Communicable diseases are those diseases that are contagious, that one can pass to another through certain types of contact and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2008 there were 14,136 cases of Chlamydia in Arkansas, which is above the national average rate at 498.66 per 100,000. The second largest number of communicable diseases in related to sexually transmitted diseases was Gonorrhea, followed by Syphilis. 1 Across the United States there were more than 1.2 million cases of Chlamydia in 2008 which is a rate of 401.34 per 100,000, again followed by Gonorrhea then Syphilis. 1
Non-communicable diseases are diseases that are not contagious and certain lifestyles and genetic makeup can contribute to ones non-communicable disease. For the American's in Arkansas, the number one non-communicable disease Arkansans die from is heart disease. Heart disease kills at a rate of 249.5 per 100,000 compared to the national rate of 211.1 per 100,000. 2 Other non-communicable diseases that are in the top five for Arkansas is cancer, stroke, chronic lower respiratory diseases and accidents. Rates for cancer, stroke, respiratory diseases and accidents all had higher rates than the national average. These numbers are partly due to the aging population in Arkansas.
People in the U.S. can decrease the number of incidences of communicable diseases by education and taking precautions to protect themselves and people can decrease mortality rates due to non-communicable diseases with education and lifestyle changes to prevent or delay the onset of heart disease, cancer and strokes.
References
US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention (NCHSTP), Division of STD/HIV Prevention, Sexually Transmitted Disease Morbidity 1984 - 2008, CDC WONDER On-line Database, September 2009. Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/std-v2008.html on Nov 14, 2010 12:57:13 PM
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. 2005. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/data/state_profile_ARK.htm. Accessed November 14, 2010.
What advice would you give to an adult who wants to improve his or her nutritional status? The first thing people need to do when they want to change their eating habits and become more nutritionally conscious of what they eat is opening their cabinets to see what's inside. Taking inventory of one's own pantry and refrigerator and tossing the items that are "bad" with no nutritional value need to be thrown out and replaced with healthier choices. Drewnoski asserts "we need to calculate nutrients per calorie and nutrients per dollar and make those foods part of the mainstream diet" 2. Researchers found "basing the family diet on low-calorie, high-nutrient foods not only improved the health of the entire family but also reduced the amount spent on food" 2.
When replacing chips, dips, sodas, cakes and other high sugar snacks, replace those with fruits and vegetables. One misconception is that you always need to shop for fresh fruit is no longer the case. Brody states, "not only do canned and frozen versions usually cost less and require less preparation, but nutrient value is as good or better and less food is wasted". 2 He compares to fresh fruits that are usually harvested before it is fully ripe and has fewer than nutrients when the produce finally reaches store shelves. Brody continues to state that frozen concentrated 100% fruit juice has more nutrients than fresh squeezed juice. 2
One of the major things to avoid when making nutritional changes is staying away from Trans Fats! "Trans fats can be natural or artificial. Small amounts of trans fat occur naturally in beef and dairy foods. Artificial trans fats are made when hydrogen gas reacts with oil." 1 Long term studies show that trans fats raise LDLs - bad cholesterol and lower HDL - good cholesterol 3. As a result, there is greater risk for heart disease, stroke, and type II diabetes. The American Heart Association recommends that your diet contain less than 1% of trans fat. From a 2,000 calorie diet, only 20 calories can come from trans fats which is only 2 grams a day 4.
Things to include in the daily diet are fruits and vegetables. "Vegetables of any type (fresh, frozen, or canned) that are boiled in large amounts of water for long periods of time lose much of their nutritional content compared with vegetables that are lightly steamed." 5
Canned and frozen vegetables are as much or more nutritious than fresh fruit since fresh produce is often times picked and delivered to stores before they matured to the maximum nutrition. Another thing to keep in mind is starting the day out right with a good hearty breakfast. "Breakfast is said to stoke metabolism, stop late-night grazing, thwart obesity, reduce diabetes risk, improve nutritional intake sharpen concentration even increase longevity ."6
Fortini states "eating at regular intervals maintains insulin and blood-sugar levels, preventing the peaks and valleys that cause voracity ".6
The important items to improving nutritional status is staying away from fats, especially trans fats, eating more fruits and vegetables and adding exercise to your daily routine. Purchasing foods that are better for you don't have to be expensive and fresh but positive choices can come in canned and frozen sections of the supermarket as well.
References
University of Maryland Medical Center. Trans Fats 101. http://www.umm.edu/features/transfats.htm. 2010. Accessed November 13, 2010.
