Testing It Up

This season saw us from one party to another. However, no matter how difficult it may be, we need to control these 3 numbers before they control us.

1. Blood Pressure. The force, with respect to the area of application, being exerted by the blood to the walls of the arteries is what we know of as blood pressure. For healthy adults, blood pressure should remain at 120/80 mm Hg to avoid serious cardiovascular risks.

High Blood Pressure or Hypertension has been considered as a silent killer, as a person can suffer from such condition without him knowing it. Often, it does not have unique, distinguishable symptoms. While we usually associate high blood pressure with being nervous or hyperactive, it does not follow that a calm person cannot suffer from hypertension.

2. Blood Cholesterol. Cholesterol is found naturally in our bodies and it is very helpful in producing hormones, vitamin D and other salient substances that the body needs. Although the body can supply all the cholesterol it needs, we often unnecessarily add to the supply by eating foods that are high in cholesterol.

High Blood Cholesterol is having too much cholesterol in the blood. The excess cholesterol can build up on the walls of the arteries, and this can cause plaque and narrowing of the arteries. Coronary Heart Disease can result when the arteries carrying oxygen-rich blood to the heart is narrowed.

3. Blood Glucose. The main sugar that the body uses to provide energy is glucose. We can get these from the food we eat, especially in carbohydrate-rich ones. Glucose concentration in the body should be kept within the range of 4-6 mmol/l. Hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) or hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) may result from the inability o regulate blood sugar content in the body.

These 3 important health numbers must be always monitored for us stay healthy. Check your doctor regarding how often you need to test and your testing options.

I am pretty sure that most of you have been to different Christmas parties in the past few days — munching here, drinking there and having your merry way, and there are probably more parties coming as we prepare for the New Year.

I know this is ‘the season to be jolly’, but let us not forget that our cholesterol levels can also party while we do. It may be a bit difficult to control the eating at this time (Yes, I am having a difficult time myself! ), but there are plenty other ways to manage our cholesterol levels. Aside from having instant cholesterol tests handy, you can also follow these tips I have prepared for everyone.

Exercise

At least 15-30 minutes of walking three times a week can help your metabolism and burn calories faster, as well as lower LDL and increase HDL. If you’re not committed to that, just start with the basics. Don’t lie down immediately after a meal. You can also take time to walk to your destination and back home if it’s nearby (and save gas in the process).

Drink Plenty of Water

There are a lot of advantages in drinking water. Not only does it clean the body of toxins, it also keeps you from being dehydrated, and works wonders for the skin. Drinking water is definitely healthier than chugging down cans of colas or bottles of beer.

Enjoy the Party!

Partying does not necessarily mean disaster to your cholesterol level. You can share one food serving with your partner or with a friend so you don’t have to eat so much.

During parties, stand, go around and chat with other guests. If there is room for dancing, go on and dance! This is a wonderful and fun way to exercise and a great way to interact with other guests as well.

So, see you at the party?

Holiday greetings from ‘Testing It Up’!

HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus is the cause of AIDS or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. The virus affects the immune system of the body, making it more susceptible to deadly infections and diseases. Do you want to learn more regarding HIV? Check the ABC of HIV.

•    A: Acute Symptoms. Most HIV infected individuals don’t realize that they have HIV. If they are newly infected, there are no immediate symptoms. When the symptoms appear, they are usually non-specific and people are led to believe that they are just suffering from other conditions, such as the flu.

Common symptoms include fever, muscle pains, swollen lymph nodes, headaches and skin rash. However, as the illness progresses, the symptoms become more severe, such as persistent diarrhea, oral thrush and vaginal candidiasis.

•    B: Blood Tests. The only definite way to confirm the diagnosis of HIV is through the HIV tests. These tests may be the HIV antibody test or ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) test, which determine the presence of the virus in the body; the antigen test, which determines the presence of antigen in the body (the part of the virus which alerts the body to produce antibodies in the first place); and the PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test, which recognizes the HIV within two to three weeks of infection in the blood.

•    C: Counteract HIV. To prevent HIV, it is important to know how it is transmitted. HIV can be transmitted through sexual intercourse, from blood contact such as using contaminated needles or blood products, and through mother-to-child transmission.

In order to deter the spread of HIV, one must employ the following methods: abstinence from sexual intercourse with an infected individual; monogamy or being faithful to one partner; using male or female condoms correctly all the time; and proper education, especially to the youth about safe sex practices and the nature of HIV.

Just a quarter of a century ago, HIV was a term that could not be spoken freely. Back then, many people were unaware of this disease and how serious it is. Someone found to have it was ostracized from society.

