Aspects of Health and Health Promotion

Aspects of Health and Health Promotion 1) Exercise, in addition to promoting a general feeling of physical well being and aiding weight loss, actually confers protection against disease. Exercise decreases the incidence of coronary heart disease (Powell, 1987). The exercise, to be effective for cardiac protection, needs to be sufficient to increase the cardiac output for some fifteen minutes, and it needs to be taken on a regular basis two or three times a week. Exercise is generally good for health and there are numerous documented health benefits (RCP, 1991). A Mediterranean diet is one which is rich in vegetables, fruit, fish and cereals as well as being accompanied by a small intake of red wine. The amount of red meat is fairly modest as also is the dairy intake. There is evidence that such a diet taken by older people actually prolongs their survival (Trichopoulou, 2005). This study was carried out as a part of the wider EPIC study which investigates the effects of lifestyle on cancer and on other chronic diseases (Riboli, 2002). 2) Obesity is an increasing public health issue in the UK today since an increasing proportion of the population is becoming overweight. Obesity is defined objectively as a body mass index of 30 or more kg/m2. The body mass index is calculated as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in metres. As the body mass index rises so the risk of type 2 diabetes also increases (Colditz, 1990). Type 2 diabetes is a major health problem in that it predisposes an individual to a variety of illnesses particularly coronary heart disease. Additionally an increased proportion of saturated fat in the diet is linearly associated with the development of type 2 diabetes (Krentz, 2001) and so it is not just a high body mass index but other aspects of the diet itself which predispose to ill health. Smoking is strongly associated with lung cancer and actual mortality from lung cancer in addition to increased incidence and mortality from other cancers (Doll, 1994). The amount of cigarettes smoked correlates with the degree of risk (Doll, 1994). Smoking also increases mortality from coronary artery disease and stroke (Doll, 1994). Of people who smoke regularly one half will die of a smoking related disorder (Doll, 1994). In evaluating the effects of smoking the Health Education Authority (HEA) (1991) reports that smoking kills 110 000 people each year in the UK. This means that smoking causes one in every six deaths. The HEA (1991) reports that 225 000 hospital admissions annually are due to smoking. 3) When evaluating an individual’s or even one’s own lifestyle, with regard to health, areas of behaviour that could be improved can be further evaluated. For instance there is the danger aspect of the lifestyle for example with abuse of drugs. Such a lifestyle of drug addiction is very likely to be associated with much health morbidity and social disadvantage and in addition a high likelihood of drug related death. Other aspects of an unhealthy lifestyle to consider are the ease with which a change can be made to the specific factor. For instance there might not be the financial means to move from a polluted inner city home or to join an expensive gym. Priority setting should take account of the danger aspect and changes in these life style aspects should be enacted without delay. Stopping smoking radically reduces the risk of developing lung cancer and stopping smoking before middle age avoids 90 per cent of the smoking related health risks (Peto, 2000). Stopping smoking improves the individual’s general quality of life with fewer reports of illness (Parrott 2004). If will power cannot overcome the addiction to nicotine then nicotine replacement medication can be given in a variety of ways and is likely to prove beneficial in breaking the habit (Parrott, 2004). Losing excess weight will improve health. This has been evaluated by Chambers (2002) as a ten per cent body weight loss in an obese person being associated with more than a 30 per cent reduction in risk of diabetic related death. It is also associated with a decrease in blood pressure and a decrease in triglyceride and harmful cholesterol. There is a corresponding increase in the beneficial high density lipoprotein within the blood. 4) Naidoo (2000) describes five health promotion methods. Although they have some overlap they each have a different emphasis. The medical method is largely a preventative one. The educational method improves people’s knowledge whilst the behavioural approach concentrates on altering patterns of behaviour so that the individual learns by doing. Empowerment encourages ownership of problems and self determination to do something about them. The social change is important to create an environment which fosters healthy choices. To assist the smoker in giving up it is the educational and behavioural approaches that are the most appropriate. However the social aspect whereby smoking has become less acceptable also plays an important role. Additionally the legislation making it much more difficult to smoke in public places and the heavy taxation on tobacco also goes some way towards discouraging the habit. The same three methods are important in achieving weight loss in obese people. The behavioural approach also involves some aspect of education and so any evaluation of the effects that are solely due to the behavioural approach are difficult. The educational method of health promotion can be broken down further into the three areas of understanding, attitudes and skills (Naidoo, 2000). The effects of the education approach itself are relatively easy to evaluate by studying the patient’s knowledge before and after an educational intervention. 