Fighting Cancer with Nutrition -Diajah Williams

 "No single food or food component can protect you against cancer by itself. But strong evidence does show that a diet filled with a variety of plant foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans helps lower risk for many cancers."

-Foods That Fight Cancer™ 

Cancer is the most prevalent disease in the world without a known cure. About 7.6 million people die worldwide, each year from cancer. While the risk of developing cancer is about 50% for men and about 40% for women, it can be combatted with proper nutrition, There are several foods that help us with the fight against the development and progression of cancer. 

Broccoli

Broccoli contains sizable amount of sulforaphane, a  potent compound that boosts the body's protective enzymes and flushes out cancer-causing chemicals. It also targets cancer stem cells, which aid in tumor growth.

Helps fight: 

• breast cancer 
• liver cancer 
• lung cancer 
• prostate cancer 
• skin cancer
• stomach
• bladder cancer

Berries

All berries are packed with cancer-fighting phytonutrients called anthocyanins, which slow down the growth of premalignant cells and keep new blood vessels from forming.

Helps fight: 

• colon cancer 
• esophageal cancer  
• oral cancer 
•  skin cancer 

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are the best dietary source of lycopene, a carotenoid that gives tomatoes their red hue, It was found to stop endometrial cancer cell growth. Endometrial cancer causes nearly 8,000 deaths a year. 

Helps fight:

•  endometrial cancer 
• lung cancer 
• prostate cancer
•  stomach cancers 

Garlic

Phytochemicals in garlic have been found to stop the formation of nitrosamines, carcinogens formed in the stomach when you consume nitrates, a common food preservative.

Helps fight:

•  breast cancer
• colon cancer
• esophageal cancer
• stomach cancer 

Walnuts

Walnuts' phytosterols (cholesterol-like molecules found in plants) have been shown to block estrogen receptors in breast cancer cells, possibly slowing the cells' growth

Helps fight: 

• breast cancer
• prostate cancer 

Beans

A study out of Michigan State University found that black and navy beans reduced colon cancer incidence in rats, in part because a diet rich in the legumes increased levels of the fatty acid butyrate, which in high concentrations has protective effects against cancer growth.

Helps fight: 

• breast cancer 
• colon cancer

There are also foods that cause cancer directly and indirectly.

Animal fatsMeat, cheese, and butter can be rich in saturated fat, which has been linked to obesity—a big cancer predictor.


Causes:

• breast cancer 
• colon cancer 
• rectum cancer 
• endometrium cancer 

Processed Foods

A ballpark hot dog or a few slices of bacon once in a while won't kill you, but don't make them a staple of your diet. Some cured meats tend to be high in nitrites and nitrates, preservatives that can, in large amounts, potentially increase your risk of

Causes: 

• stomach cancer 
• colon cancer 

Alcohol

No amount of alcohol is safe. Alcohol causes havoc on every body cell it touches, so stop after one drink, or don't start at all.

Causes:

• mouth cancer
• esophagus cancer 
• breast cancer 

“AICR’S  FOODS THAT FIGHT CANCER™.” American Institute of Cancer Research. American Institute for Cancer Research, 2016. Web. 27 Mar. 2016. <http://www.aicr.org/foods-that-fight-cancer/>.

“6 Cancer-Fighting Superfoods.” Health.com. Health Media Ventures, 2016. Web. 27 Mar. 2016. <http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20430736,00.html/more>

Interview With Dr. Stephen Shall, DDS - Prompt #3 - Jake Hardin

For some years now I have wanted to become an Oral Surgeon, or at least something in the field of Dentistry. I recently visited my hometown of Toledo, Ohio over Easter weekend and had the chance to talk to my Uncle Steve a little bit about his profession in the field of Maxillofacial Surgery. For those who do not know, as an oral/maxillofacial surgeon you perform operations around the mouth, such as the jaw and face.

What is your background in Dentistry and why did you decide to pursue oral surgery?

  Dr. Stephen Shall went on to pursue his Bachelor of Arts degree in Zoology in 1975 and later obtained his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1978 at The Ohio State University. Upon completing his degree, he went on to complete his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, alongside his long-time friend and business partner, Dr. Ziegler.

