10th anniversary of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s death… Hundreds of parents gave consent to their children to have series of vaccines called in that time shots. Shots of what?  “Salk vaccine or a dummy? No one must know- not the parents, teachers, nurses, doctors, or health officials” (Riedman).

Louis Pasteur (1822-1895)

We will have to skip almost a complete century and travel to France to talk a little bit about the man who explained the way germs attack the body and how they produce a disease. In 1854 Louis Pasteur thirty-two-year-old started to do some research related to bacteria, viruses, and diseases without knowing it. Two years later he discovered while performing some experiments; bacteria grew and multiplied. Working along with some other doctors and faculty members they started to figure out how they work, what the causes of growing were, and how to beat them. Attenuation was first achieved by Pasteur with the rabies vaccine, but really came into its own with the development of BCG (Attenuated bovine strains of mycobacterium tuberculosis).

Nowadays, diseases and infections can be prevented and depending a lot on the control and eliminating resource they can work on the body, breaking the chain of transmission or increasing the resistance and personal protection by general means: immunization. Many worldwide diseases can be also prevented without the needs of a vaccine because there is enough information over the past years and different control methods that can help to eliminate the source of disease naturally.

While most people are naturally actively immunized for a lifetime against any type of disease or infectious agents, there are many other infections, which do not produce a durable immunity. The lack of durable immunity against some infections is caused by the presence of multiple immunogenic types of organisms within the body.

Artificial Immunity

This type of immunization involves the administration of an antigen which stimulates immunity. In other words this is accomplished by injecting antibodies in such a form of immunoglobulin.

Live Vaccines

“Live vaccines, as the name implies, consist of agents which are living. They infect and replicate and must be treated with respect. They are readily inactivated by light or when held for any length of time at room temperature and should therefore be stored in a refrigerator. They are inactivated by most disinfectants which should therefore not be used to clean the arm when vaccinating.” (Dick).

Inactivated Vaccines

Theses types of vaccines consist of suspensions of killed microorganisms that contain some part of the microorganism, which generates immunity.

Passive Immunity

While active immunity lasts for a variable period and s often very durable, passive immunity usually lasts for only weeks or months. It is achieved either naturally, by the passage of antibodies over the placenta which is the mechanism by which small babies are protected against infectious diseases, or by the injection of immunoglobins.

Contraindications

Special contraindications to individual vaccines will be discussed  separately, but the following contraindications apply to all vaccines for effective immunization.

Vaccines should not be given to babies or children who are not in good health. If a child has a severe reaction following a dose of vaccine, then the risk or a similar

Works Cited

Dick, George. Immunisation. London: Update Publications LTD, 1978. Print.

Riedman, Sarah R. Shots Without Guns: The Story of Vaccination. Chicago: Rand McNally, 1964. Print.

via Esther Juarez.

Relational Benefits of Playing and Games in Class. Are They Really Effective?

          “Student understanding and retention can be enhanced and improved by providing alternative learning activities and environments. Education theory recognizes the value of incorporating alternative activities (games, exercises and simulations) to stimulate student interest in the educational environment, enhance transfer of knowledge and improve learned retention with meaningful repetition” (Chow). The usage of games by students in a classroom is a way to improve their skills and ability to establish a great learning environment between the players involved. Time invested is such a valuable resource as a communication game is important to help students to be able to communicate effectively. Furthermore, the interaction with people provides to the student the opportunity to increase effective communication in the future. Students develop a skilled way to understand personalities, and to build up constructive communication abilities, which increases the opportunity for effective interaction by decreasing self-centered thinking. Learning, psychological, and relational benefits are found in the usage of this communication games.

          “Enhancing the thinking process of problem solving using repetitive games should also improve a student’s ability to follow non-mathematical problem-solving processes, which should improve the overall ability to process information and make logical decisions” (Chow). Experimenting communication games brings the opportunity for an immediate learning because it is based on vivid experiences at that specific moment. “Games are an effective and cost-saving method in education and training” (Curtis). Activities that are meaningful to students during class hours provide more knowledge than those typical teaching methods using material covered in books. Students get to experience what is trying to be explained and is retained over the pass of the years.“Learning and retention are measured to evaluate the success
of the students’ performance” (Chow).

