What is the relevance of the desire phase for women in Kaplan's model?

Ellen Rehm

Masters and Johnson published their book in 1996 of a linear model of sexual response for both men and women. The book was composed of four stages, beginning with excitement/arousal and proceeding to plateau, orgasm, and resolution. Kaplan came along in 1979 adding the concept of desire to the model and condensed the overall response into three phases; desire, arousal, and orgasm. Over the past decade, this framework has been called into question for women for many different reasons.

This model assumes that men and women have similar sexual responses, which they do not. Many women do not move progressively through the phases as described; they may move from sexual arousal to orgasm and satisfaction without experiencing sexual desire at all. They can also experience desire, arousal, and satisfaction but no orgasm. Some researchers propose that much of female sexual desire is actually responsive rather than spontaneous. For example, a reaction to a partner being spontaneous rather then her own spontaneous feelings.

Source: Female Sexual Response. Association of Reproductive Health Professionals. March 2008. Retrieved from http://www.arhp.org/publications-and-resources/clinical-fact-sheets/female-sexual-response

How can couples increase intimacy non-sexually to complement their sex lives?

Luke Newman

            Bonnie Lynn Wright is a PhD who wrote an article explaining non-sexual forms of intimacy on behalf of the Honor Society of Nursing.  She explains that often people associate “being intimate” with being physical with one another and having sex. She argues that the word has an entirely different meaning.  Couples can be intimate but not having sex and people can be having sex and not be intimate.  The terms are mutually exclusive.  Wright lays out three things that most increase non-sexual intimacy: sharing, being kind, and giving.  Her suggestion for sharing is to listen to music together and pick out “your song.” Whenever you hear that song, you’ll always think of each other and smile.  With being kind, she suggests small actions that show you care, like holding the door open or doing chores.  For giving, Wright suggests being open in communication with partners and potentially going to church as a couple.

Wright, Bonnie L. "What Are Some Non-sexual Forms of Intimacy?" - Sex & Relationships. Sharecare.com, n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. <http://www.sharecare.com/health/sex-and-relationships/non-sexual-forms-of-intimacy>.

Why isn't spirituality and personal beliefs not incorpated with sex education?

By:  Erica Haywood

Spirituality and Personal belief is a huge conflict when it comes to teaching sex education, especially in schools.  This is generally a conflict because most schools teach sex education in terms of the anatomy, physiology and emotional aspect of it over religious beliefs.  Some do stress that the only way to remain safe from HIV and STDs is total abstinence.  When sex education is taught, it's mostly in depth of how it works and the various ways of doing it, not really clarifying whether it is right or wrong in which situations.  This is a huge controversy because some parents believe that when taught about sex that it is exposing them to it and some parents don't want that for their children.  While other parents believe that exposing them to it is a good idea because in a way it protects young people from the dangers of sex.  An article in New York times suggests that schools should be diverse to the different groups and ethnicity.  This meaning that they should reach out and respect those that have the religion of saving themselves for marriage and express that it is in no way a pressure to have sex.  This topic also relates to prayer being brought into education and schools.

   http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/sex-ed-new-york-schools-fine-respect-religious-parents-opt-article-1.970783

Who is most commonly affected by asthma as far as age groups, environments, etc.?

By:  Erica Haywood

I was curious about this question because growing up, I knew a lot of peers that suffered from asthma and it seemed to have been related to the environments that they possibly grew up in.  A lot of them had to live around parents and family members smoking, some had roaches and unsanitary homes.  Learning that these are a few factors related to asthma, I want to learn more about the statistics.  Asthma is something that can occur at any age, but it is more commonly found in children and elder people.  This could be that the body is very weak at those stages in life.  As children, more males than females develop asthma and as adults, more men than women.  Asthma is something that can run in families as well.  Heavy smokers and people around second hand smoke are very likely to develop asthma.  When it comes to children, it was found that children that are born at a low birth weight, African American, raised in a low income environment and around tobacco smoke are likely to have asthma.  This research relates to my statement and answers my question because I knew a lot of children that grew up in low income environments.  A lot of times, those parents don't care that their children are exposed to these types of things and that is why asthma is very common.


http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/asthma/what-causes-asthma
http://www.sharecare.com/health/asthma-causes/who-is-affected-by-asthma

What are the negative side effects to flu mist?

