Dr. William Gorgas and his Management Style in the Eradication of Yellow Fever during the Panama Canal Construction: A Historical Case Study

This study describes the style of management of Dr. William Gorgas as he led the public health effort to reduce diseases to a level that permitted the completion of the Panama Canal construction. Initially, Gorgas was skeptical of the mosquito vector theory. He fully accepted this theory after participating in Walter Reed\u27s massive cleanup of Havana, Cuba during the Spanish American War of 1898. During 1905 to 1914, Gorgas was selected to lead the sanitary effort during the construction of the Panama Canal. The lessons learned from this historical case study provide public health administrators with guidance to effectively lead current and future infectious diseases threats. Understanding styles of management within the context of disease control is essential in tackling epidemics like yellow fever and other infectious diseases.https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/archivedposters/1030/thumbnail.jp

Allium sativum: nutritional properties.

Dear Sir, Garlic has been shown to affect a number of chronic and acute conditions and physiological properties of the human body. Diseases like cardiovascular disease, hypertension, atherosclerosis, etc. Garlic has been shown to decrease serum cholesterol and play an anti-carcinogenic role. Studies suggest beneficial effects of the regular dietary intake of garlic on mild hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Garlic seems to have anti-microbial and immunostimulating properties, enhance fibrinolytic activity, and exert favorable effects on platelet aggregation and adhesion. ..

The cultural gap delivering health care services to Arab American populations in the United States.

The relationship between Middle Eastern patients and populations of Arab origin with western health care professionals are by no means free of cultural misunderstandings. The relationship is often strained by mutual cultural misunderstanding as well as communicative and linguistic hardship. Even though people from the Middle East do vary racially, they do have shared values and behavior. This can include the importance of family cohesion, and interactive attitudes toward ailments and health. Some issues and concerns in providing health care could vary from attaining adequate information to communicated suggested behavioral change by a patient. Culturally and linguistically appropriate guidelines are warranted to provide an understanding of the cultural distinctiveness of Arab Eastern patients by shortening the gap between the Arab cultures with the western medical culture thus improving their healthcare needs

Dr. William Gorgas and his style of management against yellow fever during the construction of the Panama Canal: A historical case study

This study describes the style of management of Dr. William Gorgas as he led the public health effort to reduce diseases to a level that permitted the completion of the Panama Canal construction. Initially, Gorgas was skeptical of the mosquito vector theory. He fully accepted this theory after participating in Walter Reed’s massive cleanup of Havana, Cuba during the Spanish American War of 1898. During 1905 to 1914, Gorgas was selected to lead the sanitary effort during the construction of the Panama Canal. The lessons learned from this historical case study provide public health administrators with guidance to effectively lead current and future infectious diseases threats. Understanding styles of management within the context of disease control is essential in tackling epidemics like yellow fever and other infectious diseases

Influence of family history and lifestyle on blood pressure and heart rate in young adults in Jordan.

BACKGROUND: The most prevalent disease in Jordan is hypertension. Jordan is a small, middle-income developing country in the Middle East. It has a population of 5611202 people. Few studies have examined the associated cardiovascular risk factors in Jordan. DESIGN: The aim of this investigation was to explore specific lifestyles in Jordan, measuring blood pressure and heart rate through a randomized cross-sectional population study. METHODS: A total of 14310 adult males (7400) and females (6910) were selected in various regions of Jordan. Selected participants were interviewed by trained senior pharmacy students. They were asked whether they had hypertension or other cardiovascular disorders and if the answer was negative further questions were asked. This was followed by measurement of blood pressure and heart rate. Demographic data such as age, sex and nationality were also recorded, as was family history of hypertension. For each individual of the sample, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate were measured three times with 10-15min intervals in a sitting position and resting state. The Student's unpaired t-test was used for statistical analysis. Results were considered statistically significant when the P value was less than 0.05. RESULTS: A general trend in all the results tables was a lower blood pressure among those without a family history of cardiovascular disease and higher values among those with a family history of cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that SBP and DBP increase with all associated risk factors if a family history of hypertension is positive. This cross-sectional study revealed the presence of a consistent and strong relationship between certain lifestyle risk factors with an elevation in blood pressure concurrent with a positive family history of hypertension

Influence of family history and lifestyle on blood pressure and heart rate in young adults in Jordan

