Blog #14: Eve Ensler’s video regarding violence toward women
I am actually embarrassed to say that, until this week when I viewed the supplemental readings and videos, I had never even heard of Eve Ensler. Perhaps I’ve just been somewhat isolated because I rarely watch TV… but I do read. Even so, I had never heard of this pioneering woman, who chose to step outside the boundaries of what is considered “normal and acceptable”, and brought her campaign of violence against women to the forefront, and to the minds and televisions of Americans and other people throughout the world. Her work to promote anti-violence, and to educate women on ways to avoid domestic violence, is exemplary. As a playright, her “Vagina Monologues” (TEDtalks.com, 2009) have been hugely successful, not necessarily as an entertainment venue, but as a vehicle to educate women on ways to avoid physical aggression and violence, and as a tool to empower women to voice their opinions and support their beliefs on a number of critically important issues regarding women’s health. Her presentation regarding Female Genital Mutilation (FMG) was particularly poignant as she spoke of “Agnes”, another pioneering woman from Kenya. Agnes has spent many years traveling throughout Africa, largely on foot, as she has traveled from city to city, village to village, spreading the word and “transforming consciousness” (Tedtalks.com, 2009) regarding the horrors and brutality of Female Genital Mutilation.
Perhaps just the title of Ensler’s production, “The Vagina Monologues” (Tedtalks.com, 2009) is what originally captured the attention of viewers and listeners, or perhaps not. Either way, those who have viewed her work have walked away with a new knowledge regarding the extent of violence against women in our country, and throughout the world, and I applaud her efforts and ability to bring this information to us in a very unique, insightful way.
My plan is to follow her website for additional information regarding V-Day campus activities in 2010. http://www.ted.com/tedtalks/tedtalksplayer.cfm?key=e_ensler
Works cited:
http://www.ted.com/tedtalks/tedtalksplayer.cfm?key=e_ensler
Carol Martin
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Blog #13: Substance Abuse - Faces of Meth
Blog #13: Substance Abuse – Faces of Meth
I find it hard to accept that I knew so little about Methamphetamine (Meth), and how devastating this drug can be. I am a 52-year-old woman with friends and family members who have suffered through addictions in the past, but never anything as powerful and destructive as Meth. What surprised me the most was the fact that this isn’t a “big city” drug, but can be found in “Small Town, America”, just like the community where I live. Very recently there were a number of Meth-lab arrests in my community, and I recall being so surprised to learn that this is a very common occurrence. I live in a small, agricultural town with a population less than 10,000, where the sidewalks roll up at 9:00 pm, and the whole town goes to the Friday night football games. Sure, we have crime in the community, but I always thought it was fairly minimal compared to the crime rates in Houston, Galveston, and other surrounding communities. I don’t know the actual statistics, but I feel certain that the rising crime rates in the general area are a result of drug addicts, just stealing so they can have money to support their habit. What I’ve learned is that I’ve had a false sense of security about living in a small, quiet community. I believe most of the people in my community are hardworking, honest, genuine people, but even the best person can be ruined by drug addiction.
What surprised me even more is the population, or the profile of a person on Meth: Caucasian, educated, 20-30 years old, working part or full time, and nearly half of the users are women. (Drugfree.org). I must say that the chapter on Substance Abuse, and the supplemental readings and videos this week have certainly opened my eyes to the fact that there is a monster drug out there, and its name is Meth.
Carol Martin
Works cited:
National Institute on Drug Abuse (2007). InfoFacts: Methamphetamine. Retrieved April 24, 2007 from: www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/methamphetamine.html
http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/DrugIssue/Meth/ads.html
I find it hard to accept that I knew so little about Methamphetamine (Meth), and how devastating this drug can be. I am a 52-year-old woman with friends and family members who have suffered through addictions in the past, but never anything as powerful and destructive as Meth. What surprised me the most was the fact that this isn’t a “big city” drug, but can be found in “Small Town, America”, just like the community where I live. Very recently there were a number of Meth-lab arrests in my community, and I recall being so surprised to learn that this is a very common occurrence. I live in a small, agricultural town with a population less than 10,000, where the sidewalks roll up at 9:00 pm, and the whole town goes to the Friday night football games. Sure, we have crime in the community, but I always thought it was fairly minimal compared to the crime rates in Houston, Galveston, and other surrounding communities. I don’t know the actual statistics, but I feel certain that the rising crime rates in the general area are a result of drug addicts, just stealing so they can have money to support their habit. What I’ve learned is that I’ve had a false sense of security about living in a small, quiet community. I believe most of the people in my community are hardworking, honest, genuine people, but even the best person can be ruined by drug addiction.
What surprised me even more is the population, or the profile of a person on Meth: Caucasian, educated, 20-30 years old, working part or full time, and nearly half of the users are women. (Drugfree.org). I must say that the chapter on Substance Abuse, and the supplemental readings and videos this week have certainly opened my eyes to the fact that there is a monster drug out there, and its name is Meth.
Carol Martin
Works cited:
National Institute on Drug Abuse (2007). InfoFacts: Methamphetamine. Retrieved April 24, 2007 from: www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/methamphetamine.html
http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/DrugIssue/Meth/ads.html
Friday, November 20, 2009
Blog #12: A Friend with Mental Illness
Have you ever known someone with a mental illness? How did/does the illness impact his/her life? What have you learned about this mental illness just from knowing them?
I have a very good friend, a man I have known for over ten years, who suffers from Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). I worked with this friend for a number of years, and remember that he often seemed very moody and depressed at times, but then seemed to be “on top of the world” at other times. I never really gave this much thought, and simply attributed the variations in his behavior to job stress and responsibilities. At that time we were only coworkers, but later our friendship deepened and we saw each other away from work in social settings. I began to realize that his mood swings were more than just a normal variation due to the stresses of day-to-day life. Still, he never talked with me about this until just a few months ago, and I am saddened to think that he continues to struggle with his mental illness every day. Apparently, this has been an issue for him for most of his adult life, and he has a strong family history of mental illness. He is an extremely intelligent, professional man with a position of intense responsibility, and I suspect the stresses of his position only add to his underlying mental health issues.
