http://www.bettycjung.net/Blog2009.htm
|
|
|
Blogging since 2000....
|
 |
 |
|
 |
Site Search Engine and Site Index |
May 28, 2004 - It has come to this - a blog page... Blog is short for Web Log. Now that the Internet has become an almost indispensable part of our lives, many have started using it to keep an online journal of sorts. I started adding "Newsworthy Stuff" tidbits back near towards the end of 2000 on my What's New Page. I thought these tidbits would be more useful if they were compiled on one page. Therefore, all these tidbits will be compiled on this page after they've had their Net time on the most recent What's New Page, with the most recent entries at the beginning (so you don't have to scroll so much). Added links along the way will continue to be compiled on annual "What Was New" pages that you can access by clicking on year graphic. Thanks. Betty
| |
Here is something I couldn't do when the 2000s started, sharing a video of one of my favorite groups.
Enjoy and have a great New Year celebration!! |
 |
Since computers are somewhat ubiquitous, I thought it would be important to acknowledge one advancement that has really made a difference in how we use our computers.
I think the most significant technology that was developed between 2000 - 2009 is the ability to "Plug and Play." Starting with Windows 2000, we were able to plug in any peripheral (like drives, printers, etc.) to a USB port and the computer would immediately allow us to use those peripherals, without having to install drivers - programs to enable the computer to talk to the peripherals. And from this technology came the ability to store programs and files externally, reducing dependence on the C drive. Storage memory soared, and now we have external drives that can store over 1 terabyte of memory, flash drives that can store 16 gigabytes of memory, etc. The best part is, it has really gotten really inexpensive to store graphic files that are usually memory hogs. So, being able to plug and play has really enhanced what we can do with a computer, so I give it my vote for being this decade's most significant computer technology. Graphic source: http://www.computertarget.com.au/ oscom/catalog/images/ USB_Hub-rotate.jpg |
| During these waning days of the end of the first decade of the 21st century, I thought about what was "THE ONE" thing (event, person, etc.) that impacted Public Health the most during 2000 - 2009. My vote is for September 11, 2001, when the twin towers of New York City's World Trade Center disappeared in plumes of toxic smoke. No one who lived through that day were ever the same again. We could never go back to the world before that morning. Thousands of innocents died, and I still can't get over the sound of the bodies of people hitting the pavement as they jumped out the towers to certain death. |
Americans were impacted by this collective loss of innocence because it really changed how we looked at the world. We could no longer think that America could be protected from the rest of the world by the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The nebulous presence of Terrorism continues to consume evergrowing resources to help us regain a sense of safety and security. The airline industry, and all the service industries that depended on the airlines, continue to struggle to survive. Going through security has made airline travel a major hassle for everyone. Perhaps, the most saddest outcome of this is the burden for disaster preparedness has fallen to Public Health, forcing the need to re-prioritize. So, while Healthy People 2010's agenda is being updated for the new decade, I wonder just how many of the goals and objectives set for the past ten years have not been met because they were impacted by the loss of resources to address safety issues, one of the most fundamental of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. |
|
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It is actually the one meal we can work off during the course of the day, if we are active. As we start to think of New Year resolutions, let's resolve to eat better.
For more information, check my Nutrition Page. Graphic Source: http://eatthis.menshealth.com/slide/worst-breakfast-america?slideshow=77333#title |
|
 Yes, Geocities went away on October 26th - two months ago. I miss Geocities because it gave me the opportunity to learn how to create and maintain a Web site. Geocities hosted my Web site for a couple of years until I migrated to my own domain in 2002, when the Web site got too big for free hosting.
Yahoo!, which by then partnered with Geocities, offered to host my site for a reasonable price and offered easy migration. Prior to 2002, having your own domain was prohibitively expensive, in the hundreds of dollars. Now it has gotten so inexpensive that I have to constantly deal with cybersquatters that create a site to catch traffic to my site through misspellings. Yes, spelling counts. Of course, I had to laugh the other day when I was offered to buy "bettycjung.com" when this bogus site has been around for a couple of years. As a result I have had to clean out some 50 dead links to Geocities sites that provided good information online. I hope they find a home somewhere else. |
|
Merry Christmas to all!!! This is the time of the year when I review my entire Web site in preparation for the new year. Since a new decade will start on January 1st, I have decided to do a lot of revamping, even though I am coming down with the flu and recuperating from a bad wrist sprain. Oh well. In addition, I am cleaning out dead links at the same time. So, be prepared for some changes. First up, my earlier blog pages have been renamed and I have given them a new logo which is more reflective of what I am trying to do with the blog. Hope you like it. |
Graphic source: http://www.radiocitychristmas.com/newyork/downloads.html |
Oh the weather outside is frightful (blizzard conditions) but the Rockettes will always be delightful....Hum this:
|
|
|
More than just a 5 million+ viewed YouTube video about breast cancer awareness, it is a celebration of all the wonderful people who provide health care in the hospital setting. Many thanks to everyone who is there when we need them the most! Enjoy! |
Graphic source: http://projects.nytimes.com/toxic-waters?th&emc=th |
The New York Times investigative report on America's tainted tap water is worth reading. Water is such a necessity that it is inconceivable that protecting our water supplies would not be a priority.
See the NY Times video - Tainted Tap Water . Check out how your state is faring in the NY Times What's in Your Water database. |
Well, after spending some 20 hours running scans and backing up files I discovered that a virus was not responsible for the problem. Mostly likely it was bad weather and my pushing a wrong button on the router. Anyway, I was glad I didn't have to wipe the drives and then spend another 16 hours cleaning out the junk from the recovery files, etc.,etc. Live and learn.
 |
Unfortunately, technological breakdowns occur way too often. After not being able to get online over the weekend I was informed by my Internet service provider that there's probably some virus responsible so that my computers cannot talk with the modem. His suggestion? Wipe the drives. That's easy for him to say!! Having done this a few times already in recent years, it's not a hard thing to do, but very time consuming. You're looking at 8 hours per computer, or 16 hours of neurosurgery and hard drive rehab. So, I'll be somewhat incommunicado this week...
