healthy you
mind, body, spirit
Spring 2007 Vol. 5 Issue 2
YOU CAN GET
HIV/AIDS
FROM UNSAFE
SEX
healthy you
mind, body, spirit
Spring 2007 Vol. 5 Issue 2
dean of the college of human services and health professions
Diane Lyden Murphy
senior vice president & dean of student affairs
Barry L. Wells
associate provost for academic programs
Sandra N. Hurd
editorial director
Luvenia W. Cowart, Ed.D., R.N.
student editorial board adviser
Dessa Bergen-Cico, Ph.D.
editorial adviser
Gillian Ottman
student chief editor & art director
Carly L. Migliori
interns
Marissa Broe
Hannah Fessler
designer
Derek Li
illustrators
Kristal Michalatos
Erin Schechtman
photographers
Derek Li
Melissa Pincus
student editorial board
Kaitlin Ahern, Jennifer BouChamoun, Marissa Broe,
Mallory Creveling, Alyssa Friedman, Nicole Imbrogno,
Kat Kondracki, Amanda Lundblad, Kristal Michalatos,
Felicia Owusu, David Taube, Jennifer Williams, Gabby Zurrow
contributors
James R. Jacobs, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.E.P.,
Director of Health Services, Syracuse University
Ruth Stein, Ph.D., Interim Director, Academic Office of Integrity
Thomas V. Wolfe, Dean, Hendricks Chapel
Contact Us
Healthy You welcomes letters to the
editor and story ideas.
Healthy You
Syracuse University
College of Human Services
and Health Professions
426 Ostrom Ave.
Syracuse, NY 13244
phone (315) 443-9808
email at [email protected]
on the Web healthyyou.syr.edu
editorial policy
Healthy You is a jointly funded publication of the Syracuse
University College of Human Services and Health Professions
and the Division of Student Affairs. This publication enhances,
broadens, and supports the academic and social experience
of students.
The Student Editorial Board is responsible for providing the
work structure for the magazine’s production, which includes
the content, design, production, and distribution.
The information contained in this publication is not to be
construed as medical advice. Readers should consult a medical
professional before engaging in any activity described. The
contents of this magazine may not be reprinted without the
expressed consent of the editorial director.
sxc.hu
spring 2007
inside
5
health bytes
Turn old food into new
food and spice up your
dinner plate.
mind
6
banish the guilt
Studies show the benefits
of a sweet treat.
7
selfdiagnosis.web
The internet changes the
way people deal
with mental illness.
body
16
guard your soles
19
a serving of health
Wearing shower shoes
eliminates the risks
of foot maladies.
17
a portrait of family
medical history
10
life with AIDS
Knowing medical history
can save your life.
18
achoo!
14
testing positive
Homeopathic remedies help
solve allergy symptoms.
A dietitian keeps your
eating habits in check.
hiv/aids
8
15
testing on campus
Finding out the truth about
your personal wellness is just
a quad away.
beyond the net
Magic Johnson threw
an unexpected pass in
his career and it wasn’t
on the court.
Experience one man’s
journey with the virus.
Keeping good spirits
eliminates the stigma
associated with HIV/AIDS.
editor’s note
I think we are all looking for
the meanings of life. I have
always thought it was important
to be successful in everything
I’ve tried. This method has made
me work extremely hard in my
academic and career endeavors,
but has also forced my social life
to suffer at times. Being stressed
and unhappy hardly makes for
a healthy lifestyle. Perhaps the
keys to life lie in what makes us
happy and healthy.
Throughout my four years
here at Syracuse University, I
have tried to find the delicate
balance between working extremely hard and being happy.
It has taken me that long to
realize that while my hard work
has paid off immensely, it is
much more worthwhile to seek
out and create happy memories.
Some of the best memories
and stepping stones for me at
SU have occurred while working
with this magazine. I have been
with Healthy You for two and a
half years and am reluctant yet
excited to move on. However,
all the hard work I have put into
Fact vs. Fiction
this magazine has truly made
a difference in my social and professional lifestyles. I think I was
able to find a healthy and happy
balance in my editor’s position.
This issue was especially
different for me, as our senior
editorial staff decided to create
an issue devoted to HIV/AIDS.
We have based our whole Spirit
department on HIV/AIDS. Politicians in the United States often
ignore the epidemic both in our
own country and abroad. While
HIV is preventable, millions
become infected each year. The
most effective way to eradicate
the virus is to be educated
about it. Our profile on a local
man living with AIDS (page 10)
is heartfelt and touching. The
more clinical article on testing (page 8) should help you
feel more comfortable about
the HIV test. I hope our pieces
focusing on HIV/AIDS open your
eyes and help you make better
life decisions.
Without health, it’s difficult to
be happy. May you all find the
healthy balance in your lives.
There are tons of health
concerns about diseases and
By Gabby Zurrow, undeclared major our bodies today. Many of us
have questions that we feel too
embarrassed to ask because
we feel like we should already
know the answer. There is
Someone who seems to have made so
many healthy and happy life decisions is
Ms. Gloria Steinem. I got to meet Steinem
at an event on campus this spring and grew
instantly amazed at her intelligence and
presence. Her visit to campus goes down as
the highlight of my college career. I think we
can all learn so much from this trailblazing
woman, whose ideas about life and
humanity are refreshingly simple yet genius.
