Blog #10: What challanges face Somalia next?

As this blog is about health, with intention to educate myself and anyone who reads it, I find myself writing once again on BAD health, as opposed to how good a certain people are doing. The article I found and am writing on is in concern to Somalia, and how much behind the nation truly is in respects to becoming a safe place to live. When talking about the demographics of developing countries we discussed the infant mortality rates, and under-five mortality rates. Somalia has great rates of both of these. There has been numerous wars in the country, that have led to no political governance has had any chance of establishing a public health resource. When comparing it to developing nations, it is hard to even call it developing. A report by UNDP suggests that the attempts to meet the Millennium Development Goals is way off track, reaching only one out of eight with the expected deadline to be this June. This nation has no hope for bettering the health of its people and sustaining it, without the help of international organizations such as the World Health Organization. However, there are hopes that the disease and resources could improve under a new promise. The flip side of this issue is that since the war in the country has decreased there is now a rising number of suicide, homicide, and conflict related injury being accredited to mental illness. The thought is that most of these mental illness cases are related to PTSD. In the country, mental illness is definitely not looked at in the same light as it is in America. It is somewhat a taboo, with patients typically isolated, chained or kept in extreme situations. Due to a lack of clinics, social understanding, and medications to help the illnesses the nation is falling under a new wave of disruptive warfare, this one being psychological. With so many social issues it is a big challenge to try and manage this as well, yet with the help of outside sources hopefully one day Somalia might develop.

Alex Rogers, 4/24/15, 4:40 pm
http://www.coastweek.com/3816-Somalia-disease-burden-and-spiral-of-silence-on-mental-illness.htm

Blog #9, The next social disease could be very unsocial

            Throughout this semester I feel like I have explored many different regions of the globe, as well as many different ailments that many people do not know much about. I myself have not known much about the epidemics, and potential epidemics that the world has remaining in it even thought we as humans feel like we have everything under control. In regards to health and disease, most of the health related problems I have found while writing, and looking through news articles have been about some sort of disease that is a danger to spread throughout social areas. The Ebola outbreak for example spread throughout western Africa because there was a lot of people who did not know what it was, and how to prevent it. This week however, I am interested in a new global health problem that comes from lack of social activity. The story entitled "Loneliness: the next big global health problem?" written by William Reville and published by the Irish Times, explains how a lack of friends and a social support network can have serious health consequences. To quote the article, "There is very good evidence that having meaningful close relationships and diverse social connections boosts our immune system, reduces general stress and cardiovascular stress, and supports and improves mental health" (Reville). Some lifestyles that get a lot of attention for being detrimental to health have been smoking, and sedentary lifestyle which can lead to obesity, but that of unsocial behavior resulting negatively has rarely been addressed. The research done for this study suggests that loneliness and lack of social connections can increase the risk of death by 26% and 29% respectively. What is most interesting to me about this story is that of the predictions for the future and why. A survey showed that the number of Americans that say they have no close friends have tripled over recent decades. With the advance in social media many people have replaced having friends face to face with friends over the internet. That and texting have changed the way people communicate and interact. The decrease in friendly interaction is thought to continue to grow as a result of the continuing advance in technology. Who know where we will end up in future generations, but as Albert Einstein said, "I fear for the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots."

Alex Rogers, 4/17/15, 1:40 pm.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/science/loneliness-the-next-big-global-health-problem-1.2169996

Blog #8, Dental disease, an oral lesson to be learned.

           If you are one of those people who floss your teeth everyday as the dentist recommends, you are surely one of a vast minority who have a high level of oral hygiene in the world. In many places in the world people do not brush or clean their teeth at all, these less-privileged areas typically don't have the resources or knowledge concerning oral health. Odds are if you are reading this blog you have the resources to ensure proper care of your teeth and gums, but as a whole the people of this planet do not adequately clean orally to the extent of preventing disease. In the article, Dental Disease: A Global Health Challenge, research suggests that 90% of the world population are vulnerable to dental health problems at some point in life. The article also presents research that states 60-90% of children have oral cavities, and almost all of adults will have a cavity at some point. Also, research shows that about 30% of the older population, (65-74) has no natural teeth. Keep in mind that a large region of Earth is still underdeveloped and lack the money and care to ensure proper cleaning and fluoride treatment. However there are other variables responsible for the vast percentage. Bad diet, such as one high in sugar, tobacco use, and harmful alcohol use are also to blame. Even minor habits or alterations such as chewing on ice, or grinding your teeth, and lip or tongue piercings can chip or grind teeth over time. For counties with little or no health system designed to combat bad dental hygiene, it seems that the best option is to be preventative. For developed nations the problem is not being uneducated in the area, it is simply applying it. With the tobacco industry’s being such big business it doesn't seem that that will deter many people who use such goods to stop. Also, with how expensive health care is in our country many people who can't afford it will simply have to suffer. Last year I was stuck in this situation when my father was laid off, suspending his insurance policy that covered him, my mom and me. To visit the dentist without insurance is too expensive for any regular salaried individual, especially one without a job. In the end, it is hard to say that global statistics will improve much over the course of this century. It is believable however that through public health initiatives and spreading of knowledge that people will one day begins to lead healthier lives,


