Exposure mag 123 Health by Exposure

The health issue

Editorial Health is a vague term, which varies from person to person. What exactly does it mean to be ‘healthy’ or ‘unhealthy’? A sports buff might fit the first category while a McDonald’s regular might fit the second. Health is also about responsibility, which is important for young people on the cusp of adulthood. The body and the mind are the foundations of our identity, and health is what protects them. This edition, produced by young writers from Haringey, will explore various topics, paying particular attention to our physical, mental and sexual health. When thinking about health, the physical aspect may well be the first thing that comes to mind. In Britain approximately 96,000 people die a year from smoking, while 64% of British adults are classed as being overweight. So a healthy diet, exercise and curbing harmful habits are essential.

However, mental health is a topic spoken of less but it is just as crucial. Unlike with physical health, you might not be able to tell just from sight if a person has a mental health problem. It is an area that needs a lot more exploration, especially when nearly 80,000 young people in the United Kingdom suffer from severe depression. Sexual health is another area that is equally important, but not considered enough, particularly by young people. In 2014 the number of diagnosed sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) in London rose by 5% because many under 25s are not sufficiently educated about the dangers of unsafe sex. Fundamentally, health is about maintaining control and responsibility for one’s body and mind. Taking care of ourselves will allow us to pursue what makes us happy, to lead a fulfilling life, and maintain healthy relationships.

Rob McGrail

Exposure is an award winning youth communications enterprise. If you are considering a creative or media based career then get involved. Gain confidence, skills, know-how, contacts and experience to succeed in the media, visual arts, film and webbased industries. Complete the Exposure Award, and start your career with us now. Exposure is a registered trademark of Exposure Organisation Limited, registered in England no. 03455480 Registered charity no. 1073922. The views expressed by young people in Exposure do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or its funders. (c) 2016. All rights reserved. ISSN 1362-8585

Contributors P: 4-7 16-17 P: 2,

P: 4-7

P: 8-13

Rob McGrail

Tara Ahmed

Shakira Dyer

Angela Mascolo

P: 16-17 P: 14-15

P: 16-17

P: 20-23

P: 24

Kevin Rowley

Kristen Bratonja

Naomi Shoretire

Petek Degirmenci

P: 26-27

Other Contributers:

Chander Ramnarin

Andrew Efstathiou

Kirsty Boateng

Kevin Selita

Bradley Neville

Stanley Barrell-Kane

Rahill Choudhury

Samuel Marshall

Alfie Cartwright

Yasmeen Abdelrahman

Sasho Dotchev

Nyle jones

Abdirashid Hasan

Lenny Sprigs-Cheverton

Mia Sapla

020 8883 0260 07715 642 918 info@exposure.org.uk www.exposure.org.uk

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Special thanks to Haringey Council for funding this publication. Thank you also to all the young volunteers and students that worked hard to produce content for this magazine. We wish you all good health! 3

Q1. What are you currently listening to or watching?

g youn e d e k th as We e around l peop .. . way

Q2. Tell us something about yourself. Q3. What do you normally eat for breakfast? Q4. How much exercise do you do and what kind? Q5. What do you think the most common STI is in amongst young people in London?*

Kirsty Boateng, 16

Stanley Barrell-Kane, 15

A1. I watch mainly American TV so I watch Love & Hip Hop and Real Housewives of Atlanta

Or as we like to call him; ‘Stanley - sharp as a knife give ‘em both barrels Kane!’

A2. I like to sing

A1. The Beach Boys & the new David Brent album

A3. I don’t like cereal so I would have something like

because it’s hilarious

toast or a muffin or something like that

A4. I don’t really exercise but if walking is considered exercise then yeah

A5. Herpes A6. Not having sex at all or condoms. A7. Friends because I feel like I can relate to them most

A8. Get up and walk or watch something and come back to whatever is stressing you out

A2. I’m completely obsessed with politics A3. Weetabix with sugar A4. I’m not very sporty so I don’t do an awful lot but I walk most places and I like to cycle on weekends

A5. Herpes A6. Condoms, I guess A7. It’s very important but I don’t do an awful lot A8. If something is stressing me out, I usually have a break for a while then go back to it

Q6. What do you think the most effective form of contraception is in preventing STIs?* Q7. If you want to talk about something personal, who do you go to first and why? Family? Friends? Teachers? Q8. Do you have a method for relieving stress? If so, what is it? *See pages 22-27 for the facts on sexual health.

Alfie Cartwright, 19

Sabrina Gardiner, 21

A1. I normally listen to a lot of Drum & Bass and

A1. I don’t have a lot of time to be watching TV, I’m

Jungle on SoundCloud; I also like Grime and I’ve been listening to Giggs’ new album

A2. I’m a football coach, I like developing other people’s skills and I’m good around kids

A3. Crunchy Nut or Alpen cereal with milk and I

always have a pint of water because it wakes me up and if I have time I’ll have a piece of fruit

A4. I do a lot of football coaching and when it goes

listening to a lot of Spanish music, Salsa

A2. I once went to Canada in February because I’d been dreaming about going for the past 6 years. I love it but it was cooooold!