When we last spoke, he was involved in a daily exercise program and was taking medication to treat his illness. As a medical professional, himself, my friend is acutely aware of the signs and symptoms of mental illness, and I am glad to know he recognized this and sought professional help. I believe his illness affects every aspect of his life, especially interpersonal relationships, and I know he suffers from the extremes of the manic and depressive phases of his illness.
Although I have had other friends with Bipolar Disorder in the past, I was never truly informed about the illness and how it manifests itself. Because I wanted to be able to understand more about what was happening with my friend, I did a lot of reading and research regarding Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder, and now have a better understanding of how and why he acts as he does. I have learned that men can be affected by depression just as severely as women, and that his social situation and family history put him at high risk for continued issues with mental health.
My sincere hope is that the treatment will be successful for him, and he can continue to enjoy the things in life that bring him joy and happiness.
Carol Martin
I have a very good friend, a man I have known for over ten years, who suffers from Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). I worked with this friend for a number of years, and remember that he often seemed very moody and depressed at times, but then seemed to be “on top of the world” at other times. I never really gave this much thought, and simply attributed the variations in his behavior to job stress and responsibilities. At that time we were only coworkers, but later our friendship deepened and we saw each other away from work in social settings. I began to realize that his mood swings were more than just a normal variation due to the stresses of day-to-day life. Still, he never talked with me about this until just a few months ago, and I am saddened to think that he continues to struggle with his mental illness every day. Apparently, this has been an issue for him for most of his adult life, and he has a strong family history of mental illness. He is an extremely intelligent, professional man with a position of intense responsibility, and I suspect the stresses of his position only add to his underlying mental health issues.
When we last spoke, he was involved in a daily exercise program and was taking medication to treat his illness. As a medical professional, himself, my friend is acutely aware of the signs and symptoms of mental illness, and I am glad to know he recognized this and sought professional help. I believe his illness affects every aspect of his life, especially interpersonal relationships, and I know he suffers from the extremes of the manic and depressive phases of his illness.
Although I have had other friends with Bipolar Disorder in the past, I was never truly informed about the illness and how it manifests itself. Because I wanted to be able to understand more about what was happening with my friend, I did a lot of reading and research regarding Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder, and now have a better understanding of how and why he acts as he does. I have learned that men can be affected by depression just as severely as women, and that his social situation and family history put him at high risk for continued issues with mental health.
My sincere hope is that the treatment will be successful for him, and he can continue to enjoy the things in life that bring him joy and happiness.
Carol Martin
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Blog #11: Interview Regarding Chronic Illness: COPD
Interview someone who is living with a chronic illness. What are their lived experiences? What are they doing to try to maintain their health despite the disease?
I chose to interview my mother regarding her experiences with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and lung cancer.
As did many young people of her generation (WWII and late Depression Era) my mother began smoking in her early teens. She was fourteen, and started smoking because so many family members and peers also smoked, and it seemed the natural thing to do. Little did she know that what would become a lifetime habit would also impact her life so negatively during her senior years. She was a heavy smoker (more than two packs per day) for over 40 years, but had surprisingly few symptoms until she developed severe allergic asthmatic bronchitis approximately fifteen years ago. Even then she continued to smoke when she was not experiencing a “flare-up”, but ultimately had to make the choice: smoke or breathe. Her combination of emphysema and newly-diagnosed chronic asthmatic bronchitis made it necessary to choose a healthier lifestyle after she was diagnosed with severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). She was hospitalized for ten days in an intensive care unit, exhausted from struggling so hard to breathe, and near the point of requiring a ventilator to assist her with breathing. This experience changed her life, and she returned home with a supply of bronchodilators, inhaled steroid medications, and instructions from her physician to alter her diet and increase activity to strengthen her respiratory muscles. Although she has never smoked another cigarette since the day of her hospital discharge, she continues to require bronchodilators every day of her life, and her physical activity and stamina is severely limited due to her underlying lung disease.
To further complicate her health condition, she was diagnosed with Stage II lung cancer nearly six years ago (many years after she had stopped smoking). Because she was not physically strong enough to undergo surgery, she completed several courses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy to stop the progression of her disease. The after-effects of the radiation therapy caused additional lung scarring which further compromised her lung function. But she is a strong and determined woman, and the test results from her most recent visit to see her pulmonologist indicate she remains cancer-free.
Despite this, she lives day-to-day with approximately 30% of her optimal lung capacity, and is severely limited in all of her daily activities. She must use bronchodilators and inhaled steroids every day of her life, just to be able to breathe somewhat normally. She knows that she would probably benefit from a pulmonary rehabilitation program designed to increase her strength and stamina, but she simply does not have the energy to do this. Her lifestyle is very sedentary, which further contributes to the overall “deconditioning” experienced by so many people with COPD (American Lung Association, 2009).
Her disease is chronic and irreversible, and she admits wondering about how life might have been as a lifetime non-smoker.
Carol Martin
Cmartin18@twu.edu
References:
American Lung Association. Retrieved November 12, 2009 from http://www.lungusa.org/
I chose to interview my mother regarding her experiences with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and lung cancer.
As did many young people of her generation (WWII and late Depression Era) my mother began smoking in her early teens. She was fourteen, and started smoking because so many family members and peers also smoked, and it seemed the natural thing to do. Little did she know that what would become a lifetime habit would also impact her life so negatively during her senior years. She was a heavy smoker (more than two packs per day) for over 40 years, but had surprisingly few symptoms until she developed severe allergic asthmatic bronchitis approximately fifteen years ago. Even then she continued to smoke when she was not experiencing a “flare-up”, but ultimately had to make the choice: smoke or breathe. Her combination of emphysema and newly-diagnosed chronic asthmatic bronchitis made it necessary to choose a healthier lifestyle after she was diagnosed with severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). She was hospitalized for ten days in an intensive care unit, exhausted from struggling so hard to breathe, and near the point of requiring a ventilator to assist her with breathing. This experience changed her life, and she returned home with a supply of bronchodilators, inhaled steroid medications, and instructions from her physician to alter her diet and increase activity to strengthen her respiratory muscles. Although she has never smoked another cigarette since the day of her hospital discharge, she continues to require bronchodilators every day of her life, and her physical activity and stamina is severely limited due to her underlying lung disease.
