Blog 13

• Is it a sign of personal weakness or strength for a woman to admit that she has a problem with alcohol or drugs?   
• I feel it is definitely a sign of personal strength for a woman to admit she has a problem with alcohol or drugs. The root causes and factors than can influence addictions are complex. Women may tend to struggle with guilt from destructive behaviors. This can result in a vicious cycle, digging her deeper into the addiction. When a woman can love herself enough to seek help, an enormous maturity growth and a personal success has occurred. I think women have the opportunity to model behaviors that they would want their husbands, children, friends, and loved ones to also choose. Addiction recovery is a difficult road, but an honest approach to behavior that is harmful to oneself and to others is the first step.

Blog 12

Yes, I have known people very dear to me who have suffered with mental illness. I know that being diagnosed with depression means a lifetime of trying different strategies to lessen symptoms and enjoy life. These have included cognitive therapy, psychiatric counseling, group therapy, mental health facility stays, a myriad of pharmaceuticals, and a constant connection and monitoring of sleep, diet, and exercise. These two ladies affected by depression, I believe resulted from a hereditary element, and triggered by long term influences and short term traumatic instances occurring in childhood. I have become much more open about mental illness, and it really helpsto talk about it. I do not want people to feel "shame" about mental illness. This only adds to feelingsof guilt and hopelessness, because you do not want to feel depressed and cannot "make it stop" with you own will and determination. I know that taking time to educate and understand how thingseffect depression helps you manage it. Mental illness is really hard on friends and families; but if your loved one had cancer or was in a car accident you would do everything in yourpower to help them, understand what they are going through, and seek help. Mental health should be viewed the same way. In my relationships, depression is a disease. Professional help is critical, and the warning signs of suicidal behavior.

Blog 11

• Explore a chronic disease of your choice and how it impacts women in the US. Now try to find information on this same illness from a different ethnic or global perspective and examine how the disease may or may not impact women around the globe. Share this information in your blog and cite our source/s.

     In the United States diabetes is a concern for everyone. In 2007, almost 8% of the population had diabetes. Over 10% of women over 20 had diabetes. With growing obesity and sedentary lifestyle rates starting in childhood, it is a chronic disease we all need to be educated about and fight back by reducing our risks with exercise and a healthy diet. For women, in addition to the risk of Type 2 diabetes, there is the risk of developing gestational diabetes during pregnancy, when she becomes intolerant to glucose. The condition may or may not go away after delivery. Gestational diabetes also increases a woman's risk of developing Type 2 within 5 to 10 years. Diabetes is closely related with heart disease and includes a multitude of symptoms and complications (Alexander, L.L., LaRosa, J.H., Bader, H., Garfield, S., Alexander, W.H.,  2010). Worldwide, rates of women with diabetes are rapidly increasing and presenting a dangerous risk to virtually all women. Diabetes deaths occur in low/middle income countries 80% of the time. Half of these deaths are under 70 years of age and 55% are women (World Health Organization, 2009). The women of the Western Pacific Region  are just an example of those suffering from a high risk of diabetes just as women in the U.S. According to WHO, women in the Western Pacific Region, "Prevalence of overweight in women above 30 years is projected to increase from 31% in 2005 to 44% in 2015, which is likely to increase the prevalence of diabetes and heart disease (WHO, 2009).

References

Alexander, L.L., LaRosa, J.H., Bader, H., Garfield, S., Alexander, W.J.. (2010).

     Jones and Bartlett Publishers: Sudbury, MA.

World Health Organization. (WHO). (2009). Fact Sheet on Women's Health. 

     Western Pacific Region. Retrieved November 12, 2010 from

     http://www.wpro.who.int/media_centre/fact_sheets/fs_20091111.htm

Blog 10

What factors can influence women to adopt healthier lifestyles and engage in preventative behaviors so as to reduce their risks of cardiovascular disease and cancer?




There are several factors that I can think of that influence me to adopt a healthier lifestyle. I think the more you read and have an awareness and understanding of how much you can help your health with your choices makes a big difference. How can we adopt change if we do not know or understand? Also, having a support system and loves on on board will help. Otherwise, you may feel taking the time to exercise or spend more money on healthier food (or saying "not today" to that run through the drive-thru) is in someway "selfish". Women tend to sacrifice a lot for those they love. But we must remember, healthy actions and taking time for ourselves is actually a give we give to them as well. I think including loved ones in exercise and activity is more fun and is also quality time.  I think a woman is very influential in promoting positive behaviors to those around her. 

Blog 9 Correct Post

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Blog 9

• What are the biggest challenges to regular exercise and a healthy diet that you face?  How are these challenges going to change for you over the next five years?

The biggest challenge I am facing right now is time and energy. I know that once I start putting exercise and my health first, I always have more energy and am more effective at accomplishing my goals anyway. It really and truly is just starting, and then feeling (and seeing the results). Over the next five years I will still be juggling raising a family and work, but will have one child in college and one teenager, as well as a grade school child. Super busy, put more freedom in regards to attending a group exercise class. I love Jazzercise, and found I was much more consistent when I attended.  I feel that it is imperative I stick with my exercise plan and continue to eat very healthy, because I am approaching middle-age and need to be diligent in dealing with chronic disease risk factors. I am very excited about the next five years, I am ready to give myself a new challenge and active my goals in this area.

 

Thank you,

Amy Hicks

Blog 9

• What are the biggest challenges to regular exercise and a healthy diet that you face?  How are these challenges going to change for you over the next five years?

The biggest challenge I am facing right now is time and energy. I know that once I start putting exercise and my health first, I always have more energy and am more effective at accomplish my goals anyway. It really and truly is just starting, and then feeling (and seeing the results). Over the next five years I will still be juggling raising a family and work, but will have one child in college and one teenager, as well as a grade schooler. Super busy, put more feedom in regards to attending a group exercise class. I feel that it is imperative I stick with my exercise plan and continue to eat very healthy, because I am approaching middle-age and need to be diligent in dealing with chronic disease risk factors. I am very excited about the next five years, I am ready to give myself a new challenge and acjive my goals in this area.

Blog 8

     I think different aspects of society can do a lot in terms of changing images of menopause, aging, and getting older. I saw a bumper sticker  that said "I'm out of estrogen and I've got a gun". Of course I chuckled a bit because I am going to be dealing with menopause sooner than latter. However, I do not like the idea of being perceived as "hormonally unstable", or an emotional basket case. I think women in there 40's and 50's and beyond should be viewed as more confident, savvy, and "feeling comfortable in their own skin". I think if the media showed older women in more of a positive, attractive, and sensual way, women would connect beauty to the age they are at, instead of "sexy"only applied to a twenty or thirty year old. Also, our culture does not value age in general, so we lose that aspect of respect and admiration for those in a different season of life. In addition, I feel the medical community (the responsibility lies with women also, as they are able) to embrace aging and menopause as a normal course of human life. Of course, remedies and medications may be appropriate for some. In general, the attitude should not be to "fix" because this is a "problem", but rather to enhance quality of life by addressing particular symptoms. Individually, we can communicate honestly and demand respectful care and consideration in regards to these issues.

Thank you,
Amy Hicks