Click on Databases, then on Video Databases, then on Films on Demand. You may need to log-in with your CUNY credentials.
Search for New York Under Threat and look for the full video. After watching it, answer the following questions:
What is the definition of a hundred-year storm? Why are scientists worried about them?
What are the 2 problems from climate change facing New York City listed in the movie?
List and describe at least 3 poor city planning decisions that have led to NYC being at risk from climate change?
What is the Big U? How will it protect NYC?
How do oysters help protect NYC?
What are some ways to make a water-proof building?
List and describe at least 2 ways that the public transportation system will be protected?
After watching the movie, do you think NYC will survive climate change challenges in the next 100 years? Why or why not? How do you think the city might change?
The immune system is a complex system of tissues, cells, and organs that detects and acts against threats to your health.
The first layer of protection we have against infections is our skin – it provides a physical barrier between your organs and systems and bacteria, viruses, parasites and toxins you may encounter. We also have complex microbiomes – microorganisms that exist on our skin, in our mouths and noses, and in our guts. The microbiome can protect us from certain illnesses. Finally, there are cells generated by the immune system (white blood cells like T-cells, B-cells, macrophages and others) and proteins (antibodies, cytokines and others).
Can you boost your immune system? Because it is quite complex, scientists are still unraveling all of the connections between our lifestyles and immune function. We do know there are certain behaviors that can help protect us from disease – avoiding exposures to chemicals like tobacco smoke, washing our hands, and others – https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-boost-your-immune-system.
SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that can cause COVID-19, the respiratory illness that is now pandemic. This is a novel virus, but it is related to other coronaviruses that sometimes cause seasonal colds, and have caused 2 other epidemics in the last two decades – SARS and MERS. Viruses are pieces of genetic material encased in a shell with binding proteins. They enter the body and invade our own cells in order to make copies of themselves. The below video gives a short explanation of how the coronavirus functions, but was made in March 2020, so does not contain up-to-date information on the pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic began at the end of 2019. It is a respiratory disease that has a relatively long incubation period (the period of time people don’t have symptoms even if they are infected), can spread even when people don’t have symptoms, seems to mainly spread through droplet and direct contact exposure, and can cause severe illness and death in some people. Find more detailed information here – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
Late in 2020, several vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 have been developed and are in different stages of testing/approval. Vaccines generally work by signaling your immune system to create antibodies which can attack the pathogen when you come in contact with it. The two vaccines that have been approved by the FDA currently are both based on the mRNA or messenger RNA molecule. These molecules instruct your cells to make a protein on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 (the spike protein), which your immune system recognizes as a foreign body and begins to manufacture antibodies. Read more about the current vaccine research here https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/covid-19-vaccines
Our bodies contain several different systems and are made up of tissues and organs. All the systems work together in a complicated way to break down foods, intake oxygen, expel waste, communicate between each other, process outside stimuli, and more.
In particular, the cardiovascular and respiratory systems work together to get oxygen out of the atmosphere and move that oxygen to various organs and tissues. The lungs help to oxygenate the blood, the heart then pumps that blood out to the other parts of the body, and blood vessels circulate the oxygenated blood around the body, and bring carbon dioxide to the lungs to exhale.
Organic changes in the cardiovascular system can lead to heart disease – the leading cause of death for most demographic groups in the US. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm One of the most common system-wide changes is atherosclerosis, the narrowing and hardening of arteries throughout the body. This process can lead to heart attacks, pain in the chest, strokes, and other consequences. Heart attacks (myocardial infarctions) usually happen when the blood supply and oxygen are disrupted to a part of the heart and the heat cells begin to die. This tends to happen because the coronary arteries become closed off or narrow.
Similarly, strokes happen either because of a bleed in the blood vessels in the brain, or a lack of blood and thus oxygen to a part of the brain. Both strokes and heart attacks can be fatal or survivable, depending on the size of the damaged tissue.
Another leading cause of death is cancer. Cancer is a name given to several related diseases. In general, when people have cancer, some cells in their bodies divide and spread to other tissues. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer Cancer can happen for various reasons, but commonly it happens because of genes inherited from our parents, or exposure to toxins, infectious agents, radiation and others.
According to the article, is willpower all you
need to change your health habits for the better? Why or why not?
What does the article mean by “chunking?” Give
an example of a health-related action you take that is “chunked.”
What does the article mean by “friction?” Give a
health-related example of more or less “friction” that impacts you (do not use
the examples in the article – come up with another example).
Does providing information about something that
helps or harms our health enough to get people to change their behavior? Why or
why not?
Describe a health-related habit you have that
you would like to change. What are some environmental changes you can think of
that would help you?
Think of the same health-related habit you
described above. What is a positive thing you can substitute for this habit?
People use other illicit drugs. We can consider the different groups of drugs based on the type of effect they have on a person or how people use them.
Depressants are drugs that act by slowing the action of the central nervous system. These include pain killers and tranquilizers, many available by prescription. Some of these drugs can be misused or abused. Another example is heroin. Some effects of depressants may be a feeling of relaxation, calmness, and drowsiness. Many of these drugs are quite addictive.
Stimulants are drugs that act by increasing the activity of the central nervous system. They can increase the heart rate and cause feelings of excitement, agitation, and alertness. Examples include nicotine, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
Anabolic steroids are synthetic versions of the hormone testosterone. Some people use them to enhance athletic performance or to get bigger muscles which is considered a misuse. However, these drugs can be dangerous to their health and have various side effects.
