Hello my fellow classmate , 

Below I will be talking about what I found interesting throughout chapter 9. The main topic for chapter 9 is weight management and body image. The topics I will be covering are obesity worldwide, assessing body weight and body composition, trying to gain weight.

According to the textbook, “obesity has more than doubled globally since 1980, with over 1.9 billion overweight and 600 million obese adults.” 1.9 billion overweight… that number is absolutely staggering. The reason why there are so many overweight people in today’s society  is because we have a lot more people compared to 50 years ago and also it is easier to have access to food here in America. With just a click of a button, someone can deliver us food. These major food corporations have taken over and have the ability to persuade our mentality.  

There are many factors to why as a society we are gaining a lot of weights. One main factor that the book mentions is environmental factors. According to the book “ automobiles, remote controls, and desk jobs lead us to sit more and move less.” I believe that companies should allow each employee a grace period of 15 minutes so that they can maneuver around and get the blood flowing.

I was always considered skinny growing up.  Even at 185 right now some people will call me skinny. I plan on gaining 15 more pounds over the summer . In the textbook it provides us with tips to gaining weight. To gain weight the textbook recommends that an individual should eat regularly scheduled times, avoid diuretics, laxatives, and lastly try to eat with people you are comfortable with. I will definitely use these recommendations while I start this new journey of gaining weight.   

Hello my fellow classmate , 

Below I will be talking about what I found interesting throughout chapter 9. The main topic for chapter 9 is weight management and body image. The topics I will be covering are obesity worldwide, assessing body weight and body composition, trying to gain weight.

According to the textbook, “obesity has more than doubled globally since 1980, with over 1.9 billion overweight and 600 million obese adults.” 1.9 billion overweight… that number is absolutely staggering. The reason why there are so many overweight people in today’s society  is because we have a lot more people compared to 50 years ago and also it is easier to have access to food here in America. With just a click of a button, someone can deliver us food. These major food corporations have taken over and have the ability to persuade our mentality.  

There are many factors to why as a society we are gaining a lot of weights. One main factor that the book mentions is environmental factors. According to the book “ automobiles, remote controls, and desk jobs lead us to sit more and move less.” I believe that companies should allow each employee a grace period of 15 minutes so that they can maneuver around and get the blood flowing.

I was always considered skinny growing up.  Even at 185 right now some people will call me skinny. I plan on gaining 15 more pounds over the summer . In the textbook it provides us with tips to gaining weight. To gain weight the textbook recommends that an individual should eat regularly scheduled times, avoid diuretics, laxatives, and lastly try to eat with people you are comfortable with. I will definitely use these recommendations while I start this new journey of gaining weight.   

The main topic for chapter 14 is environmental health. Below I will be discussing a few key points that I found interesting throughout the chapter. The topics I will be discussing are overpopulation, indoor air pollution, and global warming and climate change. 

According to our textbook, “ the human population has nearly tripled since 1950, from 2.5 billion people to over 7 billion. The United Nations projects that the world’s population will grow to 9.8 billion by 2050” I get a mixed reaction  reading these statistics. A part of me is happy that people are living longer and another part is afraid of what the future holds for my future kids. Since the world’s population is projected to multiply by three by year 2050, I believe that there will be strict laws in place to how many kids a woman can have. I believe that my kids will not have the luxury of having as many kids as they would want to.   

In the textbook it states that “ air pollution levels within homes and other buildings, where we spend 90 percent of our time, may be two to five times higher than outdoor pollution levels.” I always thought that the air we breathe outdoors is more toxic than the one we breathe indoors. It is appalling and terrifying that we are always exposed to toxic chemicals. Furthermore, I enjoyed reading the suggestion that the book had on being mold free. Some of them are using a dehumidifier, buying paints with mold-resistant properties, and lastly drying clothing thoroughly before putting them away. 

According to the textbook, “ 16 of the 17 warmest years on record have occurred since 2001. Since  1981, 20 of the warmest years ever have occured.”  Living in Boston practically my whole life , I would always complain of how cold it gets and the amount of snow I have to shovel. These last few years the amount of snow we have received has been minimal. It  is fascinating that people are in denial that climate change and global warming do exist.  I really wish people took this topic seriously and take the proper precaution to protect the future generation. 

In regards to my health aspect , I notice a major improvement with my sleeping habits. Prior to this semester I was only getting 3 to 4 hours of sleep. Now I am sleeping a few more hours due to my behavior changes. My phone is not sleeping next to me, I am using a night light, and also I am changing my eating habits. These changes has helped immensely. 

So long my fellow classmate! It was a pleasure interacting with you guys this semester. 

