UAB Eye Care provides comprehensive eye care services to the community as well as training and education for optometry students and resident optometrists. The state-of-the-art, multidisciplinary clinic is outfitted with the latest optometric equipment necessary for the accurate diagnosis and treatment of most eye problems. UAB Eye Care clinicians provide comprehensive services for both pediatric and adult patients in a number of optometric subspecialties.
Services
Comprehensive eye and vision exams
Medical eye exams
Eye Emergency
Optical
Optical repair (if repairable)
Voucher Program
Low-cost eye exam and glasses prices
Locations
UAB Eye Care (Main) 1716 University Boulevard Birmingham, AL 35233
Phone: (205) 975-2020
Western Health Center 631 Bessemer Super Highway Midfield, AL 35228
Phone: (205) 715-6121
Insurances Accepted
AARP Medicare Complete
Aetna
Avesis (vision only)
Blue Advantage
Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Blue Cross/Blue Shield Federal
Blue Cross/Blue Shield All Kids
Cigna
Humana
Mail Handlers
Medicaid (HP)
Medicare Part B
Medicare Travelers
Mutual of Omaha Physicians Mutual
Southland (Vision only)
National Insurance Superior Vision
Tricare for Life
WPS
Tricare South Region
United Health Care PEEHIP
VSP/Eyefinity
Viva Health
Viva Medicare Plus
Voucher Program
The voucher program exists for people who do not have insurance and who meet one of the following requirements:
Income below or at the poverty guidelines level (proof of income)
Shelter resident (shelter provides letter)
Food stamp letter
Proof is required upon appointment.
UAB Student Benefits
UAB Eye Care provides exclusive discounts for UAB undergraduate and graduate students.
Waived out-of-pocket expenses up to a total of $30 for an annual comprehensive eye exam
Waived contact lens evaluation fee ($40) for patients currently wearing lenses and doing well
A 25% discount on frames and lenses of eyeglasses and sunglasses (some restrictions apply)
by Shayna Bryan, Jaelyn Copeland, Shon Mack, and Senequa Malone | Interns and UAB Community Health and Human Services students
(This article is based on a discussion from WWL’s Monday Night Wellness Watch. [Link to the livestream recording coming soon!])
Epilepsy is a commonly misunderstood illness. Tonight’s conversation explores seizure types, how to recognize seizures, and tips for managing seizure healthWhat is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain, also called a neurological disorder, where brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations and sometimes loss of awareness. These recurring seizures are the single symptom of epilepsy.
People are generally diagnosed with epilepsy when they have had at least two or more seizures within a 24-hour window that are not caused by a known and reversible medical condition.
In the US, there are about 3.4 million people with epilepsy; 470,000 of these are children.
What causes seizures and epilepsy?
Seizures can be caused by many things, some of which and known and will resolve on their own. Some of these conditions are:
High fever (febrile seizure)
Contact doctor if fever is over 102ºF for children, 103ºF adults
Head trauma
Very low blood sugar (diabetic seizures)
Alcohol withdrawal
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome can be very dangerous and even deadly, should be overseen by a trained medical professional
These are non-reversible conditions that can cause seizures, such as any conditions that affect a person’s brain. Some of these causes include:
Stroke
Brain tumor
Traumatic brain injury or head injury
Central nervous system infection
However, for 60% of people with epilepsy the ultimate cause is unknown.
Triggers or factors that affect the frequency of seizures:
Missed medications
Lack of sleep
Stress
Alcohol
Drug abuse
Menstruation
Photosensitivity (Flashing lights)
Affects only 3% of people with epilepsy, despite popularity of depiction in media
Nutritional deficiencies
Over-the-counter medications
How common is epilepsy? Who is affected?
Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder and affects people of all ages.
About 1 out of 10 people may have a seizure during his or her lifetime and 1 in 26 will develop epilepsy, so they are fairly common. Seizures can last a few second to several minutes. All age, ethnicities, and genders can develop epilepsy, but it is more common in children and older adults and slightly more common in males.
New cases of epilepsy are most common in children till age 10, then decease and then increase again after age 55.
What do you do if you have a seizure? Is there treatment?
What to do: Go to your regular family physician if you have not already been to the hospital or seen by medical professionals. More information about proper first response to a seizure can be found further down.
