Blog #15

Over the past several weeks we have learned about several important health topics and how they relate to women. One of the most impactful topics we have discussed has been about hormones and menopause. As a woman, I believe it is important to understand our bodies and how they effect our everyday life. Hormones play a major role in shaping who we are as women. The information I have gained on menopause has also been beneficial. I have many family members entering into this stage of life and the knowledge I have been given allows me the ability to relate and sympathize with them. This knowledge will also help guide me through the years I have ahead and lead me to make the right decisions for my body. Overall, I have learned an enormous amount of information over the past semester. It has been wonderful to be able to interact with my fellow students each week. Even though I have never met any of these individuals, I feel as though I have. I appreciate every one's opinions, encouragement, and advice.

Work Life Balance

From personal experience I can attest to the fact that managing a work life balance is extremely challenging. I have discovered that the higher one climbs up the corporate ladder, the more work there is to be done and much less time to complete it. Through my experience I have found that while maintaining a work life balance it is very important to pick your battles and always take one day at a time. Unfortunately along the way there will be times when you may have to sacrifice time away from your family. Working hard and staying dedicated to your job will usually buy you some time away from work to spend with your family. It is also important to have a strong support system at home to help keep you motivated through the difficult times. A supportive partner can also be helpful while pursuing your education. My husband is always very helpful in distracting our children while I'm hard at work studying. Overall, the best strategy for maintaining a balanced life is to always keep a positive attitude. Don't get me wrong, there are always those days when you just need to let it all out, but try not to make that a habit. A positive attitude will always get you so much further in life.

Strength or Weakness?

It is a sign of personal strength for a woman to admit that she has a problem with alcohol or drugs. Conversely, it is a sign of weakness for a woman not to admit that she has a drug or alcohol problem. For most people it is extremely difficult to admit that you have a problem that cannot be fixed on your own. Often times a lack of courage to ask for help that is to blame for a bad situation turning into a much worse situation. It takes a strong person to admit their weaknesses and ask for assistance. Addictions that are not properly treated usually lead to other addictive behaviors. For example, an alcohol problem can easily turn into an issue with bad relationships. Or an eating disorder could eventually become a drug problem. It is important to seek out the proper care associated with your health issue to avoid prolonged health risks. The quality of your life and the life of your family is in jeopardy. Therefore, asking for help is the first step in reclaiming what is rightfully yours. The opportunity to achieve success in life. Personally, I applaud anyone who has the strength to say enough is enough and take action!

Mental Illness

In order to reduce the stigma and shame that often surrounds mental illness, it is important to educate others. An educated individual will be less likely to ostracise those suffering from mental illness. In turn, this will create a healthier living environment for all parties involved. Without a healthy living environment the progress and well being of someone with a mental illness may be compromised. It is the responsibility of loved ones and educators to provide the necessary education. There are many prominent foundations that educate the public about other types of diseases, however, there aren't many foundations that raise awareness about mental illness. Why should these illnesses be allowed to go unnoticed? The mental illness community seems isolated from other medical conditions. An individual suffering from mental illness deserves every opportunity to be successful, and should never be ashamed of their disability. Therefore, public awareness holds the key so that proper treatment and research can be achieved.

Living with Your Future in Mind

If everyone lived "with our future in mind", I think that we would live differently. How often have you heard someone say : "Boy, if I knew then what I know now things would be different." Unfortunately in life you are not given many opportunities for a redo. Therefore it is of the utmost importance to live your life keeping the future in mind. Living this way is something that can be difficult for most since we tend to get set in our ways later in life. A lifestyle change can be difficult to accomplish. Also, teaching our children by example will not only help to improve your future, but also the future of your children.

Eating and behavioral habits are two ways to live for the future. Adjustments in these two areas alone will greatly improve your future health and quality of life. It will also assist in limiting the chances of chronic illnesses. Eliminating bad habits such as smoking, poor eating, and scarce physical activity are only a few ways to improve your future health. It sounds like an easy fix, but that's not the case. Change is difficult and often scary. Finding a good support system is key. Involving friends and family in your quest for a healthier future can be extremely motivating and life changing.

Academic Institutions and Disease Prevention

Academic institutions can take on a more active role in disease prevention for women by promoting awareness and education. Young adults often share a carefree attitude and feel a since of invincibility. An academic institution has the ability to promote necessary health and wellness information to young adults. Promoting health awareness will assist young women in living healthier and fuller lives. Making healthy choices begins at a young age and is critical in the battle of disease prevention. Academic institutions should encourage their students to form health interests groups that can inform others of the importance of healthy living. From my experience, young adults seem to listen to what their peers have to say versus the advice of a mature adult. Nonetheless, disease prevention is an important aspect of daily living and should begin at an early age in order to make a true difference.

Challenges of a Healthy Diet and Exercise

Many challenges come to mind when I begin to think about maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine. The first challenge of maintaining a healthy diet is time. Nowadays time is a precious commodity and not easily managed. In order to consume balanced and nutritious meals time must be spent planning, shopping and preparing those meals. At times it is more convenient to run through a drive-thru window and dinner for four ready in under ten minutes.

