Monthly Archives: September 2011

Blame it on the A-A-Alcohol

Posted by getPHYT in Uncategorized and tagged with ,

image source: brisbane times

A recent study conducted in Europe found that for regular drinkers, an extra drink increases overall cancer risk.  The study does not prove that alcohol causes cancer.  Alcohol is still a risk factor for cancer.  This means that drinking alcohol will increase chances for cancer.  Click here for the full article.

Alcohol breaks down the lining of the digestive tract and allows harmful chemicals (which can cause cancer) through.  Excessive drinking can cause other health risks, such as alcohol poisoning, liver disease, stroke, cardiovascular problems, unintentional injuries, and many more.

However, many studies have linked MODERATE drinking to some possible health benefits.  According to the brainiacs of Harvard, moderate amounts of alcohol raise levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL or “good cholesterol”) and higher levels of HDL can help protect against heart disease.

So what’s a moderate amount?  1-2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women.  And what’s considered to be 1 drink?  1 drink = 12 oz beer (1 can) or 5 oz wine (1 glass) or 1.5 oz hard alcohol (1 shot).

This does not mean that you need to start drinking, especially if you’re not 21 yet!  Here are some CONSEQUENCES OF UNDERAGE DRINKING:

  • Alcohol-related car crashes
  • Disruption of normal growth and sexual development
  • Memory problems

Youth who start drinking before age 15 years are five times more likely to develop alcohol dependence or abuse later in life than those who begin drinking at or after age 21 years (CDC).  If you want to learn more about alcohol prevention and how to get involved, then check out Stop Underage Drinking.

For those who don’t drink or are not yet of age, don’t think you need to start just to protect your heart. Healthy eating and regular exercise will suffice.

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Step Away from the Big Mac

Posted by getPHYT in Uncategorized and tagged with , , ,

I’m the first to admit that fast food can be delicious. An In-n-Out double-double with grilled onions? DELICIOUS.  Unfortunately, I wish that 670 right next to it on the menu stood for taste points instead of what it actually does- calories.

Fast food, as tempting and savory as it may be, is one of the main reasons our generation is struggling with obesity and healthy living. In fact, the CDC states that individuals who eat fast food one or more times a week have an increased risk for obesity and certain cancers. There’s no denying that poor eating habits don’t make us feel as energized as when we’re eating healthy (Has anyone else seen those Pediasure commercials?!).

So what should we be eating? According to this guide for teenagers, teens should be eating:

  • fruits and vegetables
  • fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products
  • lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts
  • whole grains

It’s hard to be proactive, however, and have a nutritious meal when our schools and communities seem to be handing us Big Macs on silver platters. WHY are schools still allowed to sell soda?! (CDC says “drinking sugar-sweetened beverages can result in weight gain, overweight, and obesity”).

Let’s also not be fooled by celebrities. Sure, Kim Kardashian may be eating a Carl’s Jr. burger in the commercial, but how much do you want to bet that she stays far from the fast food chain in real life?

Therefore, WE have to be the change in the community. However difficult it may be, teens need to realize that healthy eating helps reduce one’s risk for developing obesity, osteoporosis, iron deficiency, and cavities. Eating healthy meals is better for us in the short AND long run. If you look for an alternative place to eat, you will find that they do exist. Trader Joes, Whole Foods, and Sprouts are all popping up all over the country, making it easier for teens to eat better.

Also, let your voice be heard. Talk to your school about providing nutritional meals. If you don’t know what they should be serving, check out these nutrition standards.

By HOSNA SAFI

Clean Hands Save Lives

Posted by getPHYT in Uncategorized and tagged with ,

image source: mbmusic

After you use the bathroom, you wash your hands. Before you eat, you wash your hands. It’s pretty routine stuff. But does rubbing soap between the palms of my hands for 3 seconds and then rinsing them for 5 seconds really count as “washing my hands?” Does dipping my foot into a pool really count as “swimming?” I think not.