For the majority of people, epilepsy can be treated or managed with medications or sometimes surgery to control seizures. Some people require lifelong treatment to control seizures, but for others, the seizures eventually go away. Some children with epilepsy may outgrow the condition with age.
What do seizures look like? What are the types?
Symptoms vary depending on the type of seizure. In most cases, a person with epilepsy will tend to have the same type of seizure each time, so the symptoms will be similar from episode to episode. A mild seizure may be difficult to recognize as it can last a few seconds during which you lack awareness.
There are two types of seizure, depending on how much of the brain is affected: Focal and Generalized. In both, the person may or may not lose consciousness
Focal – Affects part of the brain (can be any part), also called partial seizures.
Alterations to sense of taste, smell, sight, hearing, or touch
Dizziness
Tingling and twitching of limbs
Staring blankly
Unresponsiveness
Performing repetitive movements
Generalized – Affects both sides of the brain (the whole brain)
Repetitive movements like lip smacking or blinking
Muscle stiffness
Loss of muscle control (you may fall down suddenly)
Repeated, jerky muscle movements of the face, neck, and arms.
Spontaneous quick twitching of the arms and legs.
Tonic-clonic seizures, (which used to be called “grand mal seizures”) are a type of generalized seizure that is what most people probably imagine a seizure to look like. The symptoms are:
Stiffening of the body
Shaking
Loss of bladder or bowel control
Biting of the tongue
Loss of consciousness
How does epilepsy affect daily life?
Having seizures and epilepsy can impact one’s safety, relationships, work, driving, and more.
Public perception and treatment of people with epilepsy are often bigger problems than actual seizures. Some people have service dogs that can alert them to an oncoming seizure so they can find a safe place to lie down. People with epilepsy are sometimes burdened with unnecessary medical costs by bystanders who call 911 even when emergency medical help is not needed.
What should you do if you see someone seizing?
Most seizures end in a few minutes, and do not usually require emergency medical attention. If you see some seizing, here’s what you should do:
First, keep yourself and other people calm. If you do not know the person, check or call out to see if there is someone around who can attest to the seizing person’s medical history.
Start a timer. You’ll want to keep track of how long the seizure lasts.
Check to see if the person is wearing a medical ID bracelet or other emergency information.
Clear the area of potential hazards so the seizing person doesn’t hurt themselves
Try to gently ease the person on to their side to help them breathe easier
Only call 911 if one or more of these are true:
They have never had a seizure before
They have a health condition like diabetes, heart disease, or are pregnant.
They have difficulty breathing or waking after the seizure
The seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes
Another seizure follows soon after the first one
The person is hurt during the seizure
The seizure happens in water
After it ends, help the person sit in a safe place. Once they are alert and able to communicate, tell them what happened in very simple terms.
Comfort the person and speak calmly.
Offer to call a taxi or another person to make sure the person gets home safely.
ABSOLUTELY DO NOT
Hold the person down
Try to put anything in their mouth
Try to give mouth-to-mouth CPR
Check out these resources to learn more about epilepsy:
UAB Epilepsy Center – Home to Alabama’s only Level IV Epilepsy Center, the highest designation available from the National Association of Epilepsy Centers
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, September 30). Epilepsy fast facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 8, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/about/fast-facts.htm.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, September 30). Seizure first aid. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 8, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/about/first-aid.htm.
Pietrangelo, A. (2018, September 17). Epilepsy: Causes, symptoms, treatment, and more. Healthline. Retrieved November 8, 2021, from https://www.healthline.com/health/epilepsy.
by Senequa Malone, Jaelyn Copeland, and Shon Mack, with contributions from Shayna Bryan | Interns and UAB Community Health and Human Services students
Graphic by Jaelyn Copeland
(This article is based on a discussion from WWL’s Monday Night Wellness Watch. [Link to the livestream recording coming soon!])
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers out there. According to the CDC, it is the second most common cancer in women (after some skin cancers) and the second leading cause of cancer death in women (after lung cancer). About 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with some kind of breast cancer in her lifetime. No one is exempt from a breast cancer diagnoses. It affects men and women, old and young.
Today we’re going to learn about what breast cancer is, what the risk factors are, how you can reduce your risk, and how it affects Women of Color in our community.