          On the other hand, psychological benefits are also developed with these exercises.Communication games help to tear up the barrier for psychological communication that is, in most cases, the principal barrier for self-expression. Playing communication games helps to build up self-esteem by retrieving personal information, since it opens up self-disclosure letting the communicators to feel comfortable with the surroundings by the interchange and decode of information that in some way cannot be said. Non-verbal communication is about using facial or bodily expressions that sometimes cannot be verbally expressed and that come naturally from our reactions to specific situations. Body language, eye contact or hand movements are useful to identify ideas that may be hidden inside the speaker. The body is the principal resource in communication, and psychology of body, in which body language is shown to play an important role in communication. “Empirical studies of embodied cognition show that how we feel emotionally changes our bodily experience, and shifts in the body change how we feel emotionally” (Blechner). Students experience psychological well-being while interacting during communication games.

          Game activities also reinforce the students’ ability to be mentally prepared and secure while they are trying to communicate. Sharing information with other students make them become more close to each other. Reveling more information about oneself, let the relationship and intimacy to grow. Over time, communicators start feeling more comfortable with the people they are sharing the information with. Games are a good strategy to get close to people because it makes them to know each other not only by using verbal communication but non-verbal as well, such as body language. “The analysis illuminates the classroom as a site for identity negotiation, performance as a tool to deconstruct and reconstruct notions of ability, and family relationships as an integral part of a critical communication pedagogy” (Lindemann). Relationships are growing with the use of these amazing techniques of interaction. In other words, applying game strategies will help students to improve learning, the way information is perceived, focus on the main ideas, and to build up relationships.

          In conclusion, games and activities in classroom promote a good environment, interaction, and important tools to develop relationships. According to Maria Matheidesz, “Preliminary conclusions include the following: games have great motivating force; communication games provide good opportunity for natural student interaction in unpredictable situations; this type of game can be used effectively with monolingual groups; error rates are similar to those in  controlled practice exercises, but more errors are left uncorrected; teachers do not fully exploit the potential of language games in the classroom; and such games force teachers to change their role and give more time and space for students.” After all, communication games should be used to help students to build up a good teacher-student relationship as well. It has been demonstrated interaction games help to increase learning during class hours, tear up the psychological barrier present in speakers, and to establish long life relationships. Students need to feel free to use any of these communication games in order to find the meaning of everything they are trying to learn in the communicating process.

Works Cited

Blechner, Mark J. “Listening to the body and feeling the mind.” Contemporary
Psychoanalysis 47.1 (2011): 25-34. PsycINFO. EBSCO. Web. 7 July 2011.
Chow, Alan F., Kelly C. Woodford, and Jeanne Maes. “Deal or No Deal: using games to
improve student learning, retention and decision-making.” International Journal of
Mathematical Education in Science & Technology 42.2 (2011): 259-264. Academic Search
Premier. EBSCO. Web. 6 July 2011
Curtis, Conkey. “Relationships Between Game Attributes and Learning Outcomes
Review and Research Proposals.” Simulation & Gaming 40.2 (2009): 217-266. Academic
Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 6 July 2011.
Lindemann, Kurt. “Performing (Dis)Ability in the Classroom: Pedagogy and (Con)
Tensions.” Text & Performance Quarterly 31.3 (2011): 285-302. Communication & Mass
Media Complete. EBSCO. Web. 7 July 2011.
Matheidesz, Maria. “Communication Games–Are They Really Effective?” Education
Resources Information Center (1988): 19. ERIC. Web. 6 july 2011.

Everything you need to know about Chemotherapy.

