Blog #15: Women Finding Balance

Women have to find balance in their personal, professional, and educational lives. Family is usually the most important aspect of their lives. So the household, children, and home always comes first. This is acheived through the "divide and conquer" strategy. A married woman might have her husband cook while she cleans and take care of the children ater a long day at work. She might even delegate household chores to the children to help out. A single mother has to balance her time even more. She doesn't have the luxury of depending on another adult in the home. The children usually have more responsibility and chores in this type of home. For every woman, there are only 24 hours in a day. Therefore, everyone must contribute in order to make the business of the home run smoothly.
Samisha

Blog #14: How to Reduce the Risk of Assault

I have never been assaulted because I do certain things to ensure my safety. For instance, before I get into my car, I look in the front and back seats just to make sure no one is hiding in my car. I carry pepper spray on my key chain. Whenever I am walking in an unfamiliar place, my hand is on the pepper spray and I am ready to use it. In addition, I know how many people are around me at all times and exactly what they look like. In an event that I get attacked, I can describe exactly what my attacker looks like. When I get home late at night, I make sure the front door to my apartment is still locked before I open it. I also check all closets and other hiding spaces before I get comfortable. These are just a few things that I routinely do to ensure my safety. I believe that if all women practice these simple safety tips, they would be much safer.
Samisha

Blog #13: Alcohol and Drugs

In my opinion, it is a sign of weakness to fall into addiction and a strength to admit that there is a problem. Unfortunately many people fall victim to drugs and alcohol in order to deal with everyday life. They are not strong enough to find another way of dealing with problems. Alcohol and drugs can numb the pain caused from family, friends and life's problems. Yet, addiction brings about an entirely new set of problems. Finances and relationships suffer from addiction. Strength is exibited when a person wants to lead a sober life and finds a constructive way to deal with their issues.

Blog #12: Mental Illness

In my younger days, mental illness to me was a "crazy person" who was locked away with a straight jacket in a padded cell. As I got older, I realized that mental illness is a disease and now I have a different view of those people. Mental illnesses involve people who suffer from bipolar disorder, depression, and obsessive- compulsive disorder (OCD), just to name a few. (Alexander, 2010) Theses are considered diseases that many take medications to control. I don't believe the mentally ill choose to be ill just as a drug addict doesn't choose their addiction. It is a sickness. Therefore, if these people are born with these illnesses, then we, as a society, should be more acceptable of them. These people want to be "normal" just like everyone else. We accept physically handicapped people. We have made accomadations for them over the years. They have wheelchair ramps and parking spaces at every building. If we can do that for the physically disabled, then we can do it for the mentally disabled. Once we look at mental illness as a disease, then people can be more accepting.

1. Alexander et al. (2010). New dimensions in women's health. (5th ed). Sudbury, Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Blog #11: Aging Healthy

Does anyone really want to get older? Bad things seem to happen to aging people. Older people get cancer, can't do things they used to do, and die more often than younger people. Some illnesses and ailments are unpreventable but others are not. The preventable illnesses and diseases are my concentration to ensure my health in the future.
I am trying to eat healthier, such as less fried foods and more fruits. It's hard for me because I love good food. Yet, I understand that unhealthy eating leads to obesity, which also leads to other ailments. I should exercise more often but I don't. I would like to enroll in a gym or have a workout partner to encourage me. I easily quit when exercising is involved so I need someone with me. In addition, I perform monthly self breast exams looking for irregularities in my breast. I have yearly pap smears for cervical cancer. I even lotion my skin daily to ensure less wrinkles as I age. Some things come with age but others can be prevented in the earlier years.

Samisha

Blog #10: Heart Disease

According to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, heart disease is the No. 1 worldwide killer of women and men. Heart disease or cardiovascular disease includes strokes and heart attacks, which involves the narrowing or blocking of blood vessels. The symptoms can appear different ways in men and women.
The most common symptom for men and women is chest pain. Women might have a shortness of breath, sweating, or unusual fatigue. (Mayo Foundation, 2009) These symptoms seem to be unrelated to cardiovascular disease so it is easily misdiagnosed. According to the Mayo Foundation, women tend to have severe damage to the heart when they show up in an Emergency Room due to the less obvious symptoms.
Although the symptoms are different , the risk factors are the same for men and women. The older people get, the higher the changes of having heart disease. Smoking, hypertension, and high cholesterol also increases the chances. Older men and women should remain physically active, refrain from smoking, and excessive alcohol intake to lower the chances. (National Institute of Health, 2009) The disease manifests differently men ans women but tht severity is the same.


