Monthly Archives: November 2011

PHAP

Posted by getPHYT in Uncategorized and tagged with , ,

image source: scifi

  1. After watching Contagion, did you leave the theater thinking, “Wow, I wanna work for the CDC!”
  2. Are you interested in a career in public health, but don’t know where to start?
  3. Are you trying to figure out your post-grad plans?
  4. Don’t want to go grad school right away?
  5. Need a job with benefits?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, then YOU should apply for CDC’s Public Health Associate Program (PHAP). PHAP is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) development program that provides opportunities for promising future public health professionals to gain broad experience in the day-to-day operation of public health programs. PHAP is perfect for recent college grads (BA/BS) who want a career in public health.

PHAP Program Highlights:

  • PHAP is a competency-based training and service program
  • The competitive, two-year fellowship is a paid federal position and includes benefits
  • Provides on-the-ground entry level jobs in the public health field for recent college graudates who are US citizens
  • Includes experience in at least two different program areas including: STD; TB; HIV; Other Communicable Diseases; Chronic Disease, Environmental Health; Public Health Preparedness; Immunization; Injury Prevention; Maternal and Child Health
  • It is anticipated that PHAP will hire 50-65 associates in FY 2012 and will receive well over 1000 applications for those positions

Public Health Associates are assigned to a state, tribal, local or territorial public health agency and work alongside local public health professionals. This is also a great opportunity for those of you who want of change of scenery and want to work in a completely new environment. You’ll gain hands-on, frontline experience in the public health field.

As an associate, you’ll get all of the benefits of working for the CDC (and I’m not just talking about health care). You’ll have access to all of CDC’s resources (training courses, library, etc.) and you’ll get the chance to meet and network with other CDC professionals (if you’re lucky, you might even get to meet the CDC Director, Dr. Frieden). You will also have a CDC supervisor and CDC mentor who will both help guide you along your path to becoming a successful public health professional.

After completing the program, PHAP graduates will be qualified for future jobs with federal, state, tribal, local and territorial public health agencies, and will be uniquely prepared to pursue an advanced degree in public health.

More reasons to apply for PHAP:

  • Employees of CDC are recognized as part of the nation’s leading public health agency, and receive a salary, paid sick and vacation leave, health insurance, and access to a variety of support services and resources.
  • Assignments give associates a portfolio of public health experiences and the opportunity to demonstrate competency in a wide variety of activities related to the delivery of public health services.
  • Associates receive extensive supervisory and mentoring support throughout the entire program.
  • Associates develop valuable career skills, on-the-job training, and become well-rounded public health professionals.

image source: examiner.com

Applications open February 1, 2012.  Take advantage of this great opportunity! Visit www.cdc.gov/phap to apply!

By Alyssa Llamas

About these ads

Dolla Dolla Bills Y’all

Posted by getPHYT in Uncategorized and tagged with , ,

Before you go any further, click on the vid so you have a sweet tune playing while you read. THROWBACK!   

Money may be a popular subject to sing about, but that doesn’t make it any less dirty. Just think, where has that dollar bill been? Scenario: Girl hands it to a cashier at the grocery store, who hands it back to a guy who just went to the bathroom and didn’t wash his hands. Then the guy hands it to a homeless dude who sneezes on it. Homeless dude uses it to buy a coffee. Barista has a cold. You walk into that coffee shop, ask for some change, and BAM, you’re the proud owner of the dirty dollar bill. Congratulations.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • “The metallic odor left on your hands after touching coins and metal objects is actually a type of human body odor. Skin oils break down and decompose after touching iron – creating the oh so familiar coin smell on hands” (Happy Worker).
  • In a study by Dr. Peter Ender,  86 percent of bills had germs such as Streptococcus.
  • “The highest amount of bacteria on an ATM is fecal bacteria” (Tipking).
  • 30 percent of bills is contaminated with fecal bacteria.
  • 90 percent of US Currency is laced with Cocaine.
  • E. Coli can be found on 7 percent of all bills.
  • BPA, the chemical carcinogen, can be found on half of all notes.

