CERVICAL CANCER AWARENESS:
GET SCREENED
3 morning habits that can wreck your day
HealthyStart JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2014 Vol. XVII
FREE
PAGE 10
Eating too much added SUGAR may be killing you
Diabetes Rising Rapidly Among U.S. Kids PAGE
Walgreens matches CVS on Anti-Smoking Initiative PAGE
Page 2 / January-February 2014 / HealthyStart
healthbriefs Good looks may not be the only thing that runs in your family
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Glaucoma can too
t may be easy to see that beauty is deeply rooted in your family tree. But some things that are passed down from generation to generation are not as easily seen—like glaucoma, an eye disease that runs in families and often has no warning signs. Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damages the eye’s optic nerve, which carries visual signals to the brain. Itcan lead to vision loss or blindness if left untreated. Primary open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of this disease. Quite often, by the time people are diagnosed with glaucoma they have already begun to notice changes in their side, or peripheral, vision. It’s important not to wait until you notice vision problems to see your eye care professional. “Studies show that at least half of all persons with glaucoma don’t know they have this potentially blinding eye disease,” said National Eye Institute (NEI) director Dr. Paul Sieving. “The good news is that glaucoma can be detected in its early stages through a comprehensive dilated eye exam.” People with a family history of glaucoma and everybody at higher risk—especially
WILLIAMSON - According to numerous area physician offices and local hospitals, a greater than normal number of people has sought treatment for several different strands of the flu, including upper respiratory and intestinal strands thus far this year, and the numbers are predicted to remain on the rise. African Americans age 40 and older— should get a comprehensive dilated eye exam every 1 to 2 years. A comprehensive dilated eye exam is a procedure in which an eye care professional places drops in your eyes to dilate (or widen) the pupil to examine the back of your eyes and your optic nerve for signs of disease. This exam may help save your sight because when glaucoma is detected
early, it can be controlled through medications or surgery. Keep the vision of your beautiful family in your future. To learn more about glaucoma, visit www.nei.nih.gov/glaucoma or call NEI at 301–496–5248. A low-cost exam may be available to you through Medicare. For more information, call 1– 800–MEDICARE or visit www.medicare.gov.
Blacks in Single-parent Households Prone to Blood Pressure
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Tips to avoid the flu
lacks who grow up in a single-parent household have a greater risk of developing high blood pressure later in life, according to a new research study.
6. To kill bacteria and viruses, wash toys regularly in warm, soapy water.
3612 North Martin Luther King Drive Milwaukee WI. 53212
7. If you have to sneeze and a tissue is unavailable, sneeze into your shoulder, not your hands, to avoid spreading germs.
Patricia O'Flynn Pattillo Publisher
Jimmy Johnson Sales and Advertising 414-265-5300 Advertising Email: advertising@communityjournal.net Editorial Telephone (414) 265-6647Email: editorial@communityjournal.net Webmaster Mike Mullins Bright Boateng Designer / Producer
2. Don’t share drinking glasses. Instead, use disposable cups in the kitchen and bathroom, using each cup only once and then disposing.
5. Bacteria and viruses can live on hand towels and sponges for hours. Use disposable paper napkins and towels in the kitchen.
Milwaukee Community Journal
Administration Telephone (414)-265-5300
1. Bar soap is a perfect breeding ground for viruses and bacteria. Wash your hands frequently with liquid antibacterial soap instead of bar soap.
4. Colds and flu are often spread by hand-tohand contact. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth after being exposed to viruses or bacteria.
found that Black men who spent their childhood in a single-parent household had a 46 percent greater risk of developing hypertension, the medical term for high blood pressure, than those who grew up with two parents. The average blood pressure in
www.communityjournal.net
The Mingo County Health Department has released educational pamphlets that offer 10 healthy habits and tips that will help you avoid colds and flu symptoms.
3. Use disposable tissues when blowing your nose; use each tissue once, throw it away then wash your hands thoroughly.
Researchers at the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, part of the National Institutes of Health,
Mikel Holt, Editor Editor and Marketing Sales
In Boyd County, Ky., two recent deaths that were said to have been caused by the H1-N1 virus/flu has heightened the concerns of physicians and health care workers, who are striving to educate the public on precautionary measures they can take to stay healthy.
these men was also higher than their dual-parent counterparts. “These differences in mean blood pressure and the prevalence of hypertension among men raised in two-parent households versus single-parent households during childhood are quite significant,” study author Debbie Barrington said.
By Chris Hoenig A normal blood pressure is considered to be 120/80 or lower, but the study found that Black men who grew up with both parents from ages 1–12 had a systolic, or maximum, blood pressure (the first number in a blood-pressure reading) 6.5 points lower than those who had spent their entire childhood in single-parent households. Hypertension is typically diagnosed when sustained readings top 140/90. adults (31 percent) have hypertension, but Blacks are at a much greater risk of developing it. Forty-three percent of Black men and nearly 46 percent of Black women have high blood pressure, the most of any race or ethnicity. White men and women have about an average risk (33.9 percent for men, 31.3 percent for women), while Latinos and Latinas have lower-than-average
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8. Frequently clean surfaces such as stair rails, telephones, counter tops and door knobs to avoid hand-to-hand spread of viruses. 9. Germs remain in stagnant air; open windows when weather permits to circulate fresh air. 10. Avoid smoking at home. Smoking is a respiratory irritant that increases susceptibility to viruses that cause colds and the flu. Developing simple, healthy habits like those above can help you stay healthy during this cold and flu season and throughout the year.
provided by Mingo Health Department
By Rachel Baldwin
rbaldwin@civitasmedia.com
January-February 2014 / HealthyStart / Page 3
Get Screened E
ach year, an estimated 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and, of those, about one-third will die as a result of the cancer. But cervical cancer is also a highly preventable and treatable cancer, thanks to improved screening and vaccination.
tion to protect women from cervical cancer, but technology is only half the battle," said ASHA president and CEO Lynn Barclay. "It's imperative we continue efforts that not only promote greater access to health care, but that we also inform women about cervical cancer and the marvelous means we now have to prevent this disease."
four HPV types—the two most common high-risk strains (HPV 16 and 18) and the two most common low-risk types (HPV 6 and 11). The vaccine should be given before an infection occurs, ideally, before a girl becomes sexually active. Barclay noted that it's important for parents and primary care physicians to promote the vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the inoculation for girls and women aged 11 to 26. Health care professionals are increasingly suggesting that teen boys and men get the vaccine as well. Fewer than half of girls and young women who are eligible for these vaccines have completed the three-dose series, so increasing vaccine uptake is a priority for us," said Barclay. According to the National Institutes of Health, cervical cancer develops slowly, starting as a precancerous condition known as dysplasia. These abnormal cells are easily detected through a Pap test and can be treated effectively. There is also an HPV test that, when combined with a Pap test in women over age 30, can help identify women at risk for developing cervical cancer.