5) Information leaflets are available at general practitioner’s surgeries and within hospitals giving information about smoking cessations and how to get help with pharmacological agents when necessary. The suitability will vary according to the patient’s needs and attitude at the time of seeing the leaflet. A particularly useful approach is where, as is the case with cigarette smoking, there is health promotion material in a variety of formats for instance also including a website. Advice and information on the advisability or being an appropriate weight for one’s height is also available in a number of formats. When evaluating material on an internet site it is important for the source to be acknowledged and for the site to be continually kept up to date (Ewles, 2004). The Government generated slogan â€Å"eat five a day† is designed to reinforce the message that eating fruit and vegetables in the diet is advantageous for health and it promotes a higher intake of these foods. It is a short catchy message which has been widely disseminated in a number of formats. It has reached a very wide audience and is likely to be increasing peoples’ intake of fruit and vegetables. The message is short and confined to increased intake of particular foods but does not encompass within its message that these foods should be eaten instead of high fat or high sugar content foods. If the message had incorporated a slogan about food substitution it might have had more effect on obesity. 6) Fear can be a motivator for instance the knowledge that drink driving is a strict liability offence and will result in the removal of the individual’s driving licence and resulting major inconvenience and also social stigma. Shock can be a motivating factor for instance the television advertisements in the drink driving campaigns leading up to Christmas are often designed to present the message in an emotive way to really bring home to the individual the grief that drink driving can bring about. The health belief model (Naidoo, 2000) suggests that people need to have a trigger or an event in order to change their behaviour. The theory of reasoned action (Ajzen, 1980) encompasses the individual actually weighing up the advantages and disadvantages of changing together with a desire to conform to what every one else is doing. The conformity aspect is particularly important within this theory. The social learning theory (Bandura, 1977) involves outcome expectations and belief in the ability to make the change. This is particularly pertinent to the decision by an obese person to lose weight. 7) To maintain the change the health promotion messages need to be kept up and be consistent. A change in the behaviour of others coupled with changes in social attitudes (for instance in giving up smoking) may be helpful.The messages about not smoking from advertising and messages for instance in soap operas by actors refusing cigarettes will still have an effect on the individual who has given up smoking. It is likely that such messages as well as being noticed by the ex-smoker will have particular meaning for them and act as continual motivators to their healthier lifestyle. Once a change in behaviour has come about, for instance eating a better diet or not smoking, the health benefits of actually feeling better and more attractive may be motivators to maintaining the improved behaviour. These motivating factors may constitute a resistance to change as behaviour becomes set in the new way (Lewin 1951). References Ajzen I Fishbein M 1980 Understanding attitudes and predicting social behaviour. Prentice Hall. Bandura A 1977 Social learning theory. Prentice Hall. Chambers R Wakley G 2002 Obesity and overweight matters in primary care. Radcliffe. Oxford Colditz GA Willett WC Stampfer MJ et al 1990 American Journal of Epidemiology 132 501-13. Doll R Peto R Wheatley R 1994 Mortality in relation to smoking: 40 years observation on male British doctors. British Medical Journal 309 901-11 Ewles l Simnett 2004 Promoting health a practical guide 5th edition Bailliere Tindall London Health Education Authority (1991) The smoking epidemic: counting the cost in England and Wales. HEA. London Krentz AJ Bailey CJ 2001 Type 2 diabetes in practice. Royal Society of Medicine Press London. Lewin K 1951 Field theory in social science; selected theoretical papers. Harper and Row New York Naidoo J Wills J 2000 Health promotion foundations for practice 2nd edition Bailliere Tindall London Parrott S Godfrey C 2004 ABC of smoking cessation. British Medical Journal 328 947-9 Peto R Darby S Doe H 2000 Smoking, smoking cessation, and lung cancer in the UK since 1950: combination of national statistics with two case control studies. British Medical Journal 321 323-9 Powell KE Thompson PD Caspersen CJ et al 1987 Physical activity and the incidence of CHD. Annual review of Public Health 8 253-87. RCP (Royal College of Physicians) 1991 medical aspects of exercise: benefits and risks. Journal of the Royal College of Physicians. 25 193-6. Riboli E Hunt KJ Slimani N 2002 European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition (EPIC) study populations and data collection. Public Health Nutr 1113-24 Trichopoulou A Orfanos P Norat T et al 2005 modified Mediterranean diet and survival: EPIC-elderly prospective cohort study BMJ 330 991

The Soul Taker