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the breast. Cancer starts when cells begin to grow out of control. There are many different types of breast cancer, these depend on where in the breast the cancer cells are located. The breast is made up of 3 parts:
Lobules (glands that produce milk)
Ducts (connect glands to nipple)
Connective tissue (fat that surround the breast and makes up a large part of the volume)
Most breast cancers begin in the lobules or ducts. When the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it is said to have metastasized.
How common is Breast Cancer? What about dying from Breast Cancer?
Every person has breast tissue, so everyone one is capable of developing breast cancer. It is most common in women, but men can develop it too. The lifetime risk is of getting breast cancer for a woman is 13% and the risk of dying from breast cancer is 2.6%. The 5-year survival rate post diagnosis is 90%. The number of new cases of breast cancer is going slightly up (0.5% per year), but death is going down (1% per year). This is likely due to early detection and better screening. Men are 100 times less likely to develop breast cancer, but that number is not zero. While rare, men are diagnosed and die from breast cancer every year
What are the risk factors for Breast Cancer?
Being born a woman
Being older
Obesity
Family history
15% of women with breast cancer have a family member with it
Early menstruation (starting before age 12)
Late menopause (starting after age 55)
Having dense breast tissue
What are dense breasts?
Breast density is a term that describes the relative amount of different types of breast tissue (glandular, connective, and fat tissue) as seen on a mammogram. Dense breasts have relatively high amounts of glandular tissue and fibrous connective tissue and relatively low amounts of fatty breast tissue.
Only a mammogram can show if a woman has dense breasts. Dense breast tissue cannot be felt in a clinical breast exam or in a breast self-exam. Nearly half of all women age 40 and older who get mammograms are found to have dense breasts.
Whether your breasts are dense is often due to genetics, but other factors can influence it. Factors associated with lower breast density include increasing age, having children. Factors associated with higher breast density include having a high body-mass index and using postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy.
Is there any way to reduce our risk of Breast Cancer?
Factors we can change include:
Maintain a healthy weight
Be regularly physically active
150-300 minutes of moderate intensity per week (or about 20-30 minutes a day)
Eat a healthy diet
Vegetables, whole grains, unsaturated fat
Perform monthly breast self-exams
40% of diagnosed breast cancers were detected by women who feel a lump
Start at age 20 to become familiar with your “normal”
Monitor regularly for changes
Consume alcohol moderately, or not at all
Women who have 2-3 drinks a day have 20% higher risk than non-drinkers
If you have children, breastfeed if you are able
What about Breast Cancer risk among African American women?
African American women have a 31% breast cancer mortality rate – the highest of any U.S. racial or ethnic group. While the reasons behind this disparity are numerous and complicated, the issue is real and there are at least some solutions everyone agrees on: more screening, more self-exams, and more access to treatment for African American women.
Set a schedule and do it regularly. A good time to start is 3-5 days after your period it ends, then continue to perform a BSE every month.
Remove your clothing and take a good look at yourself in the mirror. If you’re never done something like this before, it can feel a little silly and embarrassing at first, but it’s very important to become familiar with your own body and what is normal for you, so you can detect changes.
Breasts come in all shapes and sizes (many women have one breast larger than the other), so once you know what is normal for you, when you perform these exams you’re going to be looking for anything that stands out as different or unusual
Look for any distortion of the shape, dimpling, puckering, or odd bulging.
How’s the color? Are there any areas of redness, a rash, or parts that look swollen? Is the nipple in its normal positions or has that changed, is it inverted? Is there any discharged? It could look “watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood”.
Raise your arms, and look for the same things. Does this position aggravate any soreness or pain in your breasts?
Next lie down flat on your back and place one arm behind your head. With the other hand, use the pad of your fingers to press firmly around your breast tissue. Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side — from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage.
Use a pattern to make sure you cover your entire breast. Two common patterns are to start in the center and make your way outwards in circles, another is to go top to bottom across the breast like you’re mowing the lawn.
If you do feel a lump, don’t worry, stay calm, and make an appointment with your regular physician.
Most lumps are benign (non-cancerous). There are many benign breast conditions that can cause lumps that resolve on their own.
What about Mammograms?
A mammogram is an X-ray picture of the breast. Doctors use a mammogram to look for early signs of breast cancer. Regular mammograms are the best tests doctors have to find breast cancer early, sometimes up to three years before it can be felt.
