Saturday, November 30, 2019

Research Paper Digestive System Essay Example

Research Paper: Digestive System Essay There are multiple biological processes that the human body performs continuously in order to sustain itself. Functions are classified into systems according to their purpose. It is important to understand that all biological processes are highly interrelated, meaning that if one aspect of one system is malfunctioning, the effects sprawl far beyond the location of the function. This is perhaps why symptoms must be traced incredibly thoroughly to judge what the original cause of the malfunction is. The digestive system is one that includes the functions of consumption, digestion, absorption and expulsion of wastes. The organs involved start at the oral cavity and stretches through the body, ending at the anal cavity. Surrounding systems such as the circulatory, respiratory, and immune and nervous systems all work in corporation to execute all the tasks necessary. Naturally, with such a number of complex functions, in combination with various destructive qualities, such as bacteria, viruses, environmental threats, as well as genetic make-up, malfunctions are bound to occur.In some cases, the effects may be treated leaving no permanent damage; however some situation may result is irreversible damage that may be fatal. We will write a custom essay sample on Research Paper: Digestive System specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Research Paper: Digestive System specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Research Paper: Digestive System specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Most common signs that the digestion process is unwell are symptoms of diarrhea and constipation. While this is considered a non serious occurrence, it could be a clue that there is a far more serious problem within the system that requires attention. This may include such conditions as an Irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcer or even cancer. Typically the more persistent the symptoms, the more neglected the warnings are, the more serious the situation becomes. The flowing is a more detailed look at the components, purpose and function of the digestive system, as well as several common digestive problems such as gastric bleeding, pain, constipation and diarrhea. Also a brief look at disorders such as the irritable bowel syndrome and peptic ulcers. The disorders are considered on the bases of the symptoms, causes and possible treatments. The Digestive System The purpose and reason behind the digestion process is to help break down the food and beverages that are consumed into small molecules in order for the necessary nutrients to be absorbed and utilized by the body. The way the body achieves this is by allowing the gut to physically and chemically alter the ingested nourishment and dispose of the not required wastes. This nourishment is then transformed into vital energy that helps maintain and build the cells that are necessary in the body. Process of the Digestive System The overall digestive process involves a mixture of food and drink with the digestive juices. The food is then broken down into small molecules through chewing and the digestive juices and finishes in the small intestine. The movement of the food down along the process is referred to as peristalsis. This resembles and ocean wave traveling though the muscle. Once food is swallowed an involuntary process begins which is controlled by the nerves. The swallowed food is propelled into the esophagus, which connect the mouth and throat to the stomach. At the point where the esophageal sphincter which is a ring of muscle that closes the passage between the two organs. As food approaches this point, the sphincter relaxes and allows food to enter the digestive track. The liver and the pancreas are digestive organs that also contribute to this process through producing digestive juices that reach the small intestine though small tubes called ducts. The digesting system is also very intertwined with other biological process, for instance the nervous system as well as the circulatory system directly impact the digestive process. Mouth The mouth is the preliminary organ that begins the digestion process. Within the mouth several functions are preformed in order to prepare the contents for the remainder of the process. The mouth or what is biologically referred to as the oral cavity comprises of lips (labia), teeth, cheeks, hard and soft pallet which are located at the forward and latter roof of the mouth. There is also a muscular tongue which is attached to the floor of the mouth by what is called a frenulum. Moreover the oral cavity is connected to the nasal cavity, allowing this function to also participate in the process. The throat is guarded by a ring of palatine or lingual tonsils. The process that the contents go through begins with the biting process. The initiates the braking down process into suitable size portions in order to better fit in the oral cavity. This process is helped by the muscular work of the jaw, tongue as well as the soluble nature of the saliva that is produced. The prepared contents are swallowed and this completes the voluntary process of ingestion. Swallowing Swallowing is a delicate process that insures that the primarily broken down contents begin to move towards the further brake down process. This however has to first pass the delicate respiratory track which is also found in the oral cavity. This is done through a complex working of the tongue, soft palate, pharynx and esophagus. The first stage of this process in voluntary as the tongue pushes the contents down the pharynx. This is followed by a reflexive process of the tongue blocking the mouth, soft palate closes off the nasal cavity and the larynx rises so that the epiglottis closes off the trachea. The contents are then moved onwards to pharynx by the peristalsis as well as gravity. Esophagus The esophagus is the first muscular tube in that is 25-30 cm in length. It purposes is to transfer the contents from the pharynx (the throat) to the stomach. There are basic layers which include the following; mucosa, sub mucosa, muscular is external and the serosal fluid. The Mucosa is innermost moist lining combined with a connective tissue and smooth muscle, that moistens the contents and begins the movement downwards. The sub mucosa is a combination of a soft connective tissue layer, blood vessels, nerves as well as lymphatic’s. The muscle external is responsible for the movement of the gut. Typically there are two layers of the smooth muscle, the circular inner layer, and the outer longitudinal The Stomach The stomach has three mechanical tasks; to store, mix and expel the contents that enter. The storing takes place in the upper part, as the sphincter opens and allows the entrance of the contents, the middle part then uses special muscles in order to mix the contents with the digestive juices, containing special enzymes, and the finial emptying of the contents into the small intestine. Certain factors play a role in the emptying process including the various kind of food that are consumed as well as the muscle capability that is required. Carbohydrates for instance, spend the least of time in the stomach, while proteins remain longer in the stomach and fats remain in the stomach the longest of all. Finally as the juices do their job in braking down the contents into small enough molecules, the absorption of nutrient occurs though the intestinal walls and the contents are transported and lowered down into the large intestine where they are then extracted through the anus in the form of bowel movements. Small Intestine The small intestine consists of three parts. The first part is the Duodenum which is roughly 26 cm in lengths. This is the first descending part where the contents proceed from the stomach. Within this part, the breakdown process continues before the contents proceed to the Jejunum, 2,5 meters in length and further to the ileum which is 3.5 meters in length. The small intestine is very crucial to the digestive process. The lining of the small intestine is responsible for absorption of the contents. This is done by creases and villi located on the surface area. The movements or these villie propel the movement through the lining into the blood stream. Therefore the absorption of digested foods is done though this rich venous and capillary drainage of the gut. Towards the end of the small intestine, accumulations of lymphoid tissue are common. The process involved that undigested food to remain in the system for duration of time and it is important to note that this content is rich in bacteria. Large Intestine (Colon) The large intestine is the last part of the digestive system. It is roughly 1.5 meters in lengths and stretches from the right liliac region or the pelvis, up across the middle abdomen and end at the anus. The main function the large intestine is the absorption of the remaining extra liquids. The Anus has voluntary and involuntary sphincter and ability to distinguish whether contents are gas or solid. No villi in large intestine, but many goblet cells secreting lubricities mucus. Production of Juices The first contact of food with the digestive glands occurs in the mouth and the salivary glands produce saliva which is the moisture in the mouth that helps with the initial breakdown of the food. This silica contains certain enzymes that help in the brake down and digestion process. An enzyme is a substance that works to speed up the chemical reactions that occur in the body. The stomach lining in the next place where there are glands located that continue this process. This particular gland, produce stomach acid, and an enzyme that have the ability to break down protein. The stomach being a will throughout organs also has a lining which protect itself from the braking apart nature of the enzyme which is contains. This lining is refuted to as mucosa, and it is able to withstand the acidity of this fluid. Once the role of the stomach is complete and the contents are lowered into the small intestine, the pancreas and liver produce a wide range of enzymes that aim braking down of carbo hydrates, fats and proteins that was contained in the food consumed. There are also glands that are produces by the walls of the intestines. The liver produces another digestive fluid which is called the bile. Between meals this bile is stores in the gall bladder. During mealtimes, these substance travelers through ducks into the intestine to mix with the fats that is consumed, and transformed into a watery substance. This is then further broken down by enzymes produced by pancreatic and intestinal enzymes. Nutrients Most of the nutrients that are consumed whether through food, beverages or supplements are absorbed through the walls of the small intestine. The mucosa which is in the small intestine possesses many folds that are covered by villi, fingerlike projections. The villi are also covered by micro villi for it is this structure that allows a large surface area to be created though which nutrients can then be absorbed. From this stage, specialized cells allow the nutrient to enter the blood stream where they are carried to other parts for storage of additional chemical processes. Carbohydrates It is suggested that 45 to 65 % of recommended daily calories should be in the form of carbohydrates. Foods that are classifies as carbohydrates include breads, pasta, potatoes, peas, rice, fruits and vegetable. Starch and fiber are also contained in many of these foods. Starch digestion includes braking into maltose. The enzyme in the small intestinal lining breaks this maltose into glucose which is carried through the blood stream to the liver. There it is stored to later provide energy for the body. Sugars are digested in one step, by fist braking down in to glucose and fructose, while foods like milk contain another form of sugar which is call lactose which required a different braking down structure. Fiber is indigestible and moves through the the digestion track without being broken down by enzymes. There are two types of fiber that could be found in food, soluble and insoluble. As the term suggest soluble fiber had a characteristic to become soft and jelly like substance which in contact with water. While the insoluble fiber especial is unchangeable though the digestion process. Protein Proteins are used to build and repair the tissues of the body. In order for them to perform their duty, they also must be broken down into small molecules. Foods that are high in protein include meat, eggs, and beans. The way in which this process begins as enzymes in the stomach juices, pancreating enzymes, brake down the protean molecules into amino acids. As before these amino acids are carried through the blood stream the location that require them. Fats/lipids Rich source of energy for the body. Fats are first dissolved in the watery substance that is located in the intestine. The bile acids that are produces in the liver, stored in the gall balder work to dissolve the fats into smaller fragment that are then further broken down by the pancreatic and intestinal enzymes. Some of these parts are classifies as fatty acids and cholesterol. The role of the bile is to attach itself to the fatty acids and chelostoroal and aid these cells to more into the mucosa. There these cells become large again and mostly pass into vessel called lymphatic located near the intestine. These are then carries to parts of the body where they can be stored as storage. Vitamins Vitamins are an essential part of the absorption that also occurs though the small intestines, Vitamins are classifies in in two groups, water soluble and fat soluble. Water-soluble vitamins include all the B and C while the fat soluble vitamins include A, D, E, and K. The fat soluble vitamins are stored in the liver and fatty tissues of the body, while all water soluble vitamins are not easily stored and frequently flushed through the urine. Hormone Regulators There are several hormones that play an integral role in digestion. These function to induce production of particular acids and fluids that are requires. Certain organs such as the gall bladder are controlled by hormones. Some of the most prominent hormones for this process are gastric, secreting and cholecystokinin CCK. Gastric This particular hormone causes the stomach to produce that aid in the digestion and dissolving of certain foods. Additionally this hormone is necessary for normal cell production in the lining of the stomach, small intestine as well as the colon. Seretin This hormone is responsible for the production of the necessary digestive juices in the pancreas containing bicarbonate. The component caries the duty of neutralizing the acidic nature of the stomach as the contents are moved along into the small intestine. The production of Pepsin is also stimulated by seretin. This function is