Health and Wellness

‘Weather’ Affects Black Women’s Health. What can we do about it?

Published

6 months ago

June 5, 2024

Getty Images

For many years, Black women have been told that the negative health outcomes we face are our own fault. We are fed the rhetoric that we have diabetes because we won’t stop eating foods which have been passed right down to us from our ancestors. We are genetically handicapped because we are inferior. We don’t exercise enough because we are lazy. Black women are told that we should not allowed to live so long as other races because we should not adequate.

Public health researcher Arline Geronimous challenged this notion in her 368-page book released in 2023. In the book, Geronimous delves into the results of stress on the body, specifically specializing in the health effects of Black women. In summary, he argues that the chronic stress of living in a racist society contributes significantly to poor health outcomes for marginalized people.

The public health researcher argues that the more dire health outcomes experienced by Black women are the results of the repeated impact of living under pressure on the intersection of race and gender, compounded by living in oppressive systems. This perspective, specific to Black women, sheds light on their unique challenges and the way they manifest of their health. In other words, Geronimous concludes that there are more aspects that influence our health.

Although the term “weathering” attempts to position the blame for poor health on Black women and shine a light-weight on oppressive systems, Atlanta nurse Patricia Allen has mixed feelings about the word.

“While this may accurately reflect the challenges black women face in society, it can also be seen as labeling them as more fragile or inferior,” she explains. Allen doesn’t wish to hear terms describing something as “worn out or tired” when talking about his health in a bunch or as a person. But she acknowledges that research shows that black women not only have greater health disparities, but in addition more dire outcomes, and this must be addressed.

On the opposite hand, Melissa Ifll, a clinical social employee and wellness coach in Atlanta, agrees with the term.

“I see that the Black women I work with come in physically and emotionally tired, with a myriad of health symptoms,” she says. “Everything from chronic insomnia to lupus, after which symptoms that haven’t got a diagnosis but affect functioning. My clients are successful, but their bodies are damaged when we start working together.

Whether weatherization is a suitable term or not, the impact of stress on Black women is undeniable. AND 2022 article on the National Library of Medicine titled “Assessing Gender- and Race-Related Stress Among Black Women” found that we have higher levels of psychological stress than white women. Moreover, we usually tend to suffer from chronic stress-related conditions, comparable to obesity, and experience stress related to race and gender.

Turning to real-life examples, we have seen Black women speak out about the challenges they face in institutional structures and the stressors they’ve recently caused. An Oscar-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson she said she considered quitting acting on account of feeling underpaid and never recognized despite her labor. We saw Claudine Gay resign as president of Harvard University after being attacked for calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. We heard about the death of Dr Antoinette “Bonnie” Candia-Bailey after she wrote that she felt vilified by the vice-chancellor of Lincoln University. These are all initial stress bins for Black women, riddled with discrimination and racism. While we have not heard these women openly say that they’re stressed or that they’re experiencing poor health outcomes due to their experiences, their situation could easily create an ideal storm for weather conditions.

“Every day at work I hear about this feeling of being at the fishbowl and being criticized by black female customers,” Ifill says. “In fact, sometimes it seems like the closer they are to their perceived power, the more challenged they feel.” Black women are on the intersection of race and gender, and plenty of feel that irrespective of how high they rise within the roles they’re asked to play, they are going to at all times be disregarded, excluded, and ignored. The term weathering refers to this level of fatigue. This particularly applies to the breakdown of our bodies under the stressors and dire health outcomes we face.

“Black women typically experience earlier onset, delayed treatment, and more severe symptoms compared to other groups,” Allen says. She treated black women for a spread of issues, from chronic mental health issues to reproductive issues to hypertension and diabetes.

While these health problems often result from the poor systems we interact with to deal with our health, research shows that additionally it is a biological impact of stress and the results of so-called telomere shortening.

Telomeres help the body distinguish healthy cells from damaged ones. Damaged telomeres prevent cell division, which is needed for healthy cells within the body and a powerful immune system. Shortened telomeres prevent cells from dividing and dying, which causes them to release chemicals that cause inflammation within the body, which is the explanation for many diseases. Our bodies come into contact with many diseases regularly, but when we experience chronic stress, our immune systems are unable to fight off infections, and these diseases attack and make us sicker, often sicker than others.

So what to do about it? We also have to deal with ourselves by way of emotional well-being and medicine; the answer is prevention. Preventive care is two-fold; may include regular visits with a trusted health care provider, in addition to an assessment of your lifestyle. On the previous, Allen says black women should consider genetic testing and seek advice from their doctor about it.