Kudos to the staff on an issue
of which we can all be proud.
Carly L. Migliori
Student Chief Editor and Art Director
always more to learn.
Running along the bottom of
the magazine pages are a series
of common beliefs that people
have concerning HIV/AIDS.
Take the time to read the facts
surrounding the common myths.
You can get HIV from kissing. FICTION. To become infected with HIV, the blood or body fluid of an infected person must enter their body.
4 | healthy you
health bytes
quick doses of need-to-know info
The Dirt on Compost
By Marissa Broe, magazine journalism major
Orange you
healthy?
The sun is finally showing
through the gray clouds that
surround the hill, and spirits
are high in anticipation of
summer. You only have a
couple more weeks eating in
the dining hall so we thought
this recipe might kick things
up a notch at any meal! It’s
healthy, it’s fruity and even
crunchy. Try for yourself,
Apple and Grape Salad.
Apple and
Grape Salad
Ingredients:
2 c. apples cubed
1 c. grapes halved
1/2 c. celery chopped
1/4 c. walnuts; chopped
1 t. lemon juice
1/3 c. sour cream
1/3 c. plain yogurt
Instructions
In large bowl, combine apples, grapes, celery, walnuts,
and lemon juice. Mix yogurt
and sour cream. Mix lightly
into fruit mix. Refrigerate
or eat right away. If desired,
serve on lettuce lined plates!
Recipe courtesy ichef.com
Integrity
Matters
sxc.hu
By Ruth Stein, Ph.D., interim director,
Academic Integrity Office
We always hear honesty
is the best policy, but it is
difficult to be honest in many
personal situations. Because
Who’s Doing it?
For two students at the SUNY
College of Environmental Science
and Forestry a simple wood and
wire structure behind the school’s
greenhouses is much more than
the animal cage it appears to be.
The structure is a compost bin
and an attempt by junior Tina
Notas’ and freshman Hannah Kane
Morgan’s, along with the Green
Campus Initiative at ESF, to create
a greener campus.
Both women compost at their
own homes and the program
seemed logical for a school that
is known for its environmentally
sound practices.
With the community compost
bin implemented, Notas and
Morgan worked to get permission
for smaller buckets on campus.
Buckets are now at Moon Library,
Illick Lounge, Gallery Snack Bar,
the landscape architecture studio,
and on two floors in Boland
Residence Hall. The next step, the
women say, is to introduce the
buckets at Syracuse University
dining facilities.
Mark Tewksbury, the assistant
director of food services at SU,
says the department is interested
and the initiative is in preliminary
stages.
The University has been recycling
such products as plastics for 15 to
20 years, Tewksbury says. “This is
just another logical step.”
Plans for measuring of the
we want to look good in the
eyes of friends and because we
don’t want to hurt people’s
feelings, we sometimes bend
the truth rather than be totally
forthcoming. What impact do
these half-truths have upon
our personal development? Or
on who we are as individuals?
If we want to develop a new
habit, we’re often told that
we should do something three
times, and then we’ll feel
compostable material at Sadler
Dining Hall are in the works, Notas
says. This will allow the university
to estimate how much space will be
needed to store the waste material.
“We are willing to collect it,”
Tewksbury says “but we don’t want
it to end up in the trash.”
What is it?
Compost is a collection of
biodegradable items that are
digested naturally by microbes
over time, according to the web
site Vegweb.com. A variety of
items from the kitchen and yard
can be composted as long as three
elements are maintained and
controlled. These are air, water,
and food. Air is needed to prevent
slow decomposition and minimize
odor. Airflow is maintained
with occasional turning of the
compost. Moisture is essential for
the microbes to work and can be
sustained with fruit and vegetable
waste, according to Vegweb.com.
Kitchen byproducts, as well as
yard materials, mix together for
successful compost.
efficient and fast system for
compost, but requires the purchase
of special worms that are able to
survive in decomposing organic
substances, according to Vegweb.
com. This process occurs best in
a covered bin and is suitable for
indoor use. Notas and Morgan use
a vermiculture system in addition
to the community bin.
What is it for?
When the compost process
is finished, a rich soil high in
nutrients is left, Morgan says.
Plants growing in the soil soak up
the nutrients from the compost,
according to Vegweb.com. Notas
and Morgan say they hope to use
the school’s compost as planting
soil for a flower sale. Other possible
uses include adding the compost to
various gardens on campus.
Regardless of its use, compost
is a way to lessen the amount of
waste that goes to the overflowing
landfills. Even still, doesn’t it feel
good to know that you are doing
something environmentally
friendly? We think so.
How to make it?
Compost can be as simple as a
pile in the yard and as complex as
a vermiculture system with handbuilt or commercial bins falling
in between. Piles in the yard
often have a slow decomposition
and are more susceptible to
predators. Vermiculture is an
comfortable with it. If we cheat
or do something that’s illegal,
it bothers our consciences less if
we get used to cheating or lying.
Sometimes it feels very
uncomfortable to tell the
truth. Developing the habit of
honesty makes us feel good.
We can feel comfortable with
ourselves because we are not
covering anything up. Our
friends respect us because
they know they can get honest
answers to their questions. This
habit of honesty with friends
will continue with schoolwork
and in future careers.
