Health Issues affecting those in their teens and twenties

Health isn’t merely just about what one is eating and the physical illnesses that one acquires. In fact, there are many dimensions that contribute to one’s wellness. Physical health, social health, intellectual health, emotional health, spiritual health, and environmental health, are all factors that make up the essence of overall health. Though many are in constant pursual of maintaining a healthy and illness-free lifestyle, health issues are inevitable. The way people live on a daily basis in regards to health is influenced by their environments and socioeconomic status. Adolescents, including teens and individuals in their twenties, are more prone to acquiring health issues essentially because of the home and social environments they are exposed to, and the relationships they have with the individuals who contribute to their upbringing.

In an article published by HealthDay News, studies found that young individuals who are mistreated or lack warm relationships with their parents also have higher rates of inflammation and disease as adults. Studies also found that young adults in strained or abusive homes may also lack regular meal times, increasing the likelihood that they will eat sugary or high-fat snacks instead of healthy foods, and are less likely to have regular sleep and activity schedules that would help them develop habits that are important for healthy aging. Many of the times, the overall health of young adults is                                        contingent upon the dimensions of their social and environmental health. In present day society, many adolescents are less in tune with their health status primarily because they lack positive home or environmental influences. Good parent-child bonds may indeed be necessary to enforce positive eating, sleeping, and activity routines. Ultimately, when it comes to long-term health, a well-off home is beneficial, but only if the individual also has a warm and healthy relationship with their parents.

Policy/Law as it relates to health issues

In Vitro Fertilization, or IVF, can be defined as the fertilization of an egg in a laboratory dish or test tube specifically by mixing sperm with eggs surgically removed from an ovary followed by uterine implantation of one or more of the resulting fertilized eggs. A new study finds that children who were conceived through assisted reproductive technology, such as that in IVF, are twice as likely to have Autism than those conceived without assistance. Based on this study, researchers have concluded that simply knowing that one can largely reduce the risk of autism by restricting the procedure to only single-egg transfers would aid women into making knowledgeable decisions.

The study conducted included nearly 6 million children born from 1997 to 2007 and took into account the mother’s education and multiple births and an increased risk was seen only for mothers under 35. In addition to this finding, it was added that there was no significant increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders for children of women who gave birth to only one child.

Though there is an association between IVF and autism, says a researcher, controlling the characteristics of women who are more likely to use IVF when taking into account age and social status, that association is lessened greatly.

Ultimately, the remaining risk is generally due to the large numbers of multiple births and complications of pregnancy and delivery among children conceived through the IVF process. With all of that being said, whether or not conceiving through assisted reproductive technology causes birth complications, it is better for women to know the background and precise information of this process. In the long run it may just be better to conceive naturally if you can rather than to take what seems to be the easy way when conceiving.

New Health Discoveries/Technologies/Treatments

Anaphylaxis is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic response that is marked by swelling, hives, hypotension, and dilated blood vessels. In severe cases, a person will go into shock. If anaphylactic shock isn’t treated immediately, it can unfortunately be fatal. This condition occurs when the immune system develops a specific allergen fighting antibody that drives a reaction toward a substance that is normally harmless, such as food. Your body, however, may not react upon exposure but may produce antibodies with later exposures. The symptoms of Anaphylaxis may begin with severe itching of the eyes or face and progress to more serious symptoms which include swallowing and breathing difficulties, abdominal pain, cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, and hives.

The common triggers of anaphylaxis is generally food. Common food triggers include nuts, shellfish, shrimp, lobster, dairy products, egg whites, and sesame seeds. Wasp or bee stings are also common causes of anaphylaxis. In addition, exercise can trigger anaphylaxis if the activity occurs after eating allergy-provoking foods. Activity such as eating and exercise are so common amongst regular civilians that anyone can be prone to it. Other substances that are common causes of Anaphylaxis are medications. The most common triggers include, aspirin, Advil, and blood transfusions.

For the first time, a written emergency plan for allergy and anaphylaxis has been presented that can be individualized for use by patients, families, healthcare professionals and schools. The plan is included in one of two clinical reports from the Section on Allergy and Immunology that aim to enhance the care of children at risk for allergic reactions. The emergency plan was created with the support and advice of multiple AAP committees, councils and sections, and was evaluated to ensure it meets health literacy recommendations and for patients at risk for anaphylaxis, the provision of emergency action plans and prescriptions for epinephrine auto-injectors are recommended by national and international anaphylaxis guidelines, as well as several AAP clinical reports and policies. The key to managing allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, is the recognition of the signs and symptoms and prompt initiation of treatment.

