|
| |
Health Medicine | |
MenuContact & About
|
Alcohol Abuse and Addiction - The Definition Of Alcoholism, Alcohol Abuse Or Alcoholism?, Prevalence Of Alcohol Abuse Andalcoholism, Alcohol Abuse And Alcoholism Invarious Racial/ethnic GroupsAlcohol is an addictive substance, but not everyone who drinks it becomes addicted. Most of those who drink alcohol do not become alcoholics. Scientists cannot explain what individual traits account for the difference, but they suspect that a wide variety of factors may make a person more susceptible to addictions of all kinds. Alcoholism was recognized as a disease more than two hundred years ago… Tobacco Alcohol and Caffeine—Centuries of Use - Alcohol, Tobacco, CaffeineAlcohol, tobacco, and caffeine have been used around the world for centuries. They are firmly entrenched in modern life—socially, economically, and politically. Virtually every society uses one or more of these drugs. Alcohol has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, primarily for sedation. Until 1842, when modern surgical anesthesia began with the use of ether, only heavy doses o… Alternative Medicine - Growing Popularity Of Cam, Types Of Cam, Alternative Medicine Systems, Mind-body InterventionsThe National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), an institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), was created in 1992 because consumers of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and health care practitioners wanted to know whether available alternative medical options are safe and effective. NCCAM is "committed to the clinical study of promising CAM subs… Americans Weigh in Over Time - Trends In U.s. Birth Weights, Defining And Assessing Ideal Weight, Overweight, And ObesityAmericans in 2006 are fatter than ever, the heaviest since the government started tracking patterns of body weight for the U.S. adult population in the first half of the twentieth century. An estimated 127 million adults weigh more than is considered healthy, and of this group, more than sixty million are considered obese. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and U.S. Surgeon General… Americans Weigh in Over Time - Trends In U.s. Birth Weights, Defining And Assessing Ideal Weight, Overweight, And ObesityAmericans in 2004 are fatter than ever, the heaviest since the government started tracking patterns of body weight for the U.S. adult population in the first half of the twentieth century. An estimated 100 million adults weigh more than is considered healthy, and of this group, more than forty-four million are considered obese. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and U.S. Surgeon Ge… Complementary and Alternative Medicine - Growing Popularity Of Cam, Types Of Cam, Alternative Medicine Systems, Mind-body InterventionsThe National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM; formerly the Office of Alternative Medicine, established in 1992) is an institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The center was created because consumers of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and health care practitioners wanted to know whether available alternative medical options were safe and effective… Defining Health and Wellness - The Health Of The United States, Infant Mortality, Life Expectancy, Mortality, Self-assessed Health StatusMany definitions of health exist. Most definitions consider health as an outcome—the result of actions to produce it, such as good nutrition, immunization to prevent disease, or medical treatment to cure disease. The American Heritage Dictionary defines health as fixed and measurable—"the overall condition of an organism at a given time." However, health also may be vie… Defining Health and Wellness - The Health Of The United States, Birthrates And Fertility Rates, Infant Mortality, Life ExpectancyMany definitions of health exist. Most definitions consider health as an outcome—the result of actions to produce it, such as good nutrition, immunization to prevent disease, or medical treatment to cure disease. The American Heritage Dictionary defines health as fixed and measurable—"the overall condition of an organism at a given time." However, health also may be vie… Diagnosing Disease: The Process of Detecting and Identifying Illness - Medical Histories, Physical Examination, Diagnostic Testing, Diagnosing Mental Illness, Second OpinionsThe practice of medicine often is considered to be both science and art because identifying the underlying causes of disease and establishing a diagnosis require that health care practitioners use a combination of scientific method, intuition, and interpersonal (communication and human relations) skills. Diagnosis relies on the powers of observation; listening and communication skills; analytical … Diagnosing Disease: The Process of Identifying the Causes of Illness - History Of A Patient's Health And Illness, Physical Examination, Diagnostic TestingThe practice of medicine often is considered to be both science and art because identifying the underlying causes of disease and establishing a diagnosis require that