             To understand a little bit more about chemotherapy, it may help to know what cancer is and the way it affects the body. Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells in the body grow and multiply at a very high rate. There are more than 100 specific types of cancer cells. Cancer also may involve the spread of abnormal cells around the body. Normal cells in our body grow, divide, and die in a way that maintains health and does not damage the body. A majority for the cancer cases are due to age issues because of the fact that in adulthood your cells divide only to replace worn-out or dying cells, or in other cases, to repair injuries. Cells make up all living tissue and stronger throughout your childhood. But cancer cells continue to grow and divide, even though they are no serving in any of the vital functions, and can spread to other parts in the body. These cells clump together and form tumors (lumps) that may destroy normal tissue. If cells break off from a tumor, they can travel  throughout the blood stream or the lymphatic system. When they settle in and grow; eventually, forming other tumors. When a tumor spreads out to a new place, it is called metastasis. Even when cancer spreads, it’s called by the name of the body where it originally started and developed. Leukemia, a type of cancer growing, does not usually form a tumor, it is an exception to the rule. The cancer cells get into the blood and the organs that make blood bone narrow, then they circulate through other tissues, where they eventually develop and grow.

What is Chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is a medical treatment that is needed in order to stop cancer cells from growing and its tracks. Chemotherapy is extremely effective in treating cancer. It is even more effective when it is used with other treatments like radiotherapy. It is also sometimes needed to relief the symptoms, and it is design to give a longer life by causing the disease to go into remission-the stage in which there are no active symptoms.  Chemotherapy works differently than surgery or radiotherapy – two other treatments designed to fight against the cancer as well. Chemotherapy drugs travel throughout the whole body. This is important because it allows the durgs to reach part of the body where the cancer cells may have spread out. In combination with surgery means that fewer surgical procedures need to be done. Follow-up surgery can often be avoided if chemotherapy is used.

On the other hand, radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, is the use of high energy rays to treat such disease. Is it very important to know that radiation causes damage to cancer cells, so they stop growing. With each treatment, more of the cells die and the tumor shrinks. The dead cells break down and are carried away by the blood, eventually passing out of the body. Normal cells that are also exposed to the radiation process start to repair themselves afterwards, and the process lasts just a few hours. You might be concerned that radiation hurts, but is actually quite painless. Also, in case you are wondering, the radiation gets into your body and then passes out -it does not cause you to become radioactive.

To understand how chemotherapy works, it is helpful to know some basics about the cells of the body. Everything in your body is made up of cells. A group of cells is called tissue and tissues make up all the organs, the major structures of your body. Tissue stays healthy because cells grow and reproduce, new cells replace the ones that are damaged because of injury. This means that a combination of drugs may be used to attack cancer cells so that each drug can attack the cells in a different phase.

Chemotherapy damages cancer cells, but it also can damage normal cells. Damage to these cells is what causes the side effects of chemotherapy treatment. For instance normal cells that divide quickly, such as blood cells and the cells of hair follicles, are more likely to be damaged by chemotherapy medications. In other words, in healthy cells the damage does not last, and many only happen on the days you are actually taking the drugs. Chemotherapy is usually given is several cycles. Depending on the drug and combination, it may last to a few hours, days, or weeks.

Medical Indications

A female 15-year-old came in with abdominal pains, says she has done ecstasy once and is sexually active. Her diagnosis shows that she is 21-25 weeks pregnant and dehydrated. To help this she would need prenatal care as soon as possible to prevent a miscarriage also hydration to prevent further dehydration. This is a critical problem for both the fetus and the mother and the goals of the treatment that can be offered to her are for a healthy pregnancy and bring her health back to normal. There are very high probabilities of having a successful pregnancy if she does the treatment. The case does not indicate what the plans are in case of therapeutic failure are. In this case, Casey can benefit by having a healthy normal pregnancy and will no longer be dehydrated. Going through with the treatment will avoid most harm that comes with a pregnancy.

Patient Preferences

The patient has refused treatment and wants to terminate the pregnancy. She understands the benefits and risks of the situation and still refuses treatment. Although she is mentally capable of giving her consent she cannot legally give it, being that she is only 15 years old and would need her parents consent for any kind of treatment. The case does not indicate about any prior preferences that she’s had or who could be an appropriate surrogate. She is unwilling to cooperate with medical treatment because she does not want her parents to know about the pregnancy. Ethically, she has been offered treatment but simply refuses to take it, and she is too young to be respected legally and also too far into her pregnancy.