The American Social Health Association (ASHA) and the National Cervical Cancer Coalition have named January Cervical Health Awareness Month to encourage women across the country to get screened for cervical cancer and receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine if they're eligible. Today, detection tools and inoculations make cervical cancer a condition that is relatively easy to prevent and treat. In women who are not vaccinated and not screened regularly, either due to a lack of information or inadequate health care, cervical cancer can still be a serious, even fatal, illness. "Science has put us in a remarkable posi-
This year, the organizations are focusing on increasing the number of eligible women getting the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. HPV is common among women and is the main cause of cervical cancer. It's estimated that at least 75 percent of the reproductive-age population has been infected with one or more types of genital HPV. In the vast majority of cases, the virus causes no symptoms or health problems and goes away on its own when a healthy immune system clears the infection. But, in about 5 percent of women, a persistent infection occurs with high-risk strains of HPV, which causes nearly all cases of cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine, which must be given in three doses, can protect women against
If left undetected, dysplasia can turn into cervical cancer, which can potentially spread to the bladder, intestines, lungs and liver. Moreover, women may not suspect cervical cancer until it has become advanced or metastasizes, a fact which underscores the importance of regular Pap tests. Talk to your health care provider about what screening tests you need and how often you need them. Symptoms of cervical cancer, which may not show up until the cancer is advanced, include abnormal vaginal bleeding, unusual discharge, periods that last longer or have a heavier flow than usual and bleeding after menopause.
Walgreens
evaluates
cigarette sales
In response to CVS’ announcement Wednesday that it will stop selling cigarettes later this year, Walgreens said it is evaluating tobacco sales. Walgreens “will continue to evaluate the choice of products our customers want, while also helping to educate them and providing smoking cessation products and alternatives that help reduce the demand for tobacco products,” said spokesperson Michael Polzin. Walgreens announced a partnership with GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare to launch a free, Internet-based smoking cessation program called "Sponsorship to Quit." The program will
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Page 4 / January-February 2014 / HealthyStart
national news
10 Places Where Health Insurance Costs The Most
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f you are buying health coverage in the Colorado ski resort towns, the Connecticut suburbs of New York City or a bunch of otherwise low-cost rural regions of Georgia, Mississippi and Nevada, you have the misfortune of living in the most expensive insurance marketplaces under the new health law.
In Summit County, the average hospital inpatient cost was $786 per insured person, 61 percent above the state average, even though admissions were 10 percent below the state average, according to data from the Colorado All-Payer Claims Database. In Pitkin County, where Aspen is located, costs from doctors and other medical professionals were $1,932 per insured person. That was more than two times higher than the state average, even though the number of claims filed was 17 percent fewer.
The 10 most expensive regions also include all of Alaska and Vermont and large parts of Wisconsin and Wyoming. The ranking is based on the lowest-price "silver" plan, which is the midlevel plan that the majority of consumers are choosing.
The most expensive regions were determined by the monthly premiums for a 40year-old person. The list is based on rates from federal and state insurance marketplaces and data compiled by Kaiser Family Foundation researchers. (KHN is an editorially independent program of the foundation.)
These regions, created as part of the health law, range in size from a state to a single county. While many people in these places will receive government subsidies to help pay for premiums, the portion that they pay will still be higher than what they would have to foot in many other places. The cause of the stratospheric premiums varies from region to region, although a recurring theme is that in some areas the limited number of hospitals and specialists allows them to demand high prices from insurers. In southwestern Georgia, one hospital system dominates the area and beat back an effort by federal antitrust regulators to loosen
its grip on the market. High individual insurance rates also reflect the extra costs that come when locals tend to be in poor health and where large numbers of people lack employer-sponsored insurance, leaving providers with more charity cases and lower-reimbursed Medicare patients.
A sicker population doesn't explain the most expensive region in the country: four mountain counties around Aspen and Vail. People here are generally healthy, but medical prices and the use of medical services are both high.
In each region, the price of every policy has to be consistent across all counties, although the insurer doesn't have to offer each policy in every county. When the least expensive silver plan isn't offered in a county, Kaiser Health News notes the cheapest available silver plan there. The rankings stay the same no matter the age or family size except in Vermont, which
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NNPA Ask U.S. Court to Include Black Press in Tobacco Settlement The National Newspapers Publishers Association (NNPA) and the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB) on Friday formally asked the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. to have black-owned newspapers and broadcast properties included in the list of required media outlets that tobacco companies must use to place ads outlining the dangers of smoking. A ruling in 2012 in the U.S. Justice Department's 15-year-old case against the nation's leading tobacco producers required the companies to run "corrective statements" about the harmful effects of their products. On Jan. 10 when the U.S. Department of Justice filed an agreement on the details of those statements, Target Market News disclosed that the list (originally filed in 2006) of where those ads would appear did not include any African-American media outlets. The media list presently filed with the court consists of full-page ads in 35 general market daily newspapers and a year of prime time commercial announcements on the CBS, NBC and ABC networks. Media buying professionals have placed the value of the media plan at between $30 million and $45 million. The amicus brief filing by NNPA and NABOB states that because tobacco companies "directly and intentionally targeted the African American community," placing the corrective statement ads with black newspapers and broadcast stations "will be a more effective and complete remedy for the defendants' harmful conduct."
"We are shocked and deeply disappointed that the Justice Department, the TobaccoFree Action Fund and the tobacco industry would all agree to sign off an advertising plan that totally disrespects the Black community," said Cloves C. Campbell, chairman of the NNPA, a federation of nearly 200 Black newspapers. "The industry's past efforts to target African-American consumers have been thoroughly documented. It is sad that an industry that sought to exploit our community with a product that is harmful to our health now seeks to further devalue African-Americans by ignoring the Black media when it is being forced to atone what a federal judge determined was a deliberate effort to deceive the American public." A status conference with Judge Gladys Kessler, the Justice Department, the tobacco companies and plaintiff Tobacco-Free Action Fund is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 22 at U.S. District Court in Washington.