Another challenge of healthy eating is the expense related to health food. Personally, I prefer to shop at health food stores. The produce and other foods available are far superior to other types of grocery stores. However, there is also a cost associated with that superiority. The financial hardship that many of us are feeling today greatly limits the amount of healthy choices we are able to buy at the supermarket.

Maintaining a proper exercise routine also shares the same challenges of time and money. Proper time must be set aside to engage in adequate amounts of physical activity. Usually this means waking up extra early in the morning or fighting the crowds after work a the gym. Money comes in to play with gym memberships and workout equipment. Another challenge facing exercise is motivation. Finding the motivation to wake up early or fight the after work gym crowd is hard work in itself. Although mainatining a healthy diet and exercise routine is challenging, the outcome is well worth the effort.

Menopause

After reading the supplemental article about health beliefs and hormone replacement therapy, my opinion of HRT has not been clarified. It seems that the choice of whether or not to choose HRT is based upon a choice of the lesser of two evils. Without HRT women are left susceptible to osteoporosis, and with the use of HRT women are left with the possibility of developing cancer. Which is the right decision? I have come to the conclusion that the right choice differs greatly from woman to woman. A woman that has a family history of developing cancer should seriously consider their options before undergoing HRT, and vice versa for women at risk of osteoporosis.

STD Testing

Fortunately I have never been put in the position of helping a friend or loved one through a STD scare. However, if I did find myself in such a position, I would definitely urge them to speak with their physician as soon as possible. Your physician knows best and can recommend the best treatment for your particular circumstances. Sexually transmitted diseases can be very scary and intimidating, but lack of proper treatment can only make the situation worse.

I believe it is also important to remain a strong support system for friends or loved ones who have contracted an STD. It may seem humiliating or embarrassing for them, so more support and less judgement will be more beneficial and allow them an opportunity to regain their self-esteem.

Surrogate Mothers

It will never cease to amaze me how a woman can go through the entire process of pregnancy for someone else. I couldn't fathom being a surrogate mother, and God bless the women who choose to help couples that cannot achieve pregnancy for themselves. The connection a woman feels to her baby during pregnancy is remarkable to say the least. A woman would have to have the right mindset and a strong will to bring joy to other families. The emotional toll alone of pregnancy is enormous. It is quite apparent that surrogate mothers do not enter into such an agreement for the money. There simply is not a price tag that can be assigned a woman's emotions during and after pregnancy. How do you mentally prepare yourself for surrogacy?

Children

Throughout my early adulthood I did not have much of an opinion of those individuals that were in favor of abortion, but I did always know that it wouldn't be an option for me. My point of view was that I didn't have any place judging others on their decisions. These individuals would know, more than myself, whether or not it was the right decision for themselves. However, my opinion of abortion has changed drastically in recent years. I can confidently say that I am now 100% against abortion. Being a young mother of two, I can sympathize with other scared and unprepared parents. My first son was conceived at the ripe age of twenty-one and needless to say it was a surprise, but a much welcomed surprise. My husband and myself learned really quickly what it was to be a responsible parent in a committed relationship. We were in it together for the long haul. It seems as though many young people today have been raised to be selfish and self-centered. Abortion has become an easy way out for careless individuals who are scared of responsibility. Children are gift from God and should be treated as such.

Recently, I had a close family member find themselves in a similar position as myself, young and unprepared. However, they chose a much different outcome to my disappointment. It was at this moment that I knew that abortion is not something I could ever support. Abortion does not just affect the woman involved, but the entire family. This beautiful and innocent child will never be able to feel the love that we as a family were prepared to give to them. Today, the couple has decided to part ways, and this has been difficult for everyone. My heart aches every time I think about the baby that I will never get to meet and love.

Please notice that I never stated that I was against pro-choice. I do believe that their are extremely special circumstances where a woman should be allowed to make the difficult decision of whether or not to have an abortion. Instances of rape and molestation are touchy matters and these women should never be judged when deciding to abort. Their circumstances were forced upon them without any regard for their well being.

My children are nothing short of a blessing and I thank God for them each and every day. I just wish that others would act responsibly or take responsibility for their actions. Life is not something to take lightly.

Sex Education

Sex Education should be taught in our nation's schools. Which format should be chosen should not only be determined by grade level, but also by the parents and/or guardians of each student.

Lower level grades should initially be educated with abstinence-only programs that are age appropriate. Students in higher level grades should be given an option of which type of course they would prefer, abstinence-only or abstinence-plus. This choice should be made collectively by the students and their parents. Our government shouldn't impose sex education courses that may conflict with the values of American families.

Overall, sex education in our nation's schools is an important piece of education for a student to receive. Conversations between parents and their children can sometimes be uncomfortable and embarrassing. In turn, causing children not to receive vital information concerning their health.