Times have changed. Having the public informed about HIV is now a worldwide effort. From politicians to actors and singers, several of the world-renowned celebrities have joined the fight against HIV and AIDS. A number of these HIV advocates are HIV sufferers themselves. By revealing that they were infected with HIV, they shed better light to the public about the nature of the disease.

Rock Hudson was one of the first major celebrities in the USA who publicly announced that he has AIDS. A year after claiming that he is sick with liver cancer, he admitted that he was suffering from AIDS. He died at the age of 59.

Another HIV-infected celebrity was the Latina actress Ilka Tanya Payan. She was one of the first Latin celebrities to divulge her illness. Since she was heterosexual, she was able to change the preconceived notions of the general masses that HIV was a homosexual disease. Before she died in 1996, she spent her time delivering lectures regarding HIV and AIDS and she was also chosen to become a featured speaker in the United Nations World AIDS Day.

Earvin Johnson, also known as Magic Johnson of the NBA, is one of the most well-known athletes to have HIV. He discovered that he had HIV during a physical exam before the basketball season of 1991. He then went on to write a book about safe sex and teamed up with Dr. Lynn Montana, educating the realities of HIV to the youth. He also founded the Magic Johnson Foundation to disseminate the truth regarding HIV and help those who are suffering from it.

In Malaysia, HIV infections used to be limited to drug users. But a new, frightening trend has begun to emerge — the rise of the number of HIV-infected housewives.

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Both the Malaysian Health Ministry and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) released statements that the HIV infections among women increased from 8% in 1998 to 16% in 2007.

In a survey made in 2006, more housewives were found to have HIV than sex workers. And with an average of 12 Malaysians revealed to be positive for HIV daily, Malaysia has been considered to be one of the quickest rising AIDS epidemics in Asia.

According to the survey, the majority of the new HIV infections were married women who were monogamous in their sexual relationships with their husbands. This means that the housewives acquired the infections from their husbands. From the male cases of HIV infections in Malaysia, most of them were drug users, showing that they were probably transmitting the virus to their respective partners, thus the increase of infection in housewives.

Due to the soaring HIV infections among women, the Malaysian government has been taking steps to prevent its further spread. Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak revealed the plans to have HIV screening mandatory for Muslims before entering into marriage.

It was learned that not only the marriage-minded Malaysians approved of this move. Many women are open to the idea of having themselves and their partners tested for HIV, even with marriage still out of the picture. They said that they would not be offended if their partners asked them to undergo the test, affirming that they believed in safety first. I guess people have become more aware of the real threat of HIV/AIDS.

Council president Adeeba Kamarulzaman also stated that it was important for each person testing positive for HIV would be given counseling and treatment, especially for women because they are likely to be more susceptible to prejudice and ostracism if found infected with HIV.

Marijuana is a drug derived from the plant, Cannabis sativa, which is part of the Cannabaceae family. Cannabis sativa has been used throughout the different parts of the world at countless times in recorded history for various reasons, such as fiber, oil, food, drug, and medicine.

Marijuana is a combination of green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers. It can be smoked through a cigarette or a pipe. It can also be incorporated in food and in tea. It also comes in the form of hashish, which is a concentrated and sticky black liquid form of marijuana.

The marijuana contains an active chemical called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. It binds to certain protein receptors in the brain and serves as a catalyst for a series of cellular reactions leading to a feeling of being “high”. As it affects the brain, several health risks or health benefits may be involved.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the health risks involve short term effects such as “distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory”. Also, marijuana is said to be potentially addictive. Users may develop tolerance to the effects of marijuana and may seek larger amounts to get their “high.”

On the other hand, marijuana can be used for health benefits. In New Jersey, a bill called “The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act” has been passed and voted favorably on. It will now then go to the Senate for a vote, maybe as early as January 2009.

An organization called the Coalition for Medical Marijuana–New Jersey (CMM-NJ) has the following mission: to bring about safe and legal access to medical marijuana for New Jersey patients who are under the care of licensed physicians and nurse practitioners. It has been noted in studies that marijuana has benefits, such as treating symptoms of different diseases, including nausea as an effect of cancer chemotherapy, pain related to cancer, reduction of pressure in the eyes in patients with glaucoma, and protection of nerve damage in multiple sclerosis.

This bill on the use of medical marijuana has actually been facing a lot of criticisms lately. Which side are you on?

There had been numerous accounts from both past and present, highlighting the drug habits and worse, death by drug overdose, of well-known celebrities.

In the past, among the notorious ones were Elvis Presley (the legendary singer-actor who died of a heart attack brought about by long-term drug abuse), Marilyn Monroe (model, actress and sex symbol who died in her sleep caused by overdose of sleeping pills) and Jimi Hendrix (guitarist, singer and songwriter who died as a result of mixing sleeping pills and alcohol).