important for the digestion of protein as well as aids the liver in the production of bile. CCK The main role of CCK is to help produce enzyme in the pancreas as well as causes the gall bladder to empty when it is required. Normal cell production in the pancreas is also governed by this hormone. There are also addition hormones that govern aspects such as the appetite. Ghrelin When the stomach is empty, this hormone work in the stomach as well as upper intestine in order to stimulate appetite and encourage consumption of food. Peptide YY Carries a vice versa effect which notifies the brain that the stomach is full and arrests the appetite Other hormones have be allocated to impacting appetite include glucagon-like peptide-1 (GPL-1), oxyntomodulin(+5), and pancreatic polypeptide. Nerve Regulators There are two classified aids in the control of the digestive process. The extrinsic, outside influence which includes the nerves from coming from the brain or the spinal cord. The chemical released throughout this process include acetylcholine and adrenaline. Acetylcholine causes activity in the digestion causing the contents to move through the system. Adrenaline on the other hand relaxes the muscles involved in the process affectively slowing down and even stopping the digestion the process. As for the intrinsic, or inside nerve that impact the digestion process, this includes a very dense network integrated in the walls of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine and colon. These nerves are activated in cases where the walls are stretched when they are full, or when the organ become too hollow. Depending on the situation various substances are released in order to speed of slow down the process. Disorders Due to the complexity of the digestion process, there are various amounts of process that can be susceptible to problematic activity. This may occur due to genetics, poor nutrition as well as many other reasons. When troubles occur with this digestion process, there are various conditions that are classifies as disorders. Each disorder jeopardizes the functionality of the aspect which it targets and negatively impacts the well being of the individual that it involves. If these conditions are not addressed early on, the effect could be quite devastating. Symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, bleeding from the digestive tract, regurgitation, and difficulty swallowing, usually suggest a digestive disorder. More general symptoms, such as abdominal pain, flatulence, loss of appetite, and nausea, may suggest a digestive disorder but also may suggest another type of disorder. Indigestion is a label that is used imprecisely by different people to mean different things. The term covers a wide range of symptoms, including dyspepsia, nausea and vomiting, regurgitation, and the sensation of having a lump in the throat. Functions that involve the Bowel or intestine vary greatly not only from one person to another but also for any one person at different times. In most cases, the easiest time to move their bowels in the morning, typically 30 to 60 minutes after first eating in the morning. However such functions are strongly affected by factors such as diet, stress, drugs, disease, and even social and cultural patterns. In most Western societies, the normal number of bowel movements ranges from 2 or 3 a week to as many as 2 or 3 a day. Changes in the frequency, consistency, or volume of bowel movements or the presence of blood, mucus, pus, or excess fatty material (oil or grease) in the stool may indicate a disorder. ABDOMINAL PAIN While the feeling of abdominal discomfort and pain is very common and in many cases, minor, more extreme cases of this symptom may suggest significant problem and lead to surgical interference. Pain in the abdominal area is frequently an issue for the young, the hold, those who suffer from immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or those with weakened and or suppressed immune systems. Causes There are multiple reasons for Abdominal pain, including infection, inflammation, sores such as ulcers, rupturing of organs, muscle contractions that are uncoordinated or blocked by an obstruction, and blockage of blood flow to organs. There are several cases where disorders may be life threatening and require immediate surgery. Such cases may include a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, perforated stomach or intestine, blockage of blood flow to the intestine (mesenteric ischemia), and ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Disorders that are also serious and nearly as urgent include intestinal obstruction, appendicitis, and acute inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Peritonitis is pain caused by inflammation of the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum), which occurs with many disorders that result in inflammation or infection of abdominal organs or leakage of intestinal contents into the abdomen, such as a perforated ulcer. Sometimes, disorders or functions outside the abdomen are the causes for the abdomen to produce pain. Conditions include heart attack, pneumonia, and twisting of the testicles testicular torsion. Other problems that cause abdominal pain include diabetic ketoacidosis, porphyries, sickle cell disease, and certain bites and poisons, heavy metal or methanol poisoning, and some scorpion stings. The location of the pain can be a very good indicator of the cause of the pain. Pain that is associated with an organ that is blocked, gallstones, kidney stones, or intestinal obstruction typically comes and goes in waves. Likewise pain produced by a peptic ulcer is often characterized as burning while Pain that accompanies diverticulitis is often limited to the lower left abdomen, whereas the pain of peritonitis is frequently felt throughout the abdomen. Pancreatitis often produces pain that is worsened by rolling over in bed and is relieved somewhat by sitting upright and leaning forward. Medical tests are preformed to help choose among several different causes suggested by the person’s symptoms and physical examination results. An abdominal CT scan helps identify many, but not all, causes of abdominal pain. Blood and urine tests are frequently obtained. An ultrasound is helpful if gynecologic disorders are suspected. Treatment Abdominal pain is most frequently treated with pain medication, however in some case, in order to accurately pin down the specific cause, medical professionals believed that pain medication has the possibility to The specific cause of the pain is treated. Through much research and recent development, patients have pain control methods during diagnoses and treatment. BLEEDING FROM THE DIGESTIVE TRACT When blood appears in the stool of vomit, its origin could be anywhere through the digestive track from the mouth to the anus. The color of the blood indicates whether the bleeding was recent or if it has already subsided. The condition where blood, red or black is visible in vomit is called hematemesis. When blood is vomited, it may be bright red if bleeding is brisk and ongoing. Alternatively, vomited blood may have the appearance of coffee grounds if bleeding has slowed or stopped, due to the partial digestion of the blood by acid in the stomach. Anal bleeding has two forms; hematochezia if stool is bright red, or Melena, if the stool is blackened. Melena is more likely when bleeding comes from the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. The black color of melena is caused by blood that has been exposed for several hours to stomach acid and enzymes and to bacteria that normally reside in the large intestine. Hematochezia is more likely when bleeding comes from the large intestine, although it can be caused by very rapid bleeding from the upper portions of the digestive tract as well. Symptoms of sudden loss of blood may include a rapid pulse, low blood pressure, and reduced urine flow as well as cold, clammy hands and feet. Extreme cases of bleeding may lead to reduced flow of blood to the brain, causing confusion, disorientation, sleepiness, and even extremely low blood pressure. Slow, chronic blood loss may cause symptoms and signs of anemia such as weakness, easy fatigue, pallor, chest pain, and dizziness. Causes Bleeding may occur due to several reasons such as peptic ulcers, arteriovenous malformations, and dilated veins in the esophagus, irritation from use of certain drugs, such as aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, inflammatory bowel disease, as well as cancer. Chronic liver disease or hereditary clotting are condition under which bleeding is more likely. Medications that can cause bleeding include anticoagulants such as heparin and warfarin and those that affect platelet function such as aspirin. Evaluation Element such as location, duration and the actual cause are investigated when such conditions are reported. The physical examination in such cases includes a digital rectal examination to feel for masses. An analysis of stool is done to detect if blood is present in the stool as this sometimes suggest a cause and location as well as clue to what other testing should be done.When blood in vomit is reported, a procedure called nasogastric is done, where a small hollow plastic tube is passed through the nasal passage. Through this tube the contents of the stomach are extracted. Blood in the contents of a red color suggest current bleeding which blacked masses suggest past occurrences of bleeding. The nasogastric tube is usually left in place until it is clear that all bleeding has stopped. If the nasogastric tube reveals signs of active bleeding, or the person’s symptoms strongly suggest the bleeding is originating in the upper digestive tract, the doctor usually performs upper e ndoscopy. Upper endoscopy is a visual examination of the esophagus, stomach, and the first segment of the small intestine (duodenum) using a flexible tube called an endoscope. An upper endoscopy allows for the source of the bleeding to be identified, and often treat it. Similarly, colonoscopy is performed if symptoms suggest the bleeding is originating in the lower digestive tract, or if upper endoscopy does not reveal a bleeding site. There are cases where such exams still fail to uncover the cause of bleeding. For such people, if bleeding is severe, angiography is preformed where the patient is injected with red blood cells labeled with a radioactive marker. With the use of a special scanning camera, the radioactive marker can sometimes show the approximate location of the bleeding. If bleeding is slow, doctors may instead take x-rays after the person drinks liquid barium. Another option is capsule which is especially useful in the small intestine, but it is not very useful in either the colon or stomach, because these organs are too big to get good pictures of their inner lining. Blood tests are useful by seeing the person’s blood count to see how much blood has been lost. A low platelet count is a risk factor for bleeding. Other blood tests include prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), and tests of liver function, which help detect problems with blood clotting. Treatment Those who suffer with sudden, severe blood loss require intravenous fluids and sometimes an emergency blood transfusion to stabilize their condition. Those with blood clotting abnormalities may require transfusion of platelets or fresh frozen plasma or injections of vitamin K. In most situation, gastrointestinal bleeding stops in its own. However in those cases where it required intervention, during the endoscopic procedure an electrocautery device, injections laser all can be used to aid the situation. If all treatment options do not help, surgery should be considered. CHEST OR BACK PAIN Pain and discomfort in the chest and back area could also be an indicator of a malfunction within the digestive process. Some symptoms are very close to those of heart problems. The middle of the chest or upper back can result from disorders of the esophagus or from disorders of the heart or aorta. Symptoms may be similar. Gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD), caused by stomach acid splashing up into the esophagus, can produce a burning sensation or a tightness under the breastbone (sternum), which may resemble those of heart disease. Spasms of the esophagus and other esophageal muscle disorders can cause a severe squeezing sensation also resembling the pain of heart disease. Other symptoms may suggest that there is esophageal disorder. What is referred to as heartburn is in fact a splashing of acid into chest, neck and sometime throat, typically following meals. Esophageal disorders are noticed by a difficulty in swallowing. If there is an exertion problem, this is most likely as sociated with problem of the heart. If there are systems suggesting heart troubles, test to identify those are done first and digestive test could be exhaustive. Treatments are specific to cause and only administered when the cause is identified with certainty. Diarrhea Diarrhea is characterized as an increase in the amount, wateriness and frequency. While the desire to have a bowel movement often is not considered to be diarrhea as it is normal to move bowels 3 to 5 times a day. People who eat large amounts of vegetable fiber may produce more than a pound of stool a day, but the stool in such cases is well formed and not watery. Diarrhea occurs when not enough water is removed from the stool, making the stool loose and poorly formed. Typically this condition is accompanied by gas, cramping, an urgency to defecate, and, if the diarrhea is caused by an infectious organism or a toxic substance, nausea and vomiting could be involved. As the loss of this liquid occurs, dehydration and a loss of electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride, and bicarbonate from the blood are common results of diarrhea. If large amounts of fluid and electrolytes are lost, the person feels weak, and blood pressure can drop enough to cause fainting, heart rhythm abnormalities and other serious disorders. Those who are young, old or those who are disabled are especially prone to this. Causes Normally consistency of stool is 60% to 90% water. When this is exceeded, that is classified as Diarrhea. This occurs due to the fact that the process happens too quickly not allowing the fluids to be properly absorbed. The causes of such a condition vary greatly. These include drugs and chemicals, infection with viruses, bacteria, parasites, certain food, stress, tumors, chronic disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and mal-absorption syndromes. Rapid passage (transit) of stool is one of the most common causes of diarrhea. Stool must remain in the large intestine for a certain amount of time in order to have normal consistency. Stool that leaves the large intestine too quickly is watery. Many medical conditions and treatments can decrease the amount of