The AppleThe Lucky Issue

Issue 4

March

2015Happy

St. Patty's Day!

The Apple - March Issue

WHAT DO YOU LOOKFORWARD TO ON ST.PATTY'S?TARA: the gold at the end of therainbowALISIYAH: writing on myself withgreen marker and putting cloverstickers all over myselfKYLEEN: being sober becauseMarch. 17 is a TuesdayJENNY: eating green pancakesand pretending I'm IrishMIN: the not-so-sober morningpeople

HSSA's online NewsletterThis is our fourth issue of The Apple, thesecond of the year 2015!Included are upcoming events within theSchool of Health Studies, recap of past eventsfrom February, relevant news and events in thefield of Health Sciences and some nutritiousrecipes for you to try out.

The purpose of this newsletter is to help keepthe student body up to date and informed ofwhat's happening within their faculty, anyupcoming events and things to look out for.If you have any comments, suggestions orquestions, or perhaps a recipe you'd like tosubimit or an article topic you'd like to suggest,feel free to email us atwesternhssa@gmail.com!

EMILY: everything being green,mainly the pancake and beer

Be updated with HSSA:Follow us on Twitter :www.twitter.com/WesternHSSACheck out our website:

www. westernHSSA.com

Like us on Facebook:

www.facebook.com/HSSA

Stressed out?HSSA is selling stress balls staring March4 at HSB 8! For only $3 you can have ananatomical heart stress ball that can beused for:

1) Reducing your stress during finals(they're coming right around the corner!)2) Give to your friends as a gift!Check the next page for details.

St. Patty's is coming up:Be responsible and safe, fellow HealthStudies students!Why can't you borrow money from aleprechaun?Because they're always a little short!

The current measles outbreaksin Canada are a clear call foraction in response to the spreadof this highly infectious disease.The spread of contagiousdiseases such as measles canbe controlled through increasingeducation regarding the use ofvaccines as a preventionmethod.Awareness needs to beincreased about the necessity ofgetting infants and childrenvaccinated early to stop thespread of contagious illnesses.Health Studies students need tobe aware of the requirementsfor vaccination since it isimportant for anybody enteringcolleges and trade schools,travelling internationally, andworking in health care to getvaccinated for Measles, Mumps,and Rubella (MMR).Measles is one of the mostcontagious illnesses and itspreads like wildfire. It spreadsfrom an infected personcoughing, sneezing or eventalking. It can be transmitted aseasily as through breathing inair containing the virus up to twohours after an infected personleaves a room. After infection,there is possibility for fullrecovery, although some peoplestill develop seriouscomplications.Including the MMR vaccineunder provincially coveredprograms was a big steptowards overcoming measles.While measles was virtually

wiped out of Canada, its highcontagiousness can lead tosporadic outbreaks fromsources such as infectedtravellers. Right now, theoutbreaks in Canada are largelyas a result of anti-vaccinationmovements.If an unvaccinated person isexposed to measles, it is verylikely that they will contract thevirus and continue to spread iton to other vulnerable people.Since measles is so highlyinfectious, a 95 percentvaccination rate is needed tohave a sufficient number ofpeople vaccinated to preventoutbreaks, this concept is called“herd immunity”. Herd immunitywould protect vulnerable groupswho are not eligible for thevaccine such as infants,pregnant women and peoplewith compromised health.The number of people at risk toexposure is increasing as agrowing number of parents havechosen not to have theirchildren immunized. This isdone for a number of reasonssuch as religion, concerns aboutside effects, and fears that theMMR vaccine will cause autism– a relationship with hasnotoriously been proven false.The evidence is clear thatvaccines work. The vaccine hasbeen proven to be safe; in fact,it is considered a much saferalternative than simply notgetting it.

The current measles outbreaksin Canada is a reminder of thenecessity of getting childrenimmunized at young ages andfor everybody to stay up to dateon vaccines. Many people donot realize the impact that theirdecision to not get immunizedcan have. If vaccinationschedules are not rigidlyadhered to, then you startgetting a reappearance of adisease. We need to dispelmyths and give people the factsto enable them to realize thatgetting vaccinated providesprevention of infection andspread of illnesses at both apersonal and societal level.