A3. Usually tea and toast, sometimes cereal A4. Not a lot but when I do I usually go swimming

back to full term it’ll be every day except Sunday.

A5. Maybe gonorrhoea or chlamydia

A5. I’m not to sure, if I had to guess I’d say chlamydia

A6. Condoms

A6. Using protection, condoms

A7. My family because they’re the closest to me

A7. Probably my girlfriend or best friend and my

A8. I try to keep myself organised and make a list

mum after that – I wouldn’t hide it from anyone I would definitely express it

of what I need to do. If it’s something I have to do, I try to do it

A8. Just socialising with friends, because my friends make he happy and it’s nice to be around them

Q1. What are you currently listening to or watching?

g youn e d e k th as We e around l peop .. . way

Kevin Selita, 17

Rahill Choudhury, 16

A1. Grime and Hip Hop

A1. I’m watching ‘Power’, ‘Empire’ and listening to

A2. I play the drums and the piano A3. Cheese on toast A4. I play football regularly, after school

‘Party Next Door’

A2. I’m very sporty A3. Cereal when I’m bothered, but sometimes I don’t have it

A5. Chlamydia

A4. I used to run every week but then GCSEs came!

A6. Condoms

A5. HIV - there’s condoms for a reason

A7. Probably my dad, because he’s quite wise

A6. Condoms, that’s the only way

A8. I just stay by myself for a while I don’t speak to

A7. Neither, I just keep it to myself

anyone, I think for a while

A8. Maybe sports, exercise, that’d be the way, but that’s it

Yasmeen Abdelrahman, 16

George Prigor, 17

A1. I like ‘Party Next Door’ a lot, I like ‘Tory Lanez’

A1. I’m currently watching ‘Narcos’ and my favourite

A2. I like sciences, chemistry - I’m a nerd!

A2. The most defining thing about me is my interest

and ‘Ramriddlz’

A3. My mum either makes me cereal or toast with

Philadelphia and honey, it’s really nice – you have to have it with the bread that has seeds on!

band are ‘Skálmöld’ an Icelandic folk metal band

in linguistics (I speak fluent English, German, French and Russian) and I’m also what you call a conlanger (a person who creates their own languages)

A3. Usually cereal which is quite boring, occasionally

A4. I do no exercise to be honest, nothing – I wanna be fit but then again I’m not bothered

with bananas. If I have time, eggs because they’re high in protein.

A5. Herpes or HIV

A4. Every day. I do Taekwondo or I go to the gym.

A6. Condoms – just have one on you at all times or

A5. I really don’t know, perhaps herpes.

don’t have sex if you’re under age!

A6. Probably a condom

A7. Friends because you’ve known them for a long

A7. I have a very close circle of friends, I’d go to

time and it’s easy to talk to them

them.

A8. I cry a lot – I’ll just keep crying till I feel better

A8. For me it’s exercise; I love going to the gym; it’s almost like an addiction

O besity growing in haringey

Overweight teen figures off the scales - Angela Mascolo reports Did you know that, in some parts of Haringey, 1 in 3 Year 6 pupils were overweight or obese in 2013? Just last year a study of more than 370,000 young people in England showed that 25% of girls and 24% of boys between the ages 11 and 15 were obese, with a ‘staggering’ one in four teenagers clinically obese by the age of 15 (The Telegraph). Clearly, more needs to be done to address the issue. The reality is that many young people’s lifestyles fail to meet their bodies’ needs. Too many young people lack the necessary nutrients and exercise to aid growth during adolescence. The large number of local fast food outlets selling cheap junk food seems to encourage teenagers’ unhealthy eating. Obesity is more common in the east of Haringey, where there is a higher concentration of these outlets. What came first, the supply or the demand? Responses to Haringey Council’s ‘Investing in our Tomorrow’ consultation in 2014 included 26% of people thinking there were too many fast food shops locally. The cheap prices on offer only make matters worse. Unhealthy eating habits greatly contribute to teenage obesity, including the tendency to skip meals. A 2015

For students, exam stress and revision also means that many claim to not have enough time and motivation to make healthy meals. A recent case study of student life at the University of Reading showed that, if a homemade meal takes more than five minutes to prepare, they ‘probably won’t bother’ and that they eat ‘at least a couple [takeaways] per week to save time’. If you don’t cook much, you’re also less likely to develop culinary skills. The BBC’s Good Food poll demonstrated that the average 16-24-year-old knows how to cook only four recipes from scratch, in comparison to the overall adult average of six. Recent research does suggest there are other contributing factors that can affect our weight. Gut bacteria can change how we store fat, how we balance levels of glucose in the blood and how we respond to hormones that make us feel hungry or full. Having less of certain types of bacteria can contribute to obesity (Scientific American, 2014). However, this is very new research and there’s no doubt that our diet plays a pivotal role in our weight. To believe that we can change our eating habits when we get older is dangerous. In fact, whilst some young people do not appear to put on weight very easily, an unhealthy diet creates hidden damage beneath the skin. This includes fat build up around organs and an increased risk of major health problems such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and depression in adulthood.