January-February 2014 / HealthyStart / Page 5
Eating too much added sugar may be killing you
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A new study finds that added sugar increases your risk of death from heart disease. ugar not only makes you fat, it may be killing you.
Yang and colleagues reviewed data from more than 31,000 people over the years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which evaluates dietary habits based on in-person interviews. They found that most adults (71%) consume 10% or more of their daily calories from added sugars. About 10% of adults consume 25% or more of daily calories from added sugars.
Consuming too much added sugar — in regular soda, cakes, cookies and candy — increases your risk of death from heart disease, according to a new study, the largest of its type. "The risk of cardiovascular disease death increases exponentially as you increase your consumption of added sugar," says the study's lead author, Quanhe Yang, a senior scientist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On average, adults in the USA in 2010 consumed about 15% of their daily calories — about 300 calories a day, based on a 2,000calorie diet — from added sugars. That's far more than the American Heart Association's recommendation that women consume no more than 100 calories a day from added sugars, or about 6 teaspoons of sugar; and men consume no more than 150 calories a day, or about 9 teaspoons. The World Health Organization recommends consuming less than 10% of calories from added sugars. One can of regular soda contains about 140 calories of added sugar. That's about 7% of the daily calories of someone eating 2,000 calories a day, Yang says. Added sugars include table sugar, brown sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, maple syrup, honey, molasses and other caloric
The researchers also looked at data of deaths from heart disease (heart attacks, stroke, heart failure, hypertension), and they compared added-sugar intake to death from heart disease. They controlled their results for a wide range of heart-disease risk factors, including high blood pressure, total cholesterol, smoking, physical activity, diet and weight. Among their findings, published online Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine:
sweeteners in prepared and processed foods and beverages. It does not include sugars that occur naturally in fruits, fruit juice, and milk and dairy products. Major sources of added sugars in Americans' diets are sugar-sweetened beverages, desserts, fruit drinks, dairy desserts (ice cream) and candy, Yang says. Other research has tied a high intake of added sugars, especially sugar-sweetened
beverages, to many poor health conditions, including obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and risk factors for heart disease and stroke. Most of those studies focused on sugar-sweetened beverages and not total intake of sugar, Yang says. "Ours is the first study using a nationally representative sample to look at the total amount of added sugar and the association to cardiovascular disease death." To look at trends in added-sugar intake,
• People who consumed more than 21% of daily calories from added sugar had double the risk of death from heart disease as those who consumed less than 10% of calories from added sugars. A person on a 2,000-calorie diet who consumes 21% of their daily calories from added sugar would be eating 420 calories from added sugar, which would be roughly three cans of regular soda a day. • People who consumed between 17% to 21% of daily calories from added sugar had a 38%
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Page 6 / January-February 2014 / HealthyStar
wisconsin news AHA proudly presents Check. Change. Control Program will help people across Southeast Wisconsin lower their blood pressure. Southeast WI High Blood Pressure Program
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he American Heart Association, together with community partners, is poised to make a significant impact on high blood pressure in Southeast Wisconsin. High blood pressure is one of the leading risk factors for heart disease and stroke. Knowing your blood pressure is important, but knowing what the numbers mean and how to change them is truly life-changing. That kind of hands-on interaction is what the Check. Change. Control.™ Program is all about. The first check-in sessions begin Tuesday, January 14, 2014. Participants will check their blood pressure twice per month for four straight months. Each participant will be paired with a volunteer health mentor who will go over their numbers with them and talk about what the participant can do to lower those numbers. During each check-in, there will be an opportunity to participate in either an exercise demonstration or a cooking demonstration. Fun incentives will be offered at each check-in session in order to keep participants engaged. Thanks to generous support from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, the program is completely free to participants and hosting sites. “Diet and exercise are the keys to reducing blood pressure to normal, healthy levels,” says Azure’de Williams, Health Equity Director for the American Heart Association. “Sometimes medication is also needed. However, none of these are one-time fixes. Keeping your blood pressure low requires persistent management. Check. Change.
National Study Shows Wisconsin has the Third-Worst Medicaid Funding System
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Nation's Skilled Nursing Facilities Underfunded by a Record $7.7 Billion in 2013
MADISON - A comprehensive analysis of the nation's Medicaid skilled nursing facility payment systems released Tuesday has ranked Wisconsin the third-worst in the country behind only New York and New Jersey.
Control. is about making lifestyle changes that will reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke for life.” The American Heart Association launched Check. Change. Control. in 2013 and the program produced incredible results here in Milwaukee. Normal blood pressure is considered to be under 120/80 mm Hg. The average blood pressure for the hundreds who participated was 134/84.5 mm Hg at the start. By the end of the program, the average blood pressure had dropped by 13.3/7.3 mm Hg! For those who started with blood pressure higher than 140/90 mm Hg, the results were even more dramatic, with a 27/10.5 mm Hg reduction! Sites participating in the 2014 Check. Change. Control. Program this year include; in Milwaukee: Johnson Controls, MillerCoors, Rockwell Automation, Schlitz Park, UMOS and Walker’s Point Health Center; in the Racine/Kenosha Area: CCB, Inc., David Insurance, Gateway Technical College and UW-Parkside; in the Washington County Area: Casa Guadalupe and U.S.
Bank. Sessions run from January 2014 – May 2014. If you would be interested in covering a session, please contact Jay Matz (information above) for dates and times. ### About the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association are devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – America’s No. 1 and No. 4 killers. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based American Heart Association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. The American Stroke Association is a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country.
10 Places Where Health Insurance Costs The Most (continued from page 4) silver plan there. The rankings stay the same no matter the age or family size except in Vermont, which doesn't allow insurers to charge more from older people than from younger ones. For young adults, Vermont premiums will be higher than other areas, while for those nearing 65 they will be lower. New York is the only other state that doesn't allow insurers to alter premiums based on age. Here are the 10 most expensive regions, ranked by monthly premiums: $483: Colorado Mountain Resort Region. Eagle, Garfield and Pitkin counties, home of Aspen and Vail ski resorts. Summit County premiums are $462.