Though anyone can conceive this allergic response, Anaphylaxis is diagnosed based on its symptoms. People with a history of allergic reactions may be at greater risk for developing a severe reaction in the future. There is only one rapidly effective treatment for anaphylaxis which is epinephrine by injection. Epinephrine, defined, is adrenaline and it rapidly reverses anaphylactic symptoms. It is typically given through an automatic injection device. The most common and most effective injection site is the thigh, (answers why we see this a lot on TV shows). In addition to epinephrine, treatment for shock includes intravenous fluids, IV fluids,  and medicines that support the actions of the heart and circulatory system. After a person in shock is stabilized, antihistamines and steroids may be given to further reduce symptoms. If you are near someone who is going into anaphylactic shock, call for professional medical help immediately. CPR and other lifesaving measures may be required. People who are allergic to bee stings or any other substances that cause anaphylaxis often carry epinephrine injection kits at all times. It is essential to be sure to educate yourself on how to recognize and avoid potential triggers. In cases of emergency, it could save your life.

On Advertising and Media’s Influence on Health

Many teens today would love to have flawless and glowing skin. It is what makes you the shining light of a dark room. While some choose to enhance their skin the natural way, by moisturizing their skin daily as a part of a routine, others, however, opt in for tanning. What the people who opt in for tanning may not know or even consider to be an issue, is that tanning is very hazardous and can lead to various skin diseases and skin cancers. While it may not cause it immediately, tanning excessively can indeed be consequential over time, and cancer may be the outcome.

Skin Cancer, in a common form known as melanoma, is on a rise among young adults in the U.S. Parents often warn their teens about the dangers of drinking and driving, and having unsafe sex, according to the article, but when it comes to sun exposure, the dangers are often overlooked. Statistics have it that in 2015, about 74,000 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in the U.S. From that number, about 9,900 people will die from it.

Melanoma is one of the most common cancers in young adults, especially young women, and serves as the leading cause of cancer death in women ages 25 to 30. Using a tanning bed before the age of 30 boosts melanoma risk by 75%. Some believe that the risks of getting skin cancer is fully exaggerated but any factor that has the potential to cause harm over time shouldn’t be overlooked.

Ultimately, before altering yourself it is vital to consider the consequences. Even myself, I love when my skin is full of glow and vibrant hues, but if I want to continue to enjoy this, it is essential to also consider my health at the same time. Many young women in this generation should do so as well. Though the media may portray the phenomenon of golden sun kissed skin in a positive light, it is crucial to educate yourself, despite what you are exposed to in the media.

Health Issues Affecting Older Adults

There’s nothing like a fresh cup of coffee to start off your morning. Some people even have beliefs that they work better and have more energy starting off the day with a fresh hot cup. Personally speaking, with the unfortunate loads of work I receive from school I even chug down a bit to keep me awake at night to get the work done. Some people just simply love the taste. However, what a lot of people don’t know, is that coffee can have a negative effect on people. While some researchers have found that consuming coffee everyday is beneficial for the heart and brain, other researchers however believe otherwise and say that it isn’t a safe habit for everyone to follow.

Doctors and nutritionists weigh in on the coffee drinking phenomenon by explaining the healthy aspects of coffee. The essential question is what exactly makes coffee healthy. What many people, including myself, did not know is that coffee has two potentially healthy ingredients. Those ingredients, Phytochemicals and Caffeine, each has its own function in the healthiness of coffee. Phytochemicals are healthy antioxidants that are made by plants that reduce inflammation and help cells grow better. Caffeine, which is a well known ingredient, is a stimulant that keeps our brains active. These ingredients, and the many antioxidants that coffee has, can essentially help prevent many chronic diseases, such as diabetes, ironic. Many people also didnt know that coffee’s ability to boost your alertness and ability to beat fatigue are generally health benefits. Possible benefits of drinking about three to five 8-ounce cups a day could include lowering the risk of various diseases and health problems such as, Alzheimer’s disease, Diabetes, Heart Attack, Parkinson’s disease, Liver Cancer, Skin Cancer, and Stroke.