Brody E.J. Eating Well on a Downsized Food Budget. Daniel, ed. Annual Edition: Health. 31st edition. New York, NY: McGraw Hill 2010: 37-38.
American Heart Association (2010). Trans Fat Q&A. Trans Fats. Retrieved November 13, 2010 From http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/FatsAndOils/Fats101/Trans-Fats_UCM_301120_Article.jsp
Kummer, C. Fat City: Daniel, ed. Annual Edition: Health. 31st edition. New York, NY: McGraw Hill 2010: 34-36
2. Vorvick, L.J. (2009, November 1). Foods - fresh vs. frozen or canned. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002095.htm
Fortini, A. What Good Is Breakfast? The New Science of the Loneliest Meal: Daniel E, ed. Annual Editions Health. 31st ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2010: 49-51
What should young adults know about sexual health? Young adults need to know a variety of topic when it is related to overall sexual health. There are specific topics for infertility, reproduction, and sexually transmitted diseases. 1
Infertility is the inability to conceive. Some common disorders young people need to be aware of that could prohibit pregnancy include endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) premature ovarian failure (POF) and uterine fibroids. According to Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, polycystic ovary syndrome is one of the most common causes of female infertility. PCOS is when a woman's ovaries produce more androgens than normal. High levels of these hormones interfere with the production and releasing eggs during ovulation. As a result, fluid-filled sacs or cysts can develop on the ovaries. 3
Young adults are at child bearing age and need to know information related reproduction. "Reproductive health refers to the diseases, disorders and conditions that affect the functioning of the male and female reproductive systems during all stages of life." 2 Reproductive disorders can include but not limited to birth defects, developmental disorders, low birth weight, preterm birth, reduced fertility, impotence, and menstrual disorders.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the United States that affects 50% of sexually active people which result in genital HPV at some time in their lives. 4 June 2006, the FDA approved Gardasil vaccine for females aged 9-26. When administered to girls before they are sexually active, the vaccine can protect against two of the strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) that causes roughly 70% of cervical cancers .5
References
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. National Institutes of Health. Sexual Health (General). http://health.nih.gov/topic/SexualHealthGeneral. Accessed November 13, 2010.
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences-National Institute of Health. Reproductive Health. October 2010. http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/conditions/repro-health/. Accessed November 13, 2010.
National Institutes of Health. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development. http://www.nichd.nih.gov/womenshealth/research/disorders/infertility.cfm. Accessed November 13, 2010.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Human Papillomavirus (HPV). September 2010. http://www.cdc.gov/hpv/. Accessed November 13, 2010.
O'Beirne, K. A Mandate in Texas. In: Daniel E, ed. Annual Editions Health. 31st. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2010: 118-119.
Which is the larger problem in our society - illegal or legal drugs? According to CNN Health, fewer adolescents abused illegal drugs and alcohol in 2006 but higher numbers of them abuse prescription narcotics. 1 According to a study by the University of Michigan, they found teens getting high on over-the-counter cold medications. 1 National Institute on Drug Abuse conducted a study that reported that 21% of eighth-graders, 36% of 10th-graders and 48%of 12th-graders reported trying at least one illicit drug. Those figures represent declines of 0.5%, 2.1% and 2.2% from the previous year. The most popular illegal drug continues to be marijuana. 1
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) published on June 18, 2010, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reviewed the most recently published data (2004--2008) on emergency room visits involving the nonmedical use of prescription drugs using the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN). 3 This report showed that the estimated number of emergency visits for nonmedical use of opioid analgesics increased 111% during 2004--2008 and increased 29% during 2007--2008. 3 The majority of emergency room visits were for oxycodone, hydrocodone, and methadone use. 3 Stronger measures to reduce the diversion of prescription drugs to nonmedical purposes are warranted.
With reports of continued decline in illegal drug use, legal drug abuse has become the focus for many people. President Bush signed the Patriot Act in March 2006 which stated that drugs containing pseudoephedrine must be kept behind pharmacy counters which regulated the quantity sold to each person. 2 The reason for regulating the drug was because pseudoephedrine is the main ingredient in manufacturing the illegal drug methamphetamine. To combat the rising methamphetamine abuse a clause was added to the Patriot Act in 2005 which was the Methamphetamine Epidemic Act. In efforts to reduce misuse of pseudoephedrine drugs such as Sudifed, Advil Allergy, and NyQuil, to name a few, the limits on the amount an individual can purchase became effective April 2006 with requirements of keeping a log book started that following September. 2
