Café Media

Healthcare Access and Other Disparities? Really?

dr_mclaudio@yahoo.com (Marina Claudio) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 11:57:01 +0000

Whether we in health care want to admit it or not, even in 2011, disparities in healthcare exist in the Latino communities of the United States. Socioeconomic, language and access barriers continue to fuel these disparities…Suddenly, I decided to give it more thought. With Chicago, Illinois, as my reference point, in the early half of 2011, I am left wondering how great these disparities still are, since researchers continue to highlight them as they relate to access to care and timely diagnosis of chronic and life-threatening illness. I cannot share my experiences with you as a doctor working in a FQHC (Federally Qualified Health Center), of which there are many in Chicago and the near suburbs. I have, however, worked in a practice where the patients were predominantly Latino. What I can share is that if Latinos require a specific service, be it healthcare, community outreach programs related to education, job and language training, and numerous other community-based (typically non-for-profit) social services, they appear to be out there. I am a bilingual and culturally-sensitive physician. I agree that there are not enough of us out there, but with the help of your kids’ computer and a simple internet search, a Spanish-speaking (and possibly even Latino/a) health care provider can be located in your neighborhood. I can’t imagine in 2011 that non-English speaking Latinos are still having issues finding physicians and other healthcare providers that speak their language. Prove me wrong!

Access to health care, whether “high-quality” or not, in 2011- is this still an issue? Among private and hospital-based practices and local community-based clinics, usually FQHCs, such as Cook County clinics, Chicago Board of Health clinics, Erie Community Health, Access Community Health Network, Jorge Prieto Family Health Center, there shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Still not enough options? Check out Leslieslist.org, a local data-base of free and affordable healthcare in the Chicago area. With these options, I am having difficulty believing that access barriers are as common as they were previously. Even in situations where patients have citizenship issues, options, although perhaps more limited, do exist. Is it possible that a limiting factor is the search for such services? You don’t need the Internet in this case. Tight-knit communities have this information ready to share. Prove me wrong!

Let’s not forget the working-class Latino family. They are typically insured and have even more access to quality health care. Remember, if you don’t like your doctor, find a new one. Patients come and go all of the time. What is satisfying is longevity in a doctor-patient relationship, especially in primary care. We want to take care of your entire family. Once you find that doctor, stay put!

Let’s quickly examine local health fairs as a tremendous resource for, well, resources. In the summer months, you simply need to scan the local Spanish language newspaper of your choice to see which state representative or alderman is hosting their annual health fair on any given weekend. I have worked enough local health fairs to know and constantly be impressed with the amount of agencies out there that have the Latino community in their best interest. I have also worked enough of these to know that a great majority of attendees do not appreciate or take advantage of the services available. Unfortunately, our main message or 30 second presentations often fall on deaf ears because of the unnecessary amounts of giveaways that are strewn on our tables. Logo-ed pencils, backpacks, and water bottles often become the reason for the visit and can be very obvious. Hey- don’t jump all over me! I am not accusing anyone of anything. Did your mom ever drag you to these health fairs? What is your fondest memory? It can’t be the presentation that a local organization gave about one service or another.

I am simply calling attention to the abundance of assistance that is being offered to communities -in-need that is often underutilized. Can we truly continue to use words like “disparities” if fewer and fewer exist these days due to an increase in access and services that can only help advance communities- in-need?

Another example of perceived disparities is the intermittent accusation, through research and statistics, that physicians are not diagnosing chronic illness, especially certain cancers, early enough in Hispanic and African American communities. I can’t speak for other physicians, but my bedside manner and treatment recommendations are not blinded by ethnicity, skin color, insurance types or lack of insurance. Instead of playing the blame game, has anyone ever considered that health care requires a team effort? If a Latina hasn’t had a mammogram in 10 years and refuses one every time she comes in for a checkup, will a cancerous breast mass a few years down the road be blamed on me for not diagnosing her early enough? How about this typical scenario? A 65 year old Latino who “doesn’t go to the doctor” is dragged in by his wife (who is my patient) with blurred vision, frequent urination and dry mouth. His blood sugar is over 500- horrifically diabetic. Is it the physician’s fault that he didn’t come in sooner for a diagnosis that has probably been brewing for at least the last 5 years?

