Tag Archives: public health

Let’s getPHYT!

Public health is all around us. You just need to know what you’re looking for. By definition, public health is the science and art of protecting and improving the health of communities through education, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and research for disease and injury prevention. Simply put, public health is doing something that promotes the health of you and your community and keeps you all safe.

#getPHYT

#getPHYT

If you think about it, you probably did something public health-ish today! Did you get 7-9 hours of sleep last night? Did you eat a healthy breakfast? Did you wash your hands today? Did you exercise? Did you look both ways before crossing the street? Did you use a condom? Did you drink 8 glasses of water? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you indeed do something public health-ish today.

Public health…easy-peasy, right? All of those actions mentioned above help reduce your risk of disease or injury, whether it be a heart attack, diabetes, a concussion, or an STD. But we can’t forget about our community. It’s called PUBLIC health for a reason! We need to share the awesomeness of public health with everybody! So that they can lead healthy lives and we can have a healthy community!

So how do we do that? We can getPHYT! And no, it’s not pronounced get-FIGHT. It’s get-FIT!

getPHYT (get-fit) verb:

  1. To improve community health through education.
  2. To apply public health practice to everyday life.
  3. To raise public health awareness in the community.

And what’s the best way to spread the word about anything? Facebook and Insta of course! Add #getPHYT to your public health inspired insta photos and I’ll re-insta them and share them on getPHYT’s Facebook!

Check out the awesome #PHYTography taken by some awesome #PHYTographers!

#PHYTography

#PHYTography

1. Playing volleyball not only tones and strengthens your arms and legs, but it is also good for your cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Improved circulation circulates more blood, oxygen, and nutrients throughout the body, improving the body’s functions and your overall health and well being.

2. Shrimp is rich in vitamin B-12 and iron, both of which are essential to a nutritious diet. Not having enough vitamin B-12 can lead to a deficiency, which can cause muscle weakness, vision problems, and psychiatric issues. If you don’t get enough iron in your diet, you could become anemic, which could lead to health issues such as fatigue and shortness of breath. In 6 ounces of shrimp, there are 2 mcg of vitamin B-12 and 4 mg of iron.

3. Yoga can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve heart function. Stress is linked to high blood pressure, blood clots, heart attacks, and heart failure. Namaste.

4. Hiking is a fun way to get some exercise while enjoying the great outdoors. 30 minutes or more of physical activity helps to improve your cardiovascular fitness, so your heart and lungs can more efficiently deliver oxygen to your working muscles.

5. Hiking and other forms of exercise help to build strong bones and slow bone loss. Along with adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D, regular exercise can help prevent osteoporosis. Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and brittle — so brittle that a fall or even mild stresses like bending over or coughing can cause a fracture.

6. The average American eats away from home four times a week, and studies have shown that can translate to putting on 8 extra pounds a year. Also, the food we make at home tends to be cheaper and healthier! Eating healthy at home starts with healthy food shopping! Check out this tip sheet!

7. Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss. The more body fat that you have and the more you weigh, the more likely you are to develop coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, and breathing problems.

8. Eating (and drinking) a diet rich in vegetables and fruits as part of an overall healthy diet may reduce risk for heart disease, including heart attack and stroke. If you do try juicing, make only as much juice as you can drink at one time because fresh squeezed juice can quickly develop harmful bacteria. And when juicing, try to keep some of the pulp. Not only does it have healthy fiber, but it can help fill you up.

9. Riding a bike to work not only saves money, gas, and time, but it is also healthy. Cycling is a low impact sport that helps build stamina, burn calories, and improve coordination and balance.

By ALYSSA LLAMAS

About these ads

PHAP 2013

Image Source: Blogspot.com

  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 133 associates in FY 2013 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.
IMG_4634

Photo by Alyssa Llamas

Application is open through February 5, 2013. Take advantage of this great opportunity! Visit www.cdc.gov/phap to apply!

By ALYSSA LLAMAS

 

Summer, Summer, Summertime

A few weeks ago, Huffington Post shared 100 Tips for a Healthier Summer. That’s a lot. So, I’ve chosen the best of the best (and the most doable).

Here are getPHYT’s top 10 picks!

1. #3: Start with a high-fiber breakfast of complex carbohydrates. Try crispy whole grain cereal, a berry-studded bran muffin or chewy nine-grain bread. Summer days are long and jam-packed with fun, outdoor activities, which can be draining. Start your day off with a nutritious breakfast to give you a much-needed boost of energy. The Best Part of Waking Up is Breakfast!

