Would You Want to Know if You Were About to Die? - Mariam Hafez
Most physicians would find it crazy to consult animals for advice, but the lives of many patients are saved daily by medical response animals. Medical response dogs can be trained for several purposes; these range from sensing seizures to signaling diabetic patients when they are low. So, why aren’t these animals found in common practices? In 2007, a two-year-old cat was adopted by a nursing home for the purpose of a lovable feline presence. Staff members soon noticed that the cat, named Oscar, would approach patients and lay next to them not long before they passed away. The cat became important to the nursing environment, since it was able to sense the death of patients. The story sounded like a hoax for most, until about 50 patients died after Oscar’s predictions. This cat’s senses are still a mystery, but a theory is that Oscar was able to detect a chemical that dying cells gave off and was attracted to the smell.
Recently, Oscar’s talent has interested a group of computer science students at Stanford University. This team of researchers has been trying to develop an algorithm that can more accurately predict death for terminally ill patients. This is a struggle for many physicians since their prognoses are based on work experience, rather than patient experience. The algorithm developed by researchers bases predictions on medical records that documented and coded by hospitals. The records, including diagnoses, patient ages, prescription history, and the amount of days patients have spent in hospitals, are combined to assess the lifespan of terminally ill cases. The algorithm was tested on patients and revealed a 90% accuracy. Fortunately, this allows patients to prepare emotionally and medically in cases where patients have between three to 12 months to live. This brings up the question of preference for most people: Would you want to know if you were about to die? For many, some things are better left unsaid, but for others, preparing financially is a more practical rationale. In either case, if this algorithm were to be implemented in medical settings, ethical and legal decisions would have to be made.
Recently, Oscar’s talent has interested a group of computer science students at Stanford University. This team of researchers has been trying to develop an algorithm that can more accurately predict death for terminally ill patients. This is a struggle for many physicians since their prognoses are based on work experience, rather than patient experience. The algorithm developed by researchers bases predictions on medical records that documented and coded by hospitals. The records, including diagnoses, patient ages, prescription history, and the amount of days patients have spent in hospitals, are combined to assess the lifespan of terminally ill cases. The algorithm was tested on patients and revealed a 90% accuracy. Fortunately, this allows patients to prepare emotionally and medically in cases where patients have between three to 12 months to live. This brings up the question of preference for most people: Would you want to know if you were about to die? For many, some things are better left unsaid, but for others, preparing financially is a more practical rationale. In either case, if this algorithm were to be implemented in medical settings, ethical and legal decisions would have to be made.
Why Dieting is Bad - Yvette Oppong
Having to go to the gym frequently is not something that most people like to do to lose weight. In our quick-paced society, we like to get fast fast results. For this reason, many people like to go on diets to try to lose weight rather than having to go the gym. However, diets aren’t effective. Clark Russell illustrates this point in his e-book, “The Fat Loss Puzzle”. He warns readers by distinguishing between the facts and myths of diets so that money, time, and health do not have to be wasted. The reason for wanting to warn others is because his sister had succumbed to the tall tales of the diet industry, causing, ‘“chronic ill health as a result of failed multiple diets, which led her to have gastric bypass surgery’” (Cossar). Researches from the University of California analyzed studies that tracked people on diets for 2-5 years; their results indicated that these people were ultimately better off not going on diets.
The diet industry is informing people in order to make a profit; if diets worked the first time, these industries would not make money. In fact, food companies own the big-name diet and weight loss organizations. They promote, “...low-fat, low-calorie mantra…[which]...has been proven not to lead to sustained weight loss” (Cossar). The snacks these diet companies provide interfere with hormone signalling, especially leptin (our key appetite-regulating hormone). When too many hormones are circulating, it causes our receptors to not work and they aren’t able to get the message to stop eating because you are full so you just keep eating. People lose weight when they put in less calories than they burn out. People gain weight when they put more calories in their body than they expend. However, the weight loss industry is ironically built around the latter.
The best way to lose weight is to make small lifestyle and diet changes that are sustainable and work best for an individual. It is important to maintain a healthy balance of all nutrients and calories in order to be healthy in the long-run. This way, you lose weight slowly rather than too quickly. If you lose weight quickly, you are most likely, “losing muscle and water, and are more likely to regain the weight” (Cossar). In America, “less than 5% of adults participate in 30 minutes of physical activity each day” (Facts & Statistics). More people need to start working out rather than trying to take short cuts, that, in the end, only cost more money and make you gain more weight. Working out will not only keep you in shape, but it is healthy and can help with reducing stress. The current generation needs to also get in the habit of working out because currently, “only one in three children are physically active every day” (Facts & Statistics ). If children get in the habit of not working out and just eating, they will gain weight and will be less likely to want to do any physical activity to stay healthy in the future.