So I have given you something to think about. If I have pissed you off, I am not sure why, because these are valid questions. I fully support equality in healthcare for all persons living in the United States. Access to quality healthcare both for prevention and treatment for Latinos should no longer have the word “disparities” attached to it in 2011, although I recognize that in some parts of the US, it still does. I do recognize that there we have a long and tedious road ahead of us as we push forward and try to figure out the best way to do this. Again I can only comment on my experiences. As for social services, providing that their funding doesn’t run out, they are an invaluable way to improve situations that face many Latino families and individuals but you can’t sit around and wait for them to contact you.

Let’s continue to move forward to decrease and, subsequently, remove the word “disparity” from its association with the Latino communities of the US. An effort on everyone’s part can help to reach this goal faster.

Rest and Reflection

dr_mclaudio@yahoo.com (Marina Claudio) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 13:46:14 +0000

You health blogger has been at it, educating and enlightening readers since the Fall of 2009. I, of course, haven't exhausted all topics but have run into writer's block on several occasions. Thanks to some of my loyal followers, I have been inspired to present many topics. I will be away for the next 2 weeks, resting and reflecting. During this time, I will consider in which direction I should take my blog. Do I focus more on current health news and recently published studies or continue to expand upon general topics that imact our daily health? I am totally open to suggestions (just post them in the comments section). I may do a combination of both just to make things more interesting. We'll see...

Stay tuned!

Transitions (Part 1)

saorigem@yahoo.com (La Gemita) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 06:00:00 +0000

It's been one month and five days since I came back home to Chicago. In these five weeks, I've spent time visiting con la familia and catching up with friends.

My first day back I was greeted by my sister and father at the airport. It was a sweet sight. My dad looks a bit more gray and my sister surprised me with her hair cut she did herself. She could have fooled me! She framed her hair in the front to look as if she has long hair, but the back is short. That's her - always being funky and creative.

My dad asked me where did I want to go eat (this question I pondered during my flight home and even before then and couldn't make up my mind between a couple of places) and I said Columbian food! I love this little restaurant on Irving Park and one block west of Kimball that's called Brasa Roja. They have specials for under five bucks! I love the chicken breast special they have. It's served over rice with beans and a small salad. To drink I had a licuado de mango. This place hadn't changed much, but that wasn't the case with other businesses in the neighborhood. Looking out the window, I saw a few shops that are now closed and the Blockbuster that was selling everything and has now been closed. My family used to have a membership there and the people who worked there were always super friendly and would conversate. It's sad to see it closed.

During lunch, my abuelita called my sister to make sure I had landed safe and to remind her not to mention anything about my weight. By the way, when I walked through the arrival doors and saw my sister, the first thing she said was, "You look fat." Then, she laughed. My sister was now talking with my grandmother and told her, "Pues ya le dije." I couldn't believe it!

Before coming home, I had emailed my mother and told her that I am grateful for how much better our relationship has gotten this past year (that I was gone! lol), and that I would appreciate if it continued to be that way. I asked her not to be critical, especially about my weight. My mother has always had an obsession with being skinny and she's always told my sister and me to watch our weight and stay skinny. Now, my mother isn't a woman in her 40's that's got it going on. Far from it! Ok, that was harsh. She's put on a significant amount of weight in the past three years and this year she is making the effort to drop some weight.

Anyway, my mother loves to refer to her 20's. She's always telling me, at your age I had three kids and was still a size 5. Or, at your age, I already owned a house. Usually, I would respond by saying oh yeah, well I went to college and I've traveled around the world! This would never get us anywhere. So I wrote her that email letting her know I did not want to revert back to this old relationship. Well, my mother, who never likes chisme nor likes to just bring stuff up that other people mention, lets the whole family know! DON'T MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT GEMA'S WEIGHT! Surprisingly, I didn't even get upset with her. My relationship with my mother has been great so far.

After we finished lunch, my dad asked if I wanted to go see Abuelita. I said yes, but inside, I was super nervous! My grandmother had recently been hospitalized and now she's really sick. She requires 24/7 care and can't be left alone at home anymore. This was a woman who has always been independent, did her own things, and was used to living sola. I wasn't ready to see her. When I walked in and saw her, she looked so much older than when I last saw her. My abuelita started crying saying she couldn't believe she had gone a whole year without seeing me. Usually, I'm very sentimental and a llorona for these kinds of situations, but I couldn't allow myself to cry. I mostly felt sick. Then, I saw her walk from the bathroom to her chair in the dining room with the help of her walker. The bathroom is literally about 3-4 steps away and she was walking so slowly. I couldn't help but feel sad and the urge to get of there quick before I lost control of my feelings and cried. My grandmother didn't and doesn't need to see that.