Though coffee has its health benefits, with every advantage comes a disadvantage. Coffee doesn’t have a neutral effect meaning that the way it affects others may not be the way it affects you. For some, drinking a lot of caffeinated coffee is not recommended as it may temporarily raise your blood pressure if you already have high blood pressure. Another piece of information that I’ve gained knowledge upon was coffees ability to cause stomach aches and could also give you a shaky or jittery feeling. I myself could testify to this. Sometimes drinking even one large cup makes my stomach feel a little weak and even causes me to tremor just a bit. Another person the same age as me may not get the same feelings I do when consuming coffee because it affects everyone differently. The consumption of coffee has become an even larger problem among older adults because most are becoming reliant on it. As one tends to age, they are more prone to many health problems and the consumption of coffee can have a negative toll. One thing that people may fail to realize and need to start realizing is that although the substance caffeine may be good for you, too much of it could essentially be hazardous and could even cause sleeping problems, and we all know losing sleep has many of its own health risks as well. What I do understand, is that many older working adults do feel that they cannot function properly with that cup of joe.

Feminine Mystique; A Problem That Has No Name

The feminine mystique carries a compelling, yet fascinating aura of mystery, awe, and power. For many decades, these attributes has been deemed, and has even over time posed as, a threat to those without the specialized knowledge to understand the significance that surrounds it. The feminine mystique creates an air of secrecy that even impresses those who even choose to be oblivious. Millions of American women stand victim of “the feminine mystique,” which in retrospect is a philosophy that has convinced them that their only commitment is the fulfillment of a femininity as it pertains to nurture and love. Those traits are not traits to be frowned upon, but the danger in that is that they are essentially dangerous to a woman who is trying to find their real selves. hey have won the battle for suffrage but little else. This is the Betty Friedan tackles in her highly readable, provocative book, The “Feminine Mystique”

The core of her thesis is that woman’s problem today is not sexual but a problem of identity. “Our culture does not permit women to accept or gratify their basic need to grow and fulfill their potentialities as human beings, a need which is not solely defined by their sexual role.” She also discusses the trends in marriage and births that affected women in the 1950s. The average age of marriage was dropping and the birthrate was increasing and yet there was a continuing trend in the unhappiness of women. American culture insisted that women could find happiness in marriage and being a housewife. This American idea of a housewife directly contradicted the actual trends that were occuring. According to Friedan, media influence is a contributing factor to the “feminine mystique” and that men are the driving force behind the editorial decisions of women’s magazines. Friedan, even shares her personal experiences as a housewife. She discusses her own decision to conform to societal expectations as a housewife when she abandoned a promising career in psychology so that she could raise children. She observes that other young women still struggle with that exact decision. Women drop out of school to marry at a young age because they are afraid that they will have waited too long to marry or become too educated that they would no longer be attractive to men. She points out that while men are encouraged to find their identity, a woman’s destiny is defined by her biology. She argues that the crisis is women’s need to mature and discover a human identity, and that is an issue that needs to be overcome.

Friedan concludes that the life of a housewife prevents women from developing full, autonomous identities. She argues that both men and women must reject the feminine mystique, and she encourages women to pursue self-fulfillment. She advocates a new plan for women readers that involves not attempting to find total fulfillment in marriage and housewifery alone, but seeking out meaningful work that exercises all of their mental capacities through education.

Racial Formation/Constructing Race, Creating White Privilege

Race, as a concept, has long been based on how people look rather than how they are. It is based on an individual’s facial features, bone structure and the skin’s melanin content more than anything else. In modern racial theory, there is a move to change those conceptions. In Pem Davidson Buck’s piece, “Constructing Race, Creating White Privilege,” it is noted that white privilege was established in the USA. To explain it, she takes us back to the 16th and the 17th century when before the construction of race as it exists today, there were only two main classes of Europeans and Africans or whites and blacks. In the context of the U.S. society, the concept of race is used to signify physical differences amongst people, but is also used to signify actual and perceived cultural, economic, and behavioral differences. Race, what was socially and historically a biological concept through amateur biology and racial etiquette is now a social construct that is unstable & decentered complex of social meanings constantly being transformed by politics, and continues as a political struggle.

Racial formation theory is an attempt to determine differences between people based on how they live rather than how they look. Since Americans live in a society where racial characterization and self-definition appear to be parts of nature, in the early days of colonization before slavery was solidified and clearly distinguished from other conditions of forced labor, Europeans and Africans seem not to have seen their physical differences in that way.

The construction of race and creating white privilege promoted the idea that a certain kind of people were genetically or racially or culturally inferior to others. As Buck continues to explain in her piece by discussing the slavery system of Colonial United States in the 1600’s, she explains, while many people are still unaware, that there were over 1,000 non-baptized white slaves already working in the New World by the time African slaves were brought over. These black and white slaves, once brought together, became very close and this closeness led to friendships as well as marriages and families. Once Bacon’s Rebellion occurred in 1676, it was clear that the Black and White servants, slaves, and even freed slaves were heavily intertwined and their harmonious union could pose a threat to the elite way-of-life in the future. The strength of these two groups, it was assumed, could eventually lead to a downfall of the elite entirely. This realization led to sudden and unexpected changes in law and social practice that led to severe laws, such as the law that banned any non-European people from voting as well as another critical law that forbade interracial marriages. White employers began denying jobs to freed Blacks, and only hired white men who were non-immigrant, a trend we can also see today in modern day society unfortunately. It was a privilege to be the working man, even if these jobs were menial and paid poorly. Women were discouraged from working and worked in the home for their husband.