Alex Rogers, 4/10/15, 12:45 pm
http://leadership.ng/news/417405/dental-diseases-a-global-health-challenge

Blog #7, Autism Awareness

         As noted, April second is autism awareness day, as designated by the united nations since 2007. Accordingly I decided to dedicate this blog to spreading the awareness in the most public forum I imagine I can. Autism spectrum disorder is one of only health issues to have its own day recognized by the international body. To begin I would like debunk some common misconceptions regarding Autism. The first is that Autism is a rarity, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who states that 1 in 68 children fall under the disorder. However this suggestion regarding number estimates has no evidence other than the behavioral acknowledgements from doctors. It is suggested as well in these numbers that increased awareness and better knowledge about the disorder by doctors are allowing for more children to be diagnosed. Another common misunderstanding is that all people who fall under the category experience the same symptoms. Parenting and other environmental factors cannot trigger autism either. Some autistic individuals may have learning difficulties but that number now is estimated to be between 1 in every 200, to 10% of people. However it is more common for individuals to have trouble with communication and social interaction. From personal experience I do not see this to be a serious problem for most cases. My nephew who is 12 was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, and does at times have trouble with how to have appropriate social interaction. It is not hampering him in many ways though from what the outside world see's. He is a smart boy who has exceptional math skills and a great memory. For what he may lack in one area he is gifted in, in others. The spectrum of the disorder varies vastly and some cases are worse than others, but as the research continues and awareness continues to spread it is predictable that we will continue to better understand the disorder. Once we do that the treatment and quality of life for those individuals as well as those around them will continue to improve.



Alex Rogers, 4/3/15, 1:35 pm
http://globalnews.ca/news/1918930/world-autism-awareness-day-4-misconceptions-about-autism/

Blog #6, The (mostly) invisible killer

             With such a gripping title, I am sure you are dying to find out what people are (mostly) blind of. The answer is the most basic of human needs in order to live functioning and healthy lives. The air we breathe everyday through perhaps our most vital of involuntary habits is becoming threatened. It is no surprise that the air around cities is tainted with the particles and gaseous elements of pollution, but now we can see that it is getting worse. For countries that were underdeveloped, a lack of industry and cars have prevented the emissions from being spread into the atmosphere. There are many countries and areas such as parts of Africa and Asia that are experiencing economic growth. That is in most aspects advantageous, yet with the arrival of industrial factories and motor transport there is a rise air pollution. In an article published by Stanford Medical there is a link between air pollution and anxiety. The research at Harvard and Johns Hopkins University found a link between exposure to particulate pollution and the symptoms of anxiety. This is in addition to the connection with stroke, and other pulmonary system disease. It has also been suggested to cause low birth weight, diabetes and pre-term birth. At the cost of how our society, as well as the majority of the developed world treats our natural resources, we are worsening the conditions needed for vital health. It is becoming such public health concern that the World Health Origination has referred to it as the leading cause of pre-mature death in the world. It seems that every way that humans can neglect the environment, we do in pursuit for leisure and riches. With a technologically advancing world of human beings there is chance that we can create ways of eliminating the unattractive features of industrial advances, or we can continue to ignore the facts and follow the road to ultimate destruction.

Alex Rogers, 3/27/15, 6:05 pm

Blog #5, Tuberculosis, a danger to the developed world's?

          Lately, in terms of news and media presence concerning disease, we have been informed on the Ebola virus in West Africa. Rightfully so as it was an all out epidemic on the continent due to lack of medical treatment and sanitary living arrangements. For the most part Africa is not leading any part of the world in development, or on its way to becoming a modern like that of North America and Europe. There is however a contagious disease that is rather quietly it seems spreading through Europe. That is Tuberculosis, or TB which is infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs. It can be spread via tiny droplets in a cough or sneeze. Ebola can also be spread through this method. DailyMail.com reported that as many as 1,000 people a day contract TB in Europe. Treatment of this potentially deadly disease requires months of antibiotic treatment. This along with its drug adapting ability is making it difficult to eradicate. Estimates say that to get the disease in control (1 out of every million in a population) by the year 2050, it would have to cut down cases twice as fast. The World Health Organization has classified the drug resistance strains of TB to be "crisis level". This seems to be the modern world's "Ebola", without the world media coverage. This isn't just in Europe either, in Kansas 27 high school students tested positive for tuberculosis. They were said to be non-contagious and will have to undergo the several months of medication in order to prevent worsening of the disease. As a united world we have came along way in medicine and disease control, but everyday we are reminded that nature is ever changing creating a long way to go in medical advancement.




http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-2998836/Tuberculosis-superbug-strains-ravaging-Europe-WHO-warns.html

Alex Rogers, 4:50 pm, 3/20/15

Blog #4, The diet that is better than exercise for heart health?