Inhalants are substances like solvents, aerosol sprays, and gases that people use as a psychoactive drug. Examples of products that people use are household cleaners, spray paint, markers and glue – products not intended for getting high. Overdose is possible with these types of drugs.
Club drugs are various drugs that people use that cause a change in mood, awareness and how people act. Examples include hallucinogens and MDMA (molly or Extasy).
Synthetic cannabinoids are human-made drugs that act on the same receptors in the brain as marijuana. However, they may have a more powerful effect and have not been studied as long, so they may be more dangerous.
For about 20 years, the US has been struggling with rising rates of use for particular types of drugs – opioids. These drugs interact with opioid receptors in the brain and include prescription pain medications and illegal drugs like heroin. In particular, one of the dangerous possible affects of opioid use is overdose and death.
Most states in the US are struggling with this problem. See a map with rates here – https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-summaries-by-state. This epidemic has evolved over time from overuse and misuse of prescription pain medication, to illicit heroic use, and the third wave of synthetic opioid use (like fentanyl).
From CDC.govFrom HHS.gov
There are some medications available for opioid use disorder, including milder opioids like methadone. Overdose deaths can be prevented with an opioid antagonist called naloxone. Government agencies are also working on preventing opioid addiction, limiting the use of prescription pain medications, and helping people find treatment options.
People can abuse drugs when they overuse them, often to the point of various negative consequences. They may start to feel withdrawal symptoms when they stop using the drug – mental, emotional or physical effects that happen because your brain has adapted to having the drug.
It is also possible to develop an addiction to substances. Addiction is a brain disease that is characterized by compulsive use and difficulties in controlling one’s behavior, despite negative consequences. Some people may exhibit tolerance to some substances as a result of use.
From NIH.gov
It is possible to treat drug abuse and addiction and there are several effective approaches. Scientists are working on innovative new ways to help people with addiction.
The American Psychological Association also recognizes one behavioral addiction – gambling disorder. While other things like compulsive buying, excess exercise, and too much internet use may not be considered addictions, they may nevertheless be distressing and cause people to feel out of control and suffer negative consequences.
One common illicit drug is marijuana, which are dried parts of the plant Cannibis sativa or Cannibis indica. The main psycho-active ingredient in this plant is THC or tetrahydrocannabinol.
Taken by Jennifer Martin
Many people either smoke or use vaporizers when using this drug. People can also mix the plant into food (commonly called edibles). There are several short-term and long-term effects from the use of marijuana. Health risks include breathing problems, lower birth weight if used during pregnancy, and mental health problems.
There have been several research studies looking at medical uses for marijuana, in particular two drugs within it which are THC and CBD. The Food and Drug Administration does not currently consider marijuana to be a medicine, however, several laws around the US has made it legal to use marijuana for medical reasons. This may include managing nausea when on chemotherapy for cancer, or for treatment of epilepsy.
Some US states have also started to allow recreational marijuana use – see the map here https://www.businessinsider.com/legal-marijuana-states-2018-1. However, this drug is still considered illegal on the federal level, so the status of sellers remains uncertain.
As with most psychoactive drugs, people can abuse marijuana and can develop marijuana use disorder. There are behavioral treatments available.
STIs are conditions that are spread from person-to-person sexual contact which can include oral, vaginal or anal intercourse, and other types of sexual contact. Prevention of STIs includes using barrier methods (condoms and dental dams), getting certain vaccines, and other behaviors. These infections are relatively common, half of all sexually active adults will get an STI by the age of 25 (according to CDC.gov) – https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/stds.htm.
There are many different STIs. Some are caused by bacteria and can be treated with antibiotics. These include chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.
Others are caused by viruses and do not have a cure, though treatments may still be available. These STIs include herpes simplex I and II, human papillomavirus (HPV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Some strains of HPV can be prevented through vaccination. HIV infection can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or AIDS if left untreated. However, people at risk for HIV infection can take a medication called Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
There are also fungal and parasitic infections like trichomoniasis and pubic lice. These infections are treatable with special medications.
Many STIs are asymptomatic or have symptoms that are not very specific like a fever. Thus, it is important to get regular STI tests if you are sexually active. Untreated STIs can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease. Some STIs may be extra dangerous during pregnancy. Men who have sex with men have a higher risk of getting an STI.
When people try to prevent or space out pregnancy, they are practicing contraception or birth control. There are several broad categories of birth control. Failure of birth control is measured by what number of people who use this method nevertheless become pregnant. The more a person uses a method of birth control, the more likely failure becomes (since there are several ways to fail to use contraceptive methods correctly). See graphs in this New York Times article showing typical and perfect-use effectiveness for several methods.
Hormonal methods of contraception include the birth control pills, the vaginal ring, the patch, the shot, and the implant. Some intrauterine devices also contain hormones, while one IUD has no hormones and is copper-based.
If a person fails to use a contraceptive method or their chosen method fails (e.g. a condom tears), there is emergency contraception, which can be used up to 5 days after. The “morning-after” pill is most effective within 24 hours of unprotected sex.
However, pregnancy can still occur even when using these contraception methods. In that case, people should consider whether they want to continue being pregnant and giving birth. They may also consider abortion. There are two main methods of getting an abortion – the abortion pill, and the in-clinic abortion. There are many limits placed on both of these medical interventions by law, including the length of the pregnancy and the reasons for abortion. Some states are moving to ban abortion or to create barriers to people getting this type of medical care.
