National HIV Testing Day ~ June 27th

I am a little late in the day with this post but it is never to late to give information about getting tested for HIV.

Nothing is more important then knowing one's HIV status. Getting tested is the key to knowing such an important factor as this. Rapid HIV tests have become more advanced and less invasive and are able to provide accurate HIV test results in as little as 60 seconds! Wow that is quick! June 27th is National HIV testing day. Don't put it off get testing.

Nearly 1.2 million people are living with HIV and nearly one in eight are unaware they are infected in the United States alone. The estimates are, about 1,000 people in Wisconsin are unaware of their HIV infection.

How can you know your status? I'm glad you asked. GET TESTED! If you are HIV-positive, you can immediately start being treated. This can improve your health, prolong your life, and greatly lower your chance to spread HIV to other. The testing is recommended for people at risk from ages 15-65 years.

Don't know what HIV infection is? Well please do keep reading!

According to Arcw  HIV infection is a communicable disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which damages the body's immune system, the system that fights infections. Without the immune system's protection, the body is defenseless against serious and potentially life-threatening diseases which can lead to the development of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the later stage of HIV infection. However, not everyone who has HIV progresses to AIDS. With proper treatment, you can keep the lever of HIV virus in your body low. It involves taking a combination of HIV medicines every day. These HIV medicines can control the virus so that you can live a longer, healthier life and reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to others. Today, a person who is diagnosed with HIV and treated before the disease is far advanced can have a nearly normal life expectancy.

Be well educated on how you can and cannot contract HIV.

HIV is not spread easily. Only certain body fluids from a person who has HIV can transmit HIV:

• Blood
• Semen (cum)
• Pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum)
• Rectal fluids
• Vaginal fluids
• Breast milk

These body fluids must come into contact with a mucous membrane or damaged tissue or be directly injected into your bloodstream (by a needle or syringe) for transmission to occur. Mucous membranes are found inside the rectum, vagina, penis, and mouth.

HIV IS NOT SPREAD BY…

HIV does not survive long outside the human body (such as on surfaces) and it cannot reproduce outside a human host. It is not spread by:

• Air or water
• Mosquitoes, ticks or other insects
• Saliva, tears, or sweat that is not mixed with the blood of an HIV-positive person
• Shaking hands, hugging, sharing toilets, sharing dishes/drinking glasses, or closed-mouth or “social” kissing with someone who is HIV-positive
• Drinking fountains
• Other sexual activities that don’t involve the exchange of body fluids (for example, touching).

 Be aware not ignorant.

Ways you can transmit HIV...

In the United States, HIV is spread mainly by:

• Having anal or vaginal sex with someone who has HIV without using a condom or taking medicines to prevent or treat HIV.
  • Anal sex is the highest-risk sexual behavior. For the HIV-negative partner, receptive anal sex (“bottoming”) is riskier than insertive anal sex (“topping”).
  • Vaginal sex is the second highest-risk sexual behavior.
• Sharing needles or syringes, rinse water, or other equipment (“works”) used to prepare injection drugs with someone who has HIV. HIV can live in a used needle up to 42 days depending on temperature and other factors.

Less commonly, HIV may be spread:

• From mother to child during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. Although the risk can be high if a mother is living with HIV and not taking medicine, recommendations to test all pregnant women for HIV and start HIV treatment immediately have lowered the number of babies who are born with HIV.
• By being stuck with an HIV-contaminated needle or other sharp object. This is a risk mainly for health care workers.

In extremely rare cases, HIV has been transmitted by:

• Oral sex—putting the mouth on the penis (fellatio), vagina (cunnilingus), or anus (rimming). In general, there is little to no risk of getting HIV from oral sex. But transmission of HIV, though extremely rare, is theoretically possible if an HIV-positive man ejaculates in his partner’s mouth during oral sex. To learn more about how to lower your risk, see CDC’s Oral Sex and HIV Risk.
• Receiving blood transfusions, blood products, or organ/tissue transplants that are contaminated with HIV. This was more common in the early years of HIV, but now the risk is extremely small because of rigorous testing of the U.S.blood supply and donated organs and tissues.
• Eating food that has been pre-chewed by an HIV-infected person. The contamination occurs when infected blood from a caregiver’s mouth mixes with food while chewing. The only known cases are among infants.
• Being bitten by a person with HIV. Each of the very small number of documented cases has involved severe trauma with extensive tissue damage and the presence of blood. There is no risk of transmission if the skin is not broken.
• Contact between broken skin, wounds, or mucous membranes and HIV-infected blood or blood-contaminated body fluids.
• Deep, open-mouth kissing if the person with HIV has sores or bleeding gums and blood from the HIV-positive partner gets into the bloodstream of the HIV-negative partner. HIV is not spread through saliva.