Quality of Life

With treatment the patient will get healthy again and have a normal pregnancy with little to no complications, without treatment it could result in a miscarriage and her health will become worse. The case does not indicate any bias’. There will be no physical or mental deficits that she will experience if the treatment succeeds, socially she will most likely just not be able to do things a normal teenager would usually be able to do. The case does not indicate whether or not she finds life undesirable. The plan was to give her treatment but she refuses to get any kind of treatment. The case does not indicate any plans for comfort and palliative care.

Contextual Features

The only family issues that could influence the treatment decisions are her parents. The issue between the physician and Casey could also influence the decision on the treatments. The case does not indicate any financial or economic factors, and also does not indicate any religious or cultural factors. Since she is underage confidentiality would have to be breached because she cannot get any treatment without the consent of her parents. The case does not indicate if clinical research or teaching is involved. The physician could provide her with a pregnancy with little to no complications, but she still refuses treatment.

August 27, 2010

Guide to Writing

Critical Thinking trough Reading, Viewing, and Writing

            When you think critically, you examine ideas fully and logically. The use of many strategies can help us to find a better way to understand. One strategy for critical reading, especially of information-rich, is called SQ3R:

Survey: This refers to preview the material. Try to spot main ideas. They will serve as reference points during the reading that follows. Question: As you survey, begin to ask questions that you hope to answer as you read. Asking questions will keep you actively thinking about what is coming up. Read: Look up unfamiliar words or ideas, and use your senses to imagine the events, people, places, or things you are reading about. Recite: This activity tests your comprehension, drives the material deeper into your long-term memory, and helps you connect the content with what you already know. Review: This activity will help you to move the information from short-term memory to the long-term memory, and will also improve your memory.

In other words, applying as many strategies as you know will help you to improve your learning style, the way you perceive information, and to focus on the main ideas. There are several things that you can do. Such as underlining and highlighting key words or phrases, but make sure to don’t overdo it because that will make you to feel confused, and will drive you out. of the main points. Excessive highlighting might be your brain saying “I’ll learn this later.” Moreover, excessive highlighting can make text difficult to reread and hence to review.

Another thing you need to be aware of is that many people have different learning styles. If you are visually oriented, you may understand a text best by mapping out its important parts. If you wish add some graphics, arrows, drawings, or anything that helps you visualize the relationship among ideas. Outline the text outlining is the traditional way of showing all the major parts, points, and subpoints. Evaluate the process, critical reading does not mean disproving the text or disproving of it. It means thoughtfully inspecting and evaluating the writer’s ideas. Summarizing ideas, with this activity you not only create a brief record of the text’s contents but also exercise you ability to comprehend, analyze, and synthesize information. Finally, you can think critically by viewing and interpreting an image. Interpreting an image follows naturally from viewing of “reading” the image. That means figuring out what the image or design is meant to do, say, or show.

You need to feel free to use any of these processes to control everything you read, write or view in order to find the meaning of everything you are trying to learn.

All Credits Go to Glendale Community College, AZ. Works Cited Will be Posted Later on.

By Esther Juarez

            The sea is well known by people all around the world. Each person has his or her personal opinion about it.  To me, is defined as an amazing phenomenon. I love the sea because everything about it enchants me; the smells, the sights, the sounds, the feel of it. I love lying behind the sun, surrounded by the warm sand. I love sitting in the dunes at night, listening to the waves hitting the shore. I love the cool sea breeze that, on sunny days, lifts kites into the air and dots the sky with color; the gulls that call to one another while they glide on eddying currents in the wind; the feel of salt water against my skin; the crash of the waves on my body. I am always fascinated about what is happening on the sea. The sea means a lot of things to me, it nourishes my spirit like food nourishes my body, fills me inside of what many other things in life cannot.

            The sea is a completely place to relax yourself. At day, the sky reflected in its waves, the sea breeze touching your face, your feet wrapped in sand, you can see the beautiful sunsets when the sun comes down, you can even feel the heat on your neck, unique and indescribable sensations you can experience when you are in front of the sea; face to face. At night, in a very different way, the wind blows your hair with a strange sensation of flying. The moon rises glorious into the darkness to be clarified on the water, you can see the fish glittering at the bottom of the waves. When deprived of water, a sponge becomes hard and brittle, it shrivels up like a wilted flower, lifeless. Water relaxes sponges, fills them up, makes them soft and supple. Sea water also makes me feel that way.