A typical breakfast for many students at my school includes takeaway burgers, large packets of Haribo and bottles of KA polling of 5,000 people for the BBC’s Good Food magazine showed that more than 40% of 16-24-yearolds admit to always or mostly skipping breakfast, which can encourage snacking on fatty and sugary foods later in the day. A typical breakfast for many students at my old school, included takeaway burgers, large packets of Haribo and bottles of KA and Lucozade – which many would drink on a daily basis. Across England as many as 17% of secondary school students reported that they consume foods high in fat, salt or sugar daily (Association for Young People’s Health, 2013). This isn’t surprising, as scientific studies show that junk food can be addictive like cocaine and heroin. Like drugs, junk food releases dopamine in the brain, creating feelings of pleasure which make you crave more.

Coupled with unhealthy eating is the sedentary (inactive) lifestyle of many teenagers. Exercise is extremely beneficial at this stage, both physically and mentally, increasing muscle and bone mass as well as boosting self-esteem and alleviating symptoms of stress or depression. You should engage in at least 60 minutes of part-moderate, part-vigorous physical activity every day. Yet, only 14% of boys and 8% of girls aged 13-15 are meeting these guidelines (British Youth Foundation, 2013). 33% of people in Haringey Council’s ‘Investing in our Tomorrow’ consultation also believed we could exercise more. Technology is one of the major culprits for our inactivity. Unsurprisingly, world obesity has more than doubled since 1980. The development of technology » 9

and social media means that many of us are more willing to spend hours on Twitter and Instagram or playing video games instead of getting active outdoors. Often we do not even have to make the effort to physically meet our friends and family, as we can easily interact over social media.

Many young people aspire to own their own car and, naturally, will want to take really good care of it, making sure it runs smoothly and efficiently. You wouldn’t leave your car in the garage for weeks on end, for the battery to go flat. Nor would you would destroy the engine by using the wrong fuel.

We all know that exercise is beneficial, but again many of us don’t get enough, claiming that we are ‘too busy’ or simply because we have no motivation. In reality, a lack of exercise is as deadly as smoking, as in the long term it can lead to the same health risks as having a poor diet.

Your body is no different. Remaining inactive and eating junk food all the time will stop it from performing as it should and will eventually do real damage.

Staying healthy does not have to be a burden. Try some of the tips and resources on the opposite page. There can be easy ways to fit healthy eating and exercise into your everyday life.

Exercise should not become an excuse to eat unhealthily. No amount of exercise can cancel out a diet full of junk food.

But unlike cars, our bodies are meant to last a lifetime and are more important than any vehicle we could ever own. Haringey Council has taken many steps to encourage young people to exercise more. There are a number of parks and outdoor areas in the borough where you can get active, with football pitches, basketball and tennis courts, and vast spaces for cycling. Several, such as Finsbury Park, also provide free outdoor gyms with easy-to-use fitness equipment. You can also take personal steps to do more exercise. In a day, you can easily reach 60 minutes through short bursts of physical activity, like avoiding public transport by cycling or even just walking halfway to and from school or work. Even doing household chores such as vacuuming and cleaning count as exercise. At least three days a week you should take part in activities that increase your breathing rate, which

improve bone health and muscle strength. A workout may sound daunting and time consuming, but there are many ways to make it enjoyable.

useful for controlling weight as it keeps you full for longer and reduces the craving for fatty and sugary foods later on in the day.

You can go to gym sessions with friends, try new classes such as HulaFit and fun team sports like badminton. You can also try playing more active video games such as Wii Sport/Fitness and Xbox Kinect Sports.

If you’re in a hurry in the morning, you can always replace unhealthy snacks with mixed nuts, fruits, or a homemade fresh fruit smoothie prepared the night before.

What’s more, there are many exercise routines online that you can follow in the comfort of your own home, such as using a sofa for triceps dips. In addition you can use free fitness apps such as Fitbit and Google Fit to set goals and track your progress. Exercise is particularly beneficial during studies to improve your academic performance, as it is a great way to relieve stress and leaves you feeling energised and refreshed. However, exercise should not become an excuse to eat unhealthily. No amount of exercise can cancel out a diet full of junk food. It’s extremely easy to incorporate healthy eating in everyday life. The key is to retrain your brain to avoid unhealthy foods, by making eating wholesome foods a positive habit. Many young people skip breakfast because they’re not hungry in the morning. But when they are later, they often snack on chocolate and crisps. For this reason you should take some time in the morning to have a carbohydrate and protein fuelled start to the day, such as cereal with low fat milk, yoghurt and fruit. Eating a nutritious breakfast is

replacing unhealthy snacks with mixed nuts and fruits.

making yourself a fresh fruit smoothie. It’s a good breakfast option & you can prepare it the night before if mornings are a rush. adding lemon, orange, strawberry or other fruit slices to your water to give it more flavour - use carbonated or spring water for a fizzy effect.