Are You Ready for "The Season"?

dr_mclaudio@yahoo.com (Marina Claudio) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 02:25:39 +0000

This is a reprint from almost exactly this time last year. I cannot stress enough the need for early "pre-treatment" get the medication(s) into your system in time for "the season".
It's that time of year. The trees will soon blossom, the grass will start growing again, and the amount of moco that your nose produces is about to increase.

Does the following happen to you?

Do your ears itch so much that you want to stick something in them? Are you thinking of putting that pencil or chopstick in your ear to scratch where no person should ever try to scratch?

You can't seem to clear the phlegm from your throat, annoying your colleagues in the neighboring cubicles?

Your nose is really stuffy or really runny but you don't feel sick?

You are trying to figure out how to reach an itch at the back of your throat that causes you to twist and turn your tongue, making clicking noises, but to no avail: you still can't reach it.

Your nose is so itchy that you are starting to develop a permanent horizontal line across the top of your nose?

Your eyes are red and itchy but you don't have 'pink eye'?

You have taken 1st prize for the person that can sneeze the most times in a row without stopping to take a deep breath?

These are all signs and symptoms of seasonal allergies. Here's some more info on a condition commonly referred to as allergic rhinitis (excepted from www.familydoctor.org):

What causes allergies?

You have an allergy when your body overreacts to things that don't cause problems for most people. These things are called allergens. Your body's overreaction to the allergens is what causes symptoms (see the box below for a list of symptoms). For example, sometimes the term "hay fever" is used to describe your body's allergic reaction to seasonal allergens in the air, such as grass or pollen. Keeping a record of your allergy symptoms over a period of time can help you and your doctor identify which allergens cause you to overreact.

Your doctor may want to do an allergy skin test to help determine exactly what is causing your allergy. An allergy skin test puts tiny amounts of allergens onto your skin to see which ones you react to. Once you know which allergens you are allergic to, you and your doctor can decide the best treatment. Your doctor may also decide to do a blood test, such as the radioallergosorbent test (called RAST).

Common Allergy Symptoms:

Runny nose
Watery eyes
Itchy nose, eyes and roof of mouth
Sneezing
Stuffy nose
Pressure in the nose and cheeks
Ear fullness and popping
Dark circles under the eyes
Hives

What are the most common allergens?

Pollen from trees, grass and weeds. Allergies that occur in the spring (late April and May) are often due to tree pollen. Allergies that occur in the summer (late May to mid-July) are often due to grass and weed pollen. Allergies that occur in the fall (late August to the first frost) are often due to ragweed.

Mold. Mold is common where water tends to collect, such as shower curtains, window moldings and damp basements. It can also be found in rotting logs, hay, mulches, commercial peat moss, compost piles and leaf litter. This allergy is usually worse during humid and rainy weather.

Animal dander. Proteins found in the skin, saliva, and urine of furry pets such as cats and dogs are allergens. You can be exposed to dander when handling an animal or from house dust that contains dander.

Dust. Many allergens, including dust mites, are in dust. Dust mites are tiny living creatures found in bedding, mattresses, carpeting and upholstered furniture. They live on dead skin cells and other things found in house dust.

Things that can make your allergy symptoms worse

Aerosol sprays
Air pollution
Cold temperatures
Humidity
Irritating fumes
Tobacco smoke
Wind
Wood smoke

How can I avoid allergens?

Pollens. Shower or bathe before bedtime to wash off pollen and other allergens in your hair and on your skin. Avoid going outside, especially on dry, windy days. Keep windows and doors shut, and use an air conditioner at home and in your car.

Mold. You can reduce the amount of mold in your home by removing houseplants and by frequently cleaning shower curtains, bathroom windows, damp walls, areas with dry rot and indoor trash cans. Use a mix of water and chlorine bleach to kill mold. Open doors and windows and use fans to increase air movement and help prevent mold. Don't carpet bathrooms or other damp rooms and use mold-proof paint instead of wallpaper. Reducing the humidity in your home to 50% or less can also help. You can control your home air quality by using a dehumidifier, keeping the temperature set at 70 degrees, and cleaning or replacing small-particle filters in your central air system.

Pet dander. If your allergies are severe, you may need to give your pets away (yeah, right) or at least keep them outside. Cat or dog dander often collects in house dust and takes 4 weeks or more to die down.