HOW TO PREVENT GETTING SICK

  • “After handling a lot of bills, rub rubbing alcohol on your hands. Also it is wise to wash hands thoroughly after visiting ATMs. You may wish to carry an antibacterial solution with you” (Tipking).

The importance of washing your hands cannot be stressed enough. Did you check out our post on it yet?! Cash will never be germ-free, so it is up to YOU to handle it properly.

By HOSNA SAFI

Suga Suga Suga

Posted by getPHYT in Uncategorized and tagged with , ,

Suga Mama (image source: wikia)

I have yet to master the art of making a good cup of joe. When I make coffee, there’s a certain color I try to achieve; it’s pretty much the color of a Starbucks espresso. And so I mindlessly add cream and packets and packets of sugar until I get the right color, not necessarily the right taste.

Adding sugar to coffee is probably one of the only times you can actually see how much sugar you’re consuming. Unless you’re a true baker (and don’t use store-bought cake mixes), you rarely get the sugar visual.

Try to imagine how much sugar you consume each day. You’ll most likely count packets of sugar, scoops of ice cream, or pieces of candy. News Flash! A lot of the food you eat has added sugar, including ketchup, baked beans, and bread. Added sugar is also used to boost the flavor of foods that have reduced salt and/or fat. According to Health.com, “Added sugars are those that do not occur naturally in a food [unlike fructose in fruits or lactose in milk products] but are added during processing or preparation.”

Beware of added sugar’s multiple aliases: High fructose corn syrup, white sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, corn syrup solids, raw sugar, malt syrup, maple syrup, pancake syrup, fructose sweetener, liquid fructose, honey, molasses, anhydrous dextrose, and crystal dextrose.

Added sugar is the evil twin of natural sugar. “Although the body’s response to sugars does not depend on whether they are naturally present in food or added to foods, sugars found naturally in foods are part of the food’s total package of nutrients and other healthful components. In contrast, many foods that contain added sugars often supply calories, but few or no essential nutrients and no dietary fiber” (Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010). The American Heart Association recommends that “Americans drastically cut back on added sugar to help slow the obesity and heart disease epidemics.”

Added sugar is so sneaky. It seems almost impossible to completely remove added sugar from your diet. Here’s the recommended added sugar threshold according to the American Heart Association:

  • 100 calories per day (about 6 teaspoons or 24 grams of sugar) for most women
  • 150 calories per day (about 9 teaspoons or 36 grams of sugar) for most men

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 state that on average, added sugar contributes 16% of total calories in American Diets. This is probably because added sugar is disguised in all of our favorite foods. Major sources of added sugar are:

  1. soda, energy drinks, and sports drinks (36% of added sugar intake)
  2. grain-based desserts (13%)
  3. sugar-sweetened fruit drinks (10%)
  4. dairy-based desserts (6%)
  5. candy (6%)

    it only says sugar once, but corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup are also sugar!

Try to cut back on these sweet treats and be mindful of what’s in the food you eat. Read the nutrition label and check the ingredients to see how much sugar is really in it. “Focus on eating the most nutrient-dense forms of foods from all food groups” (DGA). The next time you’re craving a slice of apple pie, have an apple instead.

By Alyssa Llamas

R.I.P Heavy D

Posted by getPHYT in Global Health, Physical Activity & Exercise and tagged with , , ,

image source: soul culture

On November 8, 2011, the “big teddy bear rapper” of the 80s and 90s, Heavy D, passed away. He was only 44 years old. Heavy D was a hip-hop pioneer and will truly be missed. The cause of his death is not yet known, but the LA Times reports speculation that Heavy D had been experiencing flu-like symptoms or pneumonia.

When you were younger, your mom might have told you, “It’s raining! Get inside before you catch pneumonia!” To set the record straight, getting wet won’t cause pneumonia. So what does? Pneumonia is a lung infection caused by bacteria or viruses. A cold or flu can also worsen into pneumonia. Kidshealth.org explains that the “infection creates fluid and mucus that blocks the alveoli [tiny air sacs in the lungs],” which is why people with pneumonia may experience coughing, fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, rapid breathing or shortness of breath, chills, or chest pain.