It was a dreary night of November and I was on my way back from camp. On the long journey home my friends told each other scary stories based on a myth that Miss Maiden told us the previous evening. It was a warm evening at camp, Miss Maiden and Mrs Jane were roasting marshmallows as the girls played clap games and the boys swooped Poke-mon cards, I sat there silently bringing back to mind a dream that I had about the woods next to the camp on Friday the 13th †¦ It was about a ashy castle on top of a uneven hill, it was burnt down because of all the evil spirits that was said to be lurking in vengeances for anyone who try to claim the castle. When I entered the castle on my left was a room; I struggled to open the door, a repulsive smell made my skin cells repel. the brown tarnished door I woke up. Damn! I sat there daydreaming trying to remember what I saw in the room but it didn't seem to work. Was it because I was hungry and drooling over those soft marshmallows? I think I might take a break and after eating it might sort out my ‘amnesia'. We sat in a circle around the fire eating the hot marshmallows on sticks; Miss Maiden began telling a scary myth, I didn't see the point, she might as well read a fairytale because they were never scary! I didn't pay much attention to her until she said†¦ ‘a rigidly hill were a castle stands ‘ I suddenly stop gulping down my marshmallows and looked at Miss Maiden, Her eyes were luminously shining as the moon light reflected off her pupils, she looks around at us slowly purposely catching eye connections. She then sharply points to the woods behind us making us all jump in fear. There was nothing behind us Miss Maiden and Mrs Jane started to laugh, I was furious I dropped my marshmallows on the floor, Mrs Jane told us to settle down to continue the story. She explained about a young girl called marline whose parents died when she was at the age of 12 and left there family house in her name. Her auntie moved in shortly after the death of her parents. In those times the deceased were buried in their own home. Her auntie treated her like a slave and said over and over again that the house belongs to her. When Marline was 17 her auntie decided to sell the property to a young couple. Mr and Mrs Vale. They were planning to destroy the house and build a bungalow on top of the hillside as it had the most beautiful sights in the whole town. When her auntie told her about it Marline was outraged she stood up to her auntie referring to her parents will of the house. Her auntie responded showing her authority over her. Marline ran to her room crying thinking of many evil ways to stop the couple from buying the house. Then it suddenly came across to her†¦ She knew what she had to do. Marlines auntie cried out to her to get her a glass of ginger beer. Marline runs to the kitchen and gets a glass out the left cabinet on the wall. She looks around her to see if any one was there she then opened a bottle with the caution skull sign on it and poured it into the glass. She opened the bottle of ginger beer and poured it right up to the brim of the glass, bubbles foamed up and out. Marline ran to the sink grabbed a napkin and quickly wiped up the ginger beer. She goes to the room which was on the left side of the kitchen and gave her auntie the glass with a devilish smile on her face. Her auntie drank it breathing hard collapsed and died. Marline ran to catch her before she dropped on the floor because she knew that the weight of dead people are double there size. She lays her flat on the couch and covers her with a white lace. She calls someone and says her auntie dead. She then runs up to the 4th floor leaving the phone unhooked and hides in a secret closet trying not to breathe too hard. The door bell rang continuously then she heard a loud noise and voices became crystal clear. She looked through the little gaps between the closest and saw the police searching up and down to see if anyone was in. The noise all of a sudden stopped and the door shut she came out the closet and looked out the window discreetly she saw men put her auntie behind a carriage. Marline couldn't handle it she went into her mothers and fathers old room and took her fathers razor and slit her wrists, she vowed that no one would ever step foot into her property again. As Miss Maiden told us the myth I could feel myself turning dusky pale and barley white shivering next to the fire. Mrs Jane asked me if I was alright. I just stared at her like there was something on her face. She covered me with a blanket and patted me on top of my head. All that was running through my head was my dream†¦ I said to myself I am going to find that castle! But I didn't have a chance to I fell asleep and when I woke up it was afternoon and we were in a rush to pack our stuff to be on the coach promptly for 7pm. As I sat there leaning against the window sulking, . It was a full moon tonight, I looked up and the luminous moon was as bright as ever. Under the moon was a foggy mist and in that mist was like a shadow of some kind of triangle. I squinted my eyes to see if I could make out what it was. CASTLE! I shouted. Everyone immediately looked out the window. Mrs Jane looked above her glasses and told me to keep it quite, I smiled. When I get home that night I will come back and go to the castle. I couldn't wait. It was now 8:30 pm and we finally reached school, when I got out the coach it was lashing with rain and striking with thunder, I took my little hand luggage and put my coat over my head squinting my eyes to see if I could spot mummy's new black car.