However, there are ways to reduce the amounts of pet dander in your home. Using allergen-resistant bedding, bathing your pet frequently, and using an air filter can help reduce pet dander. Ask your veterinarian for other ways to reduce pet dander in your home.

Dust and dust mites. To reduce dust mites in your home, remove drapes, feather pillows, upholstered furniture, non-washable comforters and soft toys. Replace carpets with linoleum or wood. Polished floors are best. Mop the floor often with a damp mop and wipe surfaces with a damp cloth. Vacuum regularly with a machine that has a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. Vacuum soft furniture and curtains as well as floors. Install an air cleaner with a high-efficiency particulate or electrostatic filter. Wash carpets and upholstery with special cleaners, such as benzyl benzoate or tannic acid spray. Wash all bedding in hot water (hotter than 130°F) every 7 to 10 days. Don't use mattress pads. Cover mattress and pillows with plastic covers. Lower the humidity in your home using a dehumidifier.

What medicines can I take to help relieve my symptoms?

Antihistamines help reduce the sneezing, runny nose and itchiness of allergies. They're more useful if you use them before you're exposed to allergens.

Some antihistamines can cause drowsiness and dry mouth. Others are less likely to cause these side effects, but some of these require a prescription. Ask your doctor which kind is best for you.

Cromolyn sodium is a nasal spray that helps prevent the body's reaction to allergens. Cromolyn sodium is more helpful if you use it before you're exposed to allergens. This medicine may take 2 to 4 weeks to start working. It is available without a prescription.

Nasal steroid sprays reduce the reaction of the nasal tissues to inhaled allergens. This helps relieve the swelling in your nose so that you feel less stopped-up. Nasal steroid sprays are available with a prescription from your doctor. You won't notice their benefits for up to 2 weeks after starting them.

Your doctor may prescribe steroid pills for a short time or give you a steroid shot if your symptoms are severe or if other medicines aren't working for you.

Eye drops. If your other medicines are not helping enough with your itchy, watery eyes, your doctor may prescribe eye drops for you.

What are allergy shots?

Allergy shots (also called immunotherapy) contain small amounts of allergens. They're given on a regular schedule so that your body gets used to the allergens and no longer overreacts to them.

Allergy shots are only used when the allergens you're sensitive to can be identified and when you can't avoid them. It takes a few months to years to finish treatment, and you may need to have treatments throughout your life.

May the upcoming Spring be as itch- and moco-free as possible for you. And if the suggestions above don’t help your symptoms, be sure to see your doctor.

Cuidando el cuerpo y la mente

dr_mclaudio@yahoo.com (Marina Claudio) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:03:50 +0000

Sorry for my absence from the Blog last Tuesday. I was travelling and have 5 other excuses that you probably don't want to hear. Here's this week's entry:
When was the last time you looked in the mirror? I mean really looked in the mirror and did a self-assessment? I see so many young people (younger than me, anyway) who have “let themselves go” but, perhaps, never learned to take care of themselves in the first place before they “let themselves go”. Maybe I am blind to fashion (kids these days!), current standards of hygiene (I didn’t know that was something that was truly variable), and alternative lifestyles (communal, green/organic living). I’ll stop generalizing and get to my point.

Bathing and grooming are essential functions that don’t necessarily come natural to some people. As young children, many, but not all, of us are taught by our caregivers that it is important to bathe on a regular basis. As we move into adolescence, basic bathing and grooming skills either fall apart or are not developed further. This is a time when our bodies go through significant changes (i.e., additional hair growth, periods, acne, and stinky sweat). I don’t want to be the first person to educate your children, but will need to if you don’t.

Deodorant masks odor. Anti-perspirant helps to block the perspiration. Until someone suggests a more natural way to curb this unpleasant and often embarrassing bodily function, you’ll have to use something to smell pretty and suppress the sweat. Coming in close contact with many people on a daily basis, I can pick up on such odors. In addition, inexpensive, synthetic materials in your clothes can absorb the sweat and create a bad odor. You may not feel particularly sweaty, but the odor is still created. I would hope that shirt or blouse goes into the dirty laundry so that others don’t get a whiff of you tomorrow. You might not be aware of the funk, but your teachers, co-workers and girlfriend/boyfriend will notice. They won’t have the nerve to tell you but I just might.