National Institute of Health. (March 2009). What are heart disease risk factors? Retrieved from website: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/hd/hd_whatare.html

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (June 23, 2009). Heart Disease. Retrieved from website: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-disease/DS01120

Blog #9

My parents didn't really monitor what my brother and I ate or the amount of food we ate. My mother and father worked full-time jobs so we ate microwaveable dinners often. It was easier for my parents to pick up fast food on the way home from work than to cook. As I got older, my father noticed my weight gain. He would make comments about my "flabby arms" or my "love handles" but never offered to put healthier food in the refrigerator. I often felt that he should've offered a solution instead criticizing. Today, we still eat at buffets and he continues to make comments about my weight.
My family has a lot of influence on food and my body. I eat whatever I want becasue I've never had stipulations on what I could eat. Healthy eating was unheard of in my family. We were also able to eat until we got full. Full often meant stuffed in my household and my parents didn't have a problem with it. In my adult life, I still eat like that. I struggle with eating until I feel full. Over the years, I've tried to lessen my portions and eat healthier snacks between meals. I must say that I do eat better than I used to. Food have and always will be my weakness.
Samisha

Blog #8: Menopause In A Different Light

Menopause is viewed as something scary and unnatural. Like menstrual cycles, menopause is a word that people associate with moody women. Yet, they are both very natural processes. When a woman goes through menopause, her ovaries are not producing hormones. Estrogen and progesterone sustain her homeostatic balance. Once those hormones are not naturally produced anymore, she may experience hot flashes, bone loss, and vaginal changes. (Alexander et al, 2010) The only way for society to change its views on menopause is to equate it with something beautiful.
Menstrual cycles was once a taboo subject but is now seen on television. It is even discussed in schools with young girls as a natural process. It is now equated with the entrance of womanhood. Menopause should be equated with the age of distinguished womanhood. These women have raised their children and are looking to regain their independence. It is a age to think about retirement and traveling. I believe that if positive light was shed on menopause and aging women, society would view it differently.

Works Cited

1. Alexander et al. (2010). New dimensions in women’s health. 5th ed. Sudberry, Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Bog #7

I do not believe that STDs should be equated with immorality, promiscous behavior, or low social status. In my opinion, people who agree with that are ignorant. I know many kids who attended the best private schools and family forced them to church every Sunday who have contracted at least one STD during their lifetime. It is possible to be the most educated and yet make bad decisions. Contracting an STD is a direct result of a bad decision. The bad decision was not using a condom or have sex at all. When I was growing up, the local preachers' children had the worst attitudes and were more sexually active than most people. One would say that they should be most well- behaved and of higher morals than other kids. Yet, they were more at risk of contracting an STD due to multiple sexual partners. Thsi suggests to me that immorality, promiscuity, and social class have nothing to do with the chances of contracting STDs.

Blog #6

I am currently childless by choice. I want to be married and established in my marriage before the kids come along. I have taken a stand against single- motherhood. I didn't grow up in a single- parent family and I refuse to raise my child I one if I can help it. My mother and father have been married for 28 years and I want that for my children. I saw my mother, aunts, and cousins raised in single- parent homes. It was tough on the mothers and kids, especially if there are multiple children. The mothers have to work to provide because they are the sole bread- winners but the children are left to take care of themselves. Plus, it makes for a harder situation when the fathers don't pay child support. I know I could get married and eventually get divorced because things just didn't work out. But I'm determined to find the man God created just for me before I have children. If I never find that man by age 35, I would consider adoption because I know I would make an excellent mother to some child, if not my own.

Samisha

Bolg #5: Contraception

Cultures, beliefs, and practices does influence contraceptive decision making. My family believes in using all resources that are available to prevent pregnancy. My mother put me on birth control pills at the age of 16 even though she was reluctant at first. She thought her permission for pills would be agreeing to me having sex. Once she realized that a teenage daughter on birth control pills is a lot better than a teenage daughter pregnant, she agreed. My family also believes that if a young girl becomes pregnant before she is able to handle life with a child, she should have an abortion. My father even gave my brother a bag of condoms once he found out he was sexually active. If I had become pregnant before I was ready to be a mother, I would've had an abortion and my parents would've wanted me to.
Although I consider myself prochoice, I recognize that people of different backgrounds have opposite views. As I watch the popular television show "18 and Counting," this becomes apparent. This is a family of Protestants who don't believe in contraception or abortion. Their faith says that children are a gift from God and he determines how many children a woman will have. Therefore, this family has 18 children. My heart goes out to any woman who can handle 18 vaginal deliveries. I do see childbirth as a beautiful thing, but I don't believe that people should just keep having children who aren't ready. Therefore, their faith says contraception is a bad thing and mine says its okay.