Women ages 40-44 should have the choice to start annual breast cancer screening with mammograms if they wish to do so, particularly if they have family history of breast cancer
Women ages 45-54 should get mammograms every year
Women 55 and older should switch to mammograms every 2 years, or can continue yearly screening.
Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live 10 more years or longer. All women should be familiar with the known benefits, limitations, and potential harms linked to breast cancer screening.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, September 20). Breast cancer. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). USCS data visualizations – CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://gis.cdc.gov/Cancer/USCS/.
Moore, J. X., Han, Y., Appleton, C., Colditz, G., & Toriola, A. T. (2020). Determinants of mammographic breast density by race among a large screening population. JNCI Cancer Spectrum. https://doi.org/10.1093/jncics/pkaa010
By Shon Mack and Senequa Malone | Interns and UAB Community Health and Human Services Students
Image credit Unknown, Graphics by Shayna Bryan
(This article is based on a discussion from WWL’s Monday Night Wellness Watch You can watch a recording of that livestream in the video player below, or on our YouTube page by clicking this link.)
Intimate partner violence (IPV), also known as domestic violence, is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain control over another intimate partner.
IPV can take many forms. Some are more overt, such as physical violence, others are subtle like verbal, mental, emotional abuse, or other forms. Always, the goal is to control the victim through manipulation.
What are the warning signs?
Aggressive behavior, controlling, manipulation, isolation, talking down or belittling, frequent bouts of jealousy are all common signs of an abusive relationship. The cycle of abuse ebbs and flows. Love bombing occurs when the abuser overwhelms their victim with loving words, actions, and behavior as a manipulation technique. This often acts as an apology for the abuse, maybe following an incident where the victim threatens to leave. Once the victim is convinced, or guilted, into staying the abuse resumes and may escalate.
Who are the victims?
Anyone can be a victim of intimate partner violence. Women are more common in IPV cases, but men suffer as well and are often forgotten or disregarded. Statistics show that 1 out of 3 women 1 out of 4 men become victims. In Alabama, 37.5% of women and 29.5% of men experience intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence, and/or stalking in their lifetimes. Every case is different, and victims may have one or several of these indicators in common.
What are some of causes?
Main cause is poor upbringing. Children growing up in households that normalize abuse. Research points to many causes of domestic violence, but all these causes and risk factors have one underlying commonality: the abuser feels the need to exert complete control over his or her partner. Some studies indicate that a cause of domestic violence stems from an intersection of both environmental and individual factors.
Who are the perpetrators?
Toxic – People who are full of toxicity
Hurt – People who are dealing with hurt
“Hurt people, hurt people”, people who have been hurt themselves can lash out to hurt others as a destructive way of dealing with their own pain
Broken – People who suffer from insecurities, low self-esteem
Learned – People who come from generations of abuse and repeat the abusive behaviors their learned from their family
Why do people stay?
Most people stay in abusive relationships due to a combination of love and fear. They love the person; believe they can change the person. Change comes from within. Loving an abusive person will not make them stop being abusive, they need to acknowledge their behavior and want to change before they are able. It is of utmost importance to understand it is no one’s responsibility to change the abuser. You do not owe them.
However, the number one reason people stay in abusive relationships is fear. People who are in these relationships have often been manipulated into believing it is normal, they deserve it, and/or that they cannot function on their own. They fear life on their own. They feel that no one will want them. For some, the abusive situation might be better than where they came from prior.
Unfortunately, ending an abusive relationship is not as simple as the victim choosing to leave; it is often a matter of the victim being able to safely escape their abuser. Finance can play a major role as well and situations are more complex when children or assets are involved.
How can you escape an abusive relationship?
There are many dedicated experts and volunteers out there to help victims of abuse escape their situation. Contacting the Crisis Center, National Domestic Violence Hotline, and/or other local and national services is a good first step. Here is a list of common steps to take when leaving a domestic violence situation:
Create a safety plan
Have options where you can go (have a few in mind)
Have a bank account or credit card put in your name
Get a new cell phone
Change the locks, get a security system and outside lights
Think of ways to get your children to safety without being obvious
You can also think of excuses on how to get out of the house as mentioned earlier
If you do not feel safe researching or accessing online resources in your home, the public library is a great resource and a safe place where your activity cannot be tracked.
