Divas, MPH
Making our People Healthier
Operation #DeathToTheMuffinTop: We Fall Down, But….
Jun 30th
A Huge Exaggeration But You Get The Point!
Donnie McClurkin said it best, “We Fall Down, But We Get Up”. Unfortunately, this past week I was slowly falling, falling, falling, and then I was flat on my back. Okay, not really but I lost sight of Operation #deathtothemuffintop. I had been doing great over the past couple of weeks. I had lost about 4lbs — not as much as I wanted as fast as I wanted but every little bit is progress — and then what happens? LIFE! I got busy which meant there was no time to prepare my meals, friends came in town and it was time to celebrate over dinner and drinks, and then there was baddest of one them all — my sweet tooth. I have fallen but I am going to get back up and keep pressing towards the mark #deathtothemuffintop. I have to be my #1 motivator but support is always good. Send me your suggestions on how to get and stay motivated 
In the meantime, I found this cool blog called ZenHabits that has 16 Ways to Get Motivated When Your In A Slump. Check them out!
Be Happy. Be Healthy. Be Motivated.
~Diva T
Wind Down Wednesday
Jun 30th
It’s “Hump Day”, and many of us are trying to figure out how to get over that hump. From deadlines, pointless meetings to attend, 50 emails to go through , 20 phone calls to return, travel plans for the holiday weekend, to being a mother, a wife, a sister, and a friend…is there ever a moment to relax from the daily grind? By Wednesday, we are counting down to the weekend because we’re stressed, overwhelmed, depressed, and just flat out tired! Why wait until the weekend to wind down? When faced with chronic stress, we raise the risk of health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, insomnia, headaches, and the list goes on. So check out these tips from the Miami Herald to help you wind down today and get over that hump:
• Listen to music in your car. Favorite tunes will help you relax as you transition from office to home.
• Don’t just flop on the couch. Exercise, spend time outside and interact with family and friends to boost production of feel-good hormones. Or if you can, relax by reading, taking a hot shower or engaging in a favorite hobby.
• Think positively. When you reflect on your day, focus on at least one good thing that happened.
• Don’t bring work home. Sometimes it’s unavoidable, but the more your home is a separate sanctuary, the easier time you’ll have relaxing there.
• Communicate. If you’ve had an especially tough day, share that with your spouse and children.
• Set boundaries. For example, you might tell your boss that you turn off your cellphone and computer after a certain time each night (if you can).
• Don’t rely on substances. Too much alcohol actually increases anxiety levels — and puts you at risk for dependence — while the nicotine in cigarettes is a powerful stimulant.
• Eat if you’re hungry. Low blood sugar causes anxiety and irritability. But stick to nutritious foods, because binging on unhealthy treats will only make you lethargic.
• Realize your limits. If there’s nothing you can do about a work problem at home, tell yourself that fretting is a waste of time.
• Take time off. Use your vacation days, take mini-breaks during the day, delegate responsibility and learn to say no if you’re swamped. None of that is easy, but otherwise your work — and health — will suffer.
Be Happy. Be Healthy. Be Stress-free.
Divas, MPH
Source: www.miamihearald.com
Extra! Extra! Read All About It
Jun 30th
Good Morning Divas!
I going through my morning routine of catching up on the news and came across some articles I wanted to share. Check out what’s in the news:
CNN-Veterans possibly exposed to Hepatitis and HIV
MSNBC-S.Africa sees rise in post circumcision deaths
CNN-Obesity Rising in Deep South
WSJ-Goalkeeping gets easier in the finances arena
Have a great Wednesday!
Be Happy. Be Healthy. Be in the Know.
The Other City {Diva Film Review}
Jun 28th
The Capitol, the White House, and all the historic monuments. The U Street jazz district, annual cherry blossoms, Smithsonian museums, and our world-famous Ben’s Chili Bowl. These our the things that come to mind when you mention Washington, D.C. The culture, the sights, and the sounds of the city.