To further complicate her health condition, she was diagnosed with Stage II lung cancer nearly six years ago (many years after she had stopped smoking). Because she was not physically strong enough to undergo surgery, she completed several courses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy to stop the progression of her disease. The after-effects of the radiation therapy caused additional lung scarring which further compromised her lung function. But she is a strong and determined woman, and the test results from her most recent visit to see her pulmonologist indicate she remains cancer-free.
Despite this, she lives day-to-day with approximately 30% of her optimal lung capacity, and is severely limited in all of her daily activities. She must use bronchodilators and inhaled steroids every day of her life, just to be able to breathe somewhat normally. She knows that she would probably benefit from a pulmonary rehabilitation program designed to increase her strength and stamina, but she simply does not have the energy to do this. Her lifestyle is very sedentary, which further contributes to the overall “deconditioning” experienced by so many people with COPD (American Lung Association, 2009).
Her disease is chronic and irreversible, and she admits wondering about how life might have been as a lifetime non-smoker.
Carol Martin
Cmartin18@twu.edu
References:
American Lung Association. Retrieved November 12, 2009 from http://www.lungusa.org/
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Blog #10: What factors can influence women to adopt healthier lifestyles?
What factors can influence women to adopt healthier lifestyles and engage in preventative behaviors so as to reduce their risks of cardiovascular disease and cancer?
I believe some of the most important "health maintenance and prevention" things women can do are to 1) be aware of what is normal for their own bodies, 2) and be aware of their family history and risk factors for developing certain diseases.
By being aware of what is normal for their own bodies, this means they must have routine physical checkups, lab tests, mammograms, blood pressure checks, vision screening, dental checkups, etc. It is also very important to have a good relationship with one's own personal physician, who can offer advice and provide treatment when/if unusual physical symptoms occur.
Family history can play such a large role in our health conditions, particularly in women with inherited genes for breast or ovarian cancer, and we must be very proactive in becoming educated regarding our own risks for such diseases. The same holds true for cardiovascular disease and associated risks if there is a family history.
One factor that might influence women to adopt healthier lifestyles is to take a hard look at their own family histories, going back several generations to grandparents or great-grandparents. Granted, our ancestors lived in different times and had different stresses, different diets, and different lifestyles. But reviewing what illnesses or diseases they had will likely give us an idea of what kind of genetic predisposition might exist for certain illnesses. If we are aware of what is already "in the genes", then we can be much more proactive in adopting a healthy, active lifestyle so we can prevent these illnesses in our generations.
Carol Martin
I believe some of the most important "health maintenance and prevention" things women can do are to 1) be aware of what is normal for their own bodies, 2) and be aware of their family history and risk factors for developing certain diseases.
By being aware of what is normal for their own bodies, this means they must have routine physical checkups, lab tests, mammograms, blood pressure checks, vision screening, dental checkups, etc. It is also very important to have a good relationship with one's own personal physician, who can offer advice and provide treatment when/if unusual physical symptoms occur.
Family history can play such a large role in our health conditions, particularly in women with inherited genes for breast or ovarian cancer, and we must be very proactive in becoming educated regarding our own risks for such diseases. The same holds true for cardiovascular disease and associated risks if there is a family history.
One factor that might influence women to adopt healthier lifestyles is to take a hard look at their own family histories, going back several generations to grandparents or great-grandparents. Granted, our ancestors lived in different times and had different stresses, different diets, and different lifestyles. But reviewing what illnesses or diseases they had will likely give us an idea of what kind of genetic predisposition might exist for certain illnesses. If we are aware of what is already "in the genes", then we can be much more proactive in adopting a healthy, active lifestyle so we can prevent these illnesses in our generations.
Carol Martin
Friday, October 30, 2009
Blog #9: Discussing Food and Weight in the Home Environment
Question: How was the issue of food and weight discussed in your home? Was it ever a control issue or a point of conflict for you? How much influence do you believe your family has onbn the way you feel abut food and your body today?
Growing up in the Deep South (Alabama) in a single parent family with five children, we rarely talked about nutrition. We relied on fruits and vegetables from my grandparent's farm (which we helped to plant and harvest), and rarely did my mother or grandparents talk about health and nutrition. The basic, accepted way of cooking any kind of meat was "fried." The typical Sunday breakfast consisted of eggs, bacon, sausage, grits, homemade bisquits with butter, homemade preserves with tons of sugar, etc. As a result, I was somewhat of a "chubby" child, but never gave much thought to this until I reached adolescence, when most young women begin to think about their body image and begin to compare themselves to their peers.
My near-anorexia experience began at the beginning of my sophomore year in high school. I decided to lose some weight because I saw how popular and happy the cheerleaders and majorettes seemed to be, and I chose the then-popular "grapefruit diet." I was quite successful in losing weight (approximately 25 pounds), but by the time Thanksgiving arrived, I was having fainting episodes and had become severely malnourished, dangerously anemic, and near kidney failure. My mother still tells the story of how I sat down at the table to share Thanksgiving Dinner with the family, and then simply fainted at the table. Back then, in the 1970s, anorexia was a word rarely heard or understood, but, still, eating disorders existed at that time. I do recall my mother encouraging me to eat more, but I was so busy with school and work, and we rarely had family sit-down dinners at that time. She had no idea how to deal with an eating disorder, and I certainly had no idea that my attempts to lose weight would cause physical damage. I recovered well after several months of iron supplements, rest, and good nutrition.
When raising my own children, I always tried to stress the importance of a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. Even though they resisted and still wanted to indulge in the popular fast foods, I still insisted they at least try the healthy choices first.
For any parent who notices a change in eating behavior: do not ignore the signs and symptoms of potential eating disorders. Even though anorexia, bulemia and other eating disorders are discussed much more frequently and openly now, versus 30 years ago, many families are unaware that a problem exists until the disorder is very far advanced. This is one reason I believe sharing "family dinner time" is so important.
