2022 Edition
"Feminism isn't about making women stronger. Women are already strong, it's about changing the way the world perceives that strength."
-G.D. Anderson
ABOUT US Here at AMWA UTD, we want to do our very best to inform you of all of the issues relevant to women and healthcare, together and separately. We hope that our monthly newsletter becomes an enlightening source to you all as we learn about the multitudes of important topics and issues that we all need to be aware of.
The Editor’s Take: The Valentine’s Edition
By: Shraddha Trehan
Happy Valentine’s Day AMWA! I wish you all so much love in your life, and I hope it comes from friendships, family, romantic relationships, and most importantly, yourself.
In this February edition of the newsletter, we are bringing you matters of the heart (National Donor Month, National Heart Month), matters of the mind (Mind Over Matter: Post-COVID Psychosis, the Pediatric COVID Mental Health Crisis), and matters of the body (Eating Disorders). Wrapping up, our ASK AMWA Article will touch on how students feel about UTD’s response to COVID-19 in Spring 2022.
As usual, please feel free to email me at shraddha.trehan@utdallas.edu about any topic you feel needs to be included in future newsletters. Make sure to treat yourself with a little extra kindness today. Though every day should be filled with laughter and love, Valentine’s reminds us how important these two things should be and are in our lives.
Until the next one, Shraddha :)
National Donor Day
By: Anjali Binoy
Happy February 14th! Sure, it’s Valentine’s Day, but there’s something even more important, in my opinion, that is celebrated today - National Donor Day! One of the best ways to show your love and kindness to your beloved friends, family, or even a stranger is being there when they need you. What better way to show an act of selfless love than signing up to be an organ donor?
What is organ donation? According to MedlinePlus from the National Library of Medicine, organ donation “takes healthy organs and tissues from one person for transplantation into another” and “experts say that the organs from one donor can save or help as many as fifty people.” People who are alive can donate some tissue (like skin, bone, and bone marrow) and some organs (such as one kidney, some of your liver, or even one lung). People who have died can give up many more essential organs like the heart, pancreas, and intestines.
But, why should you even donate? Thousands of people are on waiting lists to receive organs and if they fail to receive an organ, it could mean death for them. Unfortunately, organs cannot simply be given from one person to another - our bodies are complex and thus make the process highly selective. One of the basic compatibilities is blood type. In order for more people to have the chance to survive, there is a need for more donors so there can be a wider range of organs that are available.
Becoming an organ donor is simple, and there are multiple ways to do so, especially if you want to register to donate your organs after death. The first option is checking off a box when you are getting your driver’s license. Also, one can join the national organ donor registry. If you check off that box, you can see a small heart on your ID card - that is a sign that you are registered as an organ donor. If you are interested in becoming an organ donor, you can get registered at https://www.donatelife.net/register/!
Once we pass on, we can still save multiple lives through organ donation. It is a privilege that we can all experience. In light of this Valentine’s Day, where we celebrate selfless love, we can help spread kindness and generosity by registering to become an organ donor!
National Heart Health Month
By: Hibah Rasool
The month of February is all about the heart: Valentine’s Day and National Heart Month. Though when it comes to matters of the heart many things are joyous, there can also be pitfalls that we must be aware of. Considering that cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, I wanted to take a moment to discuss the importance of heart health and share some ways to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system.
On average, our hearts beat about 2.5 billion times during our lifetime, and with each beat, it pumps out the blood that carries vital oxygen and nutrients to each organ in our body. Thus, dysfunction of the heart could seriously affect every part of our bodies. For example, one of these correlative connections is found between chronic kidney disease and heart disease. Poorly functioning kidneys result in larger amounts of toxins remaining in the blood which puts more stress on the heart; then, poor heart function results in low levels of oxygen impacting the function of kidneys. Some known risk factors of heart disease include a mixture of tobacco and alcohol use, hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, and high levels of cholesterol. Although genetics can play a role in this, maintaining your overall health by avoiding the aforementioned risk factors can help offset your genetic risk.