Graphic source: http://www.cnet.com.au/wipe-your-hard-drive-clean-240053924.htm |
 |
In our current environmentally-conscious society, "going green" has taken on a "call to arms" kind of fervor, making those who insist on carbon footprinting pay for their excesses. This has been most noticeable with the tap vs. bottled water coalitions. Save the environment and energy, drink tap and not bottled water. Throwing a wrench into this, however, is the growing concern over just how drinkable is the water coming out of our taps? In the December 7th article, "Millions in U.S. Drink Dirty Water, Records Show , the New York Times reported
"...as many as 19 million Americans may become ill each year due to just the parasites, viruses and bacteria in drinking water. Certain types of cancer — such as breast and prostate cancer — have risen over the past 30 years, and research indicates they are likely tied to pollutants like those found in drinking water." and, "... E.P.A. has reported that more than three million Americans have been exposed since 2005 to drinking water with illegal concentrations of arsenic and radioactive elements, both of which have been linked to cancer at small doses." While the Safe Drinking Water Act was meant to protect us from harm, violators of this act have gone mostly unpunished (e.g., <6% of water systems that violated were ever fined or punished). NY Times reports, "More than 20 percent of the nation’s water treatment systems have violated key provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act over the last five years...." So, until I can be assured that I won't get sick drinking from the tap, I will be filtering the tap water and drink bottled water. For more information, check out Public Health Sites under "Environmental Health." Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/business/energy-environment/08water.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2&sq=December%208%202009&st=nyt&scp=1 Graphic source:http://mrbarlow.wordpress.com/2009/02/27/drink-out-of-the-tap/ |
 |  |
 |
Here are two scary maps and a line graph about the global problem of obesity and its impact on the development of diabetes. It is small comfort that the U.S. has the highest percentage of obese adults when compared to other countries, and that the U.S. has the highest percentage of overweight children as well.
Very few countries have a diabetes prevalence of less than 4%. The International Diabetes Federation estimates that the 2030 global prevalence of diabetes will be 7.8%, with 438 million suffering from the disease. Another 8.4% (472 million) will have impaired glucose tolerance (a precursor of type 2 diabetes). [Source: http://www.diabetesatlas.org/content/powerpoint-presentation] For more information, see Diabetes Resources on the Internet and Nutrition Resources for obesity information. Source for graphics: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7151813.stm (January 2008) |
|
Smoking is a nasty habit that not only compromises the health of smokers, but those who must share the polluted environment. According to the recently released Institute of Medicine Report: Secondhand Smoke and Cardiovascular Effects: Making Sense of the Evidence* researchers have been able to link secondhand smoke to heart disease and heart attacks. The report documents:
The CDC's analysis of the report conclude that, Findings in the report indicate that there is about a 25 to 30 percent increase in the risk of coronary heart disease from exposure to secondhand smoke. These findings agree with the 2006 Surgeon General's Report conclusion that there are increased risks of coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality among men and women exposed to secondhand smoke.
It is time for smokers to give up the habit that is not only destroying their quality of life but that of their loved ones who are exposed to secondhand smoke. Now that there is mounting evidence that such exposure can cause heart attacks, it is time to do the right thing. For more information about how secondhand smoke causes heart disease, click on any of these graphics, and visit Cardiovascular Disease - General Information under "Risk Factors - Tobacco." For more information about tobacco and how to quit, check out Public Health Sites - Tobacco . Source of graphics & links: http://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/library/secondhandsmoke_IOM.htm |
| If you have never seen a film about War, then this is the one to catch. Truly an epic masterpiece of cinematic artistry! No other film about war portrays the importance of strategy like "Red Cliff" does. The battle scenes are simply magnificent, and watch how a war is lost over a cup of tea.
|
Graphic source: http://www.marketingcharts.com/topics/behavioral-marketing/top-10-most-medicated-states-west-virginia-alabama-lead-pack-11252/?utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_source=mc&utm_medium=textlink |
Here is an interesting ranking just released by Forbes.com, which analyzed data from statehealthfacts.org, The Kaiser Family Foundation; Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the CDC.
They reported, "Each adult resident of West Virginia fills an average of 17.7 retail prescriptions each year.... This compares with the national average of just 11.5 prescriptions. West Virginians also have higher rates of heart-disease death: 237 per 100,000 compared with a national average of 200. Their health isn’t great on other fronts either. More than one-fourth smoke, and 12% have diabetes - nearly 4% more than the average US incidence of diabetes. All of the states on the most medicated list also have higher rates of adult obesity than the US average of 63%. For example, 69% of West Virginians are obese or overweight, as are 68% of Alabama residents and 65% of South Carolinians, according to the CDC. |
Graphic source: http://calorielab.com/news/2005/06/11/cut-sodium-by-75-by-cooking-your-own-food/ |
A recently reported meta-analysis stated, "Cutting the average salt intake in half could prevent a substantial proportion of strokes and heart disease in most Western countries....A decrease of 5 grams of salt a day (about one teaspoon) was associated with a 23% lower stroke rate and up to 17% less total cardiovascular disease."
Original source: Strazzullo P, et al "Salt intake, stroke, and cardiovascular disease: meta-analysis of prospective studies" BMJ 2009; 339: b4567. Most of us don't know just how ubiquitous salt is in what we consume.
According to the CalorieLab Web site we can easily cut this 77% salt source by just doing our own cooking. Makes sense to me. |
|
There is a new self-assessment tool anyone can use to determine whether or not they are at risk for developing diabetes.
