Blog 14: Stop Violence

1. What can a woman do to reduce her risk of assault?

Last time in my fitness and health class, we have a speaker who talks about in how a woman permits violence against them. It was very difficult to talk about this issue, because we get to the point that, today many women do not report violence against men with the police due to important factors in their family. But, at the end of the discussion we end with the point that the violence will continued, if women do not report this to the police. However, every day a women who do not report this to the police, it is killed by his own boyfriend or husband.

I would like to talk about on how my country faces to many issues about this problem. Mexico is a country which faces the problem of “Machismo” which means a man who wants to dominate his wife completely. Marisol mentions also this problem in her blog because it is very true that many Mexican women never report any type of violence against men. Even know many women get beat by his husband many times they still doing nothing about it.

I believed the best decision a woman can do to stop this problem is by reporting any type of violence or if they do not want to reported then can look for professional help. There are many free ways to look for professional help, also many organizations are open for persons who have this type of problems. I think you just need to do it because tomorrow can be very late.

I can admit that I have family members with alcohol and smoking problems. Since, I was a kid I remember that my dad smokes cigarettes every day. But I always think on how one day I will do something to help him to quit smoking. Now, everyone body needs to know that smoking is the leading cause of death worldwide. For this reason I am always worried about what is going to happen with people who are addicted to this drug. I can say it is a drug because smoking cigarettes contains nicotine it is why you cannot live without a cigarette and nicotine is like a drug.

Moreover, my parent was addicted to smokes cigarettes until this year I help him to quit smoking. This problem means a lot to me, because I am so glad to study this major, that way I can say studying this major helps me and also helps my dad to quit smoking. Overall I can say that a health studies helps me as student and helps all my family too. Now, my dad have almost two years not smoking, but we can say that he quits completely, I can say that he pass his first barrier and I know he will continue do on it and my family and I , we will continue support him.

I can say that tobacco has been a drug that kills millions of people every year it is why I recommended people quit smoking if you do not wanted do it for your family do it for your own benefit. Also do not let other made decisions for you, because you are the only person who have the decision to quit smoking. Peers who made decisions for you are not true friends, also do not let adolescents to die so premature for smoking cigarettes, because it is so sad how this “monster” kills people every years, but not also kills people also destroys families. However, I am so happy dad my dad quits smoking, and also I am so passion with my major.

Blog 12: Mental Health

Mental Illness

Mental Illness is a disease that every year ends with millions of people around the world. This disease caused a big impact around the world too. Due to the effects and complications of this diseases many people had been suffering with these types of Mental Illness disorders. However, this disease has a big impact in families who has been passed for different types of mentally ill. Depression is a type of mental illness disease who is affecting the population around the world.

As I mention before this disease is affecting many people around the world. This disease has a big impact on me, because I have a friend who is suffering depression. And she almost get at the point to suicide by herself, the consequences that she almost suicides were due to the violence that she is suffering with his husband. It is really sad to see how not just my friend is affected for this abuse and illness. However, it is sad how they permit this abuse and knowing that the causes can be fatal. Now, she and his whole family is getting psychological help and I am so happy about it.

I remember when my friend call me, she was crying telling me that she do not want to live anymore that she wants to kill herself, but I told her that life is a gift of god and just he can take away. Until now I had been learned a lot for this experience, but sometimes I get sad because many people are suffering depression due to different consequences. Therefore, I save a life, but what about many other lives who are died due to mental illness.

Blog 11: Diabetes a Chronic Disease

DIABETES

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles. “There are 23.6 million children and adults in the United States, or 7.8% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 17.9 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 5.7 million people (or nearly one quarter) are unaware that they have the disease.”(Diabetes, p. 1). Diabetes is also, a chronic disease which affects 8.9% of all U.S. women. Also in the power point of chapter 11 it was said that American Indians and Alaska Natives have highest prevalence rates of diabetes, also the estimated annual cost on diabetes is about $ 132 billion in United States.

There are two types of Diabetes, Diabetes type 1 and Diabetes Type 2: These two are more common and Childs and adults. Type 1 diabetes is most often diagnosed in children, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. Also, type 1 diabetes is frequently diagnosed in young adults as well, but type 2 is the most common form of diabetes knows as adult-onset diabetes. It is why we need to adopt many healthy behaviors to control our diabetes, but sometimes when became in genetics is hard to engage.

