Volume 1, Issue 2
Autumn 2011
more sex =
healthy heart?? 12
h e a lth tr e n d s in Sunset Park29 c u ltu r e tr ip to mexico & central america23
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Where else can you get the same emergency training as healthcare professionals?
HELP THE HEART
...nowhere but AMPHS. Where else can you get the same emergency training as the U.S. military for a fraction of the cost? Take your next CPR and First Aid certification training from AMPHS National. We’re the same instructors who were chosen to teach the New York Guard soldiers emergency medical skills during their eir Initial Entry Training so they can save lives on the front lines and within their communities. We’re the same instructors asked to teach realty companies and prepared residential staff so they are empowered to respond to the emergencies of residents. We’re the same instructors who have taught the latest resuscitation techniques and skills to EMTs, Physician Assistants, Nurses, and Doctors Doctors. Who else can say that they’ve taught the entire spectrum of lifesaving skills courses with such a diverse array of students? Now, AMPHS is making its military-grade grade training accessible and affordable to everyone in the general public. The same courses and instructors are prepared to teach you AHA Basic Life Support (BLS),, AHA HeartSaver CPR/AED, AHA HeartSaver First Aid,, and even our proprietary Pet CPR and First Aid course for Dogs & Cats! Registration For more information and to register, please email hewett.chiu@amphsonline.org. SPECIAL OFFER FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: Enjoy a 10% discount if you register at le least one month in advance. Basic Life Support: 11/5
...nowhere but AMPHS.
“With this course I can help others.. If I can help some people when they are in great need, need that means a lot to me.”
Upcoming Pet CPR & First Aid: 10/22, 11/12 Classes:First
AMPHS National Pulse 1 Basic Life Support: 12/3 | Pet CPR & First Aid: 11/26 &12/17|First Aid: 12/10 | ECG& Pharmacology: 12/10 5306 THIRD AVENUE, SECOND FLOOR • BROOKLYN, NY 11220 • (212) 256-9036 • INFO@AMPHSONLINE.ORG IN
Contents 15
19
20
21
23
26
3
Executive Director’s Letter
4
Editor’s Note
11
Art of Medicine - Quintessence
12
More Sex = Healthy Heart??
15
Emergency Preparedness
17
Puzzle Panel – knowing The First Issue
18
Puzzle Panel – Solution to Bones of the Body
19
What?? Top Tips – Cardio-What??
20
Art of Medicine – The Writer Behind The Wall
21
The Truth About Psoriasis
23
Nutrition Panel – Culture Trip to Mexico & South America
26
Nutrition Panel – Investigation of the Blueberry
28
Kiddie Corner
29
Health Trends in Sunset Park Par Community
34
Art of Medicine – A Plate Too Full
35
What You Need To Know About Breast Cancer!
40
Puzzle Panel – Biology
41
The High School Experience
42
Art of Medicine - Exiting
43
CEO’s Corner - The Shift in Medical Education – What Does It Mean?
45
Kiddie Corner
46
Top Tips – Grilling for Healthier Cooking
48
You’re An Owner of a Pet Now What?
50
Calendar of Events & Past Events
43 AMPHS National Pulse
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from the President & Ceo October 2011
Journal of Medical Arts & Humanities EDITORS Sandy Truong, Mon Yuck Yu
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Hewett Chiu, Mon Yuck Yu, Sandy Truong, Barbara Olivier, Tina Truong, Paul Rezkalla, Liqiao Wang
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Sandy Truong, Mon Yuck Yu
CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Hewett Chiu, Mon Yuck Yu, Jennifer Zhu
AMPHS National Pulse is a publication of AMPHS National. © 2011 AMPHS National. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of AMPHS National. All opinions expressed therein are the opinion of individual AMPHS staff members and not the organization, management or Board of Directors.
5306 Third Ave 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11220 718-765-4000
Autumn is always a fun and inspiring season. Here at AMPHS, that is no exception. tion. In these past few months, we have developed and grown as much as we have learned. In this issue of Pulse,, we highlight the importance of education and raising awareness. AMPHS National has been working hard over the past months to increase access to t education resources for community members. Whether this includes take-home take information sheets, open office hours, or increasing our community health screenings, we try to ensure that our community members have somewhere to turn to for assistance. In carrying rying out these efforts, we are proud to present a new addition to AMPHS National – our brand new Community Research & Resource Center. This Center will provide community members, who often have no internet access at home – with a plethora of databases, resources, esources, journals, and articles to search diseases, conditions, and treatment options. The Center will also feature our expansive collection of FDA information sheets, which community members may bring home with them for future reference. Because of the immense potential of this Center, it will also serve as a research center for our staff members to learn more about medical conditions, epidemiological data, and community resources to better serve our community. From these efforts, we have learned just how ow much more there is to be done. From the screenings to the Community Research & Resource Center, we are just breaking the ice of passively screening community members for certain conditions to actively allowing community members to take their health into int their own hands. It is our hope that with this new Center, we can empower many more members of our community to take action, get trained, become informed of what they can do for themselves, and prepare for the unexpected. Happy reading!
Hewett Chiu President & CEO AMPHS National
Cover illustration by Sandy Truong
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from the Editor There’s a fine line between myth and fact. Now the myth I’m talking about is not rooted in culture or any anthology that will bore you to death. But it’s rooted in your fears about something. It can be about anything from high school peer pressure to cancer. In this month’s special autumn issue we’re featuring articles about the myths of cardiovascular disease and breast cancer. We’ll dispel your fears and tell you what’s true and what’s not! Keeping along the theme of fear, at the end of August, Hurricane Irene gave us a terrible fright here on the east coast. Families living near the water were asked to evacuate, including mine. I lived in Coney Island and was literally two blocks away from the ocean. We had to evacuate to my aunt’s house; however not many people in Coney Island left. The next day after Hurricane Irene passed, we returned home without much trouble. Irene didn’t cause too much destruction in Coney Island, and many residents complained of the city’s overly diligent efforts. Nonetheless, this incident exposed the importance of being prepared for emergency situations, as disaster strikes when—and where—you least expect it. Hence, in this issue, we feature an article about disaster readiness, where you will learn how to prepare an evacuation plan and emergency kit. If your family is staying in and waiting out a hurricane, it is also important to know skills like CPR and First Aid just in case first responders won’t be able to reach your house in the dire weather. Remember AMPHS is all about emergency preparedness and prevention too! Don’t let your family be a victim of unpreparedness! On a happier note, in celebration of our new Community Research & Resource Center, we’re spreading awareness about Psoriasis and Breast Cancer! For this issue we also have two new young writers from high school, writing about the difficulties of entering a new school and the importance of pet health. We also promised you health tips on the last issue, so here they are! We’re introducing the Nutritional Corner to AMPHS National Pulse to give you the inside scoop on what healthy foods can do for you. Community health is important to us and it should be to you, which is why we’ve also put together an article summarizing the statistical health trends we have discovered through our community health research. From these findings, we have made significant improvements to health screening procedures and the services offered at our facilities; we are now in the process of collecting and analyzing our second wave of patient health data using our new health screening system. I hope you enjoy this special autumn issue and look forward to our Christmas edition of Pulse! In the future we hope to be cooperating with our sister branch, AMPHS International to bring you news about global health as well.
Sandy Truong Editor
MISSION STATEMENT AMPHS is a humanitarian nonprofit organization operated solely by volunteers, dedicated to advancing the health care of underprivileged communities across the nation and around the world. We accomplish our goals by providing free and low-cost community activities that forge a firm foundation for the improvement of health and well-being.
VISION STATEMENT AMPHS strives to be a premiere interdisciplinary medical and public health service organization, building faith and transparency within our communities. From strengthening our foundation through the public trust, we work to integrate healthcare systems, education, awareness, and disease prevention such that all people can appreciate healthcare not as a privilege, but as a basic human right.
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Academy of Medical & Public Health Services AMPHS is a humanitarian nonprofit organization operated solely by volunteers, lunteers, dedicated to advancing the healthcare of underprivileged communities across the nation and around the world.
We accomplish our goals by providing free and low-cost low community activities that forge a firm foundation for the improvement of health and well-being.
Help AMPHS help the community! Support our programs! Any donations would be appreciated. We hope you join us in our mission to provide better and more accessible e healthcare for all. Find out more about us & how you can help by visiting: www.amphsonline.org/national/donate.htm Follow us: AMPHS National Pulseon:5
Academy of Medical & Public Health Services 5306 Third Avenue, Second Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11220 (212) 256-9036 | www.amphsonl nline.org | national@amphsonline.org
Contributor Bios Hewett Chiu Hewett is co-founder and co-President President of the Board of Directors at the Academy of Medical & Public Health Services Worldwide, and President & CEO of AMPHS National Operations ons & Government Affairs. Hewett strongly believes in accommodating community needs through philanthropy and is especially interested in improving healthcare systems. As such, Hewett has extensive experience in healthcare management, with concurrent experience ience as President of a federallyfederally recognized Medical Reserve Corps.
Mon Yuck Yu Mon Yuck is the Chief of Staff at AMPHS National. Mon Yuck has been involved with community organizations for many years. She has worked in leadership positions in service organizations and non-profits, profits, such as the American Red Cross and the Chinese-American American Planning Council. As such, she enjoys working with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences, especially when they all come together to fulfill a single mission, goal, and promise. Part of her duties include organizing and managing staff members, ensuring staff satisfaction and staff engagement, and overseeing a vast array of projects.