When we hear about
unethical behavior, we can
take steps to ensure we behave
ethically, whether it is during
a test, or in our dealings with
friends, family, and strangers.
Integrity does matter, and we
each can do our small part to
create positive change.
Half of new HIV infections in the U.S. are in those 25 or younger. FACT. 15-24 year olds contract half of the 5 million new infections world-wide each year.
spring 2007 | 5
mind
Banish the guilt
By Mallory Creveling, magazine journalism major
Photos by Derek Li, graphics major
M
ost people enjoy a piece of
chocolate every now and
then, though indulging in
the sweet may cause guilt. Many
fear chocolate will ruin a diet
or cause weight gain. However,
research shows chocolate has
several health benefits. With this
look at dark chocolate, forget about
guilt after sneaking a piece of the
melt-in-your-mouth candy.
Sara Kurlandsky, a nutrition and
hospitality management professor
at Syracuse University, conducted
an experiment involving women
who ate dark chocolate in a sixweek period. Over the course of
this experiment, the women’s
weights and cholesterol levels
remained stable.
Chocolate contains large amounts
of phytochemicals, chemicals
that behave like vitamins for the
body, which act as antioxidants
and contain even more of these
chemicals than red wine and green
tea. Antioxidants are important for
the body to deactivate free radicals
– highly reactive molecules that
form from the interaction with
oxygen. Free radicals can start chain
reactions with other molecules in
the body and lead to the destruction
of cells. They are also linked to
Health Benefits
of Dark Chocolate
• Naturalizes free radicals
• Improves blood flow
• Helps those with Type-2
diabeties
• Acts as an antiinflammatory agent
• Helps muscles open up
and relax
One SU professor tested
the results of eating dark
chocolate and found the
benefits outweigh the costs.
insulin sensitivity in a diabetic,
cancer and heart disease.
making it work better throughout
One of chocolate’s most
the body. Insulin allows the body
important health benefits is the
to utilize sugars and certain
presence of flavonoids, another
carbohydrates. With the help of
form of phytochemicals. The
chocolate, diabetics can also keep
presence of certain flavonoids
their blood glucose in control.
in chocolate can actually help
Though chocolate contains positive
muscles open up or relax, leading
health benefits for Type II diabetes,
to better blood flow.
it should still be monitored for
Increased blood flow allows for
Type I patients.
numerous positive changes. Blood
Many health benefits may come
pressure decreases, which can
from chocolate consumption but,
be very favorable for those with
nevertheless, there are things to
high blood pressure. If chocolate
consider. For instance, the aboveis consumed over a long period
of time, it may also help stop
Most importantly, it is necessary to have a
the hardening of arteries.
Kurlandsky believes better
balanced diet, with the proper servings of each
blood flow to the brain can
food group. Since chocolate is a sweet, it must be
improve mental functioning.
consumed in moderation.
Kurlandsky says it has not been
mentioned benefits exist primarily
proven but plausible scientific
in dark chocolates, not milk or
research suggests that with better
white chocolate. Kurlandsky also
blood flow, both men and women
suggests avoiding drinking milk
may be able to perform better with
with dark chocolate because it
their partners.
blocks its positive components.
Besides neutralizing free radicals
and improving blood flow, chocolate Most importantly, it is necessary
to have a balanced diet, with the
also acts as an anti-inflammatory
proper servings of each food group.
agent. Inflammatory markers in
Since chocolate is a sweet, it must
our bodies help heal wounds and
be consumed in moderation. With
clot blood. However, when these
this information, the next time you
markers become too large in
are debating whether to eat a piece
number, it impairs the blood flow
of dark chocolate for dessert, you
and causes unwanted clotting.
can consider the benefits instead of
Unwanted clotting can lead to
fearing regret.
serious health problems, including
heart attack, if a clot occurs in a
coronary artery, or stroke if a clot
occurs in the brain. Chocolate keeps
the inflammatory markers stable
and helps reduce them if they
become too numerous.
Chocolate can also
help those with Type II
diabetes. Chocolate has
been shown to improve the
If a partner had HIV/AIDS, he or she would tell you and insist on using a condom. FICTION. 25 percent of those with HIV in the U.S. are unaware they are infected.
6 | healthy you
mind
sELF
diagnosis.web
In a world where almost
anything can be done
online, users are finding
out even doctors’ visits have
become avoidable.
By David Taube, psychology, philosophy, and magazine journalism major
Illustration by Erin Schectman, illustration major
T
he stigma associated with
mental illness continues to be
difficult for some, but the Internet
has helped diminish this perceived
discomfort with self-help web sites
that share privacy the equivalent of
online porn.
“Many people are afraid others
will think they are crazy because
they’re seeing a psychologist,”
says Susan Walen, Ph.D., a former
private practitioner, Johns Hopkins
School of Medicine and Towson
State University professor, and
Baltimore Center for Cognitive
Therapy retiree.
Some Internet users take selfhelp surfing one step too far,
though, falling into the category of
cyberchondriacs, individuals who
obsessively make their symptoms
into maladies from online medical
information.
“Well-known people have come out
of the closet with bipolar disorder
or depression,” says Walen, thereby
helping balance the taboo of mental
illness. But individuals seeking
self-diagnoses online are receiving
more and more criticism by medical
professionals who say that users’ lack
of expertise makes them prone to
misreading symptoms.