Ellen Rehm

In the recent years, many younger children have been preferring the flu mist instead of the flu shot. My  13 year old sister included. My sister is terrified of shots therefore she thinks the flu mist is a better option for her, yet my mom is worried of the side effects.

FluMist is the brand of the flu vaccine thats given in a nasal spray. There are no needles involved in the FluMist, unlike the flu shot. FluMist is especially appealing to kids who do not like the sight of needles.
The FluMist is made from weakened live viruses. The weakened live virus reproduces inside the persons nose and produces viruses that the immune system learns to attack. It is still unclear whether the flu shot or the nasal spray flu vaccine is more effective.

Side effects with the FluMist include runny nose, headache, wheezing, vomiting, muscle aches, and fever in children. In adults, the side effects are runny nose, headache, sore throat, and cough. The Flu
Mist does not cause the flu which is a common belief.

Source: Cold, Flu, & Cough Health Center. What is FluMist? 27 August 2013. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/flu-guide/questions-answers-nasal-spray-flu-vaccine

Is there any evidence to support the claim that vaccines can cause autism in children?

by Dan Ritchey

            Last class, we had a discussion about vaccinations. Some students expressed that they would not vaccinate their children due to the risk of the children possibly developing autism from the vaccine. I had heard rumors of this possibility in the past and wanted to know if there was any evidence to support the claim that autism can be caused by vaccinations.

            According to the Center for Disease Control, “Many studies that have looked at whether there is a relationship between vaccines and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). To date, the studies continue to show that vaccines are not associated with ASDs. However, CDC knows that some parents and others still have concerns. To address these concerns, CDC is part of the Inter-Agency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), which is working with the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) on this issue. The job of the NVAC is to advise and make recommendations regarding the National Vaccine Program. Communication between the IACC and NVAC will allow each group to share skills and knowledge, improve coordination, and promote better use of research resources on vaccine topics.”

References:
Related Topics. (2013, October 31). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 18, 2013, from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/topics.html

Just what is in the emissions that factories put off into the air and what can that mean for your health?

There is a new movement in America to "go green," this can mean a variety of things from recycling to carpooling and even walking to many places that one may regularly drive.  Besides the obvious benefits of saving the planet and making the most of our resources what is in this movement for the people?  There is the financial incentive to save money and even make a small amount of cash for selling things like aluminum when you can but what about our health?  This is more of a question of the pollution that cars and many factories put off into the atmosphere on a constant basis.  Many of us have no idea what is in that smoke rising out of those towers that are commonly seen at factories in our own communities. There are many common gases that are released, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide top the list.  Ozone is another emission that is harmful, although it is helpful in the upper atmosphere, in the lower atmosphere in is devastating to our health.  Animal feeding operations often release ammonia and methane into the atmosphere, both of which can cause major harm to humans.  Common diseases caused by these agents are mainly respiratory issues like COPD or emphysema but other conditions and even some cancers can be attributed to these gases that are released into the air by large factories.  There are regulations out now to limit the emissions that a company is allowed but that does not mean that it is safe to breath those things in.  Large factories can not help many of these emissions as they are necessary for the products that many of use consume and enjoy but one must think, is the possible health consequence worth it?

Tyler Hieneman

http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/environmental-pollution-caused-factories-31217.html

If where you live can negatively effect your health, then why don't doctors take that into account during checkups?

In class we learned that depending on where you live can really negatively affect your health. In the video we saw that the individual lived in multiple places in the world all with terrible environmental health issues that caused him to have a heart attack. He pondered as too why you fill doctors don't recommend and take into account where you live when asking the billion questions they already ask you. As I looked online I truly couldn't find any valid research to answer my question. But going off the video we watched and my own personal opinion I think it is due to the fact that there is not many places in there world today that the environment is truly pure and clean. Doctors wouldn't be able to make many recommendations as to how to fix the problem besides saying move to a more environmental healthy place which isn't a realistic option for most people. Yet, I do believe that doctors should take that into account when diagnosing why someone has a specific health problem.