Original source: “Development and Validation of a Patient Self-assessment Score for Diabetes Risk.” (1 December 2009 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine (volume 151, pages 775-783).
If your score is 4 or greater you should probably see your primary care provider to discuss what you need to do and get a blood sugar test. And, it's never too late to start eating healthy and developing a daily See my Nutrition and Fitness Pages for ideas on how to start living in a more healthy way. |
How we manage our money is captured in one number, the FICO score. The number is based on a number of factors that impact your monetary health and it is used by lenders to determine if you are a good credit risk. And, what does this have to do with Public Health? Well, it's all about wellness, and financial health is one of the dimensions of Wellness. It is hard to live in a healthy way if your finances are a mess.
| "the FICO® score (was) developed by Fair Isaac Corporation. It is today's most commonly used scoring system. FICO scores range from 300-850, and most people score in the 600s and 700s (higher FICO scores are better). Lenders buy your FICO score from three national credit reporting agencies (also called credit bureaus): Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. In the eyes of most lenders, FICO credit scores above 700 are very good and a sign of good financial health. FICO scores below 600 indicate high risk to lenders and could lead lenders to charge you much higher rates or turn down your credit application." (Source: http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/money/creditscores/your.htm)
Graphic source: http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/108239/fICO-reveals-how-common-credit-mistakes-affect-scores?mod=bb-creditreports |
|
The year 2010 is only about 5 weeks away. In Public Health circles it means that Healthy People 2010 is coming to an end. In the next few years data gathered for Healthy People 2010 will be analyzed to evaluate how well the U.S. is doing in accomplishing the goals and objectives set forth a decade ago.
The process of developing Healthy People 2020 has already begun. This monumental undertaking will take time to develop a decade-long plan to structure what everyone working for the Public's health will look to for guidance in prioritizing our efforts. You can play an active role in shaping the Healthy People 2020 document by viewing and commenting on the preliminary objectives that are being submitted as well as submitting your own for consideration. You can find my contribution on Gestational Diabetes . If you have worked on any public health problem in the past 10 years then you have invaluable input about what needs to be addressed in the coming years. Your insights will help the final document become a living and relevant document that must last for 10 years. Be a part of the process and make Public Health strong!
|
|
Here is a good reason to stay out and up at 2 AM in the morning, listening to The Nerds rock New Haven, CT with dance party music for 2 hours.
What a great cover band! See them when you get a chance, they won't disappoint!
Graphic source: http://www.myspace.com/thenerds |
|
According to the November 27th NY Times article, "Seeing the Glass as Mostly Empty", "THE American economy is in its worst shape in a quarter-century." Even though consumer confidence may be slipping, I think that such times force people to be more realistic about their expectations.
While the push these days (especially today, which is Black Friday) is for people to spend, the realist in all of us is whispering caution, and that really is a good thing. After all, it is the overspending of money we don't have that is probably one of the reasons why many people have to deal with defaulting, etc. today. Living within one's means is a good way to live, as many people are being forced to discover. Banks are not too confident themselves. Interest rates are pathetic, and I can't see how retired people who rely on interest from savings to make ends meet, can make ends meet. Frankly, when everyone knows at least one person who is unemployed, it is hard for retailers and prognosticators to try and persuade people "happy days are here again".... Graphic source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/28/business/economy/28charts.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y |
|
| 
|
We Can! is a new national program to address childhood obesity, and not soon enough. Here are some data from their "We Can! Partner Presentation". As you can see, a major contributor to the current childhood obesity epidemic is the poor eating habits of kids today. Keep in mind that these nutritional data are somewhat old but they do show what we already know, kids are consuming too much soda and too much carbs.
The overweight prevalence trend data, from 1963 to 2006, clearly show that the problem is growing. Add to this that today's kids tend to sit around than run around and we have a big problem on our hands. The We Can! Web site is sponsored by several federal agencies and offers a wealth of resources for developing childhood obesity programs, as well as practical information for a variety of audiences, from parents and caregivers to entities that want to do something about this problem. You can find a link to this site on my Nutrition Resources Page under "Obesity/Overweight."
Source of graphics; http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/ health/public/ heart/obesity/wecan/tools-resources/ promotional-materials.htm
Map source: http://depts.washington.edu/caict/images/map.gif |
Here is something I would like to share this Thanksgiving Day. Thanks to the Internet I am able to do my small part in helping someone on the other side of the world to work on Public Health!! How great is that?
Hi. Good Day.
Gemma Marie I. Carnacete
|
 | Infant mortality remains the standard by which all countries' health status is measured with.
The National Center for Health Statistcs Data Brief #23 just released reports that in 2005, the U.S. ranked 30th in infant mortality. The U.S. infant mortality rate of 6.9 is 3x that of Singapore's 2.1 at first place.
Graphic source: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db23.htm
|
 Just like Thanksgiving Day, we need at least one day to show our gratitude for things we take for granted. Public Health is always taken for granted, but becomes a target of critics when something so basic and essential to our welfare goes wrong. |
Here are some of things we can be thankful for, with many thanks to all the Public Health Professionals, at all levels of practice, who have dedicated their careers to protecting the Public's Health in a variety of ways...
 |
 This Weekly Activity Tracker is a tool developed by Merck's Journey for Control.Com to help people with diabetes monitor their physical activity. But I think it is useful for anyone who is interested in a simple way to track how many calories they are using for a variety of activities, based on how long they perform the activity and how much they weigh. Unfortunately, the weight categories start at 150 pounds, but given the current obesity epidemic, many people can use this tool.
