Blog 15: Final Reflection

Thinking back over the course of this semester, my understanding and concern for women's health has expanded. My own self awareness and self worth has been strengthened as a result of the topics presented in this course. I am proud to be able to walk away from this course with a greater respect for global women's health. I can hardly believe that the course is about to end. I have truly enjoyed the subject matter and learning tools utilized this semester.
The course has engaged me in every way possible. I have laughed, cried, clinched my teeth in anger and even vowed to make some personal changes in  my own life. I never expected to discuss half of the topics presented this semester. The topics which evoked the most interest were those of a controversial nature affecting women worldwide. The module which presented the truth surrounding sex trafficking was the most memorable to me. I was shocked to find out how this horrifying lifestyle was being forced on women from different backgrounds (either by coercion or deception). Female genital mutilation was also a difficult subject to discuss. Becoming aware of the brutality inflicted on these victims was overwhelming.
There were several topics discussed this semester in which I would need to write a book to reflect on. The weekly blogs were especially special because they allowed me to connect with my peers and build relationships that may last a lifetime. I am definitely pleased with the way the course unfolded and I would recommend it to anyone with a desire to work with the public in the future.
Martinetta V.

Blog 14: What are some possible strategies for women to use in finding balance in their professional, educational and personal lives?

Finding a balance between personal and professional life obligations can be a very difficult task. There are many factors to consider throughout this process. Many of us fail to determine which of our choices take precedence or priority in our lives. I believe in order to find a balance between these things an individual must access which obligation is most important to them. In our society, it is not uncommon to literally, "want it all"; an education, a fabulous career and a family. Managing these things require great prioritizing and organizational skills. In my experience, life does not always unfold according to plan, but being able to set priorities does limit the amount of stress one experiences. Time management skills also contribute to the success of balancing various life obligations. Daily activities require aggressive time management in order to balance out successfully. It is important for individuals to focus on those activities that are necessary and eliminate those that are not. As women, we sometimes take on more activities than we can handle, which causes lots of stress. It is important that we learn how to balance our time better. It is ok to reduce the stress of time management by saying "no" when additional obligations become to much to handle. It is also ok to ask family for help through certain situations. The love and support of family and friends can make a world of difference in finding a balance between ones professional, educational and personal lives.
Martinetta   

Blog 13: Jail or mandatory rehab for drug addicts

Drug addiction is a serious condition in which many people in our society are affected by. Aside from the uncontrollable cravings and the individual effects these substances have on the human body, drugs cause drastic psychological changes in the lives of the abuser. Often addicts will do any and everything to satisfy a drug/alcohol craving. Lying, stealing and killing all lie within the scope of character for a drug addict. Frequent run-ins with the law become common experiences for most addicts. The question then becomes, Is jail or mandatory drug rehab more appropriate for drug addicts?
Jail provides only a short term solution to what is a very long term problem. Even more so, many convicted criminals confirm that drugs can be obtained in jail just as easily as they could on the outside.The fact that jail is the most common punishment for abusers who commit crimes, and drug rates are still increasing, makes this question easy to answer.
I definitely believe that mandatory rehabilitation is a better alternative than jail for drug addicts. In my opinion, any condition which causes a person to be obsessed with an action or behavior is a mental illness. Addicts suffer from a mental illness that requires aggressive treatment to combat. This treatment should be carried out in specialized facilities with specially trained personnel providing the care. Since addiction is a condition that can be overcome, it is realistic to provide opportunity for recovery in a drug rehabilitation program. This will not only benefit the drug addict but it will also benefit society as it will allow the addict to transition back to a place of wellness and productivity.
Martinetta

Blog12: Mental health

The stigma of mental health disorders cause a great deal of strain on the lives of individuals who suffer from them. Despite the issue of having to live with and manage these conditions, individuals also face the burden of being judged by society based on a biological trait in which they have no control over. Many people associate mental illness, with weakness or negative actions. In our society, violence and danger seems to consume our thoughts when we think of a person with a mental health disorder. This causes victims to be angry, ashamed and self concious. For these reasons, individual's with mental health issues may choose not to seek treatment (MayoClinic, 2009).
In order to reduce the stigma and shame that surrounds mental illness, society must begin to respect those individuals who suffer from these conditions. Instead of teasing and living in fear around these individuals, we must take the time to become educated on their condition. There are many misconceptions about individuals with mental health issues; the key is to become educated and embrace these individuals as productive members of society.

