsty Beijing

Summary:
In Beijing, China, there is a possibility that a coastal desalination plant will be planned to provide drinking water for everyone living there. Beijing has been suffering from water shortage for quite a while now, so they are in great need of a solution. They are planning to complete the plant by 2019, which will supply million tons of fresh water each day, to supply for more than 22 million people that live in the city. Northern China has been experiencing drought for years, and they have been looking for ways to provide drinking water to these highly populated areas.

Analysis:
I never suspected that China suffered from water shortage and drought, especially because they are considered to be a country that is becoming more and more industrialized. They are not typically considered to be a developing nation, although they do have economic issues in some areas. I believe that the desalination plant will be a great investment for the city, considering the fact that the water will supply water that is more than enough for the people living there. Looking at this article from a global perspective, I can’t help but think of other countries facing drought and water shortages. I know that many countries in Africa and developing nations all over the world are in need of clean, fresh water. A desalination plant would be a great solution for these countries if they are access to the sea. However, government spending would also be a concern, so not everyone can come up with a solution like Beijing did so easily.

Link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/16/world/asia/desalination-plant-beijing-china.html?ref=science&_r=0

Blog 9: Hepatitis C Guidelines

The article, “Africa: UN Health Agency Issues First Hepatitis C Treatment Guidelines” talks about how the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) made the first Hepatitis C guidelines at the beginning of 2014. This new guidance focuses on improving the treatment and care for hepatitis. These guidelines also aim to make hepatitis C treatments available and more affordable because most treatments are not affordable to most people. These guidelines focus on improving the access for this treatment, which will create a demand for the treatment. They have focused on testing more people for hepatitis and the United Nations WHO states that people who are at high risk of infection should have screen testing done to establish whether there condition is chronic or not. There is also great emphasis on alcohol and patients’ affiliation with that because alcohol is closely related to liver problems, such as Hepatitis C. 

It is very important to be aware of the New Guidelines that the United Nations World Health Organization has made because Hepatitis C has killed 130-150 million people in the world, so it affects many people across the world. There are also 5 forms of Hepatitis, with Hepatitis B and C being the most severe and affecting the most amount of people. These two forms of Hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer, which can both be fatal. If these guidelines can create positive treatment in these patients, then we can reduce the amount of people with this disease, and therefore decrease the number of deaths around the world. Also if we can make this treatment more accessible and affordable, people around the world will be able to purchase it, which can in turn create people with healthier lives.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201404100284.html