Categories
Diversity Topic

Light or Dark Skin. What’s In a Complexion?

Image by billywatsrong from Pixabay

Black people come in a myriad of different skin tones. Due to this, some are discriminated against because they are either too light or too dark to be Black. This discrimination happens within our own community, as well as, by people outside of the Black race. That’s the sad part about it.

Light Skin

Light Skinned Complexion
Photo by Nicole Berro on Pexels

If you are Black and are of a lighter complexion, people think that you are conceited. Some people say that you think you are, “all-that” and that you think you are better than other Black people who have a darker skin tone. While some light skinned people do act that way and fit the description, it is not because of the color of their skin. I attribute those characteristics to the individual person and not their complexion. Just note, that there are darker skinned Black people who possess the same traits. They think they are better than other Black people and there are some who are conceited too.

A perception exists that lighter skinned people are smarter, have more privileges and are more successful than darker skinned people. Being of a lighter complexion leads some people to say that you are not, “black enough”. Just based on your skin tone. Also, there is this kind of acceptance that some people seek just to prove their, “blackness”. This backward thinking is a part of what’s wrong with the world today. It goes back so many years and you would think in the year 2022, we would have progressed.

A person’s success in life depends on the efforts of that individual and not some unfounded belief that it is because they are light skinned. The world is so focused on outward appearance. Nowadays, people don’t take the time to see what others are truly made of and who they are beyond their skin tone.

We can’t help how we were made, and we were made the way we are for a reason. It is no excuse to call people names and insult them because they are not the same complexion as you. Light skinned people have been called derogatory names like red bone, high yellow, light skin, and pale face, just to name a few.

Dark Skin

Dark Skinned Complexion
Photo by Meghan Holmes on Unsplash

Being a Black person and having a dark skin tone comes with some negative preconceptions too. People think that if you are dark skinned that you are unintelligent, unsuccessful and not attractive. Again, this is so superficial and another stereotype that needs to be broken. Some people with a dark skinned complexion feel the need to compete with light skinned people. Meaning, that some women go to the extreme of bleaching their skin. I attribute this to the pressures of society to fit some unrealistic mold.

Darker skinned people are just as smart, beautiful, and successful as people of lighter skin tones. It can be hard for some to truly believe this when everyday someone tries to make them feel otherwise. We have to erase the color lines and lift each other up. It is so unfair to judge someone by their complexion before getting to know them. People of darker skin tones get labeled as, “too ethnic” and are passed up for certain career opportunities.

Some negative names that dark-skinned women have been called are jigaboo, darkie, black and burnt. Imagine what this does to a person’s psyche. There are many more derogatory names that people of both light and dark skin tones are called but this is just the abbreviated version. I truly believe that you should not navigate your life based on what other’s think of you. Pave your own way and don’t worry about people’s opinion.

Takeaway

Your complexion should not influence how far you go in life. My advice is to believe in yourself and go for what you want in life. It’s okay if you get passed up for an opportunity. That means it wasn’t for you and there is something else out there. Keep going! Do not be discouraged! It’s hard enough out here being judged by the masses. Why are we being judged by our own too? Let’s embrace each other and help each other out.

Categories
Topic

Can You Answer This? Is the North or South a Better Place to Live?

Jersey City Light Rail
Jersey City Light Rail- Image by Bruce Emmerling froThm Pixabay

THE NORTH

If you have ever been anywhere up North, you know that most places are full of energy. Living in the North gives you street knowledge that you can take with you, no matter where you go. You might think that street knowledge is nothing but it really is valuable.

There is always something to do or somewhere to go up North. Let’s say that you wake up at 1:00 am and want a sandwich. Well, you can go to the corner Bodega and get a Pastrami sandwich, Ham and Cheese or a Veggie. They used to sell Buttered rolls on a Kaiser bun too. I know you might say, who wants a sandwich with just butter?! Don’t knock it until you try it. Maybe you want a slice of pizza, you can probably get that too at the Pizzeria.

A lot places up North stay open late so you can go out and have a good time. Stay as long as you want and not have to rush home. Living in the North costs a little more and you don’t get as much space for your buck. If you want a little more “plush” in your neighborhood, living in South Jersey is nice. Pennsylvania has some nice parts as well that are not all concrete. Connecticut is also a nice state. You can find nice parts in about all the States.

