Tuesday, November 16, 2010

An Ounce of Prevention -- by Frances

The expression, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” applies very much to health care. It is much better to prevent a disease or injury than it is to treat it after it occurs. There are many things that we can do to help prevent health problems or injuries from occurring. The ones that I feel are important are practicing food safety, taking medications correctly, and preventing germs.

One important thing that we can do to help prevent health problems is practice food safety. Make sure that you wash your hands and also wash your food, if need be. Then, as you are cooking, make sure you cook your food at the correct temperature. Then make sure your food is stored correctly in the refrigerator.

Another important thing that we can do to help prevent health problems is take medication correctly. Follow the doctor’s orders on your prescription sheet. In taking medication everyday, take it at the same time. Also, take the same quantity everyday. You should also know if you need to take the medication with food or without food.

An additional thing that we can do to help prevent health problems is prevent germs. Clean your hands after sneezing or coughing. Also, you should cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough. You should make sure that you put the tissue you used into the trash can. To get your hands clean, you should wash them with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. You can also clean them with an alcohol-based hand cleaner.

I feel that the things that we can do to help prevent health problems or injuries from occurring are to practice food safety, take medications correctly, and prevent germs. If you do all these things, you should be able to stay healthier.

By Frances

An Ounce of Prevention -- by Derek

The expression, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” applies very much to health care. It is much better to prevent a disease or injury than it is to treat it after it occurs. It is also better to find a disease early, when it is easier to treat. There are many things that we can do to help prevent health problems or injuries from occurring and to find health problems early. The ones that I feel are important are regular check-ups, regular physical activity, and personal safety measures.

One important thing that we can do to help prevent health problems is to see a doctor at least twice a year no matter how you may feel. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes over 21 years ago and almost died from it. When diagnosed, my blood sugar level was almost 900! Unfortunately, I was not seeing a doctor regularly. If I had been, my condition may have been detected earlier and my diabetes controlled by diet and pills instead of insulin injections.

Another important thing that we can do to help prevent health problems is regular physical activity. When I was diagnosed, my doctor explained to me that though I was unaware of my condition, working out was causing my glucose levels to increase more rapidly. Being in good physical condition allowed my body to withstand the physical trauma I was experiencing. Physical activity not only helps to make a person look and feel good, but is also good for you!

An additional thing that we can do to help prevent health problems is practice personal safety. I once worked for a company where I worked with lots of chemicals. OSHA came in to do a safety inspection and found that the employees did not have proper safety gear. One employee developed a severe lung disease as a result of not having the proper safety gear. If that employee had been properly protected, he may have never gotten that disease.

I feel that if we have regular check-ups, are physically active, and practice personal safety measures, we can live long, healthy lives.

By: Derek

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Recovering with Alcoholics Anonymous

By: GED Student

I think the best way to better myself is to quit drinking alcohol. My life was absolutely miserable before I stopped drinking. My drinking got to a point when I can’t live life with alcohol or without it. The life of drinking was the only one I knew. So, how can I possibly think that I can ever live a happy sober life? What do I have to do?

Well, I started out going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. The meetings are places I could go to meet people who have problems with drinking and maybe make new sober friends. I picked up a little booklet called the “Where and When.” It shows over 750 meetings in the St. Louis area that I could go to. If I don’t like a meeting, I can always search for meetings until I find the ones that I do like. I try to go to as many meetings I can. I have been averaging 8 to 9 meetings a week.

I don’t want to approach recovery with the assistance of my alcoholic mind. It’s not user friendly. It’s my alcoholic mind that got me here in the first place. So, people suggested that I get a sponsor. A sponsor is somebody that will help me work the 12 steps of recovery and would give me advice or suggestions to help me make better decisions, therefore learning how to live sober on life’s terms.

The next thing I need to do is stay busy during the day when I’m not at a meeting. I don’t want to give myself any time to think about drinking. I need to be doing something. I go to school in the morning, try to do some online GED assignments in the afternoon, do whatever chores that need to be done around the house, or whatever else I could do to occupy my time.

Right now, my life is slowly getting better. I am feeling a sense of peace and serenity. I wouldn’t be where I’m at today if it wasn’t for Alcoholics Anonymous. I will always have the ups and downs of life, but I don’t have to drink over the problems that life gives me. I am happy to be alive and sober.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Overweight Kids

by Dolorean

Why I think 33 percent of children in America are overweight is mainly because parents don't eat healthy so that's sometimes causes kids not to eat healthy. Another reason I think a lot of kids are overweight is because most schools don't have a balanced lunch menus, the last reason being some people just don't care.

Form my personal experience, I've noticed that a lot of parents don't eat healthy. I think that's why a lot of kids don't eat healthy. Which is why it causes kids to be overweight. For example I like fried food, and my kids grew to like a lot of fried foods. So I think that's part of the reason a lot of kids are overweight.

33 percent of America's youth are overweight mainly because of school lunch, I think, cause it is not balanced If you ask me school lunches are more about popular food than health food. That causes kids to eat unhealthy. That is why I think one of the reasons for kids being overweight is, they are not eating healthy at school.