Sandy Truong Sandy is the Vice President of Corporate Development at AMPHS HS National. In the short amount of time that she has been with AMPHS, Sandy has successfully coordinated three projects: Teddy Bear Clinic, Click4Change Challenge, and AMPHS National Pulse Journal and she continues her efforts to help build a better AMPHS S every day, whether it's through marketing, fundraising, or community engagement. Sandy serves as co-editor of the AMPHS National Pulse along with Ms. Mon Yuck Yu. Sandy is also a senior in college on the pre-med pre track majoring in English and minoring in Creative Writing. During the school year, she works with America Reads to tutor first graders in math and language arts. In her spare time Sandy loves to write stories and poetry. She hopes to write a novel of her own someday.
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Jennifer Zhu Jennifer is currently a senior undergraduate student at City College majoring in biology biology. During the summer she works as a day camp counselor counselor. Jennifer started volunteering for AMPHS after fter participating in the Winter Medical Bootcamp ootcamp in January 2011. At AMPHS she held the position of Executive xecutive Administrative Assistant, where she assisted the senior staff members with their daily tasks. In her spare time she enjoys reading for leisure and making arts and crafts.
Paul Rezkalla Paul is currently a senior in college taking pre-medical pre coursework and studying history. istory. He has had extensive experience in primary care clinical settings, working at Bay Ridge Medical Services for three years. Living in the Bay Ridge community, he understands the impoverished conditions that exist there and in nearby neighborhoods and believes that bringing simple preventative care to the community is a huge step in helping people lower their risk factors. At AMPHS, Paul is responsible for organizing partnerships with local community organizations ganizations to bring together a network of resources for the people we serve. He enjoys soccer, humanities, nature, and music.
Barbara Olivier Barbara started volunteering at AMPHS during the summer of 2011. Since then, she continues to participate in many of the healthcare events that AMPHS hold and has been promoted to coordinator of youth programs. She is currently working on a winter fundraiser with high schools in Brooklyn. Her next project will be coordinating AMPHS chapters in Brooklyn high sch schools. Barbara currently attends Edward Murrow high school, in which she is conducting her own Intel Science project. She plans on majoring in French and Chemistry in college. She enjoys helping those in need whenever and wherever she can and hopes to conti continue nue to do so as a future member of Doctors without Borders. Although Barbara is a part of many projects and events, she knows it’s all in a day’s work.
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Liqiao Wang Liqiao is a M.S. student and graduate assistant in Statistics/Biostatistics at Georgia State University. She plans to start her career as a biostatistician in the field of public health, which is the reason why she joined AMPHS. She hopes to gain more experience in analyzing survey results and data in the public health field through the Survey ey Analyst position at AMPHS.
Tina Truong Tina holds the position of Executive Assistant at AMPHS National. She currently attends Brooklyn Theatre Arts High School in Canarsie. She enjoys working at AMPHS simply because of the good feeling of accom accomplishment that overwhelms her after a tiring day of work work, since she knows that she has put a step forward in helping those in need of medical services.
FALL FACEBOOK CONTEST “Like” AMPHS National on Facebook an and d subscribe to our updates between October 15, 2011 and December 15, 2011 to be entered to WIN A FREE CPR TRAINING COURSE!!!
YOU CAN WIN ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS!! Learn how to save a life without spending $100! Participate in a free CPR class of your choice and get the knowledge you need for certification! Drawings are held one every two weeks for all eligible participants, so “Like” us on Facebook now at facebook.com/AMPHS.National! The more you participate on our page, the more chances you get to win. So comment on our posts, start a discussion on the latest healthcare issues, or share links and media on nutritious recipes or photo diaries of working in healthcare!
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AMPHS National’s Public Programs Corporate Statistics:
Pet CPR & First Aid Classes
Total Free Health Screenings Completed: 211
Your pets are there for you. Will you be there for them? This class provides instructions for learning rescue resc breathing, canine and feline CPR, choking management, as well as how to care for bleeding and shock.
Total Partnerships Formed: 7 Total Students Taught: 98 Total Community Members Served: 500
Teddy Bear Clinic Our Teddy Bear Clinics provide a positive learning environment to help children better understand the physician’s role.
Health Screenings Every third Saturday of the month, AMPHS conducts free health screenings for the community. We obtain BMIs, take blood pressure and pulse rate. We hope to provide health care access to underprivileged communities.
Medical Bootcamps Our medical bootcamp p sessions comprise of workshops intended to offer students a taste of the medical school curriculum. Topics covered include medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and medical ethics. Students will also be given the opportunity to participate in the patientsimulation laboratory.
CPR &First Aid Classes Prepare for the unexpected. Help your friends and loved ones. We offer American Heart Association certifications.
Academy of Medical & Public Health Services 5306 Third Avenue, Second Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11220 (212) 256-9036 | www.amphsonline.org | national@amphsonline.org Follow us on:
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The Art of Medicine
Quintessence Between me and the world You are a vine that binds me to tthe ground, Twisting around my arms and legs, Bringing balance back into my life, Allowing the seeds that I’ve sown to grow.
B e a u ty
Between me and the world You are the rain that washes away my impurities. Slowly coating my face and body, Restoring my passion for life And nourishing my desires for the future.
TTrranquility
Between me and the world You are the flame upon my candle, Releasing the most intoxicating scent, An aroma that begins to envelop me within Your smoking gaze. Between me and the world You are the breeze tthat greets me each morning, Intertwining with my fingers and hair Bringing me affection from a distance, And curing my loneliness. Between me and the world You were the flower that bloomed in the shadows, The honeysuckle that caressed my cheek When no o other flora dared to be touched And brought me a breath of hope in the dark.
F re e d o m
Pass11ion
AMPHS National Pulse
More Sex = Healthy Heart?? By; Hewett Chiu
here is so much information nowadays about diseases, medications, and therapies all over the web, television, radio, literature, and everywhere else. How do we know what is true and what isn’t? That’s why we are on a quest to dispel some of the greatest myths facing medicine today.
T
We will start our journey by tackling what is currently the greatest health disparity on earth. Claiming more than 600,000 lives annually in the United States, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States and around the world. More than 25 million Americans are diagnosed with some form of heart disease, and about 45% of residents in nursing homes in the US have it. It accounts for about 17 million visits to the doctor or hospital every year, and these numbers continue to grow1. Cardiovascular diseases are not just a specific condition like cancer or diabetes, but it is a collection of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. This may include blockages in arteries, problems with heart valves, electrical abnormalities in the heart, infection of the heart, peripheral artery disease in the extremities, or even congenital heart defects which are present since birth. Most conditions present with similar pathophysiology, and we are quite lucky today to have advanced methods in diagnosing and treating such conditions. Despite the range of signs and symptoms that may occur for the various types of conditions, there is a unified set of
treatment disease.
options
for
cardiovascular
Throughout this series, we will first start with tackling some of the greatest misconceptions of cardiovascular disease, including those surrounding sex, foods and diet, and alcohol. We will then discuss some common diagnostic techniques used to confirm the possibility of CVDs in individuals, and end the series with an overview of treatment options available, and even some ways of taking care of yourself when visiting a healthcare provider is not an option. In this first installment, we discuss how sex influences cardiovascular health. It may seem somewhat intuitive that for those of us who don’t have too healthy a heart, we should stay away from having too much sex. After all, sex is considered strenuous activity. We wouldn’t want to be caught in a situation where we sacrifice our health and possibly suffer a heart attack from overexertion in physical activity that our bodies can’t handle. However, because sex requires so much of your body, it is a great indicator of your cardiovascular health. Sexual activity, including foreplay, is essentially a cardiovascular workout. During arousal, your heart rate increases, blood flow is increased to the reproductive organs, blood pressure is increased, and respirations become deeper and faster. This causes greater oxygenation and perfusion of body tissues to replenish the AMPHS National Pulse
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increased usage of oxygen from the induced physical stress on the body. These effects are essentially the same physiological responses the body produces when it exercises or engages in strenuous activity. Because sexual arousal is dependent on the body’s ability to produce these responses, the ability for a person to be sexually aroused and carry on with sexual activity is indicative of the body’s ability to sustain continuous physical activity. Thus, when a person exhibits continuous libido, it indicates his or her ability and desire to carry on with physical activity and moreover, a working and healthy heart to support such activity. In fact, in a recent study in the American Journal of Cardiology, researchers find that men who reported sexual activity of once a month or less have a 45% increased risk of cardiovascular diseases than those who reported sexual activity at least 2-3 times a week. This study involved 1,165 men with an average age of about 50 who were deemed healthy without cardiovascular disease at the beginning of the study2. They were then followed for an average of 16 years to evaluate their cardiovascular health. Results showed that having the capacity for physical activity serves as an indicator for overall health of an individual. Sexual good sexual better
activity isn’t just an indicator of health, however. Engaging in activity can also lead to good or health. The physical activity
placed on the body is comparable to inducing stress (the good kind) from exercise. The body’s lung capacity increases, allowing greater oxygen intake. Muscles can work out and increased blood flow leads to better perfusion of tissues. In many ways, regular sexual activity is very much like a regular exercise routine a few times each week. In addition to physical benefits, psychological benefits exist as well. Those who engage in sexual activity with a longterm partner would develop an intimate relationship. Having regular sex would foster a supportive and enriching relationship which greatly improves mental health. Sex itself is a great stressreducer, as neurotransmitters including endorphins are released during sex and especially during orgasm. These neurotransmitters make the body feel happy, pleasured, and relaxed. Besides just the short-term relief, however, an intimate relationship can be a long-term stress-reducer. Being nurtured and cared for brings us moral and social support from our loved ones, which greatly decreases our stress levels and thus, increases our overall health and wellbeing. Being both a benefit of great health and a benefit leading to great health, sex is truly one of nature’s greatest blessings. Embrace it for all that it is, and your body will thank you.
