The American Epidemic: 20 Million STI Cases

It is considered the oldest form of modern protection in the book, but for the sexually active individual, a condom may be the best method of preventing a sexually transmitted disease.

Practice safe sex: This is the message broadcast by researchers that estimated that almost 20 million Americans are suffering from a sexually transmitted disease. Young people between the ages of 15 to 24 make up 20 percent of overall cases, both new and old.

Out of all of these strains, 72 percent of people were affected by the human papillomavirus (HPV) – also known as genital warts. Alongside this disease, the remaining that also sat commonly with other cases were infections such as hepatitis B, HIV, trichomoniasis (genital inflammation), chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and herpes.

The lead researcher of these new findings, Catherine Lindsey Satterwhite, told NBC News that the United States has an, “ongoing, severe, STI epidemic.”

What was problematic about the discovery was that the number of STIs were higher in the year 2008 than they were in 2000. In 2008, there were 19.7 million new cases as opposed to the 18.8 million new cases in 2000. Researchers are wary however, as the data from the year 2000 was not necessarily from the same source as the data in 2008.

For those in the UK, the strain is not necessarily something to be ignored, as people across the country – young and old – are annually affected by STDs across the country.

Whilst some contraceptives will prevent pregnancy, the best way to lower the risk of sexually transmitted disease is to slip on a condom during sex. You may not believe that you are at any risk, but bearing in mind that STDs do not necessarily have to be transferred by sexual contact; it never hurts to be cautious whilst maintaining a good, healthy and happy relationship.

The American Epidemic: 20 Million STI Cases

Categories: cases, Disease, Epidemic, HIV, million, sexually, sexually transmitted, sexually transmitted infections, sexually-transmitted disease, STDs, transmitted, transmitted disease, warts

Why are Asian Americans at High Risk of Type 2 Diabetes?

There’s no denying that Diabetes is a worldwide epidemic – the condition was found to affect the wellbeing of 370 million people across the globe last year – but 50% of these cases came from Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. According to a study conducted in New York City, Asian Americans have the highest prevalence of having diabetes or pre-diabetes, with one in every two adults of Asian descent having diabetes or at risk of the disease.

If your body is unable to produce insulin, or unable to properly use and store glucose, this is what’s known as diabetes. Insulin is a hormone made by your pancreas, which is important for your wellness as it helps glucose get into your cells and turn into energy. Usually, your body turns the food you eat into glucose, and the glucose is then used as energy. However, when you have diabetes, this glucose isn’t absorbed but instead builds up in your bloodstream, reaching dangerously high levels.

Diabetes breaks down into two major types; type 1 and type 2. In the case of type 1 diabetes, which is often caused by genetic factors, your body completely stops producing insulin. With type 2 diabetes, which is more related to lifestyle factors, your body is unable to produce insulin and/or it cannot use insulin properly.  Of those of Asian American descent with diabetes, up to 95% of cases are type 2.

So why is the disease so prevalent among this population group? Asian Americans who are overweight, have a family history of diabetes, or have a personal history of pre-diabetes or gestational diabetes (diabetes occurring only during pregnancy) are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. More and more Asian Americans have adopted a less active lifestyle and diet of Western food that is low in fiber, high in fat and calories, which has further contributed to the epidemic of type 2 diabetes in Asian Americans.

The problem that then arises is that language barriers and a lack of culturally appropriate diabetes materials make it more difficult for some Asian Americans to achieve good diabetes control. More needs to be done to produce health care providers who understand their cultural values and the unique cultural challenges that Asian Americans may face. That way, this high risk population group can receive individualised treatment, as well as better prevention strategies.

Why are Asian Americans at High Risk of Type 2 Diabetes?

Categories: Americans, Asian, Asian Americans, Diabetes, Epidemic, high risk, population group, Pre-Diabetes, produce insulin, type, Type 2 Diabetes