  After completing all the required training Dr. Shall moved to Toledo, Ohio. After settling in to his new home he opened his own private practice where he and Dr. Ziegler have been working together since 1983. He is still an active member among the Toledo Dental Society and recently finished up his term as Chairman of the Board at the Dental Center of NW Ohio. Another team member was just added to his practice to help with the tiring work of oral surgery; just recently his son David Shall completed his residency and is now working side-by-side with his Father.

  One thing I noticed when talking to my uncle about why he chose to be an oral surgeon was the fact that he loves working with people. The aspect of being able to have one-on-one contact with patients was a big factor in determining what field he wanted to specialize in. Most every time I go to their house to visit, there will be multiple occurrences where he is on the phone with one of his patients to check on them and see how they are doing. His patients are his number one priority and he puts them above anything else when it comes to work.

What are some of the main procedures that an oral surgeon performs?

Oral and maxillofacial surgery involves the entire facial region with a main focus on the upper and lower jaws.

Some of the procedures and issues that we treat are: various jaw deformities and infections, facial trauma, TMJ disorders, dental implants, tooth extraction, oral cancer, many related diseases of the mouth, and much more.

"Everyday there are patients with various reasons for coming in, so the wide variety of procedures that has to be done makes going to work everyday more enjoyable"

Which procedure do you do the most?

Dr. Shall went on to say that dental extractions would have to be the most common procure for a number of reasons. More times than not these dental extractions occur due to failed restorations, trauma caused by various reasons, and decay of the teeth. As the years move on, a large percentage of his practice has started to revolve more around restoring and replacing missing and damaged teeth. Different dental implants have become the norm as many more patients are starting to realize the multiple benefits that they have to offer.

How can someone tell if they need to see an oral surgeon?

It is initially hard to tell, which is why most of the time you should start by seeing a dentist and then go from there. Oral work very close with our referring dentists, orthodontists, and other medical professionals because owning or working at a private practice means that your business is 100% referral based. This means that a lot of the time your day is spent in consultations with your patient, discussing the available treatment options, as well as educating that patient so they are prepared for whatever procedure is about to be done.

What can you say to the people out there that are nervous to see an oral surgeon?

He told me that people need to realize that it's not as bad as some people make it out to be; there are hardly any times when things don't go as planned, 99% of the time it will be a smooth procedure. His reasoning was because there are always people telling tales of bad oral surgery experiences. Many people will read something online about a oral surgery procedure gone bad and will try to avoid going to an oral surgeon at all costs. He went on to say that the reality behind this is that oral surgery is not as bad as some people make it out to be. Oral surgery can actually be a pretty comfortable experience. With the advancements of different technologies, surgical procedures, and anesthesia techniques, your experience will continue to get better.


Shall, Steve. Personal Interview. 25 February 2016.

Nursing Student Association-Prompt Post 5- Bradley Robinson

At Michigan State University for my desired major of nursing there is a Nursing Student Association. The biggest part of this group is their concept of interacting outside the classroom to further the learning and involvement. This is the only professional student organization for the College of Nursing here at MSU. From how they represent themselves as a group to the public and during the meetings, they show a very professional atmosphere and help personally develop the students to prepare for jobs.

The NSA meetings are well run, provide support for classes, community service opportunities, and a helpful community environment all geared towards the same professional goals.

Benefits of being a member (directly from the website http://nursing.msu.edu/students/Student%20Involvement/Nursing%20Student%20Association.htm )

• Monthly meetings with diverse guests presenting on a variety of nursing opportunities available to you.
• Community service projects such as cooking at the Ronald McDonald House, various events at the Lansing Rescue Mission, Wynwood Retirement Center, and many more.
• Resume workshop prior to the Nursing Job Fair with over 20 Hospitals from all over the country.
• Earn points towards $75 book scholarships and various other prizes.

How to become a member:

A membership in the NSA is required for all students in undergraduate nursing and a yearly fee of $10

"Nursing Student Association - College of Nursing - Michigan State University." Nursing Student Association - College of Nursing - Michigan State University. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2016.

Assisted Suicide- Diajah Williams

There are many arguments within the medical field. One that has caused major uproar since the fourth century, B.C is the assisted suicide debate.  Assisted suicide is the practice of helping someone else kill themselves by prescribing them with a prescription. Suicide is physician- assisted, meaning suicide with the aid of a doctor.