Some of the things to look out for living in the North are people trying to rob you. It is a little stressful living up north with the traffic and aggressive drivers. You have to always be on guard and watching your surroundings. The minute someone sees you slippin’, that’s when you will get got! Don’t speak to people you don’t know and do not, repeat DO NOT stare at anyone up North. This is not a good thing.

The Good

  • The North has neighborhood schools. Kids can go to school with people they know and who live in their neighborhood. They are not riding a noxious school bus for hours to and from school.
  • Convenient lifestyle. You can find anything you want or need at virtually any time of day or night.
  • Plenty of things to do and places to go. There is an abundance of places to go and things to do.
  • Higher salaries. People make more money living up North compared to salaries down South.
  • Wide selection of clothing. There is no shortage of places to go shopping. It is not hard to find a last-minute outfit for any occasion.
  • Easy to get around. You can take the bus, train, Uber, Lyft, etc or better yet, walk. You are not dependent on a car to get from point A to B.

The Bad

  • The North also comes with higher cost of living for smaller spaces.
  • Higher crime rates are also in a lot of Northern parts of the world.
  • Densely populated areas make for more cramped living.
  • Most parts of the North are concrete. A lot of locations do not have a lot of grass or trees.
  • The noise level with people blowing the horn.

THE SOUTH

Suburb in the South
Suburb in the South-Photo by Johnson Johnson on Unsplash

The South is a lot greener compared to its Northern counterparts. There are a lot of trees and grass to be found. Your money can stretch a lot further with real estate in the South. You get a lot more land, interior space and amenities for your money. The environment in the South is a lot more laid back and relaxed. Everyone is not in such a rush; most of the time.

The Good

  • Greener pastures. More trees and grass make for better air quality.
  • Slower pace. Less stressful than living up North. Most people in the South move at their own pace, very slowly.
  • Friendly people.
  • More amenities for your money when it comes to housing.
  • Lower cost of living; but some parts of the South are catching up to the North.

The Bad

  • Busing to and from school. Some kids have to ride a school bus and the ride can last up to 2 hours. Kids are zoned in schools that may not be close to where they live.
  • Humid climate. If you like the heat but without the added humidity, the South may not be for you.
  • Car dependent. You have to drive to most places in the South. A lot of southern areas have limited or no public transportation.

As you can see, both parts of the world have their good points and bad. It all depends on your lifestyle and your personal preferences. You might prefer more space and a lower salary. You might prefer to live close to other people and being able to get around easily. Where do you think is the better place to live, up North or down South?

Categories
Info Topic

Public Safety and You-Let’s End the Violence

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

In these times of increasing violence happening all over the world, I wanted to shine some light on this program. Cure Violence Global is a program aimed at stopping violence in high crime areas and was started in the year 2000. In the last few years, the cities of Winston-Salem, Durham and Greensboro in North Carolina are participating in this important effort. This program exists in other states around the world. Listening to the news while getting ready for work is how I learned about Cure Violence Global.

I hope more cities in the state and in other areas where violence is rampant join in as well. Other places have similar programs to help address issues in their communities. I just wanted to highlight this one and say kudos! I think this initiative is very important and is well needed. The link provided gives more information about who they are and what they do.

About Us – Cure Violence (cvg.org)

This post ties in to a previous post about Gun Violence- We Can Do Without It. See below.

Gun Violence- We Can Do Without It

My heart goes out to the families and friends of the shooting victims in Buffalo, New York.

Categories
Topic

Keep Your Hands to Yourself People

Keep your hands to yourself people
Image by Z RAINEY from Pixabay

Let’s talk about some of the recent incidents where audience members and spectators have let loose on someone on stage or at a sporting event. It is not ok in any form to harass and/or put your hands on someone. Now, if it is self-defense then by all means, throw them hands!

I am talking about the Will Smith slap, the Dave Chappelle attack, the fan harassing Chris Paul’s family at the game and the Mike Tyson airplane incident. It seems like since events started opening up and people are getting out, they forgot their manners and common sense. The country has been on lock down for about 2 plus years due to Covid 19 and now people are acting wild like they lost their mind.