health care practitioners use a combination of scientific method, intuition, and interpersonal (communication and human relations) skills. Diagnosis relies on the powers of observation; listening and communication skills; analytical … Nutrition Diet and Weight Issues Among Children and Adolescents - How Many Children And Teens Are Overweight?, Why Are So Many Children And Teens Overweight?, Health Risks And ConsequencesOne of the most disturbing observations about overweight and obesity in the United States is the epidemic of super-sized kids. A survey of adolescents in thirteen European countries, the United States, and Israel found that the United States, followed by Greece and Portugal, had the highest percentage of overweight teens (Inge Lissau et al., "Body Mass Index and Overweight in Adolescents in… Nutrition Diet and Weight Issues among Children and Adolescents - How Many Children And Teens Are Overweight?, Why Are So Many Children And Teens Overweight?, Health Risks And ConsequencesOne of the most disturbing observations about overweight and obesity in the United States is the epidemic of super-sized kids. A survey of adolescents in thirteen European countries, the United States, and Israel found that the United States, followed by Greece and Portugal, had the highest percentage of overweight teens (Inge Lissau, et al., "Body Mass Index and Overweight in Adolescents i… Diet and Myths Weight-Loss Lore and Controversies - Diet And Weight-loss Myths, Why Diets Fail, Weight-loss Schemes Defraud ConsumersOne of the challenges facing public-health professionals as they seek to combat obesity among Americans is helping consumers to distinguish myths, lore, legends, and outright fraud from accurate, usable information about nutrition, diet, exercise, and weight loss. Some of these inaccuracies are so longstanding and deeply rooted in American culture that even the most educated consumers unquestionin… Diet and Myths Weight-Loss Lore and Controversies - Diet And Weight-loss Myths, Why Diets Fail, Weight-loss Schemes Defraud ConsumersOne of the challenges facing public-health professionals as they seek to combat obesity among Americans is helping consumers to distinguish myths, lore, legends, and outright fraud from accurate, usable information about nutrition, diet, exercise, and weight loss. Some of these inaccuracies are so longstanding and deeply rooted in American culture that even the most educated consumers unquestionin… Dietary Treatment for Overweight and Obesity - Selected Milestones In The History Of Dieting, Americans' Diets, How Weight-loss Diets WorkAmericans have long been consumed with losing weight, seemingly willing to suffer deprivation and to embrace each new diet that debuts—even if the "new diet" is simply a twist on an ages-old weight-loss plan. The fixation with weight loss is so longstanding that even the word diet has assumed a new meaning. Used as a verb, diet means to eat and drink a prescribed selection of … Dietary Treatment for Overweight and Obesity - Selected Milestones In The History Of Dieting, Americans' Diets, How Weight-loss Diets WorkAmericans have long been consumed with losing weight, seemingly willing to suffer deprivation and to embrace each new diet that debuts—even if the "new diet" is simply a twist on an ages-old weight-loss plan. The fixation with weight loss is so longstanding that even the word diet has assumed a new meaning. Used as a verb, diet means to eat and drink a prescribed selection of … Drug Trafficking - Criminal Penalties For Trafficking, Is The Profit Worth The Risk?, Substantial World And U.s. TradeWhile the accuracy of the above statement is deba-table, there's no question that many policy makers see drugs as a major threat to our national well-being and accordingly propose strong measures to combat that perceived threat. Figure 6.1 and Figure 6.2 present contrasting maps of the perceived drug threat in the 1990s and in the new century. … Drugs and the Justice System - The Relationship Between Drugsand Crime, Drugs And Alcohol Play A Major Rolein Arrests, Arrestee Drug UseThe United States justice system has been affected since the early 1900s by attempts to eradicate various drugs. The first legislation aimed at drugs was the Harrison Act of 1914, which outlawed opiates and cocaine. Following that act, laws were passed or amended at intervals, but the war on drugs began in earnest in the early 1970s after Congress passed the Comprehensive Drug Abuse and Control Ac… Abuse Drugs—Use and Addiction - Five Categories Of Substances, Drugs Discussed In This Book, What Are Abuse And Addiction?Drugs are nonfood chemicals that alter the way a person thinks, feels, functions, or behaves. This includes everything from prescription medications, to illegal chemicals like heroin, to popular and widely available substances like alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine. A wide variety of laws, regulations, and government agencies exist to control the possession, sale, and use of drugs. Different drugs ar… The Economics of Overweight and Obesity - The High Cost Of Overweight And