The skin on your face is unlike that on the rest of your body. You wouldn’t wash it with a harsh body soap and apply Vaseline as a moisturizer, would you? I often ask people what type of products they use on their faces before I make my recommendations. Worse than “nothing” are answers like “body soap and Vaseline”. Acne has treatments. If Proactiv™ or some other mild over-the-counter remedy is not helpful, let ME help you. Acne can be a disfiguring condition with scarring that can be permanent due to constant picking and chronic pimples on top of pimples. Bad acne wears away at adolescents’ self-esteem. Why not address that early and fall into good habits?

Periods are frustrating for many female teens. So is the odor that emanates when one doesn’t change pads frequently enough or step up cleansing frequency during that time. Proper hygiene is especially important at this time. Don’t think that other people don’t notice. Who else is going to bring this awkward subject up?

Whether at a job interview or on a date, your hands give a glimpse into your grooming. Raged nails, often bitten down painfully short, or, for females, severely chipped nail polish (especially fun colors like green or blue) tells me that your appearance is, perhaps, not a priority. I am not at all suggesting that young girls (or boys for that matter) get their nails done on a regular basis, but there are simple things that you can do on a regular basis to keep things neat looking. Nail-biting is a horrible habit that is hard to break, but many people don’t realize that chronic biting can damage the nail and cause nail deformity that is not likely to be irreversible. Keeping the nails cut and filed evenly and the elimination of raged cuticles (through whatever method you prefer other than biting/picking at them) really does say a lot about how you take care of yourself. Even if you don't pay attention to this detail, others do.

What grooming and hygiene tips would you have appreciated knowing earlier on in life? Send a comment…

The New Civility

info@amorosresearch.com (Jose Alejandro Amoros) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:10:45 +0000

After the recent shootings in Arizona there has been a collective outcry, largely from the neo-fascistic left, for civility in public discourse. I have been wondering what they mean by “civility”. And I guess this is what they mean. This is a recent “conversation” with a friend who thinks we need more civility.

Me: (After quoting FDR on the dangers of public collective bargaining and unions) "Public sector unions insist on laws that serve their interests—at the expense of the common good."

Friend: To say these unions don't care about the common good is “insulting.” My friend, “your anti-public union attacks” are growing old.

Me: “You haven't answered one single question of mine yet. Instead, you have chosen to take things personal when I have intended no personal intention. I'm not interested in debate or attacks, only conversation.”

Friend: “When we need them (policemen, firemen, etc.), they are heroes. When they want to preserve the right to go to unbiased arbitrators to settle labor issues they are greedy sluggards. Criminals have due process, so should police and firefighters. 312 is rarely used and never abused. Our heroes have earned the right to fair treatment.”

Me: “What's the point?”

Friend: “The point is Act 312 (an arbitration debate in Michigan) is not a problem but a fair solution and gives those who protect us the rights they deserve.”

Me: “Is it? Nobody in his or her right mind can be against arbitration. Sadly, public servants unions have become anti-community in practical reality to become extended political arms of a political party.”

Friend: “I will keep telling “the facts”. Jose, my friend both parties have political arms that's democracy, but I don't know why “you went negative” on any of these comments when 312 was the issue and your comments did not speak to that or the great job these public servants do. Jose there is so much “partisan” heat you are failing to see the light.

Me: “I’m still waiting for “the facts”.

Of course, “these public servants” do a great job. The public employee is NOT the problem, just part of it. So it is a fallacy, a demagogic fallacy, to isolate the public employee either as "the problem" or "not the problem". In isolation, of course, the public employee is not the problem, the question is: what is the problem? And this is where demagoguery makes hay. It is the systemic triumvirate of Public Employee Unions-Government-Political Party, which has become the problem. As with the original Roman triumvirate, a way to bring functional balance to governance, it masks inherent, intrinsic contradictions held in check but which are dissolved by the eventual dominance of one the elements; either government in the form of a single party system (USSR, Cuba, etc.) or the emergence of a dictator (or both in one); where eventually, the public employee will become an indentured servant of government, and even perhaps the single political party. This Public Employee Unions-Government-Political Party triumvirate has become an unholy trinity of power for power's sake, against the rest of the community. That is anti-democratic and immoral.

When government becomes a partial party to a sector of society it ceases being the protector of rights for all citizens to become an impartial arbitrator. Eventually it becomes a machine whose only purpose is self-preservation and theft. Producing nothing to feed itself it must become then a predator or a scavenger. It must then count on sectors of the population who are in the same predicament, and ends corrupting the public employee and public service from their mission of service to the whole. Public employees become indentured servants to a new ruling class.

