Health in the News: Sex, Relationships & STDs

Teens Unaware Of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Until They Catch One,
Carnegie Mellon STudy Finds
ScienceDaily (Jan. 4, 2006)

Julie Downs, a lead author of the Carnegie Mellon Study stated "For the most part kids learn about sexually transmitted diseases when they are getting diagnosed with them," indicating that the majority of the teenagers today do not have basic knowledge of STDs. The reslut of the study showed that although the 300 girls in the Pittsburgh area that were tested had a shallow knowlege of HIV/AIDS, they did not know any basic facts about the other STDs (Chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, genital warts, hepatitis B, trichomoniasis and syphilis) which is a major concern since teenagers who have little knowledge about STDs are more likely to get involved in risky sexual behaviors and delay the treatment, which, the consequences are severe.

The lack of education of STDs lead many teenagers to engage in risky sexual behaviors without realising what the later consequences would be, which is very dangerous since one of those consequences could be Sexually Transmitted Diseases which can affect one physically, emotionally and socially. The physical consequence of STDs is severe. For example, Genital herpes cannot be cured. Genital Warts can cause a woman to be more vulnerable to cervival vancer, and Chlamydia can lead to infertility. To live with a STD would be emotionally distressful; feeling anxiety, anger, sadness and fear etc. Looking at the social aspect, if a group of people who have STDs and are not aware that they have one, there would be a higher chance of spreading the disease, causing chaos in that society.

This concerns me since back in my home country, Korea, we do not have a proper sex education at school and the topic of sex is a very conservative theme to talk about with our family. Although we do have a sex related education for one class time, once every year, it is not enough. STDs can be prevented, and I believe the solution is to have a proper sex education at school, including a section about STDs.

Steroids

1. What is the definition of this drug classification (characteristics)
Most anabolic steroids are artificial substances similar to the male sex hormone testosterone which increases in the physical size, strength, speed or stamina.

2. What are a few examples of drug that come under this classification

3. Short-term effects of that drug.
Male: shrinking of the testicles, baldness, breast development, infertility
Female: growth of facial hair, menstrual changes, male-pattern baldness, deepened voice
teens: permanently stunted height, accelerated puberty changes, severe acne

4. Long-term effects of that drug. Be sure to include physiological effects on the body.
HIV, liver failure, cardiovascular problems, stunted growth, ligament and joint injury, weight problems, neurological issues,

5. Street names for that drug.
Juice, gym candy, pumpers, stackers

6. Pictures of what that drug looks like.

7. How that drug is taken.

8. Statistics related to that drug (example: % of teenagers using in 2008)

9. An interesting/fun fact about the drug.

10. Overall analysis (in your own words) related to how dangerous you think this drug is. What are the dangers of this particular drug? In your analysis include what you think are the reasons a government would make this drug illegal (under some or all circumstances).

If you used additional sources than the NIDA link, you need to cite your sources appropriately.

Biodiversity

A. Position on Biodiversity

I believe that biodiversity is important because it helps support life on Earth.

B. Most important statement

The diversity of life is important for inspiring inventors and artist and for spurring curiosity and imagination.

- Bird: airplanes

- Apple: Newton's law

- Nature: Avatar movie

C. Can humanity and Environment both flourish simultaneously?

No, I believe humanity and environment cannot flourish simultaneously.

-the government of South Korea has launched a Sae man geum sea wall project in April 2006, a project in which they convert the tidal flat of Sae man geum into either a industrial or agricultural land. Prior to 2006, the tidal flat has played an important role as a habitat for migratory birds and sea water animals. The completion of this sea wall will cause a decline in the number of many species.

Food Inc.

"You'll never look at dinner the same way again."

It is the very statement that I would use to describe my reaction and feeling after watching the documentary, Food Inc. It was shocking to see what kind of procedures the food we eat everyday undergoes before it reaches our plates. It is not very pleasant. The way the farmers treat their animals; the cows, pigs and the chickens and the way the food companies treat the farmers is beyond unfair.

Before watching the documentary, I thought the pictures in the packet of nearly all of the food brands; a happy, sunny farm with cows and chickens roaming around in large areas filled with green grass was actually the place our food was produced when they are actually manufactured in industrial farming houses. Chickens are raised in dark farm houses and are fed until they can't carry their own weight. Many of them are cramped in a small area, where its unhyegienic. The food industry prefers and pressures this method to the farmers since the chickens are less resistive, they grow bigger in a shorter time, and is much more cheaper than free range chickens. But what if the farmers refuse to use this inhumane method? They get fired.

The way the farmers are exploited by the food industry also came as a shock. The food companies first offers to build the farming houses which are really expensive for the farmers, and encourage them to pay back slowly, and I mean very slowly. The farmers only earn half of what they produce, therefore having to continue working for the company. If the farmers don't satisfy the company's needs, no matter how cruel the requests are, they get fired.

I believe that in order to reduce these types of exploitations we should try to buy from companies that treat their workers, animals, and the environment with respect. Also organizations like fair trade should be more known.

My favorite foods

.

1. Indian Food

2. KimChi Stew

3. Sushi

4. Padthai

5. Watermelon

Health In the News: Stress, Depression and Suicide

Internet addicts more likely to develop depression
By Tan Ee Lyn
Hong Kong/ Mon Aug 2, 2010 4:01 pm EDT


Summary
A recent study in China has found that teenagers who spend excessive amounts of time on the Internet are 1.5 times more likely to develop depression than moderate internet users. Researcher Lawrence Lam has described that the three main signs of exessive use of internet; spending at least 5-10 hours a day on the web, agitation when one is away from the computer, and loss of interest in social interaction leads to lack of sleep and stress from competitive online games, which are the causes of depression.

Big Meaning
Thanks to the advancement of technology, our communication with others has become faster and more international. However there are downsides to the impressive internet. Internet addicts. A recent study has shown that teenage internet addicts are more likely to develop depression, which affects them physically, socially and emotionally. Instead of going outside to play sports, or to hang out with friends or spending quality time with their family, internet addicts tends to spend long, long unhealthy hours of time alone, isolated from the rest of the world, which causes lack of sleep, and stress due to competitive online games which are the two main causes of depression. It is crucial for them to receive counseling and treatment as soon as possible.

Personal Meaning
It is important to me as internet addiction has become one of the major problems among teenagers. I see a lot of people around me who, although not an addict, spends an equal amount of time on the internet, leaving no time to spend with their friends or family. And the age group of internet addicts is getting more younger as time passes, which is a serious problem because for young teenagers, spending time outside exercising and hanging out with friends is important since it is that period of time they mature both physically and mentally into a young adult. It is that time when they figure out themselves and develop a sense of values of life. But if that time is spent on online games, chatting with strangers, downloading illegal music and movies, etc,. it is going to be hard for them to be realize their way back to reality.
My friend's brother has once caused a scene when I was back in Korea. Instead of going to school, he went to an online game room, where you pay money to play internet games for a certain amount of time. The teacher contacted his mom since he was absent, and his mom called the police because she thought he might have been kidnapped. It wasn't a very pleasant
What I learned from this article is that there are growing amount of teenagers who are internet addicts, and they are more likely to develop depression. I also realized that there are quite a lot of people around me who spends more than enough time on the internet. I should try to spend time with those people outside exercising or socializing with others before it's too late.

6 Stressful Things

• School Work
• Future Career
  
• Time Management
• Getting enough sleep
• Public Speaking
• Height