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Sport and physical activity alone cannot address health inequalities among indigenous communities

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Organized sport is usually presented as a cure-all for lots of the health problems facing indigenous peoples. While there are a lot of advantages to participating in sports, exaggerating these advantages can obscure the systemic issues that folks face as they fight to create their very own vision of health.

One sec research shows that encouraging young people to have interaction in sports and physical activity is important to improving health outcomes, the link between sports participation and the health of indigenous communities will not be that easy.

For example, a recent literature review conducted by the National Collaborative Center for Indigenous Health highlights a big policy issue: Indigenous youth are more physically lively than non-Indigenous youth, yet they self-report poorer health outcomes.

This illustrates why using sports participation as a template for policymaking to influence positive health outcomes is troublesome. Sport has historically did not address the systemic issues that burden Indigenous people and their communities. To address these deep-seated problems, a more comprehensive and culturally rooted approach to sports policy is required.

Indigenous youth are more likely than their Indigenous peers to actively engage in physical activity and sport.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jesse Johnston

National sports policy

A national sports policy is essential since it serves as a guide to how and why the federal government will spend money on sports. Canada’s first sports policy, An act encouraging sports and amateur sportsdating back to 1961. It mainly involved cost-sharing agreements with provinces and territories to encourage people to have interaction in sports for physical fitness and competition.

The federal government then began to focus increasingly on competitive sports. Since the Nineteen Seventies, billions of dollars have been invested in athletes to win gold, silver and bronze medals, as if their accolades would encourage residents to be more physically lively.

The general direction of those policies is expressed within the phrase “from the playground to the rostrum” — an apt summary of the scope and ambition of most of them.

Now, a brand new national sports policy is on the horizon, and with it a renewed discussion concerning the relationship between health and sport in Canada. The a consultation report that forms the idea of the brand new policy refers to sports as “an integral part of health and culture in Canada” and quotes describe it as a type of health care.

Sports and health

The link between sports participation and federal policymaking is long-standing and rooted in the standard wisdom that: encouraging youth to take part in sports reliably leads to higher health outcomes.

For example, the primary goal Canada’s 2002 sports policy aimed to significantly increase the variety of Canadians participating in sportsclaiming that practicing sports “contributes to a healthier, longer and more productive life.”

The Canadian sports policy 2012 continued to emphasise the positive health advantages of sport, claiming that it “enhances personal development, provides enjoyment and relaxation, reduces stress, improves physical and mental health, fitness and overall well-being, and enables a more productive and fulfilling life.” ”

A middle-aged woman with short blonde hair speaks into a microphone while sitting in front of a row of Canadian flags
Minister of Sport and Physical Activity Carla Qualtrough talks concerning the measures the federal government is taking to enhance sports safety, December 11, 2023, in Ottawa.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

It cannot be denied that the 2012 policy meant broadly understood health. Considering these were big claims in 2012, only 34 per cent of Canadians participated in some type of organized sport. By 2023 this number increased to almost 50%.largely as a consequence of post-Covid-19 return to play initiatives – a trend that could be reversed as a consequence of rising costs of living.

For the indigenous people, yes no official study monitoring Indigenous participation in sports in Canada. This implies that assumptions that sport is a think about Indigenous health may not apply to many segments of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit populations. This also implies that sports policy may exacerbate existing health inequalities quite than treatment them.

Social determinants of health in indigenous peoples

While sport is a vital and valued aspect of Canadian life, the relative impact it may have on the general health of a community is tempered by many external aspects, because the federal government’s public health resources illustrate.

Approach to sport from A social determinants of the health perspective of indigenous peoples would make clear why and how this happens. The Canadian government currently uses 12 social determinants of health and health inequalities manage your policy.

The social determinants of Indigenous health transcend current government approaches and include an assessment of other negative aspects, akin to settler colonialism, in addition to positive aspects, akin to Indigenous culture and spirituality.

Similarly, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action No. 89 calls on decision-makers to adopt a broader perspective of sport that takes health under consideration. In the US:

“We call on the federal government to amend the Physical Activity and Sport Act to support reconciliation by ensuring that policies that promote physical activity as a fundamental component of health and well-being, reduce barriers to sport participation, increase the pursuit of excellence in sport and build the capacity of Canada’s sport system , include Aboriginal people.”

Threats to sports evangelization

Without critically considering how we view the role of sport in Canadian life, any latest policy risks the hazards of sport evangelism: the false belief that sport alone can miraculously solve social and structural problems.

The long list of social determinants of indigenous health is a stark reminder of the necessity to know sport inside this complex matrix.

In each mainstream and Indigenous communities across Canada, sports are neither inherently good nor bad. Rather, it’s a tool that needs to be used responsibly. This requires us to acknowledge each its potential and limitations to complement the lives of its participants, especially those we all know struggle with health inequities, as is the case with indigenous peoples.