Living a higher quality lifestyle is one of the keys to a healthy heart, so here are a few ways to reduce your risk.
Maintain a healthy diet. Make healthy food choices by avoiding foods high in saturated fats and include a good balance of fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and lean meat into your diet.
Exercise daily. Physical activity is known to strengthen your heart and lungs. According to the CDC, it is important to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity weekly. The CDC also suggests including 2 days of muscle-strengthening exercises in your workout. If you haven’t been very active, start and build slowly.
Prioritize sleep. Sleep deprivation can possibly increase the risk so try to get at least 7 hours of sleep. CDC recommends avoiding artificial lights a few hours before going to bed, as well as maintaining a routine.
Reduce stress levels. Having some stress is completely healthy. But a consistently high stress level for an extended period increases risk for heart attack and other health issues. Manage stress by spending time with family and friends, yoga, or finding a hobby.
Limit alcohol use and quit smoking. CDC recommends no more than 1 drink a day for women and 2 for men. Quitting smoking can not only reduce risk but help improve symptoms.
Keeping these tips in mind, this month let’s all try to remember how important it is that we do everything we can to maintain the health of this precious commodity.
Mind Over Matter: Post COVID Psychosis
By: Anjali Binoy and Hibah Rasool
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a large effect on day-to-day life. It’s had an immense impact on thousands of people in regards to not only physical but also mental health. The infection is known to have an impact on vascular organs and have neuropsychological effects, leading to rising rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Surprisingly, it’s also known to have caused psychosis even in low-risk individuals. Within the past years, there have been numerous reports of post-COVID psychosis.
COVID-19 is known to more likely affect those with previous health issues, but according to studies, many of the individuals affected by psychosis did not have any prior mental health issues.The psychosis commonly occured a few days or weeks following the infection. For many individuals, it resulted in hospitalization and inpatient treatment at mental health facilities for up to several weeks. Based on research conducted throughout the past couple years, there are two main suspected neurological causes for this. First, inflammation of the brain after being infected is thought to be the cause of these neuropsychological effects. Other studies suggest that this may be due to a persistent immune reaction after infection.
This is not to say that people who have COVID-19 will also develop psychosis. Furthermore, there is not a definitive and direct link that is popularly seen. Because it has only been two years, a longitudinal study does not have a large bank of information and data so what has been observed can be the consequences of how this pandemic has impacted all fields of life and not just physical health based. If you are experiencing difficulty, especially mentally, you can always reach out to mental health services, whether they are on campus facilities or other online services. Make sure to take care of yourself during this time because although things are starting to seem as if they are back to normal, not everything has been reset so it can still feel isolating for people. If you feel this way, remember you are not alone and do not hesitate to reach out for help.
The COVID-19 Pediatric Mental Health Crisis
By: Megan Zachariah
“The kids are not okay”, warns pediatric psychologist Ethan Benore. Nearly two years into quarantine, we have seen how various stressors have impacted the healthcare system, forever changing how we practice medicine. The phrase “new normal” has been ubiquitous, associating itself with social, mental, and professional aspects of our everyday lives. However, an assuming, yet highly vulnerable demographic has been silently suffering in the wake of this “new normal”. While as a part of an older generation we may have lived experiences with which to compare this “new normal” to, the children of the pandemic, those that are 17 years of age or younger, are being forced to process this brave new world during their formative years, and they are suffering gravely.
The CDC recently released a report highlighting that there was a 31% increase in mental health-related ED visits among adolescents 12-17 years of age from 2019 to 2020. A further harrowing statistic was the 50.6% increase in suicide attempts within adolescent girls alone. Across the nation, there has been a widespread increase in substance abuse and demand for beds in pediatric psychiatric institutions. Unfortunately, similar to the plight of ERs and health care facilities across the nation, mental health facilities have also been overtaxed, requiring adolescents requesting psychiatric care to be placed on a waitlist. Parents seeking in-patient care for their children may be redirected to wait for an opening in a pediatric psychiatric ward within the emergency department of a nearby hospital, a phenomenon referred to as “boarding”. The overflow into emergency departments for mental health crises is yet another stressor added to the already overburdened hospitals. One parent referred to in a Boston News interview as Rogers, reports her experience when her 9-year daughter revealed suicidal ideations to her parents, and their frantic trip to the local psychiatric ward. Despite their desperate situation, Rogers was presented her only option - a 20 day boarding period at the Boston Children’s Hospital ED.