In my opinion, I think the fans in the stands and/or on the floor who harass players and/or their families should be banned from attending the games for at least a year. If you can’t act right and let everyone enjoy the game, then stay at the house. People want to have a good time and not have to deal with your disruption.

And when did it become ok to come up on stage when you out in the audience, FOR ANY REASON!! You were not invited to get on stage so sit down and deal with your feelings after the show. People pay good money to attend these events and there you go, ruining it for everyone.

People sometimes try to provoke and do things to celebrities just to see if they get a rise out of them. Which is what I believe was the case in the Mike Tyson incident. Of course, I wasn’t on the plane. I know, I know… but just leave the man alone when you see he is getting upset or agitated. It’s okay to be a fan but know when to fall back.

If these things keep happening, there will be less public events or they will be on a much smaller scale. Fans will not be allowed at the games but this time, not due to Covid 19 but just bad behavior. It’s not ok people! It’s not okay! Keep your hands to yourself.

We will be back to games with no fans again
if people continue with the nonsense
Photo by Andre Tan on Unsplash

Security needs to be ramped up in some of these cases. How did the man get the knife into the Dave Chappelle event? People want to feel safe while out and about, just trying to have a good time. Eventually, they will stop going to these shows. Productions will shut down and no one will make money.

What do you think about these recent and past events where people failed to keep their hands to themselves? Or the fans who shout at the players from the stands and audience thinking it’s okay. The players should not be punished if they are being verbally abused by these spectators. What should be the punishment for this type of behavior?

Categories
Topic

What is Your Favorite Music Collab?

Image by kalhh from Pixabay

The songs listed here are some of my favorites. I have to say Method Man ft. Mary J Blige, ‘All I Need’ is MY favorite; (the razor sharp version!) That joint is fire, still to this day!

What is your favorite music collaboration? Is it anyone on this list or someone else? There is so much good music out there it is hard to narrow down the list but who do YOU pick as your favorite?

Queen Latifah ft. Monie Love- “Ladies First”

Panjabi MC ft. Jay Z-“Beware of the Boys”

Method Man ft. Mary J. Blige- “All I Need” (Razor sharp version)

Nicki Minaj ft. Eminem-“Roman’s Revenge”

Aaliyah ft. DMX- “Come Back in One Piece”

Marley Marl, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Masta Ace, Craig G- “The Symphony”

Categories
Topic Words of Wisdom

Two Simple Words

Image by Jessica Wood from Pixabay

Two simple words to live by. It sounds easy and it is possible. You can do it!

Categories
Topic

Rhythm and Blues

R & B Music

R&B Artists

R&B; what happened to it? Where you at? R&B music was so live back in the day. I’m talking about the 80s and 90s. There were groups and solo artists like Jodeci, TLC (rest in peace Left Eye), Ginuwine, Case, Mary J. Blige. H-Town, Ready For the World, Force M.D.’s, Monica, Usher, 112, Janet Jackson, Silk, Can I get a witness in here?!?! Don’t act like y’all don’t know, lol

Some of the R&B music was mostly in slow tempo but some you could dance to. Even though the music was about love, being in love, breaking up, making up and everything in between everybody could listen to it. You didn’t have to be in love to listen to R&B. You can just sing along to it and play it in your car. Another thing people did while listening to some of these songs is make love. Throw on your favorite R&B song and do “the do”. Don’t act like y’all haven’t done this before. The right song would set the mood and make things right.

Bell Biv DeVoe- When Will I See you Smile Again?

Jodeci- Come and Talk to Me, Feenin’

Keith Sweat- How Deep is your Love

LSG- My Body

Aaliyah (rest in peace)-Back and Forth, One in a Million

TLC- Waterfalls

Boyz II Men- On Bended Knee

New Edition- Mr. Telephone Man, Can You Stand the Rain

Mary J. Blige- My life, Not Gon’ Cry, (I can go on…)

H-Town- Knockin’ da Boots

N II U- I Miss You

Jagged Edge-I Gotta Be

Force M.D.’s- Here I Go Again, Tender Love

Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash

We need some of the R&B groups and solo artists to come back. I know that music groups break up for many different reasons. Some of the members can’t get along. Maybe the music contract is not right. Just many things that come along with the industry. All I’m saying is bring the R&B back.