Vaccination to Prevent OutbreaksBy: Jenny Van Dorp

Introducing: Golden Apple Nominations

The Golden Apple was created in January of 2015 by the HealthStudies Students’ Association as a means to honour well-roundedstudents in the School of Health Studies who display exceptionalhealth behaviors (for example, health advocacy) to WesternUniversity, School of Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciencesand/or community (monetary prize of $200).Self-nominations are also acceptable.Nominations for the Golden Apple will be accepted for up to 5outstanding Health Studies undergraduate full-time students whobest exemplify the spirit of a Health Studies student!Find the application on our Facebook page!Deadline: Friday, March 20th, 2015 pm at 4 pm in HSB 8

A Day to Learn About Careers in AgingThis is an opportunity toengage with a wide range ofhealth professionals includinggeriatricians, nursing homeadministrators, outreachprofessionals, tele-healthprofessionals, client servicecoordinators, and owners oflong-term care facilities.Students will sit in groups of4-5 and will converse with ahealth professionals for 20

minutes. After a break, we willhave 2 more rounds ofinformal conversations withdifferent professionals.The event is meant to beinformal and informative. Lastyear, one of the tangibleoutcomes of this event was ajob interview and asubsequent paid position in along-term care organizationfor one of our students.

Another outcome was anopportunity for students toattend a fully-funded geriatricrefresher day.

This event is for all studentsbut the capacity is limited soplease RSVP by March 18,2015. This event is great forthose who both know andhave little idea about theircareer paths. All are welcome!

If you have any questions or articletopics or recipes you would like tosubmit, please directly message us

through our Facebook page!www.facebook.com/WesternHSSA

Chocolate Avocado PuddingBy: Kyleen Wong

Chocolate pudding is now an acceptablebreakfast food. Yes, that’s right, this chocolatepudding, which is made with avocadoes, is sohealthy that it is breakfast-approved.

Ingredients:• 1 large avocado• 1/4 cup of agave or maple syrup• 1/4 cup of coca powder• 2 tsp coconut oil• 1/4 tsp balsamic• 1/4 tsp nama shoyu• 1/8 tsp salt

Instructions:1. Blend all ingredients together untilsmooth and creamy. That's it.

By: Kyleen Wong

Ingredients:• 1 cup of packed dates,soaked in hot water anddrained• 1/4 cup of honey• 1/4 cup of creamy naturalpeanut butter• cup of roasted unsaltedalmonds, roughly shopped• 1 1/2 cup rolled oatsDirections:1. In a food processor, pureedates until smooth.

2. In a small saucepan overlow heat, warm honey andpeanut butter less viscous.3. In a bowl combine the oats,almonds, dates, and honey/peanut butter mixture.4. Press into 8x8-inch pan. Letset in the fridge for 15-20minutes. Remove bars frompan and chop into 10 bars.Store in airtight container forup to a few days or in thefreezer.

Granola BarsLooking for an easy, healthy snack for those days when you seem to be on campus fromdawn to dusk? Whip up a batch of these 4 ingredient granola bars and stash a few in yourbag to keep you going! - Kyleen Wong

Volunteer opportunity: Age-Friendly London

What is an Age-Friendly City? How To Get Involved?

In 2010, London became thefirst city in Canada to join theWorld Health Organization's(WHO) Global Network of AgeFriendly Cities.What is an Age Friendly City?An Age-friendly Cities Progarmis an international effort to helpcities prepare for globaldemographic trends: the rapidageing of populations andincreasing urbanization. AnAge-friendly city is an inclusiveand accessible urbanenvrionment that promotesactive aging.The city of London establishedan Age Friendly London TaskForce in 2011, made up of

over 100 volunteer olderadults, caregivers, serviceproviders and anyone with aninterest in aging, to develop anAction Plan to improve the agefriendliness of our community.City of London came up with a3 Year Strategic Plan for theSenior's Centres in order tohelp older adults live healthy,active and socially orientedlives.The City staff createdprogarms, activities andservices built on a model ofwellness and over the last fewyears, they have been movingto a "hub-and-satellite" modelof service delivery. This

arrangement offers regularactivities at neighbourhoodlocations throughout the city.Volunteers are involved in manydifferent roles at our locations,such as:Knitting instructorsArts and Crafts InstructorFitness AssistantSports AssistantLanguage InstructorSpanish Cooking eladerand more!VIsit london.ca and findvolunteer applications here:http://www.london.ca/residents/Seniors/Hamilton-Road-Seniors/Documents/Application.pdfA great way to get involved!