Mathematical Theory of Communication on Art

Shannon and Weaver’s Mathematical Theory of Communication is probably the most influential of all communication models; and has been used as a guide from which many contemporary communication theories have emerged. The theory’s large influence on communication studies has also led some to claim that the theory is widely applicable to human communication. In this essay, I will be analyzing how artworks are used to communicate messages and ideas to the general audience with the use of this theory. For the first part, I will briefly introduce the theory as a general entity. I will follow with my analysis.The Mathematical Theory of Communication The Mathematical Theory of Communication, hereinafter be referred to as the Mathematical Model, consists of several elements. The first five elements namely, Information Source, Transmitter, Channel, Receiver and Destination are all connected in a linear fashion. The sixth element, Noise Source, is connected to the Channel. The mode l is illustrated below (Figure 1). Figure 1: Mathematical Theory of Communication The Information Source is what produces the message. A Transmitter encodes the message into a signal and is passed through a Channel.The Receiver then decodes a message from the signal and is passed to the Destination. Noise Source is anything added to the signal that is not intended by the Information Source and distorts the message. Using this model, there are many ways an artwork can communicate a message. The first instance is when an artwork is both the Information Source and Transmitter and the audience the Destination and Receiver. In the second instance the artist is the Information Source, the artwork the Channel and the audience, again, the Destination.The third instance is when an arts manager is placed into the equation. The Artwork and Audience The first instance is probably the ‘cleanest’ of the three ways proposed, involving two parties, the artwork and the audience. A paint ing hung on the wall at a gallery catches the eye of an audience member. The audience member proceeds to stand in front of the painting and attempts to analyze the painting’s message or perhaps just marvel at its brilliance. In this case, the simplistic Mathematical Model can then be further simplified to just include just the Information Source, Noise and Destination.Noise in this scenario may include the inappropriate lighting in the gallery, noisy children running around in the gallery or even the way the painting is presented. All of the above would diminish the audience’s ability to interpret the artwork’s message. The underlying assumption here is that the artist has completely divorced himself from the artwork and does not care how the audience interprets his art. However some artist do care about the message being send across. The Artist The second instance brings in the ‘third’ party, the artist.Here the artist is the Information Source and Transmitter who uses his artwork to communicate ideas. This artwork becomes the Channel of communication. Now Noise has the potential to disturb the message at two points, one between the Transmitter to the Channel, and the other from Channel to Receiver. The shape of Mathematical Model thus becomes slightly irrelevant, although the linearity of the model stays in contact. Noise can happens in the first point when the artist is unable to materialize fully his concepts. This could be due to the lack of funds or the inability to acquire certain materials the artist hopes to use.The message is then compromised. The second point occurs when the audience is unable to interpret correctly what the artist is trying to convey. There are many communication theories that elaborate on this, however for the purposes of this essay I will elaborate on ‘preconceived notion’ and ‘ideological differences’. Preconceived notions could come in many forms, for instance when one first views Damien Hirst’s The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living, one might assume the glass tank was an thoughtless choice when in actuality there was a certain artistic element to it.Yet such a misunderstanding does not affect the overall message of Hirst’s work. However an ideological difference, could affect greatly the message intended. The list of ideological differences is endless, but one of the most prominent ideological different that still persists in this century is religion. To one the Balinese Dances may have religious significance however to another who is a non-believer, such dances might just be a work of art with culture as the theme. In addition, the masks