Health & Wellness 94

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HEALTH & WELLNESS JOURNAL

BIOTECH | BUSINESS | CAREER | EDUCATION | HEALTHY LIFESTYLES | MEDICAL | MENTAL HEALTH | POLICY | RESEARCH | SPORTS MEDICINE

March 2020

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Inspire, Inform & Educate

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94th Edition

Glitches with Becoming Human 04

INSIDE

02 National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

06 Sisters Network, Inc. 10th Annual Stop the Silence Walk and 5K Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

04 From Seed to Supplement: Behind the Label

2 | March 2020 HEALTH

NATIONAL BLACK HIV/AIDS Awareness Day By d-mars.com News Provider

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ational Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was held recently, and the AIDS Foundation Houston took that as an opportunity to educate and serve the community.

AFH held a small testing opportunity at their location where they provided not only testing for HIV but also PReP education. PReP is a one-pill-a-day prevention method for individuals who are HIV negative but are vulnerable to the transmission of HIV. AFH has also launched a new partnership with Mistr, a PReP telemedicine portal that allows patients to have lab kits delivered to their homes for discrete method of testing. They have access to a telemedicine doctor, and if all is well, they can solidify PReP medication from home as well.

“It allows us to utilize a discrete method of testing and medication to capture the audience that may not feel as comfortable going into a physical clinic or do not have access to a clinic,” said Jeffrey Campbell, chief program officer at AFH. “We want to make PReP available to all and using the Mistr online program, as well as utilizing things like social media and dating apps, helps us reach more and more individuals.”

When AFH refers to prevention methods they are including the treatment of HIV/AIDS as a prevention method as well. For a person living with HIV, AFH works to ensure they are attending appointments regularly, receiving proper treatment and taking care of their overall health, and as a result of doing those things successfully, patients can become “undetectable.” Science has shown that when an individual is “undetectable” for at least six consecutive months, they are no longer able to transmit the virus to others.

In addition to treatment and prevention methods, AFH also offers a housing program for those living with HIV.

Experts have known that having a stable home life is important for those that are HIV positive. It gives them a space to be safe, take their medications and support them in other challenges.

The African American community is more disproportionately affected by HIV than any other community, however, this is not because African Americans are having more at-risk sex than others.

There is a direct relationship between poverty and people living with HIV, and studies show that African Americans are more likely to live in poverty, not only in the United States but around the world.

“Because of the correlation of HIV and poverty, and poverty and African Americans, we see such a large number of African Americans living with HIV,” Campbell said. “This also has a lot to do with the social determinates of health such as low-literacy, education, doctors and lack of medical availability.”

There is a great mistrust with the medical community for African Americans as well. This results in many African Americans not getting regular routine medical care and not getting tested regularly, and in many cases, when tested positive for HIV, they are already in the “AIDS” stage of the virus, now known as HIV-3.

There are also “medical service deserts” in Houston pertaining to available treatment for HIV. Certain places do not yet have services available in areas populated by minority communities with HIV. “We want to figure out how we can serve these communities,” Campbell said. “How can we provide more testing and education in those areas so it can become routine and a part of people’s lives? My hope is that we can expand the utilization of the programs we have, as well as develop new ones to help put an end to the epidemic here in Houston.”

For more information on HIV/AIDS or receiving PReP, visit www.aidshelp.org or visit AIDS Foundation Houston, open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. MondayThursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Friday and the first Saturday of every month.

Honor the heroes who fuel our mission every day.

You can help provide hope and urgent relief to families in need: Become a volunteer Help save lives Make a donation Visit www.redcross.org/TGCR

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3 TIPS TO LOWER YOUR RISK FOR DIABETES MAINTAINING A HEALTHY WEIGHT

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

MEAL PLANNING

Staying at a healthy weight can help you prevent and manage problems like prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol.

Physical activity can do a lot for your health, even if you haven’t been very active lately.

What you eat makes a difference in your blood glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure and weight. Eating healthful foods doesn’t have to be difficult.

1 out of 3

ADULTS HAS PRE-DIABETES Which can lead to diabetes and complications

Heart Disease

Blindness

Kidney Failure

Stroke

Make a change. The Diabetes Awareness and Wellness Network offers FREE diabetes education and services for adults with diabetes, pre-diabetes, or those at risk.

CALL OR VISIT US ONLINE TODAY houstontx.gov/dawncenter 832-393-4055

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4 | March 2020 HEALTH

Glitches with Becoming Human

By LJ Garfield Contributing Writer

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hromosomes are small rod like bundles that store our genetic information inside the nucleus of each cell. Chromosomes carry genes which are the basic functional and physical properties of heredity. Genes are made up of DNA. DNA is deoxyribonucleic acid, the code from which all humans are created, well…all life is created from DNA for that matter. The information contained in DNA is made up of four chemicals: adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine.

