blog 5

Joanne Conroy has been a chief healthcare officer since 2008. As a leader at the Association of American Medical Colleges, she has been an executive officer of hospital management across the country providing medical education and keeping healthcare policies. Today, Conroy continues to reform the medical field as an executive practice planner. She was originally an anesthesiologist, but continues to aid the Medical College of South Carolina. I find Joanne Conroy an inspirational women for her consistent attention to healthcare reforms and her passion to educate others in the medical field.

http://www.modernhealthcare.com/gallery/20110418/PHOTO/418009999/PH&Params=Itemr=9&Template=galleryzoom

Blog 4

• Visit www.snopes.com and read questions/answers from the Substance Abuse section. Blog about one question/answer in particular that stood out to you most - noting why this in particular is important for women to know. Be sure to put the info into your own words and mention the title of the article you read.

The article I read about addresses the issue of drinking cocaine. In this article, it was found that, “Some German states have banned Red Bull's 'Simply Cola' drink after claiming it contains trace amounts of cocaine.”

While I am not an energy drink fan, I know plenty of women who drink this beverage. The main point of this article seems to be arguing on how careful consumers need to be concerned with the ingredients in common products. While the incident occurred in Germany, we in the United States had our share of problems with Coca- Cola that also contained cocaine at one time. “ Bull Snort” is a short article that relates both incidents of the use of cocaine in beverages. I find that this article is a warning to everyone to be a well- informed consumer, especially when some products are addictive and life threatening.

Here is the Link for the article: http://www.snopes.com/medical/potables/simplycola.asp

Blog 3

1.     What role does the media play in how we feel about our bodies? How can health educators help to prepare effective messages that counter some of the negative images and ideas generated in the media? Do you think that the media is embracing more diversity in body shape, size and color than what was "acceptable" years ago?

The media has a big influence on how people feel about their bodies. Especially for women, we have grown up wanting that “ model figure” that has dominated our society’s picture of the perfect person. As a result, many people feel uncomfortable about their bodies and try to change their bodies in a variety of ways, whether it be dieting or even developing disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. 

The media largely addresses the idea of perfection in a person’s size and shape. Today, we rarely find advertisements that showcase what is considered the “ average women.”

I feel that in order to teach health, we need to understand that everyone is like a snowflake. No two snowflakes are alike.  Just like a snowflake, everybody has a body that is unique and can also be healthy. Appreciation for your body will feel like the first step towards a healthy lifestyle!

Blog 2

Imagine a parent of a pre-teen who is about to have “The Talk” with him/her. Please write the scenario (where/when/how) the talk would take place and exactly what the parent should say. Include any resources the parent might recommend to the pre-teen, or questions (and their answers) the parent should anticipate.

Growing up, I never really had “ the talk” with my parents. However, the best time for kids to have the talk is before they teenagers. Much like many health concepts, early preparation is the key when talking about their growing bodies. Personally, I started developing at age 9 and had a hard time grasping some of these concepts at the time. However, I grew up in a Christian home and my mother was always willing to talk to my sister and I about our changing bodies. As a Christian, I heavily lean on the Bible as my source of wisdom for discussions on sex, but I know there are several other sources available for us to draw wisdom from such as Chicken Noodle Soup for the Soul books. My biggest advice is to pay attention to what  your children are learning from the media, society and their peers.  One website that I found beneficial for the time I have children is http://www.havingthetalk.com/ . This website provides several resources to help aid both parents and kids. Remember, “ the talk” should never be stressful, but it is important for your child to be well informed and prepared about their bodies changes and their reactions toward them.

Blog 1

My blog for this week will be addressing these questions: How can we encourage adolescents to follow healthy behaviors?  What ideas do you have for parents, healthcare providers, health educators, media, society, etc?

 First of all, people develop healthy behaviors at an early age. This starts by introducing them to a variety of good behaviors such as healthy eating and getting plenty of exercise. Encouraging the teen to have a positive experience and enjoy these healthy habits will help minimize the tendency for unhealthy actions. For parents, this means that they need to be active in their teen's lifestyle.

This could be done in several ways. Exercise should be a minimum of 30 minutes for an activity such as baseball, soccer, jogging or even riding a bicycle. 

It is also important to keep teens well informed on how their bodies work and function.  Doctor's visits encourage the child to remain healthy and learn more about themselves physically, mentally and even from a social perspectives.

By praising healthy behaviors, we instill the teens capacity to continue helping their bodies grow and strengthen. Here a couple websites I found that might be helpful.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/youth/research/keys-to-quality-youth-development/

http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/fitness/Pages/How-Teens-Can-Stay-Fit.aspx

Kristen's Bio

THIS IS ME!!!!!!!! :)

Hello my name is Kristen Finley and I am a senior in the General Studies degree. After my Bachelor's degree, I will continue my studies in order to get a MLS degree from TWU.  My hobbies include cooking, baking and making crafts and I am a very artistic person. One thing that most people do not realize is that I have incredibly tiny feet, I wear size 2 shoes. It is extremely difficult to find shoes and one pair of my shoes I have owned since I was in 2nd grade.

My interest in health started during my first year of college. Typically most college students eat out many times a week, but my stomach would not let me continue on that path. Since I have an interest in cooking, I felt like it was important to introduce nutritious food into my daily life style and love the feeling that comes with a healthy lifestyle. My interest in this class is to see the administrations related to health and how they implement their procedures, advice and care to the community. I hope to have a great Semester and learn as much as possible!!!!!!