          Feeling the fury of the sea could be the most accurate and closer sense that humans have in common with nature because it wants to lose control, quickly without a sign of trouble. The ocean satiates my senses and rejuvenates my spirit; it awakens me from my trance, imposed upon me by the insensibility of the world. To me, the sea has always represented escape, new beginnings, and adventure. What things lie on the other side? What wonders does it hold in its deeps? Many a tale has been told by the sea, whether released from the depths or cast upon the beach. Some of my most vivid and beautiful memories were made so by the sea and its shore.

          The physical and gravitational force keeps the sea on its place, but this fights every wave trying to get out and that became something beautiful in order to see and hear it. Even with a thought about the sea, you could be transported to the wonders that this amazing force of nature has to bring. At times, I find myself becoming hard and much in need of something to fill me up and restore my deadened senses. To the sea: if you will; water me.

          However, my life is always enriched by the sea because of its magnificence. And that can be only discovered for those people who can open their five senses. Either at day or night, the sea is one of the most exciting place, it can dips you into its greatness just by presence it, and that is a great sensation full-filled of calmness. Visit the sea can be an experience that will let you know how to persuade, interact and connect with a wonder of world. Another door to paradise as long as I could contemplate the sea. I will always be fascinated by its amazing nature. We are surrounded by the best thing a man could ever want the sea.

No Works Cited

By Esther Juarez

          Even though scoring high on test is crucial for most people, it could be one of the most stressing things as well. It requires extensive preparation long before the test date. Extensive preparation does not only cover studying. It also covers preparing through other things. Preparing for a test is much easier if you keep in mind a few simple tips. The “how” includes some general guidelines that can help you ease through the preparation. Most of these tips are how to psyche yourself up for the test by doing some simple mental and practical preparations. Testing is a part of education progress. You will need to take and pass tests in order to advance to the next level. Trying to do well on all of them will give you the opportunity you need to find your best method of assessment and involve yourself on what you are working on.

          First, one thing you need to be aware, is the mental preparation. Things like motivating yourself, keeping in mind how to create, and maintaining interest to the preparation for the test are very important. Following, your ability to recall important information is crucial to succeed on a test. Even prior to begin the study process it is important to sharpen up your memory, and this can be done by quizzing yourself with the subject you are going to be tested on. Preparing yourself mentally by reviewing regularly your notes, and skimming the pages you have seen during class time. Reviewing material once a week since the subject started is very useful because that can help you how to be well prepared even in those surprising tests. Studying for a very good period before the test is good because when you cram, you torture your mind by forcing it to process large quantities of information for a very short period time. Prepare yourself mentally, so you don’t have to postpone study time. Decide on how soon you can start studying. Preparing for an exam begins with a conscious decision to start studying.

          Second,  you will need to gather your materials and find a place where you can feel comfortable and able to study. There are places that are not helpful while trying to focus in, locate a place which has the least amount of distraction. Next, balance the hours on which you are going to study and then, schedule your time between the hours you are completely free from school work, personal time, social activities, and make sure you do not feel any pressure or overwhelmed by other responsibilities. After, make some notes about what you think is important information for the test, such as  hook words, keywords, those are very useful materials, attract you attention, and increase your ability to memorize.  Put the information in “your own words”. Make study time something fun and relaxing identifying the information and then make sure you understand everything. Do not try to memorize something that you do not understand. Another method could be explaining to yourself the information you are capturing step by step, or to another person that you might be working with. Try to remember the information you have been studying while you are going to the office, school. Study means to learn, understand, memorize, and apply.

          Third, the day before the test, get a good night’s sleep the night before the exam. View the exam as an opportunity to show how much you have studied and to receive a reward for the studying you have done. Avoid speaking with any  student who is not prepared, expresses negativity, or will distract your preparation. Take a small snack, or some other nourishment in order to mind off your anxiety. You will be able to respond to every answer if you take the time to do it. If you feel confused, just skip that question and go back at the end of the test. Do not spend too much time trying to answer difficult questions.