_________________________________ 1http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/heart.htm 2http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20100121/more-sex-could-mean-less-heart-risk
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Winners for the Reynolds Social Entrepreneur Entrepreneurss Competition and…
Partnering with
for pet therapy!
Image Source: The Arizona Republic
P ET T HERAPY F OR T ERMINALLY I LL P ATIENTS S UPPORTED B Y P ET CPR C LASSES ! We are the sole organization in New York City offering regular Pet First Aid and CPR classes while providing our pet parents with the opportunity for recreational, motivational, and educational benefits that will enhance the quality of life for countless terminally ill patients through involvement in pet therapy.
When a knowledgeable, caring, and open minded healer treats a courageous and receptive
SUPPORT OUR VENTURE BYY EITHER VOLUNTEERING OR TAKING NG CLASSES!
patient, animals may just be the final ingredient to bringing peace to someone’s life.
Academy cademy of Medical & Public Health Services 5306 Third Avenue, Second Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11220 (212) 256-9036 | www.amphsonline.org | national@amphsonline.org AMPHS National Pulse Follow us on:
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Emergency Preparedness By; Barbara Olivier
iving on the northern east coast, you would think that you never really have to worry about emergency preparedness. Sure you see school posters on h how to pack emergency kits and create emergency plans. Like most New Yorkers, you probably think “What is the chance of an emergency happening in New York? Or New Jersey? And Philadelphia?” So you go about your merry way, until the summer of 2011. Talk abou about a summer! An earthquake and a hurricane in one season.
L
You’ve seen people around wearing the “I Survived the East Coast 2011 Earthquake” tt-shirt. But think how joyless this situation would have been if the tremor was more than just a tremor. What wou would ld you have done? Can you honestly say that if that earthquake had the same ferocity of earthquakes that happen in places beyond the Pacific Ocean (i.e. China), you would have been prepared? No worries? So let’s stop talking around the bush and tackle the subject of emergency preparedness. It may seem a bit daunting but that is why I’m here here—to to help you make sense of it all. There are a series of simple steps that you can follow to ensure that your family is well-prepared well for disasters as it strikes. 1. Make a Plan. • • • •
• • • • • •
Make sure everyone knows where to find your disaster supply kit/emergency /emergency kits. Have a flashlight and a pair of shoes under each family member’s bed in case there is an earthquake during the night. Use a plastic bag tied to the leg of the bed to keep these items from moving during an earthquake. Plan where to meet after a disaster if your home becomes unsafe. Choose two places, one just outside your home and one outside your neighborhood in case you are told to evacuate evacuate. Be sure your car’s gas tank is always at least half full. Determine the best escape routes from your home. Try to identify two escape routes. Make sure each member knows who your fa family’s out-of-state state contact is and instruct them to call this person and tell him/her where they are. Locate the gas main and other utilities and make sure family members know when and how to turn them off. Practice your evacuation routes, Drop, Cover & Hold and Stop, Drop & Roll drills. Teach each member of your family how to use a fire extinguisher.
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• •
Create emergency response cards for each of your family members. Take into account the special needs of children, seniors or people with disabilities, family members that don’t speak English, and pets.
2. Assemble Emergency Kits Must-have items include: • water – it is essential to have at least one gallon per person per day; • food – food should be ready-to-eat and require minimal water and cooking supplies; • first aid kit with instructions; • a copy of important documents & phone numbers; • warm clothes and rain gear for each family member; • heavy work gloves; • a disposable camera to document property damages; • unscented liquid household bleach and an eyedropper for water purification; • personal hygiene items including toilet paper, feminine supplies, hand sanitizer and soap; • plastic sheeting; • duct tape and utility knife for covering broken windows; • tools such as a crowbar, hammer & nails, staple gun, adjustable wrench and bungee cords; • blanket or sleeping bag; • large heavy duty plastic bags and a plastic bucket for waste and sanitation, and • any special-needs items for children, seniors or people with disabilities. Don’t forget water and supplies for your pets! 3. Designate an out-of-area contact person. Provide this person with the names and contact information of the people who you would like to be informed of your situation. Instruct family members to call this person and tell them where they are. 4. Duplicate important documents and keep copies off-site. Documents may include: passports, drivers licenses, social security cards, wills, deeds, financial statements, insurance information, marriage licenses and prescriptions. 5. Finally…Get trained! Contact a local emergency preparedness training site to schedule a class for you or your family. Learn basic CPR and First Aid skills, so that you can gain the knowledge to react under any situation. AMPHS offers training in layperson and professional rescuer CPR and First Aid. Visit our website to learn more: http://www.amphsonline.org/national/training.htm. It may seem like a lot to do, but just how valuable is your life? How about the lives of your family? I think this extra work is worth it, don’t you? So prepare, prepare, prepare. For more details on how to prepare for specific disasters, i.e. floods, earthquakes, please check out www.72hours.org.
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Puzzle Panel
Knowing The First Issue!
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Puzzle Panel
Answers to Last Issue’s Puzzle:
Bones of The Body
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Top Tips
Cardio-what?! By; Paul Rezkalla
Y
ou walk into the world's largest eating dynasty and your palms perspire in eager anticipation of what is about to come. The nice lady behind the register asks you for your meal selection and you order the infamous sandwich that rhymes with “Big Wack”, not knowing what it could do for your cardiovascular system. That's right. I said it. C-A-R-D-I-O-V-A-S-C-U-L-A-R S-Y-S-T-E-M. That set of tubes and pumps that supplies your body with everything that it needs to survive via the fluid that has become so popular after films like “Brave Heart” and “Apocalypto” became popular (thank-you, Mel Gibson). Blood. Blood carries oxygen, nutrients, white blood cells, and all that other good stuff you need to live; it moves through arteries, capillaries, and other blood vessels to bring these lifesustaining essentials to your muscles and organs. Guess what happens when one of these vessels gets blocked. If a vessel is clogged, then blood supply is cut off, resulting in muscle and tissue death. What causes these blockages? Sometimes this is due to buildup of a fats and lipids that form an atheroma and bring about diseases like atherosclerosis. The more fatty foods you eat, the more you put yourself at risk for cardiovascular diseases and strokes. So next time, think twice before you decide to consume a 2,000 calorie grease-ball in one sitting. AMPHS National Pulse
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The Art of Medicine
The Writer Behind The Wall In a new place and different time Yet this disease refuses to leave me, Still haunting my every thought, And blocking every word I try to write. No longer sitting on my bed in the dreary beach bedroom, Where the books are scattered and papers ignored. This time in a café, hidden behind the coffee counter Still I cannot weave the words upon the paper. Gazing at a wall that is not mine, Filled led with pictures I can barely comprehend, Hoping to find a detail that interests me me— A black and white Eiffel Tower, backed in red? It barely intrigues me. Parchment still flat and ink pot full; My muse has left me and won’t return. My head has turned iinto an empty abyss, Every idea that passes, drops down into that well. Forever lost, and rarely recalled. I had the doughnut of silence for a snack, Now a tart of chaos for breakfast, With a cup of music and noise. But not all the sweets in the world ccan Spark the flame that I once lost.
Stationary Mon Yuck Yu Pencil on Paper
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The Truth About Psoriasis By; Barbara Olivier
What is Psoriasis? soriasis is a chronic (long-lasting) condition of the skin characterized by reddish, scaly patches of inflammation, most commonly affecting the elbows, knees, scalp, and/or groin. Psoriasis is the result of rapid production of skin cells that is triggered by abnormal lymphocytes (white blood cells) from the blood. Although this disorder is non-contagious, there are combinations of factors that are believed to cause Psoriasis, including genetic predisposition and environmental factors. It is common for psoriasis to be found in members of the same family, and the immune system is thought to play a major role. Despite the vast amounts of research, the exact factor that causes psoriasis is still a mystery.
P
What does Psoriasis look like? Conditions can be mild or severe. When it is severe, and the patient’s entire body is fully covered with thick, red, scaly skin, and it can adversely affect functions of daily living including work and social activities. However, some people have such mild psoriasis (small, faint dry skin patches) that they may not even suspect that they have a medical skin condition. Psoriasis has many different appearances. It can range from small flattened bumps, large thick plaques of raised skin, red patches, and pink mildly dry skin to big flakes of dry skin that flake off. There are several different types of psoriasis, including psoriasis vulgaris (the most common type), guttate psoriasis (small, drop-like spots), inverse psoriasis (in the folds like of the underarms, navel, and buttocks), and pustular psoriasis (pus-filled, yellowish, small blisters). When the palms and the soles are involved, this is known as palmoplantar psoriasis.
How can Psoriasis be diagnosed and treated? Your doctor will look at your skin. Diagnosis is usually based on what the skin looks like. Sometimes, a skin biopsy is done to rule out other possible conditions. If you have joint pain, your doctor may order x-rays. The goal of treatment is to control your symptoms
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and prevent infections. In general, three treatment options are used for patients with psoriasis: • • •
Topical medications such as lotions, ointments, creams, and shampoos Body-wide (systemic) medications, which are pills or injections that affect the whole body, not just the skin. Phototherapy, which uses light to treat psoriasis
If you have an infection, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics. You may try the following self-care at home: Oatmeal baths may be soothing and may help to loosen scales. You can use over-the-counter oatmeal bath products. Or, you can mix 1 cup of oatmeal into a tub of warm water. • Sunlight may help your symptoms go away but be careful not to get sunburned. Some people may choose to have phototherapy. •
• • •
Phototherapy is a medical treatment in which your skin is carefully exposed to ultraviolet light. Phototherapy may be given alone or after you take a drug that makes the skin sensitive to light. Phototherapy for psoriasis can be given as ultraviolet A (UVA) or ultraviolet B (UVB) light.