$445: Far western Wisconsin. Pierce, Polk and St. Croix counties, across the border from St. Paul, Minn. $423: Southern Georgia. A swath of counties adjacent to the even more expensive Georgia region. Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Clinch, Colquitt, Cook, Decatur, Early, Echols, Grady, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Miller, Seminole, Thomas, Tift and Turner counties. $405: Most of Wyoming. All counties except Natrona and Laramie. $399: Southeast Mississippi. George, Harrison, Jackson and Stone counties. In Hancock County, the lowest price plan is $447. $395: Vermont.
$461: Southwestern Georgia. Baker, Calhoun, Clay, Crisp, Dougherty, Lee, Mitchell, Randolph, Schley, Sumter, Terrell and Worth counties.
$383: Fairfield, Conn. The southwestern-most county, which includes many affluent commuter towns for New York City.
$456: Rural Nevada. Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Elko, Mineral, Pershing, White Pine and Churchill counties.
$381: Alaska.
The independent study commissioned by the American Health Care Association (AHCA) found that Medicaid losses suffered by Wisconsin facilities were $41.54 per patient per day, nearly double the national average of $24.36. Nationally, the annual disparity between cost of care Medicaid residents received in skilled nursing facilities and Medicaid payment for that care reached the nation's highest Medicaid shortfall on record - over $7.7 billion projected for 2013. "This consistent underfunding of the Medicaid program presents significant problems for Wisconsin's longterm care provider community, which provides round-the-clock care for our state's most frail and elderly population," said Tom Moore, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Health Care Association, a state affiliate of AHCA. "The historical flaws and failing of the Medicaid payment system are wellknown and documented. Over the past decade, the gap between cost and payment for skilled nursing care has widened dramatically."
Nationally, on average, Medicaid reimbursed nursing center providers for only 88.3 percent of their projected allowable costs incurred on behalf of Medicaid patients. This means that for every dollar of allowable cost incurred for a Medicaid patient in 2013, Medicaid programs reimbursed, on average, approximately 88 cents.
"Elected and public officials must appreciate that our resident's complex medical conditions and the fundamental needs of those individuals who provide care in our facilities cannot be adjusted or compromised to accommodate changes in the government's financial climate," Moore said. "Our professional responsibility to meet their needs remains constant as does resident, family, and regulatory care and quality expectations. Medicare and Medicaid programs are the source of payment for over 80 percent of individuals receiving care in Wisconsin's skilled nursing facilities. It is incumbent on those programs to assure that long-term care centers are provided the resources necessary to meet the needs of program beneficiaries."
Radiologist Dr. Patricia Burrows joins MCW faculty, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin staff Patricia E. Burrows, MD, an internationally renowned pediatric interventional and neurointerventional radiologist, has been appointed professor of radiology at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). She sees patients at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Dr. Burrows is recognized as a leading researcher and authority on vascular malformations and abnormalities, and is board certified in diagnostic radiology, with expertise in pediatric and vascular interventional radiology. Dr. Burrows comes to MCW and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin from University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, where she was a visiting professor of radiology. Dr. Burrows has published extensively on vascular malformations and anomalies in peer-reviewed journals, with over 240 original research and clinical reports. She is a reviewer for several radiology publications and has co-authored a book on hemangiomas and vascular malformations. Dr. Burrows holds numerous awards and distinguished lectureships spanning the last thirty years and has held
Dr. Patricia Burrows appointments as visiting professor in eight countries from 1987 to 2008. She served as general secretary, vice president, president-elect and president of the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies from 2006-2012. She continues to be an active member in this and other national and international radiological societies. In addition to University of Texas Health Science Center, Dr. Burrows has served on faculties of Harvard
January-February 2014 / HealthyStart / Page 7
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City of Milwaukee Partnership Address Unintended Pregnancies STDs Of Teens
he City of Milwaukee Health Department has a long history of forging community partnerships to address unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections among teens. In 2006, Milwaukee was selected to be the first local health department in the U.S. for replication of a program called Plain Talk. The program quickly garnered national attention as an exemplary program. Plain Talk is a community-based initiative designed to assist parents and other influential adults in developing the skills and tools they need to communicate effectively with youth and children about abstinence, healthy relationships, and sexuality. This nationally recognized teen pregnancy-reducing program consists of three components: Community Mapping, Walkers & Talkers (community residents mobilizing their community), and “home health parties” for educating parents. The Plain Talk Milwaukee Initiative completed its first phase in 2010 and then became a citywide program. In 2011, Plain Talk received support from the State of Wisconsin Division of Public Health – Department Health Services to expand its focus to directly serving youth ages 11 to 19. The new initiative, Prep Talk for Youth, provides an evidenced-based skills training to students in Milwaukee Public Schools,
the Milwaukee Area Technical College Precollege programs, and to other youth-serving agencies. The program conducts door-to-door outreach in some the poorest neighborhoods in Milwaukee and also conducts outreach for the Wisconsin Family Planning Only Service Medicaid benefit (FPO). While the Prep Talk for Youth program continues the Plain Talk tradition of involving parents in the City of Milwaukee Health Department’s efforts to prevent teen unintended and non-marital pregnancies, it also encourages youth to make the connection between healthy sexual decisions to success in school and their future careers. Prep Talk is part of two important local collaborations: the Milwaukee Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Partnership (MAPPP) and The Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) of Southeast Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Partnership (MAPPP) is a Milwaukee driven, community based partnership focused on adolescent pregnancy prevention for African Americans, ages 15 to 19. MAPPP partners are reproductive health clinics that provide culturally appropriate and confidential contraceptive and related reproductive care health services to sexually active adolescents. The Personal Responsibility Education Pro-
gram (PREP) of Southeast Wisconsin educates young people on both abstinence and contraception to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. The program targets youth ages 10 to 19 who are homeless, in foster care, live in rural areas or in geographic areas with high teen birth rates, or come from racial or ethnic minority groups. In addition to education on abstinence and contraceptive use, PREP projects also offer services to prepare young people for adult-
hood by implementing activities that address healthy relationships, financial literacy and educational attainment. In addition to partnering with Milwaukee schools, the Prep Talk for Youth Program works closely with and is supported by the WestCare Wisconsin, Inc. - Harambee Community Center. WestCare Wisconsin, Inc. - Harambee Community Center is the home of the Prep Talk summer youth employment program.
