Insomnia Institute of Higher Learning

For college students, December isn’t necessarily a time to deck to the halls, but more so a time to hit the books. With the end of the semester upon them and finals weeks, students spend every waking moment possible studying in hopes of securing that final A plus.

Although that 4.0 GPA may feel great, the sleep deprivation and stresses added to students to achieve this goal is unhealthy for the body. According to an article on medicalnewstoday.com, stress about school and life keeps 68 percent of students awake at night - 20 percent of them at least once a week.

Cardiovascular and immune system issues, as well as weight gain, are some of the effects of sleep deprivation.

With our own finals weeks currently taking place at Howard, I asked a couple of students how their sleeping habits, or lack thereof, have been.

“Normally I try to get like six or seven hours of sleep but last week I got like two or three a night,” says Candace Smith, a junior, broadcast journalism major.

According to the Journal of Adolescent Health, the average sleep necessary for young adults is 8 hours. However, research shows that only 30 percent of young adults actually meet this requirement.

“Sleep? What’s that?” laughs Jarrod Richardson, a senior, engineering major. “I live in the library. I think the last time I got a real night’s rest was about two weeks ago.”

Out of the five students I spoke with, all of them admitted to skipping out on sleep in order to prepare for finals. Personally, I have been guilty of staying up until 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning this past week cramming in as much information as possible for an upcoming final.

In order to help them stay awake, students explained the heavy use of energy drinks to help them remain alert.

“I drink 5 Hour Energies and Red Bulls all the time,” says Zack Johnson, a junior, administration of justice major. “Last week I probably rank a total of 20 Red Bulls to finish up a project.”

Once again, I find myself guilty of indulging in an energy drink here and there to shake off sleepiness. However, what students sometimes fail to realize are how unhealthy the constant consumption of these supplements can be.

Heart disease, high blood pressure, anxiety, and infertility are just some of the side effects associated with energy drinks.

Although it is important to ace your final this year, it’s more important to be healthy enough to see the next semester. As a result, students should be more cognizant of the effects of sleep deprivation, stress, and energy drinks.


Picture: http://today.ttu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/tired.jpg

Slim Students Only

The idea of being too heavy to walk across stage isn’t a typical thought running through the head of students upon graduation. However, for 24 students at Lincoln University, their weight may hinder them from receiving a diploma.

Lincoln University, a historically black college in Oxford County, Pennsylvania, implemented a policy in 2006 that requires the frequent measurement of students’ body mass index. According to CNN, students with a BMI of 30 and above, labeling them as obese, are required to take a fitness course for three hours a week. Those who do not complete this class will not be allowed to graduate.

Since Lincoln University is an HBCU, I automatically thought about what would happen if this policy was adopted at Howard. Polling a few students around my dorm, I realized that the majority of them have the same sentiments as most of the student at Lincoln University.

"If this policy was adopted at Howard I wouldn't like it," explains Jeremy Williams, a junior, sports medicine major. "Being from Mississippi, which is the most obese state in America, I understand that it is a major problem. But I just wouldn't like it, especially for my obese friends. That's not cool."

One aspect, however, that has not been focused on was brought to my attention by another student. What if students are underweight?

"Being underweight is a problem too," says Ryan Hamilton, a junior, communication and culture major. "It can be just as bad as obesity but no one ever focuses on that issue. What would happen if I didn't make the average BMI? Would I still be able to graduate?"

This is a legitimate question probably not thought of by the faculty at Lincoln University. Yes, it is true that obesity is a continuing problem faced in the black community. However, because only about 5 percent of the African American population fall into the category of being underweight, the risks of are often overlooked. More than likely, the reason for this is because the thought of blacks being underweight, anorexic, or bulimic are often thought to be a myth. But, according to an article on the website of the University of Southern California published this March, a study that was led by USC economist Michelle Goeree has revealed that African-American teen girls age 19 to 20 are 50 percent more likely to suffer from eating disorders, such as bulimia, than white girls are.

To be classified as underweight, a person's body mass index must be 19 or below. Some of the risks of being underweight include anemia, bone loss, delayed wound healing, heart irregularities, and blood vessel disease. According to the National Population Health Survey, underweight people were 70 percent more likely than people of normal weight to die, and extremely obese people were 36 percent more likely to die.

With the risk of death increasing as much, and even beyond, for underweight people as for obese people, this is a factor that should seriously be considered. What about those students who are underweight? Would they be forced to take a nutrition class? Would they be encouraged to increase their calorie intake? In my opinion, all aspects of student's health should be considered when forcing a graduation requirement among the student body. A re-evaluation of the policy may need to be considered.

Sources: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/30/lincoln.fitness.overweight/index.html

http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/27/a-university-takes-aim-at-obesity/

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-06/gi-uae062309.php

http://www.schs.state.nc.us/SCHS/brfss/2008/nc/afam/rf1.html

http://www.teen-eating-disorders.net/teen_eating_disorders/study-reveals-stunning-prevalence-of-bulimia-among-african-american-girls.php

www.dshs.wa.gov/word/adsa/ddd/LowWeight.doc

Photo from: www.mmcdiet.com/images/weightScale.jpg

There's Nothing Like a Good Laugh

According to HealthDay News, a recent study discovered that laughter may possibly lower the risk of a heart attack and improve cholesterol levels.