Persons with very severe psoriasis may receive medicines to suppress the body's immune response. These medicines include methotrexate or cyclosporine. (Persons who have psoriatic arthritis may also receive these drugs.) Retinoids such as acitretin can also be used. For more information, feel free to check out these helpful sites on Psoriasis: PubMed Health. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/ MedicineNet. http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/hp.asp
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Nutrition Panel
Culture Trip to Mexico & Central America By: Mon Yuck yu
W
ith the largest influx of AMPHS health screening participants being of Mexican and Central American origin, it is important to understand the food patterns that regulate the daily lifestyles of the population that we directly impact. The foods that are common to people in these countries include a blend of native plants and animals commonly eaten by the Mesoamerican Indians who lived there (e.g. the Toltecs and Aztecs), such as corn, beans, chilies, and tomatoes, mingled with pork, wheat, rice, onions, garlic, spices, and other European ingredients brought by Spanish conquistadors in the early 16th century.
Tortillas, Burritos, Quesadillas? What's the difference? Tortilla - dough of masa harina (cornmeal flour), water, and nixtamal (lime-soaked corn), pressed into thin disks and baked Burrito - wheat flour tortilla wrapped around bean or meat filling, along with other ingredients, and topped with salsa Taco - crisply fried or soft corn tortilla folded in half over a filling of beans, slivered meats, chopped tomatoes and lettuce, grated cheese, sour cream, and other ingredients Enchilada - corn tortillas rolled around a filling and covered with sauce and grated cheese before baking Quesadilla - flour tortilla folded over layer of grated cheese alone or with another half layer of other ingredients before being heated Tostada - crisp fried corn tortilla topped with refried beans, shredded meat, chopped vegetables, grated cheese, guacamole, and salsa; also made in the shape of the bowl filled with same ingredients Flauta - tightly rolled pencil-shaped corn tortillas with small amount of filling AMPHS National Pulse
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Chalupa - fried tortillas topped with refried beansss, slivered meat, grated cheese, onions, and tomatoes; similar to a tostada Chilaquile - shredded tortillas fried with chili sauce Gordita - thick, small tortilla fried and slit to form a pocket that is then stuffed with meats or seafood, lettuce, and cheese, and topped with salsa and other vegetables
Traditional Dietary Habits In Mexico and Central America, meal patterns are often influenced by socioeconomic factors and urban/rural geographic locations. These patterns are still represented in the demographic surveys taken among health screening participants in the Hispanic Sunset Park community. Here are some general meal patterns for the Central American explorer: Desayuno (breakfast) - ranges from a coffee with bread, pastry, or tamale to beans and tortillas Almuerzo (brunch) - tortilla-based dish and beverage La comida (lunch) - the main meal served in the midafternoon; begins with soup, continues with beans, rice, and tortillas or hearty main dish, dessert (flan or fruit) and a beverage Merienda (late afternoon refreshment) - sweet pastry or roll and a beverage (coffee or hot chocolate) Cena (supper) - comida leftovers; light snacks In Sunset Park, Mexican food staples may be replaced by American cereals or pastries, but the concept of having one large meal daily and several small meals in between remains the same. Rice is often served with most meals besides breakfast, made boiled and served plain, or steamed, but it does not have the properties to be made into tortillas. So the next time you visit Mexico, don't be alarmed by the unfamiliar food portioning by the fact that there is actually no rice in your burrito. Or, you can also visit local neighborhoods within our very own New York City, like Sunset Park, Brooklyn, to check out some places with genuine Central American food with a touch of Americanism!
Change in Traditional Dietary Habits Unfortunately, due to the limited variety of foods in Mexico and Central America, the Central American diet has expanded to include more processed foods, which are linked to the increasing prevalence of obesity, diet-related chronic diseases such as diabetes, undernutrition, and malnutrition a among children. This creates major problems for local communities, even within New York City, and has become a major problem for maintaining the balance between improving access to food variety and maintaining dietary quality. Meat and animal product consumption, although traditionally common in meals, have become limited due to cost, and therefore affect proper protein intake.
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Familyy CPR & First Aid For Humans & Pets
Care to save a loved one today? What will you do when you spouse, child, or pet gets into an emergency? Here at AMPHS we will equip you with the necessary skills to respond to com compromised promised breathing, cardiac arrest, choking, bleeding, shock, and others, taught by American Heart Association and AMPHS certified instructors. To enroll, please email us at info@amphsonline.org or call us at (212) 255 - 9035. Limit 5 family members Limit 5 family members Flat Rate Prices: Flat Rate Prices: Without Certi Certifications Without Certifications With Certifications With Certifications Each Additional Member Each Additional Member
$220 $220 $350 $350 $50 $50
Academy of Medical & Public Health Services 5306 Third Avenue, Second Floor, Brooklyn, NY 1 11220 (212) 256-9036 9036 | www.amphsonline.org | national@amphsonline.org AMPHS National Pulse
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Nutrition Panel
Investigation of the Blueberry lueberry By: Sandy Truong
Native Roots Blueberries were known to the Native Americans as “star berries” because the blossom end of each berry berry—the 1 calyx—forms the shape of a perfect five-pointed pointed star.
The Heath Family Blueberries are the fruits of a shrub that belong to the heath (Ericaceae) family whose other members include the cranberry and bilberry as well as the azalea, mountain laurel, and rhododendron. All blueberries belong not only to the Ericaceae family of plants but also to the Vaccinium genus. Within this Vaccinium genus, however, are three very interesting groups of blueberries: Highbush, lowbush, 1 and rabbiteye blueberries.
War of the Berries Blueberries ies rank second as the most commonly consumed berry in the U.S. (second only to the strawberry). Blueberries are not only popular, but also repeatedly ranked in the U.S. diet as having one of the highest antioxidant capacities among all fruits, 2 vegetables, spices and seasonings.
Battle Field In just one serving of blueberries, you can get 14 mg of Vitamin C – almost 25 percent of your daily requirement. Vitamin C aids the formation of collagen and helps maintain healthy gums and capillaries. It also promotes iron absorption and a healthy 1 immune system.
Coat of Armor Look for fresh berries that are firm, plump, smoothsmooth skinned, with a silver-gray gray surface bloom. Buy deep purple-blue to blue-black black berries. Avoid soft, shriveled, over-handled, orr bruised berries and those with signs of 1 mold and of old stock.
Mainely Delicious The state of Maine is actually the largest lowbush blueberry producer in the world.
Hearty Advantages In both men and women, and in study participants of many different ages, routine blueberry lueberry intake has been shown to support healthy blood pressure. In individuals with high blood pressure, blueberry intake has significantly reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressures. In individuals with healthy blood pressure, blueberry intake 2 has been shown to help maintain these vital signs.
Earth vs. Fire Blueberries are better eaten fresh and washed in cold water. They retain their maximum amount of nutrients and their maximum taste when they are enjoyed fresh and not prepared in a cooked recipe. That is because their nutrients—including including vitamins, vita antioxidants, and enzymes—undergo undergo damage when exposed to temperatures (350°F/175°C and higher) used in baking.