Mary J. Blige-Image by David Mark from Pixabay

Alicia Keys-Image by AliceKeyStudio from Pixabay

Categories
Info Topic

Oh, Come What May

May brings a few events, holidays and fun things.

This is the month for zodiac signs Taurus and Gemini.

Happy birthday to all the bulls and twins out there.

Images by Peter Lomas from Pixabay

The birthstone of people born this month is Emerald.

Photo by Sabrianna on Unsplash

This month is National Blood Pressure Month. Roll up those sleeves and get your pressure checked! A normal blood pressure reading is around 120/80. Check out this link for more information, May is High Blood Pressure Education Month | NHLBI, NIH

Image by Mostafa Elturkey from Pixabay

May 5th is Cinco de Mayo- This day marks a day of triumph for the Mexican army over the French army. The Battle of Puebla in 1862 was a day of victory! Celebrations are held all over the world.

8th of May is Mother’s Day- Show Mom how much you care and how much she is loved and appreciated.

Image by Ralphs_Fotos from Pixabay

19th of May is the birthday

of Malcolm X

May 30th is Memorial Day- A day to commemorate the people who fought and died in battle.

Categories
Topic

What Kind of Bored are You?

Is this the kind of day you are having?

We all have those moments when we get bored. There is nothing to watch on TV. You are home alone. Nobody is answering their phone when you try to reach out. What do you do when those moments strike you?

Do you go shopping? Do you eat a carton of ice cream? Maybe you clean the house from top to bottom. Sometimes, you might find yourself starting a new hobby, only to abandon it as soon as your boredom goes away. A walk in the park might be what gets you out of the rut.

Blasting the music at home and dancing gets the blood flowing and helps to boost your mood. I have heard some people say they do intense exercise. Maybe reading a good book will help. Just anything to pass the time will do. What do you do to break the boredom cycle?

There are some constructive things you can do and also destructive behaviors you can engage in.

Constructive

Taking a walk-If you live in an area where you can safely walk, do it! You get some exercise and get to take in some fresh air. Also, you can enjoy the scenery and get off the couch. You might discover that you like walking and make it a new habit

Home organizing– You know that junk drawer that everyone has. Yeah, that one! Try going through it and throwing some things away. Throw those things away that have been there for a while and nobody is going to use. Go through the closets and donate old clothes to the Salvation Army store or Goodwill. It is like therapy to get rid of things. It is a great feeling. Try it.

Destructive

Heavy drinking– We all know the consequences of heavy drinking. If you like to get your drink on, there is nothing wrong with that. But there is a safe way to do it. Know your limits. Please make sure you have a designated driver or call a ride if you are going to the bar. If you live in a place where you can walk, just take a stroll to the bar and/or restaurant.

Impulse shopping– This can be either a good thing or bad thing. If you go out and spend a lot of money for something that you don’t need or later discover you don’t want; this is bad. You might go out and spend “bill money” for something that you just had to have. Well, do you REALLY have to have it or just wanted it? You know the answer.

On the other hand, if you spent money on something that you will actually use and something that you need, then maybe this boredom spell was a blessing in disguise. It helped you make the decision on this purchase.

Categories
Topic

Gun Violence- We Can Do Without It

Image by Brett Hondow from Pixabay

Gun violence continues to be a problem in this country. It is senseless killing and the loss of innocent lives that really makes the problem such a sore subject. Everyone has the right to bear arms and protect themselves and their families. The use of guns for robbing, stealing and inflicting harm on others is the ugly side of it all. It is sad when children are the victims of stray bullets, or anyone for that matter. How do you protect your children when they are home in their bed and struck by random bullets? Even if the child pulls through it changes the course of their lives forever.