Carol Martin
cmartin18@twu.edu
Growing up in the Deep South (Alabama) in a single parent family with five children, we rarely talked about nutrition. We relied on fruits and vegetables from my grandparent's farm (which we helped to plant and harvest), and rarely did my mother or grandparents talk about health and nutrition. The basic, accepted way of cooking any kind of meat was "fried." The typical Sunday breakfast consisted of eggs, bacon, sausage, grits, homemade bisquits with butter, homemade preserves with tons of sugar, etc. As a result, I was somewhat of a "chubby" child, but never gave much thought to this until I reached adolescence, when most young women begin to think about their body image and begin to compare themselves to their peers.
My near-anorexia experience began at the beginning of my sophomore year in high school. I decided to lose some weight because I saw how popular and happy the cheerleaders and majorettes seemed to be, and I chose the then-popular "grapefruit diet." I was quite successful in losing weight (approximately 25 pounds), but by the time Thanksgiving arrived, I was having fainting episodes and had become severely malnourished, dangerously anemic, and near kidney failure. My mother still tells the story of how I sat down at the table to share Thanksgiving Dinner with the family, and then simply fainted at the table. Back then, in the 1970s, anorexia was a word rarely heard or understood, but, still, eating disorders existed at that time. I do recall my mother encouraging me to eat more, but I was so busy with school and work, and we rarely had family sit-down dinners at that time. She had no idea how to deal with an eating disorder, and I certainly had no idea that my attempts to lose weight would cause physical damage. I recovered well after several months of iron supplements, rest, and good nutrition.
When raising my own children, I always tried to stress the importance of a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. Even though they resisted and still wanted to indulge in the popular fast foods, I still insisted they at least try the healthy choices first.
For any parent who notices a change in eating behavior: do not ignore the signs and symptoms of potential eating disorders. Even though anorexia, bulemia and other eating disorders are discussed much more frequently and openly now, versus 30 years ago, many families are unaware that a problem exists until the disorder is very far advanced. This is one reason I believe sharing "family dinner time" is so important.
Carol Martin
cmartin18@twu.edu
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Blog #8: Hormone Replacement Therapy, Or Not?
*Interview a woman who has or is going through menopause and has decided to take hormones. Allow her to share with you the reasons she has chosen to take them and how she feels it is beneficial for her health.
Hormone Replacement Therapy, Or Not?
I chose to interview my younger sister, CJ, regarding her decision to begin hormone replacement therapy (HRT). We are close in age, just 11 months apart, but CJ experienced menopause a little sooner than I have, partly due to the fact that she had an ectopic pregnancy approximately 20 years ago and had removal of one tube and ovary. She has been confirmed as menopausal by her physician, and recently began hormone replacement therapy. They discussed the benefits and possible side effects of therapy, and she decided that HRT seemed to be a good choice for her situation.
Her main reason for beginning HRT is because of our very strong family history of osteoporosis. Our grandmother was a strong, vibrant woman until her 70s, but by the time she reached her early 80s she was severely debilitated by osteoporosis and compression fractures in her spine, hips and ankles. Our mother, now in her mid-70s, is very limited in her physical ability due to back pain and osteoarthritis, and CJ, herself, has had considerable bone and joint problems over the past ten years. Her recent bone density studies have shown moderate bone loss. She has no other risk factors that might affect her overall health by taking HRT, i.e. she has no history of smoking, heart disease, blood clots, or breast cancer, and decided to begin HRT because she felt the potential benefits far outweighed the potential risks. She has been on HRT for several months now, and seems happy with the effect so far.
I, too, discussed the options of HRT with my physician, but have opted not to begin therapy at this time. What concerned me the most was the “disclaimer” presented to me with the prescription for medication. The “disclaimer” very clearly stated the potential increased risks for blood clots, stroke, uterine cancer or breast cancer, and I simply felt that the potential risks outweighed potential benefits.
The choice of whether or not to begin HRT is a very personal decision, but it is one that we must all eventually consider.
Carol Martin
Cmartin18@twu.edu
Hormone Replacement Therapy, Or Not?
I chose to interview my younger sister, CJ, regarding her decision to begin hormone replacement therapy (HRT). We are close in age, just 11 months apart, but CJ experienced menopause a little sooner than I have, partly due to the fact that she had an ectopic pregnancy approximately 20 years ago and had removal of one tube and ovary. She has been confirmed as menopausal by her physician, and recently began hormone replacement therapy. They discussed the benefits and possible side effects of therapy, and she decided that HRT seemed to be a good choice for her situation.
Her main reason for beginning HRT is because of our very strong family history of osteoporosis. Our grandmother was a strong, vibrant woman until her 70s, but by the time she reached her early 80s she was severely debilitated by osteoporosis and compression fractures in her spine, hips and ankles. Our mother, now in her mid-70s, is very limited in her physical ability due to back pain and osteoarthritis, and CJ, herself, has had considerable bone and joint problems over the past ten years. Her recent bone density studies have shown moderate bone loss. She has no other risk factors that might affect her overall health by taking HRT, i.e. she has no history of smoking, heart disease, blood clots, or breast cancer, and decided to begin HRT because she felt the potential benefits far outweighed the potential risks. She has been on HRT for several months now, and seems happy with the effect so far.
I, too, discussed the options of HRT with my physician, but have opted not to begin therapy at this time. What concerned me the most was the “disclaimer” presented to me with the prescription for medication. The “disclaimer” very clearly stated the potential increased risks for blood clots, stroke, uterine cancer or breast cancer, and I simply felt that the potential risks outweighed potential benefits.
The choice of whether or not to begin HRT is a very personal decision, but it is one that we must all eventually consider.
Carol Martin
Cmartin18@twu.edu
Friday, October 16, 2009
Blog #7: How to advise a friend or loved one with suspected STD?
What would you tell a friend or loved one who suspected that she might have an STD but was afraid to get tested? Give specific information such as any facts you would give her about this. Support your answers and make sure your responses are at least 100 words.
As I’ve shared with our group before, it seems my family members always come to me when there is a medical issue involved. This was the case a couple of years ago, when a very, very close family member confided in me and shared the fact that she was having some “female problems.”
Embarrassed to talk with me about the particular problems, she simply said that she had noticed some changes in her body and was worried there may be a problem. To give a little history, at that time my family member was a 24-year-old sexually active young woman, and routinely used protective contraception. I encouraged her to see her regular gynecologist for pregnancy testing and evaluation. She was extremely reluctant to do this because she was embarrassed, and did not want to discuss the intimate details with anyone, even her physician. I encouraged her to make the appointment and see her doctor, and reminded her that early diagnosis and treatment is especially important for “female problems”, because of potential pregnancy, infection, or other serious issues.