For example, for a 30 minute brisk walk, a 150 pound person burns 129 calories, while a 250 pound person would burn 215 calories!!! The tracker includes all kinds of activities, from general exercise activities to leisure, housework and do-it-yourself activities, etc. You can find a link to this printable Weekly Activity Tracker on my Fitness Page |
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy |
Are you aware your kids are getting high with household products? It's the latest in chemical abuse that could kill a child. |
|
The November 20, 2009 MMWR "Estimated County-Level Prevalence of Diabetes and Obesity --- United States, 2007" reports on a new analysis of obesity and diabetes prevalences by using estimated county-level statistics.
It notes, Diabetes and obesity are thought to coexist in specific geographic patterns because of a convergence of prevailing social norms, community and environmental factors, socioeconomic status, and genetic risk factors among ethnically similar groups.
From the Public Health perspective of primary prevention, preventing obesity would take care of diabetes, especially Type 2 Diabetes. Policy and environmental changes, of course, are necessary to address those factors that affect us all, but these do not preclude the responsibility to take care of ourselves the best way we can. And, here's a great quote from the book I am currently reading, M & E. Kaplan's Chances Are...Adventures in Probability (2006)
Those with diabetes can tell you that self-management is the key to living successfully with the disease. But, why wait till you have the disease to do something about it? We can easily prevent obesity and diabetes by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Start TODAY! You can find a link to this report and diabetes resources on my Diabetes Resources on the Net page. And, check out the Fitness Resources on the Net and Nutrition Resources on the Net pages for helpful sites to get you started and do your part in addressing these two health issues. 
|
| If you haven't seen this video, you should, and then remember that such behavior should never be tolerated. This player has been suspended indefinitely. |
|
Along with proteins and fats, we need carbohydrates (along with water) to stay alive. In fact, carbohydrates is the only food source that the brain uses for energy.
The glycemic index assigns a value to carbohydrates on the basis of how fast that carbohydrate will convert to sugar in your body. So, the higher the value, the faster that carb converts to sugar. This conversion requires the pancreas to release insulin. Eating foods with a high glycemic index means your pancreas has to go into overdrive to release enough insulin to meet the demand. The consistent high demand will wear out the pancreas, and that means Type 2 diabetes. Though it may sound simplistic, I think the best approach to dealing with carbohydrates is to think of good and bad carbs. Bad carbs are white foods (most of which are high on the glycemic index), and good carbs are the colorful foods (most of which are low on the glycemic index). Avoid the bad carbs and eat lots of good carbs by adding more color to your plate. Check my Diabetes Page under "Glycemic Index" for more information about the Glycemic Index, and the Nutrition Page for information about how to eat better. Bon Appetit! |
| I love widgets!! Here is one that you will find useful in getting information from the NHLBI & NIH Web sites, which can be quite daunting.
Many federal agencies are discovering that this may be the best way to get out information they have to the general public in a user-friendly way. I have many widgets on my Web site because public health and health information is constantly updated and changing all the time. You can use this search box widget on this page, and you can also find it on my Consumer Health Information Page and my Web site Medical Search Engines Page . Have fun learning something new! |
Graphic adapted from a generated image at http://www.shadac.org/datacenter |
Along with Death and Taxes, you might as well add the ever-growing numbers of people with no medical insurance. The State Health Access Data Assistance Center (SHADAC) program of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation can now generate graphics of the uninsured with parameters you can input online.
You can find a link to this site on my Public Health Data Sites E - H under "Health Insurance Data." |
Graphic source: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/diabetes/index.html |
Preventing and Treating Diabetes: Health Insurance Reform and Diabetes in America is HealthReform.gov's report about the devastating cost of diabetes. This is one chronic disease that requires this kind of attention because effort is needed on the national as well as at the individual level to get a handle on managing this epidemic. Check out the link to this report, and other diabetes resources I have compiled on my Diabetes Resources on the Internet Page. Meanwhile, don't forget to 
|
 |
I just caught this wonderful show at Southern Connecticut State University. If you missed 2008's Bejing Olympic Opening Ceremonies, take this opportunity to experience what these drummers can do. It's performance art at its best! Worth catching!
Graphic source: http://www.iaipresentations.com/jigu.php |
Graphic created from: RWFJ's 2009
|
Graphic created from: RWFJ's 2003 Guide to Evaluation Primers |
Program evaluation is an essential skill of Public Health professionals regardless of what country, at what level of government or agency they work in and with what particular program they may be involved. Given limited resources, it is now more important than ever that evaluation be part of the ethics of good Public Health Practice. Programs using public and private funds must be able to show that the services provided are effective to justify continued funding. This is the basic principle behind program evaluation.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation just released A Practical Guide for Engaging Stakeholders in Developing Evaluation Questions that offers a wealth of information that you can use for developing strategies that will ensure program evaluation is done properly. Stakeholders should be involved early on in the program development process, and Evaluation should be one of the primary components of the process. You want stakeholders involved because any changes that need to made can be incorporated more readily in existing programs with their buy-in, thus, ensuring the successful implementation of the program. And, this is the basic principle behind program success.
Another useful guide is its 2003 Guide to Evaluation Primers which evaluates existing program evaluation handbooks and primers for their strengths and weaknesses. The appendix of this 2003 report includes "Guiding Principles for Evaluators" that delineates the principles for ethical evaluation practice. You can find links to these two useful reports, among other evaluation resources, on my Evaluation Resources on the Internet Page .
Graphic created from: APA October 24, 2007 Stress in America Report |
Today I just came across the American Psychological Association's 2007 Stress in America Report . Based on an online survey conducted over a 2-week period during August-September, 2007, it covers just about everything you ever wanted to know about how stress impacts our health and well-being. Keep in mind that this was completed before the current economic recession went into overdrive so these findings may actually underestimate the current state of stress in America. Nevertheless, I found this report to be quite informative.