When individuals use online
medical information, they are more
likely to compare information
with other sites than to check the
credibility of the site itself. When
they go to a general practitioner,
the opposite occurs: diagnoses are
not checked by the patient against
other doctors but readily received
If anything, online medical information
has given individuals the confidence to
challenge the assumed infallibility of M.D.
prescriptions and assessments, making
the web a watchdog for mistakes.
by patients who use heuristic cues
like diplomas on the wall.
In other words, a dramatic
decrease in the challenging of
authority occurs during face-toface contact and there is virtually
no comparison of multiple
opinions from doctors.
Nevertheless, “Health seekers say
the benefits of online information
outweigh the risks,” says
the Pew Internet and
American Life Project
in a 2006 meta-analysis
of nearly 2,000 Internet
users. The survey
found that online
health information
significantly and
positively helped about
35 million individuals
last year, whereas
serious harm only
occurred in three
percent of respondents
or someone they know.
The study,
conducted by the
Princeton Survey
Research Associates
International, also
found that “Younger
health [information]
seekers are the most
likely age group to start
at a search engine,”
with almost threequarters essentially
asking strangers for
medical advice. In
contrast, people age
65 and older begin at
specific web sites they
know provide health
information.
The bottom line: Start
online searches for self-
diagnosis or medical information
on respectable sites after checking
the source’s credibility.
If anything, online medical
information has given individuals
the confidence to challenge the
assumed infallibility of M.D.
prescriptions and assessments,
making the web a watchdog for
mistakes.
There is no cure for HIV/AIDS as of today. FACT. There are treatments that minimize the physical impacts of HIV/AIDS, but there is no cure.
spring 2007 | 7
hiv/aids
THE DOCTOR
HIVtesting
By Dr. James R. Jacobs, M.D., Ph.D., FACEP
Director of Health Services, Syracuse University
Getting tested for HIV can
be scary. Healthy You’s
contributing physician
tackles questions regarding
the process.
istock.com
8 | healthy you
A: First, and this is an important
point, there is no such thing as
an “AIDS test.” There is a lot of
literature and marketing materials
that make reference to an “HIV/
AIDS test,” but this is a complete
misnomer. What we can test
for is evidence of infection with
the human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV), which is thought
to be the cause of the spectrum
of illness known as acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome
(AIDS). Some people can be
infected with HIV for many years
without developing AIDS. Indeed,
one of the goals of anti-HIV
medication is to slow or halt the
progression to AIDS in spite of
infection with HIV.
The second important point is
that most HIV tests, especially
those used to screen healthy
people, are actually an HIVantibody test. HIV enters the
bloodstream, such as through
certain types of sexual contact
or through sharing of infected
needles, and begins to multiply.
Antibodies form to the HIV
invader and themselves begin to
multiply over the course of several
weeks or months. Technologically
it is much easier (and less
expensive) to test for an antibody
to HIV than it is to test for the HIV
virus itself. This also explains why
there can be a delay between the
time of infection and the point at
which enough HIV antibodies are
present for an HIV screening test
to be valid. Tests for HIV particles
per se are available, but they are
generally used only to monitor
hiv/aids
the course of disease in a patient
receiving anti-HIV medications.
Though not often discussed,
HIV exists in several strains, most
notably HIV-1 and HIV-2. In the
United States, sexual transmission
of HIV-2 is relatively uncommon,
so some HIV testing is performed
only to screen for antibodies to
HIV-1, whereas others screen for
both types 1 and 2.
Q: What is a
“rapid” HIV test?
A: The immunochemistry
procedures now used to screen
for HIV antibodies have been
streamlined and packaged to the
point where virtually all HIV
screening tests can be performed
“rapidly.” In other words, starting
with a specimen of blood or saliva
(HIV antibodies can be present
in both blood and oral fluids), a
“yes” or “no” result can be obtained
within 30-60 minutes. Accordingly,
many communities have clinics
or periodic HIV awareness events
where results are provided to the
patient within this timeframe.
There are, however, two
significant problems with whileyou-wait rapid HIV screening.
First, it is cost-prohibitive for
most laboratories to do screening
tests like this
throughout
the day. It is
much more
cost-effective
to batch the
laboratory
processing of
these tests at
several discrete
times during the
day or during
the week.
Most centers
or events
offering on-site
testing with
rapid results
are heavily
subsidized by a government
program of one sort or another.
More significantly, any positive
rapid HIV test must be confirmed
with another technology before
the patient can be informed of
the result. Confirmatory testing,
typically conducted with a Western
blot or an immunofluorescent
assay, is not performed as a rapid
The immunochemistry
procedures now
used to screen for
HIV antibodies have
been streamlined and
packaged to the point
where virtually all HIV
screening tests can be
performed “rapidly.”
test and can take 5-10 days for a
result. Hence a paradox: you go
for a “rapid” HIV test; an hour
later you are told that your test is
a preliminary positive but that you
will have to return in a week for
the results of the confirmatory test;
for a week you are terrified that
you are infected with HIV, only to
return on the appointed date to
learn that the confirmatory test
is negative and that the positive
rapid test must have been a “false
positive.” This does not happen
often, but it does happen.