While there are many debates written about the subject, few actually support the practice. One that I read in particular is about the potential for abuse if legalization occurs. The authors argue hat the elderly, those frightened by illness and the depressed of all ages would be potential victims of such a practice. The authors continue to discuss cases that have relied attention as illustrative of these abuses. The link to the article is below.

                                                                                                     Article

           

The authors of this article are almost completely correct in what they are arguing against. A major point mentioned that doesn't support the authors argument is the potential for the depressed of all ages to be possible victims. This claim opens up a huge opportunity for the counter argument. The two major components of the assisted suicide laws are that the patient must be terminally ill within six months and the lethal doses must be prescribed by a doctor. If the depressed patient has depression and a terminally ill, is the patient in a sound, knowing state allowing him/ her to make the decision to end their life? This is a debate that the authors would most likely lose due to the fact that there are several different types of depression with a number of symptoms that may or may not contribute to mind stability.

Other than the arguments mentioned in the article, there are several many others that are for and against the assisted suicide practice. Here are a few via Nhs.uk: 


Pro Assisted Suicide

• ethical argument – that people should have freedom of choice, including the right to control their own body and life (as long as they do not abuse any other person’s rights), and that the state should not create laws that prevent people being able to choose when and how they die 
• pragmatic argument – that euthanasia, particularly passive euthanasia, is allegedly already a widespread practice, just not one that people are willing to admit to, so it is better to regulate euthanasia properly 

Against Assisted Suicide

• religious argument – that these practices can never be justified for religious reasons; for example, many people believe that only God has the right to end a human life 
• ‘slippery slope’ argument – this is based on the concern that legalising euthanasia could lead to significant unintended changes in our healthcare system and society at large that we would later come to regret 
• medical ethics argument – that asking doctors, nurses or any other healthcare professional to carry out euthanasia or assist in a suicide would be a violation of fundamental medical ethics 
• alternative argument – that there is no reason for a person to suffer either mentally or physically because effective end of life treatments are available; therefore, euthanasia is not a valid treatment option, but represents a failure on the part of the doctor involved in a person’s care

"Euthanasia and assisted suicide - Arguments." NHS choices. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2016. <http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Euthanasiaandassistedsuicide/Pages/Arguments.aspx>.

Pickert, Kate. "A Brief History of Assisted Suicide." Time. N.p., 3 Mar. 2009. Web. 21 Mar. 2016. <http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1882684,00.html>.

Hendin, H., and G. Klerman. "Physician-Assisted Suicide: The Dangers of Legalization." The American Journal of Psychiatry 150.1 (1993): 143-5. ProQuest. Web. 21 Mar. 2016.

How Smoking is Detrimental to Your Oral and Overall Health - Jake Hardin

What Can Smoking Do To Your Body?

Smoking cigarettes, especially for long periods of time, will harm nearly every organ in your body. Your chances of being diagnosed with type kind of cancer or disease skyrockets when compared to nonsmokers. Cigarette smoking is actually one of the leading causes of death in the United states; for nearly one in five deaths is related to tobacco use.

Smoking and Death

- In the United States nearly 500,000 deaths occur each year due to cigarette smoking

- Cigarette smoking causes more deaths each year than illegal drug use, alcohol use, HIV, and motor vehicle injuries combined

- Globally, smoking tobacco has killed over 100 million people just in the 20th century, which is far more than the combined number of deaths in both World War I and II.

- There are around 7,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, 250 of which are known to be harmful to the body. Of these 250 harmful chemicals, at least 69 of them are known to cause cancer.

- Out of all deaths caused by lung cancer worldwide, 80% of those are attributable to smoking tobacco

Smoking and The Body

-  As seen from the diagram above, there are countless parts of the body that are affected by tobacco use. The number of problems that can arise due to smoking tobacco is obscene. For example, if you do chose to smoke your chances of developing diabetes is 40% higher than nonsmokers, and also impacts the health of your teeth and gums, which can cause tooth loss.