It is commonly known that a clean diet, regular exercise and no smoking is the best combination for a healthy heart, When it comes to having a strong functioning heart one should consider that the heart is cardiac muscle, which means with exercise, (cardio) it gets stronger. The same as other skeletal muscle of the body a stronger muscle is more able to perform its function. One study performed at  Harokopio University in Athens Greece is suggesting that the diet common in the Mediterranean can have strong health benefits, even more so than exercise. The study was done using adults age 18 to 89, opposed to the middle age population that most heart health studies partake. The individuals in the study reported their health each year for eleven years, and were surveyed on the diet and health traits. Overall the participants who stuck to a mostly Mediterranean style diet was 47% less likely to develop heart disease. The global connection this research could provide is the foods commonly enjoyed in the Mediterranean diet are foods that are common and easy to find in most areas. Oily fish, nuts, fruits and vegetables are a few that are mentioned, other typical foods include. With the ease of finding these foods at local markets this diet could give influence to a population here in the US that enriches it's diets with high sugar, saturated fats, and processed refined grains. Not suggesting a complete switch in diet styles, but by adapting to and creating a Mediterranean influenced diet more common in other areas of the world we can possibly lower the global amount of heart disease, as well as indirect benefits such as diabetes and hypertension. Should this diet style in fact be extremely helpful in combating heart disease, the common foods are already available to us in America, the challenge is to get the general population to enjoy them instead of the buckets of fried chicken and artificial burgers that the public eats everyday.

Alex Rogers, 3/6/15, 11:03 am

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/mediterranean-diet-better-than-exercise-at-preventing-heart-disease-regardless-of-your-age-or-gender-study-finds-10088468.html

Blog #3, Can climate change bring disease with it?

             In this weeks article put out by The Washington Post, the story involved two global issues that I have heard plenty about, but not before together. As Dominic Basulto tells us in "The weird way that climate change could lead to new disease outbreaks around the world", there is speculation that the recent global warming could increase the commonalty of infectious disease around the world. The logic behind this thought is that with the changes in climate, the ecosystem will change as well potentially putting humans into contact with new pathogens. These pathogens could lead to a rise in vector-borne disease (such as malaria), as they spread to more temperate climates. This is scary considering people in Europe and the US could be at risk for disease typically only seen in tropic, or sub-tropical climates. Would the post-industrial nations such as America be prepared for a possible influx of contagions? If this is in fact possible, it would apply a lot of support to those working towards saving the planet through reducing the human responsible contributions to the planet warming. Daniel Brooks of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln says “We have to admit we’re not winning the war against emerging diseases,” when explaining what he thinks would be a good place to start in preventing a disease spread. He adds that scientists are not prepared for new pathogens, and not understanding their biology. By understanding where they could come from and the evolutionary relationships to see what species could carry a potentially deadly disease, Brooks thinks we can have a head start if such an epidemic was to ever happen.

Alex Rogers, 2/18/15 8:32 pm.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/wp/2015/02/18/the-weird-way-that-climate-change-could-lead-to-new-disease-outbreaks-around-the-world/

Blog number 2, Finding the Balance.

               Throughout my entire life I have been fortunate enough to never have food insecurity. My parents always took care of me and my siblings with ample food, and provided it in a mostly nutritious balance. Unfortunately, a lot of the world is not so fortunate as to always have the next meal without concern. World hunger has been a concern and a fight for quite a while, but world organizations have been able to assist and diminish the global crisis, especially over the past few decades. However, when trying to supply vast amounts of people with sufficient food, the quality of food is going to have to be lowered. Cheap food is going to be less expensive, and for developing nations, that may be all they can afford. In the article "Obesity weighs on Latin America after success in fight against hunger", it is addressed that an unlikely outcome of the efforts to reduce hunger issues in Latin countries, obesity levels are rising faster than any other developing nations. The reason? unhealthy cheap foods. The market for food in these countries is dominated by multinational food and beverage firms that create high sugar, sodium, and fat diets for people. The story tells of a Latino woman who was in a fast food chicken type of place purchasing a bucket of fried chicken which would feed her family with an affordable price. The issue of poverty stricken areas having higher obesity rates is not new news, and is found on every scale from national to our own neighbors. For example, in Cherokee NC, the rates of obesity and depression are evident because of the cheap tasty foods such as cookies and microwavable snacks that cost maybe a few dollars. It is no lie that healthier foods do cost more money, and for countries such as mexico it is not available, and not affordable. The problem has shifted from a lack of food, to a more than necessary amount. More importantly a more fattening, unhealthy amount. The question is though, is it better for these countries to have the increasing amounts of obesity and the diseases that parallel with it, or be suffering to find ample amounts of food? For these typically poor nations, my answer is finding the balance. Obesity related problems cost the Mexican economy an estimated 5.5 billion dollars in 2008, with an estimated 12.5 billion by the year 2017. That tremendous amount of money is counteractive the actions taken to supply food to the people. If the country can counteract this rise with the proactive strategies that are already trying to be put in place, perhaps the rates will slow, and eventually begin to decline. Hopefully.

Alex Rogers, 2/13/15, 10:50 am.
http://whbl.com/news/articles/2015/feb/13/obesity-weighs-on-latin-america-after-success-in-fight-against-hunger/

Blog # Test: Test blog

This is only a test.


Alex Rogers 1/19/15
3:18 pm