Are Electric Cars the Future?

Anysha 

Automobile emissions are responsible for half of urban pollution and a quarter of all carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. In the early 1900’s electric cars out sold gasoline fueled cars. Then they slowly began to decline due to the fact that gasoline powered cars could drive faster. In the early 1980’s the electric car could only go 60 mph. Now in 2013 they are able to go 200mph. Electric cars are powered by battery only. When the car is charged fully you will be able to drive for 250 miles. It only cost $300 a year to maintain the battery of an electric car. However the cost of gasoline in a regular car is about 2,500 gas a year. Which is almost 10 times the cost of an electric car. Although the electric car has many positives it also has negatives. Since the car is emission free and runs on batteries, many people believe that batteries contain harmful substances that could enter into the ground water.

http://www.howstuffworks.com/electric-car.htm

http://go.hrw.com/resources/go_sc/sp/HZ1PE419.PDF

What are the specific ways to treat and purify water? Which is the best method?

Moira Laughlin

There are many ways to purify water, twenty-four ways to be exact. Which all fall under four categories, separation, chemicals, filtration, and oxidation. When performing separation methods it consists of separating the bacteria through heat, light, and gravity. The methods of separation are as follows, sedimentation, boiling water, distillation, and ultraviolet light. Chemicals can also be used to purify water but is not usually considered as the best method being that if used in the incorrect way the chemicals can be harmful. Some of the chemicals used to purify water are chlorine, bromine, and iodine just to name a few. Then you have the filtration methods which consist of paper or cloth, charcoal, reverse osmosis, as well as enzymes and bacteria, and many more. Last but not least there are oxidation methods which are aeration, ozone, and electronic purification and dissolved oxygen generation.
The best method all depends on what type of water you want to be purified. Drinking water is best filtered, while pool water is best purified with chemicals.

Citations:
Etrich, P. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.enviroalternatives.com/watermethods.html

Is there a place in the world that is considered to be the cleanest/ most environmentally friendly and most environmentally harmful/dangerous?

Renee Neltner

There are places on Earth that are considered to be the the cleanest and the dirtiest.

According to the World News, "The air quality at Cape Grim in Tasmania is officially the best on the planet". They also talk about how the filthiest place to live is in China i a town called Linfen.

This picture shows the difference between Cape Grim (on the left) and Linfen (on the right).

Linfen was named last year by the World Bank as having the worst quality air on Earth."In contrast, Cape Grim, at the north-western tip of Tasmania, lays claim to both the cleanest air and water in the planet, largely due to the Roaring Forties, the winds that sweep in over the Southern Ocean. It is home to the Australian government's baseline air pollution station, whose unique "Air Library" collects samples as a "pure air" yardstick for scientists worldwide".

Sources:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/jul/09/australia.china

Are Americans getting better or worse about using alternative forms of transportation in contrast to driving?

I wasn't able to find a clear answer to this question. I found a website that showed a map of the United States that had markers where cities were and you could click on it to see the statistics of peoples forms of transportation.  In cities in the North East and California, people used more alternative forms of transportation rather than driving.  In cities in Kentucky, driving was a primary source for transportation.  This is probably because their public transportation system is a lot better and the cities are a lot bigger.  Cities in Florida also rely on mainly driving for their form of transportation.  The website where this map can be viewed is governing.com

Kathleen Kimmell
 http://www.governing.com/gov-data/transportation-infrastructure/alternate-modes-of-transportation-to-work-map.html.

How Can Teens Develop A More Healthy Relationship With Their Parents?