___________________ http://cancerbattlefield.com/functional-food/blueberry/ food/blueberry/ 2 http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?dbid=8&tname=foodspice age.php?dbid=8&tname=foodspice 3 http://www.blueberrycouncil.org/health--benefits-of-blueberries/blueberry-nutrition/ 4 http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/blueberries.html you.com/blueberries.html 1
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Tingle your taste buds with this delicious recipe taken from Martha Stewart’s Online Recipes!1
Blueberry Crumb Cake Ingredients
Prep Time
Total Time
Yield
For The Streusel Topping
20 minutes
1 hour 10 minutes
Serves 9
1 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter For The Cake
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, plus more for pan 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for pan 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon allspice 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1 large egg 2/3 cup low-fat buttermilk, well shaken 1 1/2 cups blueberries Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make streusel topping: In a medium bowl, stir together flour, brown sugar, and salt. Cut in the butter using your hands or a pastry blender until large, moist crumbs form. Chill. 1. Butter and flour a 9-inch square baking pan. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and allspice. In a large bowl, beat the butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add egg; beat well. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately until just combined. (Batter will be very stiff.) In a large bowl, toss the blueberries with remaining teaspoon flour. Fold blueberries into the batter; spoon into prepared pan. 2. Sprinkle cake with streusel topping. Bake until golden brown and a tester comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar before cutting into squares. ___________________ http://www.marthastewart.com/355517/blueberry-crumb-cake
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Kiddie Corner
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Health Trends in Sunset Park Community By; Liqiao Wang
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Introduction The 2003 Sunset Park Community Health Profile from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene shows that the number of residents of Sunset Park in 2000 was 120,441, 50.5% who were male and 49.5% who were female. The median age of the population was 30.8; 17.8% of residents were children, 73.2% were adults (18 years and over), and 9% were senior citizens (65 or over). Sunset Park residents are at risk for a number of diseases, including pneumonia, influenza, and HIV/ AIDS. Compared to New York City as a whole, where 27% are Hispanics, 10% are Asians, and 25% are African-Americans, Sunset Park consists predominantly of Hispanics and Asians (50% Hispanics, 25% Asians, and 3% African-Americans). Nearly 1 in 2 residents of Sunset Park are born outside the United States, with the top three countries of origin being China, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. This report also shows how the health of residents of Sunset Park compares to that of 41other neighborhoods in New York City. In general, people living in Sunset Park have a moderate burden of illness and mortality. In 2001, the number of people newly diagnosed with HIV in Sunset Park was 37, and the number of people living with HIV/AIDS was 543. Smoking, which causes heart disease, stroke, emphysema, lung cancer, and many other illnesses, is a relatively large risk factor for residents in Sunset Park, where nearly 1 in 6 adults are identified to be past or current smokers (Karpati, Mostashari, Thorpe & Frieden, 2003). The report also shows a great risk for alcohol-related incidents among the population in that neighborhood, where thousands of adults binge drink at least once a month. Heavy drinking is responsible for many preventable illnesses, injuries, and deaths, including those caused by motor-vehicle crashes and other accidents, liver disease and cancer (which may remain unidentified unless follow-up studies are conducted). According to updated statistics from the 2009 NYC Community Health Survey ATLAS (NYC DOHMH, 2009), health conditions have improved only moderately since 2001. 30.3% to 36.1% of residents suffer from obesity. An average of 17.6% to 24.5% residents do not consume fruits and vegetables on a frequent basis, and only 8.3% to 12.4% are frequent smokers; here we can see smoking status has AMPHS National Pulse
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improved since 2001. However, almost a third of the population (up to 19.7 to 29.6%) people are uninsured. One measure that has not been examined in these local statistics is BMI level. The body mass index (BMI) is a heuristic proxy for human body fat based on an individual's weight and height. BMI is defined as the individual's body weight divided by the square of his or her height. BMI has been used by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the standard for recording obesity statistics since the early 1980s. Generally, BMI is separated into five main groups: underweight, normal, overweight, obese and extremely obese (WHO). BMI (kg/Ý‰ŕŹś ) for the underweight group ranges between 0 and 18; the normal group, between 19 and 24; the overweight group, between 25 and 29; the obese group, between 30 and 39; and the extremely obese group, above 40. Since 2009, there has been no research to date that assesses the health conditions of Sunset Park residents. Through our survey data, we would like to examine the obesity problem in the New York City’s Brooklyn Sunset Park community, and assess the relationship between BMI and genetic and environmental factors, such as gender, age, exercise, and smoking status. We hope that this research will reveal prominent community health trends for the development of targeted health workshops that will help improve the general health of Sunset Park residents. 2
Research Objectives The purpose of this research is to reduce and eliminate growing health disparities by improving the health in communities with the greatest need. The objectives of the study are as follows: (1) Recognize the most recurrent medical conditions (e.g. high blood pressure) and analyze the most recurrent and prominent risk factors in the Sunset Park community. (2) Correlate recurrent medical conditions and risk factors with the dietary patterns of community members. (3) Use this information to develop community workshops that would help residents become more aware of their behaviors, involving diet, exercise habits, and alcohol intake. (4) Report findings regarding relationship between vitals and BMI statistics with genetic (e.g. age, past medical history) and environmental factors (e.g. alcohol consumption, smoking status) to community members.
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3
Research Background & Methodology (1) Data Collection All of the original EMR (Electronic Medical Record) data is gathered from health screenings held at AMPHS’s Sunset Park office between November 2010 and June 2011. 3.95% of the participants are between 10 and 20 years of age, 23.68% are between 20 and 30 and between 30 and 40 years, 21.05% are between 40 and 50, and 27.63% are above 50. Screening participants include 32 females and 45 males. The majority of participants received fliers and information regarding the screening during nonprofit outreach activities. At the beginning of each participant’s screening, trained AMPHS volunteers asked participants a series questions from a questionnaire to gather information about their demographic backgrounds, diet behavior, smoking and alcohol consumption behaviors, past medical history, and family medical history. The participants were thereafter invited for a free screening that examined BMI (body mass index), visual acuity, blood pressure, heart rate and respiration rate. After examining these risk factors, AMPHS Clinical Screeners gave participants recommendations to enhance their lifestyles through healthy behavior, sometimes providing them with relevant health literature. The main 17 EMR risk factors included in this analysis are: age, gender, smoking status (current smoking status and smoking history), alcohol status, illicit drug abuse, exercise habits, nutritional intake (includes analysis of fish, processed meat, red meat, pork, chicken, whole grain, sweet, and soft drink intake), BMI (body mass index) values and systolic blood pressure values. (2) Data Cleaning Researchers selected the relevant data associated with the 17 EMR risk factors, eliminating other irrelevant statistical information such as SpO2 levels. In this analysis, Excel VBA was used to organize the entire data set for data selection. The data was organized under the same standard criteria to facilitate statistical analysis. Because the questionnaire consisted of a number of open-ended questions, significant time was used to code the responses and adjust them to fit the same standard. In order to organize the data, the researchers categorized them into suitable groups according to criteria. For example, in the survey question, “Do you currently smoke? If yes, how long have you been smoking for?” the answers were separated into three groups: “yes,” “no” and “unable to obtain”. In the question, “How many times do you AMPHS National Pulse
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eat the fish during the week?� responses were separated into four groups: 0, 1-3, 4-6 and 7+. Statistical analysis involving linear and multiple regression was performed using SAS. 4
Results An analysis of the dependent variable BMI shows that 3.39% of screening participants are extremely obese, 25.42% are obese, 38.98% are overweight, and only 32.20% are normal, indicating a significant obesity problem in the Sunset Park community. Of the 79 screening participants, 10.13% suffer from high blood pressure stage one and 1.27% from high blood pressure stage two, while 58.23% are normal and 30.38% are pre-hypertensive (See Figure 1). A simple linear regression was performed to test the relationship between BMI and each of the 15 remaining causal factors. Results show that BMI is statistically significant to systolic blood pressure (p<0.01). Diet plays an imperative role in this relationship; the regular consumption of pork (p=0.04), red meat (p=0.03), chicken (p=0.04), vegetables (p=0.04), and whole grains (p=0.05) are significantly related to BMI, while the consumption of processed meat (p=0.08) and sugary sweets (p=0.09) are not significant to BMI. Females also tend to have greater BMIs than males. A multiple linear regression was performed to analyze the factors collectively and to identify the most significant factor in the relationship with BMI. The most significant factors are sweets consumption (p=0.5), chicken consumption (p=0.5), smoking behavior (p=0.6) and alcohol consumption (p=0.7). Current smokers have greater BMIs than non-smokers. Since our data set is still very small (79 participants), and there more categories in this analysis, a p-value of 0.7 was used as a standard for significance.
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Conclusion The results of this study suggest that diet is still the most important factor for manipulating BMI levels, and that smoking and alcohol continue to be important factors affecting BMI. Controlling diet, alcohol intake, and smoking behaviors may be effective ways to decrease BMI. Since the population is small, the significance level results are not very accurate (p-value is a little high). Moreover, third variables such as researcher expectancy bias and language barriers might have influenced the reliability of participant responses. The accuracy of blood pressure measurements may have been affected by whether or not the participant was in a resting state and whether or not they had take medications for hypertension on that day. AMPHS National Pulse
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Our research results on dietary habits in the Sunset Park population are also consistent with the Hispanic-American dietary pattern. The contemporary diet of Hispanics in the United States is heavily influenced by the traditional dietary patterns of their countries of origin, as well as by the dietary practices of the adopted communities in which they live. As such, there are many regional differences between Hispanic subgroups, both in terms of the composition of the diet and the means of food preparation. Despite the heterogeneous ancestral backgrounds of Hispanic Americans, many Hispanics still retain core elements of the traditional Hispanic diet, including a reliance on grains and beans and the incorporation of fresh fruits and vegetables in the diet. According to survey results, this regular consumption of pork, red meat, chicken, vegetables, and whole grains are significantly related to BMI. In the future, we will shift to a new EMR system and recreate the survey to ask more detailed and focused demographic questions, such as ethnicity, race, residential neighborhood, language(s) spoken, allergies and stress of job. We also want to adjust the nature of surveyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diet questions to specify how food is prepared, how many meal the participant consumers per day, and whether or not they eat the meals at the same time every day. To enhance the accuracy of the BMI measure to account for muscle mass in athletic participants, AMPHS will also incorporate a measure of waist circumference during the screenings. We sincerely hope this research analysis will help Sunset Park residents become more aware of existing health problems, promote healthy behaviors and reduce the potential risks in the future.
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Reference BMI Classification, World Health Organization.(n.d.) Retrieved July 29, 2011from: http://www.who.int/bmi/index.jsp?introPage=intro_3.html Body Mass Index. (n.d.) Retrieved July 29, 2011 from Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_mass_index Body Mass Index Table from the NIH's NHLBI. (n.d.) Retrieved July 29, 2011from: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/bmi_tbl.htm Diet of Hispanic and Latinos. (n.d.) Retrieved Aug. 5, 2011 from faqs.org http://www.faqs.org/nutrition/Hea-Irr/Hispanics-and-Latinos-Diet-of.html Karpati A.L.X., Mostashari F., Thorpe, L., & Frieden T.R. (2003). The Health of Sunset Park. NYC Community Health Profiles, 1(12), 1â&#x20AC;&#x201C;12. New York City Department of Health Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology. (2002). New York City Neighborhood Health Profiles: Brooklyn, 2000. [data from ].