The diet industry is informing people in order to make a profit; if diets worked the first time, these industries would not make money. In fact, food companies own the big-name diet and weight loss organizations. They promote, “...low-fat, low-calorie mantra…[which]...has been proven not to lead to sustained weight loss” (Cossar). The snacks these diet companies provide interfere with hormone signalling, especially leptin (our key appetite-regulating hormone). When too many hormones are circulating, it causes our receptors to not work and they aren’t able to get the message to stop eating because you are full so you just keep eating. People lose weight when they put in less calories than they burn out. People gain weight when they put more calories in their body than they expend. However, the weight loss industry is ironically built around the latter.
The best way to lose weight is to make small lifestyle and diet changes that are sustainable and work best for an individual. It is important to maintain a healthy balance of all nutrients and calories in order to be healthy in the long-run. This way, you lose weight slowly rather than too quickly. If you lose weight quickly, you are most likely, “losing muscle and water, and are more likely to regain the weight” (Cossar). In America, “less than 5% of adults participate in 30 minutes of physical activity each day” (Facts & Statistics). More people need to start working out rather than trying to take short cuts, that, in the end, only cost more money and make you gain more weight. Working out will not only keep you in shape, but it is healthy and can help with reducing stress. The current generation needs to also get in the habit of working out because currently, “only one in three children are physically active every day” (Facts & Statistics ). If children get in the habit of not working out and just eating, they will gain weight and will be less likely to want to do any physical activity to stay healthy in the future.
Cancer-Fighting Foods - Tava DeQuattro
There have been many studies performed to create a relationship between our diets and their outcomes on our health. Not surprisingly, cancer, one of the most common and lethal diseases, has been a main point of interest. A recent study by the University of Guelph (Ontario, Canada), released in December 2017, has delved deeper into the connection between dietary fatty acids and breast cancer development. A major contributor of fatty acids to our diet is fish, “which are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids” (Liu). Due to this fact, the study correlates an increase in consumption of fish with a decrease in risk of developing breast cancer.
The study was performed in mice because their mammary tumor virus is highly aggressive and easier to study. Specifically, “previous research has found that omega-3 fatty acids may stave off breast cancer development” (Whiteman). The study was performed to determine the effects of omega-3 fatty acids, fish or animal based fatty acids, on the growth and development of mammary tumors. Results of the experiment showed a delay in puberty onset, which “has been associated with reduced breast cancer risk, … in mice fed the n-3 PUFA diets compared to control mice” (Liu). This n-3 PUFA diet describes a diet of n-3, omega-3, polyunsaturated fats, such as those found in fish. More results found that n-3 PUFA diets reduced both the number and size of the tumors in the mice after about 17 weeks. These results show the effects of an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids diet on both the risk of developing breast cancer and on the tumor itself once breast cancer has already developed.
The results of this study show a strong correlation between the increased consumption of omega-3 fatty acids and the decrease in the risk of breast cancer. With this in mind, perhaps we can take future measures to change our diets in hopes of lowering our risk of developing breast cancer. In doing so, we can eat omega-3 fatty acid rich foods such as fish and other seafood, nuts and seeds, flaxseed and other plant oils, and certain brands of dairy products. This research, although a small piece of the pie in attempting to correlate environmental factors with the development of cancer, shows the potential for new findings and broadens the horizon in the everlasting research of cancer.
The study was performed in mice because their mammary tumor virus is highly aggressive and easier to study. Specifically, “previous research has found that omega-3 fatty acids may stave off breast cancer development” (Whiteman). The study was performed to determine the effects of omega-3 fatty acids, fish or animal based fatty acids, on the growth and development of mammary tumors. Results of the experiment showed a delay in puberty onset, which “has been associated with reduced breast cancer risk, … in mice fed the n-3 PUFA diets compared to control mice” (Liu). This n-3 PUFA diet describes a diet of n-3, omega-3, polyunsaturated fats, such as those found in fish. More results found that n-3 PUFA diets reduced both the number and size of the tumors in the mice after about 17 weeks. These results show the effects of an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids diet on both the risk of developing breast cancer and on the tumor itself once breast cancer has already developed.