Parents – if they want to maintain a healthy relationship with their teens – must rethink their personal values, question their own authority and even reexamine their own unresolved childhood issues with new intensity. Parents should take time each day to see their teen as an amazing and precious human being. Accept and appreciate the beauty of what is, even when it is not always pretty. Parents should treat their child as if this were their last day on earth. Parents should respect themselves and the child. They should provide appropriate boundaries and limits, and allow for natural and logical consequences. Parents need to set their child up for success and not failure. They should definitely plan ahead for the success of their child. While maintaining their role as the parent, they should treat the teen the way that they would want to be treated. They should be honest, rational and proactive. All of their parenting should seek to build self-esteem. Parents shouldn't be judgmental towards their child. They should faith in positive outcomes for them. Parents should allow teens to take safe risks and make their own mistakes. Because if not then the child won't learn anything from their mistakes. Parent's also shouldn't over-involve themselves in their teen's life. Although they raised their teen, the teen is not theirs. Teens have their own paths to follow.

Source:http://family.go.com/parenting/pkg-teen/article-774171-develop-a-positive-relationship-with-your-teen-t/

Angel Morrisey

What is a method to purify ocean water so it can safely be consumed?

Luke Newman

            As we discussed in class, only a very small proportion of the water on the Earth is drinkable water.  Most of it is either sea/ocean water or non-consumable fresh water.  So, what’s one way we can convert our most abundant water source (the ocean) into a pure, consumable type of water?  Researchers at MIT have found a way to use graphene, which is a one-atom thick sheet of carbon, to efficiently (and possibly cheaply) desalinate ocean water.  When water molecules mixed with sodium and chloride ions (salt water) encounter the graphene sheet that is perforated with very small holes, the water molecules are able to pass through, while the ions are filtered out.  Researchers say this technique works hundreds of times faster than currently employed techniques.  The most important part of the process is getting the perforations to be the perfect size.  The ideal size is one nanometer.  If the holes are 0.7 nanometers, even the water won’t be able to pass through.

Chandler, David. "A New Approach to Water Desalination." MIT's News Office. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 01 July 2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2012/graphene-water-desalination-0702.html>.

Is it possible to overdose on Psychoactive Mushrooms?

It is not possible to overdose physically on Psychoactive Mushrooms. However, it is possible to have panic attacks or acute psychological collapses triggered by particularly high doses. This is more likely in users with a personal or family history of mental illness.

Eating unidentified or misidentified mushrooms can result in poisoning and even death.

Also psychooactive mushroom are not considered to be addictive physically or psychologically

What are some simple ways you can conserve water?

A lot of us don't think of conserving water as that important because we have water so easily available. Not everyone has this great luxury. Less than 1 percent of  the earth's water can be used for people. Conserving water is very important and here are some easy steps.

Turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth.
Fix all leaks. One drip ever 5 seconds adds up to 5 gallons per day.
Don't let the water run while you are hand washing dishes
Take shorter showers. 30 minute showers are not necessary
Only use the washer for full loads. Don't wash a couple items at a time

These are some easy ways that will make a big difference in the amount of water that you use. You will even notice a difference in your water bill.

http://eartheasy.com/live_water_saving.htm

What places/hospitals/doctors in the U.S., if any, ask patients where they have been living the past 10-15 years, along with questions about allergies, medications, and family history?

Molly Vickers

I could find absolutely nothing on this specific topic by searching the internet. Clearly, doctors asking patients where they live and have lived the past 10-15 years to determine what potential environmental health risks they are daily exposed to is uncommon. It is no surprise that there are no answers or comments about this online because no one recognizes it as a current issue that needs to be looked at. I found a news article on USA Today's website of the top 10 most toxic places in the world. Number one on the list is a city in Bangladesh for being the most polluted place in the world. I then looked up health effects of pollution and common symptoms include chest pain, coughing, nausea, and pulmonary congestion. Levels of severity can increase to lung damage (epa.gov).

Use this as an example as to why we need to take a closer look, and possibly add a person's living situation to the list of questions a doctor asked a patient prior to diagnosis. Say a patient comes into the doctor's office with a minor illness that is bothering him. He is coughing all night long so he is unable to sleep, it's hard to breathe, he has a loss of appetite, etc. The doctor thinks he has bronchitis so he gives him an antibiotic. The patient is a businessman who does some work with a company in Dhaka, Bangladesh and makes frequent trips there. Since the patient was never asked where he's been, the doctor was unable to identity Dkakar as a highly polluted city, and link those symptoms to effects of pollution. Instead, he will be taking an antibiotic to kill bacteria in his body that doesn't need to be killed.