“The impact of stress on health is a posh interplay of genetic susceptibility and youth experiences. Some individuals are generally more sensitive to emphasize on account of genetic differences that make them more prone to stressors, he says.

For this reason, functional medicine and genetic testing can play a big role in identifying the basis causes of disease. These approaches give attention to personalized treatment plans and lifestyle modifications based on genetic predisposition and disease risk.

That said, preventative care goes beyond annual visits to a wellness center — it is also about assessing the life-style we create through the work we select and the way we deal with ourselves, explains Ifil.

“Often we don’t even think about the life we lead and what impact it has on us. We pursue roles and lifestyles because we believe we should have them and they are cultural norms, but we don’t consider the impact these roles have on us,” she explains. “We always need to take inventory of what we really want, the impact of our choices, and walk away from things when we realize they are not serving us.”

Constant mindfulness is important because stress affects our cognitive abilities, and increasing stress makes it difficult to resolve problems creatively. So you’ll want to pay attention to what you might be agreeing to and have a plan to deal with yourself through it. For example, if you happen to determine to remain in corporate America, prepare a self-care plan to aid you deal with the stress of labor. Meditation, journaling, finding a protected place to vent fears, setting boundaries, and searching for moments of joy and true connection alleviate stress.

Black women face countless social and political situations which can be stressful for us. However, we must bear in mind that the impact of stress will not be only psychological, but in addition biological. Understanding our needs, our family history, and searching for competent care to resolve problems are only a number of the ways we can deal with ourselves. Additionally, it is necessary that we take the time to grasp that we can make decisions that lead us to situations which can be at increased risk of stress. Ultimately, we must make decisions that support our overall well-being, even when it means leaving these situations behind.

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

Health and Wellness

Willow Smith’s debut collection with Moncler is now available – Essence

Published

51 mins ago

November 22, 2024

Moncler

Willow Smith’s debut collection with Moncler has been launched. The capsule is a mixture of the inside of a musician, actress, writer and creator. In it, a futuristic and unbelievable world is explored through clothes. Smith’s personal style was also showcased. The lineup was originally revealed in Shanghai.

Moncler

“Minimalism and utilitarianism. Femininity and masculinity. Black and white. “Putting ideas together in an elegant way is something that really excites me and I wanted to explore that with this collection,” Willow shared.

“Willow’s magnetic energy is captured in a series of images exploring the primary themes of the collection: clashing contrasts, rebirth and renewal, yin and yang, recent beginnings – inspired by Moncler’s mountain origins and love of nature. “Willow’s creativity influences every aspect of the videos and photos accompanying the collection: she not only drives the concept, but also models her designs, narrates the short film and provides the soundtrack,” the brand said in a press release. The launch is accompanied by black and white campaign photos – the dramatization of those photos ushers in an exciting era for Smith.

Moncler

The collection is dominated by knitwear perfect for layering, a down jacket and heavy sweatshirts created in shrunken proportions. The capsule is accomplished with extensive outerwear options and a brief-sleeved T-shirt with silver eyelet. The T-shirt is also available in an extended-sleeved version. The collection includes cream and black shades. The down vest with a hood and a brief cut stands out.

Salix leather boots are characterised by an interesting design. In addition to nodding to punk influences, this footwear option is designed with a Moncler logo on the toe, elastic panels on the front and a rubber sole.

Moncler

“I am incredibly passionate about the outdoors and exploring this wonderful land. I imagine these pieces can easily transition from overnight camping to fashionable evening wear,” Willow added, emphasizing the natural duality of the collection.

Moncler X Willow Smith is currently available in chosen Moncler stores and more moncler.com .

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

Health and Wellness

Women are less likely to undergo cardiopulmonary resuscitation than men. Training on breast mannequins could be helpful

Published

3 hours ago

November 22, 2024

IAM

If someone’s heart suddenly stops beating, this may increasingly have happened minutes of life. Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation may increase their probabilities of survival. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation keeps blood pumping, delivering oxygen to the brain and vital organs until specialized treatment arrives.

However, research shows that bystanders are less likely to intervene to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation if the person is a girl. AND latest Australian study analyzed 4,491 cardiac arrest cases between 2017 and 2019 and located that bystanders were more likely to perform CPR on men (74%) than on women (65%).

Could this be partly because CPR training mannequins (so-called dummies) shouldn’t have breasts? Our recent research we checked out mannequins available all over the world to train people to perform CPR and located that 95% of them were flat-chested.