The order of the chemicals determines the information available for creating, building and maintaining a human being. (2) All humans are designed to have 23 matching pairs of chromosomes for total of 46 chromosomes. There should be 23 inherited from the biological mother and 23 from the biological father. During conception the father’s DNA in the sperm is uploaded to be combined with the mother’s DNA in the ovum (egg) to create a

blueprint for a new offspring. Most of the time the sequencing of chromosomes is accurate, but from time to time an extra chromosome can be assigned when it should not.

Trisomy is a genetic disorder known as a chromosomal abnormality in which a person has three copies of a specific chromosome instead of two. This genetic mutation occurs at the time of fertilization. As the fetus develops, the extra chromosome is duplicated in every cell of the body. This additional chromosome disrupts the normal course of development and results in malformations, serious mental developmental and motor skill delays.

MOST COMMON TYPES OF TRISOMY • People affected with Down’s syndrome have the extra chromosome on the 21st chromosome. This disorder causes developmental and intellectual delays.

Approximately one in every 700 babies in the US are born with down syndrome, but there is an overall good survival rate for this type of trisomy. Down syndrome

deficiencies range from mild to severe and vary from person to person.

• Klinefelter syndrome only affects males. Males affected with disorder have a random genetic event in which there is an extra copy of the X chromosome (4).

Females have two X sex chromosomes (XX) and males normally have one of each sex chromosomes, an X and a Y (XY).

With Klinefelter’s there is an extra X chromosome in each cell, making an XXY format. The additional copies of the genes can interfere with masculine development and have a negative impact on the affected person’s fertility.

• Triple X syndrome only affect females. Females affected with this disorder have an abnormality resulting in an extra X chromosome in each cell, so instead of having two X sex chromosomes there are three. Approximately one in every 1,000 females in the US are born with Triple X syndrome and most have a normal life with mild to no symptoms. Other females have significant symptoms that include learning disabilities, behavioral and or psychological problems, and vary from person to person.

• Edwards syndrome has trisomy on the 18th gene and is a condition that causes severe developmental delays due to the extra chromosome. More genes are over expressed, particularly with the heart muscle.

Abnormalities of other organs are also associated with Edward’s, so the syndrome is more lethal than the others with less of a survival rate than Down’s. Most babies affected with this syndrome die before birth or with in the first 30-45 days of life. Five -10 percent of babies with this condition live past the first year of life.

• Patau syndrome is a condition in which a person has an extra chromosome 13.

Large number of genes are

over expressed so there are severe physical and intellectual disabilities, so it is the most lethal of all trisomy with lowest survival rate. Most babies affected with this syndrome die before birth or with in the first 7-121days of life. Five -10 percent of babies with this condition live past the first year of life. Screening tests are available during pregnancy to detect any risks of trisomy.

First trimester ultrasounds and blood tests are among accepted screening best practices. If the test results indicated an increased possibility, a prenatal diagnostic test can be requested. Amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling (CVS), and percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS) are more advanced diagnostic tests that can confirm any trisomy or other genetic concerns. These advance tests carry a risk of miscarriage due to infection, bleeding or damage to the amniotic sac. Having one of the procedures does not mean a pregnant mother will miscarry, but there is an increased risk.

Generally, pregnancy is a challenging but necessary medical condition and there is no way to prevent random genetic events.

Luckily human chromosomes and DNA normally gets hereditary traits right. The order of the chemicals determines the information available for creating, building and maintaining a human being, so let’s be the best human beings we can…after all we are created to do so.

HEALTH

From Seed to Supplement: Behind the Label

By Dr. Carlie Bell-Biggins Contributing Writer

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s More than ever before, consumers today are demanding transparency on product labels. As news about food adulteration and contamination continues to appear in the headlines, the concern for food and product safety is rising.

If nutritional supplements have ever been an important part of your daily routine, no doubt you've wondered what's behind the label. You may be among the growing ranks of consumers questioning where their products come from and how they're developed. These are key questions - it's important to know where your supplement's ingredients are sourced to guarantee purity, safety and efficacy.

Here's some tips to help ensure you're making smart and safe decisions when purchasing vitamins and supplements.

Ask the Right Questions Start with asking the right questions.

Protect your health and wellbeing by being

inquisitive about the intricacies of supplement development and production.

• How and why are product ingredients selected?

• Where are the farms located and who is operating them?

• Are chemicals and pesticides used in the growing process?