I think some people don't care about their weight and health. Because 1/4 of kids are overweight. For instance there are lots of people I know that don't know how to cook. So they just go eat out at fast food restaurants. So that's one reason I think people don't care about their weight.

Kids are overweight in America because parents don't eat healthy. There are also a lot of unbalanced school lunch menus that I think is a big part of obesity in America. Most of all I think people just don't care. That's why I think kids are overweight.

Obesity in America

by Brittany

It is actually very sad how the people of America are not only gaining rapid amounts of weight. But also not choosing to do anything about it in their own benefit.

A whopping 32% of American children are obese, but this doesn't stop at just the youth, it only begins with them. All over America there are factors majorly contributing to these rapidly climbing rates, or weights, per se. For example, fast food chains are making a killing off of these people, who feel as though food is similar to their personal preferenced drug. Sure, fast and easy might be looking good on television, but not the effects you'll see when looking in the mirror after eating it day after day. And think, just how big will you be by the time you're a full grown adult from a kid?

In the following paragraph I will point out some of the obvious influences over our children, which results in some of these devastating statistics. Kids are enrolled in school at a young age, and most every school has worked to improve the meals served to our children. People have fought against the unhealthy and non-nutritious servings offered in public schools. But then you've got the people who reserve the right to allow their children the right to choose lunch for themselves. But at the expense of climbing obesity rates along with health problems it brings? Some people's genetics are more susceptible to becoming overweight. Truly, at any rate, every individual possesses the right to do something about their physical condition.

There still remains the percentage of citizens who believe in eating right and exercising to be the key to staying in good health. Yet there will always be the unmotivated, lazy group of Americans, who will remain just the same if not pound for pound, in their fat stupor. We live in the land of the free, and hese people are free to live how they please. And it it means that they'd learn to adapt to the lifestyle, so be it. It seems like less and less people are concerned by it nevertheless. Ultimately, this is their right as citizens.

In overall conclusion, the people of the United States are specifically one of two ways, or there's always the grey area on the scale. For those of indifference. America enables freedom, ensures your own kind of unique living style. Makes it all possible.

Childhood Obesity

by Helen

Topic: Why do you think 32% of American children are overweight or obese?

I think that 32% of American children are overweight or obese due to a number of factors. The original family as we know it has diminished over the years. The economy has caused numerous changes in the way we govern our schools and daycares. Attention on weight loss and nutrition has become one of the largest money making schemes today.

The original family as we know it has diminished over the years. We have more single parent families now than we've had in a long time. We have more married couples, where both parties work, in the household than ever before. This creates stress on families, where it is so much easier to order out or pop in a pizza. Parents are overworked and have no time to prepare food that is healthy for the children. Their intentions are good but to prepare a good healthy meal is very time consuming and that only adds to a stressful day.

The economy has taken a slide downward where you could at least depend o the schools and daycares to provide a healthy breakfast and lunch. To save money in the school system, they have resulted in pre-packaged food. The schools and daycares now rely on foods that can be microwaved and maybe an apple or banana may happen to make its way on the child's tray.

Attention on weight loss has become one of the ways companies excel today. They have actors and actresses to show how they have lost weight and can still eat what they want. The companies offer success you can't do by yourself. You have to purchase their program which includes food, counseling and sometimes a gym membership. This industry is grossing millions of dollars. To eat healthy is very expensive through these companies. Their advertisement offers hope. All Americans love hope. Actually everyone loves hope.

In closing, we as parents need to step up to the plate. Our children do not need a choice of what they eat. We need to choose for them and this needs to be a healthy choice. Let's not rely on the schools and day care to make the right choices. Let's make their lunches and ensure ourselves that they will eat healthy. Set aside a time to eat at the dinner table. Eating dinner together will mold you to making a balanced dinner. It will come natural to you. Don't get caught up in the weight loss industry. They cannot offer you anything that you can't offer yourself with a little determination and motivation. Involve your children in setting the table. I guess it all comes down to the good old days. Cut off the TV -- play a board game like Twister for fun exercise. Remember it starts at home.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

An Ounce of Prevention

by Lizzy

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure applies to taking care of your health because taking steps to prevent a disease is a lot easier than treating a disease. The steps you can take in prevention are eating healthy, getting regular check ups and being a safe driver.

Eating healthy is very important to your health. Eating fruits and vegetables gives you energy and if you like sugars you can eat fruit and get natural sugars instead of sugar from junk food. You should also limit certain kinds of food because it's not good for you. You should limit junk foods, fatty foods and red meats.

Getting regular checkups are also important to your health. Going to see your doctor is a good way to prevent disease. Your doctor can screen you for certain illnesses such as high blood pressure and cancer. you can also go to your doctor for vaccinations. Follow ups are also important.

Other things you can do may not prevent diseases but it helps prevent death or an accident are to not text and drive as well as not drinking and driving. Texting while you drive is a distraction from the road and in a split second an accident may occur. You could hurt someone else as well as yourself. Drinking and driving can also be dangerous because drinking impairs your judgment and reaction time.

There are many things you can do to take care of yourself. That's why the expression "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" applies to taking care of yourself and the health of others.