Zika Virus

      The Zika virus is a virus commonly known to cause brain development issues in newborns. Before it was known to affect babies, the Zika virus spread through contact between mosquitoes and monkeys.

      It originated in the Zika forest in Uganda in 1946 and 1947, but was only present in countries between Africa and Asia for a long time. Zika is believed to have initially infected humans due to an invasion of mosquitos in surrounding areas where people lived. More recently, Zika has spread to other countries outside of that region, including South and Latin American countries and the United States, due to an increase in travelling and trading in those countries.

 

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                Zika virus starts out as a minor infection in the body that involves symptoms that last from two to seven days! Symptoms can include fever, rashes, joint and muscle pains, and headaches. Although there is no current vaccine to prevent the virus, Zika symptoms can still be treated. Doctors suggest staying rested, staying hydrated with healthy fluids, and taking anti inflammatory medicines. About 1/5 of the people who contract Zika infection end up becoming sick with the actual virus. Scientists have begun to develop a vaccine for Zika, but a vaccine will take at least two years to create, and another ten to twelve years on top of that for the vaccine to be approved for public use.

       Zika is currently affecting more people than it has previously on record. In 2016, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requested that a pregnant woman, planning on travelling to a country that carries Zika Virus, postpone her trip until a later date to reduce the chances of her developing Zika. Some of the countries with a larger presence of Zika even asked women to postpone becoming pregnant altogether until Zika is under more control.

sources:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/02/10/cdc-confirms-link-between-zika-microcephaly-brazilian-babies-who-died/80179898/


http://emergency.cdc.gov/han/han00385.asp

Environmental Sustainability

            Sustainability is defined by Dictionary.com as the ability for something to be supported indefinitely. So, when asked what environmental sustainability is, one can assume that resources and tactics that are being used in our environment on a daily basis for production in our economy support long-term ecological health and balance. Environmental sustainability is difficult to create in the world that we live in today. The production of any type of good or service in today’s world harms the environment in some way. After World War II, the Industrial Revolution, and the Baby-Boomer generation, the economy needed to compensate and provide for the increase of working people. Large-scale businesses and mass production of food took over the production industry, while local farmers and clean harvesting tactics were then a thing of the past, all with sustainability for the people in mind.

            But decades later, the change in production in our country has impacted our environment in ways people never expected. The current production industry is not sustainable or healthy for Americans to live with anymore. Nonrenewable natural resources are running out. America may need to change it’s ways, sooner than anyone thinks. 

            Some people may argue that changing to a more sustainable environment may cause disruption in America’s economy because it will impact employment amounts in a negative way by switching to smaller scale farming and cleaner techniques, which would then cost more money.

            Although it may take some time for changes to be made, efficient use of raw materials would reduce the production of waste. If more people purchased food locally, local economies would grow, and the food would be produced in a healthier environment. This would also add to the surrounding environment being treated with healthier practices. Cars and factories have cleaner alternatives available. For example, battery-operated and hybrid cars use less material and are better for the environment.

 Also, switching to resources like wind and water are much cleaner and long-term are a cheaper option.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sustainability

http://www.thwink.org/sustain/glossary/EnvironmentalSustainability.htm

Stress

For most people, being "stressed" is a part of everyday life. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines stress simply as a "state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life." Stress causes large amounts of worry and anxiety and can truly impact someone’s happiness.

Poorly managed stress throughout your lifetime can lead to bad side effects involving a person’s overall health. Increase in heart rate, breathing, decrease in hunger, sleeping problems, headaches, fatigue, muscle tension, and overall unhappiness with life are effects of being “stressed out,” but what some people fail to realize is that large and untreated amounts of stress in a person’s lifetime can lead to serious health conditions like high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, types of cancer, migraines and asthma.

            The hypothalamus in the base of the brain is in charge of the body’s stress response system. When proposed with a stressful situation, the pituitary gland and adrenal cortex are activated and the human body goes into Fight or Flight response mode. Then, a stress hormone called Cortisol is released.

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            For some people, stress is so common as a part of their everyday life that they don’t even recognize the fact that they are stressed. Stress can build up in your body and give you muscle tensions or sleeping issues. Once you know to look out for them, you can help your body when you are aware! Listen to your body and try to notice changes!

            You can also recognize stress impacts on your emotions. Stressing out makes it hard to concentrate, stay happy, and keep interest in activities you typically enjoy. Maybe your body feels drained, you feel guilty taking time off of work and other pressing daily activities.

            Although by now, it may sound that stress is present and unavoidable in life, but there are ways to combat it. Incorporating workouts into your daily routine is an awesome way to keep your body at its healthiest and happiest.

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            Physical exercise alleviates much of the body’s muscle tension and can help you think clearer, therefore reducing overall stresses. Making sure that although you may be overwhelmed lately, you are still engaging socially with people you care about. Socializing can be the quickest and most effective way to decrease feelings of stress because communicating with people who understand you and make you feel safe is instantly comforting, and maybe they can offer some advice on what they would do, given they were placed in your stressful situation. Another simple tip to avoid unnecessary stress in your life: accept things that you cannot change. Everyone has heard this line before, but stressing about uncontrollable things around us, like the behavior of other people, will not help a person’s happiness in any way. Instead, maybe focus on controlling your reaction to those people’s behavior can provide you with a sane mind

Sources:

http://www.medicinenet.com/stress/page9.htm#conclusions_about_the_effects_of_stress

http://www.simplypsychology.org/stress-biology.html

https://www.healthylifestylesliving.com/enlighten-the-soul/stress-management/how-do-you-know-if-youre-stressed/