Blue Zones

Lifestyle and health are tied together. Physical, psychological, and social factors are highly related to our overall well-being. An interesting research project has identified several areas of the world where health expectancy exceeds 90 to 100 years at consistent rates. A few of these areas are the mountainous Barbagia region of Sardinia off the coast of Italy, the Japanese Island of Okinawa, and the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica.

Researchers have identified several health variables that are consistent across these areas that might be the cause of their high life expectancies. These variables are-

Close family and social networks that are active and integrated in the community
No smoking
Constant moderate physical activity (such as agriculture work)
Plant-based diet

Overall, these close-knit communities have low-stress lifestyles, healthy diets, and positive social relationships.

ABC News wrote an article about Blue Zones earlier this year. The article can be found here.

This is a video of a CNN segment on Blue Zones-

Grrr

From students to employers -- everyone experiences stress (including bloggers). Stress comes in different forms, whether physical, psychological, or social. Psychological researchers, Holmes and Rahe, produced a list of major stressors. Their list represents the most significant sources of stress in an average person's life. The most stressful event is the death of a spouse/significant other. Other stressors include personal injury, financial struggles, retirement, and moving to a new residence. Physical stressors include noise stress, which some people might experience regularly in certain work conditions or living in dense urban neighborhoods.

While stress is common, we can experience significant health consequences to prolonged stress. Studies have shown that stress weakens our immune system leading us more susceptible to diseases. Stress can also increase our heart rate and blood pressure to unhealthy levels. Chronic stress worsens these conditions. Stress has also been correlated with higher rates of coronary heart disease.

Additionally, stress can motivate individuals to engage in behaviors that are unhealthy. One study showed that individuals are more likely to drink alcoholic beverages and smoke in response to increased stress. Trouble sleeping/lack of sleep is another health consequence of stress.

Our physical and mental well-being is affected by stress. Stressful lifestyles can worsen our health and also lead to unhealthy behaviors. Learning to reduce daily stress is important for our health. Some health professionals consider stress to be America's #1 health problem. The American Institute of Stress lists some ways to help you reduce stress in your life.

Flu Vaccinations

Flu season is approaching. According to the White House, influenza "results in approximately 36,000 deaths and more than 200,000 hospitalizations each year." The flu vaccine is developed and administered each year to increase a population's immunity to influenza. According to the CDC, "influenza vaccination is the primary method for preventing influenza and its severe complications."

To make it easier for residents to get vaccinated, Sarasota will have 15 drive thru flu shot clinics with the first one on September 27th at The Tabernacle Community Church. More information can be found here.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also has important information about the seasonal flu vaccine at their web site.

Computers Are Public Health

Computers -- the beautiful things that connect you to the world -- are related to public health in a variety of ways.

Access to computers and the internet can increase the quality of health information and care people receive. Online health resources can improve “the quality of individual health-related decisions” by making health information more accessible, according to researchers. These resources “may lead to better clinical decisions and efficient use of limited health care resources.” Additionally, online health communities provide more ways for health professionals to communicate with the public. Health forums are becoming increasingly popular as a source of public health information. Online resources can also keep the public up-to-date on health events in their communities.

However, computer use can also affect your health. Studies have shown that computer use has increased among children and teenagers. According to one study, children spend 75.5% of their day inactive (in front of a computer, tv, or homework). In comparison, children only spend 1.4% of their day doing vigorous activity. A sedentary lifestyle can lead to obesity and poor social relationships. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started a campaign to get kids active and healthy. Information on the campaign, titled VERB, can be found here.

"Stuff" Is Public Health

Go to the mall, and you'll see plenty of "stuff" that is public health. Annie Leopard, an environmental health expert, produced a clear and interesting documentary on...stuff. Annie shows the environmental health concerns related to the extraction, production, distribution, consumption, and disposal of products in an informative and entertaining web video. From the shoes we wear to the computers we purchase, Annie explores how all products are connected to public health.

