Health may always be an issue, yet in 2008 there was more focus on prevention rather than the specifics of various problems.
Whether it’s breast cancer, prostate cancer, kidney disease, diabetes or heart disease – health experts are helping individuals see their wellness glass half full instead of half empty.
In 2008’s first quarter, many health issues continued to disproportionately loom over the Black community. Genetics play a huge part in the key diseases that plague Blacks, but focus on healthy lifestyles, exercise, and getting in regular checkups with a physician are the elements to turn the statistics around.
“Some cancers, we don’t know how to prevent. Being aggressive and getting your screenings is very important. If it is detected early the treatment result is so much better,” said Barbara Miller, community program manager for the American Cancer Society of Central Indiana.
Employers, the faith based community, celebrities and others were urging individuals to make a change toward positive health and creating healthy environments for those who needed an extra push.
Though focus on proper diet and exercise to curb health issues was key, the first quarter gave lots of information for the whole family. Women learned the signs of a heart attack (which differ from stereotypical signs) and was linked to services that helped insure child car seat safety.
Recorder readers also got resources for adult day care services helping to ease the burden off of familial caretakers.
“It’s good to have a place where you just don’t have to worry. He loves coming here. My husband says, ‘they give everybody such good attention,’” said Jerrylean Johnson, about Joy’s House, a nonprofit adult day service provider.
During the beginning of the second quarter Hoosiers were preparing for allergy season with information on understanding the sometimes annoying condition and tips on finding relief.
Recorder writers shifted gears and also focused on issues in sports. Taking a lesson from the troubles of athletes such as Barry Bonds, readers got the inside track on how steroid use can lead to physical and psychological problems. Some effects include increased aggression, harm to the cardiovascular system and blood clotting.
The Rehabilitation Hospitals of Indiana Sports Program provided competitive athletic opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Readers were also given the skinny on genetically engineered and modified food. Some believe the purpose of genetically altered food is to improve food for increased nutritional and production values. Picture your tomato with extra lycopene.
While altered fruits and veggies may seem like a weird science, the disclosure of genetic engineering techniques is not required on food packaging, meaning you can be eating it and not even know it.
“The FDA has no information that the use of biotechnology creates a class of food that is different in quality, safety or any other attribute from food developed using conventional breeding techniques,” said James Maryanski, the FDA’s food biotechnology coordinator.
Tea and massage therapy gave readers alternative benefits to healing. Parents were gearing up with safety tips for cabin-fevered kids ready to get out and ride bikes. The end of the second quarter also alerted readers to the severity of kidney disease.
According to the National Association of Kidney Patients, most who suffer from the disease do so because complications from other diseases limit their function as the body’s waste filtration system.
Health care professionals were getting more real with the public during the third quarter. Continuous efforts were made to raise awareness about reducing cancer, diabetes, obesity, breast cancer and Alzheimer’s.
Readers also learned about how heart defects are among the most common birth defects, and read about a 17-year-old boy who suffered from strange seizures. He later died from a congenital heart defect, a condition he was born with but showed no signs of possessing.
Summer months brought about many health fairs and health initiatives allowing those who don’t receive regular care the opportunity to know where they stand on certain issues. The downward economy also found people looking for ways to save on prescription medication.
Towards the end of the quarter, HealthNet celebrated 40 years of service to the community. HealthNet has helped shape the lives of the uninsured, underinsured and poverty stricken families.
The fourth quarter rounded off 2008 with events highlighting diseases and conditions such as breast cancer, lupus, the inaugural Healthy Women Conference and the Indiana Minority Health Coalition’s annual Laughter Is the Best Medicine fundraiser event. Many of these events saw unexpected variations as organizers added other realms to wellness such as holistic medicine and faith based initiatives.
As the weather began to change from summer to fall, folks also prepared for cold and flu season, while men were given the lowdown on the severity of shaken baby syndrome. Men also were given information on the surprisingly common condition of erectile dysfunction.
While Blacks continue to be disproportionately affected by diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, throughout the year, the Recorder was steadfast in offering the community information about another disease plaguing the Black community — AIDS and HIV.