         In conclusion, preparing for a test, does not entirely and solely depend on studying. It involves taking some mental and practical tips into actions. Psyching up yourself for the test by doing mental preparations can help you use your mind more efficiently. Practically, studying can be a breeze by creating a schedule for yourself, budgeting your time wisely, and exhausting all possible materials for study. The most important thing to remember, you are the only one in control!

No Works Cited

Miller

Dec 06, 2010

Final Draft

w.c. 1848

Self-Medicating: The Improper Use of Drugs (How Certain Drugs Work: Addiction)

By Esther Juarez

“Since the beginning of recorded history, drugs have been used for pleasure, for the treatment of insanity, and for relief from the mundane—they are a unique characteristic of human life and society” (Regan 1). However, the use of certain legal or illegal drugs has not often been carried out accurately and in many cases has been abused. The abuse of certain drugs is determined by personal choice as a result of either psychological or bodily conditions that alter the state of mental stability of individuals. As any other type of abuse, consequences are presented after the misuse of a drug. It is important to know what the primary concept of self-medication is and how it works, what are its principal consequences, and how to prevent self-medication in deter to any type of addiction.

There is a fundamental difference between self-medical prescribing and self-medicating. According to Cynthia Kuhn, Scott Swartzwelder, and Wilkie Wilson: “A drug is any substance that changes mental state or bodily function” (Kuhn, Swartzwelder, and Wilson 264). Different drugs have different effects; they may be used for different reasons as well. Self-medical prescribing refers to the action of taking a medicine without any prescription for it. There are so many medicines that do not necessarily require a prescription. “A non-prescription drug−also called an over-the-counter (OTC) drug−is any drug product available to consumers without a doctor’s prescription. An OTC drug is considered safe for consumers to use if they can easily follow the directions and warnings on the label” (Jasper 3). These types of drugs do not produce big damage if used properly.

On the other hand, the term self-medicating is commonly understood as the process by which some individuals may abuse substances in attempting to use them to relieve other problems such as pain, anxiety, sleeplessness or any other symptoms, even to enhance social life or pleasure. The term self-medicating is also used to describe the abuse of several drugs including: alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, cocaine, opiates, caffeine, inhalants, stimulants, steroids, hallucinogens, and antidepressants, etc. “Drug misuse refers to people who unintentionally use drugs improperly, hoping to get a therapeutic benefit from the drugs” (Colvin 3). In several cases, these drugs are used to treat undiagnosed conditions. Some of the people suffering these conditions attempt to relieve the symptoms by using these drugs, “They use drugs to reduce anxiety or suppress shyness, or they are prescribed drugs to treat serious illnesses like depression and schizophrenia. Some seek the stimulation and power they do not have in their social situations and choose drugs to help them attain this” (Kuhn, Swartzwelder, and Wilson). Drug abuse may be used to satisfy different symptoms.

However, what can lead a person to abuse any type of drug? Is it a physical condition? A mental disorder? Most of the time, drug abusers do not know what generates drug abuse or what consequences of misuse are. Recent research has shown that the principal system affected in the body by the use of drugs is the Central Nervous System. “Nothing changes the way we feel or the way we perceive the world unless it interacts with our central nervous system (CNS). Whether we take a sip of wine, snort a line of cocaine, or see an attractive person, our CNS is the place where the action occurs” (Kuhn, Swartzwelder, and Wilson). Drugs interact with the CNS; consequently, the CNS is affected when a person misuse a drug.

In many cases, pleasure is the principal factor that leads people to misuse drugs or medications to get that good feeling. For example: “When people drink alcohol, they feel pleasure and relaxation during the first half hour or so, often becoming talkative and socially outgoing” (Kuhn, Swartzwelder, and Wilson). People tend to relate alcohol as the principal factor to enhance social life and relationships. As other type of drugs, analgesic drugs like opiates also increase pleasure. Heroin, morphine, and codeine are some examples of opiates. “People who inject opiates experience a rush of pleasure, and then sink into dreamy, pleasant state in which they have a little sensitivity to pain (Kuhn, Swartzwelder, and Wilson). The effects of opiates are strongly addictive and can be devastating when taken just once.