Given these limitations of rapid
testing, some clinics, including
many college health centers,
do not offer rapid HIV testing.
They almost certainly are using
the rapid assay technology, but
specimen collection is performed
on a first visit, with a return
appointment for the test results
scheduled 7-14 days later. This
paradigm builds in time for the
laboratory to process specimens in
batches, which reduces labor and
reagent costs, and which permits a
confirmatory test to have already
been performed when necessary
prior to informing the patient of
any results.
practical, to optimize the accuracy
of the test result, to protect the
patient’s privacy, and to safeguard
the interests of public health.
Q: Should I get
an HIV test?
A: A thorough answer is
complicated and should be laden
with statistics and explicit sexual
particulars, but here is a simple
principle: many of the new cases
of HIV infection diagnosed each
year were transmitted by a person
unaware of his or her infection
with HIV. Be aware. Be responsible.
Get tested. Get treated. Condoms
save lives.
111 Waverly Ave.
315.443.9005
Hours:
Mon.-Tue., 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wed.-Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sun., closed
200 Walnut Pl.
315.443.4715
111 Waverly Ave.
315.443.7273
A: Because of the public health
implications of the HIV epidemic,
most jurisdictions require patients
to sign a specific consent form
prior to processing of an HIV
screening test. Similarly, there
are state and local regulations
mandating pre- and post-test
counseling to help the patient
understand HIV transmission risk
factors, risk-reduction measures,
the implications of the testing
procedures, and a plan for follow
up. Further, these regulations
require that HIV test results may
only be reported to the patient in
a face-to-face meeting – not by
phone, email, letter, etc.
Though simplified markedly
during the past decade, the rules
and regulations associated with
HIV testing are more rigorous
than those associated with any
other common medical test. The
incentives are to equip the patient
with as much knowledge as is
1120 East Genesee St.
866.600.6886
Be aware. Be responsible.
Get tested. Get treated.
Condoms save lives.
spring 2007 | 9
hiv/aids
Life
with aids
Education makes the difference.
By Kat Kondracki, magazine journalism major
Photos by Melissa Pincus, advertising design major
“By the way, I’m gay. I’m a gay, black man, 55 years old,” he says loudly,
beaming with confidence.
Assortments of plants draped from the ceiling, decorating the walls and
framing the artwork. “I have a green thumb,” he says. “These are my babies,
and this is my comfort zone. Some of these are 11 years old,” he says.
Eleven years: the same duration of time he has been surviving the AIDS
virus; but you would never know it. He looked happy and healthy, spoke
with the utmost self-assurance and buoyancy. He broke the stereotypical
AIDS victim profile. Everything about him was so inviting: his house, even
his cats, Midnight and Missy Boo.
But behind the walls of the West Onondaga Street Co-op apartment
complex in Syracuse, Edward Davis was living a life many of us could
never imagine.
spring 2007 | 11
hiv/aids
Searching for an answer to his
excessive drug and alcohol addiction,
Davis moved to Syracuse from his
hometown of Brooklyn in 1989. He
lived with his uncle and tried to get
his life back on track. Things didn’t
prove to be that easy, however.
“I did what I had to do and what
not, until 11 years ago,” he says.
“My drinking and drugging went
out of control. I contemplated
suicide. But with the grace of God,
he was with me. ...I was able to get
myself down there to the Rescue
Mission, alcoholics’ crisis center,
they have down there, and I stayed
there for two weeks.”
During his stay at the Crouse
Health Inc. DBA Commonwealth
struggles of living with AIDS,
Davis suffers from high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, and
foot neuropathy, a painful nervous
system disease.
“I’m down to 20 pills a day,” he
says, compared to the 40 pills
a day he took when he was first
diagnosed with the virus.
A mini-pharmacy covered his bed
as he emptied out the contents of
his pill bag.
Through counseling and
medications, he was able to get his
life headed in the right direction. He
now works the overnight shift fulltime for Liberty Resources at the
DePalmer House. He also counsels
and volunteers at the FACES HIV/
AIDS Outreach and
Education Program
I want to educate the people, especially the
in downtown
young people. It’s (HIV/AIDS) affecting people Syracuse.
of color mostly. But it’s still affecting all of us. “I want to
educate the people,
especially the young
Place drug rehab center, Davis
people. It’s (HIV/AIDS) affecting
took an HIV test. Because he was
people of color mostly. But it’s still
suffering no symptoms at the time,
affecting all of us,” Davis says. The
the results came as pure shock.