What you eat is one of the most important aspects of managing diabetes. Don't fight against good nutrition. Find tips and ideas to make healthful eating a part of your busy lifestyle, because people with diabetes have the same nutritional needs as anyone else. Along with exercise and medications, nutrition is really important for good diabetes control. So I think people with diabetes can keep a healthy diet. By eating well balanced meals in the correct amounts, this way everybody can learn to thrive with diabetes. In addition, diabetes is a disease that attacks in every moment, no matters what age or gender you are. It is why I am glad to know about health, however my first patients to teach is my same family.



(1940). In American Diabetes Association. Retrieved n.d., from http://www.diabetes.org

To adopt healthier lifestyles

What factors can influence women to adopt healthier lifestyles and engage



Most of the times, it is really hard to adopt a healthier style and engage in preventative behaviors. Why? Because many women have different styles on how to eat healthy. The family culture provides an important setting in which individuals interpret and share their health information and formulate strategies to engage in health-promoting behaviors. Heart disease may be the leading cause of death for both men and women, but that doesn't mean you have to accept it as your fate. Although you lack the power to change some risk factors, such as family history or age. There are some key heart disease prevention steps you can take. Take steps to avoid heart disease don't smoke, get regular exercise and eat healthy foods. Avoid heart problems in the future by adopting a healthy lifestyle today.

Poor lifetime eating habits are often established during childhood in many Mexican American families. Such as in my family my mom always cook with oil, and as you know Mexican families cook Mexican-food, which is really hard to avoid or change a healthy behavior. But, since I change my major to Health Studies I start seeing things in different ways. Also I tell my mom that she needs to reduce cooking with oil or change the style of the oil. Also my mom or many Latinas mom’s are those kinds of mothers who worried more about their family then themselves. My mom is one mother like that, but when get the time that she needs to do something for her health she say: “luego mi hija, yo me siento bien” (later on my daughter, I feel fine). So I think we need to start changing our families’ behaviors first, and then it would be easier for us and our future family to adopt a good healthy behavior.

Procrastination

One of my biggest challenges that I face is also time management because working out can be an obstacle even for people who are in good health. The secret to developing a consistent exercise routine is to find activities that you enjoy. Whether or not you like exercising is irrelevant. It’s something that has to be done.

However, it was great idea that you choose this question, because now I am taking a class, where the professor give us a project on how we can change or unhealthy behaviors and stay on some healthy routine. So I decided to choose regulate my routine on doing exercise. Now is difficult to change my behavior, because one of my barriers is time management due to that I have to work, go to school, and be a good wife. I think a Proper diet is a necessity for all people, particularly those living with diabetes there’s no need to follow a complicated meal plan or subject you to a life of deprivation. Instead it’s a matter of practicing moderation and consistency. What that means to most people is eating smaller portions at regular times throughout the day. Also, because many doctors and nutritional people recommended that eating smaller portions can put you in a healthy diet by losing some weight and stay in a healthy diet.

Moreover, my husband has been my motivation on getting an exercise routine. Because I think each person needs a supporter that way you can reach your goal more easily. In addition, now I almost have done my routine on doing 30 minutes of exercise three days per week. Also I end with the word of procrastination because it is also a big barrier for many people. So, if you wanted to start a routine of doing exercise start now later on you will see benefits.

Menopause

In my opinion, menopause has been diagnosed in woman as a suffering, because is a period where women starts a big change in her life. Also, it is the mark where women end menstruation and childbearing capability, there is said that menopause varies widely. However, menopause has many health effects due to the hormonal changes. I think, been educated teach me to differentiated that the causes to prevent menopause is by having a healthy diet through the stages of life.
Also, I wanted to share an experience with one of my family members, she is my aunt, she has never married before and she is 53 years old. I remember when she starting having a really serious headaches and hot flashes called night sweats. It was terrible to see her suffering with this symptom. My mother also believes that menopause attacks more bad if you don’t get married because depending in your culture believes too. As my culture is a Mexican culture, so they believe that you have to be virgin until you get married. Therefore my aunt is paying the consequences of the culture beliefs during the stage of menopause; it is why sometimes society has much relationship with women aging, because due the stereotypes in the world menopause is portrayed as a major life tragedy.
I think women have to face this phase with knowledge and courage. It not mattering society’s opinion, because the aging of the woman has to be respected globally.