used in such dances might become a sacred object but to another it might be nothing more than a work of art.The time and purpose of an artwork might also create disparity in the understanding of the message. During the 16th century, the art was used to propaganda the Ch ristian faith, which was competing for the spiritual allegiance of masses with the other religious fractions in Europe. Now however, an art lover would just be inspired at the sheer brilliance of the artwork, eliminating the evangelical purpose. Arts Manager The third instance introduces a ‘fourth’ party to the equation, the arts manager. Communicating art, as illustrated above, is no easy task.One might need to transcend boundaries and ideologies in order to fully understand the message of the artwork. The arts manager can be placed in numerous positions in the Mathematical Model. In one instance the arts manager might elongate the communication chain. The artist (Information Source) might communicate to the Arts Manager (Receiver). The Arts Manager, now the Information Source, will then communicate to the Audience who becomes the second Receiver. This elongated chain would then create more opportunities for Noise to develop. The arts manager may also assume the role o f the Channel.Here the artist or artwork will be the information source. In this model, if related back to the original Mathematical Model implies that the arts manager (Channel) is the sole producer of Noise, if any. Conclusion Ultimately when communicating, the ideal circumstance would arise if the message to be conveyed is transmitted and understood in its entirety. Thus is it the job of an arts manager to reduce Noise so that the artist is able to convey his message? Or is it the artist job to better his craft if he wants to convey the message? With that said, is Noise necessarily always negative?What if the Noise was intended? In the experimental exhibitions entitled Not Against Interpretation, the Singapore Art Museum decided to challenge the concept of interpretation by allowing several curators to interpret the same artworks to the audience. The audience can then decide which interpretation to accept. The philosophy behind this is to exploit the ‘openness’ of co ntemporary art and also provide an opportunity to engage with people from varied backgrounds. Bibliography Agata, T. & Okada, T. â€Å"How does information about creative process affect audience appreciation of artwork? Proceedings of the Twenty-eighth Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society (2006): 949-954. Print Berger, John. Ways of Seeing. London: Penguin, 2008. Print. Dannatt, Adrian. † Life’s Like This Then It Stops† Flash Art. Web. 24 Apr. 2012. . Elsen, Albert E. Purpose of Art An Introduction to the History and Appreciation of Art Fourth Edition. USA; Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc. , 1981. Fiske, John. Introduction to Communication Studies. London: Routledge, 1990. Print. Introduction to Bali: Art Ritual Performance. Dir.Deborah Clearwaters. Asian Art Museum’s Education and Public Programs, 2011. Film. Newton, Eric. â€Å"Art as Communication. † British Journal of Aesthetics 1. 2 (1961): 71-85. Print. Pang, Ruben. Personal intervi ew. 5 April. 2012. Roszak, Theodore. The Cult of Information: The Folklore of Computers and the True Art of Thinking. New York: Pantheon, 1986. Print. Shannon, Claude E. and Warren Weaver. â€Å"The Mathematical Theory of Communication. † Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois Press, 1949. Tinggal, Zainal Abiddin. The Dances of ASEAN. Brunei Darussalam: ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information, 1998. Print. ——————————————- [ 1 ]. John Fiske, â€Å"Introduction to Communication Studies† (1990) Pg 6. [ 2 ]. Ibid. [ 3 ]. The essay revolves around the assumption that artists use art as a communicative device to express emotions and ideas. Eric Newton further elaborates this idea in his paper †Art as Communication†. [ 4 ]. To better illustrate the Mathematical Model assume a telephone conversation. In such a case the Channel is the wire and the signal is the ele ctrical wire in it. The telephone handsets are the Transmitter and Receiver, and the people using those handsets are the Information Source and Destination.Noise Source in this instance could be distortion of sound in the telephone wire due to various reasons. [ 5 ]. Many critics have condemned Shannon and Weaver’s theory to be overly simplicity. One such critic, Theodore Roszak, agues in his book â€Å"The Cult of Information† that the model has no mechanism for distinguishing important ideas from pure non-sense. [ 6 ]. Although the article â€Å"How does Information about Creative Process Affect Audience Appreciation of Artwork? † does not provide conclusive findings, the study conducted does however provide relevant insight with regards to forming curatorial concepts. 