FACES program helps to fight HIV/
“I was devastated, in tears,” he
AIDS through case management,
says. “I had an idea because of the
education, and services, says
way my lifestyle was and what
Sammy Summers, community
I did. I was being promiscuous,
relations specialist. FACES offers
living in New York City...”
free on-site testing and numerous
Davis opened up about his
counseling and support services
lifestyle, talking freely about
for people who are affected by the
shooting up drugs and having
virus, according to Summers.
unprotected sex. “I got caught out
Davis did one-on-one counseling
there. And there is no one to blame
during the first three years of living
but myself.”
with the virus. “I did that because
After relocating to the DePalmer
that helped me to understand
House, a transitional housing
myself, understand where I’m
complex for homeless individuals
coming from, who I am, and what
living with HIV/AIDS, a place Davis
kind of person I am, and to deal
says saved his life, things started to
with the fact that I’m living with the
fall back into place.
virus, and that I can’t drink and do
Davis believes that living in the
drugs,” he says. “I feel so wonderful
house and going to support groups
about that today though.”
for being gay and infected with
“I was waiting for something like
the virus called him away from
that because I was suicidal. I was
the drugs and alcohol. “I can live
ready to kill myself,” he says, “I just
a better life now. I think that’s the
couldn’t stop.”
only way people can live a better
After watching other friends with
life,” he says.
similar addictions fall through the
In addition to the everyday
cracks, he decided to get his story
12 | healthy you
1. Davis has
kept some of
the plants in
his apartment
for about 11
years, as long
as he has
known he
has AIDS.
2. Down to
20 pills each
day, Davis
considers
this an
improvement
from his
previous 40
pill per day
regimen.
3. Portraits
of family
and friends
fill Davis’
apartment.
hiv/aids
1
out there. “God gave me a second
chance,” Davis says.
Even though Davis was willing
to share his success and story with
others in the community, the hard
part was telling those close to him.
He told his mother seven years ago,
and just recently told his brother
living in Virginia, who is now angry
with him for not telling him sooner,
and expressed concerns over how
safe Davis is to be around.
“Stories like that – that’s what
hurts,” Davis says.
But there is still someone very
close to Davis that he hasn’t yet
told: his son. “He is very supportive
in everything I do,” Davis says.
“He knows I’m gay. He is very
understanding about that. He gave
me two beautiful granddaughters,
but, no, I’m still not ready to tell
everybody.”
Davis faces AIDS with a smile,
saying, “God told me he was going
to give me this disease, but I want
you to live a better life. He told me
I had to cut off the illegal drug and
alcohol and dangerous lifestyle. He
kept me stable, and,” he paused,
“I’m ok.”
I was waiting for something like that
because I was suicidal. I was ready to kill
myself. I just couldn’t stop.
3
2
Local HIV/AIDS Resources
•D
ePalmer House
1065 James Street
Suite 200, Syracuse
• AIDS Community Resources
627 West Genesee Street, Syracuse
• FACES HIV/AIDS Outreach
and Education Program of the Southwest
Community Center
401 South Ave., Syracuse
• HIV Care Network
5700 Commons Park Drive, East Syracuse
spring 2007 | 13
hiv/aids
An HIV positive diagnosis
will surely transform your
life, but it should not
negatively change your spirit.
Testing Positive
for Wholeness
By Thomas Wolfe, Dean of Hendricks Chapel
Photograph by Derek Li
T
he spiritual quest is the search
for wholeness. You engage in this
quest typically by asking questions
about how to find meaning in
the world around you and in
your relationships. You ask what
meaning your life might possess as
you imagine spending your life in
a manner that counts. For some of
you, this is an explicitly religious
quest. For others, it is not defined
in religious terms but perhaps is
expressed through immersing
yourself in the works of the great
writers and thinkers from history.
Regardless, the pathway is unique
for each of you.
The longer we live, the more
complex our categories about
In moments like these, your orderly
world crumbles. But does its
meaning and purpose?
I believe you only really begin
to comprehend your wholeness
when you are faced with significant
challenges. Wholeness is not
about neat and orderly lives that
you think are perfect. Wholeness
has more to do with how you
see yourself in relationship to
everything around you regardless
of whether or not you like the
circumstances you find yourself
in. You are beginning to get your
mind around personal wholeness
when you are no longer defined
by what negative thing befalls you
or by some illusion of perfection
you create around you.
There is an enormous
I believe you only really begin amount of freedom in
to this place.
to comprehend your wholeness getting
All of this is
when you are faced with
particularly relevant
to receiving the news
significant challenges.
that you are positive
for HIV/AIDS. With
this diagnosis you enter a
how life is structured become.
confusing world fraught with
With it, our ideas about what
judgment, shame, anger with
wholeness looks like grow in order
self, anger from loved ones,
to embrace the larger view. The
anger at a partner, regret, and
truth is that life happens. Some of
just plain fear. It is hard to feel
what happens is wonderful. You
whole. You tend to believe your
get the ideal job, find a wonderful
life is over before it actually
partner, volunteer in ways that
began. Nevertheless, the spiritual
make a difference and satisfy your
quest still holds meaning and is
need to contribute. But other
critically important, especially
things in life happen to you as well.
when you are bombarded with
These are the hard things to talk
false assumptions about who you
about. An accident happens, and
must be because you have tested
you are changed in a permanent
positive. Many places in our
way. Some external thing happens,
world are still very uncomfortable
and you discover that no matter
even talking about HIV/AIDS.
what control you thought you had
This silence is killing people.
over your situation, you could not
We don’t talk about the silence
prevent a disappointing outcome.
because there remains a huge
stigma over testing positive. This
pervasive silence about HIV/AIDS
cuts people off from necessary
health care and spiritual support.
A positive diagnosis does change
your life. But what it does not
change is the reality that you are
still a person of meaning and
purpose. The spiritual journey
sometimes takes you through
difficult places. It does not protect
you from moments of suffering.
But the inherent message is that
you are not just mind and body.