In other cases, anxiety leads people to misuse drugs. For example: “Nicotine is a specific kind of stimulant that increases attention, concentration, and (possibly) memory. Many people also report that nicotine has a calming or anti-anxiety effect as well” (Kuhn, Swartzwelder, and Wilson). People who habitually smoke tobacco or any other drug, experience these stimuli. Moreover, not only nicotine can be smoked. There are any other types of drugs that can be smoked as well like marijuana. “In general, smoking marijuana first relaxes a person and elevates his mood. These effects are usually felt within a few minutes followed about a half hour later by drowsiness and sedation. Some people experience this as stimulation followed by a relaxed feeling of tranquility” (Kuhn, Swartzwelder, and Wilson). Good sensations motive people to misuse drugs, a second, a third, and more times to experience and increase the very first feeling.

There are other types of drugs that not only deal with fulfilling the pleasure necessities and anxieties, but also improve sensations already present known as “uppers.” A good example of this could be the use of cocaine which is part of many stimulants. “Stimulants are aptly named: these drugs cause sense of energy, alertness, talkativeness, and well-being that users find pleasurable” (Kuhn, Swartzwelder, and Wilson).

In any other type of symptoms like pain, sleeplessness, and mental stability that are part of bodily and psychological reactions are sometimes self-medicated with sedatives (Xanax and Diazepam), inhalants, and stimulants. Those types of drugs are meant to produce a big state of relaxation that is also misunderstood as well-being. “All of the sedatives produce about the same psychological effect. First there is a sense of relaxation and reduction of anxiety−a general ‘mellow’ feeling. (Kuhn, Swartzwelder, and Wilson).

There are several consecutive health consequences from drug misuse and self-medication.  The brain suffers damage when it has been exposed to a long-term use of an inappropriate medication. “The brain is not only the organ that tell us who we are, what we are doing, and what we have done, but it also controls some basic and critical body functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. Drugs can strongly affect these functions” (Kuhn, Swartzwelder, and Wilson). Not only brain damage is necessarily the principal consequence of the misuse of self-medication, but also bodily reactions may occur. “Addiction provides a clear example of how drugs can alter the basic functioning of the brain” (Regan 77). The inappropriate use of drugs may lead to death. Sometimes, drugs can become deadly when some of them are taken together. For example, a person suffering the toxic effects of alcohol will not benefit from mixing other types of medications. However a person using drugs to enhance social life may get in trouble more than once; moreover, relationships may be affected.

All organisms have different bodily reactions to certain drugs. These differences can determine the susceptibility to drugs from person to person. Different experiences among the side effects in short and long-term use of a drug; influence a person over its use. While this misuse may provide immediate relief for some of the symptoms such as anxiety or pain; it may alter some symptoms of several kinds of mental illnesses that are already present. The truth is that the symptoms will be still there; decreasing momentarily or increasing in a long-term way, but what really takes place is a new effect of the drug in the body known as dependency or addiction. According to the International Classification of Diseases (IDC), addiction is a “‘dependence syndrome’ that consists of a number of mental and physical symptoms of drug use, notably ‘a strong desire to take a drug, difficulties in controlling its use, persisting in its use despite harmful consequences, a higher priority given to drug use than to other activities an obligations, increased tolerance, and sometimes a physical withdrawal state” (Karr 11).

There are ways on how prevent self-medication. “Addiction is the biggest single public and mental health problem in modern society” (Khantzian and Albanese). Lastly, publicity has had a big impact on how a person sees the act of self-medication; the truth is the use of many drugs is affecting the health of human beings. Most of the time, people is poorly informed about the consequences illegal drugs may cause. Before taking a drug, it is important to know the possible side effects and bodily reactions. Nevertheless, “[t]ry to make significant lifestyle changes that may allow you to avoid taking the medication in the first place” (Strand 208). In the process of preventing is also important to identify what is important in life, goals and expectations. “In this process you learn to take responsibility not only for yourself and your own behavior but for other people in your life” (Peele 163).