The results of this study show a strong correlation between the increased consumption of omega-3 fatty acids and the decrease in the risk of breast cancer. With this in mind, perhaps we can take future measures to change our diets in hopes of lowering our risk of developing breast cancer. In doing so, we can eat omega-3 fatty acid rich foods such as fish and other seafood, nuts and seeds, flaxseed and other plant oils, and certain brands of dairy products. This research, although a small piece of the pie in attempting to correlate environmental factors with the development of cancer, shows the potential for new findings and broadens the horizon in the everlasting research of cancer.
Organ Donation - Mariam Hafez
The U.K., similar to many European countries, is one step ahead of the game when it comes to healthcare. They have adopted a policy of presumed organ donation for all citizens. This means that all people will be presumed organ donors unless they take measures to change this. Fortunately, the policy has not been followed by much controversy since it was approved unanimously by the House of Commons. Presumed organ donation is common throughout Europe; England and Wales have already adopted this, while Scotland is in the midst of approval by the Parliament. England had attempted to put this law in place for years, but it was often shut down by religious leaders, who claimed that removing organs from the dead was against religious practices. In many cases, this policy has increased organ donation rates, such as in Portugal and Spain, where the law has been followed for years. However, this is not always the case; Sweden has not had much improvement with organ donation since they made this change.
As always, the next step may be for the United States to follow these developed European countries, but what may be halting the process? Assessing the obstacles that would be faced include considering present problems in the U.S. healthcare system. Currently, if a U.S. citizen wants to become an organ donor, they must fill out a form, which could easily be overlooked. However, there are other complications that come with the healthcare system such as insurances and distinguishing qualities of medical practice. Considering that the U.K. has been pushing for this change for about 10 years, the U.S. would have to put a hold on this pressing matter to discuss other controversial issues in healthcare policy first.
As always, the next step may be for the United States to follow these developed European countries, but what may be halting the process? Assessing the obstacles that would be faced include considering present problems in the U.S. healthcare system. Currently, if a U.S. citizen wants to become an organ donor, they must fill out a form, which could easily be overlooked. However, there are other complications that come with the healthcare system such as insurances and distinguishing qualities of medical practice. Considering that the U.K. has been pushing for this change for about 10 years, the U.S. would have to put a hold on this pressing matter to discuss other controversial issues in healthcare policy first.
Health Issues in Ghana - Yvette Oppong
In Ghana, doctors have identified an increased amount of people living in coastal towns in Western regions with hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. This conclusion is based upon data taken from a numerous amount of coastal towns. The disturbing fact about the data is that it is, “...in sharp contrast to the widely held perception that people in Ghana live a healthy lifestyle” (Hypertension, Overweight Cases on the Rise Along the Coast-Doctors). Scientists were able to find out about these facts when the Philipa Baafi Foundation, took their "How Well Are You" campaign to communities to check the status of their health and teach them to live a better and healthier lifestyle. This was the first time the Foundation had visited those communities. It is scary that if this foundation had not come to visit the towns on the coastal areas, scientists most likely would not have found out about these alarming figures as fast as they did. Every town in the world should have checks up like these and should have the citizens taught on how to live a healthier lifestyle because if they are not educated, they will not know and will continue to follow in their bad habits.
The United States of America should have checks like these for communities because, “more than one third (36.5%) of U.S. adults have obesity” (Overweight & Obesity). When adults have bad habits and they have children, their children also pick up on those habits, starting a cycle that is very difficult to break as the years go on. There needs to be more initiatives and programs that remind citizens in their communities to start eating healthier, not just for themselves, but for their families and children. We all want to live as long as we can and make the most out of the time we have on Earth, and we cannot enjoy this if our health is not at its best.
The United States of America should have checks like these for communities because, “more than one third (36.5%) of U.S. adults have obesity” (Overweight & Obesity). When adults have bad habits and they have children, their children also pick up on those habits, starting a cycle that is very difficult to break as the years go on. There needs to be more initiatives and programs that remind citizens in their communities to start eating healthier, not just for themselves, but for their families and children. We all want to live as long as we can and make the most out of the time we have on Earth, and we cannot enjoy this if our health is not at its best.