Let’s Unite for World TB Day

Globally, two billion people are infected with tuberculosis (TB), the world’s leading infectious disease killer. TB is deadly and it can also be resistant to antibiotics. Each year, half a million cases across the globe are drug-resistant, meaning the drugs used to treat TB will not kill the bacteria. Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) is the deadliest and most dangerous type. It is resistant to at least four of the best anti-TB drugs and has spread worldwide. Now in more than 105 countries worldwide, XDR-TB is at least 20 times costlier to treat and takes more than two years to cure. In most places, less than half of all patients treated are cured, with death rates as high as 80 percent. On March 24, join CDC and its partners as we unite to end this deadly disease. Help us educate the public about TB and how it can be stopped. 5 ways to raise awareness about TB & drug-resistant TB before next week. 1  Sign up for CDC’s World TB Day Thunderclap. Add your social media voice to #UnitetoEndTB! 2   Use TB resources to raise awareness: Add World TB Day graphics to your website or social media messages. Share CDC’s animated infographic on the threat of drug-resistant TB. Find out what CDC is doing to combat drug-resistant TB. 3  Engage with CDC on social media at @CDC_TB, @CDCGlobal, and @CDC_NCEZID. Share a message with your community: Are you ready for #WorldTBDay on 3/24? Let's raise awareness to #EndTB: https://go.usa.gov/xXrtH #UniteToEndTB #WorldTBDay We can do more to raise awareness about #TB. Find out how: https://go.usa.gov/xXYqZ #WorldTBDay #UnitetoEndTB Drug-resistance is a serious threat to our ability to treat & control #TB. CDC is working to fight it: https://go.usa.gov/xXrt6 #WorldTBDay #UniteToEndTB 4  Make your own message! Tell @CDCgov how you are creating awareness or supporting efforts to eliminate drug-resistant TB. Use the hashtag #UniteToEndTB or #WorldTBDay.   5  Tell the world how you’re observing World TB Day: Tell CDC and others about your community’s World TB Day activities, and see how others are observing. Learn how CDC is combating drug-resistant TB at https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/solutions-initiative/drug-resistant-tuberculosis.html.

Tips to getting a better night sleep.

Getting a better night sleep can consist of a better routine before bed, exercise, nutrition, relaxation, and sleep positions.

Some routine ideas can include reading, listening to calming music, journaling, taking a nice bath, or drinking some sleep tea.

Nutrition can affect our night sleep. Drink less caffeine and eat less sugar. Don't eat right before bed, it turns the food into fat instead of using it as energy for our body. Instead, have a light snack or drink such as a glass of water and apple. 

Exercising can also put a big strain on our night sleep. The National Sleep Foundation states you shouldn’t exercise 3 hours prior to bed. This is because when we exercise we increase our body temperature and it energizes you. Your body temperature needs to be cool to fall asleep and relaxed not energized. This can differ person to person. If you are able to exercise an hour before and have no problems sleeping then go for it, this is only a suggestion.

Ever have nights that you lie wide awake with no hope of falling asleep? Try this easy trick, while you are laying in bed do some deep breathing, guided imagery, and progressive relaxation.  An example of this is inhaling for 4 seconds, holding it for 4 seconds, and exhaling for 4 seconds. Doing this 6 times through helps to relax and bring you into the sleeping state of mind. 

By: Lexi Koplin

Top 3 Sleep Solutions!

Do you sleep too much? Do you doze off in class? Is there a better way to nap? We have the answers to all your questions!

First off, is there such a thing as too much sleep? According to the National Sleep Foundation, they answered yes. This is for the people that sleep 11 hours or more a night, day in and day out. This may be a result that the quality of sleep that you are getting is poor, which might mean that you have sleep apnea or a chemical imbalance. If this is you, please seek medical attention.

Secondly, can you fight the urge to sleep when it isn’t appropriate i.e. in the middle of an in-class lecture? YES! You can! There are a couple of things that you could do to fight the urge. If you have a piece of gum, pop that in your mouth. If you are typing on your computer, switch to writing, bounce your leg, tap your toes, switch positions that you have been sitting in for the last hour, excuse yourself briefly and get up to go get a couple of gulps of water. All of these things that are listed are so simple but just might have a GIANT impact.

Last, but definitely not least, is there a trick to napping? Sure thing! For those of you that may not have gotten enough sleep previously at night, a nap can be a great solution. The trick is the length of your nap will determine the effectiveness. The recommended length is either 20 minutes or 90 minutes. The benefits with a 20 minute snooze will enhance motor skills versus 90 minutes where this will help make new connections in the brain and can aid in solving creative problems stated by the National Sleep Foundation. #ChoosetoSnooze

For more sources check out: 

https://sleep.org/articles/is-it-possible-_to-get-too-much-sleep/

https://sleep.org/articles/napping-health-benefits/

By: Brittany Parry

Are You Sleeping Enough?

  Do you feel you are getting enough sleep? Students are deeply pressured to do well in school while oftentimes being employed at the same time. Therefore, sleep is commonly neglected or limited even though it is crucial for your mental & physical health, as well as injury prevention.

     Don’t endanger yourself & others by getting behind the wheel too drowsy! A lack of sleep will impair your reaction time, judgement, mood while driving & vision. It is no surprise that drowsy drivers are responsible for 21% of fatal crashes each year. Those responsible are typically 15-24 or 75-79 years old and these accidents commonly occur between the hours of 6am-7:59am & 2:00pm-5:59pm.   [Source: Highway Safety]

   Individuals should be getting 7-8 hours of sleep each night. If you sleep 1-2 hours less than the recommended time, you are 1.3 times more likely to be in an accident while sleeping 2-3 hours less increases your risk by 3 times!   [Source: AAA Foundation]

    The people that are tired behind the wheel are those do not sleep enough, have undiagnosed sleeping disorders, take medication, and shift workers that work night shifts or long shifts [Source: CDC]. If you do end up losing sleep, be prepared for the multiple effects. There is a relationship between mood and sleep. Losing sleep may cause or enhance feelings of stress, irritability, motivation, anger, and depression. Could this impact how you drive? In reverse, mood & depression can lead to sleep problems as well. As a student, you may have already experienced this. How many nights have stress & anxiety prevented you from falling asleep?

If falling asleep is impacting your daily living, schedule an appointment with a counselor at the Center for Health & Counselor!

Prevent an accident by:

·       Pulling over to nap for 15-20 minute or switching drivers

·       Even better, improving your sleeping habits to get enough sleep. Learn more about sleep by visiting the “Choose to Snooze” event on March 9^th from 11am-1pm at the Student Event Center.

Learn more at http://drowsydriving.org/about/

By: Esteban Moreno