2. #18: Be sure to have protein with all meals and snacks. Remember that we’re trying to burn fat and maintain muscle. It’s important to feed our muscles when we’re busy with fat-torching exercise! Get your grill on! Check out these recipes from Bobby Flay.

3. #25: Good hydration is important year round, especially when you’re actively exercising. It’s even more important in the summer months, so be sure to keep your water bottle with you at all times. Water keeps you hydrated, keeps you cool, and keeps “things” moving when you’re focused on a healthy, high-fiber diet. Don’t get a heat stroke. Hydrate yourself.

4. #33: Baked, broiled, grilled or poached usually mean less or no added fat. Pass on the fried or sautéed menu choices. Here are some fresh, healthy summer recipes courtesy of Food Network.

5. #48: Skip the second helpings — get used to having one serving. “Please, sir, I want some more.” NO!!!

6. #51: Go nuts! Sure they’re high in fat, but they’re mostly good fats and a small amount goes a long way. A few almonds and an apple make a quick and portable snack choice. Going to a theme park or taking a road trip? Take some nuts with you! They’re the perfect snack!

7. #66: Kabobs are great. Cut veggies such as peppers, eggplant, or zucchini in even-sized pieces and thread them on skewers with cherry tomatoes or mushrooms before popping them on the grill. When they’re all the same size, they’ll cook at the same rate. And they’re low in calories and high in fiber. Click here for recipes for 50 different kinds of kabobs. 

8. #88: Whether you’re watching television or talking on the phone, stand up! It burns more calories than sitting, and every calorie counts! What?! That’s easy!

9. #93: Instead of sunbathing on your vacation, get active! Plan a biking or hiking trip this year. Visit at least one of the 397 National Parks in the United States this summer and Park it Like it’s Hot.

10. #97: Get plenty of sleep. It’s easier to overeat when you’re tired. Caffeine, sugar and simple carbs are the worst choices for a pick-me-up. You’ll be ready to take on the day after a good night’s sleep. Rock-a-bye Baby!

Have a great summer!

image source: memegenerator.net

By ALYSSA LLAMAS

It’s Like Riding a Bike

image source: strangevehicles.com

May is National Bike Month!

  1. National Bike Month is all about promoting cycling and cycling safety.
  2. Save the date!
    • May 9: Bike to School Day
    • May 14-18: Bike to Work Week
    • May 18: Bike to Work Day
  3. Riding a bike is a great way to get exercise. You don’t need to be dripping in sweat to get a good work out in. Light to moderate physical activity can help reduce the risk of stroke, coronary heart disease, and other chronic and life-threatening illnesses (Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center).
  4. Help save mother nature. Transportation is responsible for almost 80% of carbon monoxide and 55% of nitrogen oxide emissions in the United States. A short, 4-mile bike ride keeps 15 pounds of pollutants out of the air we breathe (PBIC).
  5. According to the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, about 1.5% of American workers in 2010 used bikes as their primary mode of transportation. Yes, that sounds tiny and insignificant, but it’s actually a 77% growth from 2000. Now that’s significant!
  6. Gas prices seem to be on the rise and we could all use some extra cash. The cost of operating a sedan for one year is about $7,800. Cost of riding a bike for a year? $120 (PBIC). Oh, just imagine what you can do with all that money you save! VA-CA-TION.
  7. It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. Here are some safety tips from the League of American Bicyclists:
    • Have your bike checked over by your local bike shop
    • Always wear a helmet to protect your head in the event of a crash
    • Ride in the right-most lane that goes in the direction that you are traveling
    • Obey all stop signs, traffic lights and lane markings
    • Look before you change lanes or signal a turn; indicate your intention, then act
    • Be visible and predictable at all times; wear bright clothing and signal turns
  8. The Tour de France is considered to be the biggest test of endurance. All I gotta say is: Lance Armstrong is a beast. For more fun facts about bikes, check out National Geographic Kids.
  9. Plan a bike day with your friends! Don’t know where to go? Check out Map My Ride for bike path maps and bicycling routes.

By ALYSSA LLAMAS

Versatile Blogger Award

image source: versatilebloggeraward. wordpress.com

Thank you thank you to Pursue natural for nominating getPHYT for the Versatile Blogger Award!