It can be concluded that America has not gone beyond mortal differences in dealing with its challenges. The text “Racial Formation” points out that we are constantly experiencing the ideological force of race in our everyday lives, and what we do and think in our everyday lives has an impact on social structure. As individuals have the power to change the racialized social structure and eradicate racism by changing the way we represent, think about, talk about, and act in response to race.

How Jews Became White Folks/Defining Racism: Can We Talk

On race and ethnicity, one way to see how societies construct the two is to look at the historical experiences of particular categories of people in the United States. The author of this selection explains that a century ago, Jews and other European immigrants were defined as non white. After World War II, however, Jews were included among “white folks.”

The topic on how white became Jews in this excerpt specifies Euro-races, ranging from upper to lower classes, and the whitening of euro-ethnics. It takes on the issues on education and occupation and how they served as barriers, as well as suburbanization all were involved in shutting the window of opportunity for African Americans while the Jews used federal programs to create conditions where abilities were recognized as rewards. It is certainly true that the United States has a history of anti-Semitism and of beliefs that Jews were members of an inferior race, but the article explains thoroughly that American anti-Semitism was part of a broader pattern of late 19th century racism against all southern and eastern European immigrants, as well as against Asian immigrants. It was not an educational epiphany that made those in power change their hearts, their minds, and our race, according to the reading.

Many questions arise that question the rise of superiority in regards to socioeconomic prominence in regards to the middle class. The reading emphasized the establishments and question whether Jews and other Euro-ethnics become white because they became middle class. This question also raised many eyebrows when it came to the value of our dollar in society. Did money whiten? Making it a barrier and challenge to those who fall under categories other than the European races. Or did being incorporated in an expanded version of whiteness open up the economic doors to a middle-class status? The reading notes that clearly, both tendencies were at work. Some of the changes set in motion during the war against fascism led to a more inclusive version of whiteness. These were many of the topics tackled in the reading and were also supported by various events in history. Although changing views on who was white made it easier for Euroethnics to become middle class, it was also the case that economic prosperity played a very powerful role in the whitening process.

Economic mobility of Jews and other Euroethnics rested ultimately on U.S. postwar economic prosperity with its enormously expanded need for professional, technical, and managerial labor, and on government assistance in providing it.

The author of this analysis challenges efficacy of Jewish upward mobility by demonstrating that Jewish belonging had its costs. She suggests that Jewish meaning has been lost in an exchange with the the common well-being inherent in collective whiteness. In light of the deeply rooted connections among race, class, nation, gender, and family that Brodkin weaves, she points out that racial inferiority has been ascribed to waves of immigrants only when they were used as unskilled labor.

Ultimately, the overall theme that she deliberately tries to deliver is that racism and the construction of racial identity is the foundational principle of American identity and American capitalism, and that the conversation, one that is being continued over and over, is one that will also continue to raise questions unremittingly.

Oppression/Understanding Patriarchy/Intersectionality

Even in a world of systematic racism, it isn’t all black and white. Discrimination plays a distinct, and unfavorable, role in the world within the world of color, wherein the black community, the shade of your skin defines the purity of how you should be perceived. Social perception can be the real killer, and having to prove your worth is as useless as the phenomenon of proving your worth itself. Sometimes the history of the ongoing issues gets thrown so far under the table that they continue to persist as normalities, and living in a society where this is prominent, it is unfortunately oppressive behavior.

Violating social norms is known as deviance and when this is recognized, social control is mandated and the need for social control introduces the need for law. Deviant offences to society’s social construct particularly, are often categorized as criminal offenses, which can be as minor as traffic offenses and as major as committing a murder. To keep order, what is known as the justice system is set forth to mitigate unlawful behaviors in society. While this is so, however, many individuals feel that some measures are significantly against their favor and choose or have no other choice but to rebel. The criminal justice system was set in place with intended purposes to keep major and unlawful crimes to a minimum, however, as the system would become abusing of its authority, many lose their trust in its very function. This sadly oppresses people, and white men, authoritative figures at that, are getting away with extraneous offenses. Former President Barack Obama said something in his farewell speech to the United States that I favored, “…Convinced that the game is fixed against them. That their government only serves the interest of the powerful. That’s a recipe for more cynicism and polarization in our politics.” He was referring to the mindset of the many working low-class families in inner cities and rural counties when he mentioned this but it still reminds me of the mindset many hold towards our current justice system towards blacks and “minorities”, and it’s the truth in its entirety.