“She was pushed off to the side in a room. We saw the nurse very rarely”, says Rogers.
This experience is seemingly prevalent across the nation for parents with children stuffing from mental health crises.
“We have seen numerous children enter Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center in a mental health crisis who need to be healthy in the ER or pediatric unit while they wait for a bed to become available at an inpatient facility”, reports Christina Sapien, a representative of the Nevada based medical center.
More than ever, the stigma surrounding mental health and receiving care has been stripped away due to the pandemic. However, the adolescents of the US have been treated as second-class citizens in terms of being acknowledged in the mental health crisis. Whether being written off for their youth or actively being denied life-saving service, this silent suffering of our youth has been widely overlooked during our past two years in quarantine. Though the new statistics illuminating the bleak plight of pediatric mental health patients has kindled a renewed interest in addressing this subsidiary mental health pandemic, acknowledging the issue must be matched with increased funding and activism in order to remedy this return to a “new normal” to include our most vulnerable.
Eating Disorders: Warning Signs and Health Impacts
By: Zoe Du
For millennia, people have valued being curvier and heavier as signs of fertility or as symbols of status. However, the trend has drastically shifted in recent history, with rapid development in wealthy nations and the advent of new forms of media. People now often seek to be as skinny as the stereotypical model and being overweight is now associated with lower socioeconomic status. The villainization of being overweight and the propagation of new beauty standards have unfortunately engendered and actively promote unhealthy body image and eating habits. Actions like counting calories, diet restrictions, and excessive exercise can all be signs of eating disorders and have been relatively normalized. According to a 2010 study that followed nearly 500 girls until they were 20, an astonishing 13.2% of them had suffered from an eating disorder. Eating disorders are becoming increasingly normalized and prevalent, but it should not be forgotten that they are not just fads: eating disorders can be life-threatening and have lasting health effects.
In honor of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (February 21-27), I want to draw attention to the long-term impacts and dangers of eating disorders as well as some warning signs. I also highly recommend Shraddha’s article from last year, to gain even further insight.
Cardiovascular
-Increased risk of heart failure
When too few calories are consumed and the body needs more fuel, it will break down proteins and fats from the body’s own tissues. Muscles are among the first to be broken down, including the heart. The combination of less energy and few cells leads to a slow heart rate and low blood pressure. Purging also depletes electrolytes, and imbalances can result in irregular heartbeats, heart failure, and death.
Gastrointestinal
-Gastroparesis (slowed digestion)
Food restriction and purging interfere with digestion and can result in stomach pain, bloating, nausea, intestinal obstruction, and bacterial infections.
-Constipation
Inadequate nutrition can cause there to not be enough substance in the intestines and can weaken the intestinal muscles. Laxative abuse can also create dependency.
-Stomach and esophageal rupture
Binging can cause the stomach to rupture and purging via vomiting can cause the esophagus to rupture. Both are life-threatening.
-Pancreatitis
Malnutrition and purging can cause the pancreas to become inflammated with symptoms of pain and nausea.
Neurological
-Difficulty concentrating
The brain uses ~20% of total calorie consumption, and not consuming enough calories deprives the brain of the energy it needs to function.
-Numbness in extremities, seizures, and cramps
The body needs lipids to maintain the myelination of neurons’ and inadequate consumption of fat can damage the insulating layer. Imbalances in electrolytes interfere with neuronal signaling and can result in seizures and cramps.
Endocrine
-Irregular menstrual cycle
Lipids are used to produce hormones including sex hormones. Low estrogen levels alter the menstrual cycle and can even stop it completely.