The Versatile Blogger Award is a blog award given by another blogger. It’s an awesome way to discover other bloggers and to promote/share blogs.

The Versatile blogger Nomination has the following rules:

1) Thank the blogger who nominated you – Thank you, Pursue natural!!
2) Nominate 15 fellow bloggers and tell them that you nominated their site
3) List seven facts about you

Our site has nominated the following bloggers:

  1. Jennifer Koman
  2. Polkadot Tango
  3. Pursue natural
  4. dinutrition
  5. Alternative eating
  6. Elle’s Vegan Food Diary
  7. spicy basil
  8. PDResources
  9. Five and Spice
  10. HealthFire
  11. Finger, Fork & Knife
  12. Fit Food
  13. Making Health a Habit
  14. Stephen Kelly Creative
  15. Humaira Beauty

Seven facts about getPHYT:

  1. getPHYT was started while Hosna and I were catching up and discussing the show, Parenthood, on Facebook chat.
  2. We both minored in Health Care/Social Issues, which was equivalent to public health, at UC San Diego. We didn’t declare our minors till winter or spring quarter of fourth year.
  3. We almost named our blog, HUBlicHealth.org.
  4. getPHYT is pronounced “getFIT” and not “getFIGHT.”
  5. getPHYT is dedicated to educating youth and teens on public health info and news. By mixing public health with pop culture, we hope to raise awareness among youth and teens.
  6. getPHYT is on a bunch of other social networking sites! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
  7. getPHYT is looking for contributing writers so e-mail us at getPHYT@gmail.com if you’re interested!

By ALYSSA LLAMAS

me and hosna at the komen race for the cure in la

The Awesomeness that is Public Health

image source: http://www.nphw.org

It’s National Public Health Week! So? You might be thinking, “Why should I care?” Well let me tell you why…

Public health is awesome (and I’m not just saying that). Thanks to the achievements of public health, we live longer and healthier lives. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, “life expectancy at birth among U.S. residents increased by 62%, from 47.3 years in 1900 to 76.8 in 2000.” Click here for the Top Ten Greatest Hits Achievements of Public Health.

Public health is more than just diet, exercise, and disease prevention. There’s also motor vehicle safety, tobacco control, and suicide prevention. Pretty much anything related to health and safety falls under the enormous umbrella of public health.

More proof that public health is awesome:

  • On average, 42,000 deaths per year are prevented among children who receive recommended childhood vaccines [1].
  • Diabetes is the leading cause of heart disease and stroke, blindness, kidney failure and lower-extremity amputation. Blood pressure control reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke) among people with diabetes by between 33 percent and 50 percent and the risk of microvascular disease (eye, kidney and nerve disease) by about 33 percent [2].
  • More than 80 million people in the United States do not have access to fluoridated water. Water fluoridation reduces tooth decay by 25 percent in children and adults, and every dollar spent on fluoridation saves more than $40 in dental treatment costs [3].

No one likes getting sick. So why not practice healthy habits so you won’t get sick in the first place? This year’s NPHW theme is “A Healthier America Begins Today: Join the Movement.” So, join the movement and get healthy! For health tips, check out getPHYT’s post, Oh Schmidt.

painting by numbers is magic.

What I like most about public health is the impact it can make. Public health is community health. Medicine is to the individual as public health is to the population. While doctors treat illnesses, public health professionals implement health promotion and health education.

Unlike medicine, there is no instant gratification with public health. It’s like Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel. It took him 4 years to paint its ceiling. 4 years! It might not take that long for public health practices to work, but they do take time. The end result, however, is a masterpiece.

Public health empowers individuals to take control of their own health. Just like painting by numbers, public health provides the tools and guidance we need to be healthy.You’re the artist that creates the masterpiece that is your health.

Sources:
  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ten Great Public Health Achievements — United States, 2001—2010. MMWR 2011; 60(19):619-623.
  2. Curb JD, Pressel SL, Cutler JA, et al. Effect of diuretic-based antihypertensive treatment on cardiovascular disease risk in older diabetic patients with isolated systolic hypertension. Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program Cooperative Research Group. JAMA. 1996;276:1886-1892.
  3. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. National Health Expenditures 2009 Highlights. Available at https://www.cms.gov/ NationalHealthExpendData/downloads/highlights.pdf

By ALYSSA LLAMAS

PHAP

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