time that stool stays in the large intestine, including an overactive thyroid, drugs such as antacids containing magnesium, laxatives, prostaglandins, serotonin, and even caffeine. Many foods, especially those that are acidic, can increase the rate of transit. Some people are intolerant of specific foods and always develop diarrhea after eating them. Stress and anxiety are also common causes. Osmotic diarrhea occurs when substances remain in the colon due to the fact that they cannot be absorbed. These substances cause excessive amounts of water to remain in the stool, leading to diarrhea. Certain foods such as fruits and beans can cause osmotic diarrhea. Also, lactase deficiency can lead to osmotic diarrhea. Lactase is an enzyme normally found in the small intestine that converts lactose to glucose and galactose, so that it can be absorbed into the bloodstream. When people with lactase deficiency drink milk or eat dairy products, lactose is not digested. As lactose accumulates in the intestine, it causes osmotic diarrhea—a condition known as lactose intolerance. The severity of osmotic diarrhea depends on how much of the osmotic substance is consumed. Diarrhea stops soon after the person stops eating or drinking the substance. Blood in the digestive tract also acts as an osmotic agent and results in black, tarry stools. Another cause of osmotic diarrhea is an over growth of normal intestinal bacteria or the growth of bacteria normally not found in the intestines. Antibiotics can cause osmotic diarrhea by destroying the normal intestinal bacteria. Secretory diarrhea occurs when the small and large intestines secrete salts, especially sodium chloride, and water into the stool. Certain toxins, such as the toxin produced by a cholera infection or during some viral infections, can cause these secretions. Infections by certain bacteria and parasites can also stimulate secretions. The diarrhea can be massive, more than a quart of stool an hour in cholera. Other substances that cause salt and water secretion include certain laxatives, such as castor oil, and bile acids, which may build up after surgery to remove part of the small intestine. Certain rare tumors, such as characinoid, gastrinoma, and vipoma are also able to cause secretory diarrhea. Inflammatory diarrhea happens due to the inflammation, ulceration, engorging of the lining of the large intestine. This releases proteins, blood, mucus, and other fluids, which increase the bulk and fluid content of the stool. This type of diarrhea can be caused by many diseases, including ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, tuberculosis, and cancers such as lymphoma and adenocarcinoma. When the lining of the rectum is affected, the person often feels an urgent need to move his bowels and has frequent bowel movements because the inflamed rectum is more sensitive to expansion by stool.Treatment CONSTIPATION This condition is known as the inability to have a bowel movement less than three times a week. The stool is hard, difficult and painful to pass, and very small in size. The timing of bowel movement varies from individuals meaning that in some cases the norm could vary from three times a day to three times a week. Fewer than three times a week is reason for concern. This condition is a symptom in itself rather than a disease. It is likely that everyone at one point is affected by this, with a poor diet being the typical cause. Most constipation is temporary and passes without serious or permanent harm done, however understanding the causes, means of prevention and treatment are essential in finding relief. While this condition is very common, the numbers show that most often women and adults over the age of 65 and older are affected more frequently. Constipation during pregnancy is common especially after child birth or surgery. Most often treatment is with over the counter laxatives . Causes Constipation is caused by a slowing down of the digestion process. The lack of mobility allows for the colon to absorb too much fluid, causing the stool to be hard and dry. There are many reasons for this to occur. While is some cases a lack of fiber in the diet might be the cause, in other cases its lack of physical activity, especially in the elderly. Certain medications and products like milk have a tendency to bring about this symptom. Conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, pregnancy, aging, and travel, all have a direct impact on the speed of the digestion process. Other reasons may include a dependency of laxatives, ignoring the urge to have a bowel movements, dehydration, specific diseases or conditions such as stroke, problems with the colon and rectum, as well as problems with intestinal function (chronic idiopathic constipation). Treatment Of course treating constipation depends on the cause therefore there are several possible ways of dealing with such a state. Fiber is very important to regular bowl movements. The most common cause is a diet with not enough fiber or one that is high in fats, such as cheese, eggs, and meat. Fiber has two forms, soluble and insoluble. A soluble fiber easily dissolves in water and becomes a soft get like substance. Insoluble substance on the other hand passes though the intestine virtually unchanged. This substance helps push the contents through the colon.As a lack of liquids plays a major role in the consistency of the stool, maintaining hydrated in order to stay regular. While research has shown that intake or liquids does not always reverse constipation, some relief is still felt. However liquids that include caffeine or alcohol still are known to worsen the condition due to the fact that such substances have a dehydrating quality. Consuming foods like vegetable juices and clear sou ps, beets, can all aid one with such symptoms. When the condition continues to persist, animas and laxatives may provide relief however this treatment should be used with caution as using this method or treatment may lead the body to fall into dependence and stop working towards recovery. There are several forms of laxatives that are prescribes on an individual bases. Bulk forming laxatives, considered the safest, knows as fiber supplements that are taken with water. Some side effects from this remedy could be discomfort, blooding and pain. Stimulants are another form that causes the muscle contractions in the intestines. One ingredient, phenolphthalein, however has been recently linked to cancer. Osmotic is another drug available that causes fluids to flow in a specific way through the colon resulting in bowel expulsion. This drug is especially idiopathic constipation. Stool softeners moisten the stool and prevent constipation. Typically recommended for post surgical and post labor symptoms. However prolonged use this drug may r esult in electrolyte imbalance. Lubricants grease the stool, aiding then to go through smother. Mineral oil is the most common example. This form of treatment is known to bring results in less the 8 hours. Saline laxative also are used to provide relief by promoting absorption. The way in which this occurs is that they act as a sponge to bring water to the colon. They are most frequently used to treat acute constipation as long as there is no found obstruction. In this form there have also been reported findings electrolytes imbalances, especially in cases with small children of those who suffer from a renal deficiency. Finally, chloride channel activators are also used to increase intestinal fluid and mobility which helps with the passage of stool. This drug is known to be safe for use for up to 12months. One who is using laxatives must slowly stop using them to help the system regain its abilities to perform independently. Treatments for other causes of constipation may include discontinuing certain medication or even performing a surgical procedure for the correction of an anorectic problem such as prolapsed where the bottom portion of the colon is inverted. Surgical removal of the colon could also be an option when the symptoms are saver and caused by colonic inertia. This procedure must be considered only in extreme cases such as the side effects could also be extreme and painful. Continues symptoms of constipation left untreated could also lead to consequences such as hemorrhoids. This is a condition where the anal fissures tears due to forcing of hard stool through the sphincter muscle. As a result, there is anal bleeding, and mucus in the stool. In some cases the lining from the intestine to push out from the anus due to stain and pressure. The treatment for this is typically warm baths or ice packs. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder that is identifies by symptoms such as cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. This condition causes a great deal of discomfort but does not permanently damage the intestine, and does not lead to serious illnesses such as cancer. While in some cases the symptoms can be debilitating and prevent the suffered from attending work and social events, it is still common for the most part to control the symptoms with controlling diet and stress management. The statistical information of 20% of the adult population makes this one of this one of the most common disorders diagnosed today. It has been noted that this disorder is more frequently occurs in females and typically before the age of 35. Symptoms As mention before, the main symptoms of this disorder are abdominal pain and discomfort. Having said that, symptoms tend to vary according to the individual. In some case the individual experiences constipation, which is characterized as a hardness of stool that is very difficult to pass. It is often that those individuals also complain of cramping and abdominal pain while trying to have a bowel movement with little to no results. This occurs when digesting slows down and the further constipation could lead to toxicity levels to rise. In others, the discomfort takes the form of diarrhea, which is the result of excess amount of fluids in the stool due to the increased speed of the process. Frequent sudden urges to have a bowel moment could accompany such a state. It has been observed that this syndrome is more common in females, especially during their menstrual cycle suggesting that reproductive hormones play a role. There are also tendencies to feel anxiety and depression which is brought on by the discomfort of the state, and also from a lack of proper absorption. Causes Genetics, stress, poor nutrition, hormonal unbalances have all been linked to IBS and IBS symptoms. While there is no one particular cause of the overall syndrome, there are several attribution factors that have been noted. Sensitivity in the colon to specific foods has been known to trigger curtain systems and the epithelium, which is responsible for the control of fluids in and out of the colon, is unable to perform its task as the speeds of movement is increased. Serotonin has also been linked with the normal functions of the gastrointestinal functions (GI). In normal situations 95% is located in the gestural track while the remaining five is in the brain. In those who suffer with IBS, the transport of serotonin is affected causing there to be abnormal amounts of serotonin in the GI tract, leading to more symptoms and discomfort.There is some research that shows there is a connection with the cause of IBS to a bacterial infection in the GI tract. Patients with gastroenteritis have been known to later develop IBS. People with celiac disease have also been found to have symptoms similar to IBS. It is in this case where foods such a wheat barley gluten and rye are unable to be digested by the person with such a condition. Such attempts cause pain and discomfort. Treatments While there are specific methods to deal with the treatment of the individual symptoms, at this point there is no overall cure that is available. Some of these remedies include laxatives, anti de formulas, spasm control medication as well as pain relief medications. Unfortunately treating individual symptoms rather than the core problem may lead to further complications to the overall condition. One example of this is the use of anti-spasmodic or anti depression medications which interfere in the digestion flow and could additional symptoms. Peptic Ulcers Ulcers are essentially described as sores or in some cases holes in the stomach or duodenum, which is the beginning of the small intestine. Helicobacter pylor is the leading bacteria known for causing this condition. Statistics show that 20% of those under 40 experience this while those over sixty are at a 50% ring of developing this. While the bacterium responsible for this is known, the way in which individuals contract this bacterium is still debatable. If persistent systems are ignored, internal bleeding and rupturing is a strong possibility. Symptoms Symptoms may include a dull gnarring ache with a tendency to come and go throughout the day. This is usually observed 2 to 3 hours after a meal, or when the stomach is empty, quite frequently in the middle of the night. This discomfort is however is relieved by eating. There are also additional symptoms that require immediate attention. This includes a sudden sharp pain, blood in the stool or a backend stool, likewise blood or black vomit. Causes As was previously mentioned, the Helicobacter Pylor has been proved to be the main cause of this disorder. The way in which it works is by embedding itself into the lining of the stomach or the duodenum allowing acid to get though the lining. Both the acid and the bacteria have an irritating quality which causes the sores or tears to appear. The H. Pylor bacterium has the ability to survive the acidity of the stomach as it secretes a neutralizing enzyme that protects it. The spiral shape of this bacterium allows the bacterium to stay firmly in the lining.There are several suspected methods of contracting this bacterium. One is through drinking water or consuming something that is contaminated. Traces of this bacterium have been found in saliva pointing to the option that mouth to mouth contact can also pass the bacteria on. In cases where symptoms include blood in stool or vomit, the cause may be a ruptured blood vessel or an saver obstruction preventing the contents to continue to m ove along. Treatment In order to treat this condition is it primarily important to diagnose it correctly. This is mainly achieved though a G.I (gastrointestinal) exam or endoscopic procedures. This allows for a closer look at the internal activities, and shows if the symptoms or pain and discomfort are in fact caused by the ulcers. In some cases a fragment of the tissue is extracted and examined, this is referred to as a biopsy. If there should happen to be internal bleeder, they are sometimes treaded with an internal heat probe that aid in the clotting of the blood. Alternatively, bleeding could be stopped by clotting medications. Works Cited