Keep yourself well informed and get tested!!!!

Signing out...

Dr. Destiny Ashland

Big Sister On Point

https://www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/hiv-aids-101/how-you-get-hiv-aids/

National Student Safety Month

June is National Student Safety Month, an annual campaign to encourage safe lifestyle choices in students and young people. The initiative is sponsored by the National Safety Council with the end goal of educating children on about the leading causes of preventable injury. 

Each week in the month of June is dedicated to a common theme or cause, for example: road safety, bike safety or internet safety. Children can share these essential lessons with friends and remind their families of safe practices.

Every child is created for a purpose, therefore each child should deserves to experience ultimate joy.

For most students, June is the start of a three-month love affair with freedom. But with that freedom comes a whole new set of risks, especially for young drivers. Every June we take a moment to remind ourselves of these risks and what we as parents, and the students themselves, can do to reduce their chances of bumping into one.

– With school out, there are more young, inexperienced drivers on the road –many of them with multiple passengers. It’s the duty of everyone in the vehicle to make sure the driver is not too distracted.

– The nice weather also brings out hoards of motorcycles. This means it’s more important than ever to keep up a good scan of mirrors and blind spots.

– College students are especially at risk for drinking-related accidents during this time. If drinking is in the plan, always have a designated driver, taxi or one of the many new app-based driving services ready to pick up anyone that has been drinking.

– No matter how safe of a driver you are, taking a defensive driving class is a great way to learn how to avoid situations caused by other drivers. Doing so can even knock a nice amount off of car insurance costs.

With graduations, parties and all sorts of other events, summer can be an exciting time, but it can also be dangerous. But with a little awareness, and a lot of caution, our nation’s students can make it one they’ll never forget. While we’re here to restore the rhythm of our customer’s lives, we prefer it not be necessary.

Alcohol Fact Sheet

1. Alcohol-related accidents are the #1 killer of teens. 

2. College students spend more on alcohol than on textbooks. 

3. One 12 ounce beer = 5 ounce glass of wine = 1.5 ounce - shots of 80 proof liquor.

 4. How alcohol affects you depends on: 

• • how much alcohol is consumed
•  • the time period in which it is consumed 
• • how much food is in the stomach
•  • body weight 

5. Alcohol is a depressant.

 6. Alcoholics don't know they are becoming alcoholics-- "it just happens". 

7. When someone has a problem, they follow certain patterns:

•  • lie to sober friends 
• • hide it from sober friends 
• • party more with drinking friends
• • deny they have a problem

 8. The best thing to do for a friend with a problem is to tell a counselor or someone who can help. 

9. The body takes about 1/2 hour to feel the effects of alcohol. If you drink before that time, you may drink too much.

 10. The worst thing to do when a person has had too much to drink is to leave them alone or lying down. They need to be kept awake and moving-- and they need medical help.

 11. Alcohol is the most abused drug in the world. 

12 The younger you are when you start drinking, the more likely you are to have a problem with alcohol. 

13. 1.4 million teens a year are injured in some way through an alcohol related accident. 

14. A BAL (Blood Alcohol Level) of .1 means you have 12 times more likelihood of being in an accident. 

15. A BAL of .2 means you have 60 times more likelihood of being in an accident. 

16. There is nothing that will sober you up except time. 

17. It takes approximately 1 hour for each drink to be used by the body. 

18. Up to 2/3 of date rape cases involve alcohol.

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems. 

In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:

• An Imbalance of Power: Kids who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity—to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.
• Repetition: Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once.

Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose. 

Prevent Bullying

Parents, school staff, and other adults in the community can help kids prevent bullying by talking about it, building a safe school environment, and creating a community-wide bullying prevention strategy. Find out what you can do

.