Obamacare
Roundy’s Pharmacies See Uptick In Flu enrollment surpasses Shots This Year 40,000 in Wisconsin Increase in H1N1 virus has Centers for Disease Control urging all to get vaccinated
s the CDC warns that peak flu season is approaching, Roundy’s stores – Pick ‘n Save, Copps, Rainbow, Metro Market and Mariano’s – have administered 33 percent more vaccinations than last year and have seen use of highdosage (HD) vaccinations double.
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he number of Wisconsinites enrolling in the Affordable Care Act marketplace for health insurance jumped by more than 35,000 in the final month of 2013 ahead of a deadline for people who wanted coverage starting Jan. 1. In Wisconsin, 40,752 people had selected a plan by Dec. 28, 2013, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported on Jan. 13. That compares with just 5,303 as of one month earlier, Nov. 30, 2013. Those who signed up by year-end 2013 skewed toward the older end of age demographics. The largest percentage of enrollees — 45 percent — was in the 55- to 64-year-old age group, the agency said. The next largest group, at 21 percent, was between the ages of 45 and 54. Younger adults ages 18 to 34 represented 19 percent of
Rich Kirchen Business Journal enrollees, HHS said. Fifty-six percent of those who enrolled in Wisconsin were female, HHS said. Nationwide, nearly 2.2 million people selected plans from the state and federal marketplaces by Dec. 28, 2013, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced. Insurance company executives anticipate a surge of additional enrollment between now and March 31, which is the deadline for people to get coverage via the marketplace this year. Senior Reporter Rich Kirchen covers health care, sports business, politics and media/advertising for The Business Journal.
The increase is due to several factors: more awareness of the need for vaccination, as well as Roundy’s approach to patient care. The Roundy’s pharmacists confer with patients to determine what vaccination is most appropriate for each individual – a threestrain vaccine (called a trivalent), a four-strain vaccine (called a quadrivalent) and the HD version, which is primarily used for the most at-risk patients, such as the elderly. Each version of the vaccine includes the H1N1 strain which the CDC has indicated is the predominant strain this year. Roundy’s is not experiencing a shortage of any of the vaccines. Roundy’s pharmacists administer the vaccinations in-store and no appointment is needed. “We’re pleased patients have been responding so well to the enhanced services available to them from our Roundy’s
pharmacists,” said George Kowalski, RP, Vice President Roundy’s Pharmacy. “We feel our pharmacists are in a unique position to have the most opportunity for patient interaction.” The CDC recommends that all people aged 6 months and older receive a flu vaccine. In addition, to avoid the risk of flu-related complications, the CDC stresses the importance of annual flu shots for people with chronic health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma, COPD or immunosuppressive conditions.
For more information please visit the Pick ‘n Save, Copps, Rainbow, Metro Market or Mariano’s website for a list of pharmacies and their hours of operation. About Roundy’s Roundy’s is a leading grocer in the Midwest with nearly $4.0 billion in sales and more than 20,000 employees. Founded in Milwaukee in 1872, Roundy’s operates 163 retail grocery stores and 101 pharmacies under the Pick ’n Save, Rainbow, Copps, Metro Market and Mariano’s retail banners in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois. Roundy’s is committed to helping the communities its stores serve through the Roundy’s Foundation. Chartered in 2003, the Roundy’s Foundation mission is to support organizations working to relieve hunger and helping families in crisis due to domestic abuse, neglect and other at-risk situations.
Page 8 / January-February 2014 / HealthyStar
men’s health
9 reasons for groin pain
Groin pain is something most guys don't want to discuss. But it happens. Here are nine possible causes.
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roin pain is something most guys don't want to discuss. But it happens. Here are nine possible causes. Tenderness in the groin area, where the abdomen ends and the legs start, is particularly common in men. Even if it isn’t quite as painful as a shot to the crotch, groin pain could mean trouble – enough to warrant a visit to the doctor. If you’re experiencing pain or irritation in your nether regions, one of the following factors could be at play: 1. Inflammation of the epididymis (epididymitis) This usually begins as inflammation in the vas deferens (the duct that moves sperm from the testicle to the urethra), which spreads to the lower pole of the testis. The testicle may become swollen or inflamed.
The most common cause of this condition for men under the age of 35 is the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea. Other causes are non-sexually transmitted infections such as E. coli and tuberculosis. The pain usually builds up relatively quickly, and the testis may swell to three times its normal size in just three to four hours. Fever may result, and the contents of the scrotum may become warm and very tender. If you experience the above symptoms, you should consult your doctor immediately. Blood tests have to be done, as well as an ultrasound of the testis itself. 2. Superficial skin infection
A superficial skin infection may present as swelling and redness of a part of the skin in the groin area. It could affect only a small area, making it look like a pimple. The area will be tender and warm to the touch. This kind of infection can be treated at home with a topical antibiotic cream, as well as
with non-steroidal anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen. Consult your doctor if the infection persists after five days, or if it worsens.
treat orchitis, but anti-inflammatory medication can relieve symptoms. Severe orchitis due to bacterial infection needs to be treated with antibiotics –consult a doctor straight away.
3. Testicular torsion Testicular torsion occurs when a testicle rotates – a condition that coincides with the sudden onset of pain in the scrotum. The pain may alternately be located in the lower part of the abdomen or in the groin area, and may start after exertion or during deep sleep. It’s often accompanied by vomiting and nausea. The testis is likely to be swollen, firm and very tender, and can also be “high-riding”.
5. Muscle pull The most common cause of groin pain is muscle, ligament or tendon strain, which commonly occurs in sportsmen. Symptoms include pain and tenderness in the groin and thigh area, and pain when you bring your legs together or raise your knee.
Consult your doctor immediately. This condition will be treated with an operation, stabilising the testis inside the scrotum, in order to save the testis.
6. Testicular tumour (Leydig cell tumour) Tumour of the interstitial (Leydig) cells in the testes can lead to groin pain. These rare tumours often secrete testosterone or oestrogen, and can develop in adults and children.
4. Inflammation of the testicle (orchitis) The most common cause of orchitis is viral infection (e.g. mumps), which usually resolves spontaneously within one to four weeks. A less common cause is bacterial infection, which could make you very ill and feverish. Pain can travel into the groin area, and nausea and vomiting may occur. The skin on the scrotum may become warm, red, swollen and very painful.
Although most of these tumours are benign, they should be carefully monitored and managed, as they may lead to feminisation in boys, and loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, and infertility in men.