Love: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Vitamin D insufficiency in both infants and adults is now recognized as a global issue. Both children and adults avoid sun exposure or use sun protection because of concerns about skin cancer, putting them at high risk for vitamin D insufficiency. As a result, diet or supplementation are their only sources of vitamin D.
Vitamin D is fortified in milk, some orange juices, and some breads, yogurts, and cheeses in the United States. Vitamin D2 is present in varying levels in irradiated mushrooms. Vitamin D is naturally contained in the flesh of oily fish. Salmon is recommended based on the dietary tables. It has been suggested that dietary sources of vitamin D, rather than sun exposure, should be the primary supply of the vitamin.
Milk is the most common fortified dietary source of vitamin D, though it typically does not contain at least 80% of what is stated on the label. Fish, particularly oily fish like salmon and mackerel, has long been regarded as a good source of vitamin D. The influence of various cooking procedures on the vitamin D content of fish is poorly understood. A study determined the vitamin D content of various fish species, as well as the influence of baking and frying on vitamin D content. Give baked salmon a try!
By Flora Johnson, M.Ed. | UAB Community Health & Human Services Alumni
Image from Alex Green | Graphics by Shayna Bryan
Question of the Day
A 23-year-old male is referred for treatment due to swollen testicles. He explains that the reaction occurred after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination. What is the best response?
Laugh at the gentleman and dismiss his claim.
Report on the condition to the local county health department immediately.
Thank them for their honesty and let everyone know why not get vaccinated.
Assure it is scientifically impossible and offer evidence-based reasons for testicle swelling.
Continue reading for the answer.
Vax Facts
A reasonable amount of blame has been placed upon the COVID-19 pandemic. Shoveling our woes on the virus is not uncommon. Sure, the virus has caused major and minor disruptions. However, the coronavirus vax jab facts remain the same – it is safe for medical use with little to no known major medical disruptions.
COMRINATY is the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for injection use in individuals age 16 and older. The known side effects are mild and include injection site pain, redness, and/or swelling. Chills, fever, headache, muscle pain, nausea, and tiredness are also side effects experienced throughout the body.
These side effects occur within two days. This is normal and will go away within a few days. It is 95% effective at preventing infection or death.
“My cousin in Trinidad won’t get the vaccine cuz his friend got it & became impotent. His testicles became swollen. His friend was weeks away from getting married, now the girl called off the wedding. So just pray on it & make sure you’re comfortable with ur decision, not bullied.“
-Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ)
The Thing Is
Recording artist, Grammy winner, and actress, Nicki Minaj stirred controversy for her vaccine hesitancy perception. The star explained that their Trinidadian cousin’s best friend’s testicles swelled after receiving a vax jab. He allegedly experienced impotence.
Whoa! Let’s fact-check this. The Messenger’s message has a resounding magnitude – one that matters.
Nicki was uninvited to the Met Gala for non-vaccination. She had unanswered COVID-19 questions and refused to take the shot. Her primary concern was valid. However, the controversy caused chaos in Trinidad and abroad. An opportunity to express her vaccine hesitancy concerns with Dr. Fauci, the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and leading COVID-19 physician advisor to the United States, during a live-streamed phone call resulted.
As we stand now, there is no reported such side effect or adverse event of testicular swelling in Trinidad, or I dare say… none that we know of anywhere else in the world.
Trinidad and Tobago Minister of Health, Terrence Deyalsingh
Question of the Day Answer
D. Assure it is scientifically impossible and offer evidence-based reasons for testicle swelling. There are no identified reproductive side effects. Possible reasoning for scrotal swelling is the following:
Trauma that causes inflammation
Testicular cancer
STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis)
Take Away This
While the coronavirus vaccines were developed rapidly, they are safe. They reduce viral transmissions and can keep you from getting seriously ill if infected. All side effects are mild and are experienced at the injection site or throughout the body. The vaccine does not disturb the reproductive system.
“If I want to ask questions about the vaccine, what’s wrong?”
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Niaid director. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Retrieved October 6, 2021, from https://www.niaid.nih.gov/about/director.
By Shayna Bryan, Intern & UAB Community Health & Human Services Student
Images from Magda Elhers and Caleb Oquendo | Graphics by Shayna Bryan
Eat a balanced variety, enough of the good stuff, not too much of the other stuff. If the principles of a healthy diet are so simple, why do so many dieters fail? Maybe our perspective is to blame.