From Michael Moore’s blatant economic illiteracy to dishonest politicians who in reality know better, the issue of public sector employment matters has become distorted for plain political and real partisan purposes. So, the same people who cry out for a “new civility”, for more “dialogue”, more “debate”, can’t help themselves but to recur to personal attacks or the vilifying of those with opposite views.

In their glossary “hate,” means any criticism of their leaders. “The facts” means talking points, clichés, or useless factoids and opinion. “Attack” means you are saying something they don’t like. “Partisan” means they perceive an “attack” against their party even if one does not belong to an opposite party. “Offensive” or “insulting” means “I have no rational argument against what you said”. “Racism” means any criticism of prominent members of an opposite race except white. “Dialogue” means let me talk, you be quiet. “Debate” means I will recite my talking points until you can’t take it anymore and therefore I win the debate. “Criticism” means attack. “Going negative” means you have disrupted their narrative party. “Civility” means we get to say anything we want; whatever you say will be held against you, personally.

So, if you decide to “debate” with a member of the new civility, review their glossary first. They speak a different language called “newspeak”.

Annyeong-hi Gyeseyo (Adios), Korea

saorigem@yahoo.com (La Gemita) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:33:24 +0000

Today was my last day at work. I am currently doing some last minute packing...ok I have been doing last minute packing since 9:30pm and it is now 2:35am. I leave in two hours. I am more than half-way finished, but I'm starting to become sluggish since I'm tired. It hasn't sank in yet that I'm coming home. My first flight leaves at 8am to Japan and then I get on the long flight home to Chicago. I will arrive at 8:30am on Tuesday morning. It currently is Tuesday morning here.

As I was leaving school today and saying my goodbyes to my Korean co-teachers, it felt nice to be told I'll be missed and that they enjoyed working with me. Then, I said goodbye to my director and thanked him for making me feel welcomed in Korea and for the opportunity to teach at his school. As his wife (the other director) approached me, I couldn't help but shed tears. All day I hadn't gotten emotional until I said goodbye to Olivia. That's when it hit me that I wouldn't be coming back. This was it. This was my last day at the school.

As for the next steps, leaving my apartment, saying goodbye to friends (oh, yes, I still need to stop by the bar to say my goodbyes), and checking in at the airport to board my flight, I feel it will sink in once I'm on my final flight to Chicago. I am excited and anxious. I haven't seen my family in over a year! I look forward to some Latino food and seeing my girlfriends as well.
I will write as soon as I can about my journey home and seeing my family for the first time in over a year. I will be happy to see my papi's face waiting for me at arrivals =)

Congressman Gutierrez, get serious.

info@amorosresearch.com (Jose Alejandro Amoros) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 19:24:04 +0000

Luis Gutierrez behaves like a charlatan when he wants to. But he is doing it so much lately I’m afraid that he will soon become one. In case someone needs a refresher, here is a definition of “charlatan”:

“A charlatan (also called swindler or mountebank) is a person practicing quackery or some similar confidence trick in order to obtain money, fame or other advantages via some form of pretense or deception.”

I don’t know which of those is Rep. Gutierrez looking for but his recent diatribe in Congress regarding an illegal “student” strike at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) was so disconnected from reality that charlatanry can be the only explanation. Now, granted, charlatanry is easily dismissed, but dishonesty is a more serious matter.

His depiction of what has been happening at the UPR—where an English professor was brutally assaulted by “student strikers” yesterday--reminds me of CNN’s out of the way, bending over backwards efforts to find supporters for President Obama among the protesters in Egypt. The only thing CNN found out is that they could care less about what Obama thinks.

The majority of Puerto Ricans in the island also care less about what a Congressman from Illinois thinks, even when he pretends to speak for them. The fact is that the so-called university student strike has no general support even among the majority of students, who have voted against it, and even among the left.

There was a time when student organizations at the UPR were extensions, or university chapters, of political parties in the island, some for independence, others for various versions of socialism, etc. If the issue for discontent “among the student body” was such that it pertained smaller administrative matters about university functions the student organizations were pretty much on their own. But if it had island-wide political repercussions they would receive their marching orders and supervision from the adults in their mother party.

With the end of the Cold War that ended. Now what we see is an indistinguishable student body protesters from those who pretend to speak for, and as, the financially impacted by globalization, masks included, who yet somehow always seem to find money to travel to protests around the world. They have become an unguided, confused mélange of post-modernist rebels without a clear cause other than rebellion itself.