Some Effects of Smoking on the Body's Organs and Systems:

• Increased risk of lung infection. (reduced lung function due to irritated trachea and voice box
• Raised blood pressure and Heart rate
• so-called 'Stickier' blood (more prone to clotting), as well as a increased risk of heart attack and stroke
• Weaker immune system (more severe and longer-lasting illnesses)
• Reduced bone density
• Damage to sperm, such as lower sperm count
• premature wrinkling 
• gum disease

Smoking and Dental Problems

- Smoking obviously causes many problems internally that we cannot see, however there are external factors you need to worry about as well if you are an active smoker.

• Bad breath and tooth discoloration are two of the most noticeable problems smokers have: 
• After smoking a cigarette your breath and entire body will reek of all the different chemicals you just inhaled, and for those who have never experienced the smell of someone who just got done smoking a cigarette, it's nothing pleasant.
• Another thing to consider is if you have been an active smoker for some time, because there is a good chance that you have yellow-stained teeth caused by the different harmful chemicals that are put in cigarettes '
• Both of the issues stated above can cause problems to not just your overall health but to your social life as well, because appearance and hygiene are two crucial aspects in being accepted by societies standards.  

One Cigarette Smoked is One Too Many

Based on a Gallup survey done in 2012, 31% of U.S. smokers smoked at least one pack of cigarettes per day, while 68% said that they smoked less than one pack per day, and the remaining 1% said they smoked 1+ packs a day. 

All that being said, even for those who smoke 10 or fewer cigarettes per day (there's 20 per pack), their life expectancy is usually around 5 years shorter and their risk of getting lung cancer is 20 times higher than that of nonsmokers. You may be thinking that smoking a few cigarettes a day can't be too bad, however those who smoke 4 or fewer cigarettes a day have a 5 times higher risk of lung cancer.

- The bottom line is that there are not any safe tobacco products available on the market, nor is there a 'safe' amount of tobacco to consume, so really the best and only way to prevent tobacco-related deaths and illnesses is to completely avoid using it.

Brown, Alyssa. "In U.S., Smokers Light Up Less Than Ever." Gallup.com. Gallup, Inc., 13 Sept. 2012. Web. 20 Mar. 2016.

"Effects of Smoking on Your Health." Health Effects of Smoking. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2016.

"Harms of Cigarette Smoking and Health Benefits of Quitting." National Cancer Institute. National Cancer Institute, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2016.

"Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 01 Oct. 2015. Web. 20 Mar. 2016.

"Smoking and Dental Health: Yellow Teeth, Bad Breath, and Other Smoking Effects." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2016.

"Smoking’s Death Toll." The Tobacco Atlas. World Lung Foundation, 2015. Web. 20 Mar. 2016.

Exercise Science Degrees and Careers- Bradley Robinson

Recently I have switched my major to Kinesiology (study of movement in the body) and have been researching possible degrees/career paths that I can take with a degree in Kin. My most recent interest has been exercise science and a possible PhD path. Being involved in sports shapes a big part of why I’m considering exercise science, it gives me the opportunity to stay involved and continue something I love. This degree also provides a lot of options in career paths and further education.

Exercise Science is the study of movement in the human body and the functional responses associated with movement. Exercise science involves many things like nutrition/dietitian, understanding the physics of the body, how bones and muscles react to physical excursion, and how injuries effect the overall body.

Some of the options I am considering to pursue involve one on one training and research of athletes, research specialist of collegiate or professional teams, personal training, and exercise physiology. All of these require certain paths of education starting with a basic undergraduate degree, then on to a master’s degree, and some require a PhD.

In conclusion exercise science is just another career path I am interested in pursuing. As of now I am unsure what exactly I will be doing in my future, but I have many options in mind like exercise science.

"Man in Sport." Calendar of the Art Institute of Chicago 63.3 (n.d.): 10-11.ACSM Careers. American College of Sports Medicine. Web. 16 Mar. 2016.

Does Flossing Really Make a Difference? - Prompt #6 - Jake Hardin

    According to different studies, anywhere from 15-50% of Americans floss daily, depending on age, while the remaining 50% or so either do it occasionally or hardly ever. Most dentists will ask you as soon as you enter their office whether you've been flossing or not. However, the real question is if flossing on a daily basis actually prevents tooth decay and gum disease. There has been a long-term debate going on amongst dental professionals about the true usefulness of flossing regularly and if doing so truly helps prevent cavities, tooth decay, and other dental health problems.