Because June is National Safety Month, NSM sponsored by the National Safety Council,  is all about teaching children, and adults, how to be safe. The goal is to teach about how to avoid the leading causes of preventable injuries and death.

Teaching children how to be safe is a combined effort. Children often take the lessons home and remind their parents how to be safe in and around the home and on the road. Safety lessons in your classroom have a broad reach. Use the lesson plans, teaching resources, and safety units to plan and organize your information. Take advantage of the worksheets, hands on activities and the clip art to really bring the information home and into the young minds of your students.

Here is something everyone can share with young students:

http://www.co.washington.or.us/LUT/TrafficSafety/KidsKorner/upload/10SafetyStepsODOTColoring.pdf

LGBT Pride Month 2016

June is officially LGBT History Month! On May 31, 2016, Our President, Barack Obama declared June LGBT History Month.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month (LGBT Pride Month) is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan. The Stonewall riots were a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. In the United States the last Sunday in June was initially celebrated as “Gay Pride Day,” but the actual day was flexible. In major cities across the nation the “day” soon grew to encompass a month-long series of events. Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBT Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.
In 1994, a coalition of education-based organizations in the United States designated October as LGBT History Month. In 1995, a resolution passed by the General Assembly of the National Education Association included LGBT History Month within a list of commemorative months.
LGBT History Month is also celebrated with annual month-long observances of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, along with the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements. National Coming Out Day (October 11), as well as the first “March on Washington” in 1979, are commemorated in the LGBT community during LGBT History Month, as told by https://www.loc.gov/lgbt/about.html

In the words of our president, "LGBT individuals deserve to know their country stands beside them.  That is why my Administration is striving to better understand the needs of LGBT adults and to provide affordable, welcoming, and supportive housing to aging LGBT Americans.  It is also why we oppose subjecting minors to the harmful practice of conversion therapy, and why we are continuing to promote equality and foster safe and supportive learning environments for all students.  We remain committed to addressing health disparities in the LGBT community -- gay and bisexual men and transgender women of color are at a particularly high risk for HIV, and we have worked to strengthen our National HIV/AIDS Strategy to reduce new infections, increase access to care, and improve health outcomes for people living with HIV.

Despite the extraordinary progress of the past few years, LGBT Americans still face discrimination simply for being who they are.  I signed an Executive Order in 2014 that prohibits discrimination against Federal employees and contractors on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.  I urge the Congress to enact legislation that builds upon the progress we have made, because no one should live in fear of losing their job simply because of who they are or who they love.  And our commitment to combating discrimination against the LGBT community does not stop at our borders:  Advancing the fair treatment of all people has long been a cornerstone of American diplomacy, and we have made defending and promoting the human rights of LGBT individuals a priority in our engagement across the globe.  In line with America's commitment to the notion that all people should be treated fairly and with respect, champions of this cause at home and abroad are upholding the simple truth that LGBT rights are human rights.

There remains much work to do to extend the promise of our country to every American, but because of the acts of courage of the millions who came out and spoke out to demand justice and of those who quietly toiled and pushed for progress, our Nation has made great strides in recognizing what these brave individuals long knew to be true in their hearts -- that love is love and that no person should be judged by anything but the content of their character.  During Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month, as Americans wave their flags of pride high and march boldly forward in parades and demonstrations, let us celebrate how far we have come and reaffirm our steadfast belief in the equal dignity of all Americans.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2016 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.  I call upon the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists, and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people."

As a openly Bisexual woman, this is a huge step for us. The LGBT community often gets frowned upon without people realizing that we are not aliens but we are human as well. Who you fall in love with is who you fall in love with. No one have the right to judge unless they have no skeletons or anything growing in their own backyards. 

When I heard the news of what happened in Orlando, FL I was mortified. The fact that one person could have so much hatred in their heart to go into a night club and open fire is just terribly wrong. People have been saying where have our world come to when LGBT marriage was legalized but, that isn't anything bad. The rights for two human beings to wed because their love is REAL, where is the harm is that? For what happened in Orlando it should be said where is our world coming to. We have senseless killings everyday and in mass quantities because one individual cannot cope with their own insecurities or mental health.