Anatomically, breasts don’t change the cardiopulmonary resuscitation technique. However, they’ll influence whether people try to accomplish that – and hesitation at these key moments could mean the difference between life and death.

Differences in heart health

Cardiovascular diseases – including heart disease, stroke and cardiac arrest – are probably the most common diseases important reason behind death for ladies all over the world.

But if a girl goes into cardiac arrest outside the hospital (meaning her heart stops pumping air properly), that is actually what happens. 10% less likely receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation than a person. Women too less likely survive cardiopulmonary resuscitation and are at greater risk of brain damage following cardiac arrest.

Bystanders are less likely to intervene if a girl needs cardiopulmonary resuscitation compared to a person.
Doublelee/Shutterstock

These are just among the many health inequalities experienced by women, in addition to transgender and non-binary people. Compared to men, their symptoms they are more likely to be rejected or misdiagnosed, or it could take longer to receive a diagnosis.

Reluctance of the witness

There can also be growth evidence women are less likely to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation compared to men.

This may be partly due to the concerns of those being accused of sexual harassmentworry may cause damage (in some cases based on the assumption that ladies are more “fragile”) and discomfort related to touching women’s breasts.

Bystanders may also get into trouble recognition the lady has a cardiac arrest.

Even in simulated scenarios, researchers found that interveners were less likely to remove women’s clothing prepare for resuscitationcompared to men. And there have been women less likely to receive Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or defibrillation (an electrical charge to restart the center) – even when the training was in the shape of a web based game that didn’t require touching anyone.

There is evidence of how people behave in resuscitation training scenarios reflects what they do in real emergency situations. This means it is amazingly vital to train people to recognize cardiac arrest and prepare for intervention, no matter gender or body type.

Attached to men’s bodies

Very Cardiopulmonary resuscitation training resources depict male bodies or don’t specify gender. If bodies shouldn’t have breasts, it’s a male default.

For example, the 12 months 2022 test taking a look at CPR training in North, Central, and South America, it was found that nearly all of available mannequins were white (88%), male (94%), and slim (99%).

The woman's hands press the torso of a mannequin wearing a blue jacket. — It is amazingly rare for a mannequin to have breasts or a bigger body.
M Isolation photo/Shutterstock

This research reflects what we see in our work once we train other healthcare professionals to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. We noticed that every one the mannequins available for training are flat chested. One of us (Rebecca) had difficulty finding training mannequins with breasts.

Single mannequin with breasts

Our recent research we checked what cardiopulmonary resuscitation mannequins are available and the way diverse they are. In 2023, we identified 20 cardiopulmonary resuscitation mannequins in the worldwide market. Mannequins are often torsos with no head and without arms.

Of the 20 available, five (25%) were sold as “female”, but only considered one of them had breasts. This implies that 95% of obtainable CPR training mannequins were flat-chested.

We also checked out other diversity characteristics, including skin tone and bigger bodies. We found that 65% had more than one skin tone available, but just one had a bigger body. Further research is required on the impact of those elements on bystanders when performing CPR.

Breasts don’t change cardiopulmonary resuscitation technique

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation technique doesn’t change when someone has breasts. The barriers are cultural. And although you could feel uncomfortable, starting cardiopulmonary resuscitation as soon as possible can save your life.

Signs that somebody may have cardiopulmonary resuscitation include not respiration properly or completely or not responding to you.

Perform effective cardiopulmonary resuscitationit’s best to:

place the heel of your hand in the middle of your chest
place your second hand on top of the primary and interlace your fingers (keep your arms straight)
press firmly to a depth of about 5 cm before releasing
press your chest with a frequency of 100-120 beats per minute (you may sing a song) in your head to show you how to keep time!)

An example of performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation – using a flat-chest manikin.

What a couple of defibrillator?

You haven’t got to remove someone’s bra to perform CPR. But you could need to accomplish that if a defibrillator is required.

AND defibrillator is a tool that uses an electrical charge to restart the center. An underwired bra may cause minor skin burns when the debrillator pads apply an electrical charge. However, in case you cannot take your bra off, don’t let it delay your care.

What should change?

Our research highlights the necessity for a big selection of breast CPR training mannequins, in addition to a wide range of body sizes.

Training resources need to higher prepare people to intervene and perform CPR on individuals with breasts. We also need greater education on the chance of developing and dying from heart disease in women.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com

Health and Wellness

Ant stings can be painful. Here’s how to avoid getting stung this summer (and what to do if it happens)

Published

10 hours ago

November 22, 2024

IAM

The starting of summer is just a couple of days away, and plenty of of us will be looking forward to long, sunny days spent on the beach, by the pool, camping or having a picnic within the park.