7 ]. In the interview conducted on 5th April 2012, Ruben Pang, a local painter, reveals that he prefers that his artworks connect with the audience on their own accord. And in his analogy  "Much to the same degree as a love song with generic lyrics. The audience likes the song because they are deluded that it relates to them when in actual fact the love song might be about a particular girl. However when the audience finds out that the love song is indeed about a particular girl, the lost interest in the song. † [ 8 ]. The Propeller Group, a team made of three video artists, made a video entitled ‘Uh! to communicate the ideas of freedom of expression in present day Vietnam. For an online interview with the Propeller Group please refer to http://is. asia-city. com/events/article/60-seconds-propeller-group. [ 9 ]. After publishing the original theory in the The Bell System Technical Journal, Shannon and Weaver became that Noise could happen at other points besides the Channel. Another theory, the Information Theory was thus conceived. [ 10 ]. In an interview with Adrian Dannatt, Hirst mentions his infatuation with glass and thus the continuous use of glass i n many of his other works. 11 ]. The Balinese dances were usually performed in temples for scared rituals to local deities associated with nature and ancestry. However in recent years, due to globalization and ASEAN’s push for cultural development and education, such dances have travelled around the world. (Introduction to Bali: Art Ritual Performances, 2011)(Tinggal, 1998) [ 12 ]. The Balinese believe the masks, when carved properly and are consecrated, becomes a vessel for a deity. In turn, the mask becomes a protective guardian and powerful sacred force when worn during a dance. Introduction to Bali: Art Ritual Performances, 2011)(Tinggal, 1998) [ 13 ]. Albert E. Elsen â€Å"Purpose of Art: An Introduction to the History and Appreciation of Art† (1981). [ 14 ]. Not Against Interpretation is an experimental platform to nurture an appreciation for contemporary art. The first artwork to be presented under this series is A Flog of Birdies by Singaporean artists Jason Li m and Vincent Leow. The work was an artistic collaboration between them as part of UTOPIA (United Together to Organise and Produce Interesting Art).

The Most Influential Jazz Artists History And Thee Most...

Louis Armstrong is to be considered one of the most influential jazz artists history and thee most important figure in jazz history. From the 1920’s all the way through the 1960’s, Armstrong had a very illustrious career. Armstrong was a composer, instrumentalist, arranger and a singer. Giving him many ways to have an everlasting legacy in music. He innovated many different styles and excelled in many different eras of jazz. Armstrong made an abundant of contributions to jazz ranging from new styles of jazz including a new way of singing, individual soloing, jazz in films and shows, and overall a lasting legacy. Louis Armstrong was born in the tough environment and city of New Orleans. He had a tough up bringing and spent a lot of time in Storyville, the prostitute district of New Orleans, where a lot of early jazz musicians would also play because they would allow jazz musicians to often experiment and not have to play ordinary jazz. In about 1912 Louis accidentally sh oots off a gun, which lands him in Colored Waifs home for boys from 1912-1915. The home was a â€Å"military reform school for boys run by ex-cavalry officer, Joseph Jones... it provided Armstrong with a daily routine, regular meals, and his instruction on the cornet†(Anderson). This allowed Armstrong to get better and get classical training. After this period Louis meets his long life idle Joe â€Å"King† Oliver, which changed his life, Oliver treated him like a son, mentored him, and gave Armstrong access to theShow MoreRelatedThe Studio System Essay14396 Words   |  58 Pagesthe World, the internal workings of the dream factory that is Hollywood is little understood outside the business. The Hollywood Studio System: A History is the first book to describe and analyse the complete development, classic operation, and reinvention of the global corporate entities which produce and distribute most of the films we watch. Starting in 1920, Adolph Zukor, head of Paramount Pictures, over the decade of the 1920s helped to fashion Hollywood into a