Preventive Practices

Overall, on a scale from one to ten (ten being the best), I would rate may preventive practices as a seven. There are a few preventative practices that I have already implemented in my daily routine, but there is always room for improvement. One area that definitely has room for improvement is my lack of consistent physical activity. My days tend to be filled from start to finish, so it can be hard to find the time for exercise. Whenever possible I try to implement my physical activity along with play time with my six year old son. He is really into sports, so its fun to throw the baseball around the yard or even ride bikes together. Not only is time a factor in finding a consistent exercise routine, but also finding the energy and motivation to get physical. This leads me into my next area of much needed improvement, sleep. Sleep has been a rare commodity for me recently because we have an infant that doesn't always sleep through the night. When he does sleep through, I'm up trying to talk myself out of checking in on him to make sure that he is okay. Hopefully with time this won't be as big an issue for me.

Luckily, there are some things that I am doing right, like eating a balanced diet, using alcohol in moderation and receiving routine health care from our family doctor. Since I am not a picky eater, diet has never been much of an issue for me to maintain. Portion sizes are always important to keep in mind at each meal. Whenever we find an opportunity to kick back, without the kids, we may have a drink or two in moderation. Nowadays I find myself ready to go to sleep only after a couple of drinks. Finally, keeping up with routine doctor visits are important for the whole family.

The one thing that I would like to change the most about my preventative practices is my lack of physical activity. I have always heard that exercise will give you more energy throughout the day. My husband goes to the gym four to five times a week and he always seems to have a lot more energy than myself. Exercise not only gives you, but it is also a great source of stress relief.

Access to Healthcare is a Right

Is access to health care a right or a privilege? Personally, it is my opinion that access to health care is a right. We are privileged enough to live in a powerful and influential country, and there should be no question of whether or not the people of this great country are entitled to receive health care benefits. Our government, thus far, has stood on the side lines while underprivileged citizens have suffered tremendously. Health care should not be a commodity only for those that can afford its benefits. Most of the individuals living without health care in the United States are women and children. The people who need it the most are not being given the opportunity to live healthy lives. Children are most vulnerable to health risks. Shortly after birth children should begin on a journey down a immunization schedule. Without receiving such immunizations they are left susceptible to various illnesses.

I understand that our government has hesitated in creating a universal health care plan for our citizens due to the large dollar amount that is attached to such a policy. However, I find this argument almost laughable in the current culture of our government. It seems that our government is capable of pulling billions of dollars out of no where to bail out industries such as the financial markets and large automobile manufacturers. The government has decided to throw our tax dollars at companies who have made poor management decisions and shown a complete lack of discretion. Instead, those companies should be left to learn from their mistakes and accept the consequences. It is the citizens that deserve to have billions of dollars handed to them so that they can receive the benefits that they are already entitled to, health care.

Women's Health Issues

There are many health issues that women have to be concerned about today. The one health risk that concerns me most is cancer. Fortunately, I have been blessed thus far in my life not to have had any friends or loved ones diagnosed with cancer. However, so many people worldwide have been impacted by the effects of cancer. The reason cancer worries me most is due to the fact that it can take over any part of your body regardless of the lifestyle you lead, your race, or gender. Cancer does not discriminate. Once an individual has been diagnosed with cancer, they are told how long they can expect to live. Wow! How can you possibly live your life knowing that everyday there is a time clock ticking down the last minutes of your life. While trying to cope with your diagnosis, then you must find a way to tell your family.

Every once in a while you hear about those brave individuals who fought back against cancer and beat the odds. Who knows if you will be afforded the same miracle? Even if you overcome its ferocity, will it return in the future? Cancer treatment is a long and painful process. Its physical and mental toll on your body is tremendous.

I spoke with other women regarding their health concerns. The first individual I spoke with is a white, 48 year old woman. She reiterated my concerns and fears of cancer. Unfortunately, she has witnessed first hand how cancer can destroy a wonderful and vivacious person. A co-worker of hers had overcome cancer in the past, but several years later it returned with a vengence. Her co-worker now has only months to live and is withering away every day. It's a scary feeling not being able to control your own fate.

Another individual I spoke with is a 31 year old hispanic female. She was also concerned about cancer, however, she was most concerned with heart disease. It seems that she lost her father a few years ago to heart disease. Heart disease is known to run in her family, and that is a fear that she and other family members must live with daily. Knowing how it feels to lose a loved one to heart disease is not something she wants to have to go through ever again. Who could blame her?

Health concerns vary from person to person, but in the end, the fears are very similar. In order to overcome these fears, I believe education is key. Even today there is so much life saving information that needs to be shared. A simple change in a daily routine can be life saving event.

Hello!

This is my very first official blog and I'm not really sure how this all works. I have already posted an introduction on the discussion board, so this may seem a bit repetitive.

I am a junior this year and hoping to graduate his December. I'm not sure what to expect from this class, but I am excited to get started.

Well, I guess I will get to meet most of you later on this afternoon. See you soon!