Sources:
http://www.epa.gov/region07/air/quality/health.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/2013/11/06/10-most-toxic-places-in-the-world/3452707/

Is the flu shot safe?

The following information is from http://www.whydontyoutrythis.com/2013/09/11-reasons-why-flu-shots-are-more-dangerous-than-a-flu.html You can visit that site to get the full reference page.

There are always the skeptics that believe the flu shot is poisionis, and there are always the ones who swear by it? Is there a sure cut answer? I can't really say. However, being an informed individual can allow you to make the best choice for you. I know I won't be getting the flu shot, and neither will my child.

1. Lack of real evidence that young children even benefit from flu shots 51 studies involving 260,000 children age 6 to 23 months established no evidence that the flu vaccine is any more effective than a placebo. Additionally, flu shots only protect against certain strains of the virus meaning that you can still easily get the flu if you come into contact with a different strain of virus.

2. Flu vaccines contain other dangerous ingredients such as mercury
The pharmaceutical industry, medical experts and the mainstream media are candid in telling us that flu vaccines contain strains of the flu virus. What they are less likely to reveal though is the long list of other ingredients that come with the vaccine. It is now a known fact that flu vaccines contain mercury, a heavy metal known to be hazardous for human health. Mercury toxicity can cause depression, memory loss, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory problems, ADD, oral health problems, digestive imbalances and other serious health issues.

3. The flu shot can cause Alzheimer's disease
Evidence now suggests that flu vaccines can cause Alzheimer's disease. Research conducted by Dr. Hugh Fudenberg, a leading immunogeneticist, shows that those who consistently get the flu vaccine increase their risk of Alzheimer's disease by 10 fold. He believes this is due to the toxic combination of aluminum and mercury in the vaccine. Additionally, introducing the flu virus to an elderly person (who with age will naturally have a weaker immune system) will only increase the chances of that individual becoming susceptible to more serious illness.

4. The very people pushing flu vaccinations are making billions of dollars each year
In August 1999, the Committee on Government Reform initiated an investigation into Federal vaccine policy. This investigation focused on possible conflicts of interest on the part of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The investigation concluded that many individuals serving on two key advisory committees had financial ties to the pharmaceutical companies that manufacture vaccines. Often, these individuals were granted waivers to fully participate in the discussions that led to recommendations on vaccine licensing and adding vaccines to the Childhood Immunization Schedule. This in itself creates serious doubt as to how effective flu vaccines really are.

5. The flu vaccines actually do not immunize but sensitize the body against the virus
Have you ever noticed how vaccinated children get sick almost immediately following a vaccination? This is because the flu virus is introduced into their bodies. So rather than immunize, the flu shot actually only sensitizes the body against the virus. And the fact that it causes individuals to get ill following a shot indicates immuno-suppression (i.e. lowering of the immunity).

6. Makes you more susceptible to pneumonia and other contagious diseases
For someone with an already suppressed immune system, injecting strains of the flu virus can have devastating consequences. If your body is already working to fight off a virus or simply operating with low immunity, a vaccine injection could put your body in serious danger of contracting influenza with stronger symptoms, or even worse pneumonia and other contagious diseases.

7. Vascular disorders
Medical research shows flu shots are associated with an increased risk of vascular inflammation. Symptoms include fever, jaw pain, muscle aches, pain and stiffness in the neck, upper arms, shoulder and hips and headache.

8. Children under the age of 1 are at risk
Children under 1 years of age are highly vulnerable to a neurotoxic breach of the delicate nerve center surrounding the brain and central nervous system. The first round of the flu vaccine is administered at age 6 months. A child under the age of 1 lacks sufficient protection to guard against premature damage to the blood barrier in the brain.