Unfortunately, although she routinely used protective barrier contraception, she was found to be one of the millions of young women infected with HPV. Because Gardasil ® (HPV vaccine)(WebMd, 2009) was fairly new at time and she was found to be already positive for the virus, this preventive treatment was not an option for her. Nearly two years ago she underwent a colposcopy, (a magnified examination of the vulva, vagina, and cervix, (WebMD, 2009) and a LEEP procedure (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure) (WebMD, 2009), to remove abnormal cervical cells.
I am very happy to report that her most recent gynecological examination was completely normal with no evidence of cervical dysplasia. For the first year following the procedure, she saw her physician every three to six months, but has since resumed annual check-ups. Today my family member remains healthy and cancer-free. I am honored that she came to me with her health care concerns and actually listened when I strongly advised her to be evaluated by her gynecologist. Her cervical dysplasia was significant, and if it had not been treated appropriately the disease could have advanced to cervical cancer.
She was fortunate, but her experience clearly demonstrates that even when protective barrier contraception is used, sexually transmitted diseases can still occur.
References:
www.GARDASIL.com - HPV Quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16, and 18) Vaccine, Recombinant
http://www.webmd.com/cancer/cervical-cancer/colposcopy-and-cervical-biopsy
http://www.webmd.com/cancer/cervical-cancer/loop-electrosurgical-excision-procedure-leep-for-abnormal-cervical-cell-changes
Carol Martin
Cmartin18@twu.edu
As I’ve shared with our group before, it seems my family members always come to me when there is a medical issue involved. This was the case a couple of years ago, when a very, very close family member confided in me and shared the fact that she was having some “female problems.”
Embarrassed to talk with me about the particular problems, she simply said that she had noticed some changes in her body and was worried there may be a problem. To give a little history, at that time my family member was a 24-year-old sexually active young woman, and routinely used protective contraception. I encouraged her to see her regular gynecologist for pregnancy testing and evaluation. She was extremely reluctant to do this because she was embarrassed, and did not want to discuss the intimate details with anyone, even her physician. I encouraged her to make the appointment and see her doctor, and reminded her that early diagnosis and treatment is especially important for “female problems”, because of potential pregnancy, infection, or other serious issues.
Unfortunately, although she routinely used protective barrier contraception, she was found to be one of the millions of young women infected with HPV. Because Gardasil ® (HPV vaccine)(WebMd, 2009) was fairly new at time and she was found to be already positive for the virus, this preventive treatment was not an option for her. Nearly two years ago she underwent a colposcopy, (a magnified examination of the vulva, vagina, and cervix, (WebMD, 2009) and a LEEP procedure (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure) (WebMD, 2009), to remove abnormal cervical cells.
I am very happy to report that her most recent gynecological examination was completely normal with no evidence of cervical dysplasia. For the first year following the procedure, she saw her physician every three to six months, but has since resumed annual check-ups. Today my family member remains healthy and cancer-free. I am honored that she came to me with her health care concerns and actually listened when I strongly advised her to be evaluated by her gynecologist. Her cervical dysplasia was significant, and if it had not been treated appropriately the disease could have advanced to cervical cancer.
She was fortunate, but her experience clearly demonstrates that even when protective barrier contraception is used, sexually transmitted diseases can still occur.
References:
www.GARDASIL.com - HPV Quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16, and 18) Vaccine, Recombinant
http://www.webmd.com/cancer/cervical-cancer/colposcopy-and-cervical-biopsy
http://www.webmd.com/cancer/cervical-cancer/loop-electrosurgical-excision-procedure-leep-for-abnormal-cervical-cell-changes
Carol Martin
Cmartin18@twu.edu
Friday, October 9, 2009
Blog #6: Alternative to Hospital Birth
*Interview a woman who has chosen an alternative to hospital birth. Some examples may include home birth; underwater birth, or birthing center. Ask her why she chose that method and to describe the overall experience. How does she perceive that this experience was different than the hospital birthing experience?
I chose to interview my niece, Lindsey, regarding her experience with at-home birth. Lindsey gave birth to her first child last year. Her son is nearly one year old now, and is a very happy, healthy baby boy. She and her husband elected to have their firstborn at home with the assistance of a midwife. Lindsey has been very healthy all of her life and has rarely needed medical care other than routine check-ups. She intensely dislikes the hospital setting, so it was a natural choice for her to elect at-home birth instead. Her pregnancy was confirmed by her physician, and then the majority of her prenatal care and follow-up was provided by her midwife. The pregnancy was uncomplicated and progressed well, so they all felt safe in choosing to have the child at home. Another major reason they elected to have the child at home is because they lack health insurance, and felt the expenses of a hospital stay were unwarranted.
All necessary precautions were taken to ensure the childbirth would be safe for both Lindsey and the baby, and she was very happy with the experience. With the birthing assistance of a very qualified midwife, she was able to be in her own home with her husband, mother and father nearby, and they were all able to be part of bringing a wonderful new child into the world. Her labor was not prolonged, and she was able to deliver a 7 lb. baby without difficulty, and with minimal medication. Overall, the experience was very positive for the entire family, and the at-home delivery was much more relaxed and private than it would have been in a hospital setting. Lindsey tells me that if she is blessed to have another child, she will choose at-home delivery again.
Carol Martin
Cmartin18@twu.edu
I chose to interview my niece, Lindsey, regarding her experience with at-home birth. Lindsey gave birth to her first child last year. Her son is nearly one year old now, and is a very happy, healthy baby boy. She and her husband elected to have their firstborn at home with the assistance of a midwife. Lindsey has been very healthy all of her life and has rarely needed medical care other than routine check-ups. She intensely dislikes the hospital setting, so it was a natural choice for her to elect at-home birth instead. Her pregnancy was confirmed by her physician, and then the majority of her prenatal care and follow-up was provided by her midwife. The pregnancy was uncomplicated and progressed well, so they all felt safe in choosing to have the child at home. Another major reason they elected to have the child at home is because they lack health insurance, and felt the expenses of a hospital stay were unwarranted.