As discussed previously, your diet is everything you eat over your entire life, so changing your diet is more akin to changing your lifestyle. The best diet is one you can stick to; one that embraces the rhythms and changes of life. The most restrictive diets demand total compliance and encourage a cult-like devotion. These severe restrictions, such as those that eliminate whole categories of food, make it harder to comply and easier to give up. It sets us up for failure. While someone can give up tobacco or alcohol, we still have to eat every day of our lives.
Small changes, slowly incorporated over a long period of time, are the best way to ease yourself into a healthy diet. Here’s how you can do it:
Set realistic goals that you can achieve
Set yourself up for success, not failure!
Take an honest look at what your current habits are and look for ways to make changes
Example: I currently drink about 20 oz of water a day, my new goal is to drink 40 oz a day.
Reduce, instead of remove
It’s not necessary to eliminate certain things from your diet, especially if you like them. Look for the balance.
Example: I currently eat fast food 5 times a week, my new goal is to reduce that to 3 times a week. Eventually I will work towards eating fast food only once a week.
Reevaluate
If you didn’t meet your goals, set new more achievable goals! Failure is an opportunity to learn and improve, not proof that you can’t do something.
Example: I previously drank a case of soda (24) every week, so I set a goal to reduce that to 1 soda per day (7 per week). I didn’t meet that goal, so my new goal is to drink half a case (12) of soda per week.
Try new things!
New foods, new techniques, new cuisines!
Living life to the fullest isn’t meant to be about endlessly cutting back, so neither should your diet. You might surprise yourself with what you find and how your tastes change!
Example: I didn’t like brussel sprouts until I tried roasting them, now they’re my favorite go-to green veggie.
Love Yourself and Keep Going
Our stumbles in life do not undermine our previous efforts. Days of self-love and indulgence are part of a healthy lifestyle, both in mind and body. It’s easier to eat dessert in moderation if you don’t view it as a breach of contract. These cycles of adherence are a natural part of living. If we consider the long term, that your diet will be defined by what you consume over a lifetime, maybe we’ll have an easier time sticking to healthy eating and won’t see a failure as the end.
By Shayna Bryan, Intern & UAB Community Health & Human Services Student
Images from Magda Elhers and Caleb Oquendo | Graphics by Shayna Bryan
Diet has become an ugly word, often associated with a drastic change in eating habits or a temporary quick fix. Limiting saturated fat intake, controlling portion sizes, and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables are highly recommended way to limit heart disease risk and control weight.
Unfortunately, most diets fail, and most dieters regain their lost weight within 2 years. The yoyo cycle of weight loss that results from multiple failed attempts may be more damaging than not dieting at all. Why is this happening and what can we do about it?
Picking a diet can feel overwhelming, like eating healthy requires a master’s degree in nutrition. There are an endless number of diet trends and, as long as the industry is profitable, there will always be new ones. This is in spite of the fact that most diets can be diluted down to principles of health and nutrition known for ages: eat a balanced variety, enough of the good stuff, not too much of the other stuff.
The Good Stuff
Vegetables
Fruits
Lean Protein
Whole Grains
The Other Stuff
Sugar
Salt
Saturated Fat
Your diet is what you eat over your lifetime. This is how nutritional scientists define, understand, and research it. Your diet is not a week, a month, or even a year of restrictive eating that will guarantee health and happiness for the rest of your life.
By Jaelyn Copeland, Intern and UAB Community Health and Human Services Student
Photos from @NICKIMINAJ on Twitter and Getty Images | Graphics by Shayna Bryan
Recently, the recording artist and global celebrity Nicki Minaj tweeted a series of statements expressing her reason for not attending the Met Gala, the star-studded fashion event postponed this year to September 13th due to COVID-19. In tweets following, the artist went on to explain, “I’m sure I’ll b vaccinated as well cuz I have to go on tour,” Minaj wrote in a tweet about missing Monday’s Met Gala in New York, implying that she had yet to be vaccinated, which the gala requires. “Once I believe I’ve done enough research,” she continued, she’ll get vaccinated.
Health educators encourage the general public to consider the facts regarding their health and well-being. Health educators also work to promote healthy decision making based on the valid science that is available. Understanding that there are many untrue myths regarding a wide array of topics on social media and in other spaces, health educators encourage of anyone wanting to do their own personal research concerning the vaccine (& other topics).