Reference:
MayoClinic. (2009). Mental health: Overcoming the stigma of mental illness. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mental-health/MH00076

Blog 11: Living with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Chronic illnesses are no doubt a major problem in many parts of the developed and under developed world. Living with a chronic illness is a tough experience for any individual. These conditions are so prevalent that we all know at least one person living with some type of chronic disease.  Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation and destruction of healthy tissue in the body. The destruction occurs most commonly in the skin, joints and blood (Lupus Foundation of America, 2010). This disease is more common in women than in men.
I recently had the opportunity to interview Debra, a 60 year old, African American female, living with SLE.When asked to describe living with such a debilitating disease, Debra responded, there are definitely some good and bad days living with this condition. She stated, "I was diagnosed with the condition when I was 35 years old, therefore, I've experienced many flare up and remission periods. I asked Debra to describe in detail how she feels during a typical flare up. She described being limited in her ability to perform daily activities. Pain is usually the cause of her limitation. Debra stated, at times she has felt like her skin was on fire due to the inflammation caused by her condition. She is very weak and tired during these periods and it is hard for her to get out of bed. Debra has been taking steroid medication (prednisone) for over 20 years for her illness. She states, this medication is the only thing that gives her the strength she needs to get up and move about. She is admitted into the hospital at least once a year for IV therapy, when she is unable to get proper relief at home. When the disease is in remission, she usually has no trouble enjoying life. I asked Debra, what she does to achieve extended remission periods. She admits, in the past she only relied on medication to help her, but recently she has started eating better and attending water aerobics. Although, initially she was not convinced any change in her behavior would help, she now realizes that she was wrong, because she has not been admitted to the hospital for this condition in the last year.Debra encourages anyone suffering from a chronic condition to do their best to ensure a better quality of life by becoming more active. I agree, it's worth it.

References: 
Lupus Foundation of America. (2010). Understanding lupus. Retrieved from http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_learnunderstanding.aspx?articleid=2232&zoneid=523

Blog 10: How does heart disease manifest differently in women than men?

Many are aware that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in men and women worldwide (Alexander, LaRosa, Bader, Garfield & Alexander, 2010). Despite advances in technology and increasing knowledge, many disparities exist between the manifestation of heart disease amongst women versus men. Research has shown women to be affected with heart disease at later stages than men (Brower, 2002). I believe this may be related to a delayed response to early symptoms. Female symptoms related to heart attacks are frequently different from those of men, which makes the condition difficult to diagnose. Classic symptoms found in men such as chest  pain, shoulder pain and shortness of breath are accompanied by nausea, fatigue and dizziness in women (Medline Plus, 2010). Furthermore, many women may delay going to the doctor in response to certain health stressors due to other familial obligations or lack of knowledge regarding these warning signs.
According to Medline Plus (2010) women admitted for a heart attack die at higher rates than men admitted for the same condition. Women also have higher risk of complications following a heart attack versus men (Brower, 2002). Due to these disparities, it is important for women to understand early warning signs and risk factors associated with heart disease. The key to reducing the overwhelming effects of heart disease on womens health is education. It is never too early to start protecting our hearts by becoming aware of those things that put us at risk the most. I'd like to think that a smarter mind makes a stronger heart.

References:
Alexander, L., LaRosa, J., Bader, H., Garfield, S. & Alexander, W. (2010). New dimensions in womens health, (5th Ed.). Sudbury, MA.: Jones and Bartlett Publishers

Brower, V. (2002). Sex matters. Retrieved on November 5, 2010 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1307609/

Medline Plus. (2010). Heart disease and women. Retrieved on November 2, 2010 from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007188.htm

Blog 9: What influence the media has on our bodies

Like it or not the media has a big influence on the way women perceive their bodies. We all notice the way that almost every add on T.V. seems to portray women in a glamorous, but unrealistic manner. I say unrealistic because the women presented in most ads are not portrayed in the image of the average woman. Most of the ads represent women who are size two and under. It is unrealistic for every woman to be viewed as being extremely thin. These types of images tend to make most women and young girls insecure about their bodies. These days getting plastic surgery is like getting a tattoo. So many of us see these unattainable bodies in the media and we think that we have to duplicate them in order to be considered beautiful. Beauty comes in all different shapes and sizes, but it would never be evident if we continue to let the media set the standard for what beauty is. Health educators are presented with the challenges of influencing individual lifestyles through education on a daily basis. They must start by building self esteem programs within the community. Health educators can also advocate against adds that have been technologically altered to portray false images of women. Young girls are affected the most because they do not understand the extend to which these images are changed before being displayed. Women must be taught at early ages to love themselves and to embrace their bodies in order to change the way they perceive themselves in the media.
Although for years the media has negatively influenced women perceptions of their bodies, they have recently made some attempts to change. For example, Tyra Banks has attempted to change the face of beauty by providing opportunities for women of different shapes, sizes and color on her show "America's Next Top Model". Full figured models are more accepted today than they were years ago. I believe the key to changing the standard view of what beauty is, lies in seeing diverse portrayals of it on a regular basis.
Martinetta Victorian