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Free Essays on Victorian Influence On Charles Dickenss “A Visit To Newgate“

Victorian Influence on â€Å"A Visit to Newgate† The â€Å"spirit of the age† was dead and Romanticism was over. Eighteen year-old, Victoria, had become queen in June 1837. This date just so happened to fall around the start of one of the biggest literary movements of all time, the Victorian era. One of the most distinctive features of Victorian literature is its social orientation. As the ambiguities of rank and wealth reared their ugly heads, Charles Dickens’s was there, delivering the truth, the truth that lay behind the snobbery and malaises of the upper class. In â€Å"A Visit to Newgate,† Dickens approaches the issues of the poor and impoverished through the dismal display he reported of the Newgate prison in London. The report of this prison was given not only to awaken the upper classes to the sadness of the lower classes, but to also show the journey into the deep structures of the social world of the Victorian era. The report also portrayed the struggle of women in society. Through Dickensâ⠂¬â„¢s eyes, the reader is able to view the inside of the jail as well as the people of the prison, the poor in which make up the internal structure of the pristine Victorian era, the internal structure in which Dickens had been a part of for most of his life. Dickens’s life during his childhood greatly influenced the person he became, as well as the topics and the manner in which he wrote. When asked about his childhood years Dickens stated: My whole nature was so penetrated with grief and humiliation that even now, famous and caressed and happy, I often forget in my dreams that I have a dear wife and children; even that I am a man; and wander desolately back to that time of my life. (Dickens; Smiley, page 77) Dickens, born February 7, 1812, was surrounded by sadness and poverty as a child. He began his life in Portsmouth, where his father, John, worked in the Navy Pay Office, a respectable and promising job. His famil... Free Essays on Victorian Influence On Charles Dickens's â€Å"A Visit To Newgateâ€Å" Free Essays on Victorian Influence On Charles Dickens's â€Å"A Visit To Newgateâ€Å" Victorian Influence on â€Å"A Visit to Newgate† The â€Å"spirit of the age† was dead and Romanticism was over. Eighteen year-old, Victoria, had become queen in June 1837. This date just so happened to fall around the start of one of the biggest literary movements of all time, the Victorian era. One of the most distinctive features of Victorian literature is its social orientation. As the ambiguities of rank and wealth reared their ugly heads, Charles Dickens’s was there, delivering the truth, the truth that lay behind the snobbery and malaises of the upper class. In â€Å"A Visit to Newgate,† Dickens approaches the issues of the poor and impoverished through the dismal display he reported of the Newgate prison in London. The report of this prison was given not only to awaken the upper classes to the sadness of the lower classes, but to also show the journey into the deep structures of the social world of the Victorian era. The report also portrayed the struggle of women in society. Through Dickensâ⠂¬â„¢s eyes, the reader is able to view the inside of the jail as well as the people of the prison, the poor in which make up the internal structure of the pristine Victorian era, the internal structure in which Dickens had been a part of for most of his life. Dickens’s life during his childhood greatly influenced the person he became, as well as the topics and the manner in which he wrote. When asked about his childhood years Dickens stated: My whole nature was so penetrated with grief and humiliation that even now, famous and caressed and happy, I often forget in my dreams that I have a dear wife and children; even that I am a man; and wander desolately back to that time of my life. (Dickens; Smiley, page 77) Dickens, born February 7, 1812, was surrounded by sadness and poverty as a child. He began his life in Portsmouth, where his father, John, worked in the Navy Pay Office, a respectable and promising job. His famil...

Friday, November 22, 2019

To coin a word or drop a clanger, that is the question - Emphasis

To coin a word or drop a clanger, that is the question To coin a word or drop a clanger, that is the question On misusing or fumbling a word, is it better to hold your hands up to it or to compare yourself to the worlds greatest playwright? For Sarah Palin, apparently, the answer was easy. Her use of the entirely made up refudiate was no error; indeed, inventing it was akin to something Shakespeare himself would have done (oh, when will the comparisons between those two end?). Last Sunday, in response to proposed plans to build a mosque at Ground Zero in New York, Palin begged peaceful Muslims, please refudiate in a Tweet. While the message was later deleted, she eventually followed it up with one declaring, Shakespeare liked to coin new words too. Got to celebrate it! Of course, this new word, judged by those with dictionaries to be an accidental combination of refute (meaning to prove to be false) and repudiate (to reject as having no authority), still wouldnt quite work in this context, if at all. More appropriately, perhaps, Palin also aligned herself with George Malaprop Bush, the misunderestimated president who was mindful not only of preserving executive powers for [him]self, but for predecessors as well. The English language always has and always will grow and change. But the question now is: should we all refudiate words entering the language out of sheer unwillingness to admit we got it wrong?