-Osteoporosis
Low estrogen levels, elevated cortisol levels, and malnutrition can all contribute to losses in bone density.
-Increased risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Binging can increase the risk of the body developing resistance to insulin.
-Reduced basal metabolic rate
When deprived of enough nutrients, the body will slow down its metabolic rate to conserve energy.
These are just a few of the side effects of various eating disorders. Eating disorders are serious conditions and if you know someone who exhibits the symptoms below, please reach out to them and provide support.
Common Warning Signs
-Preoccupation with food and calorie intake
-Skipping meals
-Frequent dieting
-Concern about body shape, size, and appearance
-Irregular periods
-Always feeling cold
-Frequent dizziness and lightheadedness
-Sleep problems
-Impaired immune function
-Dental problems
-Evidence of binge eating including many food wrappers
-Excessive exercise or excessive use of laxatives
See https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/warning-signs-and-symptoms for a more extensive list.
Never hesitate to call or text (800) 931-2237or use the online chat at https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support/contact-helpline to receive support and resources from the National Eating Disorders Association. Text “NEDA” to 741741 for crisis situations.
Ask AMWA: How We Feel About UTD’s COVID Response
By: Megan Zachariah and Zoe Du
As students, we have all been impacted academically by the COVID-19 pandemic. What started as an extended spring break quickly escalated into several semesters of online learning and altered student life. By April 2020, 1.598 billion students were impacted by the closure of academic institutions globally. Students continue to be subjected to the decisions of President Benson and other UT Dallas administrators as the pandemic and virus evolve.
In light of the spread of the highly infectious Omicron variant and UTD’s decision to delay the start of classes by a week and to transition to virtual learning for the first three weeks, we polled AMWA members in January on their opinions about UTD’s response. Nearly all members who responded (97.8%) agreed that UTD should prioritize student health and wellbeing over academics. However, poll results indicate that UTD has failed to do so.
When asked if UTD has adequately prioritized student health in recent communications, there was a lack of consensus among members, but only 28.9% agreed while 37.8% disagreed. This may reflect the mixed messages UTD sent in initial communications, both acknowledging the expected surge in cases and deciding against changes in modality or density. Even though President Benson stated that the university was committed to student and faculty wellbeing, their decisions reflected a lack of urgency about the rising risk levels.
The lack of confidence in UTD priorities may also reflect the widespread mistrust in data that UTD disseminates. When asked if they trust data regarding positive COVID cases reported by UTD, an alarming majority of members (53.3%) disagreed, and only 15.6% of members reported trusting university-provided data. In October 2021, students took to an unofficial UTD Reddit page, noting discrepancies in the official active case dashboard. This was later picked up in an article on the World Socialist Web Site. Whether or not data was actually manipulated, this sequence of events undermined confidence in the university and brought attention to the university’s financial interests.
So what can UTD do to make students feel safer on campus? A majority of AMWA members feel that COVID vaccines and boosters should be mandatory. Texas public universities are unfortunately caught in a grey area with regard to vaccine mandates. Last fall, the Biden administration issued an executive order that required federal contractors to implement safeguards for employees, including vaccine manda
tes. This prompted Gregg Abbott to ban mask and vaccine mandates. However, UTD can continue to encourage students and faculty to continue wearing masks and promote vaccines through initiatives like the Vaccine Incentive Program from last fall.
The university can also introduce policies and initiatives to support mental health. 42.2% of members polled feel that UTD has not provided students with sufficient mental health resources. COVID has been a strain on many individuals for many reasons ranging from financial difficulties to the tragic loss of loved ones, to the isolating effects. To mitigate some of these stressors, UTD could provide students with more financial support or reinstate credit/no credit options for courses. UTD could also advertise and expand mental health services so they are more accessible to students.
There is a general consensus that UTD has a responsibility towards protecting and promoting student health and well-being, and that the university’s response to COVID has thus far been lacking. UTD needs to be more transparent to rebuild student confidence and UTD decision-making should make students feel prioritized.
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