Insects love summer too. Most of them right then grow and feed. However, this shared appreciation of the season can sometimes lead to conflict.

Insects have long been preyed upon by many species, including birds, mammals, amphibians, and other insects. Accordingly, quite a lot of defense mechanisms have evolved – perhaps none more familiar to humans than the sting.

Many ants have a stinger on their rear end which they use to deliver venom. It will not be the sting itself that causes pain, but relatively venom. Ant venom accommodates a mix of various chemicals, a few of which have evolved specifically to manipulate the nerve endings in our skin to cause pain.

Let’s take a have a look at the several ant stings chances are you’ll experience this summer in Australia and how to respond.

Bull ants

Bull ants (also often called bulldog ants, jumper ants, or jumper ants) are large for an ant. Some species can grow to length 4 centimeters. They are easily identified by their large eyes, long mandibles (jaws), and aggressive nature.

Their sting is immediate, hot, sharp and unambiguous, similar to that of a honey bee. The intense pain will only last a couple of minutes before being replaced by redness and swelling across the sting site.

There are many differing kinds of bull ants in Australia.
Sam Robinson

Green-headed ants

Green-headed ants are also called green ants (but not to be confused with green ants). green tree ants northern Australia, which do not sting). Green-headed ants are common and love our lawns.

About Length 6 millimetersthey’re much smaller than bull ants. They can be recognized by their shiny green-purple exoskeleton.

Green-headed ants are frequently less aggressive than bull ants, but they can still deliver a big sting. The pain from a green ant sting can construct up step by step and cause intense, sticky pain.

Fire ants

Fire ants (or imported red fire ants) are native to South America. They were detected first in Brisbane in 2001it probably moved in containers and has since spread across south-east Queensland.

Fire ants are reddish brown and black and range in size from Length 2–6 millimeters.

You will almost certainly encounter fire ants of their nests, which appear like a pile of loose dirt. A hearth ant nest has no obvious entrance, which is way to distinguish it from other similar ant nests.

Disturbing a hearth ant nest will awaken an offended mass of a whole bunch of ants and expose you to being stung.

The initial pain from a single sting seems like an intense, hot itch, although it can be controlled. However, fire ant stings rarely occur in the only digits. One ant can sting multiple times, and plenty of ants can sting one person, which can lead to a whole bunch of stings. A hearth ant sting can cause pus-filled ulcers and scarring in the next days.

If you reside in an area where fire ants are present, it’s price taking a couple of minutes to learn how to do this recognize and report their.

Electric ants

Electric ants is one other nasty random import, coming from Central and South America. Currently limited to Cairns and surroundingsthese are tiny (1.5 millimeters long) yellow ants.

Like fire ants, these ants are frequently defensive, so lots of them will sting without delay. Their sting is more painful than you’ll expect from such a tiny creature. I compare it to being showered with red, hot sparks.

If you think that you see electric ants, please report it Biosecurity in Queensland.

Australian ants should not the worst

You may be surprised to hear that Australian ants don’t even make it to the rostrum when it comes to essentially the most painful ant stings. The winners include: harvester ants (North and South America), which cause severe, sticky pain, comparable to a drill slowly rotating in a muscle – for up to 12 hours.

The gold medal goes to the sting of the South and Central American bullet ant, which has been described How:

Pure, intense, sensible pain. It’s like walking on burning charcoal with a 3-inch nail stuck in your heel.

How to avoid getting stung (and what to do if you do)

Fortunately, the answer is frequently quite simple. Look around before you sit on the bottom or unfolded a picnic blanket, avoiding places where you see ant nests or a lot of foraging ants.

The selection of footwear might also be necessary. In my experience, most stings occur on the feet of those wearing thongs.

If you get stung, generally the situation will improve by itself. The pain often subsides after a couple of minutes (sometimes slightly longer within the case of a green ant sting). The redness, swelling and itching that sometimes follows may last for several days.

In the meantime, if mandatory, ice pack it will help with the pain. If it’s particularly bad, a topical numbing cream containing lidocaine may provide temporary relief. You can get it over-the-counter at a pharmacy.

A small proportion of individuals may experience an allergic response to ant stings. In very severe cases this may include respiratory problems or ingestion. If you or a loved one experiences these symptoms after an ant sting, you need to seek urgent medical attention.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com