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

The Artistic Impulse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Artistic Impulse - Essay Example As Greek statuary progressed, so did a sense of individuality in the face of the statues. Attention was paid to the eyes, hair, facial features etc. giving the statue a sense of individualized life likeness. Early Renaissance sculpture marks a return to the classical period with the bronze statue David (1420-1450), created by Donatello for the Palazzo Medici courtyard. Donatello reinvented the classical nude by choosing to depict the biblical hero David, who slew Goliath, and not choosing a pagan God or athlete, as his contemporaries did. As such, the statue of David symbolizes the strength, culture and independence of the Florentine republic. David is a freestanding bronze statue and thus, is considered to be one of the first sculptures in the round, to represent the nude human form since ancient times. He stands in classical contrapposto style, [Student 2] with the weight of his body thrown to one foot creating tension on one side of the body and relaxation on the other. Standing w ith the Goliath’s head at his feet, Gardner (2006) likens the pose to that of a â€Å"hunter with his kill† (474). ... Less than half a century following Buonarroti’s completion of David, biographer Giorgio Vasari writes â€Å"without any doubt the figure has put in the shade every other statue, ancient or modern, Greek or Roman† (Gardner, 502), praising the technical and aesthetic value of the colossal statue. Like Donatello’s David, he is depicted in contrapposto style; however, Buonarroti chose to represent the young man before the victory, with his head turned to left and his face full of stern watchfulness. The prelude to action is most evident in the anatomy, revealing a certain psychological energy in the pose as one views his sturdy limbs, rugged torso and swelling veins. His whole body, as well as his facial features, is tense with collective power. Gardner (2006) observes â€Å"David exhibits the characteristic energy in reserve that imbues Michelangelo’s later figures with the tension of a coiled spring† (502), showing how this David differs from Donatell o’s in abandoning the self-contained composition that characterized 15th –century statuary. [Student 3] Baroque sculpture is not merely decorative, but educational in nature as well. In his sculpture David (1623), Baroque artist Gianlorenzo Bernini captures the spirit of this historical period with theatrical energy. Bernini’s work strives for a sense of unity between body, spirit, action and emotion, showing that â€Å"Baroque and the High Renaissance drew different lessons from ancient art† (Jansen, 2004, 686), however neither were more classical than the other. This three dimensional marble statue tries to focus on a very precise moment and differs dramatically from the relaxed figures of David rendered

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Module 1 SLP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Module 1 SLP - Essay Example The nominal value of the company’s shares is $ 0.001 but with the immense growth displayed the company over decades the company’s share price has grown significantly and it is presently $97.06 (as of June 2, 2014) Following is the trend of the share price observed on the day of recording the company’s share price. Above figures prove that the company has been growing each year. Hershey has not just improved its figures but it has excelled in its operational efficiency as well; in 2010, the ratio of income to sales was 8.9% against 2013 when the ratio value was 11.50%. Price/Book ratio indicates high anticipations by the market related to the company performance. The high return on assets of 16.68% is accompanies by high return on equity of 59.75%. Theses return ratios indicate that the company has successfully executed the strategy of gaining high returns. This makes it more attractive for public offering because high returns are more attractive for investors. Such high return rates are supported by underlying efficient operating and profit ratios of 19.06% and 11.56%. The difference between operating and profit indicates that company has fewer overhead/administrative costs, which are only because of its cost minimization techniques. As per Hershey’s annual report, the company is simultaneously investing in more than five countries on research and development for the betterment of its production processes so that the quality and costs could be improved. In addition to this, the company has decent market share despite huge competitors in th e market. As discussed above, Hershey is an advancing company, which is sustaining against tough competition in the market. In spite of the growth over the period of the years, it has still not become the market leader. It only has market capitalization of 21%. If more funds are injected into the company, Hershey will definitely gain more

Saturday, November 16, 2019

The Morality of Animal Testing Essay Example for Free

The Morality of Animal Testing Essay Animal testing is undoubtedly one of the most controversial issues in modern society. This practice began in the 19th century; animals were used to test dosing of certain drugs and chemicals. In the 1920’s, animals were also being used to test pesticides and food additives (Fano, 11). Today, animal testing is used to study everything from cosmetics to cancer. With such a wide range of opinions on animal rights and human priority, it is no wonder that this topic is so controversial. There are people who have an extreme view on the issue and are either completely pro or completely con. In my opinion, the issue of animal testing is far too complex for one simple answer; its morality lies somewhere in between the two poles. Animal testing is acceptable if it results in saving people’s lives. It is not acceptable, however, if it results in personal or cosmetic products that are far from vital to the human race. Those who are in favor of animal testing justify it many different ways. Thomas Hamm, a toxicologist and veterinarian, argues that, â€Å"We can’t protect the environment, or people in general, without doing some animal testing. If you’re pro-environment but opposed to animal testing, you’re on shaky ground, because the two positions just aren’t compatible with each other† (Fano, 44). In order to have a safe and successful society, he argues, we must use animals to test chemicals, drugs, treatments, and anything else that will further our knowledge of improving the world, at least for humans. Many people are of the same mind as Hamm. Animal testing reduces the risks of many products, like cosmetics and medication, among many others. Scientists can put safety standards in place for products based on their findings via animal testing. Often, animals will react badly or even die from certain chemicals or combinations, make the humans that use the products far safer. But the most important argument of those in favor of anima l testing is its reliability and comprehensiveness. By using another living being, it is much easier to understand the effects of a drug or chemical on the body and assess its risks. Another positive aspect of animal testing is its convenience. Rodents are the most common test subjects in laboratories. Mice in particular have a relatively short lifespan. This allows scientists to observe a single organism’s life in its entirety in a reasonable time. You could see how a drug, when taken as a baby or adolescent would affect the animal later on in its life. Because many test subjects are bred specifically for the testing purpose, Scientists are able to manipulate, observe, and control every aspect of that animal’s life. This reduces the risk of other variables affecting the outcome of the experiment, making it more accurate. A researcher would know the animal’s entire medical history, which would be necessary in understanding the outcome of several different experiments. Scientists are allowed to kill these animals after the experiment is completed, allowing them to look at how the drug or chemical affected the animal’s entire body system , instead of just its visible affects. For instance, a researcher might observe a given vaccine to have been safe on the mouse, as it was healthy and lived a long life, even though it could have had a hidden negative effect only visible inside its body (Fano, 45). However, the opposition has equally strong and numerous arguments against animal testing. A very popular argument for those against animal testing is its inaccuracy. While it is true animal testing allows you to observe the effects of a drug on an entire body system, some argue that people and the animals used in testing are just too different (Blue). A drug’s safety for a mouse or rabbit cannot ensure safety for humans, who are genetically and biologically much different. This argument has obvious validity; dog owners consider it common knowledge that dogs cannot eat chocolate for safety reasons, and humans in general clearly have no health problems with chocolate. The same could be argued for various medications and products. The main arguments for those who are anti-animal testing is simple: it is inhumane. As an animal lover, some of the research I did included testimonies and photographs that were completely horrifying. Some animals had tufts of fur missing, obvious infections, and missing body parts, like arms and eyeballs. The basic assumption behind animal testing is that animals are lesser than humans (Hayhurst, 10). Those opposed to animal testing have conflicting beliefs and think that, â€Å"other animals have the same rights to life that human animals have† (Hayhurst, 10). Many people, myself included, have opinions somewhere in between these two extremes (Hayhurst, 11). Using animals as test subjects is not so black and white; there are many grey areas. Animals should have the right to live, but not to the same degree as the human species. As awful as it sounds, we view this idea at work everyday. Killing a person obviously has more serious consequences that killing an animal. Animals’ lives are simply not as valued as those of humans. So if the result of using animals as test subjects is a cure for a deadly disease that affects the human race, like cancer, many people believe this is a justified act. In other words, it is acceptable to kill animals if it helps save people’s lives. If animals were used as test subjects for just these types of purposes, it is likely that the animal rights debate would not be nearly as controversial. But the problem is that animal testing is used for much less necessary purposes. Countless cosmetic companies use animals to test their products, such as eye shadow, shampoo, and contact lens solution (Hayhurst, 10). These products are not even coming close to saving people’s lives, yet animals often suffer and die for their production. Many cosmetic companies have either stopped or never started using animals as test subjects. The European Union banned animal testing on personal cosmetic products and the import of products that do use animals. So it is clear that producing these types of products without using animal testing is possible, as many companies do it. However, other companies continue to make animals suffer and often die in the production process (Ellin). The animal rights debate has a long history and has no end in sight. Everyone has a different opinion about the morality of using animals as test subjects. Some are pro, some are con, and some are in between. Those in between believe the purpose of the tests determine its moral rightness or wrongness. To put it simply, it just depends on the situation. If animals must suffer or even die in order to save a human life, then it is justified. But making even one animal suffer to produce unnecessary products, as discussed earlier, is completely immoral and should be brought to an end. Because animal testing encompasses many touchy topics, like an animal’s right to life and the differing importance of animal and human life, people will continue to debate it until there is an alternative that is equal parts ethical, useful, accurate, and convenient. Work Cited: * Hayhurst, Chris. Animal Testing: The Animal Rights Debate. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2000. print. * Fano, Alex. Lethal Laws: Animal Testing, Human Health, and Environmental Policy. New York: Zed Books Ltd., 1997. print. * Balls, Michael. â€Å"Alternatives to Animal Testing: Toward Reducing Uncertainty and Unintended Consequences.† AATEX 16.3 (2011): 101-110 * Blue, Laura. â€Å"How Much Does Animal Testing Tell Us?† Time Magazine 17 June 2008. online. * Ellin, Abby. â€Å"Leaving Animals Out of the Cosmetics Picture.† New York Times 28 December 2011. online.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

liberalism Essay -- essays research papers

There is no guessing where the oligarchs stand. "All power and wealth to the oligarchy" is their motto. Those existing in the lower ranks of poverty are of no concern to the upper class, exploiting other members of society are what they do best. The tory we find at the other end of the scale. In tory society tradition rules; taking the group's well being rather than the individual is primary. Somewhere in the middle we have the liberals (some bleeding hearts, some not so much). Reason, rationality, logic, and thought are the theoretical source of legitimacy of the liberal. They believe that logic and intellect are infallible guides to action. Individualism is fundamental to the culture. Individual self-interest is assumed to be the motivation of all actions. They feel that competition brings out the best in people and that this competition is necessary for the survival of society. The hierarchy of a liberal is one of merit. He believes that merit will be rewarded with wealth. Anyone in a liberal culture who is not rich is considered to be without merit. The poor deserve to be poor, liberals feel, since all individuals are free to achieve then those who don't must have something wrong with them. The liberal would like the whole world to be middle class and feel sure that if the poor would only accept the cultural attributes and attitudes of the middle class their problems would be over. For if the poor had middle-class attitudes, they would soon have middle class incomes and poof! all their problems would be gone. Despite the liberal's competitiveness, they do have what one might refer to as a soft sport for children of the poor. They don't believe these children should be made to suffer due to their parent's ineptitude. They feel that every individual should start out equally well equipped to compete. Therefore, liberals do invest in welfare to aid the children of the poor. Since the adult poor cannot be trusted or expected to implement these programs, extensive governmental organizations staffed by good liberals are necessary to correctly carry them out. They manage to give some help to the poor but succeed in not hurting or changing the way of living of the rich. This parallels quite closely with the relationship between international lending institutions and third world countries. Agencies such as the World Bank and International Monetary... ...equences: increased school fees force parents to pull children from school, literacy rates go down, poorly educated generation not equipped for skilled jobs. This then brings us full circle although this is not how the liberal sees it. They do not see that their "help" has backfired and gotten these countries in an even more intolerable situation. Instead they feel they have been validated. From their point of view they have reached out to the poor, given them the means and assistance needed to become successful and yet they are still impoverished. For the liberal this proves that the poor are indeed too dumb or lazy to ever move up in life. These countries continue in poverty after assistance, thus they are failures in the economic competition. Liberals see the debt problem and all the misery that results from it as not the fault of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, or any other International Financial Institution but rather the country's. There is poverty because of exploitations. There is exploitation because of vulnerability. There is vulnerability because of a lack of power. REFERENCES Global Exchange. www.globalexchange.org/wbimf/facts.html