Hello my fellow classmate, 

Below I will be talking about several key points that I found interesting in chapter 13. The main topic for chapter 13 is violence and unintentional justice. The key points I will be covering are crime rates, violence in family, and ways to reduce risk on the road. 

According to the textbook “ over 23 percent of college women will be raped or sexually assaulted before they graduate, 95 percent of them never report these crimes.” This statistic is absolutely disturbing. Colleges and universities need to do a better job protecting our women. The fact that close to a quarter of our women will experience an assault before they graduate is unacceptable and appalling. My heart goes out to those who have been part of these horrific encounters. These women have to endure a traumatic experience and also they have to prove themselves to others. On top of everything people will question the authenticity of the report. 

Did you “ there were nearly 685,000 reported cases of child abuse and neglect in 2015. Seventy-five percent of these cases were neglect, 17% were for physical abuse, and 8.4 percent were for physical abuse, and 8.4 percent were for sexual abuse.” Working  at a hospital I unfortunately treat many children that are victims of abuse. When they come to the hospital they are traumatized, on edge, and feel lonely internally. I am so glad that we live in a state where they take every single allegation seriously. In a child abuse case DCF is called to launch an extinctive investigation. Social workers usually do a great job in trying to understand ways to provide the proper resources for the victim. 

“Distracted driving was a factor in 76 percent of rear-end crashes and 89 percent of road-departure crashes” Being someone who is always on the go I would like to admit that I constantly  drive while distracted. To try to solve this dilemma,  I bought a phone holder for my car. Due to the hand free law that was implemented, I wanted to avoid getting a ticket. Although it is difficult at times, I find myself using my phone less while driving. Not using my phone  while driving allows me to reflect on how important it is to  put my phone down. I can’t take life for granted. They are people lying in a hospital bed right now regretting the decision that they made. It is better to be safe rather than sorry.  

Below I will be talking about three interesting facts that I found in chapter 12. The main topic for chapter 12 is infectious disease. I will talk about “your immune system”, “viral infection: the cold  and flu” and also “sexually transmitted infections.”   

In the section that talks about the immune system, it covers various topics. For example, it talks about how the function of the immune system, vaccines, and also autoimmune diseases. In these unprecedented times, I would like to share ways that our textbook recommend reducing our risk of infectious disease. With this gruesome virus upon us, this will hopefully be informative for many of you guys. Due to the unfortunate circumstances, all of us are well aware what we should do to prevent the spread of this infectious disease. These couple of months we have been told to stay at home to limit contact with others. Being at home, most of us might be wondering what we should be doing. The textbook suggests that we should exercise regularly, get enough sleep, optimize our eating habits. It was intriguing to learn that when we  exercise regularly, it will “ raise the core body temperature, strengthen the immune system, and kills pathogens.” During this pandemic, my motivation to exercise has been very low. With school, working the frontline, and the gym not being open, I found myself being extremely lazy. Hopefully when this semester is over I will be able to go out for a run.

According to the textbook, “estimates of death rates from flu range from 3,000 to 49,000 per year”. When the coronavirus initially evolved, I and many others around me thought that we were over reacting. I was under the impression that the flu is more detrimental. The first few days I would tell my peers that the flu has killed more people, why didn’t we react the same way? Reading that the death rate range for the flu is 3,000 to 49,000 and seeing the death rate for COVID 19  eclipse 60,000  in a matter of months, just proves to me the severity of this current virus.           

In chapter 12 it talks about sexually transmitted infections. In the section which talks about chlamydia and gonorrhea, it shows us a picture of a newborn with conjunctivitis due to untreated chlamydia and gonorrhea. It was hard for me to look at the picture for a long period of time. With that being said to talk about how imperative it is for us to practice safe sex. College students are known for being sexually active. When having sex we have to follow proper protocols to avoid developing an STI. Having your partner tested every three months can be beneficial to both parties. Similar to the COVID 19, some people are not aware that they have an STI. That is why it is important in being proactive when it comes practicing safe sex. 

In regards to my health aspect, I found myself sleeping less due to work and completing my school work. It’s the end of the semester so therefore I have a lot of things due. I am only sleeping  4 to 5 hours now.

Below is a picture of my fellow MGH coworkers and I coming together in the midst of this pandemic. Working at the Emergency Department we wanted to show the outside world that with strength and unity we will overcome this. Can you spot me?  

Hello my fellow classmate,

Below I will be talking about three interesting things that I found in chapter one. I will be talking about health in the United States, improving health behaviors, and lastly what you can do to promote health equity. 

According to the textbook “ American infants born today will live to an average age of 78 years, much longer than the 47- year life expectancy for people born in the early 1900s.” This statistic makes me appreciate living in today’s society even more. To think that more than 100 years ago your life expectancy was below 50 is absolutely appalling. Through our enhancement in medicine and technology we will be able to live past 80. We should not take this for granted.