Retrieved from http://home2.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/data/2000nhpbrooklyn.pdf
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A Plate Too Full Today oday the moon rose in place of the sun Illuminating the world with fluorescent lights Blinding me from the mess I’ve created, Yet it couldn’t wake me up from a sleepless night. Dionysus invited me over to dinner And a banquet it was, ribbons of wine float floating in the air, Dishes walking around serving themselves, And bread seducing chocolate chocolate-covered strawberries to bed. I tried to shake off the spell that made me hallucinate, But before I could even try Shakespeare’s Caesar Salad hopped on my plate Putting the literary theory sauce on it, The fried fiction swam on my plate Along with a cup of vanilla poetic pudding. Round and round it goes, where it ends only I will know In like cardboard and out like stool, Too much way to fast Trouble, trouble, boil and b bubble The magic has been lifted and the spell is gone Back to facing reality, back to a place I don’t belong.
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MYTHS & MISCONCEPTIONS
BY: SANDY TRUONG
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNO KNOW ABOUT BREAST CANCER! In recent news there has b been an uncertainty about whether annual mammograms are effective in identifying dangerous late-stage stage cancers. In comparison to biannual screenings there is little to no evidence that that one is more beneficiary than the other. In actuality, 61% of women w who have annual screenings are called in at least once for a follow-up up test that reveals they don’t have breast cancer--that that is about 20% more than women who get biannual screenings. As the debate continues on the usefulness of mammograms in detecting breast st cancer, here are some facts you should know about it.
TYPES OF BREAST CANCER There are two main types of breast cancers: •
•
Ductal carcinoma starts in the tubes (ducts) that transport milk from the breast to the nipple. Lobular carcinoma starts in the parts of the breast the produce milk, the lobules.
Most breast cancerss are of the ductal types but in rare cases, breast cancer can start in other parts of the breast. Breast cancer can be invasive (spreading to other part of the breast) or noninvasive; noninvasive cancer is often referred to as “in situ”.
Myth: Only women with a family history of breast cancer are at risk. Reality: Roughly 70% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no identifiable risk factors for the disease. But the family-history history risks are these: If a first-degree ree relative (a parent, sibling, or child) has had or has breast cancer, your risk of developing the disease approximately doubles. Having two firstfirst degree relatives with the disease increases your risk even more.
WHAT KIND OF RISK FACTORS CTORS ARE II THERE? Like any other illness, there are risk factors for breast cancer, including modifiable risk factors and non-modifiable modifiable risk factors. Nonmodifiables RFs : •
•
Age and gender – As you get older, the risk of developing breast cancer becomes higher. The majority of advanced breast cancer cases are found in women over the age of 50. Women are also 100 times more likely to get breast cancer than men, but that does not eradicate the possibility for men to develop breast cancer. Family history of breast cancer – There is a higher risk for breast cancer if you have a close relative who has had breast, uterine, ovarian, or colon cancer. About 20 to 30% of women with breast cancer have a family history of the disease. AMPHS National Pulse
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MYTHS & MISCONCEPTION •
•
Genes – There is also a high risk for breast cancer if you have a gene defect. The most common ones are found in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes; these genes normally produce proteins that protect you from cancer. However, if a parent passes you a defective gene, you have an increased risk for breast cancer. Women with one of these defects have up to an 80% chance of getting breast cancer ncer sometime during their life. Menstrual cycle -- Women who got their periods before the age of 12 or went through menopause after the age of 55 have an increased risk for breast cancer.
Modifiable RFs: These are RFs that you can change to give yourself lf a lower chance of developing breast cancer. •
•
•
•
Alcohol use – There’s a possibility that drinking more than 1 - 2 glasses of alcohol a day may increase your risk for breast cancer. Childbirth – Women who have never had children or who had children only af after age 30 have an increased risk for breast cancer. Being pregnant more than once or becoming pregnant at an early age reduces your risk of breast cancer. DES – Women who took diethylstilbestrol (DES) to prevent miscarriage may have an increased risk of breast reast cancer after age 40. This drug was often given to pregnant women between the 1940s and 1960s. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) – You have a higher risk for breast cancer if you have received hormone replacement therapy with estrogen for several year years or more.
Myth: Wearing an underwire bra increases your risk of getting breast cancer Reality: Claims that underwire bras compress the lymphatic system of the breast, causing toxins to accumulate and cause breast cancer, have been widely debunked as unscientific. un The consensus is that neither the type of bra you wear nor the tightness of your underwear or other clothing has any connection to breast cancer risk.
Myth: Most breast lumps are cancerous. Reality: Roughly 80% of lumps in women's breasts are caused by benign (noncancerous) changes, cysts, or other conditions. Doctors encourage women to report any changes at all, however, because catching breast cancer early is so beneficial. Your doctor may recommend a mammogram, ultrasound, or biopsy to determine d whether a lump is cancerous.
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MYTHS & MISCONCEPTIONS Breast lump or lump in the armpit that is hard, has uneven edges, and usually does not hurt • Changes in the size, shape, or feel of the breast or nipple – (i.e. redness, dimpling, or puckering g that looks like the skin of an orange) • Fluid coming from the nipple -- may be bloody, clear to yellow, green, and pus-like pus Men can get breast cancer, too. Symptoms include a breast lump, breast pain, and tenderness. Symptoms of advanced breast cancer may include: •
Myth: Breast implants can raise your cancer risk. Reality: Women with breast implants are at no greater risk of getting breast cancer, according to research. However, standard mammograms don't always work as well on these women, so additional X-rays rays are sometimes needed to more re fully examine breast tissue.
• • • • •
•
Obesity – Obesity has been linked to breast cancer, although the relationship is controversial. The theory is that obese women produce more estrogen, which can fuel the development of breast cancer. Further research is being made on this link but it doesn’t hurt to be wary of it. Radiation – If you received radiation therapy as a child or young adult to treat cancer of the chest area, you have a much higher risk for developing breast cancer. The younger you started such radiation and the higher the dose, the higher your risk–especially especially if the radiation was given during the breast development period.
•
WHAT KIND OF TESTS ARE A USED TO DIAGNOISED BREAST CANCER? CA Whether it’s a regular visit to your primary care physician or the gynecologist, necologist, he or she will ask you about your symptoms and risk factors. The doctor will perform a physical exam, which includes both breasts, armpits, and the neck and chest area. Tests used to diagnose and monitor patients with breast cancer may include: include •
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOM SYMPTOMS? There are no signs or symptoms to early breast cancer. As the cancer grows, symptoms may include:
Bone pain Breast pain or discomfort Skin ulcers Swelling of one arm (next to the breast with cancer) Weight loss
• • •
Breast MRI to help better identify the breast lump or evaluate an abnormal change on a mammogram Breast ultrasound to show whether the lump is solid or fluid-filled CT scan to see if the cancer has spread Mammography to screen for breast cancer or help identify the breast lump. lump AMPHS National Pulse
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MYTHS & MISCONCEPTIONS Breast biopsy to evaluate a suspicious uspicious area in your breast to determine if it is breast cancer, by removing a small sample of breast tissue for laboratory testing using methods such as needle aspiration (ultrasound-guided, stereotactic stereotactic, or open) PET scan to help identify areas of cancer that an MRI or CT scan may miss using a radioactive substance called a tracer Sentinal lymph node biopsy to see if the cancer has spread
Myth: All women have a 1-in-8 1 chance of getting breast cancer.
If your primary physician or gynecologist learns that you do have breast cancer, more tests will be done to see if the cancer has spread. This is called staging. Staging helps guide future treatment and follow-up up and gives you some idea of what to expect ct in the future.
Reality: Your risk increases as you get older. er. A woman’s chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer is about 1 in 233 when she's in her 30s and rises to 1 in 8 by the time she’s reached 85.
•
•
•
Breast cancer stages range from 0 to IV. The higher the staging number, the more advanced the cancer.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF F TREATMENT? Treatment depends on many factors which include the type and stage of the cancer, whether the cancer is sensitive to certain hormones or whether the cancer over overexpresses a gene called HER2/neu. In general, cancer treatments may include: • Chemotherapy medicines to kill cancer cells • Radiation therapy to destroy cancerous tissue • Surgery to remove e cancerous tissue. The most common types of surgery are lumpectomy,, which removes the breast lump, and mastectomy,, which removes all or part of the breast and possible nearby structures
Myth: Wearing antiperspirant increases your risk of getting breast cancer. Reality: The American Cancer Society poohpooh poohs this rumor, but ut admits that more research is needed. One small study did stumble on traces of parabens in a tiny sample of breast cancer tumors. Parabens, used as preservatives in some antiperspirants, have weak estrogen-like like properties, but the study in question made no cause-and-effect connection between parabens and breast cancer, nor did it conclusively identify the source of the parabens found in tumors.
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MYTHS & MISCONCEPTION
Myth: If your mammography report is negative, there is nothing else to worry about. Reality: Despite their importance portance for breast cancer screening and diagnosis, mammograms fail to detect around 10% to 20% of breast cancers. This is why clinical breast exams and, to some extent, breast self-exams exams are crucial pieces of the screening process.
Women with ER-positive positive breast cancer are prescribed hormonal therapy to block certain hormones thatt fuel cancer growth. • An example of hormonal therapy is the drug tamoxifen. This drug blocks the effects of estrogen, which can help breast cancer cells survive and grow. Most women with estrogen estrogensensitive breast cancer benefit from this drug. • Another classs of hormonal therapy medicines called aromatase inhibitors have been shown to work just as well or even better than tamoxifen in postmenopausal women with breast cancer. Aromatase inhibitors block estrogen from being made. Targeted therapy, also called b biologic therapy, is a newer type of cancer treatment. This therapy uses special anticancer drugs that target certain changes in a cell that can lead to cancer. It may be used for women with HER2 HER2-positive breast cancer.