Anyone can get pneumonia, but kids, senior citizens, and people with health conditions such as diabetes, asthma, or HIV/AIDS are at a higher risk of infection. Nevertheless, it is important that everyone practices good hygiene, such as washing your hands, cleaning hard surfaces that are touched often (please invest in Lysol Disinfecting Wipes), and coughing/sneezing into a tissue/elbow/sleeve. Also, stay away from cigarette smoke and make sure to treat/prevent conditions like diabetes and HIV/AIDS.

Pneumonia can also be prevented with vaccines and treated with antibiotics and antiviral drugs. It seems like this whole pneumonia business is under control, right? WRONG.

In 2007, 1.2 million people were hospitalized with pneumonia and at least 52,000 people died from the disease in the United States. Every 20 seconds, somewhere in the world, a child dies from pneumonia. In fact, more deaths are caused by pneumonia than any other infectious disease such as AIDS, malaria, or tuberculosis.

Heavy D’s last tweet was “BE INSPIRED.” Today (November 12) is World Pneumonia Day. Join the Global Coalition against Pneumonia’s campaign to fight this disease by raising awareness in your community. Pneumonia is one of the most devastating yet solvable global health problems. Check out worldpneumoniaday.org for more information on how you can help solve this problem.

And in memory of Heavy D, check out one of his famous songs, “Now That We Found Love.”

By Alyssa Llamas

BADderall

Posted by getPHYT in Physical Activity & Exercise

Got an algebra test next week? A midterm in two days? A FINAL in one day? TIME. TO. CRAM.

We’ve all been there, but we deal with stress and studying in different ways. For instance, I lock myself in my room, put on noise cancelling headphones, and turn off my internet to make myself focus. But then I lose focus. I can unlock my door, take off my headphones, and watch thirty-seven youtube videos. Oops. Suffice to say, it’s easy to get distracted. However, more and more students are relying on their good ol’ friend Addy to help them out in these time-crunched moments. SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that “full-time college students (aged 18-22) were twice as likely to use Adderall nonmedically in the past year as those who had not been in college at all or were only part-time students” (SAMHSA). Adderall (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine) is used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy, but has also made it onto college campuses to aid in studying.

Image Source: Student Advisor

“College students are one of the largest markets for Adderall, particularly when it is distributed illegally” (Adderallabuse.net).  

However, Adderall can have detrimental effects on physical and mental health. Teens assume that since Adderall is used to treat medical problems, it is safer than illegal substances. NOT TRUE. First off, Adderall is habit-forming. Has anyone else been keeping up with 90210? (Yeah, I know my taste in TV sucks).  One of the main characters (Dixon) is struggling with an Adderall addiction and he is finding out that it’s harder to stop his reliance on it than he thought. Adderallabuse.net says, “After long-term abuse, your body depends on Adderall for normal function and trying to discontinue the drug can result in withdrawal symptoms including panic, suicidal thoughts and nightmares.”

Also,  ”It can also be harmful for anyone who has an underlying medical condition such as high blood pressure, glaucoma, hardened arteries, an overactive thyroid, an anxiety disorder or a heart disease” (Adderallabuse.net). If students are buying them illegally, it means they have not met with a doctor to see if Adderall will adversely affect them. Some abusers might not know they have an overactive thyroid and might not find out until they have already used Adderall.

OTHER SIDE EFFECTS

  • increases likelihood of other addictions
  • can affect your growth if you’re not done growing
  • difficulty sleeping
  • anxiety or paranoia
  • sudden death
  • seizures

There are alternatives to Adderall, and healthier ones at that. Create good study habits so you won’t have to cram, or try getting more sleep. Lack of sleep can decrease concentration and impair memory. Better yet, listen to this playlist. Good study music can make physics SO much better.