Summary Background The most prevalent disease in Jordan is hypertension. Jordan is a small, middle-income developing country in the Middle East. It has a population of 5 611 202 people. Few studies have examined the associated cardiovascular risk factors in Jordan. Design The aim of this investigation was to explore specific lifestyles in Jordan, measuring blood pressure and heart rate through a randomized cross-sectional population study. Methods A total of 14 310 adult males (7400) and females (6910) were selected in various regions of Jordan. Selected participants were interviewed by trained senior pharmacy students. They were asked whether they had hypertension or other cardiovascular disorders and if the answer was negative further questions were asked. This was followed by measurement of blood pressure and heart rate. Demographic data such as age, sex and nationality were also recorded, as was family history of hypertension. For each individual of the sample, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate were measured three times with 10–15 min intervals in a sitting position and resting state. The Student\u27s unpaired t-test was used for statistical analysis. Results were considered statistically significant when the P value was less than 0.05. Results A general trend in all the results tables was a lower blood pressure among those without a family history of cardiovascular disease and higher values among those with a family history of cardiovascular disease. Conclusion This study demonstrates that SBP and DBP increase with all associated risk factors if a family history of hypertension is positive. This cross-sectional study revealed the presence of a consistent and strong relationship between certain lifestyle risk factors with an elevation in blood pressure concurrent with a positive family history of hypertension

Dark Chocolate and Blood Pressure: A Novel Study from Jordan

Aim: The goal of this study was to assess the effect of dark chocolate intake on cardiovascular parameters like blood pressure and heart rate values in a normotensive population. Subjects and methods: This is a randomized crosssectional study involving a total of 14,310 adults that were selected from various regions of Jordan. Well-trained pharmacy students interviewed participants in the outpatient settings. Participants reported their weekly intake of dark chocolate that has been further classified into mild (1-2 bars/week), moderate (3-4 bars/week), and high intake ( \u3e 4 bars/week). For each participant, the systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate were measured three times with (10-15) minute intervals in the sitting position and the resting state. The arterial blood pressure (ABP) was calculated from the measured SBP and DBP values. Results: All measured blood pressure values were significantly decreased for participants who reported higher dark chocolate consumption. Our results showed that heart rate values were not affected by variable intake of dark chocolate. In addition, increasing dark chocolate intake was associated with a significant decrease of blood pressure values in participants irrespective of the family history of hypertension or the age of the individual. However, heart rate values were unaffected. Conclusion: Higher intake of dark chocolate can be associated with lower values of blood pressure, while its effect on heart rate values was not consistent

Dark Chocolate and Blood Pressure: A Novel Study from Jordan

Aim: The goal of this study was to assess the effect of dark chocolate intake on cardiovascular parameters like blood pressure and heart rate values in a normotensive population. Subjects and methods: This is a randomized crosssectional study involving a total of 14,310 adults that were selected from various regions of Jordan. Well-trained pharmacy students interviewed participants in the outpatient settings. Participants reported their weekly intake of dark chocolate that has been further classified into mild (1-2 bars/week), moderate (3-4 bars/week), and high intake ( \u3e 4 bars/week). For each participant, the systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate were measured three times with (10-15) minute intervals in the sitting position and the resting state. The arterial blood pressure (ABP) was calculated from the measured SBP and DBP values. Results: All measured blood pressure values were significantly decreased for participants who reported higher dark chocolate consumption. Our results showed that heart rate values were not affected by variable intake of dark chocolate. In addition, increasing dark chocolate intake was associated with a significant decrease of blood pressure values in participants irrespective of the family history of hypertension or the age of the individual. However, heart rate values were unaffected. Conclusion: Higher intake of dark chocolate can be associated with lower values of blood pressure, while its effect on heart rate values was not consistent

Public awareness of the abuse of herbs and drugs to decrease body weight: a novel national survey in Jordan

Objectives: The aim of this investigation was to measure the degree of public preferences regarding the various weight-loss practices and to assess the level of awareness regarding the risks and health hazards associated with the application of unhealthful measures to lose weight. Methods: Approximately 30,000 individuals selected from various regions in Jordan filled in a self-reported questionnaire. Participants were interviewed by well-trained senior pharmacy students and were asked to report their response to various aspects regarding body weight-loss practices. Results: Of the respondents, 74.55% agreed that dietary restriction is the major intervention to lose weight. A modest majority of respondents (39.09%) believed that nervousness and irritability are serious drawbacks for uncontrolled administration of the hormone thyroxine. The highest percentage of responding females (67.12%) reported diarrhea as a major adverse effect to laxative abuse. Discussion: The availability and the number of adverse events associated with herbal and dietary supplements to lose weight are on the rise. Obese patients should consider realistic expectations and be encouraged to follow healthy lifestyle interventions. Health care professionals are best suited to educate obese patients about unhealthy practices like laxative and diuretic abuse. © 2007 Springer-Verlag