It is very important for humans to have emotional and physical maturity as they are growing. Mature perspective will lead people to identify necessities and desires. “Addiction is nearly always tied to relationships problems, to the absence of or search for intimacy and companionship. On one hand, you are most likely to turn to addictions when you are lonely and bored. On the other hand, loneliness may drive you to seek out the company of others, even if they have a negative impact on your life” (Peele 114). In case of many people, is good to select the company very carefully, avoiding any type of bad influence. It is relevant to difference between a mental necessity and a physical necessity. “Addiction is a behavior and thus clearly intended by individual person” (Schaler 65) If a person experiences anxiety, severe depression, or any other type of psychological disorders is time to get professional help. According to Deanette Devearux from the Nursing Program at Glendale Community College in the state of Arizona, “Try to find as much information as you can before you take a medicine. Exercise, have a good diet, reduce stress, meditate, use more natural substances, have sense of humor, and laugh.”

It is important that people know the consequences of self-medication before taking a drug without any prescription or medical advice for it. Self-medication may treat some symptoms momentarily, but is not able to stop the causes. It may cause complexities if any internal disease is growing inside. There is much of important information people really need to know before the use or abuse of a drug. Good drug education requires effort, understanding abilities, and responsibilities. Self-esteem and self-acceptance can deter addiction. Life is always being affected in some way because of the drug misuse that has the potential to alter self-esteem, relationships, and family reunion. It may be concluded after all; that self-medication can induce severe effects on human body. The improper use of certain drugs or self-medication can affect daily life, induce to addiction; consequently, lead to death.

Works Cited

Colvin, Rod. Prescription Drug Addiction: The hidden Epidemic. Omaha: Addicus Books. Nov  8, 2010. Print.

Devearux, Deanette. Personal Interview. Glendale Community College. 17 Nov. 2010.

Jasper, Margaret C. Prescription Drugs. Dobbs Ferry: Oceanas’s Legal Almanac Series. Nov 8, 2010.Print.

Karr, Justin, ed. Drug Abuse (Social Issues Firsthand) Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2007. Dec 01, 2010. Print.

Khantzian, Edward J., and Mark J. Albanese. Understanding Addiction as Self Medication: Finding Hope Behind the Pain. Lanham: Rowwan & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2008. Dec 01, 2010. Print.

Kuhn, Cynthia, Scott Swartzwelder, Wilkie Wilson; with Leigh Heather Wilson and Jeremy Foster. Buzzed: The Straight Facts about the Most Used and Abused Drugs from  Alcohol to Ecstasy. 3^rd ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2008 Dec 01, 2010. Print.

Peele, Stanton. “Resources: Identifying Strengths and weaknesses, Developing Skills to Fill the Gaps.” 7 Tools to Beat Addiction 1^st ed. New York: Three Rivers Press. Dec  01, 2010. Print.

Regan, Ciaran. Intoxicating Minds: How Drugs Work. New York: Columbia University Press, 2001. Dec 01, 2010. Print.

Schaler, Jeffrey A. Addiction: Opposing Viewpoints. Gerdes, Louise I., ed. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005. Dec 01, 2010. Print.

Strand, Ray D., with Donna K. Wallace. “Protecting Yourself.” Death by Prescription: The

Shocking Truth Behind an Overmedicated Nation. Nashville: Thomas NelsonPublishers, 2003. Nov 08, 2010. Print.

As you know, a computer needs to have an operating system in order to run programs. When most people think about the first operating systems that were developed for the personal computer, Microsoft or Bill Gates may come to mind. Actually, the truth is somewhat different.

In the late 1970s, there was a man in Seattle named Tim Paterson who worked for a company that was called Seattle Computer. He was a computer programmer and needed an operating systems for his computer. Paterson got tired of waiting for another company to create one and decided to develop his own program. He called it QDOS, which meant “quick and dirty operating system.” It took him about four months to develop it.

At the same time, Microsoft was quietly looking for an operating system to run a personal computer that I.B.M. was developing. Microsoft saw the program that Tim had written and in 1980, paid him $25,000 for a license for DOS. A year later they paid another $50,000 to acquire the rights. It became known as the Microsoft disk operating system (MS-DOS), and the rest is history. Microsoft and Bill Gates became very successful using Paterson’s operating system.