By: Min Jo

It is that time of year again!Spring is just around thecorner, it is a great time togive your life a fresh clean.Are you still committed to yourNew Year’s Resolution? Haveyour grades been slippingafter a tough midterm season?Can you see the carpet inyour bedroom? How aboutyour plate – any green? March20th marks the beginning ofspring, use this day as one toreevaluate the areas of yourlife that may need somecleaning.Start with your living space.Those dust-bunnies andcobwebs are not going to helpcure that cold you have beenfighting all winter. Use propercleaning supplies to wipeaway all the germs that havebuilt up while you have beenbusy in your books. Go a stepfurther and reorganize yourshelves or fold the pile ofclothes thrown on your chair.Maybe you will find someextra space to be home to anew bamboo plant – it only

needs a little bit of water andbrings a whole lot of luck.Next, prepare for the worstand dig deep into yourrefrigerator. Remember thebag of spinach you bought afew weeks ago when youwanted more iron in your diet?It probably looks more likegreen soup now. Perhaps nexttime you could buy a pack offrozen spinach and take apiece off each time you makea homemade stir-fry.Now that your fridge is clean,you might want to think aboutareas of your diet you couldclean. Fresh fruits andvegetables are always a “yes,”but maybe limit your pizzaintake to one night a week.March is National NutritionMonth, so it would be a greattime assess your diet andmake sure you are getting allthe essential nutrients.Preparing meals for the weekon a Sunday night is a greatway to avoid the temptationand convenience of fast food.

Similar to choosing healthyfoods worth the calories, makesure you surround yourselfwith friends who are worthyour time. It is important tohave positive and supportivepeople who make your lifemore fulfilling and enjoyable.Roommate or friend-groupdrama can be a huge amountof added stress, and it is timeto reevaluate those you spendyour time with. Be with peoplewho make you happy andinspire you.

Once everything in yourpersonal life is back on track,it is easier to focus on youracademics. Set aside acertain amount of time eachday to do school work, but besure to include breaks. Planyour weekly to-do list alongwith your lunches on Sundaynights – multitasking is key tosuccess! This “spring clean”may seem difficult, but bytaking one area of your life ata time, you’ll feel fresh andrenewed in no time!

Spring Clean Your Closet and Your LifeBy: Emily Johnston

We'd like to help wish Dr. Irwin, abeloved professor in Health Studies, aspeedy recovery. Therefore, HSSA hasa giant card in progress located in thecouncil office (HSB 8).We would like to invite everyone todrop by during office hours and writea message over the next two weeks!And make sure to check out her inspiringstory here: http://news.westernu.ca/2015/02/irwin-sharing-story-others-can-better-understand/

Get Better Soon, Dr. Irwin!

In Canada, the shortage ofbody, organ, and blooddonations is affecting the livesof Canadians every day. Thefinalists of HSSA’s first annualHealth Care Challenge weregiven the task to address thiscurrent issue by finding aninnovative solution. The panelof judges included Tara Chen,the President of HSSA; BonnieAdamson, former CEO ofLHSC; and RamonaFerndandez; health studiesfaculty professor.After an entire day of amazingpresentations, the judgesdeliberated and decided on thetop three groups that presentedoutstanding ideas. The thirdplace team, consisted of NicolaPaviglianiti, Annie Zhang, andVictoria Chok, presented theidea of a reality T.V showcalled, “How I got my Donor”.This method focused on using

the success of television showsto appeal to audiences on thereality of organ donation,incorporating people who areaffected by the shortage ofdonors. They hoped to bringawareness by inviting viewerson the journey and lives ofpatients that can inspire andeducate eligible donors.Tiffany Tsui, Jargriti Sharma,and Nicole Saunders were themembers of the team thatplaced second place with theiridea that can increase bonemarrow donations. They hopedto implement a fast track line atService Ontario that would helpencourage people who werewaiting to renew their healthcards to also become futuredonors. To be eligible to thefast- track line, one must watchan educational video on thedonation process, fill a smallsurvey, and have the option to