Monday, November 11, 2019

Summary: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens is a book authored by Sean Covey. It was in the year 2001 the Indonesian version of the book first published in Indonesia. Sean Covey’s father, Stephen Covey, is well-known for authoring his international bestseller book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, The 8th Habit: from Effectiveness to Greatness, and many other popular self helping books. Sean Covey himself writes other several self helping books as well. If practiced, the 7 habits Stephen and Sean Covey referred in their books will make the readers able to control their lives, to do more in fewer time, improve relationships with other people, improve self confidence, rehab from addiction, be happy, find the balances between the time for school, work, hang out, and many other activities. Moreover, the readers will find out what do they value the most in their lives. What do habits have to do with effectiveness? Well, our habits will decide whether or not we will be successful, and whether or not we will be happy. An English poet once said that at first we will determine our habits, and the next our habits will determine who we are. Our habits, good or bad will shape our characters. Everyone has good as well as bad habits, so everyone should deal with their bad habits and create the good habits. Yes, we are able to create, change and eliminate our habits. It is not easy to do that, but when we are able to deal with our own habits, then we are ready to deal with other people’s habits. In creating good habits, we should have good paradigm in our lives. Paradigm means perception. It is like a pair of glasses that will determine whether we will see things clearly or not. We will never know how poor our current vision is, until we get a new and better pair of glasses. In the book, Sean Covey mentioned some statements of some experts in the past that sound silly now. One of them is a statement from Ferdinand Foch, a French Military Strategic Expert who became a World War I Commander. He once stated that airplanes are interesting toys, but have no value in the military. Ferdinand was sure about his perception, but it turned out that he was wrong. No one has the best and complete perception. As an analogy, let us say that there is a group of blind people who never encounter any elephants before. We bring them an elephant and we ask them to touch and describe the elephant. One will say that an elephant is like a giant snake. He actually is only touching the elephant’s trunk. Another will say that an elephant is like a rope, but he is actually only touching the elephant’s tail. They all will be very sure of their perception about the elephant, and they will argue. The point from this analogy is, we are like those blind people, trying to understand something big and we only see it from one side but we are so sure that it is just as what we see. Having the wrong paradigm is just not good because it will be an obstacle in our lives. In this live, what you see is what you get (WYSIWYG), so in order to get the good things we must make sure that we see the good things. My favorite from Covey’s stories about paradigm is the story of a Dauphine of France. After King Louis is imprisoned, the Dauphine is taken to a faraway community. They are trying to destroy the Dauphine’s morality so that he will not become the next King of France. They introduce him to the community where people use bad words, where prostitution is everywhere, and where people are not respecting or trusting other people. Six months in such a community, not even once he follows their lifestyle. The secret is that he knows that he is born to be a King, and that is why he should not act like that. In this story, we can see how powerful paradigm is. Positive paradigms will make us great but negative paradigms will obstacle us. 1st Habit: Be Proactive Being proactive means not being reactive. A reactive person is a person who feels that he is a victim of life, a victim of conditions, and a victim of other people’s mistake. When something unfortunate happens to him, he always thinks that he is a victim, and he can do nothing. He never thinks that it is his own fault. The blame is always on other people, or on conditions. He keeps complaining on things that he cannot control, like the weather, the traffic jam, etc. Reactive people tend to have bad tensions and they are easily irritated. In our lives, we should lead our own way. If the journey of our lives is like our journey in a car, being proactive means being the driver. The reactive people are the passengers in their own car, and they are letting other people or the condition to drive for them. While the reactive people wait for good things to happen to their lives, proactive people make them happen. They look for the things they want and if they cannot find one, they create one. They know what things they can control and what things they cannot control. Reactive people complain and worry about things they cannot control while proactive people deal with the things they an control. We cannot control the conditions, but we can control our respond towards the conditions. For example, when Amy has a problem, she becomes easily irritated, so when Beth told her that she looks miserable, Amy get irritated and said bad things to Beth. If Beth is a reactive person, she will be irritated as well; she will get mad and start a fight with Amy. This time, Beth is a proactive person, she does not like what Amy said about her, but she pull back and try to tolerate. Beth tries to understand that Amy is undergoing a problem and she did not mean to say that. She also introspects herself, and she tries to put herself on Amy’s position, and she understands that if she was Amy, she will get irritated as well. The next day, Beth apologizes to Amy and Amy tells her that she also felt sorry for saying bad things to her. Barrack Obama’s â€Å"Yes We Can† slogan is a proactive slogan. By being proactive, we should be sure of our own ability. If we cannot trust our selves, how can other people trust us? Instead of saying â€Å"Okay, I will try† we should say â€Å"I will do it†. It is more powerful yet ensuring. Which sentence do you think is the best when one of your friends gives you a birthday present? Is it â€Å"Wow, Beth they are fabulous stilettos. I will try to wear them†, or â€Å"Thank you Beth, I will wear them†? 2nd Habit: Begin with the End in Mind When driving our cars on the road, we will encounter several branches and we should choose the one that will bring us to our destination. How can we choose which way to go if we do not know our destination? When asking people about directions, we should always mention the destination so that they can tell us which the right route is. There are times when we should make big decisions about the choices in our lives, and the same principle will apply. We should know where to go; we should know what our goal in our lives is. Once we know, we will find out which route to take, which choice we should take. If we just randomly choose the route, then we will arrive at a random destination as well. That is why we should begin with the end. Writing down our own mission statements is the best way to implement the 2nd habit. These will be our guidelines and principles to help us to choose which route to go in our lives. Our mission statements could be anything, could be in our own or our favorite words, poems, pictures, photographs, quotations, etc. Some or most of us might think that this is not necessary. It is actually very helpful not because it is written, but it is helpful because when we want to write our mission down, we need to be specific to put the words together. Besides, it also gives a sort of psychological effect that it gives us spirit by having our mission statements written down. 3rd Habit: Put First Things First In the third habit, we learn about priorities and time management. In the second habit, we learn that we should decide what the most important aspects in our lives are, and then in the third habit, we learn that we should prioritize them. In doing our daily activities, we are not spending our time effectively if we do not set any priority. There is a famous analogy about priorities, which is also mentioned by Sean Covey in the book. Let us assume that there is an empty container, representing the time we have in a day. There are big stones representing the important things to do and there are also pebbles representing some other daily unimportant activities that will take some time. When we put the pebbles into the container, and the big stones after, the container will have no enough space for all of the stones and pebbles. There will be some big stones remain outside the container. Now try to do it reversely. If we put the big stones first, and the pebbles right after, there will be enough space for all of them because the pebbles can fit into small spaces between the large stones. The message from this analogy is that we should do the priorities first in order to get all of them done. There is a simple way to help us managing our time. It is by setting a weekly plan and we can it on our agenda. By having them written down, we will not forget about our plan, deadlines or maybe other schedule. In making the weekly plan, we should identify what are our ‘big stones’ and set a schedule for them. After that, we can schedule our ‘pebbles’ as well. Then we should do our best to have all the priorities of the week done. In the third habit, we also learn to face our fear and pressure. We need courage to hold on our ground principles, our standards, and our priorities. We need courage to step out from our comfort zone. Stepping out from our comfort zone is necessary to challenge and to improve ourselves. There would be risks, but without taking the risks, we cannot learn and grow. A person who risks nothing does nothing, has nothing, and is nothing. We shall not let our fear make decisions in our lives. We might fail many times, but we should never give up. Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but rising every time we fall (Confucius). 4th Habit: Think Win/Win In the society, most of us do not think win/win. Some of us think Win/Lose, Lose/Win, or Lose/Lose. The Win/Lose people think of everything as competitions where there is only either win or lose, and that when competing with other people, they should be the winner, and when other people become the winner, they become the loser. They think that nothing is enough for everybody so they should compete. The Lose/Win people think that they should just let other people be the winner by making everyone happy and sacrifice their own need / feeling (become the loser). The Lose/Lose people think that if they fail, everyone should fail as well. This will happen when two or more Win/Lose people meet. The Win/Win people think that everyone could get all they want because everything is unlimited. Sean Covey illustrates the situation as people going out to eat at a buffet, so everyone can have all you can eat. Now that we know what the Win/Win attitude is, we might want to know how to think Win/Win. The first thing is to win our own victory, which means that we should have a good level of confidence. The second thing is to avoid being competitive and comparative. It will be an endless effort to be the best in everything and to be perfect in anyways. Nobody is perfect and we should embrace our strengths and weaknesses. When we feel secure about ourselves, then we can avoid being competitive and comparative. 5th Habit: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood Many people are too busy talking that they have no time to listen. God created each of us with a pair of ears and only one mouth. It tells us that we should spend more of our time listening than talking. We should stop talking and try to listen to and understand other people, and then it will be our turn to be listened to and understood. People tend to be egoistic, so they want other people to listen to them because they just care about their own problem, but they fail to listen to other people. What happen when everybody is talking? No one is listening. We need other people to understand us. Let us look at a situation where Amy has a conflict with her parents. Amy talked to Beth about her problem, but before Amy done telling about her feelings, Beth keep interrupting with her story about a conflict she had with her parents and assuming that Amy is having the same problem Beth ever had. Amy will not be happy because she feels that Beth is not paying attention to her, and Beth does not understand her. Later, Amy will not be open to Beth anymore, because what Amy really need is Beth’s attention and sympathy. Not paying attention is just one of the bad listening styles. There are some others like pretending to be listening, selectively listening, verbal-only listening, self-focus listening and wandering minds. In order to understand other people, we should sincerely listen to them when they are talking. There are three steps in sincerely listening. First, we should listen to his/her verbal (words) as well as non-verbal language (intonation, body language). Secondly, we should try to see things from his/her perspective, and the last is to be a mirror. What it means by to be a mirror is to repeat what he/she told us with different words as our respond to show that we are paying attention. 6th Habit: Synergize People are all different; they have different needs, different interest, and different skills. There is no one like you and there is no one like me in this world. Differences can break a nation apart, but differences can also form a powerful nation. It depends on how they deal with their differences. There are many cases of differences that cause conflicts. However, in many parts of the world, the communities have people with different religion, culture, race and nationality. Differences are not always about those. People from the very same hometown, culture, race, nationality and religion have differences as well. They might be different in their social status, their talents, etc. Some people deal with the differences by avoiding, and some tolerating the differences. Nowadays people tend to campaign about toleration. Actually, there is the best way to deal with the differences. It is to embrace the differences and utilize them. It is not about how to let different people do different things. It is about how to let two different persons work together; synergize to get a better result which they could never achieve if they work alone. As an example, when Amy and Beth want to set a business to earn their own money, Amy wants to do a bakery business while Beth wants to do a creative art business. Amy is into baking cakes and cookies while Beth is into creating decorative stuffs. They might fight about which business to do which will result in nothing but a fight. They might also do it their own way. Amy alone could do her best and earn USD 800 from her bakery business. On the other hand, Beth could do her best and earn USD 700 from her creative art business. However, there is another solution to their different business interest. They can synergize where they accept orders for cakes or cookies as wedding or birthday party souvenirs. Amy will bake the cupcakes or the cookies while Beth will handle the packaging. Then together, they could earn up to USD 2000. When they do the business alone and we sum up their profit, USD 800 plus USD 700 is only USD 1500. 7th Habit: Sharpen the Saw There are four key dimensions in our lives, which are body, mind, heart and soul. These key dimensions should be sharpened regularly. No matter how much energy we use to cutting trees with a blunt saw, it will takes forever. If we spend our time to sharpen the saw before cutting the trees, we will not need that much of time. We should regularly sharpen the four key dimensions. If we only sharpen our body intensively, without sharpening our mind, we will be the brainless athletes. If we only sharpen our mind intensively without sharpening other dimensions, we will be the unsocial geeks. Neither one is good. We should balance between the four dimensions. First, we will discuss about how to sharpen our bodies. We can do it by eating healthy food because we are what we eat. We can also relax in the bathtub at the end of the day, exercise or do any kinds of sport we like, have enough sleep every day, and refusing to take any hazardous intake. Addiction to tobacco, alcohol and/or drugs is extremely dangerous. It will not only blunt one dimension, but also other dimensions. Secondly, to sharpen our mind, we should continuously learn about anything. We should never stop learning. Learning does not mean going to school, college or any academic institute. School and college are very important for our future, but the thing is, we should make sure that we are actually learning, not achieving scores only. There is no point of going to college with great GPA if we learn nothing. There are many ways to learn and the most frequently used is reading. We do not always have to read school textbooks to learn something. We can choose any topic of our interest. No matter how unimportant a topic sounds, we are actually learning something and broaden our knowledge when we read about it. Other ways to sharpen our mind are playing games (chess or logical games), traveling, attending seminars, watching television, reading newspaper, learning how to play a music instrument, etc. The third dimension is our heart, and we can sharpen it by building good relationships with other people as well as ourselves. A good relationship with ourselves means that we trust ourselves, that we are content and confidence in our own skin. In other words, we are treating ourselves nice. While a good relationship with other people means that we make sure that we are trustworthy, kind, loyal and understanding. Depression is a demon for this dimension, but we can fight depression with hope, faith and laughter. Never underestimate the power of hope, faith and laughter. The last but not the least dimension is our soul. How do we sharpen our soul? There are several ways to do it. We can meditate, write a journal, go on a trip, paint, pray, write a song, listen to the music, play an instrument, and many other activities. Going on a trip to see nice view where we can relax and enjoy the view. It will help us to get in touch with the nature. Nature has the healing power for our soul. Writing a journal also heals us by letting us to express our feelings, and from a journal we can also learn from our mistakes because we might forget about that lesson in the future. Moreover, reading, listening or watching an inspirational media will also help us to sharpen our soul. Reading is useful to sharpen our mind but depending on the content, some can sharpen our soul as well.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Environment: Pollution and Human Impact Essay