• Are the right parts of the plants being used and are they harvested to maximize the nutrients our bodies need?

• Will the package keep the supplements fresh and how is the packaging tested before distribution?

These questions should be easily found and answered by researching companies and their processes.

Trace the Source Consumers have a right to know where their supplements come from. Do you know where your products originated? Can you trace them to the source? Understanding not just how ingredients were cultivated but where and by whom your supplements are produced also matters.

But how can you be sure? Confirm the brand you're purchasing from is truly transparent and offers insight into each step of its process from start to finish.

“Nothing matters more than your health and the health of your family. That's why it's important to know as much as you can about the products you consume,” said Sam Kilgore, quality engineering manager at Nutrilite, the world's number 1 selling vitamin, supplement and minerals brand.

"At Nutrilite, we meticulously track each step of the journey - from seed to supplement. Every one of our botanicals goes through a detailed nine-step traceability process and we have rigorous rules in place to help protect our products from even the slightest threat of contamination at any point in the process. This ensures that our supplements contain exactly what we say they do."

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According to Kilgore, who is also known as Nutrilite's "chief traceability officer," Nutrilite offers insight and transparency into every step of its process, tracing ingredients down to the last detail as highlighted by the Nutrilite™ Double X™ Vitamin/ Mineral/Phytonutrient Supplement.

Verify Then Trust Most vitamins and dietary supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. As a conscious consumer, however, you want to ensure you know exactly what's going in or on your body.

Verifying a product's safety and reliability is an important part of your due diligence.

One way you can do this is by consulting EcoCert, a global leader in certification in organic farming, sustainability and safety.

NSF International is also an independent organization to check. NSF conducts product testing to confirm the actual contents of the supplement match those printed on the label. Its testing also confirms that there are no unsafe levels of contaminants, such as heavy metals, pesticides and herbicides in the product.

Knowing for certain the supplements you and your family are consuming are safe, pure and effective will give you the peace of mind you deserve.

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6 | March 2020 HEALTH

Sisters Network, Inc. 10th Annual Stop the Silence Walk and 5K By d-mars.com News Provider

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he Sisters Network, Inc. is hosting its 10th annual Stop the Silence National African American Breast Cancer Walk. Celebrating over 25 years of service, The Sisters Network is the only national African American Breast Cancer organization.

“We started the national Stop the Silence Walk 10 years ago,” Sisters Network Founder and CEO Karen Jackson said.

“It’s nice to be able to celebrate our existence as well as our programs that have been successful. Our walk brings some excitement to who we are as a national African

American Breast Cancer organization, and it really has enabled to us to gain support in the community.”

Over the past 10 years, the walk has gained support for varies prominent figures in the Houston community, including Mayor Sylvester Turner, Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee, Congressman Al Green as well as multiple sorority and fraternity organizations.

“We are well respected by the medical community as well as several elected officials,” Jackson said. “The City of Houston has been very gracious in their support of the walk, and we have supporters that continue to come back year after year, allowing us to continue hosting this great event.”

Instead of having a budget solely for

marketing and advertising, the Sisters Network puts money towards hosting various events the community can attended and be a part of. They also rely heavily on the community to spread the word by means of social media.

“There is no way we would be able to get the word out without the support of the community on social media,” Jackson said.

In line with using technology to advance this event, the Sisters Network has started hosting virtual walks for those who are unable to make the trip to Houston but are still interested in supporting the organization.

“Everyone isn’t able to get on a plane or drive miles and miles to come to the walk in Houston,” Jackson said. “But they are

now able to do a virtual walk in their own community by registering and walking whenever they are able. This shows us that people out there actually care about our cause, which is wonderful because without the funding from the walk, we would not be able to provide financial support to survivors in Houston through the Sisters’ Breast Cancer Assistance Program.”

In the breast cancer community, knowledge is power. Jackson states that is not a slogan, but a reality for those affected by breast cancer. Through the funds raised by the walk and other events hosted by the organization, the Sisters Network is able to continue their mission of providing African American women with the proper education and resources to combat their illness.

“The breast cancer community needs to know that knowledge really is power,” Jackson said. “Even if you have insurance and can afford care, without knowledge, you may not know which hospital or which doctor is the best to care for you. Knowing the proper services to receive after a diagnosis is detrimental to the futures of these ladies living longer, healthier lives.”

The 10th annual Stop the Silence Walk will be held on April 25 at Discovery Green Park. For more information about the walk, visit www.support.stopthesilencewalk.org/ walk 2020. For more information about the Sisters Network, visit www.sistersnetworkinc.org.

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8 | March 2020

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