Many of us still don’t drink enough water, either. Our body needs 8-10 glasses of water a day to function well. The benefits also include, improved concentration and healthier skin and hair but because many find it bland they opt for fizzy drinks. Some young people also choose drinks such as Lucozade (which contains 16 teaspoons of sugar!) for an energy boost but the high sugar levels can actually lead to a sugar crash later in the day, making you more tired and less able to sleep. You should also be getting into the habit of making homemade meals regularly, with plenty of fresh vegetables. Not only is home cooking healthier, but also turns out cheaper than buying fast food daily. The average £2 spent a day on chicken and chips could go towards buying enough fresh and nutritious ingredients for a different homemade meal each day, saving you a lot more money in the long term. A 750g bag of organic carrots from a supermarket, for example, costs just £1. Seeing and feeling the benefits will motivate you to continue keeping fit and healthy. You only have one body and looking after it should be a top priority.

•

Pumpkin and sunflower seeds.

YouTube is your friend! There are many quick and easy-to -follow recipes on there plus tips and cooking techniques.

Pitta and lower fat dips like salsa or reduced fat houmous.

Try these websites for more ideas and suggestions:

Homemade popcorn with a pinch of salt. It’s easy & quick to make and you can watch it explode! Live yoghurt is packed with pro-biotics; add fresh or dried fruit, nuts, raisins for a healthier snack.

• bbcgoodfood.com • nhs.uk/change4life • allrecipes.co.uk • munchbetter.org.uk • superhealthykids.com • eatingwell.com

What does your typical breakfast consist of ? Something sweet such as chocolate, sweets or biscuits or, if I want something savoury, I’ll go for a meal deal sandwich/McBreakfast… or croissants… mmmmm! I usually skip breakfast because I don’t have time – and I’ve been told it will help me lose weight anyway. Standard cereal like Coco Pops or Frosties. They taste grrrrreat! I have a different freshly-made breakfast each day; plain porridge or yoghurt with fruit, a boiled or poached egg, smoothie, etc. It gets me through ‘till lunch without snacking on sweets or crisps. How often do you have takeaways? Nearly every day. I can’t survive without my chicken and chips, and there are three shops close to my school so there’s loads of variety. A few days a week, especially after school when I’m a bit peckish and I can’t be bothered to cook when I get home… I’m lovin’ it! Maybe once or twice a month, for a treat. I’m not gonna kick the bucket from the odd bargain bucket! Almost never; home cooking saves me money and I like to know which ingredients are going into my food. Which drinks do you usually have in a day? Fizzy or energy drinks – I like the taste and sometimes need the wings! Coffee or tea with sugar, I can’t get through the day without my caffeine. Fruit juices – they’re supposed to contribute to one of your 5-A-Day. I drink lots of water throughout the day – I know it means regular trips to the loo, but going up and down the stairs is good exercise.

How much exercise do you do in a week on average? None, I’m too busy on my phone/laptop chatting or playing video games with lazy mates. A little, I usually walk to the corner shop to buy crips… sorry crisps, and I travel a lot by car or public transport. I cycle/walk/run at least twice a week; my moany PE teacher says it’s good for me because it increases my breathing and heart rate. I work out at the gym regularly, play a sport or do gymnastics. I want to look good in da hood.

Which snacks do you turn to when your tummy’s rumbling? Chocolates, sweets or crisps; the corner shop near school is well stocked with all my favourite munchies. Cereal bars — a lot of them even have fruit and nuts inside, which is supposed to be healthy, although I still prefer ones covered in chocolate. I have packets of mixed nuts, like almonds and cashew, and dried fruit, like raisins and apricots; they give me a healthy sugar rush! An apple, orange, banana or carrot sticks – fresh fruit & veg make me look and feel great, which is more than I can say about my choc-chomping mate.

What kind of meals do you eat? I mainly have takeaways and ready meals – I’m far too busy on Snapchat to make stuff from scratch and the yummy-looking packaging makes the food seem even tastier. I cook some dishes from scratch but I always use the frying pan; fast food made in the comfort of my own kitchen! I find lots of healthy recipes online to cook; but I leave out the fresh vegetables… what am I, a rabbit? I enjoy a variety of home cooked and healthy, balanced meals. I remember being shown the ‘Healthy Eating Plate’ in school and I’ve followed it ever since.

