The Online Ease of Cyber-Bullying
Diminishing the Power of a Cyber-Abuser
The media has become a significant influence in our everyday lives. We depend on social media sites like Facebook or Twitter to keep us in contact with friends and family, to meet new people, or interact with like-minded individuals about subject matters important or entertaining to us in a community of our choosing. We religiously update our statuses and pictures, allowing others to know what is going on in our daily lives. This has become as predictable a routine for most of us as is brushing our teeth or feeding our pets. The internet can be a beautiful thing, connecting long-distance family, announcing a birth, sharing wedding pictures, or even for finding or lending support in difficult times. Unfortunately though, the internet is public. This exposes us to strangers, and the harshness, cruelty and criminality they can abuse us with when they abuse the internet.
The Importance of Knowing Our Family
Medical History
A few months ago, I had an appointment with a new doctor in a new clinic. As I checked in, I was handed a clipboard with a questionnaire attached as part of my new patient registration. I answered the normal, expected questions such as name, birthdate, address, gender, emergency contact information, lifestyle, known allergies, medications currently taken and so on. I was also asked questions about my family medical history. Even though, I don’t know every health issue that my relatives have ever dealt with, within a minute or two, I came up with a pretty impressive list. I was able to report known family illnesses as well as causes and approximate ages of death for several family members. Lately, I’ve tried to imagine what it would be like from the perspective of an adult adoptee or of an adoptive parent of a child presenting with some unusual symptoms. How would it feel to read those questions and know little or nothing of my family medical background or that of my child? Would I care? Would I desire to know what could potentially be coming down the pike, genetically, for me or my child? How would it feel to have just one more mystery to add to my existence?
So, why do healthcare practitioners collect this information anyway, unless it serves some worthwhile and beneficial purpose? A good, detailed genetic medical history includes the age and health status or age and cause of death of immediate blood relatives such as parents, grandparents and siblings. This accumulation of data may have genetic significance for the patient, particularly if there is a family history of illnesses such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, sickle-cell anemia, seizure disorders, kidney diseases, birth defects, mental illness, allergies, specific cancers, as well as a host of other genetic diseases and disorders. An accurate and complete health history provides a picture of a family’s past and present health. With the information obtained, a genogram, which is a type of medical family tree, can be constructed which provides clues to medical conditions that may run in a family. A genogram enables a healthcare provider to see patterns of family diseases which can then help the healthcare professional to determine whether an individual may be at risk for a particular condition. This information can be used to assist a provider in determining a treatment plan that can prevent, slow down, or even halt the progression of some inherited illnesses. However, it should be noted that just because a person is at a higher risk of inheriting certain genetic conditions, does not mean that the individual will necessarily inherit them. But knowledge of family medical history can help the healthcare provider to be on the look-out for specific signs and symptoms of family disease, as well as offer specific pre-screening tests, if the individual desires, so that early intervention may be initiated when needed. Knowledge of genetic diseases and disorders helps the physician to be extra mindful while conducting a physical examination as well as when he or she is considering which medications to prescribe. Did you know that some medications need to be monitored more carefully if there is a family history of a particular medical condition? For example, extreme caution should be used when considering certain blood pressure medications if there is a family history of angioedema. In addition, certain migraine medications would be monitored more vigilantly in individuals with a family history of irregular heart rhythms. Not knowing one’s genetic background presents a challenge in that doctors don’t know what to look out for. Because of this, they conduct more frequent check-ups and prescribe more tests, both of which can be quite costly, time-consuming and may, otherwise, be unnecessary.
Early detection of genetic factors can be life-saving. Current, past, and biologic medical history all play an important role in a healthcare provider’s physical assessment. Omitting any part of the initial assessment provides and incomplete overall picture. Many adult adoptees and adoptive parents are prevented access to information that most other individuals have… information that could keep them healthier longer or save their life! As a registered nurse, skilled in collecting a detailed medical history, I know the importance of being able to put together as many puzzle pieces as possible. As a mother, it pains my heart to think how powerless I would feel if I did not have access to information that would allow me to obtain the best prevention or management of any medical condition that my child may be at risk for and, essentially, provide her with the best chance of a healthy life. Everyone deserves the right to know this information.
Over the next several months, I will be addressing some of the issues that adoptees and their parents face in the fight for their right to know their medical background. What are the issues? What are the obstacles? What needs to be done? Family medical history does not need to be a secret. With awareness, education, conversation, and ultimately, action, we can bring more attention to this issue and help bring basic health rights to everyone.
With a substantial increase in media attention, more and more people are becoming aware of what is happening to our food sources and how large corporations such as Monsanto and Dupont are genetically altering the very DNA of what we eat. And they are doing it without any truly independent or disclosed human trial studies, and without regard to what this may be doing to our own DNA and health. But most of us feel helpless and aren’t sure of what steps we as individuals can take.
The first step is to educate yourself and others about what is happening. Read an interesting expose or article about what is happening within the GMO industry or politically, then pass it on so others that may not have access to your sources can read it, too. Make it a goal to learn as much as you can about the issue; knowledge is power.
Next, use your knowledge to get involved; meet with like-minded people and groups and discuss the issue. Sign petitions or start your own to make your elected officials at every level know how you feel about this assault on our food sources. We have the right to know whether or not we are consuming a product that has been genetically engineered. We are doing this not only for ourselves but for future generations; they are the ones that will bear the full brunt of genetic altering.
Buy from and support the companies that are offering non-GMO products. Although organic and non-GMO products are somewhat more costly, as more people support these companies the price should go down. Know your labeling and terms. “Natural” does not mean non-GMO but “organic” does. Know the codes to determine if produce is organic and non-GMO.
Become pro-active about what you are consuming. Grow some of your own food but make sure you get your seeds from one of the companies that sells “heritage” seeds and that they certify that their seeds are non-GMO. You don’t have to have huge acreage to do this. Many herbs and veggies do just fine in small plots or containers. Again, educate yourself and start out small, expanding your plants as you feel more competent and knowledgeable. If you have an over-abundance from your garden you might want to learn to can or freeze the overage or trade with others in your area that have different crops.
This is just a short list of what we can do to strike back at those that would like to alter our food and take away our right to know whether or not it has been altered. The most important thing you can do today is to take that first step to become an active, educated consumer. We all have a responsibility to our own health but to meet it, we must be willing to take action.
Netta Jean Atwell