In chapter one it talks about various ways we could improve our health behaviour. The one suggestion that I found fascinating is to sign a contract declaring a change of behavior. According to the textbook, the contract is a “functions as a promise to yourself, a public declaration of intent, an organized plan that lays out start and end dates and daily actions.” I really like the idea of this contract. An individual will be motivated in being the best version of themselves. It will serve as a reinforcement to live a healthier lifestyle. 

Lastly, chapter one talks about ways you can promote health equity. My favorite suggestion is enjoying the benefits of diversity. The textbook states that “ building relationships with those who are different can expose you to new ideas, as well as new foods, new sports, new music, new authors.” Being surrounded by people who are different than you will allow you to think outside the box. Being with people who are parallel to you will not give you the opportunity enhance your lifestyle.                  

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Hello my fellow classmate,

Below I will be talking about the three most intriguing things that I found interesting throughout chapter 11. The topics that I will be covering are understanding the cardiovascular system, cancer detection and treatment,  and lastly what is diabetes.

According to the textbook, the heart is a “ flexible organ that contracts over 100,000 times each day, – pumping the equivalent of 2,000 gallons of blood to all areas of the body. In a 70- year lifetime, an average human heart beats 2.5 billion times.” I am always intrigued to say the least, to learn about the human body; especially the heart. The heart is an organ that we cannot live without. That is why when we go to the hospital  and they take our vitals, they check our heart rate. It is imperative that we check our heart rate from time to time. All we need is our fingers to check our heart rate. 

“ Black men in the United States and Caribbean men of African descent have the highest documented prostate cancer incidence rates in the world.” Being a Haitian man this type of information is extremely informative for me. With this information I will take the proper precaution. People around me especially Caribbean men have this stigma of not going to the hospital. A regular check up will help detect prostate cancer. Including myself  I need to start going for a regular check up.  Another important information that the textbook provided is how to examine your testicles. It talks about how men should look for any lump, thickening, or pea-like nodules. With these recommendations I will educate those around me and will also conduct a self examination on myself. 

I have a couple of family members who are  pre-diabetic and type 2 diabetics. Since type 2 diabetes is most common, I was not too familiar with type 1 diabetes. In the textbook I learned that type 1 diabetes is when “ the pancreas cannot produce adequate insulin.” Being a college student we need to be cautious with the decisions we make. It might have  an effect on our health in the future. Intaking a high volume of sugar is not a great decision. You’re putting yourself in a hostile predicament in which you might develop diabetes.

In regards to my health aspect, this week I found myself sleeping less. I am becoming more proactive throughout my day. I have picked up a couple of shifts from my job and find myself walking a lot lately. Lastly since the semester is ending there are a lot of assignments due. I am going to work, working out, and doing my school work. Prior to this week I was sleeping 8 hours when the pandemic started. This week I am sleeping only 6 hours. Stay safe everyone!

Hello my fellow classmate, 

Below I will talk about the three things that I find most intriguing in chapter 10. I will be covering the health benefits of physical activity and exercise, getting some popular fitness gadgets and equipment, and nutrition and exercise.

Did you know that “ it is estimated that physical inactivity is responsible for 30 percent of the ischemic heart disease, 27 percent of cases of type 2 diabetes, and 21 to 25 percent of case of breast and colon cancer worldwide.” I find that number staggering that we can develop these disorders just by sitting down. Majority of my family members are diagnosed with the gruesome type 2 diabetes. I wonder if not being active enough is the main reason for developing it. Although I love to eat sugar, I am an active person. Reading this statistic motivated me to continue to be more active. 

In chapter 10 section 10.4, it listed some popular gadgets and equipment that we normally used. Some of the equipment that I used are stair climber, treadmill, balance board, and free weights. The other ones I normally see people using them at the gym. My favorite one are the free weights. Using the free weights allows me to create my own workout. I am able to work on muscles that other equipment fails to cover. I feel accomplished when I am working out and the person next to me is observing me and does the same exact workout that I was doing. I truly miss the gym and cannot (I repeat) I cannot wait until this pandemic is over. 

My trainor would always tell me that working out is just a small portion of your success. What I do outside of the gym is just as important as any weights that I pick up. Drinking enough water throughout the day. Since I wanted to gain more  muscle he wanted me to eat 6 times a day. It was extremely difficult because I was constantly eating even though I did not want to. In the textbook I learned that “after a large meal, wait 3 to 4 hours before you begin exercising.” Personally for me I always eat small snacks before my workout. For example, a fruit or a trail mix. By not eating a heavy meal before workout, it helps motivate me. Because of this I look forward to  a large meal after my workout.                 