You are also spirit. Connecting
with the spiritual side of yourself,
however you may experience it,
introduces you to that part of you
that finally can believe that you do
not have to accept being labeled
as unacceptable. Instead, you are
acceptable because you simply are.
End of discussion. Testing positive
for HIV/AIDS does not eliminate
you from the spiritual quest. No,
despite all of the negative and fearbased feelings and judgments being
thrown at you, you discover that
you are not ultimately defined by
the diagnosis.
Your spiritual journey with HIV/
AIDS must be done directly. It
cannot be cloaked in denial. Spiritual
reflection requires deep honesty. It is
an opportunity for personal growth.
Your candidness with yourself and
later in the confidential relationship
with your health and spiritual care
providers opens the way to entering
a new relationship with yourself and
your meaningful future. HIV/AIDS
will still be with you, but you will
be living with it while you also test
positive for wholeness.
SEEK HELP • Visit the Counseling Center on campus where you can receive confidential counseling services • 200 Walnut Pl. • 315.443.4715
• Talk to a spiritual leader or chaplain at your local place of worship or on campus at Hendricks Chapel • Main Quad • 315.443.2901
You can get HIV/AIDS from sitting on a toilet seat. FICTION. There is no transmission of bodily fluids while sitting on a toilet seat.
14 | healthy you
hiv/aids
BEYOND THE NET
changing the face of HIV
More than a decade ago,
Magic Johnson revealed his HIVpositive status during a press
conference. This transformed
the way basketball was played
at all levels.
By Felicia Owusu, health and wellness major and Amanda Lundblad,
international relations and magazine journalism major
M
agic Johnson is known for
his illuminating smile, his
half-buzzer shots, and most importantly his unpredicted passes.
However in 1991, he threw one of
the most unexpected passes of his
career, but this time not to a fellow
teammate waiting halfway down
the court to throw the ball into the
hoop and score. In a press conference, Johnson publicly announced
the end of his 13-year NBA career
after being diagnosed with human
immunodeficiency virus.
Johnson lived and breathed
basketball. He told USA Weekend “I
dribble[d] to the store with my right
hand and back with my left, then I
slept with my basketball.” So when
his personal physician urged him
not to continue to play basketball
because it would impair his body’s
immune system,
It is everybody’s
Johnson and his
Lakers teammates
disease, not just
were shocked.
generated to a
In the Los
specific population. Angeles Sentinel,
Lakers forward
James Worthy was quoted saying,
“We were looking forward to 50 or
60 games with Magic. ...Now we
have to look forward to 82 games
without him.”
According to Robert Vickers,
associate professor of practice in
the department of sports management at Syracuse University, “No
one would have thought it could
happen to Magic. Compared to
other players, he seemed to have
a child-like personality; he didn’t
present himself as a party type that
would lead a risky life.”
For many years HIV was considered a disease of the gay community. Athletes felt immune to the
virus. Johnson changed this notion
with his revelation that it could
happen to anybody.
“Magic cut through this stigma,
showing that heterosexual men
could also contact the disease,”
Vickers says. “It is everybody’s disease, not just generated to a specific
population.”
Since Johnson’s retirement, no
other NBA players have come
forward and admitted being HIVpositive, perhaps due to the fear of
repercussions. Players are in fear of
being a victim of the virus. A fellow
Olympic teammate, Karl Malone,
expressed his concerns in a Los
Angeles Sentinel interview, saying he
was scared of a cut or scratch occurring during physical contact during
a game, which would put players at
risk of contracting the virus.
Due to those concerns, the sports
world has undergone a series of
changes. Vickers says the health of
athletes has become much more
realized since Johnson’s announcement, focusing not only on drugs,
but on terminal illnesses within the
game as well.
The NBA now presents a sexual
health education program to rookie
athletes. Each year players are required to attend classes teaching prevention, treatment, and awareness of
sexually transmitted diseases.
According to an ESPN article, the
NBA regulations say if a player suffers from a cut and blood is present,
the game must stop and the player
must leave the court. The player is
treated, and any blood on the court
or the ball is thoroughly cleaned by
trainers, who wear latex gloves.
According to Vickers, contracts
have become much more intricate,
requiring athletes with higher-risk
behaviors to pay higher premiums. However, it is hard to say
how many athletes will contract
HIV during their career, making it
much more difficult to put a price
on HIV premiums than on an
ankle break or a sprain.
Johnson has been an inspiration
on the court, but now he has taken
that inspiration in a new direction. He has made a comeback to
the NBA twice and played in the
Olympics despite people’s beliefs
that it wasn’t possible. He has become an HIV awareness advocate
and is involved in the Living Well
Commission, raising awareness
and funds for people and families
living with HIV. 
Johnson stated in a Los Angeles
Sentinel article that he has “proven
that a person with HIV can continue
to live an active, productive life… I
will continue to lead an active life,
like so many others with HIV, but
my energies will now be directed to
other avenues.”
HIV/AIDS transmission only occurs between gay males. FICTION. You can get HIV/AIDS from being in any type of relationship.
spring 2007 | 15
Put those flip flops for the
shower Mom made you pack
to good use.
Guard your soles
By Jennifer Williams, magazine journalism major
Photograph by Melissa Pincus
P
illows? Check. Notebooks?