Other interesting findings reported included: Close to half reported stress having a negative impact on their emotional well-being, physical health and job satisfaction; Fatigue was the most common physical symptom; Irritability or anger the most common psychological symptom; Work and money were the top two significant sources of stress (closely followed by workload); 1/4 reported serious impacts on personal relationships; 2/3s smoked more on stressful days; almost half couldn't sleep at night; almost everything eaten during stress is junk, etc. I could go on, but you should read the report yourself. You can find a link to this report on my Public Health Sites M to N Page under "Mental Health - Stress. |
| Here is an initiative from Volkswagen that got people to take the stairs instead of the escalator by simply turning the stairs into a giant piano. A novel idea that got people to exercise more.
Volkswagen calls it the Fun Theory: "the thought that something as simple as fun is the easiest way to change people’s behaviour for the better. Be it for yourself, for the environment, or for something entirely different, the only thing that matters is that it’s change for the better." (http://www.thefuntheory.com/) Perhaps, Public Health professionals can try "Fun" as the incentive to developing health education and health promotion programs. Why not? Change your life, just for the fun of it! Worth a try. Many thanks to Rose Louie for sending me the link! |
In my October 13th entry I talked about how elusive happiness is to any kind of measurement. Just released are the results of a study funded by AHRQ which found a "positive correlation between health literacy and personal levels of happiness." I am sure there will be more studies to follow, after all, who isn't searching for happiness? Check out the health literacy links on my Health Care Quality Issues Page .
 The October 30th issue of MMWR includes its report, Perceived Insufficient Rest or Sleep Among Adults --- United States, 2008 and states "chronic sleep insufficiency is under-recognized as a public health problem...." . I am so glad that lack of sleep is finally being identified as a public health problem. |
The 2008 NCHS Health Stats Report explored the effects of sleep and noted "U.S. adults who usually slept less than 6 hours were more likely than adults who slept 7 to 8 hours to engage in certain health risk behaviors (i.e., cigarette smoking, having five or more drinks in a day, engaging in no leisure-time physical activity, and being obese). In many cases, adults who usually slept 9 hours or more were also at increased risk of engaging in these unhealthy behaviors.
Source: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/sleep04-06/sleep04-06.pdf A growing number of my students are choosing getting adequate sleep as a positive behavior change for the better and have discovered how difficult it is to implement good sleep hygiene. For more information about sleep, check my Sleep and Sleep Data Pages. |
View 2009 H1N1 Flu Outbreak Map in a larger map |
Here's the latest map of what's going on with H1N1. Doesn't look too good. Last fall H1N1 was relatively mild, but it never completely went away. Now it's back and more virulent than ever, which means it must have mutated, which is what flu viruses usually do.
The constant mutation of the flu virus is why we need to get annual flu shots to protect most of us from getting a bad case of it during the current flu season. Hopefully epidemiologists will come up soon with an explanation of why the most vulnerable are not the typical infants and elderly populations. Until then, keep those hands clean and don't touch your nose with your hands! Map source: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie =UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid= 109496610648025582911.0004686892fbefe515012& source=embed&ll=29.840644, -82.792969&spn=52.062364,74.707031&z=3 |
|
According to an October 24th New York Times article, "65 and Up and Looking for Work":
"In fact, there are more Americans 65 and older in the job market today than at any time in history, 6.6 million, compared with 4.1 million in 2001. Less well known, though, is that nearly half a million workers 65 and older want to work but cannot find a job — more than five times the level early this decade and this group’s highest unemployment level since the Great Depression." (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/24/business/economy/24older.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y) I guess everyone should seriously start saving their pennies as it looks like there will be fewer years people can spend retired. Very sad.
Graphic Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/24/business/economy/24older.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y
|
The State of Literacy in America provides the percent of each State's population at Level 1 literacy (1993)
According to the United States Department of Transportation - Federal Highway Administration, Level 1 literacy has been used as the definition of "low literacy." or the lowest level of literacy measured by National Adult Literacy Survey in 1993. |
"Level 1 literacy is generally defined as less than fifth-grade reading and comprehension skills, and Level 2 is generally defined as fifth through seventh grades reading and comprehension skills." The survey reported that "21 percent of American adults had Level 1 literacy skills, and 27 percent of American adults had Level 2 literacy skills. Although many Level 1 adults could perform tasks involving simple texts and documents, all adults scoring at Level 1 displayed difficulty using certain reading, writing, and computational skills considered necessary for functioning in everyday life. Almost all Level 1 adults could read a little, but not well enough to fill out an application, read a food label, or read a simple story to a child. While most of these adults are not considered "illiterate," they do not have the full range of economic, social, and personal options that are open to Americans with higher levels of literacy skills."
Could low literacy be a possible explanation for the lack of physical activity and the growing prevalence of obesity in the U.S.? |
2007 Prevalence of Recommended Physical Activity
|
U.S. Obesity Trends 1985–2008
|
Here is a very simple way to compare the sugar content of common foods, by the number of cubes of sugar it contains (1 cube = 1 teaspoon of sugar). Notice how much of the sugar we take in is from what we drink rather than what we eat!!
Click here for the Sugar Content, Counted as Cubes of Sugar pdf document. Many thanks to Ellen M. Chin for sharing these graphics with me.
 |
 |
| Criteria for Clinical Diagnosis of
the Metabolic Syndrome
Table source: http://cme.medscape.com/viewarticle/710337?src=mpnews&spon=34&uac=81167HX |
On October 5th, Circulation posted a new definition for the Metabolic Syndrome. This new definition was developed by the joint efforts of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the World Heart Federation, the International Atherosclerosis Society, and the American Heart Association (AHA).