The entire social structure of race and the patriarchal phenomenon informs our behavior whether we are cognizant of it or not, and it is a social construction that has real consequences and effects. We are factioned and generalized because of both race and patriarchy, and stereotyped and minoritized because of race and patriarchy. Social and moral traits are predetermined by one’s inborn biological characteristics, and for some reason, this ism is an immanent trait today. The shade of one’s skin and ones sex is your placement on this not so invisible social hierarchy we live by, and this is the same hierarchy that influences where people reside, who they become acquainted with, what jobs they can get, how much money they can acquire, etc. Those at the top of this hierarchy, white people (white men specifically), are often blinded by this construct, yet are the ones who form the economic trends, the political freedoms, and the social attitudes. America likes to argue that it isn’t about race and sex, but when limits are placed on individuals because of the color of their skin or their sex, then it is about race and sex.

The need for power will always be a factor in the way racial and intersectional constructions are equated. Because both power and prejudice is the formula that creates racism, classism, and intersectionality, it not only becomes a phenomenon that oppresses externally, but internally as well as it is institutionalized and subconsciously practiced. The point of understanding intersectionality is to understand the variety of privileges and the forms of oppression that one may experience at any time because of how our system is governed and constituted. A wealthy, white, heterosexual man who is a citizen of the United States experiences the world from the apex of privilege and the problem with that, is that a wealthy, white, heterosexual man who is a citizen of the United States doesn’t see that.

Indian Tribes – A Continuing Quest For Survival/Elk vs. Wilkins

Indians have gone from having everything to having nothing, opposite of traditional immigrants. Initially, the United States wouldn’t claim them as a part of the country and separated them from the country. Though it is still occurring, it isn’t talked about due to preexisting concepts.  Indian tribes have been separate political entities interested in maintaining their own institutions & beliefs- goal to prevent the dismantling of their own systems.

The Elk vs. Wilkins act was a court case that said that Indian tribes are foreign nations and if you are born into an Indian tribe then you are not a U.S. citizen even if you are apart of a white society. In 1879, John Elk renounced his allegiance to his American Indian tribe to go live among the citizens of Omaha. But when he tried to register to vote, the registrar claimed that he was not a citizen. No one disputed that Elk was born within the territorial limits of the United States, but in 1884’s Elk v. Wilkins, the Court ruled that the citizenship clause of the Fourteenth Amendment did not apply to Elk or others like him.

This excerpt tackles the issue of Indian citizenship by looking at statutes and laws enacted prior to the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924. It analyzes the vagueness of the Constitution regarding Indian citizenship and how this started the issue. The reading goes on by looking at how different states handled this by approving treaties that allowed other instances of Indian citizenship.The Elk vs. Wilkins case, became one of the reasons behind the Indian Citizenship Act.

The legal and political status of American Indians was a matter of contention from the earliest days of the new nation. Initially the United States followed the European precedent and entered into treaties with the tribes as though they were foreign nations. Yet, the reading states, unlike all other nations with whom the United States entreated, Indians lived within the borders of this country.

Since Elk was an Indian he could not be a citizen without a positive recognition of his citizenship by the United States government. While Elk claimed that he had surrendered himself to the jurisdiction of the United States, the federal government had not accepted his surrender nor taxed him nor otherwise treated Elk as a citizen of the United States or of the state of Nebraska. Also, he had not been made a citizen by any statute or treaty. As noted in the reading all of these underlying factors contributed to what made this court case the beginning of a proclaimed act of defining citizenship.

The report on Indian Tribes and Human Rights discusses the public awareness of Indians and Indian issues during the late 1970s and traces the major events in Federal-Indian relations from the precolonial period to the present. The report also briefly summarizes the major concepts of Federal Indian law, describes the historical developments of the concept of Indian rights, and discusses the relations between tribal governments and state, local, and federal governments. In the next chapters, detailed case studies thoroughly explained and discussed traces the historical origins of the conflicts, focusing on the government’s’ role, particularly the federal government, throughout the crises. Generally, the report concludes that the present system for protecting Indian rights has significant limitations, that creates conflicts over Indian rights and the preexisting problems Indians face concerning denials of equal protection of the laws.