 

Here are the 5 simple steps of how to correctly wash your hands:

  1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold) and apply soap.
  2. Rub your hands together to make a lather and scrub them well; be sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
  3. Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
  4. Rinse your hands well under running water.
  5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

So why spend a whole minute washing your hands?

Just because your hands look clean doesn’t mean they are clean. “The average person touches their face three to five times every waking minute. In between that we’re touching door knobs, water fountains, and each other.” – Dr. Erin Mears (Kate Winslet’s character), Contagion.

According to the CDC, washing your hands is the number one way to avoid catching a cold or especially a bacteria that could cause a food-borne illness, such as E. coli or Salmonella.

Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives

Ever heard of fomite? Fomite is an object that may be contaminated with infectious organisms and serve in their transmission. Examples include door knobs and water fountains. This is not to scare you into becoming a germaphobe, but pathogens do not always spread from person to person. It could also be person-fomite-person. Break the chain and wash your hands.

“The CDC estimates that each year roughly 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) gets sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of foodborne disease.” Click here for more information on foodborne diseases.

Quick scenario: The chef at your favorite restaurant makes you a salad. He washes his hands for 5 seconds and then mixes the greens with his bare hands. You eat the salad. What happens to you? Click here to find out!

I’m not asking you to obsess over your hands like the creepy hand model, but take a minute and please wash them the right way.

And for my fellow book worms and science enthusiasts, here’s a book on Urban Microbiology, courtesy of Google. Skip to page 558 for an excellent explanation on fomite transmission.

So, want to go to college?

Posted by getPHYT in Uncategorized and tagged with ,

Then maybe you stop that gross little habit of yours. That’s right, you have to quit smoking. More and more colleges in the U.S. have become 100% smoke-free campuses, which means those who violate the smoking regulations could have to pay fines or be put on probation.

Colleges tell smokers, ‘You’re not welcome here’

As drastic as it could sound to some, it totally makes sense. After all, we go to college to become educated, and educated people should know that smoking kills. We learned that in kindergarten and every year after, so by the time we’re in college, it should be engrained in our brains.

I’d rather enjoy the fresh air on my walk to the library instead of being “welcomed” by a cloud of smoke. Dude, I came to school to learn, not to get cancer from second-hand smoke.

So if you’re planning on going to college and are a smoker, the ultimate way to prepare yourself is to quit smoking. And maybe learn how to do your own laundry.

Still not convinced you should quit? Check out these 11 Facts About Smoking.

By HOSNA SAFI

Urban Legends of S-E-X

Posted by getPHYT in Uncategorized and tagged with , , , , ,

image source: board game central

She said he said she said what?!  My best friend told me that her cousin’s girlfriend got IT from a toilet seat.  It’s my first time, there’s no way I’m gonna get pregnant.

That awkward moment when your mom tries to talk to you about your flower.  

Teenagers are curious about sex.  That’s pretty standard.  And sexual health is not on the top of the list of “Things I Want to Talk to My Mom About.”  Often times, teenagers talk to their friends.  Some are more informed than others, while some are just misinformed.  So where might this curious teenager get information about sex?  Google, of course.  Yes, the internet is a bottomless pool of information, but one does not always stumble upon the most accurate of facts.

Well, life just got a little bit easier.  Health.com has debunked the Top 10 Myths About Sex and Sexual Health.

Here are some quick stats from the CDC about teen pregnancy and STD’s:

  • In 2009, 409,840 infants were born to 15-19 year olds.  For every 1,000 women in this age group, about 39 babies were born.
  • Only about 50% of teen mothers receive a high school diploma by age 22, versus nearly 90% of women who had not given birth during adolescence.
  • Estimates suggest that even though young people aged 15–24 years represent only 25% of the sexually experienced population, they acquire nearly half of all new STDs.

If you have questions, don’t be afraid to talk to your parents, set up an appointment with your doctor, or visit your local teen clinic.  Teen clinics are great resources for sexual health education, birth control options, pregnancy testing and services, STD/HIV testing and treatment, counseling, and much more.

To find  a Planned Parenthood in your community, visit PlannedParenthood.org.

By ALYSSA LLAMAS