Every living thing has an impact on its environment. Therefore a human impact on the environment is inevitable. By simply existing, all species – including ourselves – will imprint their mark on the world around them. What differentiates us from other species is our ability to greatly overburden our environment with very few limits. The information regarding our human impact is vast and impossible to cover in one article but I will attempt to cover a basic overview. For 200 years we’ve been conquering Nature. Now we’re beating it to death. ~ Tom McMillan Water Pollution Perhaps the most obvious examples of a negative human impact on the environment is water pollution. It’s obvious we need water to survive but few people realize how much we need and just how much is available. Consider these facts from the United Nations Environment Programme: * Of all the water on Earth, only 2.5% of it is freshwater. * Of that 2.5%, less than 1% is available to us. * Humans each require up to 13 gallons (50 litres) a day of fresh water for drinking, cooking and cleaning. This does NOT take into account the countless gallons of water needed to grow food or care for animals. * 70% of all freshwater usage goes to irrigation. According to Organic Farming Research Foundation, only 2% of farms are organic. This means almost 69% of our freshwater supply is being contaminated by chemical pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers, while also compounded with fossil fuels and emissions from heavy farming machinery. These chemical compounds contribute to acid rain. Since very little can live in an acidic environment, acid rain has harmful effects on plants, animals, and aquatic life, as well as humans and even buildings, statues or other objects. Acid rain also contaminates our limited freshwater supply, and thus the cycle of water pollution continues. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 45% of assessed stream miles, 47% of assessed lake acres, and 32% of assessed bay and estuarine square miles were not clean enough to support uses such as swimming or fishing. The following reasons and possible sources for this include: Photo Source: Alan Liefting| * Sediments, pathogens and habitat alterations from agricultural activity and hydrologic modifications (such as dams) * Excessive nutrients, metals and organic enrichment from agricultural activity and atmospheric deposition (the movement of pollutants from one environment to another, such as from water to air) * Heavy metals (primarily mercury), excess nutrients and â€Å"organic enrichment† from industrial and municipal discharges (â€Å"treated† or untreated waste water released from sewer plants and industrial factories into natural water sources) These points listed above lead to a poisoned and uninhabitable environment for plants and aquatic life, as well as affect land animals and humans reliant on these systems for survival and other land-bound plant life in need of clean water for growth. Land Pollution Land pollution, the degradation of the Earth’s surfaces and soil, is caused by human activity and a misuse of natural resources. Causes of land pollution and degradation include: * Urban sprawl: Natural habitats are removed to make room for communities, usually with inefficient or irresponsible planning. Urban sprawl generally results in a waste of land area for unused development (such as excessive roads, decorative and unused areas, etc). * Poor agricultural practices: Animal manure runoff from CAFO (Confined Animal Feeding Operations), the use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, the practice of growing monocultures (only one crop season after season) and the deforestation required to expand farm land all contribute to degradation and pollution. * Personal consumption: Our modern culture’s desire to have more, bigger and better â€Å"things†, as well as our relationship to and habit of waste, has lead to stripping of the land, excessive mining and pollution from industrial activities. * Industrial activities: The production of chemical-laden plastics, poor quality of products, unethical practices (such as illegal dumping), and extreme emissions affect both surrounding and far-reaching areas. None of this takes into account illegal dumping, diminishing landfill space, litter,  overproduction of synthetic materials, radioactive waste and more. All land pollution is caused by a human impact on the environment and thus can be averted by our actions alone. Two of the necessary actions must be proper planning and proper usage of natural resources. For instances, animals could be taken out of CAFO and allowed to graze on mountainous or wooded areas unsuitable for buildings or crops. Using organic and sustainable farming techniques can eliminate our need for chemical applications. Clean energy, such as wind or solar power, can slowly begin to replace coal or nuclear plants. And as consumers we can lessen our human impact on the environment by demanding better quality products, environmentally ethical practices from industries and a shift toward sustainable energy. Air Pollution One bit of good news about our human impact on the environment is that air pollution is lowering and air quality is increasing. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, since 1990 to 2008: * Ozone decreased 14% * Lead decreased 78% * Nitrogen dioxide decreased 35% * Carbon monoxide decreased 68% * Sulfur dioxide decreased 59% However, 127 million people still live in areas that exceed quality standards. And some of the quality standards are far from ideal, such as ozone. The question is: what amount of air pollution is really okay? Shouldn’t we be striving for technologies or practices that virtually eliminate major polluters, such as: | Photo Source: Michael CavÃÆ' ©n| * Better public transit, electric cars, rail, and city planning etc to replace heavy commutes, fossil fuels, air travel and unwalkable communities * Retrofitting or otherwise upgrading existing factories with greener technologies such as solar panels or air filtration systems * Removing  animals from factory farms and raising them on natural diets and rotating pasture to reduce methane emissions and pollution The greatest human impact on the environment we can have is to vote with our pocket book and our actions. By supporting companies that use greener technologies, we can start a trend toward better solutions. By getting involved in community planning and zoning we can have a global impact on a local level. And by buying less â€Å"stuff†, eating less animal products and sourcing our food from sustainable farms, we can spread the word that better solutions do exist and they don’t have to cater to mega-corporations and lobbyist pressure. The Consequences Of A Human Impact On The Environment Man maketh a death which Nature never made. ~ Edward Young What most of us fail to realize is that we will never truly destroy Earth. The planet will always remain and its nature will change and adapt to the conditions. But we have evolved to rely on the very particular conditions currently in place. We have specific water and food requirements, can only tolerate certain temperature ranges and we must have an abundance of clean, breathable air. Just look at how the environment is affecting human health already. Thus the question is not whether the Earth can withstand a human impact on the environment. The real question is will we so change the environment as to drive ourselves (and other species) to extinction? Ready To Get Stepping? All of this information about the human impact on the environment is great to help you understand and formulate your own opinions to the issues, but the most important part is not your opinions; it’s how those opinions change your lifestyle. Don’t find fault. Find a remedy. ~ Henry Ford If you’re ready to get started, I’d recommend the following Steps first: * Top Ways To Go Green: These should be your starting points. They are the no-duh things and most of them are very easy to implement. * Going Green At Home: For most of us, our homes are probably our biggest carbon footprint. Pop over there to learn easy ways to save water, energy and other  resources.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