Cancer treatment may ay be local or systemic. Local treatments involve only the area of disease; radiation and surgery are forms of local treatment. Systemic treatments affect the entire body; chemotherapy is a type of systemic treatment. Most women receive a combination of treatments. For women with stage I, II, or III breast cancer, the main goal is to treat the cancer and prevent it from returning hence curing them. For women with stage IV cancer, the goal is to improve symptoms and help them live longer. In most cases, stage st IV breast cancer cannot be cured. After treatment, some women will continue to take medications such as tamoxifen for a period of time. All women will continue to have blood tests, mammograms, and other tests after treatment. Women who have had a mastectomy ctomy may have reconstructive breast surgery, either at the same time as the mastectomy or later. It would be an understatement to say that many women die from breast cancer every year, but there is still hope. The chance that breast cancer will be responsible respon for a woman's death is about 1 in 36 (about 3%). Since 1990 death rates from breast cancer has been declining especially with larger increases in women younger than 50. These decreases are due to earlier detection and better treatment. Hence it’s important portant to do regular breast exams because early stages of breast cancers don’t have symptoms. The earlier you catch it the higher chance of survival.
AMPHS National Pulse Source: Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001911/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001911/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001911/, http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0 http://www.health.com/health/gallery y/0,,20533364,00.html ery/0,,20533364,00.html
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Puzzle Panel
Biology
Adaptation Alga Bone Cells Embryo Energy
Eyes Fauna Flora Genus Hormone Imago
Larva Leaf Mammalian Marsupial Microbe Molar
Nematode Nitrogen Nymph Order Oxygen Petal
Plants Population Protozoan Rotifer Science Seed
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The High School Experience By; Tina Truong
Tina Truong is one of our high school volunteers and has been volunteering with AMPHS since July 2011. As she transitions into high school, she shares some of the lessons learned at this critical stage in life. ighth grade. At that point in time I had felt like I was the awesome big shot at my school. Being a senior, ruling the school you know? Graduation came by so fast; it’s a blur of good feelings when I think about it now. Smiles, laughter, and tears—those are just a few things that come to mind when I think about junior high school.
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The summer went by too fast, and when school rolled around again the feeling of being the big shot went away and I was just a teeny, tiny freshman in high school. It was like sixth grade had happened all over again. I admit it: becoming a freshman felt a bit scary. I felt like I fell from being at the very top, to rockbottom.
freshmen knew each other from being in the bridge program that started before school. I was the oddball and stood out among the rest. This was mostly because I chose to go to a school that had little racial diversity, and I was the only AsianAmerican student there. I felt like I chose a horrible school; no one talked to me and it was just very uncomfortable. I somehow became the talk of my whole school, and people had whispered around me and pointed fingers. The following days weren’t so bad though. I got used to the talking and awkward staring and suddenly people just started to talk to me. I made friends, and had juniors and sophomores knowing about me even before having even met them. The attention was amazing, and I felt special. I’ve met a lot of interesting people so far, and more are yet to come. Short lesson from Tina’s corner: Don’t always think of situations so negatively before they start to get better.
The first day of high school, I think, was the worse. I didn’t know anybody; most of the
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Exiting Looking outside the window Clouds overtaking the sky, smothering out all life. From blue to gray, and gray to black Mirroring the sinking feeling in my heart. Blind to the signs that foretold the future, Oblivious to the changes around me. Now unable to halt change in its footsteps, Allowing it to rampage my front door. We were just students in the same class, But then we became friends and closer we got. Now you’re leavingg me behind without hesitation, And we’re going our separate ways. Farewell to what we once had and Welcome back loneliness and bitterness. Lost the only confidant I had and All that’s left is bittersweet memories.
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The Shift in Medical Education – What Does It Mean? By: Hewett Chiu
Way back in ancient times, medical education was more of an art than a science. Specifically, surgery was taught in the form of a theatrical performance. Young surgeons would gather around the amphitheater one evening, as if going to the opera, and observe as the teacher cuts open a live patient. This was more of a show than anything – a live person being cut open, blood and gore everywhere, crowds of young, excited theater-goers cheering on. Perfectly portrayed in realist Thomas Eakins’ 1875 breakthrough oil painting The Gross Clinic, medical education of the earlier centuries was as real as it gets. Considered by many Eakins’ greatest work, this painting redefined public perception of what actually occurs in the operating theater. Operating theater. A term used this very day that has been passed down since the time we speak of. As the painting shows, a team of physicians headed by Dr. Samuel Gross, 70 years of age at the time, crowds around a patient with osteomyelitis of the left femur. The physicians are dressed in business attire, not operating gowns, and students and observers are situated in tiers around the theater, watching on. Today, we hear the term “operating room,” or “OR,” more than “operating theater,” or “OT”. Since the time of the painting, medical education has become significantly more formalized. No longer do crowds of students gather around in a theater watching a live operation. The traditional curriculum, as we have known it for the past several decades, includes two years of basic sciences taught mostly through didactic sessions of lecture-based classroom education. After then passing the USMLE (United States AMPHS National Pulse
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Medical Licensing Exam) Step 1, students then enter their clerkships, where they complete their clinical rotations. In this model, they start to gain patient interaction experience only in their third year of medical school. The first time they get to experience a live surgery will probably be during their surgery rotation, where they are given strict rules of where to stand, how to properly scrub, and what exactly to do at each phase of the operation. This model has worked very well for the past few decades. However, with the current healthcare system focused on improving healthcare for patients, and with the spotlight being increasingly on improving the patient-physician relationship, this model may not work too well. This traditional method only affords student doctors two years of any clinical experience to build up their bedside manners before they are released into their residency programs. And while they have plenty of chances to improve their patient interactions during their residency and fellowships, no doctor can ever have one too many patient interactions. Each experience speaking with a patient is a real-world learning opportunity for both the doctor and the patient, and thus in a career such as medicine, “real-world” learning should take place as soon as possible. For this reason, medical schools are starting to take the leap towards offering medical students clinical exposure as early as the first or second day of classes. A select few medical schools have implemented a new “twenty-first century” curriculum, where medical students are introduced to the seeing patients and to proper bedside manners as soon as they step into their medical school careers. This allows students to be more experienced and to feel more comfortable interacting with patients as their careers progress. This also allows students to provide for the best possible patient experience, while excelling on their dreaded USMLE Steps 2 and 3. Here at AMPHS National, we truly exemplify this hands-on learning. We give our volunteers the opportunity to have real-world patient interactions at our health screenings. Therefore, our volunteers, some as young as high school students, are exposed to the standards of patient communication and bedside manners well before they even enter into medical school. Taking that a step further, we even train our volunteers to perform certain basic screening procedures, most of which are normally taught in medical school. By the time our volunteers have joined us for just one screening, they would have learned vital patient communication skills, patient history taking, blood pressure, BMI, visual acuity, papillary reflex, heart rate, and respiration rate assessment, HIPAA regulations, and even the intricacies of using an EMR! Though AMPHS National is not a medical institution (nor do we claim to be one), we still hold ourselves to the same standards and trends that drives medical education forward in this day and age. With these changes and improvements, today’s and tomorrow’s medical education will start to look more like Seurat’s impressionist paintings more so than the realists of Eakins’ – certainly a more abstract and modern approach with flair.
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Kiddie Corner
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Resource in Spotlight
Top Tips
Grilling For Healthier Cooking Grilling is a wonderful technique to cook your meat, fish, vegetables and fruits without adding fat!iJust because summer’s over doesn’t mean you have to stop grilling! You can reduce the amount of fat per serving by trimming any visible fat from the meat and grilling it. Watch the fat drip away as you grill!
----Taken from “Diabetes Recipes”, available at the Community Research and Resource Center located at AMPHS National---
Many grilled foods require rubs and marinades to season and flavor them. The best thing about rubs is that they’re made of dried herbs and spices. Slowly work the rubs into the surface of the meat or seafood. For delicate entrees like fish or boneless chicken breasts, have them sit for at least 30 minutes; overnight roasts and other large cuts of meat might require 3 hours to overnight of sitting. Marinades are made with herbs, spices, oil and an acidic liquid such as vinegar or citrus juice. This mixture can tenderize, moisturize, and flavor foods when soaked it. The oil in marinades can prevent the meat from sticking to the grill as it cooks. Most marinades call for a fair amount of oil; however, only 1-2 tablespoons are necessary to help enhance the flavor of the meat. Remember, when using only 1-2 tablespoons of oil in the marinade, coat the cool grill top with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
Grilled Shrimp with Pasta and Pineapple Sauce
Marinating Tips Follow these additional tips for preparing flavorful and healthy grilled foods: • Marinate meats in the refrigerator and discard the liquid after use. If you need marinade for basting, reserve some of the liquid before soaking the meat. • When basting meat with a brush, be sure to baste only cooked, not raw, meat surfaces. Don't allow cooked food to come in contact with plates and utensils that have held raw meat. • Use an instant-read thermometer to check that meat is cooked thoroughly and to avoid overcooking or charring food. • Use a drip pan to avoid flare-ups caused by fat dripping onto the heat source.
1. In a large bowl, combine all the salsa ingredients EXCEPT the shrimp and pasta. 2. Prepare an outside grill with an oiled rack set 4 inches above the heat source. On gas grill set the heat to high. 3. Grill the shrimp on each side for 2 minutes. 4. Toss the pasta with the salsa, arrange the shrimp on top and serve.