#whynotwednesdsay

Posted by getPHYT in Physical Activity & Exercise and tagged with , ,

We may not all root for the same team, but we all want the same thing: THE RETURN OF NBA BASKETBALL. It seems like an eternity since the NBA announced the lockout back in July. And with the holidays just around the corner, family parties just won’t be the same without an epic basketball game (i.e. Christmas 2010 Lakers vs. Heat).

image source: solecollector

Let’s all take a timeout from this NBA lockout madness and dribble down memory lane to Winter 2010. Not sure if you remember or noticed, but around that time, some of the players and staff were getting sick with the stomach flu.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently came out with a report explaining the norovirus outbreak of Winter 2010-2011 that affected 24 players and staff members from 13 NBA teams. ”Noroviruses cause nearly 21 million gastrointestinal illnesses annually and are the most common cause of gastroenteritis outbreaks in the United States” (CDC).

CDC reported that “the 13 NBA teams with cases played a total of 49 games against one another during the study period. Two of these games were identified as potential team-to-team transmission events.” Fortunately, not all NBA players were infected. Disaster averted.

An analysis of 10 years of NBA injury reports found that gastrointestinal illnesses were the second most common non-game-related injury or illness among players. Basketball players are usually in close contact with one another not just during games, but also in practices, locker rooms, and buses/planes. This creates a unique environment for the norovirus to spread among the players. Viral gastroentertis is contagious and can spread from “person to person, either by direct contact with infectious stool or vomit or by touching surfaces contaminated by infectious material” (CDC).

Symptoms of gastroenteritis include watery diarrhea, vomiting, headache, fever, and abdominal cramps. Diarrhea and vomiting cause dehydration, so it’s important to drink plenty of water and gatorade. Since it’s a viral infection, antibiotics are NOT effective. Currently, there is no norovirus vaccine, but there are two rotovirus vaccines (Rotovirus can also cause gastroenteritis).

Here are some ways from Health.com to prevent norovirus infection:

  • Wash your hands before eating or preparing food. This is especially important if you have just changed any diapers or used the toilet.
  • Wash fruits and vegetables and steam oysters before eating them.
  • Clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces immediately after vomiting or having diarrhea by using a bleach-based household cleaner.
  • Immediately remove and wash soiled clothing or linens after vomiting or having diarrhea. Use hot water and soap.
  • Flush vomit and/or stool in the toilet, and make sure that the surrounding area is kept clean.
  • Do not prepare food if you have symptoms of food poisoning and for 3 days after you recover.

Check out CDC’s complete report, and NPR’s story for more information.

By Alyssa Llamas

No Shave November

Posted by getPHYT in Physical Activity & Exercise and tagged with ,

image source: popart

You may have noticed an abundance of mustaches around you. Yes, it’s that time of the year again. Movember has arrived. The rules are simple: Grow a mustache for all of November.

Many of us might assume that Movember was started by some random guy who was too lazy to shave his stache. Truth is, the Movember movement was started by a bunch of Aussies who grew out their mustaches in support of men’s health and prostate cancer.

The Movember campaign helps raise funds for organizations such as LIVESTRONG, the Prostate Cancer Foundation, & the Movember Foundation through galas, fundraisers,  and benefits. Check out the official Movember website for more ways to get involved.

The CDC states that prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men. In 2007 in the United States, 223,307 men  were diagnosed with prostate cancer and 29,093 men died from prostate cancer.

Though prostate cancer is most common in men older than 65, it is important to learn this information now and to share it with your dad, grandpa, and uncles.

As a man gets older, his risk for prostate cancer increases. No specific gene has been discovered to specifically increase or decrease risk of getting prostate cancer, but the CDC explains that certain genes inherited from parents may affect risk.  “A man with a father, brother, or son who has had prostate cancer is two to three times more likely to develop the disease himself” (CDC).

Researchers are still trying to figure out what causes prostate cancer and whether or not it can be prevented.  The National Cancer Institute emphasizes the importance of “increasing protective factors such as quitting smoking, eating a health diet, and exercising” to help prevent cancer.