Mostly As - You’re consuming far too much sugar, salt, fat and processed food, and doing too little exercise. The consequences may not be visible yet, but they will catch up with you eventually when your body loses the fight against diseases such as coronary heart disease and diabetes. So make changes now, and don’t use social media as an excuse for not having enough time; your hours wasted on Twitter and Instagram can be used to get active and learn how to cook healthy meals instead. Mostly Bs - You may be fooling yourself into thinking you’re being healthy, but there is still a lot to change. Skipping breakfast is not helpful as it’s more likely to leave you craving unhealthy snacks later. And if you need to mask the bitterness of your tea or coffee with lots of sugar then you may as well eat a chocolate bar. As much as you’d like to believe it, cereal bars are not a healthy breakfast choice as they contain a lot of sugar. You should also be cutting down on the number of takeaways you have each week – instead of frying, try roasting or grilling your food, which is healthier and can be just as tasty.

Mostly Cs - Well done! You’re making a big effort to maintain a healthy lifestyle. But you should keep in mind the hidden sugars in popular cereal brands and fruit juices. You also shouldn’t eat more than a handful of dried fruit each day as it’s high in sugar. And whilst vegetables may not sound very appealing there are many ways to make them a tasty part of your meals, e.g. sprinkling with a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper, and grilling or roasting. As well as taking part in vigorous activities such as running or cycling, you can also try playing a sport a few times a week to really keep yourself fit. Mostly Ds - Congratulations! If you chose truthfully you’re doing a great job looking after your health. Although these options may sound unrealistic to some, it only takes small lifestyle changes to eventually stop craving unhealthy foods constantly. However, there is nothing wrong with eating out or rewarding yourself with a sweet every once in a while; just don’t go overboard!

breath of fresh

Kevin Rowley finishes something he wished he never started Arriving at the summit, I silently congratulate myself on my achievement. Twisting around, I reach desperately into the side pocket of my rucksack for a bottle of water. After a long sip, I take out my keys and enter my flat. Ever since I became a regular smoker at 18, the trek to my fifth-floor flat has often felt like hiking Everest. I started smoking as a means of relaxation, a stressreliever. Now smoking has become an endless struggle to maintain the status quo. The stresses of my first year at university were piling up, and my friend offered me a solution, one I thought was temporary. He presented me with a single Marlboro Red, white and crumpled with an orangebrown filter, and I took it exasperatedly. The first of many. Cigarettes have been a powerful vice in my life. I smoked to perk up and to calm down, to socialise and to be alone, to go with coffee or beer. The long road to quitting is often paved with false starts and misguided hope. So it is encouraging that the number of teen smokers in the UK has plummeted since the turn of the millennium. In 1982, a staggering 53% of English students aged 11 to 15 had tried smoking at one point. That number had dropped to 42% by 2003 and more than halved itself to 18% by 2014, according to the Health and Social Care Information Centre. The reason for this drastic change is likely the increased awareness of tobacco’s ill effects on health. It is seemingly common knowledge that smoking cigarettes, especially at an early age, greatly increases one’s risk of lung cancer. It can also cause heart disease and strokes, can stunt the growth of a developing body and can weaken immune systems, making it easier for one to get sick.

Cigarettes can burn a hole in the lungs and the pocket. A pack of 20, depending on the brand, can run you anywhere from £8 to £12. Paying that much for an incessant cough and the need to stand outside for ten minutes five times a day in January is a tall order. Still in the process of quitting, the only thing keeping me from falling back into my old ways is how replenished I feel every day. Since my last cigarette, I find myself sleeping better, feeling fresher throughout the day and falling ill less often. Your body starts to heal itself 15 minutes after your last cigarette, with each subsequent one resetting the clock. For a long time, I defended my smoking as something I enjoyed. Whether I was delusional or truly believed it was closer to a hobby than a vice, I am not sure. I am sure that this feeling changed, however. Stepping outside for a smoke became a chore I had to do a few times a day or my body would go on strike.

Managing addiction is the same in principle no matter the substance Managing addiction is the same in principle no matter the substance. Giving up Big Macs will be as hard as giving up smoking, but I am dead set on crossing one bridge at a time. Every few hours or so, I have a craving, an innate need for a nicotine fix that courses through my body. To get through it, I have a glass of water and a piece of chewing gum. Having the lungs of a 60-year-old at 20 is not a fair trade-off for the fleeting happiness gained by inhaling recreational poison ten times a day. Giving up smoking while you still can, will quite literally breathe new life into you. A study by Action on Smoking and Health, a UK anti-tobacco charity, suggests that 63% of current smokers would like to quit entirely. If smokers wish they did not smoke, maybe that should serve as a hint to us all.