Love who you love without being ashamed of it. All people have the right to love who they love, rather you are any race or any gender. Love has no bounds and no limits. People really do need to open up their minds and hearts because this is the world we live in. It is much easier to love someone then to hate them for their nationality, skin color, orientation or anything for that matter. Continue to celebrate LGBT Pride month for the living as well as the lives that were lost. ALL LIVES MATTER! 

The world as a whole need to do better. WE are better than this America! 

Let's stand together! Let's stand in unity!

Signing out...

Dr. Destiny Ashland aka Big Sister On Point

https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/05/31/presidential-proclamation-lgbt-pride-month-2016

Men’s Health Week June (June 13-19): Turn up the volume on commitment

Championing men’s good health – while helping to prevent men’s health problems – is not just a man’s issue as it impacts families and our community — wives, moms, daughters, sons, sisters, coworkers and friends. We all need to be valuable resources of good health. Men’s Health Week is celebrated each year during the week leading up to and including Father’s Day. And the purpose of Men’s Health Week is to heighten the awareness for all of us of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.

As we step into this special week this year (June 13-19) – there are some facts we all need to understand as we commit to make a healthy difference in the lives of the men and support them in developing healthy self-awareness and meaningful personal relationships. Studies show that culturally women surpass men in asking for help with their health and too, men have been raised in a culture “to endure pain.” Research further shows that many men only seek medical counsel when under duress from a family member or when their condition has deteriorated to a severe state. Add to this these staggering statistics:

• On average, men live approximately 5 years less than women
• According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, men are 24% less likely than women to have visited a doctor within the past year
• Coronary artery disease (CAD) is 3 times higher among men who are clinically depressed
• Male suicides outnumber female suicides in every age group
• Homicide and suicide are among the top three causes for death among males between the ages of 15 and 34 years
• By the age of 85, women outnumber men in the U.S. 2.2 to 1; this rises to 3 to 1 if they reach their 90s

Men deserve better!! Experts agree that having an awareness of preventable health problems along with early detection and treatment of chronic illnesses are imperative to improving men’s health.

ERECTILE DISFUNCTION: Erectile dysfunction (also known as ED or impotence) is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection.  Experiencing ED from time to time is normal. However, ongoing erectile dysfunction may indicate a health complication.

Causes

Male sexual arousal is a complex interplay of hormones, nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and the brain.

Issues with any one of these factors can cause erectile dysfunction. In most cases, ED is a combination of psychological and physical factors. Erectile dysfunction can occur as a result of a number of physical and psychological factors, such as:

• Smoking cigarettes
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Low testosterone
• Stress and anxiety
• Relationship problems

In many cases, erectile dysfunction has a physical cause. By conducting a thorough medical examination, we can identify conditions that can lead to ED, such as:

• Vascular disease (arteriosclerosis)
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Peyronie’s disease (curved penis)
• Kidney failure
• Hormone imbalances
• Drugs (prescription and over-the-counter)
• Neurological conditions
• Pelvic trauma (injury, surgery, or radiation)
• Venous leak

A host of psychological issues can contribute to erectile dysfunction. These can include depression, performance anxiety, and stress. Mental health factors are usually secondary to physical causes of ED, so it is important to speak with a doctor if your symptoms persist or become more frequent.                                                                                                                   

Celebrate National Men’s Health Week, June 13-19, 2016.

Get Good Sleep

Adults need between 7-9 hours of sleep. Insufficient sleep is associated with a number of chronic diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression. Also, poor sleep is responsible for motor vehicle and machinery-related accidents.

Toss out the Tobacco

It’s never too late to quit. Quitting smoking has immediate and long-term benefits. It improves your health and lowers your risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related illnesses.
Also avoid secondhand smoke. Inhaling other people's smoke causes health problems similar to those that smokers have. Babies and kids are still growing, so the poisons in secondhand smoke hurt them more than adults.

Move More

Adults need at least 2½ hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week, and muscle strengthening activities that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms) on two or more days a week. You don't have to do it all at once. Spread your activity out during the week, and break it into smaller amounts of time during the day.