The Metabolic Syndrome has been defined differently over many years to the point that it became somewhat useless in characterizing people at risk for heart disease or diabetes. A major sticking point was the geographic variability of how waist circumference was measured and defined. The new definition focuses on those risk factors that "contribute to doubling the risk for incident cardiovascular disease within 5 to 10 years as well as a 5-fold increase in the risk for incident type 2 diabetes," (http://cme.medscape.com/viewarticle/710337?src=mpnews&spon=34&uac=81167HX) and that presence of the metabolic syndrome is a risk marker. If you look carefully at these 5 measures, every single one is amenable to diet and exercise Source: Alberti KG, Eckel RH, Grundy SM, et al. Harmonizing the metabolic syndrome. A joint interim statement of the International Diabetes Federation Task Force on Epidemiology and Prevention; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; American Heart Association; World Heart Federation; International Atherosclerosis Society; and International Association for the Study of Obesity. Circulation 2009; 120:1640-1645 |
Graphic Adapted from: http://impacteen.org/statetobaccodata/chartbook_final060409.pdf The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has recently released its comprehensive report,"Cigarette Smoking Prevalence and Policies in the 50 States: An Era of Change." It includes statistics on just about everything related to tobacco, from the prevalence in all 50 states to how current tobacco taxes are impacting the Public's health. The report concludes that tobacco control efforts are making progress, which is a good thing. |
However, such efforts are really meant to support the personal efforts of those who really want to quit smoking. Smoking, as with all health behaviors, is a personal choice, albeit one that destroys quality of life rather than enhances it. Of course, the best choice is to never start; and if you do smoke, it's never too late to stop, and the sooner the better.
You can find a link to this report (234 pages long), on my Evaluation Resources on the Internet Page , under "State Report Cards [Health] (Non-government)." |
Graphic Source:http://silencedmajority.blogs.com/silenced_majority_portal/2008/06/wtf-is-high-fru.html |
Sources of High Fructose Corn Syrup
Graphic Source: http://americanfunctionalfoods.com/nutrition/opportunity.php
|
Our "sweet tooth" is going to kill us all. During the past quarter of a century, our diet has become very sweet. However, the source of the sweetness has changed to the use of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). My August 31st and September 23rd entries talk about the detrimental impact of HFCS. There are now even more reasons to skip the soda, snack and baked good aisles of the supermarket.
According to the American Functional Foods Web site (http://americanfunctionalfoods.com/nutrition/opportunity.php), HFCS first appeared in 1966 and is the leading sweetener in the United States today. The average American consumes 62.6 pounds per year equaling 4.5 billion dollars sold each year. It also lists the detrimental effects of HFCS consumption:
So, what about triglycerides?
Graphic source: http://exrx.net/ExInfo/MetabolicDiagrams/FatCellTrigSynthDegrad.html They are the chemical form of fat in food and in our body. Excessive levels of triglycerides have been linked to coronary heart disease. About 95% of the fat we eat is in the form of triglycerides. However, eating and drinking (alcohol) too many carbohydrates (of which sugar is a source) also contribute to the creation of triglycerides. Excessive carbohydrates are converted into triglycerides by the liver, which are then stored in our fat cells. This is probably the best explanation for why people with poorly controlled diabetes develop heart disease. It's the fault of all those triglycerides. For more information about triglycerides and nutrition, check my Nutrition Page. |
Here's a reminder of the chemistry you don't remember from high school and college, and, thank goodness, I'm not going to test you on it.
Eating fatty fish, which contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids (herring, sardines, trout, salmon and albacore tuna. Halibut, Alaskan king crab, mackerel, shrimp and scallops) reduces the triglyceride levels in the body. Fish oil supplements will also help, but I am really leery about dietary supplements because they are not regulated by the FDA. It would be extremely beneficial for everyone if the FDA can start regulating the multi-million dietary supplement industry, especially when physicians are recommending fish oils to their patients. |
|
 |
Graphics Source: http://www.marketingcharts.com/topics/behavioral-marketing/baby-boomers-in-50s-among-least-happy-americans-10698/gallup-healthways-percentage-experienced-happiness-alot-yesterday-h1-2009jpg/
According to recently released findings of the 2008-2009 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, how happy you are varied by age and gender. Though interesting, I always find the measurement of Happiness just as elusive as Happiness itself. It would be interesting to see what happens ten years from now, when the happy 20 somethings get into their 30s.
Graphic Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/04/ weekinreview/ 04norris.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y | According to the October 3rd New York Times article,"The Jobs News Gets Worse," the current recession is a lot more severe than earlier recessions when it comes to employment.
It is hard to believe that over 8 million jobs in the U.S. have been lost, with no end in sight. By now, everyone knows at least one person who has lost their job. Current economic times will definitely impact the way we live for years to come. However, let's continue to maintain our health and wellness as best as we can, and if we're not at our optimum, to strive and improve our fitness by eating healthy and exercising on a daily basis. |
 I have been sending out the Public Health Jobs E-list since November 2001. Since then I have kept track of the number of jobs and internships posted, and the number of subscribers to the list. As of today, there are now 1,187 subscribers. I decided to analyze these data to see if this mailing list reflects the current economic climate, and to practice using Excel 2007. |
You can subscribe for free to this list on my Home Page . |
#1 |
#2 |
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration aka NOAA attempts to visualize the weather in ways that are beautiful and useful for purposes of forecasting. Such information is vital in emergency preparedness, and the more we know, the better prepared we can be to reduce casualties.
Graphic #1 visualizes the intensity of the September 2009 American Samoa Islands earthquake (8.0 magnitude) that was helpful in assessing the potential tsunami danger to coastal communities all around the Pacific. Graphic #2 depicts the travel times of the tsunami wave that resulted from that earthquake. Graphic #1 Source: http://
content.techrepublic.com.com/
2346-10881_11-348243-1.html
|
 Graphic Source: Is Google Rewiring Our Brains? http://searchengineland.com/ dr-teena-moody-chatting-about-our-brains-on-google-16728 |
Did you know that 45% of our daily routines are done by habit, or without conscious thought? Once a habit is formed, we ignore information that threatens the habit and seek information that reinforces it. (http://searchengineland.com/human-hardware-searching-with-the-basal-ganglia-14578).