Obesity, Medical Care And Health-related Costs, Funding Obesity ResearchThe economic impact of obesity is considerable. The World Bank estimated the cost of obesity in the United States as 12% of the national health-care budget in the late 1990s. The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States has resulted in a corresponding increase in direct and indirect health-care costs. Direct health-care costs are those incurred for preventive measures, … The Economics of Overweight and Obesity - The High Cost Of Overweight And Obesity, The High Cost Of Losing Weight, Catering To An Expanding MarketThe economic impact of obesity is considerable. The World Bank estimated the cost of obesity in the United States as 12 percent of the national health-care budget in the late 1990s. The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States has resulted in a corresponding increase in direct and indirect health-care costs. Direct health-care costs are those incurred for preventive mea… Genetic Diseases - Genetic Testing, Muscular Dystrophy, Huntington's Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Sickle Cell DiseaseGenetics, the study of biologic inheritance, explains how and why certain traits, such as hair color and blood types, run in families. Each individual develops from a single fertilized egg, which contains all the information necessary for the development of innate mental and physical characteristics. This information is carried in twenty-three pairs of rod-shaped chromosomes (containing thousands … Genetics and Health - Genetic Inheritance, Genetic Disorders, Genetic Testing, Genetic Testing And Human Reproduction, Genetic Testing In Children And AdultsGenetics, which is the branch of biology that studies heredity, concerns the biochemical instructions that convey information from generation to generation. In order to appreciate the role of genetics in health and illness, it is important to understand the interaction of genes, chromosomes, and genomes and to learn how deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) functions as the information molecule of living or… Important Names and AddressesAAA Foundation for Traffic Safety 607 14th St. NW, Ste. 201 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 638-5944 FAX: (202) 638-5943 E-mail: info@aaafoundation.org URL: www.aaafoundation.org/home Adult Children of Alcoholics P.O. Box 3216 Torrance, CA 90510 (310) 534-1815 E-mail: info@AdultChildren.org URL: www.adultchildren.org Al-Anon/Alateen Family Group Headquarters, Inc. 1600 Corporate Landing Pkwy. Virginia … Important Names and AddressesAAA Foundation for Traffic Safety 607 14th St. NW, Ste. 201 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 638-5944 FAX: (202) 638-5943 E-mail: info@aaafoundation.org URL: http://www.aaafoundation.org Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) 2013 H St. NW Washington, DC 20006 (202) 659-4310 URL: http://www.ash.org Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters 1600 Corporate Landing Pkwy. Virginia Beach, VA 23454-5617 (757) 563-1600 FA… Infectious Diseases - Most Frequently Reported Diseases, Prevention Through Immunization, Influenza, Tuberculosis (tb), Hiv/aidsInfectious (contagious) diseases are caused by microorganisms—viruses, bacteria, parasites, or fungi—transmitted from one person to another through casual contact, such as influenza; through bodily fluids, such as HIV (human immunodeficiency virus); or via contaminated food, air, or water supplies. Infectious diseases also may spread by vectors of disease such as insects or arthropod… Infectious Diseases - Most Frequently Reported Diseases, Resistant Strains Of Bacteria, Prevention Through Immunization, Influenza, TuberculosisInfectious (contagious) diseases are caused by microorganisms—viruses, bacteria, parasites, or fungi—transmitted from one person to another through casual contact, such as influenza; through bodily fluids, such as HIV (human immunodeficiency virus); or via contaminated food, air, or water supplies. Infectious diseases also may spread by vectors of disease such as insects or arthropod… The Influences of Mental Health and Culture on Weight and Eating Disorders - The Origins Of Eating Disorders, Preventing Eating DisordersThat diet and appetite are closely linked to psychological health and emotional well-being is widely recognized. Psychological factors often influence eating habits. Many people overeat when they are bored, stressed, angry, depressed, or anxious. Psychological distress can aggravate weight problems by triggering impulses to overeat. Emotional discomfort drives many people to overeat as a way to re… The Influences of Mental Health and Culture on Weight and Eating Disorders - The Origins Of Eating Disorders, Preventing Eating DisordersThat diet and appetite are closely linked to psychological health and emotional well-being is well known. Psychological factors often influence eating habits. Many people overeat when they are bored, stressed, angry, depressed, or anxious. Psychological distress can aggravate weight problems by triggering impulses to overeat. Emotional