I am able to accomplish my health aspect because of this pandemic. I am sleeping more than usual. On the daily I am sleeping more than 7 hours a day after I come back from work. I miss going to school and going to the gym. So long everyone!   

Hello my fellow classmate,

Chapter 8 introduces us to nutrition. The topics that I will be talking about below are essential nutrients, mindful eating in college and organic food.

 We are all aware how imperative drinking water is to our body. In the reading I learned that we can only survive one week without water compared to weeks without food.  Majority of our body consists of water. According to our text “ the general recommendations for women has been approximately 9 cups of total water from all beverages and foods each day; for men, the recommendation is an average of 13 cups.” Personally for me I struggle to maintain a  daily routine that consists of drinking water. When I used to work out constantly my trainer would tell me that the first thing I should when I wake up in the morning is to drink a whole bottle of water. Initially it sounded easy, but conditioning myself to do is extremely hard.

Being a college student I struggle immensely with eating healthy on a daily basis. With school and work my schedule can be conflicted. I am usually too tired to have the recommended three meals or I don’t have time at all. In the text, it provides readers with useful tips on ways to change our lifestyle as a college student. Some of the tips were eating at a table, making food the main focus,  and choosing food we would enjoy. I found the eating at a table tip very useful. In text it states that “ when you eat in the car or between classes, you tend to eat in haste, choosing foods for convenience. Foods eaten at the table tend to be healthier options.” I concur with this statement. While always on the go, I found myself eating junk food like Dominoes and Burger King because I am able to eat it while driving. When I actually sit at a table my food selection is usually healthier.                     

The section that I found most intriguing in this chapter was the organic sections. Prior to the reading I always thought that organic food was less harmful than the typical food that we buy. Although this may be true, I was extremely appalled to learn that this might not be the case. “Consumers should not assume that locally grown foods are always organic or less likely to be contaminated with microorganisms. Pesticide residues and harmful bacteria can be found in foods purchased from local farms..” That is why it is important that we do our research on the development of the food. Just because we pay more for organic food does not mean the food is beneficial.

Furthermore, my health aspect is improving due to the pandemic. Being at home and not commuting to school I am using this time to catch up on some sleep. Working in the Emergency Department at Mass General Hospital has taken a toll on me. The moment I get home all I want to do is take a shower and sleep.I am getting  about 7 hours of sleep compared to the 4 hours I was getting. Till next time folks. Think wisely. Wash your hands. Be safe!

The picture below is a various combination of culture food. Haitian food

Hello my fellow classmate!

Welcome back. Chapter 7 talks about the use of alcohol and tobacco. The topics I found most intriguing and that I will  be covering are alcohol and college students, drinking and driving, lastly environmental tobacco.

Alcohol and college students is a topic that the majority of us is far too familiar with. Personally for me alcohol is always around me because of the people I hang around with on a daily basis. On the weekends the consumption of alcoholic beverages increases immensely. According to the text “ 1,825 college  students die each year because of alcohol- related unintentional injuries including car accidents.” I found this number surprisingly low. If I were to guess I would have guessed 5,000 casualties yearly. Since companies rely on our population to buy the drinks, they target us on their promotion. 

Working at the emergency department I unfortunately see the use of drinking and driving far too often. People decide to get behind the wheels under the influence not realizing that their precious life can change drastically. That person not only hurts themselves but also those around them. Seeing their faces when the police officers are standing right next them at the hospital bed saddens me. I understand that everyone makes mistakes but some mistakes can be avoided.  According to the text “ in the United States, adults drink too much and get behind the wheel approximately 121 milllion times (based in self reports).” We need to do better as a society. Although the numbers have improved throughout the years there is still work that needs to be done. 121 millions times means that there are 121 millions times a child, a parent, our loved ones can be involved in a drunk driving accident. We need to be better as a community.                  

 According to the text “ exposure to ETS increases children’s risk of lower respiratory tract infections, leading to an estimated 150,000 to 300,000 lower respiratory tract infections in children under 18 months.” People who smoke need to take into consideration their surroundings. Second hand smoking is just as gruesome has first hand smoking. The coronavirus pandemic has taught us how vulnerable people with respiratory issues are to infection. Compared to a normal immune system their body does not function  properly. Smokers have to think about their environment before they start smoking. In my opinion, some of the victims that end up in the ICU or have died in this pandemic are the result of being exposed to smoking. We need to educate our loved ones that smoke when there are innocent individuals around.

In regards to my health aspect I am sleeping more due to the recent change of events. My classes are online and I cannot go to one of my jobs because of the coronavirus. Social distancing has allowed me to sleep more. 

Stay safe everyone. Wash your hands. We got this!