be involved in on- the- spotcheek swabs. This creativeapproach to tackling theshortage of bone marrowdonation begins withinOntarians but could potentiallygrow to a larger scale.Lastly, the winners of theHealth Care Challenge wereAlec Watson, Aishi Jiang, andRohin Tangri. Their approachwas to reward blood donorswith subscriptions to e-books.This program was toextrinsically motivate studentswith e-books that willeventually lead to an intrinsicattitude in blood donation. Wewould like to congratulate allteams in participating inHSSA’s annual Health CareChallenge and sharing theirideas to tackle health issuesand we hope you will continueto be leaders in health.

HSSA's Health Care Challenge recap:By: Joey Chan

On March 27th 2015, 47 HealthStudies students will betraveling to Yale University inNew Haven, Connecticut toattend The Unite for SightGlobal Health and InnovationConference. This 2-dayconference is the world’sleading and largest globalhealth conference, hostingspeakers and workshopsinfluenced by professionalsand students from all over theU.S. and worldwide. Topics tobe covered at the conferenceinclude global health,international development, andsocial entrepreneurship. All ofthese subjects which areclosely related to various

courses available within theHealth Sciences modules.Western students will be ableto learn and contribute to realworld issues through ourmultidisciplinary perspectiveapproach on health care andhealth systems. With over 2000professionals and studentspresent, the Unite for SightGlobal and InnovationConference is a great place forstudents to network and gainsome insight into theirparticular field of interest.This amazing opportunity wasmade possible by the HealthStudies Students Associationthrough the Student

Opportunity Fund (SOF). TheSOF will cover the costs fortransportation to and from YaleUniversity, as well asaccommodation in New Haven.Students will only beresponsible for conference feesand spending while on the trip.The trip to Yale University willend on March 29th and thegroup will be returning toLondon, ON on March 30th.We look forward to learningmore about different aspects ofhealth while representingWestern University and HealthStudies at the conference!

Upcoming: Unite for Sight Global Health andInnovation Conference at Yale UniversityBy: Alisiyah Daya

Have a younger sibling, relative or friend entering university next yearand considering Western? Tell them about Western's upcoming MarchBreak Open House! Happening on Sat. March, 4th, Health Studies willbe providing information and answering questions at HSB all day!

5 Tips to Having A GoodNights RestBy: Inaara LalaniAs university students, we are most likely a little sleepdeprived. Whether it is because we stay up latestudyingor just have trouble fallingasleepwhenwearestressed out, I am going to share with you 5 tips to helpget a good nights rest. If you aren’t sleeping therecommended hours, these tips will make sure thatyouget themostout of the timeyouareactually asleep.This is especially important thismonth becauseMarch2nd-8th is Sleep Awareness Week.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, here arefive of my favorite tips that they recommend:

1. Exercise daily - Physical activity is extremelyimportant for your health and wellbeing but it has a lotof added benefits that you would not think of.Exercisingeverydayhelps tomakeyou triedby theendof the day so that you fall asleepmore easily. Exerciseat any time of the day can help but the more strenuousthe exercise, the better. So instead of watching Netflixforanhour, trygoing to thegymso that youwill feel tiredat night.

2. Wind Down – Don’t go to bed right after you finishwriting an essay on your laptop; take some to winddown away from any electronics. The light from thescreen, whether it is your computer or phone, makesyour brainmore active therefore reading a book beforeyou go to bed is a great way to allow your brain to relaxso that you don’t toss and turn in bed.

3. Stick to the same bed time and wake up time –Waking up and going to bed at the same timeeveryday, even on weekends helps regulate yourbodies clock and can help you go to bed more easilyand wake up more easily so that you don’t end uprunning to your 8:30am class.

4. Avoid naps in the afternoon – As someone wholoves to nap, I have definitely experienced theproblems associated with this. When you take a naplater on in the day it ruins your sleep at night. If you dohave to take a nap to help you get through the day,make it shorter and earlier in the day to make sure thatit does not spoil your sleep at night.