Eat Healthy

Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables every day. Fruits and vegetables have many vitamins and minerals that may help protect you from chronic diseases. Limit foods and drinks high in calories, sugar, salt, fat, and alcohol.

Tame Stress

Sometimes stress can be good. However, it can be harmful when it is severe enough to make you feel overwhelmed and out of control. Take care of yourself. Avoid drugs and alcohol. Find support. Connect socially. Stay active.

Stay on Top of Your Game

See your doctor or nurse for checkups. Certain diseases and conditions may not have symptoms, so checkups help identify issues early or before they can become a problem.

• Get the Preventive Medical Tests You Need
• Men: Stay Healthy at Any Age (AHRQ)

Pay attention to signs and symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, excessive thirst, and problems with urination. If you have these or symptoms of any kind, be sure to see your doctor or nurse. Don’t wait!

• Cancer and Men
• HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• Heart Disease Signs and Symptoms

Keep track of your numbers for blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), or any others you may have. If your numbers are high or low, your doctor or nurse can explain what they mean and suggest how you can get them to a healthier range. Be sure to ask him or her what tests you need and how often you need them.

• High Blood Pressure
• Checking Your Blood Glucose
• Cholesterol
• BMI

Get vaccinated. Everyone needs immunizations to stay healthy, no matter how old you are. Even if you had vaccines as a child, immunity can fade with time. Vaccine recommendations are based on a variety of factors, including age, overall health, and your medical history.

Wear BLUE Day 2016: Friday June 17th                                                                                              

Whether it is your friend, brother, dad, boyfriend, spouse, or boss, show them you care about them and their health by wearing blue. If Friday of Men’s Health Week doesn’t work for you then pick any other day of the year and start a fun Wear BLUE day at work.

Host a Wear BLUE day to raise awareness and money for education about men’s need to seek regular checkups, or testicular cancer education, prostate cancer education, or other health issues that affect men. (Cardiovascular disease, skin cancer, lung cancer, diabetes, gout, and more.)

Men live sicker and die younger. Wear BLUE was created by Men’s Health Network to raise awareness about the importance of male health and to encourage men to live longer and healthier lives.

Men’s health awareness can mean many different things.

It means raising awareness of making healthy lifestyle choices, making regular annual visits to the doctor, getting educated on heart disease or diabetes, starting general health conversations with their male friends, and much more. The information, tools, and resources on this website can help you plan an impactful Wear BLUE event where you live, work, play, and pray.                                            

Some other countries /regions may celebrate Men's Health Week and Men's Health Month at other times in the year: For further information http://www.menshealthmonth.org/imhw/imhw.html

Children's awareness month

What is National Child awareness month?

NCAM brings diverse charitable organizations together for a common goal.

Under the umbrella of National Child Awareness Month, a wide variety of organizations can set aside their individual agendas to focus on the bigger picture of children in America today, and what is being done to address their growing challenges and needs. 

NCAM provides a national platform that sparks discussion and debate.

National Child Awareness Month impacts the national agenda by putting the issues of utmost importance to children at the front and center, bringing new volunteers, contributions, thinking and energy to this important cause. 

NCAM brings the nation’s focus back to our children.

Our nation’s attention has been diverted away from the one resource that guarantees greatness in the future – our children.

Children reflect our greatest hope as a nation. Therefore Children's Awareness Month is a time to be spent nurturing and cultivating the joys and treasures of our children. Sharing... Caring... and providing leadership will help preserve the stability of our children and their future.

 Every child deserves to be truly valued and cherished. We have no greater responsibility then to instill the hope of a better tomorrow for our children and grandchildren. This promise will be filled with love... encouragement... support... education... health... and well being.

It is important to empower our children to face the future with courage, intelligence and wisdom. We do hereby gratefully celebrate the gift of children. Our goal is to increase communication skills and values between children and their parents... between teachers and their students... police officers and young impressionable teenagers... physicians and healthier kids... community leaders and children who will be tomorrows future leaders... and between all levels of the media and our children in hopes of reaching out and developing young productive minds... not destructive ones.

Want to get involved? Here are some ways you can:

• Volunteer your time to a children’s charity in your community 

• Donate to a children’s charity in your community 

• Participate any NCAM activities,and spread the word

• Share your story and inspire others to get involved