Gun violence begs the question, how do you protect yourself and your children from being shot? It is not something you want to think about on a daily basis as you try to go about your life, but it is very real. Especially, when you are at home and a stray bullet comes through the walls or windows. You go to your car in the morning and its shot up with bullet holes. All you have to do is walk down the street and catch one just for being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

In my line of work, I regularly see the faces of these young children and teens who sustain gun shot wounds. It makes no sense that their lives are FOREVER changed due to gun violence. Some of them are now confined to a wheelchair, some are on crutches for a while, some are still able to walk. Depending on what organs were damaged will determine how much of their lives they get to enjoy from now on. Some unfortunately did not survive the violence by a gun. I just think to myself that this can be my child. Bullets don’t have names.

Guns In School

You ever wonder why kids are packing guns with their lunch these days? I know that some kids don’t have lunch; but they have a gun in their bookbag. It makes you wonder; if a child is bringing a firearm to school, is it because they are being bullied. Also, I wonder where they got the gun from. Maybe they are just showing off to their friends in an effort to fit in. Is the student involved in a gang? Whatever the reason, it makes me wonder what is wrong with this world. Why would a child feel the need to bring a weapon to school? Whatever the reason is, it has to stop.

Photo by Heather Mount on Unsplash

So should the answer be to install metal detectors at school? Maybe make the kids carry clear bookbags so that the contents are visible while at school? We all know that there are too many politics involved to actually make this a reality. And even if it did happen, would it make a difference? Is it enough?

Senseless Acts of Violence

Being shot over a gas pump at the gas station is not enough reason to justify a life being lost. Accidentally, stepping on someone’s sneaker is not a reason to be shot. Sitting on your porch or being in front of your building, minding your own business is not a reason to be shot. Brushing up against someone in a crowded room, is not a reason to kill someone.

Believe it or not, it happens more often than you think. There is no regard for life these days. Over the past two years, we have already lost and continue to lose people every day due to Covid-19 and then we add the number of people being killed by guns. Sometimes you don’t want to go out and enjoy life because something might pop off out of nowhere, and over something so small. It is not a good idea to live life afraid to go certain places, but it is a reality for some people.

Drive by Shootings

When drive by shootings happen a lot of times people who have nothing to do with the beef get hurt. An unfortunate fact but something we live with in this world. Consider yourself lucky if you haven’t been a victim of gun violence. The people who commit these crimes have no regard for who else will be affected by whatever drama they have going on. Usually, it is over something trifling, like whose block they on and all the other nonsense.

Road Rage

Everyone is in such a rush these days. Some are just plain rude and like to cut people off on the road because they think they can. It makes no sense to shoot someone because you think they stole your parking space. Maybe they were driving too slow and they wanted you out of the way. People, slow down!! Where ever you are going will still be there when you arrive. The goal is to arrive in one piece.

You may have looked at someone too long or in the wrong way and that person took offense. The next thing you know, you are minding your business at work and you get shot for something that was misinterpreted by the person who shot you. It has happened, this is not made up. People are so much in their feelings about small things and therefore just looking for a reason to jump. Why?! Get over yourself and just drive your car man! If I’m driving too slow, go around me. If I mistakenly cut over into your lane, I’m sorry, I didn’t see you.

Conclusion

In my opinion, you shouldn’t have to worry about your child coming home from school. Wondering if they are going to make it through the day at school. They are there to learn but it seems that they have their safety to worry about too. What happened to worrying about if you are going to do well on a test? If you made it on the sports team or into a club at school? Now, you have to watch your back and hope nobody tests you in ways other than academically.

Do we need to equip everyone with bullet proof vests? Are all the stores going to install plexiglass? Maybe businesses will install metal detectors for all patrons coming into their establishment. Better or newer gun laws might help. Harder punishment for perpetrators of gun violence? More education about the proper use of guns might help to prevent accidental discharges. I’m not sure what the answer is but something has to change.

Categories
Topic

Eye Lashes, Brows, Lips, Butt and Fingernails

With all the airbrushing we see in magazines and online., there is a lot of pressure to try to look like these “unrealistic” images. Just use what you have naturally. There is nothing wrong with just being you. Sometimes we do too much in an effort to fit in. Come with me on this comical but true journey about some of the cosmetic changes we make. I know you will smile or laugh at yourself at least once. If none of these apply to you, at least you know someone who fits the description.