 

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Health and Wellness

Health matters: WNBA star Napheesa Collier on her commitment to women’s reproductive health

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Minnesota lynx

Napheesa Collier will not be only a WNBA superstar for the Minnesota Lynx and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, but additionally the mother of her daughter Mila and an advocate for women’s reproductive health rights.

It recently decided to partner with Opill®, the primary and only every day contraceptive pill available over-the-counter within the United States. This breakthrough represents a major step forward in women’s health care by providing a convenient and accessible contraceptive option. With Opill, women not need to visit health care facilities for prescriptions, making it easier than ever to take control of their reproductive health.

The collaboration relies on Opill®’s long-standing partnership with the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). “One of the reasons Opill® partnered with the WNBA is the great passion of players who use their platform to support causes they believe in,” said Leila Bahbah, leading women’s health brand at Perrigo within the US. “Napheesa exudes this passion, and together we plan to educate and empower people to take control of their reproductive health.”

Collier advocates for girls and says she is willing to have conversations, even in the event that they are difficult. “I just truly believe in everything they do at Opill®. I believe it’s important to talk to people who may become pregnant and to women about the reproductive health and contraceptive options available to them,” Collier tells ESSENCE.

He continues: “I want people to know that if they want contraception, Opill® is a great option. It is the first over-the-counter drug approved by the FDA. It is inexpensive, available. You don’t need a prescription to get it. I think that’s a key thing in today’s climate.”

Collier notes that within the off-season, he tries to travel to various colleges to talk to students about their reproductive freedoms. “Talking about this topic is essential to remove the stigma as it should not be considered a shameful topic or something that should not be discussed openly. My mother was a nurse, so it was casual to talk about it in our house, and I want to pass it on to other people too, so I’m very excited about it,” she says.

In the present political climate, many ladies with daughters are concerned about their future and reproductive health. Collier, included. “Especially because I am the mother of a young girl, it is very important to me to be able to raise her in an atmosphere where she knows her reproductive rights and health, that she has access to affordable health care and contraception if she wants it and that she can ask me these questions and have open conversations.”

Collier continues: “It’s back to education. Again, I think it’s harmful that we can’t have open conversations about birth control and other issues that are usually taboo. I think it’s harmful. I think this does a lot of harm to women. It hurts. This is harmful to our society. Being able to talk about these issues and empowering women to learn about their rights and bodies creates a safer and healthier society.”

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Health and Wellness

Yes, despite what you’ve heard on TikTok, you still need to use sunscreen

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Summer is nearly here. But as an alternative of using sunscreen, some TikTokers just do that encouraging followers throw it away and forgo sunscreen.

They argue that it’s healthier to forgo sunscreen to get the complete advantages of the sun.

Here’s what the science really says.

How does sunscreen work?

Due to the acute UV environment in Australia, most individuals with pale to olive skin or other risk aspects for skin cancer must accomplish that protect yourself. Applying sunscreen is a key approach to protecting areas that aren’t easily covered by clothing.

Sunscreens work by absorbing or scattering UV rays before they reach the skin and damage DNA or supporting structures corresponding to collagen.

In this photo I (Katie) apply sunscreen only to the appropriate side of my face. Sunscreens absorb and scatter UV light (right side), although it can’t be seen with the naked eye (left side). The photo on the appropriate also shows where sun spots (dark spots) accumulate on my skin and where I do not care to apply sunscreen evenly – under the attention, on the cheek and completely missing the ear.
The creator provided/UQ

When UV molecules hit DNA, the surplus energy can damage our DNA. This damage might be repaired, but when the cell divides before the error is repaired, it causes a mutation that may lead to skin cancer.

The energy of the UV particle (photon) causes the DNA strands to break and reconnect incorrectly. This causes a tumor within the DNA strand, which makes accurate copying difficult and might introduce mutations.
NASA/David Herring

The most typical skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Melanoma is less common but most definitely spreads throughout the body; this process known as metastasis.

Two against three At least the Australians will one skin cancer during their lives they usually reconcile 80% all cancers in Australia.

About 99% of skin cancers in Australia are attributable to overexposure to UV radiation.

Excessive exposure to UV radiation also affects the looks of the skin. UVA rays are able to penetrate deep into the skin, where they break down supporting structures corresponding to elastin and collagen.

This causes signs premature agingcorresponding to deep wrinkles, brown or white spots and broken capillaries.

Sunscreen may also help prevent skin cancer

Consistently used sunscreen reduces the danger of skin cancer and slows skin aging.

In Queensland studyparticipants either used sunscreen day by day for nearly five years or continued their usual use.

After five years, the danger of squamous cell cancer was reduced within the day by day group 40% compared to the second group.

Ten years later, the danger of developing invasive melanoma was reduced within the group of individuals taking the drug day by day 73%

Do sunscreens block the health-promoting properties of sunlight?

The answer is a little more complicated and involves a personalised risk-benefit trade-off.