discomfort drives many people to overeat as a way to relieve a… Legalization - An Outline Of The Issues, Arguments Pro And Con, Medical Marijuana, Industrial HempDrug abuse existed long before the Nixon administration declared a "war on drugs" in the 1970s. More than thirty years later this "war" continues with no end in sight. Not surprisingly, the war on drugs, and/or the national policy under which it has been fought by administrations of both major parties, have many critics. One major alternative to the "war" … Mental Health and Illness - How Many People Are Mentally Ill?, Depression, Schizophrenia, Anxiety Disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderMental health may be measured in terms of an individual's abilities to think and communicate clearly, learn and grow emotionally, deal productively and realistically with change and stress, and form and maintain fulfilling relationships with others. Mental health is a principal component of wellness—self-esteem, resilience, and the ability to cope with adversity influence how people … Mental Health and Illness - How Many People Are Mentally Ill?, Types Of Disorders, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Depression, Bipolar DisorderMental health may be measured in terms of an individual's abilities to think and communicate clearly, learn and grow emotionally, deal productively and realistically with change and stress, and form and maintain fulfilling relationships with others. Mental health is a principal component of wellness—self-esteem, resilience, and the ability to cope with adversity influence how people … Drugs Physical Activity Surgery and Other Treatment for Overweight and Obesity - Physical Activity, Medication, Surgery, Counseling And Behavioral Therapy, Might Weight Loss Be Harmful?One credible hypothesis about the source of the epidemic of overweight and obesity in the United States is the progressive decrease in physical activity expended in daily life—for work, transportation, and household chores. Some researchers contend that the average caloric intake of Americans has not substantially increased; instead by reducing daily physical activity, the caloric imbalance… Drugs Physical Activity Surgery and other Treatment for Overweight and Obesity - Physical Activity, Medication, Surgery, Counseling And Behavioral Therapy, Might Weight Loss Be Harmful?One credible hypothesis about the source of the epidemic of overweight and obesity in the United States is the progressive decrease in physical activity expended in daily life—for work, transportation, and household chores. Some researchers contend that the average caloric intake of Americans has not substantially increased; instead by reducing daily physical activity, the caloric imbalance… Preventing Overweight and Obesity - Prevention Efforts Target Families, Communities, And Schools, Is Nutrition Education Working To Improve Americans' Diets?Many obesity researchers and health professionals believe that the most effective way to win the war on obesity is to intensify efforts to prevent overweight and obesity among children, adolescents, and adults. They assert that over time, prevention is far more cost effective than the expenditures associated with weight-loss efforts and medical treatment of obesity-related diseases. They also obse… Preventing Overweight and Obesity - Prevention Efforts Target Families, Communities, And Schools, Prevention Programs At The Work Site, Intensifying The Prevention Agenda In The Health-care SystemMany obesity researchers and health professionals believe that the most effective way to win the war on obesity is to intensify efforts to prevent overweight and obesity among children, adolescents, and adults. They assert that over time, prevention is far more cost effective than the costs associated with weight-loss efforts and medical treatment of obesity-related diseases. They also observe tha… Prevention of Disease - Primary Prevention, Secondary Prevention, Tertiary Prevention, Prevention Research And GoalsPreventing disease involves a wide range of interrelated programs, actions, and activities. Some prevention measures are sweeping global policy initiatives, such as national and state government actions to reduce health risks by limiting air pollution and other toxic exposures or standards to assure the safety of food and water supplies. Others are focused efforts of public health professionals an… Prevention of Disease - Primary Prevention, Secondary Prevention, Tertiary Prevention, Exemplary Mental Health Prevention Programs, Preventing SuicidePreventing disease involves a wide range of interrelated programs, actions, and activities. Some prevention measures are sweeping global policy initiatives, such as national and state government actions to reduce health risks by limiting air pollution and other toxic exposures or standards to assure the safety of food and water supplies. Others are focused efforts of public health professionals an… Public Opinion and Weight Action About Diet Nutrition and Physical Activity - Most Americans Have Tried To Lose Weight, Americans' Changing