Head and Brain Injuries Induce Early Onset of Death

By Penelope Chuah

Yesterday, BBC published an article highlighting the fatal effects of post-head injuries. The analysis supports the fact that “injuries to the head can leave victims susceptible to early death” leading to a three times greater risk of death compared to people who did not suffer any damage to the brain (BBC).

Damage to certain brain areas can cause severe impairment to fundamental physical and mental body controls, some of which include motor function, memory function, executive function, and regions involved in personality formation. The frontal lobe, for example, is a region that specializes in memory function, executive function, and personality formation. When the frontal lobe undergoes damage from a concussion or repeated forceful strikes to the area, completing cognitive tasks becomes difficult, as well as initiating behavior and organizing tasks becomes impaired (Jagust). Furthermore, the frontal lobe is the area that involves personality formation. When this region is affected, preservation and inappropriate behavior with feelings of agitation develop. Among damage to these functional areas, The BBC article concludes that “common causes of premature death among those who had suffered previous brain injury included suicide, being a victim of assault or suffering fatal injuries, for example in a car crash” (BBC). Overall, brain and head injury commonly cause a change in potentially fatal mental and physical behavior. Punch-Drunk Syndrome exemplifies the effects of head injuries and the likelihood of the onset of premature death. This syndrome is common in boxers or those who are taking constant impact to the head. This eventually leads to cognitive and behavioral alterations that include personality changes and depression, accompanied with motor weakness. Problems in the brain lower the reserve and increase the potential of having problems with amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, a type of protein and fiber, respectively, that contribute to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease through neuronal degradation (Jagust).

Traumatic injuries to the brain can trigger a series of neuronal degradation that is particularly destructive to brain and bodily function, causing a higher risk of death. The brain, with all its intricacies and production of complex output, is a lot more fragile than people expect and require a lot more protection than given.

Sources:

Brain blow leaves life-long dangers. (2014, January 15). BBC News. Retrieved January 16, 2014, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25747704

Dr. William Jagust, UC Berkeley, Public Health/Cognitive Science 129

China's Lethal Air Pollution

By Penelope Chuah 

China’s economic performance and growth in the past ten years is unparalleled to the economic growth of any other country. Over the past decade, China has steadily climbed to the number two position in the world’s largest economies ranking, surpassing economic powerhouses including Germany and Japan. A factor behind this development can be attributed to the nation’s rapid urbanization. With rapid urbanization came technological advancements that produced large quantities of pollution. With the growing urban population, the number of automotives, factories, houses, skyscrapers, and other coal producing entities, the heavy blanket of pollution that covers most bustling cities in China will continue to grow denser.

In 2010 it was recorded that approximately 1.2 million deaths occurred as a result of air pollution in China (Atlantic Wire). As urban areas and industrialized cities become ever increasingly popular, pollution levels will proportionately increase. According to an article in the Bloomberg Businessweek, a group of researchers investigated the outcomes of the heavy polluted province of Shanxi. Over the course of ten years, researchers concluded that large amounts of “pesticides, industrial solvents, and especially polycrylic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are released into the air when fossil fuels are burned” (Larson) were found in the placentas of newborns with various birth defects. Researchers then studied the placenta of newborns without birth defects and noticed a significantly lower amount of chemicals and industrial solvents. This direct correlation between exposures to fossil fuels and birth defects is a serious health issue that is a result of excessive coal consumption. 

Another contribution to the rise in the air pollution index is cigarette smoke from China’s heavy tobacco use. According to a BBC News article, “because of a sharp increase in cigarette sales in the last 30 years, around 2,000 people a day are currently dying of smoking in China”. This shockingly high number reflects the troubling effects of China an increasingly heavily dependent smoking society. The article continues to further state, “by 2050, the researchers expect this number could rise to 8,000 a day- some three million people a year”. In regards to health concerns, smoking causes higher chances of lung cancer and various forms of respiratory diseases and problems. The combination of a heavy smoking population as well as the dependency on coal for energy, China’s environment is concernedly a worrisome place for health outcomes. While tremendous progress has been made in the healthcare sector in China, with an improved infant mortality rate in some areas and development of more advanced medical technology, China’s pollution index continues to skyrocket.

In what ways can this issue be addressed? Health education is an important aspect that needs attention with a focus on health precautions and increased awareness. BBC news states from a survey taken in China, approximately 60% of the survey takers did not regard smoking cigarettes as detrimental to their health. Furthermore, more stringent health safety regulations need to be enforced. Shanxi province, for example, represents an area that needs government intervention to enforce a cap on the amount of coal used and fuel emitted by factories and power plants. China is in the midst of a booming economy and a focus on a greener, cleaner environment will remain on the backburner for quite sometime.

China is a place of rich culture and incredible history. Large cities are transforming into cosmopolitan metropolises attracting massive tourism, business development, and global integration. It is a nation of tremendous success; it is often times considered the future. Its deadly air pollution, however, requires desperate attention. 

Sources:

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2013/04/china-air-pollution-2013/63836/

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-03-28/air-pollution-birth-defects-and-the-risk-in-china-and-beyond

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/216998.stm

What does Covered California mean for Californians?

By Penelope Chuah

Tremendous strides towards developing more affordable, accessible, and higher quality healthcare has taken place within the past three years; this year California is about to kick-off its new health market under Covered California.

These changes to the healthcare market all began with the momentous occasion in 2010 when “President Obama with the stroke of a pen, made health care for all Americans a right not a privilege” (Nancy Pelosi, Covered California Town Hall Forum). This monumental legislation called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was designed to restructure the fractured American healthcare system that has consequently ranked the nation 37th in worldwide health performance. Changes to individual premiums as well as other state insurance policies will vary from state to state. In California, Covered California will offer people an online platform to appropriately choose an affordable and high quality health plan.

So what else exactly does this legislation mean for Californians? It means ensuring that both the insured and uninsured find plans well suited to their needs; it means allowing people to choose from 13 health plans presented by the Health Benefit Exchange; it means providing premium assistance targeted by income; and it means decreasing health disparities. 5.3 million represents the number of currently uninsured Californians or those who purchase health insurance on his or her own; this number, however, will decrease tremendously this October 1, 2013 when the California health insurance marketplace opens for enrollment. In the Covered California forum hosted at UCSF, Peter Lee, Executive Director of the California Health Benefit Exchange and Berkley graduate, stated Covered California’s mission: 1. Increase the number of insured Californians and decrease health disparities, 2. Increase healthcare quality, 3. Decrease healthcare costs. The new system will provide standard benefits designed to ensure that money does not become a deterrent of access to care. Rates will be determined by age, zip code, income, and household size. How can you access this new exchange? Covered California has created an easily navigable website to facilitate new users to the options available. This online marketplace offers people a clear layout of the various health plans offered and to which ones they may qualify. For those who already have health insurance, they will be able to keep their insurance and receive the new benefits and security provided by the Affordable Care Act.

The remaining few months of 2013 and the forthcoming months of 2014 provide a bright future for the ongoing health reform process. For more information and details about Covered California and how to enroll, please follow this link: http://www.coveredca.com/