Eye Lashes

Left- Natural lashes Right- Extra-long falsies

Lashes, lashes and more lashes, you know who you are. Let’s talk about these extra-long eye lashes. Just one question; why? Are you looking for shade for your face? Why do your lashes need to be this long? I know you can’t wear sunglasses or any kind of eyewear with these long lashes. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to have full lashes. But…when your eye lashes look like you have a caterpillar or roach on your eye lids, that ain’t cute! Stop it with these extra- long lashes, it’s too much. You are going to mess around and get those lashes caught in something then what are you going to do? We don’t need those problems.

Brows

Nicely shaped brows

On top of having full lashes, it is nice to have a neatly shaped brow. There are a few ways to get them into the shape you want to fit your face. Please remember that you DO NOT want to have the surprised look on your face. You know, when the brows are arched so high that you look surprised all the time… Come on now, admit that at least once you arched your brows too high. Tell the truth! But seriously, arch the brows but not so much so that you look like you are in amazement all day, every day.

Lips

If you have lips that are thin and you want them to look fuller, just try lipstick that has “plumper” added. There are a lot of shades on the market these days. But, when you get your lips injected with filler and your lips are abnormally big for your face; Houston we have a problem! You want your lips to look natural, not like they are swollen and you can stick a pin in them and they will deflate. Or so big that it looks like you had an allergic reaction to something. Also, when applying clear lip gloss; don’t put on so much that it looks like you stuck your face in a bucket of greasy chicken! Just use enough to cover the surface for moisturization. Remember, less is more.

THIS IS NOT THE LOOK YOU WANT

Butt

Now, some of us have a butt and some of us don’t. It’s okay. If you need a little extra cushion or padding, you can always buy butt pads. They look like a girdle but have the padding sewn into the butt area. It’s the same concept of a padded bra. The benefit of wearing butt pads is that you won’t need surgery to achieve the look you want. On the other hand, if you get butt injections to make your back side look bigger, be weary! Some people get too much and it looks so unnatural. If the rest of your body is not proportionate to the size of your butt, it will not look right. Just keep that in mind.

Fingernails

Left- Workable length Right- A little long, claw-like

Nails, nails and more nails. Whether you wear your natural nails, acrylic, gel or press-ons, let’s not get out of hand with the length. The nails are so long that they start to curl under or the press-ons are so long you can’t do certain things. It doesn’t matter how nicely the nails are painted with the colors and designs. You can still have the same look but with a length that is workable. The longer the nails the more germs get under the nail beds. It also makes it harder to perform regular hygienic tasks.

Beauty is important but let’s not sacrifice our health with the unhealthy fillers and injections we get for bigger lips and a bigger butt. The pressure is real, but it is not worth the harmful effects it can have on us later on. What do you say on the subject?

Categories
Info Self Awareness Topic

Mental Health

Check out Tha Du-Ja Show. This episode is about Mental Health.

Congratulations to Duquan Hicks and Aa-son Jasim for 1 year of their awareness podcast. Keep it up and much success to you both!!

Some of the topics they have covered include social injustice, dating, an interview with DJ Shakim, loose conversation, and the latest episode on Mental Health. Check out their YouTube channel, Tha Du-Ja Show to see other episodes. Enjoy!

Categories
Topic

Can You Answer This? What do you like most about your hometown?

What is the favorite thing you like about your hometown? Is it the people, music, energy, food or general overall feeling of home?

City people might say that they love the energy of their city, with all the hustle and bustle. On the other hand, if you are from the country or more rural area people might say that they like the peace and quiet of the environment. What is your take on what you like most about your hometown?

Categories
Self Awareness Topic

Women’s Health: Time to check these 5 things off your list

It’s time for us to check some health exams off of the list. If we don’t take care of ourselves we certainly can’t take care of everything else in life. Being a woman comes with a lot of responsibility. We owe it to ourselves to make sure that we both look and feel good. Kids, family, career, spouse/significant other are all very demanding. We can handle it though. It’s not easy but we can do it. We have days when we might not feel up to it and that is ok. But, keeping up on our health is important. If we don’t feel well it affects our quality of life.