Annie's documentary and web site can be found at www.storyofstuff.com

Health In Motion

Sarasota has increased access to health care services through its Health in Motion mobile medical unit. The unit provides health services to underserved areas of Sarasota. You can learn more by visiting the Sarasota County Health Department's Health In Motion web page.

The September schedule for Health in Motion can be found here.

Location, Location, Location

When people think "health" they often think of germs, diseases, and medicine. Sure, I'd be healthier if I stay far away from my roommate when he is sick and wash my hands correctly and frequently. But, health, especially public health, goes much further than focusing on illnesses. Real estate agents know best when they say everything is "location, location, location."

Location influences the health of communities in several ways. An obvious and important factor of community health is access to health care services. Many locations, especially poorer communities, have fewer physicians than affluent communities. Access to basic health services is associated with positive health outcomes. However, access to health services differs across communities. Distance and transportation can make it more difficult for some community members to reach health services. Some cities take access to health services into consideration when developing public transportation routes. Some cities add routes between health facilities and communities with fewer health resources to increase access to health care.

Certain locations contain negative health factors. Dense urban environments can have higher noise stress and pollution. Water quality, crime rate, and the availability of outdoor recreation space differs across communities.

Additionally, geographic location can make some communities more or less vulnerable to natural disasters. Some neighborhoods in New Orleans are located below sea level. When Hurricane Katrina hit, these neighborhoods were most vulnerable to flooding and experienced widespread destruction.

Furthermore, the environment can affect our psychology. Residents in less crowded neighborhoods with clean streets and better landscaping experience less environmental stress than residents living in more crowded and polluted conditions.

Overall, where you live can significantly affect your mental and physical well-being.

Public Health Is Your Health

What is Public Health?

"College is great. Everything I learned in college I have used in life," my dad said to me as he helped me move my mini-fridge up a flight of stairs and into my dorm room. "Awesome," I replied.

A week later I started classes. I was eager to learn and excited for my first college lesson. My brain was running on high-voltage as I walked into my first class with my textbook in hand. I took a seat in the front of class and smiled at the professor. She smiled back -- I knew this was going to be a good class.

We went around the room introducing ourselves. "Hi, I'm Bradley, a first-year student from South Florida. I'm interested in health psychology, sociology, and political science." After everyone introduced themselves the professor gave a short introduction. She received a Ph.D in Health Psychology and had been teaching for four years. She then described the topics we would be covering over the course of the semester -- health psychology, political psychology, and social psychology. "This is going to be awesome," I thought.

The professor then turned to me and asked, "Bradley, how would you define health?"

I froze. There was an awkward silence as I looked down and away from the professor while trying to think of an answer. A few more seconds went by. This wasn't as awesome as I thought it would be. I was hoping she would help me answer the question after a few more seconds went by. But nothing. I was nervous. I was wishing the characters from Schoolhouse Rock would jump out from behind me and give a fifty-second song-and-dance answer to my question. Still nothing.

I then responded, "I'm not sure."

"Good," she said. "A perfect starting point." She then went on to explain how many concepts don't have textbook definitions, especially health psychology. Public health is a broad concept encompassing many diverse topics. One sentence does not fully describe or clearly explain public health. Sure, public health can be described in one sentence. "Public health is the study and practice of managing threats to the health of a community." But a sentence does not illustrate the many different aspects and approaches to public health.

I quickly learned my first lesson in college: There are some things textbooks cannot teach you.

My dad would be happy with me. My first lesson in college was an important one that I used in many aspects of my life. It was a great lesson when I decided to study public health. I went beyond the textbook and started to explore public health in my community. By talking to people, going to forums, and learning from different disciplines.

The focus of this blog is to explore public health in Sarasota. But, first, we need to discover what public health means. The University of South Florida College of Public Health explains how health professionals have a difficult time defining public health. One reason is that public health is a wide area of study. "The base of knowledge for public health comes from a variety of disciplines, ranging from social sciences to biological sciences and business..."