All necessary precautions were taken to ensure the childbirth would be safe for both Lindsey and the baby, and she was very happy with the experience. With the birthing assistance of a very qualified midwife, she was able to be in her own home with her husband, mother and father nearby, and they were all able to be part of bringing a wonderful new child into the world. Her labor was not prolonged, and she was able to deliver a 7 lb. baby without difficulty, and with minimal medication. Overall, the experience was very positive for the entire family, and the at-home delivery was much more relaxed and private than it would have been in a hospital setting. Lindsey tells me that if she is blessed to have another child, she will choose at-home delivery again.
Carol Martin
Cmartin18@twu.edu
Friday, October 2, 2009
Blog #5: Childless by Choice
Interview a woman on her decision to have children or be "childless" (may be temporary). Summarize her response and your thoughts regarding your interviewee's response. Note: you may discuss your own thoughts on having children instead of conducting an interview.
I consider myself so very blessed to have had two wonderful children, one daughter and one son, and being a parent has been the most fulfilling part of my life. I grew up in a large, blended family with five children, and was raised to believe that growing up, getting married and having children was simply expected if one was to have a “normal” life.
But I have learned, through friends who have remained childless by choice, that having children doesn’t always fit into certain lifestyles. One such couple, Roger and Jean, were high school sweethearts, married shortly after graduation, and recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. They are two of the most “connected” people I have ever known, but I simply cannot imagine these two good friends in the role of parents. They have chosen to remain childless throughout their marriage, but for them this decision hasn’t meant they were “missing” a vital part of their lives; instead, they have had the freedom to do things that were important to them and brought them happiness. They have traveled the world together, lived in faraway places, and experienced events and places many of us have yet to see, and perhaps never will. Some might consider their decision a selfish one, but I certainly don’t see it this way. They are still so obviously happy and “connected”, and my perception is that they simply wouldn’t want to share each other with another person, especially a child. Both are career-oriented, fun-loving people who decided early in their marriage that they would remain childless, and they remain happy with this decision.
I believe the decision to have a child, or not, is one of the most critical ones a woman will make in her lifetime, and she should have a firm idea of what she wants and expects from life before deciding to have a child. If the role of “family” is important, then both potential parents should have realistic expectations of the time, emotional and financial commitment required to raise a child from infancy through college. And if career or “freedom” is more important, then she/they should consider the option to remain childless, by choice.
Carol Martin
Cmartin18@twu.edu
I consider myself so very blessed to have had two wonderful children, one daughter and one son, and being a parent has been the most fulfilling part of my life. I grew up in a large, blended family with five children, and was raised to believe that growing up, getting married and having children was simply expected if one was to have a “normal” life.
But I have learned, through friends who have remained childless by choice, that having children doesn’t always fit into certain lifestyles. One such couple, Roger and Jean, were high school sweethearts, married shortly after graduation, and recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. They are two of the most “connected” people I have ever known, but I simply cannot imagine these two good friends in the role of parents. They have chosen to remain childless throughout their marriage, but for them this decision hasn’t meant they were “missing” a vital part of their lives; instead, they have had the freedom to do things that were important to them and brought them happiness. They have traveled the world together, lived in faraway places, and experienced events and places many of us have yet to see, and perhaps never will. Some might consider their decision a selfish one, but I certainly don’t see it this way. They are still so obviously happy and “connected”, and my perception is that they simply wouldn’t want to share each other with another person, especially a child. Both are career-oriented, fun-loving people who decided early in their marriage that they would remain childless, and they remain happy with this decision.
I believe the decision to have a child, or not, is one of the most critical ones a woman will make in her lifetime, and she should have a firm idea of what she wants and expects from life before deciding to have a child. If the role of “family” is important, then both potential parents should have realistic expectations of the time, emotional and financial commitment required to raise a child from infancy through college. And if career or “freedom” is more important, then she/they should consider the option to remain childless, by choice.
Carol Martin
Cmartin18@twu.edu
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Blog #4: Should sex education be taught in public schools?
If so, what kind of education: Abstinence-only, or Abstinence-plus?
===================================
Although we had a multitude of topics to choose from for our blog discussion this week, I chose to discuss the need for health/sex education in our public schools because I firmly, adamantly believe this is just as important as the required core curriculum classes necessary for graduation from high school.
In my opinion, the critical information taught and learned within this classroom setting will only serve in a positive way to educate and teach our youth about sexual health, disease prevention and healthy lifestyles, and this information is invaluable if we are to effectively promote healthy lifestyles to our children, students and families. To eliminate or dilute such sex education programs within our public school systems is a disservice to our youth, and only exemplifies the fact that “funding is more important than function.” I believe it is our responsibility as parents, family members, and educators to insist that our health and sex education programs continue within the public school system, and to become involved in the decision-making process regarding school curriculums.
As a very young child, perhaps age six or seven, I vividly recall having a “sex education” conversation with my mother. As I sat on the edge of the bed while she starched and ironed my school dresses, I remember asking her, “Mommy, how did you get me?” She thought about the question for a few minutes and then very matter-of-factly explained the “birds and bees” to me. That was the one and only sex education conversation I ever had with my mother. But at least I had that. Many children and adolescents have no education, whatsoever, from their parents or family members, and are left to learn on their own --- often with serious consequences.
Much controversy about school-based sex education programs continues to exist, and although the federal government has endorsed Abstinence-Only Until Marriage (AOUM) educational programs, the effectiveness of such programs show little improvement in changing adolescent behavior over comprehensive sexuality educational programs (Alexander, LaRosa, Bader, Garfield and Alexander, 2010).
My opinion is that we should continue comprehensive sex education programs at the junior high and high school levels. This is not meant to condone or promote sexual behavior among our adolescents, but to acknowledge that they will continue to learn and experiment despite what we tell them to do, as in the “Abstinence-Only Until Marriage” method of teaching sex education. As teen pregnancy, incidence of STIs and HIV continue to be a very prevalent issue among our adolescent population, I believe it is our responsibility to educate to the best of our ability, so our children and adolescents have the information necessary to make the best choices.