Samisha

Blog #4: My First Cycle

The day a young girl starts her menstrual cycle is a day to remember. She may experience shame, embarrassment or even confusion. My first day was one that I will never forget. I was warned about what would happen by my older cousins so I wasn't confused. They explained to me that one day I would just start bleeding and I shouldn't be afraid. Thankfully, my cousins informed me on what a cycle was because my mother never talked to me about it. Although it wasn't really a traumatic experience, it was a day that I will never forget.
I was 9 years old and in the 4th grade when I started my cycle. I remember sitting at my desk in the classroom and feeling like I was wet between my legs. I knew I wasn't urinating on myself so I didn't understand why I felt so wet. I raised my hand and asked the teacher to go to the restroom. She gave me a hall pass and allowed me to exit the classroom. When I got up from my seat, I felt a sudden rush of something wet in my pants. I ran to the restroom and found a lot of blood in my underwear and pants. I wasn't scared because I knew exactly what it was. So I went back to the classroom and told the teacher that I started my cycle and she sent me to the nurse's office. The nurse gave me a pad and change of clothes then called my mother. My mother asked me if I was scared and I told her no. She also asked me if I wanted her to pick me up and I told her no. I told her that I was okay and we could talk about it when I got home. When I got home, we talked about what my body was going through and she talked about how proud she was of me for being so brave.
Therefore, I understood what was happening to me because of my cousins. If they hadn't talked to me about menstrual cycles, I probably wouldn't have handled that as well as I did.

Samisha

Encouraging Adolescents to Follow Healthy Behaviors

In my opinion, the way to encourage the younger generations to follow healthy behaviors is to open the lines of communication. Health educators , parents and others have a duty to provide education to adolescents. I had to learn things about life, finances, and my body fro either my friends or the television. Looking back in time, my friends were not the best source if information but I couldn't talk to my parents or any other figures of authority about those subjects. I wanted to talk to my mother and get her advice about sex but I was just told that I would learn about it when I got older. Well, the age never came when we could sit down and I could ask her questions. Children want to know that their parents were once young and uninformed too. I vowed to have more communication with my own children. I want them to feel comfortable coming to me with any questions or concerns about any subject.
In order to open those lines of communication, parents have to talk to their children about their past experiences. Mothers must inform their daughters about the importance of PAP Smears and regular well- woman exams. Fathers must tell their sons about the importance of using condoms to avoid STD's and having annual prostate screeeings once they turn 50. Health educators must tell their patients about eating healthy diets and exercising regularly. We have to also tell them what the consequences are if they do not follow our examples. I once heard that life is the best teacher. Yet, if we can avoid these things happening to young people by telling our stories, then we should not be afraid to tell the world.

Samisha

Healthcare: A Right or Priviledge?

I believe that access to healthcare is both a right and a priviledge. The uninsured do have access to healthcare. They are able to go to a hospital or clinic to receive care at little or no charge. If they were to go into a hospital, they would not be turned away without receiving any care. So healthcare is available to them. On the other hand, the uninsured won't receive the quality of care that the insured will receive. The insured can be seen at a doctor's office with little or no wait without entering a hospital. They can also go to a nicer hospital and be seen by the doctor of their choice whereas the uninsured cannot.
I believe that healthcare should be a right that is given to every American. Yet, the men and women in Washington haven't figured out a way to make that happen yet. So, as of today, the uninsured will receive healthcare but the insured will receive a better quality of care.

Samisha

Health Concerns

My main health concern is breast cancer. Breast cancer is prevalent in my family. My cousin was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 22. She found the lump herself and had it checked out by her doctor immediately. Luckily, she baught the lump at the early stages. Four years later, she had the lump removed and went through chemotherapy. She is doing great now. Other family members have also been diagnosed with breast cancer, such as my grandmother and aunts. it seems that family members are getting cancer at younger ages, so that encourages me to do self breast exams more often. My co- workers have many of the same health concerns as me. Amy, a nurse, had a cousin who died from cervical cancer at the age of 32. Amy is concerned about her own health and the health of her daughter. She is even researching the HPV vaccine for her daughter. A student in the ultrasound program at my hospital is concerned about cancer for her family. In studying cancer and what it does to the body systems, she fears for the health of her family. Another co- worker, Kristan, has a strong family history of heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. She has had two uncles loss their legs due to diabetes and her father had a stroke at the age of 50. She is doing her part to lessen the chances of being affected by these diseases, such as not smoking and eating healthier foods. Although we are four women of different ages and ethnicities, we all have similar health concerns.

Samisha