As seen by the celebrity news, gossip and stories circulating today, it’s clear that times have not changed. It may have gotten worse. There is no clear-cut explanation as to why celebrities are most often found to be abusing drugs. Factors may include hidden insecurities, inability to cope with the demands of fame, peer pressure or pride. But then, who knows? The only obvious thing that you can discern from this is that they are struggling.

At present, icon Britney Spears and singer-actress Lindsay Lohan makes it to the list. They have both been in and out of rehabilitation, manifested destructive behavior and severed several social relationships.

Both women have started their careers at an early age, and throughout the years they have been placed keenly under a microscope, and the whole world watched as they produced one spectacle after another. However, as of now, both women have been shown to have picked up the pieces of their lives and are straightening out their priorities.

Another presently famous celebrity who joins the ranks of drug abusers is actor Robert Downey Jr. A perennial presence in court houses, prisons and drug rehabilitation centers, Robert Downey Jr. was trapped in an unceasing cycle of drug abuse, arrest, rehabilitation and relapse. However, he was finally capable to start his recovery from his drug addiction and was able to make a big comeback as the lead role in the blockbuster hit ‘Iron Man’ in 2008.

Some celebrities never learned – either from the legends who came before them or from their own past mistakes. As millions of young fans look up to celebrities as role models, we can only hope that these stars are able to shed better light for our youth.

Running on its 3rd year, the Cabell County Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership or CCSAPP will have its Annual Drug Prevention Summit on January 8, 2009.

CCSAPP is an association of different organizations and persons mutually working towards reducing local substance abuse especially among the youth, by appealing to society’s consciousness, using education and coming up with resolutions agreed upon by the community.

The Third Annual Drug Prevention Summit will be held at Big Sandy Superstore Arena Conference Center in Huntington, West Virginia from 12:30 to 5:00 pm.

The heart of this matter would highlight the rising development of prescription drug abuse and how to reduce this trend in the community. The program includes a talk by Frances M. Harding, the Director of Center for Substance Abuse Prevention and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration which will be followed by roundtable discussions. There would also be a workshop on prescription drug abuse led by Michael O’Neil, the Director of West Virginia Controlled Substances Advisory Board.

Aside from this, the CCSAPP will also honor the recipients of the Tim White “You’ve Got to Own It” Award, who are the acknowledged individual and organization in the community who met the challenge of taking ownership of the local drug problem and was able to present extraordinary solutions in dealing with the intricate and harmful effects of substance abuse in the community. The nominations for the individual and organization awardees are due by December 29, 2008.

Since this is a community issue, everyone can definitely benefit by attending this affair. For people who are interested in joining this special event, you can visit their website.

Weight gain. Headaches. Uncontrollable urge to eat sweets. Obsessive thinking about saccharine treats. Unpredictable mood swings. Defensive when asked about eating habits. A drawer full of candies. Munching all day.

Do you find these symptoms within yourself? You may not know it, but you may be suffering from a condition called sugar addiction. This condition, although not as widely known, is actually just as serious as drug or alcohol addiction, since it activates the brain’s pleasure center, prodding the body to acquire more of it.

Just like any type of substance abuse, it is characterized by dependency—which in this case is on sugar, making the person crave sweets more and more, until you become a full-blown sugar addict.

Most people think that a little bit of sugar-laden treat never hurt anybody. After all, how much harm could a piece of chocolate be? But rationalizing your sugar habit like this and thinking this way every time you reach for that gooey and chocolate-filled treat, you are actually deceiving yourself.

The body has the mechanism to control sugar metabolism, but as long as you keep taking in sugar, eventually the blood sugar level will rise, causing you to gain weight and eventually develop diabetes.

The best way to manage this addiction is, of course, by preventing your habits to progress to a sugar addiction. But if you’re on your way there or if you already are a sugar addict, here are a few tips that you can follow to overcome your sugar habit:

1. Realize that you have an addiction. The first step to any treatment for addiction is to stop denying and accept that you have a problem.

2. Look at food labels. Sugar may appear in many forms: fructose, dextrose, maltose, cane sugar, corn syrup and the like.

3. Avoid simple sugar or simple carbohydrates. Sources of these include candies and white processed foods such as white bread, white pasta and white rice.

4. Replace your everyday sugar with natural sweeteners such as maple syrup and honey, as well as whole grains. These products are less processed and retain more nutrients.

5. Be steadfast. Keep the determination to kick this addiction out of your system. As you know, there is nothing in the world that could stop a man once he puts his mind into it.