For the study, two Californian doctors, Dr. Lee Berk and Dr. Stanley Tan, gathered 20 middle aged type 2 diabetics. The average for those in the study was 50. Each participant had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and and were currently on medication to treat both as well as diabetes.

The participants were split into two groups - the control group and the laughter group. Those in the laughter group were instructed to watch something they found funny, most commonly movies and sitcoms, for 30 minutes every day. The study ended after 12 months.

After the study, while the control group only had a 3 percent increase in good cholesterol levels, those in the laughter group had an increase of 26 percent.

"I think its amazing," said Doris Shaw, 58. "It's good to known something as simple as laughing can help. Good thing I do it all the time!" laughed Shaw, a diabetic.

C-reactive proteins, an indication of inflammation associated with heart disease, declined by 66 percent by those in the laughter group. The control group only experienced a decline by 26 percent.

Dr. Berk explains the findings by associating good laughter with an increase of good chemicals in the body. According to HealthDay News, Berk says, "you are decreasing the bad chemicals in your body with laughter, [which] may prevent disease and may well have [additional] value relative to the therapies you are taking."

Source: http://health.yahoo.com/news/healthday/laughtermaylowerheartattackriskindiabetics.html;_ylt=AuPjSOzIi54YmLeO_49oYGimxbAB

It's Nothing but a Little Baby Fat

Researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center found that adults who retain their baby fat are more likely to win the fight against obesity and type 2 diabetes.

The study involved about 2,000 participants.

Baby fat, also known as "good" brown fat, burns calories in order to heat the body. This results in brown fat being more active during the colder seasons. It also helps regulate body weight. Contrastingly, white fat, which is the most common fat, stores energy, adding to weight gain.

The study found that brown fat was more commonly found in women than in men. Also, those with more brown fat tended to be younger.

According to bbc.com, brown fat was once believe to only exist during the adolescent years. However, some adults still do have brown fat and slimmer adults have higher counts of brown fat than heavier adults.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7988252.stm

Salmonella Scare Part Deux

The Food and Drug Administration's federal officials confirmed on Monday the presence of salmonella in pistachios at Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Inc. Located in central Califonia, the plant is the second largest pistachio processor in the U.S.

To date, no illnesses have been reported.

Last week, the Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Inc. recalled 2 million pounds of nuts. According to aol.com, Setton Pistachio was the pistachio supplier to Kraft foods and 35 other wholesalers.

"I've been eating pistachios all week!" says Brittany Jacob.

Jacob, a sophomore communications major said she rarely pays attention to news of the health industry. "I definitely need to pay more attention because I would hate to get sick!"

FDA federal regulators suggest the avoidance of pistachio consumption until it has been cleared by the FDA. They also discourage the sale of the nut and the use of pistachios in meal preparation.

Sources: http://news.aol.com/health/article/salmonella-pistachio-plant/405593

Faceplant

On Thursday, surgeons at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston performed a 17-hour procedure that completed the second partial face transplant in U.S. history.

According to CNN.com, the patient had lost the "bony structures of his mid-face, including his nose, hard palate, and his overlying soft tissues, such as the upper lip." Although the injuries were not life-threatening, they were very traumatic.

Seven plastic surgeons were involved in the procedure.

To perform the procedure, doctors first had to find a donor who matched in age, skin color, and tissue characteristics of the patient. Chief plastic surgeon, Dr. Bohdan Pomahac, believes that it is a 60% chance that the patient will look like he once did.

Prior to the operation, the patient underwent several years of psychiatric therapy and was explained the major risks associated with the surgery.

Risks from the surgery include clotting, which would occur within the first 24 hours of the operation, and infection, which would surface within the first 10 days of the operation

The first partial face transplant took place in December at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio where a woman was able to repair 80% of her face.

Sources: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/10/boston.face.transplant/index.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7786236.stm

Rocket Power

Scientists for the Center of Disease Control and Prevention found hints of perchlorate, a chemical used in rocket fuel, in powered baby formula. The largest amount of the chemical was found in formula's developed from cow's milk.

Although the chemical can occur naturally, it was been linked "defense and aerospace sites." Perchlorate has also been found in the drinking water supply of numerous cities

Health problems are yet to be found during the testing of the chemical; however, too much of the chemical can cause thyroid issues, which affect the metabolism. It also can cause harm to the development of the fetus and the baby's brain.

The height and weight of the baby and how much formula is actually consumed determines the risk brought by the chemical.

Despite the effects, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not recommend the alteration of eating habits because of the chemical.

According to Comcast.net news, the researchers are not releasing which exact brands of baby formula contained traces of perchlorate.

Source: http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-health/20090406/Baby.Formula.Perchlorate