teens and ear infections

I learned something today after reading HealthDay News online regarding teens and ear infections.  Research supports that teens that live in households of smoking adults are more likely to get ear infections.  The components of second hand smoke irritate the inside of the ear.  Reading this gives a better feel for how irritating second hand smoke can be.  

Let's get creative about learning

I just finished the article on Edutopia regarding budget cuts and the potential it might have on learning/classroom time.  Lack of resources has become the "norm" when it comes to schools/businesses and even in families.  The article supports the need for awareness that cutting learning time is detrimental to our students.  It does seem to be the trend when we lack the money to support learning resources.  The article suggests tapping into other resources to augment what the schools offer.  For example, there are many Registered Student Organizations on campus as well as sororities and fraternities that are required to do "service learning projects".  What a great resource for both groups, it is a win- win, if you ask me.  The college students get the experience and the younger students get additional support, whether it be after school homework assistance or just having extra time after school on the playground to develop social skills.  We have to get creative!! 

Try to eat healthy

It seems pretty easy to gain weight during the holidays.  The food is good and the weather is not always conducive to exercising and the daylight is shorter.  It is easy to crawl up on the couch and "veg".  Speaking of "veg", Women's Health.Gov reminds us how important it is to choose healthy foods.  Some of the best choices are vegetables and fruits (granted it is more expensive and harder to find fresh fruits and vegetables during the winter months). They also suggest limiting high fatty/cholesterol foods.  Sorry to put such a damper on the holiday fun but I say enjoy the fun foods of the holiday, but do so in moderation and try to bundle up and get out there and enjoy the beautiful winter scenery. 

Today is World Aids Day

Yes today, December 1 is World Aids Day.  I was reminded of that because of an article from the Centers for Disease Control.  It has been about 30 years since HIV/AIDS was first diagnosed.  The CDC has been working on initiatives to bring HIV awareness efforts to the forefront again.  It is true that AIDs related deaths have declined, as people are living longer with better treatment options available; however, there is still much work to be done since there are still over 50,000 new HIV cases annually in the United States according to the CDC.  Efforts include increased testing awareness as well as increased educational efforts. 

Group work

Just read an article from Edutopia regarding students working together in groups.  It seems the teacher that the article focused on was frustrated that the students just were not comprehending this group work concept and not learning the material.  I understand her frustration, it is difficult for students to work together on group projects, to find time to coordinate schedules and there is always one person it seems that does the majority of the work.  Last week, a group of us from Health Education were asked to present to a group of Health fitness/promotion students about an innovative way to teach health topics.  We presented in a play/skit format and educated on health topics.  The class was receptive and seemed to really be engaged. At the end, we each introduced ourselves and I talked about how important it is to learn how to collaborate because this is what you do in the world of work.  With limited resources, it is so important to tap into each other to bring projects such as this to fruition. I think that in the early years, it is important for students to learn this, but of course there will always be some resistance.

Walking and Alzheimers

Nothing feels better to me than taking a nice walk especially after a stressful day, so it is no wonder that the article about exercise/walking caught my attention.  According the National Institutes of Health, just regular walking can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease.  Research also supports that even those already diagnosed with this dreadful brain disease that causes the loss of memory, show slower decline of the disease with regular exercise, especially walking.  It is because exercise increases blood flow to areas in the body and brain.  The best part about this type of exercise is that most people can do it, and it doesn't cost anything.  

Facebook and Asthma????

I found this article interesting especially in light of this week's Facebook focus.  Apparently, according to Medline Plus, a man whose girlfriend recently broke off the relationship continued to view her Facebook page under a new name.  As he continued to see her "friend" new men, this apparently triggered and exacerbated his asthmatic condition.  The article opens up new thoughts on social networking as a potential health issue trigger, hmm.