This blog will go beyond the textbook to spotlight public health in Sarasota. It will explore Sarasota health issues from all different angles through stories and multimedia. Hopefully we all can learn how to answer "What is public health?" without freezing.

News: Vaccination Report

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report on September 4th showing that childhood immunization rates were at "near record levels." Public health officials were worried that parents had become fearful of vaccinations as concerns were raised about the connection between vaccinations and autism. The FDA released a health information pamphlet to promote the benefits of childhood vaccinations and to address concerns parents might have. The CDC also addressed concerns over the link between vaccinations containing thimerosal and autism in a report by Dr. Paul Offit. Dr. Offit cites four large medical studies that compared the rate of autism in children who received vaccines containing thimerosal to those who received vaccines without thimerosal. The rate of autism was the same in both groups.

Public health officials feel that their immunization programs have been successful, with 77% of children being fully vaccinated by all of the recommended vaccines. Less than 1 percent of children received no vaccinations.

The CDC's report can be found here.

Facts and Figures

• More than 15% of children in Sarasota and Manatee have no health insurance
• Florida's average for the percent of children without insurance coverage -- 12%
• The nation's average is 8.9% for children under the age of 18
• Over 12% of adults in Sarasota have no insurance coverage
• The nation's average is 16.4% for adults under the age of 65
• Sarasota has a higher percentage of people with high blood pressure and melanoma compared to the state average
• Sarasota has a lower rate of heart disease and adult obesity than the state average
• The county averages more motor vehicle fatalities and unintentional injury deaths than Florida's average
• The poverty level in Sarasota is 9.2% compared to 9% statewide
• Only 31% of adults nationwide exercised on a regular basis
• Approximately 45 million in-patient surgeries are performed each year

National Center for Health Statistics

CHIP Sarasota Health Scorecard

Florida CHARTS

Welcome!

I did not know much about health when I started college three years ago. I knew that if I ate a donut when I woke up I could have enough energy to walk to class. I knew that leftover pizza tastes great -- cold or heated. I knew that Happy Meals made me happy and there was nothing better than celebrating the end of the school week with a box of Funfetti cake. I felt I was being practical. Fast food was inexpensive, plus it tasted good and it filled me up. If I craved it I ate it. That was my personal health philosophy.

That philosophy has changed. While poking the Pillsbury Doughboy's tummy looks fun and eating his food tastes delicious -- it was bad for me. While my heart was filled with happiness, it was also filled with trans-fat. I realized my unhealthy lifestyle when I decided to join some friends on a long jog around campus. I got fatigued really quickly and had to slow my pace down drastically. My jogging time was worse than what it was in sixth grade. It was bothersome -- thirteen year-old Bradley could outperform eighteen year-old Bradley. Not only was I jealous of my younger self, but I quickly became concerned about my health.

I went back to my dorm room and looked at the food I had in my pantry to assess how bad my diet had gotten. I could have easily refilled a Hershey's vending machine with what was in my room. Maybe two.

I consulted my doctor and health-conscious friends to help improve my well-being. I used the Sarasota community to gradually improve my health. I found a map of bicycle routes in Sarasota and started to bike to some of my favorite destinations. I visited Selby Gardens and Siesta Key for nice outdoor walks. I found health trails via the Sarasota County Health Department's Pathways to Health site. I soon became a pro and started hiking at Myakka on a regular basis. I got groceries at the Farmers' Market downtown and played basketball at many of the local parks around town. I went from having a bad diet and a sedentary college lifestyle to being healthy, active, and fit. My college life is like watching Super Size Me in reverse.

During my semesters, I studied public health and became much more knowledgeable about my personal health. In addition, I learned a lot about community health as I constantly researched health issues and became more aware of public health concerns. I soon became a resource for many of my friends who sought a healthier lifestyle.

I still have a lot to learn about health and I decided to start a community health blog for Sarasota where people can learn and talk about health issues and share their own advice and ideas. I will share my own experiences by writing blog stories as I explore community health issues in Sarasota.

Enjoy!