9. Increased risk of narcolepsy
There have been dozens of reported cases of children in 12 different countries who have developed narcolepsy (a chronic sleep disorder) after receiving the flu vaccine. The study, which took place between October 2009 and the December 2011, compared 3.3 million vaccinated Swedes with 2.5 million who were not vaccinated. The risk was found to be highest among the youngest people who took the vaccines. For those under the age of 21, the risk of contracting narcolepsy was three times higher.

10. Weakens immunological responses
There have been literally thousands of medical journal articles published that show injecting vaccines can lead to harmful immunological responses and a host of other infections. Moreover, weak immunological responses only decrease a person's ability to fight the diseases that the vaccine was supposed to protect against in the first place.

11. Serious neurological disorders
Evidence now suggests that ingredients in flu vaccinations can actually cause serious neurological disorders. In 1976 a significant number of those who received the flu vaccine acquired Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a disorder characterized by permanent nerve damage and even paralysis. Flu vaccines can contain many harmful materials including detergent, mercury, formaldehyde, and strains of live flu virus.

Alecia W.

Is the cancer rate higher in all of Appalachia or just Appalachian Kentucky?

Leslie Zoller

Our guest speaker spoke a lot about how appalachian Kentucky had a higher rate of cancer than any other part of the state, but what about the rest of Appalachia? The answer is Appalachia has a higher rate of cancer than non-appalachia of that state. States included in Appalachia are parts of New York, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and all of West Virginia. The incidence rate per 100,00 people is higher in all appalachian part of the states except in Virginia and Pennsylvania where there is a -3.6 and -2.3% difference. The mortality rate is also higher in appalachia, New York has the highest with a 10% difference from non-appalachia. There are many factors that contribute to this high rate of cancer in Appalachia. In a study done by the Appalachia Community Cancer Network it shows that people in appalachia are more likely to both smoke and chew tobacco, less likely to get the adequate amount of fruits and vegetables, have a higher rate of those who have no exercise whatsoever, an higher obesity rate, but are almost as likely to get a preventative test done.

http://www.accnweb.com/docs/2009/CancerBurdenAppalachia2009.pdf
http://www.accnweb.com/DisparitiesData.aspx

Electronic Cigarettes and Cancer?

Recently the topic of electronic cigarettes and their safety has taken off in the tobacco industry and healthcare worlds.  Currently the FDA only controls electronic cigarettes that have a therapeutic claim attached to them leaving many brands and products out there for public purchase that have not been reviewed and may cause significant harm to users.  Recently the FDA has probed into the subject and some preliminary research has been conducted and the results are not favorable for the electronic cigarette industry.  The lab test revealed carcinogens in the electronic cigarettes and even a component of antifreeze.  The FDA originally approved several electronic cigarette products for smoking cessation but that is heavily debated right now and it would not be surprising if that is retracted in the future and electronic cigarettes were considered no better than any other cigarette.  There is also an issue that electronic cigarettes draw teens and younger adults in and that tempts them to start using real cigarettes which will lead to complications and disease.  Overall electronic cigarettes are a great idea on paper to help smoker quit but currently the products are not where they need to be and the research is inconclusive to suggest these are a long term fix and only time will tell what the FDA will do with electronic cigarettes

Tyler Hieneman

http://www.cancer.org/myacs/eastern/areahighlights/cancernynj-news-ny-ecig-health-vote

Are there any other Models of Change besides the Transtheoretical Model that may apply better or be more effective for other people?

Luke Newman

            In class we discussed the Transtheoretical model of change to assess where a patient is on a model in terms of making a change in their lives.  We discussed in class a person quitting smoking and how we could assess where they are on the Transtheoretical model.  Another model for determining health behavior of a person is the Theory of Planned Behavior.  The Theory of Planned Behavior suggests that health behavior can be framed and analyzed in terms of rational planning.  It incorporates social pressures as well as the patient’s belief about how others view their current situation.  It is similar to the Transtheoretical model but it puts more emphasis on how others view them.  This can be problematic I think because we discussed how important that others change for themselves, not for an external motivating force.

Freeman. "Models of Health and Illness Behavior." UK COP. United States, Lexington, KY. 04 Feb. 2013. Lecture.