1http://www.tasteofhome.com/Healthy/Recipe-Makeovers/Cooking-
Techniques/Grilling
2 15 oz. can of pineapple chunks, packed in their own juice, drained 1 large red pepper, chopped 1 large red onion, chopped 1 jalapeno pepper, minced ½ c. orange juice 1/3 c. lime juice 1 ½ lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined 6 cups cooked rotini pasta
Exchanges: 3 ½ starch 3 very lean meat
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Upcoming Classes: 12/17
Pet CPR & First Aid Academy of Medical & Public Health Services
Skills You Will Learn: • • • •
Rescue Breathing Canine and Feline CPR Choking management Bleeding & Shock Management
5 hours/ class
Price: Students & Seniors: $98/person Pet Professionals: $108/ person Regular Retail Price; $120/person Follow us on:
DID YOU KNOW?
According to the American Animal Hospital Association, 1 OUT OF 4 more pets could be saved if just one pet first aid technique was applied prior to getting veterinary treatment!
Don’t let yourself or your pet become victims of inexperience.
Prepare your family for the worst.
Here at AMPHS National, we strive to provide pet guardians and pet care professionals with the First Aid and CPR skills needed to respond to illnesses and emergencies. Disasters may happen, but we will empower you with the knowledge and confidence to react under pressure. Sign up today! Email us at national@amphsonline.org. Academy of Medical & Public Health Services AMPHS National Pulse 47 NY 11220 5306 Third Avenue, Second Floor, Brooklyn, (212) 256 256-9036 | www.amphsonline.org | national@amphsonline.org
So, you’re the owner of a pet. What Now? By: Barbara Olivier
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ou are the proud owner of a pet and are overwhelmed, full of questions, and terrified of making mistakes that could potentially harm your pet. Read on to learn how to keep your pet happy and healthy!
Nutrition
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Do you love to eat? Well so does your pet. But be careful because what may not be harmful to you can be poisonous to your pet. Some things to keep away from your pet are avocados, alcohol, chocolate, candy, caffeine, grapes and raisins, nuts, onions, along with garlic and chives, some human medicines, Xylitol (artificial sugar), Lily Plants, coffee grounds, tea, and yeast dough. Chicken bones are also harmful because they can splinter and be a choking hazard for your cat or dog. Remember, just because some food items are good for you, does not necessarily mean that they are beneficial for your pet.
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Keeping a safe home Pet-proofing your home is often an overlooked responsibility for pet owners. Here are some tips to create a safe environment for your pets: •
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Avoid dangling wires or use cord covers. String-like items (i.e. ribbon, string, or rubber bands) that fall on the floor can damage a pet's intestinal tract. Hide tempting goodies (i.e. children's games, small knick-knacks, decorations, crafts, and candies). Throw out the dangerous plants. Keep kitchen garbage out of pets’ reach.
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Read labels on cleaning products and keep them stored properly. Keep toilet lids down to keep your pet from drinking treated toilet water. Clean spills off the garage floor and driveway. Store all anti-freeze, herbicides, pesticides, paints, solvents, and fertilizers away in secure areas.
Grooming Grooming your pet simply means that you’re taking good care of its health by keeping a watchful eye on its hygiene. Depending on the breed or type of animal, some require more care than others. Brushing removes dead hair and skin, spreads out natural oils in their coat, and helps keeps your pet from developing an odor. For animals with short hair, a weekly brushing may be enough to keep their coat in good condition. Animals with longer hair require more frequent brushing. And some breeds require daily attention to keep their coats in good condition. Ears are a prime place for infection so keeping your pet’s ears clean is a great way to prevent illness. Trimming the nails is not a process enjoyed by either the pet or the owner, but it has to be done in order to avoid foot problems in the long run. Be careful not to trim your pet’s nails too far down and make sure you use nail clippers AMPHS National Pulse
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designed especially for animals. Be extremely careful with your pet’s eyes during all parts of the grooming process. You might also consider applying protection, like drops, to your pet’s eyes before bathing. Examine your pet’s eyes often to make sure that everything looks good and to ensure a speedy treatment should anything be abnormal. Bathing is usually a word that is spelled rather than said when around your pet for fear of its reaction. But bathing is a very important part of the grooming process. First, always brush your pet thoroughly before bathing it. Second, protect your pet’s ears by placing cotton inside them. Make sure you have everything you need where you can reach it. Close off all escape routes. Always use shampoo designed especially for your animal. Though grooming might seem like a lot of work, it provides you with a way to bond with your pet and to ensure that it is healthy and happy. Depending on the animal, always ask your vet for grooming advice.
Exercise Yes, pets have to do it too. Exercise provides a great way for pets to release energy, maintain a healthy weight, keep their muscles and joints flexible, live longer, and above all, it makes them feel better. Different pets need different amounts of exercise, so you’ll want to talk to your veterinarian before your pet begins exercising. Keep a close eye on your dog: watch for any unusual signs of fatigue or trouble breathing when exercising. Always remember—safety first. Take it easy in extreme weather, and keep in my mind that the more active your pet is, the more water it’ll need.
Spay and Neuter There are countless benefits to having your pet spayed and neutered. Having your pet spayed and neutered relieves stress, cuts down cancer risks, prevents urinary tract infections, promotes better behavior, and eliminates female canine menstruation. If you have questions about the procedure, please contact your vet.
Check-ups Don’t wait until a problem already exists before you bring your pet to the vet. Scheduling full check-ups can help your pet in many ways. It allows for early detection for diseases and preventative vaccinations. Check-ups ensure that your pet is healthy and is receiving the proper treatment. Just remember to always keep a watchful eye on your pet. Be sensitive to its moods and feelings and try not to over-react or under-react. Keeping your pet healthy will take time and a lot of practice, but it will all be worthwhile. Your pet will become your lifelong companion and following these tips will help ensure that the relationship lasts a very long time. If your pet shows signs of pet poisoning such as vomiting, significant or foamy salivating, changes on their paws, wings, eyes, coat, skin around the mouth, or other body parts, trouble breathing, seizures, or paralysis, or if any harm has befallen your pet, please do not hesitate to contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435 (there is a charge for the ASPCA service). For more information, feel free to visit www.healthypet.com.
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Events
Calendar November Saturday, 12
Saturday, 19
Release of AMPHS National Pulse, Issue 2: This issue features articles about the misconceptions of health and plenty of nutrition information for your benefit!
In-House Health Screening| 1pm – 5pm : Come in for a free health screening! We look at your blood pressure, BMI, vision, respiration rate, so drop on by and see what risk factors you have. We’re also providing HIV testing, Hepatitis A&B vaccines and memory screening now. So don’t miss out!
Sunday, 13 Facebook Contest Second Drawing: See who won a FREE CPR this week! Check our Facebook Page for the results!
Tuesday, 15 Official Launch of New AMPHS Website: AMPHS just renovated its website! Come and see what new update we have for you! www.amphsonline.org National Memory Screening Day| 3pm – 5pm: In celebration of this day, AMPHS is doing a special health screening for the holocaust survivors of Connect2.
Friday, 25 AMPHS Ice Skating Outing | 4pm – 8pm: Winter’s come around and it’s time for some staff bonding! AMPHS National is going Ice Skating at Bryant Park! Join us for some fun!
Saturday, 26 Pet CPR and First Aid |10am – 3pm: Don’t let your pet be a victim of unpreparedness! Come and take learn how to care for your pet in an emergency!
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Wednesday, 30 Saturday, 10 Submissions Due for December Issue of Pulse: If you would like to be published in our December issue, submissions are now being accepted! We welcome submissions ranging from drawings, photographs, poems, short stories, and research-based articles. Upload a submission >>
December Saturday, 3 Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers | 10am – 3pm: 10 min is all it takes for someone in cardiac arrest to suffer from brain damage. Prevent it from happening!
HeartSaver First Aid | 9am – 2pm: I Amidst an emergency would you know how to tend to your love one’s wounds? ECG & Pharmacology | 3pm – 8pm: Analyze how ECGs are related to heart function and structure is emphasized. Then the basics of different pharmacological agents in cardiovascular life support.
Saturday, 24 Pet CPR & First Aid | 10am – 3pm: Don’t let your pet be a victim of unpreparedness! Come and take learn how to care for your pet in an emergency!
January Sunday, 8 – Saturday, 14 Medical Bootcamp: Winter Session – Come and get 5 certifications, including American Heart Association certifications in HeartSaver First Aid, Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers, ECG, and Pharmacology, and an AMPHS Certificate of Completion. At the end of the session, participants will get an opportunity to practice their newlylearned skills by participating in one of our monthly community health screenings.
Summer Staff Outing at Governor’s Island – July 13th, 2011
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Events
AMPHS National Fundraiser BBQ Cookout – August 13th, 2011
My Dog Loves Central Park – September 22, 2011
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Events
Pet CPR & First Aid @ Bidawee
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Academy of Medical & Public Health Services
Welcome ome to our AMPHS Teddy Bear Clinic! Have your child be a doctor for a day and give their favorite teddy bear a check-up! There will also be games and prizes! Can Knockdown…. Knockdown….Duck pond…Bean Bag Toss Egg-in-Spoon Spoon-Race..Bowling…….And More! For children between the ages of 3 3-9 years old. All proceeds go towards our community health projects! Please contact us at national@amphsonline,org to schedule an event with your school! Academy of Medical & Public Health Services AMPHS National Pulse 5306 Third Avenue, Second Flo Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11220 (212) 256 256-9036 | national@amphsonline.org
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