Physical Exam

A yearly physical exam is usually performed at your primary care physician’s office. The doctor will check your vitals, blood pressure, pulse, and listen to your chest through the stethoscope. Also, they check your ears and eyes as well. Some PCPs will perform a breast exam, if you request it. At the physical the doctor will ask you general health questions about any medical family history of certain illnesses. This helps the provider assess your risk of developing health issues. Also, blood tests and/or urine tests will be done at this visit.

Why get a physical exam?

It helps to find out if there are medical issues that need to be addressed. You can learn things about your body like whether or not you are anemic, in which case you might need to take some kind of iron supplements or get the needed iron from food. You might have high blood pressure or maybe your blood sugar is too high or low. Just simple blood tests can help you determine if your cholesterol is too high. This testing can also detect any problems with your kidneys. After learning what your blood results are you can start to take steps to improve your health.

Depending on what the results show it may be a matter of changing your diet and/or exercise. Some conditions may require medication. But having these yearly physical exams keeps you informed about your health.

Mammogram

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Breast health is very important for women. A mammogram is a radiology test that takes images of your breast tissue. It can detect whether you have healthy breast tissue or breast cancer. The actual test is not the most comfortable but at least, in most cases, you only have to have a mammogram once a year. Your healthcare provider can specify how often you will need to have this performed.

If you notice any changes in your breasts, like their appearance or the way they feel, it is worth it to get checked out. Self-breast exams at home are important too. This way you know what is normal for you and if something feels off, you will be able to recognize it.

Gynecology Exam

Image by therapractice from Pixabay

A gynecology exam is a pelvic exam to look at the reproductive organs. The exam can help to detect cancers like ovarian cancer or cervical cancer. Also, the gynecologist can visually look for any signs of thinning/thickening of the uterine lining. The vulva, vagina, uterus and cervix are the areas that will be examined. The provider can also see if you have fibroid tumors and/or any other abnormalities., like a cyst on the ovaries. A breast exam is also included in most gynecology exams. During this exam, a PAP smear is performed and sent to the lab. Usually, a gynecology exam is performed yearly and PAP smears done every 3 years, if normal. A PAP smear looks for any abnormal cells of the cervix.

Having a gynecology exam can be uncomfortable because a stranger is looking at the most intimate parts of your body. The reason it is important is for early detection of any serious illness. The sooner a potential problem is found, the sooner treatment can begin, if needed.

Eye Exam

For obvious reasons, eye exams are important. Good vision is essential if we are going to carry on in our day-to-day activities. Certain health conditions have an effect on our vision, so even more reason to have your eyes checked. Diabetes, high blood pressure, liver disease, sickle cell disease and shingles all play a part in how our eyes function. There are other factors too that contribute to poor eye health.

Malnutrition can also cause problems. If we are not eating right and getting the proper nutrients we need, it affects our overall health. Without the proper vitamins and minerals that we get from food, over time puts us at risk for developing macular degeneration.

Dental exam

Photo by Atikah Akhtar on Unsplash

Oral health is important. Especially, if you are a happy person and you like to smile a lot. You want your smile to be bright. Also, you want to have a healthy mouth and fresh breath. Routine dental exams are where we can start. Regular dental cleanings can detect any problems, like cavities, periodontal disease or maybe you have teeth that overlap and need braces.

We have all heard it; brushing at least twice a day, and flossing daily is the minimum we should do. Just pause and think about how often we actually floss… Brushing does not get all the “bad” things we need to reach between teeth. Flossing is a very important step but many of us skip this part or don’t do it as often as we should. I admit; I am one of these people.

If you notice swollen or red gums, bad breath, bleeding gums, these are all signs that something needs attention. Our oral health, if left unchecked can have negative consequences on our health. Inflammation in the mouth can let bacteria into the bloodstream and can lead to inflammation in other parts of the body. There is a correlation between gum disease and diabetes, heart conditions and respiratory problems.

You Matter

We only have one life to live so let’s make it a great one! In recognition of Women’s History Month, let’s do something for ourselves and keep our health in check. Now, if you are already up on all of these things, then you are definitely ahead of the game. Keep it up!

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