Shapes And Sizes, Many Americans Deny Being OverweightA November 2004 Gallup Poll revealed that knowledge about diet and the risks of overweight do not necessarily translate into behavioral change. A significant majority (62%) of Americans believed they should lose weight, even though less than half (41%) considered themselves overweight, and even fewer (29%) were actively trying to lose weight. It appears that Americans are somewhat confused about t… Public Opinions and Weight Action about Diet Nutrition and Physical Activity - Do Americans Accurately Assess Their Weight?, Americans' Attitudes About Overweight, Has America Become A Fast-food Nation?To date, the United States is losing the battle against overweight and obesity. More Americans than ever before are overweight and obese, and by their own admission, more people are gaining weight than losing it. Gallup Poll data collected in July 2003 revealed that more than one-third of Americans said they had gained "a little" weight, and 9 percent admitted they had gained "… ResourcesOne of the seldom noted but most valuable services provided by the government is statistical information on subjects of national interest and concern. Substantial resources are expended by the federal government in tracking trends in drug use in the United States, both from a health policy and an enforcement policy perspective, both nationally and internationally. The national policy on combating … ResourcesThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, tracks nationwide health trends and reports its findings in several periodicals, especially its Advance Data series, HIV/AIDS Surveillance Reports, and Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports. The CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control provides data about deaths and disability caused by accidents … ResourcesThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, tracks nationwide health trends and reports its findings in several periodicals, especially its Advance Data series, its annual HIV/AIDS Surveillance Reports, and Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports. The CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control provides data about deaths and disability caused by… ResourcesThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, tracks nationwide health trends, including overweight and obesity, and reports its findings in several periodicals, especially its Health, United States and Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports. The National Vital Statistics Report and Vital and Health Statistics, issued by the CDC National Center for Health Statistics (NC… ResourcesThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, tracks nationwide health trends, including overweight and obesity, and reports its findings in several periodicals, especially its Health, United States and Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports. The National Vital Statistics Report and Vital and Health Statistics, issued by the CDC National Center for Health Statistics (NC… ResourcesThe various agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) produce important publications on the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs in the United States and their health effects. Reports of the surgeon general and special reports to Congress are published through this office. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency of HHS, produ… Tobacco—What it Is and What it Does - Physical Properties Of Nicotine, Trends In Tobacco Use, The Addictive Nature Of Nicotine, Health ConsequencesThe use of tobacco in North America dates back to pre-Columbian days. After Christopher Columbus landed in the New World in 1492, he and later European settlers were introduced to tobacco by Native Americans. The use of tobacco products, especially cigarettes, increased greatly in the United States in the twentieth century. Smoking was often associated with romance, relaxation, and adventure; movi… Weight and Physical Health - Is Obesity A Disease?, The Genetics Of Body Weight And Obesity, Health Risks And Consequences Of Overweight And ObesityDuring the twentieth century, advances in public health and medical care helped Americans to lead longer, healthier lives. Two important measures of the health of the population are infant mortality (death) rates and life expectancy at birth rates. Infant mortality rates significantly decreased and life expectancy increased by thirty years. Table 2.1 shows the decline in infant mortality between 1… Weight and Physical Health - Is Obesity A Disease?, The Genetics Of Body Weight And Obesity, Health Risks And Consequences Of Overweight And ObesityDuring the twentieth century, advances in public health and medical care helped Americans to lead longer, healthier lives. Two important measures of the health of the population are infant mortality (death) rates and life expectancy at birth rates. Infant mortality rates significantly decreased and life expectancy increased by thirty years. Table 2.1 shows the decline in infant mortality between 1…
More To Explore
|