To obtain appropriate sources of information, the Wilkinson Wellness Lab recommends visiting health websites supported by Federal Government entities. By going to http://www.usa.gov, you can access all Federal websites. Large professional organizations and well-known medical schools can also be excellent providers of health knowledge.
Look for websites that end in:
.gov – Identifies a U.S. government agency
.edu - Identifies an educational institution, like a school, college, or university
.org – Usually identifies nonprofit organizations (such as professional groups; scientific, medical, or research societies; advocacy groups)
.com – Identifies commercial websites (such as businesses, pharmaceutical companies, and sometimes hospitals)
Also, take into account the authors and contributors of the website or social media information as well. If the author’s name appears within the posting, consider whether or not that individual is an authority in the topic. Is this person employed by a company, and if yes, what are the company’s objectives? Trustworthy websites will typically provide contact information (such as an email address, phone number, and/or mailing address), as well as an “About Us” or “Contact Us” page.
These tips and more are great ways to examine if a resource is “truthful” or not and support your health decision making in balance with one’s faith.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Centers for Disease control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved September 17, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). National institutes of health. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved September 17, 2021, from https://www.nih.gov/.
By Flora Johnson, M.Ed. | UAB Community Health & Human Alumni
Photograph by Samir Hussein/WireImage
“No matter how much positive energy you put into the world, you’re still gonna have people who have something mean to say about you.”
– Melissa Viviane Jefferson (Lizzo), Grammy Award Winning American Singer
What is Body Image?
The way people perceive and feel their physical selves is called body image. Men, women, and all peoples have concerns about their body image. Their weight, the shape or size of a body part, skin, or hair is often zeroed in, bashed, and picked apart. The fashion industry is a major contributor to widespread unhealthy body image through the careful selection of underweight models to display their products, but our peers, the media, and even family members all influence body image. This often promotes destructive feelings of inadequacy.
Body Acceptance Journey
Melissa Viviane Jefferson – known professionally as Lizzo – is an American music artist celebrated for her vocals, savvy personality, and positive body image. She attacks the world with explosive performances and lyrics. The singer shows the world how much she adores herself through outspoken music- inspiring others to accept, love, and protect their own bodies.
Following the release of her new single and a step back into the public limelight, Lizzo had an Instagram honest moment that addressed negative body image comments.
“On the days I feel I should be the happiest, I feel so down,” Lizzo told fans while sitting in her bathroom wearing a wig cap dabbing her eyes. “Like, I hurt so hard.” The Grammy winner revealed she feels unappreciated for working “quadruple” the time. “Sometimes I feel like the world just don’t love me back,” she sobbed.
Positive and Negative Body Image
Everyone struggles with body image. Having a positive body image is understanding that the value of self-worth is not dependent on appearance. It is a positive energy accepting and appreciating a stable body appearance. If a person is satisfied with their image, they flaunt it – unapologetically.
And for the most part it doesn’t hurt my feelings; I don’t care!
Lizzo
Unsatisfaction with one’s appearance is called negative body image. People may compare themselves with others, feel ashamed about parts of their bodies, lack confidence, or feeling uncomfortable in their own body.
Improving Body Image
Learning to love your body is a journey. A balanced lifestyle that incorporates healthier attitudes, food, exercises, and practices is easier when you are in tune with and respond to the needs of your body.
These tips can help a person feel more positive about their body.
List 10 things you like about yourself
Practice positive self-talk. Say, “My arms are strong” or “I am beautiful.”
Do something nice for your body
Aim for a healthful lifestyle and eat a nutritious diet
Wear comfortable clothes that look good on you
Avoid comparing yourself with other people.
Be actively critical of media messages and images that make you feel inadequate.
See yourself as a whole person, and an imperfect body part.
Start a hobby or blog
I don’t have time for your negativity – your internalized self-hatred that you project onto me with your racism and fatphobia. I don’t have time for it. Anyways, I’m going to continue to be me. I’m going to continue to be a bad b—-.
If you or someone you may know is experiencing body image or eating concerns, seek immediate help. Speak with a doctor, dependable friend, therapist, or parent about your situation.
Use this image to share the positive messaging on social media!
Wilkinson Wellness Laboratory 