In the case of mumps, it’s not necessary to
Groin strains are usually fairly easy to treat, but treatment should be individualised. Initial rest and gentle stretching after taking pain relief may help. And good stretching with bouncing is also worthwhile once the pain is under control.
Testis-sparing surgery is now considered the first-line treatment for Leydig cell tumour. 7. Kidney stones Kidney stones are mineralised stones that occur in the renal system. When these stones pass into the ureter (the duct by which urine
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January-February 2014 / HealthyStart / Page 9
women & children Diabetes Rising Rapidly Among U.S. Kids Both type 1 and type 2 disease rates up more than 20 percent in past decade, finds study
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n the first major national analysis of diabetes trends among American youth, researchers Saturday reported an alarming 23% rise in type 1 diabetes prevalence over an eightyear period ending in 2009.
By Kate Linebaugh Wall Street Journal attack. Another explanation is the so-called hygiene hypothesis, which is also linked to the rise of asthma and food allergies. Children in a modern society contend with fewer parasitic, viral and bacterial illnesses than previous generations, so the immune system becomes more reactive.
The surprising increase, reported at a meeting of the American Diabetes Association, comes amid similar growth of type 2 diabetes in children. But unlike type 2, which is linked to the high prevalence of obesity in youth, researchers have no explanation for why the autoimmune form of the disease is growing at such a clip.
"Because it is getting less of a workout, the immune system turns evil on itself," said Robin Goland, co-director of the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at Columbia University Medical Center in New York.
Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes for Health, the study used data from 20,000 children and youth under 20 at multiple hospitals and health centers in five states. Prevalence of type 2 diabetes over the same period increased 21%, the researchers found. "This is of grave concern, because these youth will live with diabetes most of their lives and may develop diabetes-related complications," Guiseppina Imperatore, a medical epidemiologist at CDC, said in a statement. "Preliminary data suggest that complications may already be developing in this generation." The study found that children and adolescents with diabetes have measurable signs of complications including nerve damage that could lead to amputations. It also identified early signs of cardiovascular damage raising risks for future heart disease. CDC estimates that there are 18.8 million Americans who have been diagnosed with both types of diabetes and another 7 million undiagnosed, costing $116 billion in direct medical costs. Of those, between 5% and 10% are thought to have type 1 diabetes. Another study released Saturday found most people with type 1 don't meet treatment targets and they are likely to be overweight or obese as adults. Failure to reach treatment targets such as the level of A1C blood hemoglobin levels, a common measurement of blood glucose, raises the risk for complications. That study analyzed data from the T1D Ex-
change Clinic Registry which collects medical information from 25,000 volunteer participants of all ages from 67 clinics around the country. Type 1 diabetes, formerly known as juvenile diabetes, is an autoimmune disorder where the body loses the ability to produce insulin, the hormone that controls the level of sugar in the blood. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance or the inability to produce sufficient levels of insulin. Type 1 diabetics are insulin dependent while type 2 diabetics in many cases can manage the disease with changes to diet and exercise. Rising at a rate of 3% a year, prevalence of type 1 diabetes nearly doubles every 20 years. "We are definitely seeing this more in children. Children under the age of 5 are where we are seeing the biggest increase," Georgeanna Klingensmith, head of pediatrics at the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, said in an interview. "The day cares and school systems need to be prepared to deal with that." The growth in type 1 stumps researchers who haven't been able to identify what triggers the autoimmune response or explain why an increasing number of people are afflicted. About 80% of type 1 diabetics don't have a close relative with the disease.
"We are not quite sure of all the triggers— genetic and environmental," Richard Bergenstal, executive director of the International Diabetes Center, told a news briefing. A leading theory known as the accelerator hypothesis suggests that greater weight gain and growth early in life is putting stress on insulin producing cells in the pancreas, which then sets off the autoimmune
Some theories explaining the rise of type-1 are being challenged. A study released at Saturday's meeting deals a blow to theory that links vitamin D deficiency to diabetes. In a study of 72 people over a year, the researchers tried to assess whether large doses of vitamin D supplements might stymie the development of diabetes. The study found the supplements had no impact. Another study examining the relationship between type-2 diabetes and pollutants such as pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls, or pcbs, in a Native American population found there to be no "major effect" on diabetes risk.
Page 10 / January-February 2014 / HealthyStart
Professional Blacks Sleep Less Than White Counterparts: Study
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f you’ve ever lost sleep over perceived or objective job discrimination you are not alone.
A study by the Harvard School for Public Health has found that stress causes African-American workers to lose hours of restorative sleep compared to their White coworkers and the disparity was widest among those who held professional occupations, the Houston Forward Times reports. A lack of sleep can lead to a series of chronic health issues, including high-blood pressure, obesity, and heart disease – diseases that are prevalent in the African-American community. It can also lead to death, the study says. “Racial Disparities in Short Sleep by Occupation and Industry,” published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, studied eight years of data from the National Health Interview Survey, which polled 137,000 adults from 2004 to 2011. Respondents worked in a variety of industries, including finance, real estate, health care, and construction. Their mean age was 47, with 50 percent being women and 13 percent being Black. “Blacks were more likely to report short-sleep duration than Whites, and the Black disparity was widest among those who held professional occupations,” the 10-page report, which was published online in September 2013, states. More than one-third of Blacks sleep less than seven hours per night. The report shows that 37 percent of Black workers in the support industry were “short sleepers” or those who sleep less than seven hours each night, compared to only 28 percent of Whites who slept fewer than seven hours each night. Those working in professional or management positions were also more likely to experience short sleep than Whites. An estimated 42 percent of Blacks experienced short sleep compared to 26 percent of White workers, the study found. Optimal sleep is seven hours per night, which is associated with the lowest levels of morbidity, poor health, and mortality or death.
Long sleep is considered more than seven hours per night.
tion, the conversations are likely racially tinged.
With increasing numbers of Blacks entering professional and management roles in numerous industries, it is important to investigate and address the social factors contributing to short sleep disparities in Blacks, compared with Whites in general, and particularly in professional settings,” wrote the study’s lead author Chandra Jackson, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Even President Barack Obama said recently that people dislike him as president because he’s Black, “There’s no doubt that there’s some folks who just really dislike me because they don’t like the idea of a Black President,” Obama told the New Yorker in an interview in its January 27th issue. “Now, the flip side of it is there are some Black folks and maybe some White folks who really like me and give me the benefit of the doubt precisely because I’m a Black President.”