This is probably one of the biggest challenges of Public Health, not just educating people on developing good health behaviors, but helping them to stop the unhealthy ones. So, how do we break out of the rut of doing everything without conscious thought? Enter Internet search! Aside from functioning as a means to an end, Internet searching may actually be good for the brain. According to Hotchkiss's Is Google Rewiring Our Brains?" (http://searchengineland.com/dr-teena-moody-chatting-about-our-brains-on-google-16728), searching the Internet involves decision-making.
|
|
What parent does not want their child to succeed in school?
In the September report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Physical Education, Physical Activity and Academic Performance , researchers looked at how well middle school students who were physically fit did in English and Math testing against those who were not physically fit, based on the number of fitness tests they passed. Graphic adapted from http://www.rwjf.org/files/research/20090925alractiveeducation.pdf |
|
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwd7rSWcND0 |
Today I read about a pug that "earned" an online MBA for only $499.00 (http://chronicle.com/blogPost/Unmuzzling-Diploma-Mills-Dog/8175/?sid=wc&utm_source=wc&utm_medium=en).
During times of economic hardships people are looking for ways to improve their chances for employment, and additional education is always helpful. At the same time it is important to be mindful that there are scam artists working this angle by offering useless educational programs for thousands of dollars, leaving you with a meaningless credential will not be accepted by employers. Many online programs, which promise the convenience of learning with a computer, are the most susceptible to scamming. Buyer Beware! I have put together a set of links to help you separate the wheat from the chaff on my Career Resources Page under the new section, "College Education." There you will find links to databases that you can search potential schools and programs for their accreditation status, rate, rank and compare online schools and degrees, and state information on institutions licensed or authorized to operate. Education is always a good thing, but don't waste your money on diploma mills. |
Here are two more reasons to give up soda. Researchers are reporting that high fructose intake (like from sweetened drinks) raises not only uric acid levels in your body, which result in gout, but raises your blood pressure (the upper and lower numbers) as well.
Unlike glucose, which can by used by many organs in the body, fructose can only be processed by the liver. The liver, as an organ, receives very little respect, yet its functions include detoxifying everything that comes into our body (from alcohol to drugs). We only have one liver, so we should try and preserve it as best as we can by not overtaxing it.
Reported in Medpage Today. Source: AHA Blood Pressure Research Conference; source reference: Perez-Pozo S, et al "Excessive fructose intake raises blood pressure in humans" AHA BPRC 2009; Abstract P127.
All blog entries for July to September have been moved to the 2009 Blog Page , and all new links added during this quarter have been archived on the 2009 What Was New Page . I have kept few of the more recent postings here for the coming quarter...
Smoking has been long known to be the single most preventable cause of death. Not only are smokers at higher risk for death from heart disease and cancer, those who do not smoke are placed at risk through second-hand exposure. In a recent study published in Circulation that was reported in "Medpage Today", researchers have found that "The number of acute myocardial infarctions dropped by an average of 17% a year after smoking bans were put into effect, compared with communities with no such smoking restrictions.... The decline in heart attacks continued in subsequent years, with rates dropping by about 36% within three years of smoking prohibitions taking effect."
This is good news for all passive smokers who are forced to inhale all the mainstream and sidestream smoke spewed into the common air everyone breathes. Now, if only smokers can experience the benefits of quitting, heart disease, stroke and many cancer rates would plummet! For information about tobacco and smoking cessation check my Public Health Sites, under "Tobacco."
Source: Lightwood J, Glantz S "Declines in acute myocardial infarction following smokefree laws and individual risk attributable to secondhand smoke" Circulation 2009; DOI: 10.1161/CirculationAHA.109.870691
 |
Time has run everything since the beginning of, well, Time. One thing we can all agree on, there is never enough time to do all the things we want and/or have to do, which is why "time management" is so critical to our health and wellness. Time is such an important "commodity" that there is actually a Web site called, "Time.gov"!
Graphic Source: http://www.webexhibits.org/calendars/calendar-mayan.html |
 |
NASA's Earth Observatory Web site have some of the most stunning photographs and images of our Earth and all the natural events and disasters that happen to it over the years.
Graphic Source: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/archive.php?m=01&y=2009&cat_id=1 |
Here are some excerpts from this year's PRC: Peer Review Congress Meeting regarding the practice of "spinning":
"It was considered spin, for example, if the author focused on statistically significant results of subgroup analyses or secondary outcomes, or if they interpreted the results as showing equivalence or comparable effectiveness.... We considered it to be a high level of spin if there was no acknowledgement of the negative primary outcome, no uncertainty, or no recommendations for further research"
"More than 40% of studies with negative findings were "spun" to convince readers of a more favorable result..."
"Even in trials with favorable outcomes, 49% of phrases considered to be positive "spin" weren't accompanied by any mention of a statistically significant result..."
"Scientists and sponsors are rarely neutral regarding their results,"... "They may be tempted consciously or unconsciously to bias the interpretation."
"...51% of statements included the word "significance," but only 72% of them were supported by the result of a statistical test...."