The voters of Puerto Rico, like it or not, voted for the present government, Mr. Gutierrez. The UPR students voted against a strike they had no right to begin with. In recent days, their leaders and members have engaged in clear violations of civil rights and continue to act against the legal and democratically expressed will of the majority of students. Is that what the Congressman from Illinois calls a “human rights and civil rights crisis”?

Congressman Gutierrez, get serious.

Splurge of the Day

saorigem@yahoo.com (La Gemita) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 06:00:00 +0000

Today I went to Glassbox, an optical store located on the first floor of the building I live in. I had gone in about two days ago and picked out three frames. I couldn't decide on a pair, so I asked the optometrist if he could set them to the side for me and I'd be back in by the end of the week. He said okay. Today, I went in and tried on all three again. I narrowed it down to two frames and then he showed me the new styles that came in and I was back at square one.

In the mean time, he gave me an eye exam and checked out the prescription in the pair of glasses I brought with me. He told me the prescription doesn't need to change, but it looks like the prescription I have is for reading. I need a reading prescription and regular prescription for being near-sided. Since my reading prescription didn't need to change, I figured, why should I get new glasses? I considered getting a new pair for everyday use (near-sided prescription), but I would hardly ever use them. I dislike wearing glasses all day and I hate wearing contacts. My eyes seem to have adjusted to the sporadic use of my glasses over the years anyway.

As I was ready to head out, I notice the sunglasses. I do drive a lot (well, when back home and I am coming home very soon) and that's really the only time I consistently wear sunglasses...soooo...sunglasses with prescription! This poor man had been so patient with me throughout my indecisiveness with choosing frames and he continued to be great while I tried on dozens of shades and again, came down to choosing between three. I decided on some Italian made sunglasses that I had tried on just for fun. Well, I fell for them and of course they are super expensive! I started to lean towards the less expensive ones, but when I saw Made in China, I told him give me the Italian frames. I am not paying 200,000 won (about $180) for sunglasses that say Made in China.

So I splurged on sunglasses today, but I'd like to think that it's a way better deal than what I would have gotten at home. My eye check-up was free, the prescription lenses cost me 30,000 won, and the frames (at a discounted rate courtesy of the nice man) cost me 150,000 won. They were originally 205,000 won. And here's the best part, they will be ready for me to pick up by Saturday afternoon! =)

Have a great Wednesday!!! It's hump day.

Ay, mi pelo!

dr_mclaudio@yahoo.com (Marina Claudio) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 19:48:59 +0000

My patient, Brunilda Velloso, comes in for a visit. She is frustrated by an increase in hair loss over the last few months. She tells me that every time she takes a shower, her hair comes out in clumps. She also confesses to dyeing and straightening her natural brown and curly Caribbean hair. I check her thyroid levels and they are normal (an underactive thyroid can cause hair loss, among other issues). She lives at home and doesn’t cook, leaving the meal preparation to her mom, an obese diabetic Puerto Rican woman who has arroz con gandules, mofongo (fried plantain balls stuffed with your choice of meat- usually pork), chuleta frita (fried pork chops) y arroz blanco, on regular rotation. The only fruit in the house seems to be green bananas, which her mom chops into a soup every Saturday. The only vegetable in the house seems to be green plantains (is it really a vegetable?), which her mom fries into mofongo and tostones or ripens to black, only to…fry it. If I am making you drool, that wasn’t my intended purpose. I am merely using this detailed example to highlight some potential nutritional deficiencies that may explain Brunilda’s hair loss. In her case, a combination of hair torture and nutritional issues are likely to be fueling her hair loss, but some hair loss can be abnormal. Read on (excerpted from familydoctor.org):

What is the normal cycle of hair growth and loss?

The normal cycle of hair growth lasts for 2 to 3 years. Each hair grows approximately 1 centimeter per month during this phase. About 90 percent of the hair on your scalp is growing at any one time. About 10 percent of the hair on your scalp, at any one time, is in a resting phase. After 3 to 4 months, the resting hair falls out and new hair starts to grow in its place.

It is normal to shed some hair each day as part of this cycle. However, some people may experience excessive (more than normal) hair loss. Hair loss of this type can affect men, women and children.

What causes excessive hair loss?