Indeed, African Americans complain that they face greater job scrutiny than their White colleagues. Black workers say they are frequently isolated because some of their White coworkers fail or refuse to communicate with them. And if there is communica-
But the difference between President Obama and the average worker is that he was elected – twice. Most African-American workers fear losing their jobs, causing them to lose sleep. The report shows that 37 percent of Blacks who worked in support services were more
3 morning habits that can wreck your day You can’t control waking up on the wrong side of the bed — but you CAN control what you do after you get out of it
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o many things can make for a lessthan-ideal morning: like hitting a traffic jam in the middle of your commute or realizing you've forgotten an umbrella just as a downpour hits. Some things are out of your hands -- but other little morning habits could be starting you off on the wrong foot. Set yourself up for the best day possible by nixing these bad-for-you a.m. behaviors. You Drink Coffee Too Early Is there really a bad time for coffee? Yup. Energy levels rise naturally when you first wake up, so drinking coffee then causes an extra energy surge that can leave you jittery, says Steven Miller, a Ph.D. candidate in neuroscience at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Maryland. You'll reap the most benefits from coffee if
sible -- so you'll want to make sure your breakfast's at least that big. (On the go? You can make these healthy breakfasts in just five minutes.) You Check Your E-mail First Thing
you save it for an hour after you've gotten out of bed. That's when your energy levels begin to plummet, so coffee keeps them up well into the afternoon. Your Breakfast Is Too Small A handful of berries mixed into a container of Greek yogurt may sound like the perfect healthy breakfast, but it can set you up to binge in the
afternoon. Not only is it just not enough food, but it's also lacking in some nutrients that are key to ensuring you feel full until your next meal, says nutrition expert Michelle Davenport, Ph.D. A filling breakfast should consist of around 15 grams of protein, 2.5 grams of fiber, complex carbs, and some healthy fat, says Davenport. A morning meal that contains all of those isn't going to clock in at less than 450 calories -- it's just impos-
This is one nasty habit you should break ASAP. Checking your inbox the moment you open your eyes in the morning can set you up for stress all day long, says Melissa McCreery, Ph.D., founder of Too Much on Her Plate. Instead of worrying about work first thing, focus on starting your morning with an activity that calms you -- exercising, sipping a cup of tea, or talking to a roommate. This will actually help boost your productivity and get your creative juices flowing -- which will pay off at work way more than checking that e-mail from your boss would. Womens Health
likely to experience short sleep cycles, compared to 26 percent for Whites. And estimated 35 percent of Black laborers experienced short sleep, compared to 32 percent of White workers, the report shows. The retail and the food industries were the only industries where Blacks and White had similar rates of short sleep. “Short sleep generally increased with increasing professional responsibility within a given industry among Blacks but decreased with increasing professional roles among Whites,” the report shows. “Our results suggest the need for further investigation of racial/ethnic differences in the work-sleep relationship.” http://chicagodefender.com/
9 reasons for groin pain (continued on page 8) passes from the kidney to the bladder), it’s called ureterolithiasis. The majority of kidney stones are calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate. Other stones can be magnesium ammonium phosphate, uric acid or cysteine stones. Kidney stones present with the acute onset of colicky abdominal pain that starts at the flank and radiates to the groin, scrotum or labia. It’s often associated with nausea and vomiting. Kidney stones certainly can’t be treated at home and you should immediately consult your doctor. It’s important to get an abdominal CT scan, to assess if the stone can be passed through the urinary tract, or if it will have to be removed surgically. 8. Hernia Hernia is a soft, spongy swelling in the groin area that can protrude through to the scrotum. This condition is usually painless, but torsion of the hernia can lead to severe pain that needs to be attended to by your doctor immediately. A hernia is repaired with surgery. 9. Enlarged lymph glands (lymphadenitis) Trauma to the groin area, obstruction of normal drainage, chemical irritation, haematoma (formation of a blood clot) and the presence of foreign bodies are all factors that could contribute to enlarged lymph glands. The process usually begins as a cellulitis (infec-
January-February 2014 / HealthyStart / Page 11
Aurora plans $100M investment in Racine, Walworth county facilities
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urora Health Care will invest $100 million into southeastern Wisconsin, with the centerpiece of their multi-year plan an ambulatory surgery center on the outskirts of Burlington. The investment is a “multi-pronged approach” to improving health care services for now and in the future, said Lisa Just, vice president of Aurora Health Care. Just said the plan is centered on the idea that health care is moving toward an “ambulatory” — or community accessible — system, where service centers are in close proximity and doctors have professional relationships with their patients. “We looked at where our patients get their care. We know the trend is moving toward an ambulatory or community center health care,” Just said. “We want to make sure our providers can service our patients in these centers.” The plan The $100 million spending plan has four main components: health care provider retention, upgrades to Aurora hospitals in Burlington and Elkhorn, new urgent care services in Delavan and the new community clinic.
Get Into Health Care
About $30 million has been earmarked for upgrades to the Aurora Hospital of Burlington and Aurora Lakeland Medical Center in Elkhorn. Some of that money will be spent to increase the hospitals’ infrastructure, according to an Aurora Health Care news release. The rest will go toward building the new ambulatory surgery center near Burlington and for the creation of new services in Delavan. Some of those funds, Just said, will be reserved for the retention and recruitment of health care providers. Current Aurora health care providers will assist Aurora in finding areas and services where more physicians will be needed. “We know it’s more about the caregivers and less about the buildings,” Just said. To open by 2016 Aurora has identified 70 acres outside of Burlington in the Walworth County town of Lyons, where the new ambulatory center will be built.