Carol Martin
Alexander, L.L., LaRosa, J.H., Bader, H., Garfield, S., Alexander, W.J. (2010) Dimensions in women’s health. (5th Ed.) Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
===================================
Although we had a multitude of topics to choose from for our blog discussion this week, I chose to discuss the need for health/sex education in our public schools because I firmly, adamantly believe this is just as important as the required core curriculum classes necessary for graduation from high school.
In my opinion, the critical information taught and learned within this classroom setting will only serve in a positive way to educate and teach our youth about sexual health, disease prevention and healthy lifestyles, and this information is invaluable if we are to effectively promote healthy lifestyles to our children, students and families. To eliminate or dilute such sex education programs within our public school systems is a disservice to our youth, and only exemplifies the fact that “funding is more important than function.” I believe it is our responsibility as parents, family members, and educators to insist that our health and sex education programs continue within the public school system, and to become involved in the decision-making process regarding school curriculums.
As a very young child, perhaps age six or seven, I vividly recall having a “sex education” conversation with my mother. As I sat on the edge of the bed while she starched and ironed my school dresses, I remember asking her, “Mommy, how did you get me?” She thought about the question for a few minutes and then very matter-of-factly explained the “birds and bees” to me. That was the one and only sex education conversation I ever had with my mother. But at least I had that. Many children and adolescents have no education, whatsoever, from their parents or family members, and are left to learn on their own --- often with serious consequences.
Much controversy about school-based sex education programs continues to exist, and although the federal government has endorsed Abstinence-Only Until Marriage (AOUM) educational programs, the effectiveness of such programs show little improvement in changing adolescent behavior over comprehensive sexuality educational programs (Alexander, LaRosa, Bader, Garfield and Alexander, 2010).
My opinion is that we should continue comprehensive sex education programs at the junior high and high school levels. This is not meant to condone or promote sexual behavior among our adolescents, but to acknowledge that they will continue to learn and experiment despite what we tell them to do, as in the “Abstinence-Only Until Marriage” method of teaching sex education. As teen pregnancy, incidence of STIs and HIV continue to be a very prevalent issue among our adolescent population, I believe it is our responsibility to educate to the best of our ability, so our children and adolescents have the information necessary to make the best choices.
Carol Martin
References
Alexander, L.L., LaRosa, J.H., Bader, H., Garfield, S., Alexander, W.J. (2010) Dimensions in women’s health. (5th Ed.) Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Blog #3: How can we encourage adolescents to follow healthy behaviors?
I believe that the single most important thing we can do to encourage adolescents to follow a healthy lifestyle is to lead by example. We, as parents, educators and healthcare professionals have a duty and responsibility to teach our children to the best of our ability, and provide them with the educational tools and resources so that they can learn and make good decisions for themselves.
As adults we have an advantage over young children and adolescents, in that we have already gone through this phase in our lives and are now at the point where we can help them learn from our experiences. I would assume that most of us probably made some poor decisions during our adolescent years, as growing and trying new experiences are just a part of the teenage years. Unfortunately, as we have learned, adolescents who adopt poor health choices during this critical phase in their lives will tend to carry the behaviors into adulthood (Alexander, LaRosa, Bader, Garfield and Alexander, 2010). If we are able to educate these children and adolescents at a young age, then perhaps we can have an impact on the overall health of our next generation.
I would propose increased funding for health promotion classes offered at the junior high and high school levels, including a rigorous smoking prevention program, a drug and alcohol awareness/resistance program, a nutritional program, and a sex education program.
Just having this information available to adolescents doesn’t always get their attention, so I would incorporate several elements into this health promotion incentive:
1) An incentive-based reward system for performing and documenting good health practices. By incentives, I do not imply monetary reward, but perhaps class rewards, extra grade points or privileges based on incentives achieved.
2) A very frank, honest demonstration of what can happen as a result of poor choices. This would include presentations from people living with severe lung disease, a recovering alcoholic, a morbidly obese person, a person living with AIDS, etc.
3) Establish a school/community garden so that children and adolescents can participate in actually growing healthy, nutritious foods, then incorporate this learning into the curriculum and serve the food as part of the school menu plan.
In fact, community/school gardens are increasing in popularity throughout the country and many exist in the greater Houston area. (urbanharvest.org) Establishing a community/school garden can have many positive outcomes, and providing healthy food for our children is just one of many.
Carol Martin
References
(2009, September). Start a community garden or school garden. Retrieved 18 September, 2009 from http://www.urbanharvest.org
As adults we have an advantage over young children and adolescents, in that we have already gone through this phase in our lives and are now at the point where we can help them learn from our experiences. I would assume that most of us probably made some poor decisions during our adolescent years, as growing and trying new experiences are just a part of the teenage years. Unfortunately, as we have learned, adolescents who adopt poor health choices during this critical phase in their lives will tend to carry the behaviors into adulthood (Alexander, LaRosa, Bader, Garfield and Alexander, 2010). If we are able to educate these children and adolescents at a young age, then perhaps we can have an impact on the overall health of our next generation.
I would propose increased funding for health promotion classes offered at the junior high and high school levels, including a rigorous smoking prevention program, a drug and alcohol awareness/resistance program, a nutritional program, and a sex education program.
Just having this information available to adolescents doesn’t always get their attention, so I would incorporate several elements into this health promotion incentive:
1) An incentive-based reward system for performing and documenting good health practices. By incentives, I do not imply monetary reward, but perhaps class rewards, extra grade points or privileges based on incentives achieved.
2) A very frank, honest demonstration of what can happen as a result of poor choices. This would include presentations from people living with severe lung disease, a recovering alcoholic, a morbidly obese person, a person living with AIDS, etc.
3) Establish a school/community garden so that children and adolescents can participate in actually growing healthy, nutritious foods, then incorporate this learning into the curriculum and serve the food as part of the school menu plan.
In fact, community/school gardens are increasing in popularity throughout the country and many exist in the greater Houston area. (urbanharvest.org) Establishing a community/school garden can have many positive outcomes, and providing healthy food for our children is just one of many.
Carol Martin
References
Alexander, L.L., LaRosa, J.H., Bader, H., Garfield, S., Alexander, W.J. (2010) Dimensions in women’s health. (5th Ed.) Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
(2009, September). Start a community garden or school garden. Retrieved 18 September, 2009 from http://www.urbanharvest.org
Friday, September 11, 2009
Blog #2: Access to Health Care: Right or Privilege?