But what about The Other City? What about J’Mia Edwards in Southeast? Jose Ramirez in Columbia Heights? And Ron Daniels on North Capitol Street in northeast? What about their stories, testimonies, and their lifes’ work which is dedicated to this very city? And what about each of the countless other lives in the District of Columbia that are effected by HIV/AIDS?
We read the statics (and we’re shocked and appalled, at least for a while), we hear the stories sometimes second- or third-hand (and we shake our heads), but its hard to gauge just how real HIV and AIDS are in our city until we either 1. live the experience, or 2. watch this film. Last night, I was blessed with the opportunity to do the latter.
Susan Koch didn’t just direct, she delivered. The film was real and raw. It wasn’t just about numbers, or red ribbon benefits, or meetings in board rooms. It was about real life — and death. It was about homes, families, communities, mothers and sons. It was about sex and sexuality, drugs, homelessness, incarceration, war, poverty, and government. The good, the bad, and the ugly. It was about real life. And no one is immune to real life.
To say I was moved is an understatement. Ask anyone in my row how I felt about that film, and they can certainly tell you because I know they heard me (sorry, y’all). If it wasn’t the “Yes, Lords and Amens” I’m sure they will tell how I sobbed my way through Subway napkins and Kleenex tissues borrowed from the bottom of my neighbor’s purse. But I couldn’t help it. And I didn’t want to.
This movie isn’t just for D.C., or for health professionals and advocates, or Blacks, or women, or homosexuals, it’s for human beings. So I suggest that if you are a human being — and you are subject to life and living — you go see this film immediately.
And don’t forget your Subway napkins!
(Looking forward to reading all your thoughts and comments, please be sure to share below!)
Be happy. Be healthy. Be well.
Miss. Madie 
National HIV Testing Day, June 27
Jun 26th
“I get my yearly checkup… I’m good.”
“Look at me… do I look like I have something?!?!”
“I don’t sleep around.”
“If I do have it, what good is knowing?”
As a health educator who is certified to do HIV testing, I’ve heard a lot of reasons excuses for people not wanting to be tested for HIV. But when you look at some of the staggering statistics, there shouldn’t be any:
- Black people are the most affected by HIV.
- Even though black people only make up about 13% of the population, we make up about half of the new HIV infections.
- 1 in 16 black men and 1 in 30 black women will be diagnosed with HIV at some point in their life.
- It is estimated that over 1 million people are living with HIV, but 21% of them don’t know it.
The only way to know your HIV status is by getting tested. Some people think that because you visit your doctor and have yearly exams, you’re being tested for HIV. This is often NOT the case. You must tell your doctor that you want to be tested to ensure that it’s included. And if you don’t like needles, that’s ok too. Lots of testing places have rapid tests. With a quick swab of your mouth, you can get your results in about 20 minutes.
You definitely cannot tell someone’s HIV status just by looking at them. It’s not who we are, it’s what we do that can put us at risk for HIV transmission. Having unprotected sexual intercourse (oral, anal, or vaginal) or sharing needles with an infected person can result in HIV transmission. Avoiding unprotected sex, using condoms, limiting your number of partners, and talking to your partner about being tested can reduce your risk of contracting HIV.
Knowing your status is important. If you do test positive, you’re aware and able to take better care of yourself and your partners to live a longer and healthier life. Please join me in getting tested on National HIV Testing Day tomorrow, and pass the message on to your partner, family, and friends. We all have a responsibility to help in reducing the spread of HIV, and knowing your status is a big step in preventing the spread of HIV.
Here are 3 ways to find a testing center:
- Text your zip code to KNOWIT (566948).
- Visit www.HIVtest.org
- Call 1-800-CDC-INFO.
Trust me, knowing really is better.
Be happy. Be healthy. Be aware of your status.
-Leslie
Follow me on twitter @MsPubHealth
Source: http://www.hivtest.org