How to Write a Research Essay in Health Care #038; Demonstrate a Clear Academic Understanding of the Subject

How to Write a Research Essay in Health Care #038; Demonstrate a Clear Academic Understanding of the Subject The health care field is an extremely dynamic and complex area, and the healthcare parameters that are constantly changing make it too hard to write a winning research essay. By the time you are done with the essay in health care, some new unexpected study has already emerged and somehow changed everything in the subject you thought you were sure about. But the great news is that there is hope! While the literature in health care area may be in flux all the time, there are some recommendations that can help you create a powerful research essay on any health care topic within a minimum hassle and worries. Even though research essay writing in health care area may seem like a task that is impossible to cope with, it’s important that you’re able to show a strong understanding of academic healthcare theory and practice in writing. Let’s take a look at the advice below on how to go about a strong health care research essay. How to Choose a Health Research Essay Topic? Of course, if you were provided with a clear task to write text in a certain topic you won’t have to spend countless days trying to search for something crucial and interesting to research. You don’t need to decide on which health phenomenon or problem is more important today or what needs to be discussed at least in your project. If that’s the case, you have an opportunity to relax, and do research on the web or in a local library, and then have a rest. However, if you find yourself in the situation that is absolutely contrary, you will have to hunt for research essay ideas and browse through loads of essays’ samples. It is important to bring together all of your forces, turn on your inspiration, and start looking for the best ideas for writing. What do you think, what are the most popular health care topics at the moment? What is it that you see on TV or hear on the radio? Maybe you have already seen some interesting issues on the web sites like Healthcare Global or KidsHealth and have something in your mind. Whatever it is, the following recommendations will help you to focus on a particular thought or maybe change your mind completely. Now, let’s take a look at some of the research essay topics in the field of health care one by one. 1. Anorexia and Overweight When you write about health care, it’s impossible to forget about such devastating thing as overweight and anorexia. These are two highly debatable topics nowadays that have a lot to talk about: How to Manage Bulimia and Anorexia Nervosa; Key Variables in the Development of Eating Disorders During the Adolescence; The Thinness Cult in the US Culture Today; The Feminism Effect on the Phenomenon of Anorexia; New Findings on Neuropsychology of Bulimia Nervosa. 2. Insomnia Today, insomnia is a burning issue since a lot of people suffer from it. The following research essay topics will cover various aspects that are related to insomnia somehow: Sleeping Pills: Harm, Placebo or Treatment? Effects of Speed Life Style on Healthy Sleep; Insomnia: The Key Causes and Effects; Insomnia and Circadian Rhythm Disorder; Alternative Insomnia Treatments. 3. Euthanasia The question of euthanasia has been always a hot topic all over the globe. While some countries find nothing wrong in this kind of merciful deal, the rest of the world is against it. If you have your research essay in health care due soon, consider working on this topic and develop it the best way possible: Euthanasia Its Moral Issues; Euthanasia: The Attitude to â€Å"Merciful Death† in Different Countries; Do People Have a Natural Right to Die? Can Death Be a Relief for a Human Being? Legalization of Euthanasia in the Third World Countries. Research for Health Care Research Essays Research essays that usually deserve the highest marks include information taken from trusted research articles, books and journals. This ensures that the topic of yours is deeply researched and supported by the reliable materials. This is especially important to the writers who work on the topics that have been previously discussed on various internet sources and published resources. Furthermore, disseminating research findings from scientific articles is highly crucial if you want to demonstrate strong understanding in your project. Search for additional information in the field of health care on electronic databases such as Medline and Pubmed. Structural Specifications for Research Essays in Health Care Although every other research essay will be different throughout your college education experience, successful essays will follow the same structure requirements all the time. Writing a successful research essay in health care depends on understanding the basic structure rules. The essay should start with an introduction that summarizes the way you plan to discuss the question and what course exactly your arguments are going to follow. The research essay on â€Å"Mental Disorders in Children and Adolescents† will include the introduction that might sound, â€Å"This paper reviews child and adolescent mental disorders and associated long-term health risks. The first section argues that there is much overlap between the symptoms of metals disorders and the challenging emotions and behaviors of normal kids. Limitations of the possible measures are presented. The second section sums up the evidence on the relationship between adolescent (child) and adult adiposity†. Following on from this the body of the research essay will be presented according to the plan you set up in the introduction so that your arguments flow naturally from one to the next. Right after the presentation of your body, the concluding parts of the research essay in health care will summarize what you have said in your essay, and will include the message that you would like the readers to take away from your research. However, you have to make sure that the conclusions that you write don’t go far beyond the research you have done in your paper. Refine Your Arguments Once you have completed your first draft, you now have an opportunity to refine each argument, fact, idea, data or result in order to ensure they all address the essay research question. Besides, this stage is needed to see if the argument flows in a coherent manner. Among the useful methods that are popular among college students, you may choose the following: Leaving two or three days between accomplishing the first draft and writing the second draft; Reading the research essay out loud in order to ensure the paragraphs fit together; Comparing your research question to the arguments in your text to ensure you have achieved a logical progression. Stay away from Common Pitfalls When college professors are asked to mention some of the most common errors that students make in their research essays in health care, they usually mention the same weaknesses. To create a wonderful research essay in this area, the author should do his or her best to stay away from the following: Writing not in an academic but a journalistic style; Not appreciating theoretical controversies; Failing to answer the research question; Providing unsubstantiated claims; Lacking critical evaluation and analysis. Consult a Health Expert Writing a research essay in health care differs from the other types of academic assignments because in this case the writer is not allowed to make up stories or give his or her points of view. Only true life and scientifically supported research facts should be included on your pages. To get the grade that you like, there is no better way than to go and see a health care expert in the subject that you chose to research. Ask all the questions that you have during the next appointment with your doctor. If you have doctors or medical students among your friends, do not hesitate to interview them. Go to the sources like AXA PPP Healthcare for more answers. Plagiarism, Referencing and Demonstrating Originality Whenever you write a research essay in health care, it’s always important that you refer to each of the sources that you used to communicate your arguments, facts, data, and ideas. The writer has to do this both in the essay text and the reference part at the end. If you refer to the general theory that exists in health care literature, you can make the textual reference in the following ways: ‘Psychological safety (Amy Edmondson, 1999) and learning behavior in work teams must be strictly monitored’. ‘Amy Edmondson’s (1999) theory states that psychological safety and learning behavior in work teams must be strictly monitored’. All of the direct references to the text should be frames in special quotation marks. Besides, you have to provide the page numbers. For example: ‘Academic evidence shows there is a strong connection between ‘psychological safety’ and a culture of learning within an organization’. (Amy Edmondson, 1999, pp. S123). Provide every citation in the research essay text with a corresponding entry in the sections ‘References’ that should be placed at the end of the paper. In order to reference an article in a health care journal: Kuh, D., Ben-Shlomo, Y., Lynch, J., Hallqvist, J. and Power, C. (2003) Life course epidemi-ology, Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 57: 778–83. To reference an article from an online journal: Division of Tuberculosis Elimination [Internet]. Atlanta: CDC; [updated 1999 Oct; cited 2006 Sep 19]. Self-study modules on Tuberculosis, Module 7: Confidentiality in Tuberculosis Control: Background. Available from: cdc.gov/nchstp/tb/pubs/ssmodules/module7/ss7background.htm. In order to reference a book: Bhopal, R.S. (2002). Concepts of Epidemiology: An Integrated Introduction to the Ideas, Theories, Principles and Methods of Epidemiology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Use Health Care Vocabulary Properly Just like in case with any other field of study, health care has its own vocabulary that the writer has to use widely. A good vocabulary will allow you to express what you mean exactly, in a concise and clear manner. What is more, economy with words is one of the basic characteristics of a research essay that deserves the best marks because the readers don’t like to waste their time on long and hard-to-understand sentences. So, your task is to express your points briefly and never include anything that could have been written in half the number of words. One of the best ways to make certain that the writer can communicate clearly and to the point is when he or she effectively and accurately uses the advanced vocabulary. If you are a good research essay writer, you should never rest on your laurels when the question is about the vocabulary. The thing here is that your vocabulary is something that you have to improve here and there since there are always new and unknown terms that help to communicate your points in a more effective manner. What is more, using a rich health care vocabulary proves the writer is intelligent and helps him or her remain persuasive no matter what. Read Other Writers’ Essays Just like the books and journals that you read subconsciously help you to work out your own special writing style, reading the essays written by the other students will help you develop your style in writing. Choose some of the best research essay in health care, including both the ones written by the academic and your peers. Read papers on a wide range of topics in your area of study, not necessarily just the ones that are related to your topic. The thing here is that different topics in health care might apply different types of styles and arguments. In other words, the more you read, the more possible techniques and methods there are for you to take and use in your own writing. We hope that you have found these simple recommendations and techniques useful and that each of them will help you to know more about the field of health care.