As one of the millions of insured Americans, I know I am fortunate to have access to excellent medical care. I pay the monthly premium, co-insurance and copays required by my health care plan, and in turn my provider pays the rest. But so many other Americans are not as fortunate, and, in fact, over 45 million of our citizens lack health insurance (Alexander, LaRosa, Bader, Garfield and Alexander, 2010). I see this issue as a national crisis, and feel it is the duty and responsibility of our legislators to finally address this issue and develop a health care delivery system that is fair and equitable for all Americans.
Yes, I believe that access to health care is a Right, not a privilege. As Americans, we live in one of the wealthiest, most technologically-advanced countries in the world and enjoy a high standard of living, yet our free market health care system seems to have failed so many by making insurance inaccessible, and therefore limiting access to basic medical care (Alexander et al., 2010).
After viewing the PBS Frontline videos, “Sick Around America” and “Sick Around the World” (Public Broadcasting Service, 2008-2009), my opinion regarding the basic “right” to health care has only intensified. In my opinion, if other major industrialized countries can take a hard look at their dysfunctional health care system and make the difficult decisions to do what is best for their citizens (PBS 2008), then we, as Americans, should be shown the same respect by our own government.
Perhaps as our leaders work through the arduous process of health care reform, they will look at the successful reforms from other major, industrialized countries and apply these principles to create a system that is fair and equitable for all Americans, despite age, gender or socioeconomic status.
Carol Martin
References:
Alexander, L.L., LaRosa, J.H., Bader, H., Garfield, S., Alexander, W.J. (2010) Dimensions in women’s health. (5th Ed.) Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
Reid, T.R., Correspondent. 2008, April 15. Sick Around the World. [Television broadcast]. Public Broadcasting Service.
http://video.kera.org/video/1050712790/program/979358040/topic/979379181
2009, March 31. Sick Around America. [Television broadcast]. Public Broadcasting Service.
http://video.kera.org/video/1050712790/feature/87
Yes, I believe that access to health care is a Right, not a privilege. As Americans, we live in one of the wealthiest, most technologically-advanced countries in the world and enjoy a high standard of living, yet our free market health care system seems to have failed so many by making insurance inaccessible, and therefore limiting access to basic medical care (Alexander et al., 2010).
After viewing the PBS Frontline videos, “Sick Around America” and “Sick Around the World” (Public Broadcasting Service, 2008-2009), my opinion regarding the basic “right” to health care has only intensified. In my opinion, if other major industrialized countries can take a hard look at their dysfunctional health care system and make the difficult decisions to do what is best for their citizens (PBS 2008), then we, as Americans, should be shown the same respect by our own government.
Perhaps as our leaders work through the arduous process of health care reform, they will look at the successful reforms from other major, industrialized countries and apply these principles to create a system that is fair and equitable for all Americans, despite age, gender or socioeconomic status.
Carol Martin
References:
Alexander, L.L., LaRosa, J.H., Bader, H., Garfield, S., Alexander, W.J. (2010) Dimensions in women’s health. (5th Ed.) Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
Reid, T.R., Correspondent. 2008, April 15. Sick Around the World. [Television broadcast]. Public Broadcasting Service.
http://video.kera.org/video/1050712790/program/979358040/topic/979379181
2009, March 31. Sick Around America. [Television broadcast]. Public Broadcasting Service.
http://video.kera.org/video/1050712790/feature/87
Friday, September 4, 2009
TWU - Women's Health 3350 - Blog #1
Blog #1:
What health issues you are most concerned about? Why? Interview 2-3 women (different ages, ethnicities and/or cultures if possible) and ask them the same question. Are your concerns similar or different? Explain.
My response:
My major concerns with women's health issues relate to the alarming rate of breast cancer, HPV and resulting cervical cancer, and HIV. This concerns me because I see how such illnesses affect every aspect of our lives, and if diagnosed with such an illness, how devastating this can be to our own health and the health and well-being of our families.
I interviewed several members of my own family, neighbors and friends, with ages ranging from 25 to 75, and asked all of them the same questions: "As a woman, tell me the three things that concern you most from a health care standpoint?" Nearly everyone agreed, at least to some degree, on what was the most pressing concern regarding women's health: breast cancer. While the younger women seemed slightly more concerned with HPV, the risk of cervical cancer, and HIV, the middle-aged and senior women seemed to be more concerned about breast cancer risks, but all agreed that breast cancer is a very serious health care concern.... not only in the U.S., but worldwide.
As far as my own concerns, I would have to agree that breast cancer is extremely concerning to me, as I have lost several good friends and coworkers to this devastating disease, and I realize that this disease has no age discrimination .... young women, middle-aged women, and senior women are all affected. This is why I encourage every woman I know to have routine checkups and yearly mammograms.
What health issues you are most concerned about? Why? Interview 2-3 women (different ages, ethnicities and/or cultures if possible) and ask them the same question. Are your concerns similar or different? Explain.
My response:
My major concerns with women's health issues relate to the alarming rate of breast cancer, HPV and resulting cervical cancer, and HIV. This concerns me because I see how such illnesses affect every aspect of our lives, and if diagnosed with such an illness, how devastating this can be to our own health and the health and well-being of our families.
I interviewed several members of my own family, neighbors and friends, with ages ranging from 25 to 75, and asked all of them the same questions: "As a woman, tell me the three things that concern you most from a health care standpoint?" Nearly everyone agreed, at least to some degree, on what was the most pressing concern regarding women's health: breast cancer. While the younger women seemed slightly more concerned with HPV, the risk of cervical cancer, and HIV, the middle-aged and senior women seemed to be more concerned about breast cancer risks, but all agreed that breast cancer is a very serious health care concern.... not only in the U.S., but worldwide.
As far as my own concerns, I would have to agree that breast cancer is extremely concerning to me, as I have lost several good friends and coworkers to this devastating disease, and I realize that this disease has no age discrimination .... young women, middle-aged women, and senior women are all affected. This is why I encourage every woman I know to have routine checkups and yearly mammograms.
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