"The rhetoric used to frame research results often overstates the efficacy and the safety of a drug,"
Sources of citations: International Congress on Peer Review and Biomedical Publication Source reference: Boutron I, et al "'Spin' in reports of randomized controlled trials with nonstatistically significant primary outcomes" PRC 2009; Bero L, Cheng Y "Rhetoric used in reporting research results" PRC 2009, as reported on Medpage Today's "PRC: Researchers 'Spin' Results of Clinical Trials (http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/PRC/15964?pfc=111&spc=269)
Of course, such "sins of print" should not be committed at all, and health information consumers should be aware of such unethical practices in the publication of research findings.
|
|
| According to the CDC, more than 200 known diseases are transmitted through food. Estimates of foodborne illnesses are usually compromised by underreporting. Many cases of foodborne illness are not reported because those affected do not seek medical care, and if they do, the health-care providers do not obtain specimens for diagnosis, etc. Based on recent studies, known pathogens account for an estimated 38.6 million illnesses each year, including 5.2 million (13%) due to bacteria, 2.5 million (7%) due to parasites, and 30.9 million (80%) due to viruses. Overall, foodborne transmission accounts for 13.8 million of the 38.6 million illnesses.
(http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol5no5/mead.htm)
On September 9th, the HHS and USDA announced the release of a new food safety consumer Web site at www.foodsafety.gov.
|
 |
For this whole weekend it was wonderful to hear the Beatles fill the airwaves once again. Now a whole new generation will discover what I have enjoyed all these decades - wonderful music! 
In a 9/11 Medpage article (http://www.medpagetoday.com/ tbindex.cfm?tbid=15921) reporting on the findings from Wislar J, et al "Prevalence of honorary and ghost authorship in six general medical journals" PRC 2009 , readers would learn that ghostwriting and other "sins of print" (my term) are continually being committed in medical journals. Here are some excerpts: "Ginny Barbour, MD, chief editor of PLoS Medicine, said authors who reported that ghost authorship was involved in their articles had effectively lied to journal editors as they disregarded policies regarding disclosure. "This is dishonesty, and we shouldn't be tolerant of it," she said. "We are clearly being lied to on a daily basis." "They found that 20.6% of articles had honorary authors who did not contribute to the paper but were listed out of courtesy or because their name carried prestige. The prevalence of honorary authors was highest in Nature Medicine (39%) and lowest in the New England Journal of Medicine (16%). As for outright ghost authorship, researchers found the highest prevalence in the New England Journal of Medicine (11%) and lowest in Nature Medicine (2%). Ghostwriting was significantly more prevalent in research articles than in reviews and editorials (12% versus 6% and 5%, respectively, P=0.019)." How sad is this? We're talking about so-called professionals. I feel sorry for the editors of peer-reviewed journals who have to deal with people who cannot be honest and don't know the definition of authorship. Maybe everyone who wants to publish should take a course in communication ethics, or maybe they should go back to college and learn what happens to students who plagiarize and cheat. See my February 24, 2009 entry dealing with this same issue.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation just released its "Education Matters for Health" issue brief which goes into detail about why education attainment matters when it comes to health. I extracted the two graphics which I thought were the most poignant in making the point. Figure 2 shows that regardless of which race or ethnic group you are part of education will improve your health the more education you get. Figure 6 graphically explains how educational attainment impacts health by influencing sociodemographic factors that contribute to health. You can find a link to this report on my Public Health Practice Page, under "Social Determinants of Health."
Findings from a recent published USDA report include: "High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a sweetener commonly used in food products. HFCS 42, containing 42 per cent fructose, is mostly used in bakery and confectionery products, which HFCS 55 (a mixture of HFCS 42 and 90) is commonly used in soft drinks." "...the heating of HFCS raises levels of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a toxin that causes gut ulceration and dysentery-like symptoms in bees. In humans it has been linked to DNA damage, and its daughter metabolites levulinic and formic acids have also been seen to cause harm."
PS - HFCS is used in bee keeping to stimulate brood rearing in the spring and to increase honey production. I am guessing that this may be a possible explanation for the bees die-off that has been reported since 2006. (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/07/eveningnews/main3919204.shtml)
Right now I am writing this entry on a plane that's flying along the eastern seaboard of the USA!!! Yes, I am actually blogging in the air! Thanks to the wonders of Wi Fi, I suppose you can blog anywhere with access to the Internet. What's most interesting was during the previous leg of this trip I was playing "Inflight Trivia Challenge" and managed to rank first with the highest score of 5750, after playing 18 rounds of 20 questions each and winning about a third of the rounds. Someone on the flight wanted to buy me drinks (No, thanks, I don't drink). Talking about a wealth of useless knowledge. I correctly answered a question about Magellan, an explorer I learned about in junior high school. Those were the days when we had to memorize a list of all the explorers, what they discovered, when, where and for whom. I suppose my history teacher would be proud that I actually remembered something from junior high school. Of course, what I would like to know now is - was this the reason why we had to memorize all those facts just so I can answer a trivia question?
Changing my pace - will continue to teach and be involved in my numerous volunteer activities and responsibilities, but now open to Public Health consulting. Here is my Public Health Consultant Resume.
While performing the tedious and time-consuming task of removing dead links (about 6 to 8 hours every few months), I have discovered that www.consumer.gov is gone. Many links to CDC press releases have disappeared, as well as links to the FDA.gov site. Also missing are pages to the NDEP.NIH.gov. This is highly unusual and I am hoping that it's summertime and these agencies are taking the opportunity to incrementally update their sites. Of course, I am bracing for when Geocities goes defunct on October 26, 2009, just in time for a Halloween scare....
I bet you never read this fine print when you order plane tickets online. I didn't until I got a credit card charge for over $50.00. Here's the Fine Print.
Airfare Taxes and Fees
Online Air Transaction Service Fee.
Shipping Fee
Itinerary Changes/Cancellations/Refunds
It goes on and on, but there should be a law that requires these fees are made known up front, like when you order these tickets BEFORE you pay instead of having a bill surprise....
|
Here is an example of what not to eat, according to Men's Health.com. The lowdown: 1,543 calories; 77 g fat (26 g saturated, 9 g trans); 2,259 mg sodium; 109 g sugars. Basically, too much of everything.
And, this is one with two spiraling galaxies intersecting.