A number of things can cause excessive hair loss. For example, about 3 or 4 months after an illness or a major surgery, you may suddenly lose a large amount of hair. This hair loss is related to the stress of the illness and is temporary.
Hormonal problems may cause hair loss. If your thyroid gland is overactive or underactive, your hair may fall out. This hair loss usually can be helped by treatment thyroid disease. Hair loss may occur if male or female hormones, known as androgens and estrogens, are out of balance. Correcting the hormone imbalance may stop your hair loss.

Many women notice hair loss about 3 months after they've had a baby. This loss is also related to hormones. During pregnancy, high levels of certain hormones cause the body to keep hair that would normally fall out. When the hormones return to pre-pregnancy levels, that hair falls out and the normal cycle of growth and loss starts again.
Some medicines can cause hair loss. This type of hair loss improves when you stop taking the medicine. Medicines that can cause hair loss include blood thinners (also called anticoagulants), medicines used for gout, high blood pressure or heart problems, vitamin A (if too much is taken), birth control pills and antidepressants.

Certain infections can cause hair loss. Fungal infections of the scalp can cause hair loss in children. The infection is easily treated with antifungal medicines.

Finally, hair loss may occur as part of an underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes. Since hair loss may be an early sign of a disease, it is important to find the cause so that it can be treated.

If you comb or brush hair when it is still wet (especially with a fine-toothed comb), you may be pulling additional hair out unknowingly. On the flip side, if you don’t comb your hair with some frequency, it may seem as if “clumps” were falling out because some of that normal shedding processing may get caught up in tangles vs. just falling out. And by the way, if your hair is thin and/or dry, how about a conditioner or a weekly conditioning treatment? These treatments help to moisturize the hair, strengthen the follicle and, subsequently, decrease hair loss.

Can certain hairstyles or treatments cause hair loss?

Yes. If you wear pigtails or cornrows or use tight hair rollers, the pull on your hair can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia (say: “al-oh-pee-sha”). If the pulling is stopped before scarring of the scalp develops, your hair will grow back normally. However, scarring can cause permanent hair loss. Hot oil hair treatments or chemicals used in permanents (also called "perms") may cause inflammation (swelling) of the hair follicle, which can result in scarring and hair loss.

This info may sound a bit dated with the inclusion of “perms”, but some people still get them. More popular now is the use of straightening irons and those keratin straightening treatments. While straightening iron use is simple if done correctly, it is immensely important to know how to prepare and protect hair for straightening, so as to reduce, but not eliminate damage. Straightening unprepared hair, or worse, when still wet, singes/burns it and, combined with the pulling motion, will surely make more hair fall out over time. There are products out there specifically for those of us who occasionally (or constantly) straighten our hair. Explore your options.

What is common baldness?

"Common baldness" usually means male-pattern baldness, or permanent-pattern baldness. It is also called androgenetic alopecia. Male-pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss in men. Men who have this type of hair loss usually have inherited the trait. Men who start losing their hair at an early age tend to develop more extensive baldness. In male-pattern baldness, hair loss typically results in a receding hair line and baldness on the top of the head.

Women may develop female-pattern baldness. In this form of hair loss, the hair can become thin over the entire scalp.

Can my doctor do something to stop hair loss?

Perhaps. Your doctor will probably ask you some questions about your diet, any medicines you're taking, whether you've had a recent illness and how you take care of your hair. If you're a woman, your doctor may ask questions about your menstrual cycle, pregnancies and menopause. Your doctor may want to do a physical exam to look for other causes of hair loss. Finally, blood tests or a biopsy (taking a small sample of cells to examine under a microscope) of your scalp may be needed (usually done by a dermatologist).

Is there any treatment for hair loss?

Depending on your type of hair loss, treatments are available. If a medicine is causing your hair loss, your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine. Recognizing and treating an infection may help stop the hair loss. Correcting a hormone imbalance may prevent further hair loss.

Medicines may also help slow or prevent the development of common baldness. One medicine, minoxidil (brand name: Rogaine), is available without a prescription. It is applied to the scalp. Both men and women can use it. Another medicine, finasteride, is available with a prescription. It comes in pills and is only for men. It may take up to 6 months before you can tell if one of these medicines is working.

If adequate treatment is not available for your type of hair loss, you may consider trying different hairstyles or wigs, hairpieces, hair weaves or artificial hair replacement.

Yes, there are many causes of hair loss. Many are self-inflicted. Others warrant further investigation, as they may be due to underlying medical conditions. Either way, be kind to your hair, and if that fails, go see your doctor.