According to Health.com, symptoms of prostate cancer include urinary problems, difficulty having an erection, blood in urine or semen, or deep and frequent pain in your lower back, belly, hip, or pelvis. If you have any symptoms, make sure to see your doctor right away.  It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

image source: howto.wired

So guys, if someone questions your mustache, just tell them you’re doing it for a good cause: Movember.‎ And girls, just cuz you can’t grow a stache, doesn’t mean you can’t participate. Fake mustaches, friends, fiesta. Sounds like a recipe for a ridiculously fun night. You can even get a free party pack through the Movember website to help promote the campaign!

By Alyssa Llamas

No Rabies for my Babies!

Posted by getPHYT in Global Health, Health Care & Policy, Physical Activity & Exercise

Remember Pocahontas’ cute little raccoon buddy, Meeko? He was always just chillin/being a good friend….but ARE  raccoons actually good friends? Pocahontas,  Pocahontas, didn’t anyone tell you raccoons can spread rabies?   

Rabies is a viral disease that is transmitted to mammals through rabid animals. Some animals become reservoirs (kind of like wireless hotspots) for the disease, such as racoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes, and some species of bats. These animals can spread it to other animals, such as cats and dogs.

When an animal is bitten by an infected animal, the rabies virus travels from the site of the bite to the brain by moving within the nerves. When animals are first bitten, they do not seem ill, and the incubation period, which is the time between the bite and the appearance of symptoms, may last for weeks, months or YEARS. When the virus multiplies in the brain and spreads to the salivary glands, the first symptoms often show.

Every ten minutes, someone around the world dies from rabies.

Most often, people get rabies from the bite of a rabid animal, but it is also possible to get rabies if the saliva of an infected animal gets into their nose, eyes, mouth or a wound.

At first, the symptoms are similar to those of the flu. The person might suffer from a fever and a headache. However, as it progresses, the person may start having hallucinations, insomnia, and abnormal behavior. According to the CDC, “Once a person begins to exhibit signs of the disease, survival is rare. “

How to Prevent RABIES

1. Keep your dogs, cats, and ferrets up-to-date on rabies vaccinations.

2. Call animal control to get those stray, potentially rabid animals out of your neighborhood.

If You’re Bitten by an Animal

1.Wash the wound with soap and water. This decreases the chances for infection.

2. Call a doctor. The doctor will decide whether you need a rabies vaccination. The vaccination, called postexposure prophylaxis (PEP),  will be determined by the animal, the type of the exposure, and the geographic area it occurred.

Public Health Matters had a recent post that discussed how humans overlook some animals as being possible carriers of rabies.  People often think of stray cats and dogs when it comes to rabies, but even zebras can be culprits! In the case presented in the blog, it was a baby zebra named Zoe. Zoe had come in contact with over 200 visitors to the Kenyan safari lodge before being diagnosed with rabies. It was up to the CDC and other organizations to track those people. According to the blog, Zoe “would nibble on her admirer’s fingers and lick them as they offered treats.”  After reading this post, you know that, duh, the rabies virus  is transmitted through saliva, so maybe you should hold off on cuddling exotic (or non-exotic) animals.

Feeling kinda wild? Check out this Wild Dawn/Wild Dusk Playlist featuring some musica by First Aid Kit and Fleet Foxes.

By HOSNA SAFI

Shoo Flu, Don’t Bother Me!

Posted by getPHYT in Physical Activity & Exercise and tagged with , ,

If you have…

  • Fever or feeling feverish/chills
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headaches
  • Fatigue (very tired)
  • Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

Then you probably got the flu!

According to experts, the flu usually spreads by droplets, which are made when people with the flu cough, sneeze, or talk. Droplets can enter the mouths or noses of other people. Cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. No tissue? Then cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow. Never your hands! And make sure to wash your hands!  The CDC states that a person who seems healthy can infect others “1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick.” So it’s a good idea to get a flu shot ASAP. Both CVS and Walgreens offer flu shots.

It totally sucks to be sick. Please, do yourself and everyone around you a favor, STAY HOME AND GET BETTER!

And if you’re sick and stuck in bed, check out stumbleupon, pinterest, and sporcle!

By ALYSSA LLAMAS