    Some dentists on the other hand will argue that choosing not to floss is actually not that big of a deal, because there are other alternatives to flossing that are better for keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Dr. Ellie Phillips, who is a dentist in the US, explains in the video 'To floss or not to floss' that the whole mouth is involved when it comes to different health problems around the oral region, so saying that flossing can help stop cavities/other mouth related issues can be a little far fetched. I say this because Dr. Phillips goes on to explain that "as far as [she] can see, there is absolutely no science to show that flossing can stop cavities...", however massaging the gums and good tooth brushing is something that has been done since ancient times because doing so stimulates the circulation in the gums and mouth.

    From Dr. Phillips point of view, she thinks that flossing is basically a waste of time. She believes that the idea that a small length of string can remove a bacterial infection from your mouth doesn't make any sense, especially since there really is no scientific evidence to back up the claims that flossing is a vital part in keeping your mouth healthy. Dr. Phillips is obviously on the more extreme side of this whole 'to floss or not to floss' idea because she goes on to say that she personally has "never flossed a day in [her] life." For something to be so widely recommended you'd think that there would be more research done to provide us with some evidence proving that flossing does indeed break up the bits in our mouth, and in turn, preventing cavities and other harmful diseases.

    In my opinion, I have to agree with what Dr. Phillips said in the video because it is hard to argue with someone when there is no concrete evidence proving him/her wrong otherwise. From personal experience, I rarely floss and have yet to encounter any lasting oral health problems. You will always be told to floss daily by your dentist and that doing so is a great way to keep your gums and mouth healthy, but as of now, we truly do not know whether flossing or not has any lasting impacts on our overall health. This is another great example of a situation where you might as well do it because 'it can't hurt'. If you haven't gotten anything from this blog post then I want you leaving knowing that flossing isn't technically 100% mandatory (for many people choose to avoid doing so and remain perfectly healthy), but if you do choose to floss daily then your chances of staying healthy definitely have a chance of increasing.

http://bbc.in/W9rmj6

Doctorate of Nusring Practice-Bradley Robinson

My interest in a DNP reflects very much on all the opportunities that come from such a degree. A DNP is similar to a regular physician in the jobs they do, but the education paths are very different. A DNP comes from nursing which is what I originally was interested in. I wanted to see what else a nurse could do to expand on their roles. DNP’s becoming more and more common as the medical world gets more complex. Thus leading to a need for new more pivotal roles to emerge. I am not officially set on this career path, but am very interested in pursuing.

            

Not many people know what a DNP is or what they do. A DNP is a doctor of nursing practice and goes through nursing school plus advanced education towards their doctorate. A DNP is not a PhD, a PhD in the nursing field would be a doctor of nursing philosophy and they are more research orientated. On average it takes around 6-8 years to earn a DNP, but in most cases people will work as nurse (first four year degree) while they work towards their doctorate.  You can also get a DNP online making it easier to continue working. This allows for a steady income and most DNP programs will work around a job. The average yearly salary for DNP’s is $96,807, making them the highest paid practitioners.

DNP’s have many job opportunities after receiving their degrees. The most common jobs for DNP’s range from general medical staff in hospitals to independent practices.

            General Medical: In a hospital having a doctorate in nursing allows a bigger role in the staff and will be very common in managing other nurses and hospital/Doctor office staff.

            Research: If interested in research there are many opportunities to pursue along with getting a PhD.

            Public Health: The knowledge background of a DNP allows for them to become experts in public health opening them up to jobs that influence policymakers and health officials. Influential in developing procedures and policies. Also shows a big role in educating the public on health care issues.

            Physicians’ Offices: A DNP allows for higher salary working under a lead physician. Also allows more responsibility like leadership roles in patient care.

            Independent Practice: A DNP has enough qualifications to open and run their own practice, usually a smaller office, but allows for higher pay and responsibility.

 DNP’s are at the highest level of their fields and education. They are highly respected and the job market is usually wide open for a DNP. 

"Reach the Pinnacle of Your Career with a Doctorate in Nursing." Doctor of Nursing Career Paths. AllNursingSchools, n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2016.

     "Research or Practice? PhD in Nursing Education or Doctor of Nursing Practice?" Capella University. Capella University, 22 Dec. 2014. Web. 2 Mar. 2016.