air

Endometriosis Kristen Bratonja raises awareness about the disease that plagues 1 in 10 women As a young woman with endometriosis, or ‘endo,’ I want to take this opportunity to add my voice and raise awareness about the disease. Unfortunately, misinformation and ignorance of endo is the norm, and I hope to try to do my part to change this. Endometriosis is still relatively unknown to the public. It occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows elsewhere – usually on the outside of the womb, ovaries, bladder and bowel, and sometimes spreading as far as the lungs. The tissue behaves like the lining in the womb, bleeding monthly. This causes a whole host of problems, including causing extremely painful periods, or even constant daily pain, in most cases. It can be very aggressive, building up scar tissue and the potential for cysts, and can even cause organs to be fused together. Millions of women are told that the debilitating pain is normal, imagined or even a cry for attention. I have noticed that young women in particular are not taken seriously. Many teens or young adults are told that they are too young to have endometriosis, as I was, which is entirely false. Contrary to the misperception of many doctors, endometriosis is a serious disease that can leave women with limited social and work lives, difficulty in having sex, infertility and severe chronic pain, which some describe as “much worse than labour pain.” Endometriosis is also thought to be responsible for half of all infertility cases. The Guardian reveals that an estimated one in ten women of reproductive age has endometriosis, which comes to about 176 million women worldwide (with about two million in the UK). If they all decided to form their own country, it would be the eighth largest in the world! Despite costing the UK approximately £8.2 billion annually in lost working time and healthcare costs according to Endometriosis UK, this disease continues 16

to be under-researched, misdiagnosed and misunderstood. On average, Endometriosis UK reports women wait seven and a half years for a correct diagnosis of endo in the UK. This is an intolerable amount of time to be in the dark about what is causing you horrible pain. One reason why I think endometriosis is not well known is because of the stigma around women’s periods. I didn’t think my own pain, which I’ve had since the age of 13, was abnormal, even though it reduced me to a sweating, shaking, screaming ball on the floor. I only realised there was a real problem when the pain became constant and so severe it caused me to pass out, and the bleeding lasted for weeks. Even then, it took months of A&E trips, multiple tests, countless misdiagnoses, and surgery before I was

correctly diagnosed with endometriosis. Then began my two-year ordeal of finding the right cocktail of medications to manage my pain.

On average, women wait seven and a half years for a correct diagnosis There is no known cure for endometriosis, yet. Instead, doctors try to manage your symptoms. These treatments include birth control to reduce or stop your period, painkillers, hot water bottles and surgeries. However, even after extreme surgeries such as hysterectomies (removal of the womb), endometriosis often returns.

disease does not equate with levels of pain. However, many women experience pain so severe that their lives are drastically changed. In my experience, one of the worst aspects of having this disease is feeling isolated because it is hard for friends and family to relate to or deal with your pain, and consequently altered lifestyle. If you know someone with endo, be supportive of her. Your support can mean the world to them. And, help spread awareness! One of the best ways to show your support is to become more informed. Endometriosis deserves to be taken seriously.

Some women with endo experience little to no pain, but may be infertile. Strangely, the severity of the 17

Mind Yourself

Naomi Shoretire ‘stresses’ the importance of mental wellbeing… Imagine waking up in the morning with a blocked nose, stuffy chest and sore throat. What would you do? Probably make a hot drink, maybe take some cough syrup or even plan a visit to the GP. You know that you are unwell and as a result you try to take care of yourself. In fact, several of us take appropriate precautions even before we become sick. Unfortunately, most of us do not have the same attitude about our mental health which, believe it or not, is just as important as our physical health. The United Nation’s World Health Organisation defines health as: ‘a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.’ This shows that we cannot truly be healthy if we do not take care of our mental health as well as our physical health.

thought myself. However, from my current understanding, I know that is not true. It is a spectrum – a sliding scale. Though there are mental conditions that are mainly biological and are more easily detected, there is no definite line between having a mental illness and being ‘well’. It is perfectly fine to feel down every now and then but it is another matter if your ability to function is hindered. While studying psychopathology (the scientific study of mental disorders) in psychology, I realised how subjective the word abnormal is. For example, one definition for abnormality is deviation from social norms, which is behaving in a way deemed socially unacceptable. This also means that what is considered ‘abnormal’ can change depending on the culture or time period. Moreover, while there are conditions that are largely genetic, such as schizophrenia, anyone can be subject to dramatic life experiences and traumas such as moving home or bereavement. Such experiences can be a catalyst for developing a mental health issue.

The United Nation’s World Health Organisation defines health as: ‘a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being’ Our mental health is important. According to the UK’s Faculty of Public Health, mental wellbeing helps us deal with stress and traumatic events. Additionally, our mental health is linked to our physical health. I know from studying psychology that anxiety can affect our performance in many areas, like memory, physical activity and socialising. Think back to tests you have taken or presentations you have given. Have you ever been so nervous that you forgot everything?