Just said Aurora will go through six months of due diligence on the plans, in which the company will acquire land and plan services for the center. It is expected to be built by 2016, and will be the final piece of the $100 million puzzle, Just said. Construction is underway on a $30 million cancer center in Kenosha. By 2016, when Aurora’s investments will be completed, Just said the organization and the community will be ready for the next generation of health care. “We really feel we will be well suited to meet our future health care needs,” he said. BY JOE WARD jward@kenoshanews.com
CVS/pharmacy Kicks Off 2014 Project Health Campaign Wellness program to provide free health services at select CVS/pharmacy locations --Health insurance experts will also provide support and guidance on new health care options as March 31 enrollment deadline approaches
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VS/pharmacy announced today the kickoff of its annual Project Health wellness campaign. Project Health will deliver more than $15 million worth of free health services to multicultural communities across the United States in 2014. During the months of January, February and March, more than 350 Project Health events will be held at select CVS/pharmacy retail locations in 15 markets across the U.S., including Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, New York City, Philadelphia, Tampa and Washington, DC. Project Health events will also be held at select CVS/pharmacy stores in Puerto Rico in March and April. Project Health offers an array of free comprehensive health risk assessments, including blood pressure, Body Mass Index (BMI), glucose, and total cholesterol screenings. Children seven years of age and older may participate in screenings with parental consent. Project Health events will also offer participants' information on the new health insurance marketplace and their coverage options under the new health care law. Health insurance experts will be available at many events to provide guidance and support to those who need it, as they were during the Project Health events held in late 2013. Open enrollment for the health insurance marketplace closes March 31, 2014. "Ninety percent of the people who attended our Project Health screenings in the fall told us they found the health insurance experts at these
to their primary care physician if additional follow-up care is necessary. CVS pharmacists will be available to conduct one-on-one medication reviews and answer any questions patients may have.
events to be extremely helpful. For that reason, we decided to offer this resource again in early 2014," said Helena Foulkes, President of CVS/pharmacy. "We are focused on helping our customers make informed decisions about their health care and will continue to do so as the new health care marketplace is rolled out." Project Health is part of CVS/pharmacy's commitment to improve access to health care and ensure that cost is not a barrier to important preventive services. Project Health events, while held in cities with large multicultural populations, are open to everyone and do not require an appointment. "The free, comprehensive health screenings offered at our Project Health events give our customers the opportunity to access vital health care services at times and locations that are convenient for them and can help identify health concerns or risk factors that they may be unaware of," added Foulkes. Once screened, CVS/pharmacy will help patients through on-site consultations with bilingual (Spanish/English) nurse practitioners or physician assistants who will analyze results and refer patients who require additional medical attention to no-cost or low-cost medical facilities nearby or
New Data: Want Job Security?
About 155,000 people received free screenings at Project Health events held in 2013, demonstrating the continuing need for these critical services. As a result, many areas of concern were discovered: •51 percent were found to be overweight or obese •41 percent had abnormal blood pressure readings •32 percent had abnormal glucose readings •41 percent were found to have abnormal cholesterol levels •11 percent had risk factors for osteoporosis Project Health events will be held from 2pm-6pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, at select CVS/pharmacy locations, in February, and March with no appointment needed. For more information, and a full calendar of Project Health events, visit www.cvs.com/projecthealth (in Spanish: www.cvs.com/proyectosalud ), or call 1-855-287-7867. About CVS/pharmacy CVS/pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Caremark Corporation /quotes/zigman/169740/delayed/quotes/nls/cvs CVS -0.48% , is America's leading retail pharmacy with more than 7,600 CVS/pharmacy and Longs Drug stores. CVS/pharmacy is reinventing pharmacy to help people on their path to better health by providing the most accessible and
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oday's humanities majors may want to brace themselves for a panicked call from the parents, begging that they drop the philosophical treatises and start studying cellular mitosis.
That's because the latest numbers are in, and they show that health care is going to be a major job growth engine during the next decade. In its Occupational Outlook Handbook, the Labor Department has projected job growth for more than 800 jobs, and 17 of the 30 fastest-growing jobs are in health care-related fields. That doesn't even count the jobs in the list that the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not define strictly as "health care." Industrial-organizational psychologists, personal aides, skin care specialists and substance abuse counselors are all examples of workers whose jobs might at times be considered health care-related. Add those in, and 21 of the 30 fastestgrowing jobs are in health-related fields. "With the aging of the baby boomers and now universal coverage, the demand for health care services – whether they're preventive, whether they're chronic or whether they're just regular, and including physical therapy and everything else – it's just going to grow," says Stuart Hoffman, chief economist for The PNC Financial Services Group. That would continue a steady pattern of growth: According to Labor Department figures, health care is the only major industry category that saw growth continue virtually uninterrupted through the Recession. That kind of growth means job security for people in these fields. However, it doesn't necessarily mean high pay. While some of the jobs that most readily come to mind when one talks about the health care industry have large paychecks – think surgeons, dentists and physicians – many others are very low-paying. Personal care aides and home health aides are the two lowest-paying jobs on this list, with median 2012 annual pay at roughly $20,000 and $21,000 per year, respectively.
Page 12 / January-February 2014 / HealthyStar
Blacks in Single-parent Households Prone to Blood Pressure (continued on page 2) rates of hypertension (28.9 percent for women, 27.8 percent for A little less than one-third of American men). Living with just one parent may not be the direct cause of the high blood pressure, but could play a key role in determining factors that will lead to it, according to Barrington. “Those men who grew up in two-parent households during childhood were also more likely to experience less economic hardship and subsequently less stress in early life,” she said. “Less childhood stress potentially delays the rise of blood pressure that increases with age, lowering one’s risk of hypertension in adulthood.” Studies have already found that poverty is more common mong single-parent households and that childhood poverty is linked to long-term health risks, including hypertension. More than two-thirds of Black children—6.5 million kids in 2011—grow up in a singleparent household, which is nearly double the rate for all children in the United States (35 percent) and an increase of nearly 300,000 children in the last five years. In Illinois, Arkansas and Ohio, that number jumps to 74 percent, with Wisconsin right behind (73 percent). At least 70 percent of Black children in Louisiana, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Indiana,
South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Mississippi and Michigan live in singlefamily households. Single mothers are not the only ones raising kids alone. A Pew Research Center study over the summer found a record spike in the number of single fathers in the United States—nearly 2.7 million households, or 8 percent of all households in the country. Children raised in singleparent households are also at risk of higher drug and alcohol abuse, don’t do as well in school and have more trouble finding a job than children raised in a two-parent household. But Barrington said that hypertension risks can be lowered in all Black Americans, regardless of their ousehold growing up, by eating right and exercising often. “Our study suggests that there may be a link between childhood family living arrangements and blood pressure in black men,” she said. “It does not suggest that those men who did not live with both parents during childhood are destined to have high blood pressure in adulthood.” The study, which looked at 500 unrelated, at-least-20year-old Black men who were enrolled in the Howard University Family Study, is published in the latest issue of the medical journal