First, the excellent news: spending time within the sun has many health advantages don’t rely under the influence of UV radiation and aren’t affected by the use of sunscreens.

A woman applies sunscreen
Sunscreens only filter out UV rays, not all light.
Ron Lach/Pexels

Sunscreens only filter UV rays, not visible light or infrared light (which we feel as heat). Importantly, a number of the advantages of sunlight are obtained through Eyes.

Visible light improves mood and regulates and possibly reduces circadian rhythm (which influences the sleep-wake cycle). myopia (myopia) in children.

Infrared light is being researched as a treatment for several conditions skin, neurological, psychiatric AND autoimmune disorders.

So what is the good thing about exposing your skin to UV radiation?

Sun exposure produces vitamin D, which is crucial for healthy bones and muscles.

Vitamin D deficiency is surprisingly common amongst Australians, peaking in Victoria at 49% in winter and lowest in Queensland at 6% in summer.

Fortunately, individuals who deal with sun protection can avoid vitamin D deficiency taking a complement.

Skin exposure to UV radiation could have advantages independent of vitamin D production, but these haven’t been proven. It may reduce the danger of autoimmune diseases corresponding to multiple sclerosis or cause the discharge of a chemical that may lower blood pressure. However, there aren’t enough details about these advantages to say whether sunscreen can be an issue.

What does this mean for you?

Exposure of the skin to UV radiation may provide some advantages that could be blunted by sunscreens. This determines whether it’s value giving up these advantages to avoid skin cancer how susceptible you have skin cancer.

If you have pale skin or other aspects that increase your risk of skin cancer, try to use sunscreen day by day on all days when the forecast UV index reaches 3.

If you have darker skin that rarely or never burns, you might want to skip using sunscreen on daily basis – although you’ll still need protection when you’re outdoors for prolonged periods of time.

For now, the balance of evidence suggests that it is healthier for people susceptible to skin cancer to proceed using sunscreen, supplementing with vitamin D as needed.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Health and Wellness

Recipe for change: eliminating health disparities and economic empowerment – the essence

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Via Griffin/Getty Images

Throughout the 12 months, the Global Black Economic Forum held quite a few select conversations focused on solutions to the most pressing economic and social issues facing marginalized communities. One of those issues – too often missed – is the link between Black health and wealth. If we do not start eliminating health disparities and inequalities today, we cannot give you the chance to construct wealth for the future.

This intersection was the focus of an event we hosted in August as a part of our cooking talk series. It was held on Martha’s Vineyard, round the corner National Medical Scholarships (NMF), the Black World Economic Forum had the opportunity to satisfy with NMF’s unapologetic leader, Michellene Davis. Recognized by Modern Healthcare magazine as certainly one of the 25 most influential minority leaders in healthcare, Michellene’s profession has involved policy advocacy and social change.

Her organization is devoted to increasing the variety of Black, Indigenous and physicians of color through fellowships, service-learning programs, mentoring opportunities and clinical research leadership training.

The conversation revealed two easy and interconnected data points: In the next decade, the United States will experience:huge shortage of doctors while becoming a majority non-white nation. These two trends highlight the need for greater diversity on this field. Studies have shown that patients of color see racially and ethnically diverse physicians. Treatment results are frequently higher.

However, the percentage of black doctors in the US is growing at an alarmingly slow rate – it has only increased by 4% over the last 120 years.. In the face of conservatives’ regressive and destructive attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, there has never been a greater need for us to redouble these efforts. The more we are able to improve health outcomes, the higher we’ll give you the chance to seize and compete for economic opportunities in the future. Given the urgent need to deal with health care workforce disparities and their direct impact on Black economic outcomes, it’s equally essential to acknowledge the broader economic opportunities that may drive wealth creation in our communities.

The competition for certainly one of the best economic opportunities in the history of tourism and hospitality – the 2026 FIFA World Cup – was the focus of our other curated conversation. Organized round the corner East Point Congress and Visitors Bureau, we sat down with its president, Chantel Francois. In her position, she is responsible for the development of the tourism industry in the city of East Point, Georgia. Previously, she led economic development and tourism promotion efforts in Atlanta, Trinidad and Tobago.

Francois described how local businesses run by entrepreneurs of color can leverage global events like the FIFA World Cup to extend their brand visibility, increase sales, and even start their very own businesses. She emphasized the importance of partnerships with event organizers, teams and athletes in constructing company awareness. This cooperation can also be crucial as the city government works with many stakeholders to make sure the safety of tourists and maximum economic opportunities for the area people.

When it involves such major events, it is usually essential to instill a way of community pride in each sector wherein an organization competes. This pride translates into a robust bond with travelers that may make them proceed to interact with small businesses or spark curiosity in them to learn more about the community. The 2026 FIFA World Cup has the potential to place tens of millions of dollars into the pockets and communities of individuals of color, and it’s crucial for businesses to begin planning now in the event that they have not already.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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