Understandably, prevention or early intervention has a big impact on managing mental conditions. Yet Missed Opportunity (a report by the UK’s Centre for Mental Health published this year) states that there is, on average, a ten year gap between first being unwell and getting help for children and young people. In addition, during these years the problem can increase until the point of ‘crisis’. Alcohol, smoking and drug taking usually makes symptoms worse.

Rapid heartbeat, numbness, tingling, muscle tension, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, etc. These are all physical effects of anxiety. Many mental conditions do not just affect our cognition (thinking) but also our physical state, emotions and behaviour.

You do not have to be at your all time low before you seek help. Maybe you are stressed about exams or feeling blue about a relationship. It is okay to take time out every once in a while and open up to someone you trust.

It’s clear mental wellbeing is important and has a big impact on us. So why is it so easy for us to ignore it? Even though there seems to be more awareness and more people caring about mental health, there is still a lot of stigma and misconceptions about mental health.

It is important to recognise the signs in your body, behaviour or thinking that show you are stressed, for example, changes in your eating or sleeping patterns. When you get anxious, breathing exercises can be effective. You can try this before public speaking, performing or anything that stresses you out. You can find examples of many different breathing exercises online. Find one that best works for you.

People tend to think we either have a mental illness or we are ‘fine’ and so do not need to think about our mental health. Once upon a time, that is what I

1) Record everything preoccupying your mind.

3) Rip up the list of the things you cannot influence and throw it away. (If you cannot change the situation for the better, then clearly you need to stop thinking about it).

2) Separate it into two lists: things you can influence and the things you cannot.

4) Take the list of the things you can influence and plan how you will improve them.

During stressful periods in your life you could also try the following technique:

Self Help

Self Help & other support

Food & nutrition

Help from trusted people

Exercise & rest

Positive pass-times

Managing stress

Support groups

Individual responsibility 20

5) Put your plan into action. Another tip is to try changing the tone of your inner voice. Have you noticed that, the things that we tell ourselves when we mess up are things we would never say to our friends? We can be so mean to ourselves but instead we should try to be a good

friend to ourselves. Otherwise we might subconsciously start to believe those negative thoughts. Anytime something goes wrong and you start to think negatively about yourself, stop for a minute and think: would I say this to another person who I really cared about? If not then STOP. Advise yourself like you would advise a friend. Or you could simply give your ’inner critic’ a silly voice, name or face. That would probably cheer you up. However, what is useful in the long run and not just when you are stressed out, is learning to be resilient. According to the American Psychology Association, resilience is “the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress— such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems or workplace and financial stressors.” In simpler terms, it is the ability to cope and recover. The mental health charity Mind has a website with useful advice on building resilience such as, making some lifestyle changes, looking after your physical health, giving yourself a break and using your support network.

Medical care

I hope that, if you did not before, you now realise the importance of looking after your mental health and will do so. Take care and mind yourself!

•

Useful websites: For more information and guidance check out the following resources:

» www.mind.org.uk Therapy

» www.samaritans.org

Prescribed medication Hospital treatment

» www.youngminds.org.uk » centreformentalhealth.org.uk » www.fph.org.uk

Psychiatric intervention 21

Conception rate per thousand women aged 15 - 17 .Taken from boroughs who recorded reliable data between 1998-2014 Office for National Statistics, 2014

If used correctly, male condoms are 98% effective & female condoms 95% effective. The intrauterine device (IUD) is a small copper device which is put into the uterus & can last 5-10 years. The intrauterine system (IUS) is a small progestogen releasing device which is put into the uterus & can last up to five years. A small flexible rod inserted under the skin which lasts three years but can be removed. sooner. An injection of progestogen which can last eight or 12 weeks. There are two types & both can be 99% effective if taken properly. If all else fails Emergency Hormonal contraception (EHC) can be taken up to three days after sex. For a more information on the types of contraception available and where to get them visit: 22

haringey.gov.uk/sexualhealth

In 2015, among heterosexuals attending sexual health clinics, most diagnoses of chlamydia, gonorrhoea and genital warts were in people aged 15 to 24. Public Health England, 2015

Public Health Outcomes Framework, 2014

Public Health England, 2014

You can access a variety of sexual health services free of change in many outlets across Haringey. Please visit haringey.gov.uk/sexualhealth for more details. 23

A new life? That wasn’t the plan Mia Sapla urges young people to take control of their sexual health It’s 2pm on a Friday. You haven’t had time to wash your hair the entire week and haven’t showered since Wednesday. Going out on the weekend is a thing of the past. You’ll be lucky if you have time to Snapchat. You’re exhausted and haven’t slept well through the night – but that’s nothing new. You have a two-month-old baby to take care of and your life has been turned on its head. This probably isn’t your reality but last year 26,000 women under 20 in the UK gave birth and had to deal with a dramatic change to their lifestyle. Most teen pregnancies are unplanned. This is why sexual health is just as important as other areas of your health. Yet many young people aren’t sufficiently educated on the topic to take adequate care of themselves. Last year the rate of under 25s that had more than one abortion was 29.4% in Haringey, making it worse than the national average. Haringey also ranks well above the national average with regards to levels of STI diagnosis. Finding the best method of contraception has become increasingly important to young people. Taking responsibility for your own health and 24

body is vital, and the consequences of not doing so can be dire. Not using the right form of contraception can lead to STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea, unwanted pregnancy and accompanying mental and physical strains. As well as sometimes being unsightly some STIs such as HIV are incurable. With the HIV rate in most London boroughs much higher than the national average, this issue needs to be taken seriously. Can you imagine living with HIV, life altering virus, which causes your immune system to deteriorate. You’d have to spend the rest of your days on antiviral medication. The gamble is simply not worth it. Education is key. We all need to make wise decisions to improve both our mental and physical wellbeing. If you’re sexually active, speaking openly with your partner about their sexual history as well as wearing a condom (male or female) are two important ways of maintaining healthy relationships. The morning after pill (emergency contraception) not to mention having an abortion should not be seen as an easy ‘back up’ method of birth control. The morning after pill contains a much higher dose of hormones

than the normal contraceptive pill, which means that you should not use it regularly. And as for abortions, the physical risks include haemorrhaging, damage to the cervix, infection in the womb and future fertility problems. According to a recent study by Britain’s Royal College

Last year 26,000 women under 20 in the UK gave birth of Psychiatrists, women who have abortions are 81% more likely to experience subsequent mental health problems. It is better by far to use a preventative form of contraception. While the oral contraceptive pill and contraceptive implant are great at preventing unwanted pregnancies, it’s worth remembering that condoms are the only form of contraception that prevent STIs. If you are in a sexual relationship with just one trustworthy partner and both of you have tested negative for STIs, then the pill or implant might make a great

choice of birth control. However, if you’re unsure whether you or your partner have an STI, condoms provide the best protection. Across Haringey, under 25s can easily access contraception for free at their local GP as well as sexual health clinics. The ‘Livewell’ pack, containing condoms and further information regarding sexual health, can be picked up wherever the ‘Come Correct’ scheme is available, including pharmacies. Adult attitudes towards sexually active young people have greatly improved over the years, and you will probably find that the doctor, nurse or pharmacist you speak to will be friendly, supportive and professional. If you are under 16 and want contraception, the medical professional will not tell your parent or carer, as long as they believe that you fully understand the information you’re given. Whatever you decide to do, just remember that taking care of your health is your responsibility. No one else can make these key decisions for you. For the Come Correct scheme, look out for places that display this logo

How much do you know about sex? Questions by Petek Degirmenci

Q1. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) always have symptoms. True or False. Q2. There is a cure for HIV. True or False. Q3. If left untreated chlamydia and gonorrhoea can cause infertility. True or False. Q4. You can get free condoms from sexual health clinics, pharmacies, GPs and other community services in Haringey. True or False. Q5. Condoms are the only contraceptive method which helps protect against STIs. True or False. Q6. In the UK young people under 25 are more likely to get chlamydia than any other age group. True or False. Q7. You can use the emergency hormonal contraceptive pill up to 72 hours after unprotected sex. True or False. Q8. You can get a result from a HIV test in as little as 60 seconds. True or False. Q9. There are long acting (and reversible) forms of contraception. True or False. Q10. Females who have sex withÂ women canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get STIs. True or False. Q11. HIV is most commonly passed on through sex. True or False. Q12. Missing contraception pills or starting a new pack late can make your pill less effective at preventing pregnancy. True or False. Q13. Drugs & alcohol consumption can make people less likely to have unprotected sex. True or False. Answers

A1. False A2. False A3. True A4. True A5. True A6. True A7. True A8. True A9. True A10. False A11. True A12. True A13. False Answers

Available at various outlets across Haringey, look for the come correct logo above. Free STI tests & condoms are also available at other London boroughs using the C-Card. Check comecorrect.org.uk to see if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s available in your borough.

Thank you to our friends at edibleNRG who have fact checked the obesity and nutrition section of this magazine. They have also very kindly offered FREE confidential advice on nutrition for any of our young readers wishing to improve their health! So if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in need of some assistance in making some healthy lifestyle changes, call Christina on: 07789 146 557. Or alternatively you can email via the contact form at munchbetter.org.uk

FREE

nutritional advice from: 27

What you getting? Heart disease Depression Diabetes Strokes Spotty Lazy

Fat

When you order junk food you take away more than you think. There’s too much salt, sugar and fat in this type of food, which increases your risk of developing all kinds of horrible illnesses. That’s not to mentioning how it makes you look and feel. For more information see pages 8-13 and google ‘Change4Life’