Check. Ethernet cable? Check.
Shower shoes? Errrrr.
Included on any basic college
shopping list are the token shower
shoes. You know, those flip-flopthong-sandal-thingies that don’t
usually cost more than $3. While
it seems as if shower shoes are
only for the squeamish, this small
investment has the potential to
save students from large hassles.
Dorm living is far from
glamorous, and communal
bathrooms are sometimes the
best, or worst, displays of such
living conditions. Walking down
a long hall to the bathroom at
8 a.m. to take a shower is often
inconvenient, but Kimberly Holly,
a freshman biology major who lives
in a dorm, always takes the time to
put on her flip-flops.
“I’m afraid of getting foot warts,”
she says. “I think that wearing
shoes in the shower is more
sanitary. Sometimes I see other
girls not wearing shoes in the
shower, so I like to wear my shoes.”
Another freshman dorm dweller,
Mike Zimmer, a business major,
wears shoes as well. “The floor is
gross in there. I don’t want to get
any diseases like athletes foot.”
At Syracuse University, residence
hall bathrooms are cleaned at
least once a day, according to
a housekeeping employee in
Lawrinson Hall. The showers
are first sprayed with soap-scum
remover, then rinsed. Next, a
disinfectant is sprayed onto all
bathroom surfaces, including
showers, toilets, and sinks. After it
has set for ten-minutes, it is rinsed.
Still, the employee recommends
wearing shower shoes.
“Sometimes I find vomit,
razor-blades, or broken glass in
the showers,” the housekeeping
16 | healthy you
employee says. “It is always safer to
have your feet protected. You just
never know what you’ll run into or
who was in the shower before you.”
Dr. Lynda Kreitzer, a podiatrist
who practices out of North
Syracuse, says that it is wise to
wear shoes in any public setting
such as dorm showers, locker
rooms, and even hotels.
“You should wear shower shoes
because there are a lot of contagious
skin conditions like warts and
athlete’s foot that thrive in moist
environments,” Kreitzer says.
However, if you do contract a
contagious foot infection, Kreitzer
notes that there is treatment
available.
“Athlete’s foot is a fungus. There
are many topical, antifungal
medications, both prescription and
over the counter, that will work to
clear it up. Also, I try and expose
the feet to air, because air is the
enemy. People with sweaty feet
tend to get athlete’s foot more and
have a harder time getting rid of it.”
However, when it comes to warts,
there are multiple treatments, a
sign, Kreitzer says, that they are
harder to get rid of.
“Warts are viruses,” she says.
“Picking up a wart often has to
do with the person’s immunity.
Sometimes it will even go away
by itself like a cold. Warts can
be removed by freezing, surgery,
or even applying duct tape for
an extended period of time. But
nothing works all the time. These
types of things are easily picked up
through small abrasions in the skin
that we can’t see.”
Although slipping on a pair of
flip-flops may be different from
your home ritual, the truth is that
this small inconvenience could,
quite possibly, prevent a much
larger nuisance in the future.
body
a portrait of health
By Kaitlin Ahern, magazine journalism and psychology major
Illustration by Kristal Michalatos, nutrition major
F
lipping through a family photo
album, you may find that the
nose you were born with is identical to that of your great aunt’s,
or perhaps that you’ve inherited
your grandfather’s characteristic
eyebrows. Many of us find tracking
the physical likenesses through our
family line a simple and satisfying
task. But, those are just the surface
indicators of our deeper similarities. By taking a more in-depth
look at your gene pool and those
you share it with, you discover an
array of useful information, including your family’s medical history.
Through the process of compiling a detailed account of this
information, you can gain insight
into illnesses and
diseases that are
By understanding your
common to your
family history, you can
family, and even
uncover patterns
make life choices that
of health condiwill lower your risk of
tions that have
developing these diseases. arisen in different
family members over time.
According to Michelle Gallant,
registered dietitian and wellness
educator at Syracuse University’s
Health Services, this information
is invaluable. “Genetic history is
closely related to chronic diseases
that are the leading causes of death
in the United States,” she explains.
She cites heart disease, cancer,
diabetes, and high blood pressure, as examples of such diseases.
Knowing your family’s medical history can also help you focus your
attention in the right areas regarding your health. “By understanding
your family history, you can make
life choices that will lower your
risk of developing these diseases,”
Gallant says.
Although not quite as simple as
flipping through some old photographs, compiling your family
medical history doesn’t have to be
difficult. Just ask. An ideal time
would be a family reunion, when
your resources are all conveniently in the same place. But you
don’t have to wait for the next big
get-together to put together some
information. Start asking questions
now, and build your knowledge
database piece by piece. As you’re
doing so, remember that those
family members related to you by
blood are most important in your
search. For example, you may find
that you have an uncle who suffers
from diabetes, which would be an
important piece in your account.
However, if your uncle is only
related to you by marriage, his
illness does not have any biological
influence on you.
Once you have collected your
data, your next move should be to
share your complete history with
your doctor. In doing so, you give
him or her the heads-up on what
conditions you are most at risk for,
depending on the information you
provide and your current state of
health. According to Gallant, your
doctor’s knowledge is especially
important in the screening process
for the early detection of diseases.
A record of your family’s medical
history is revealing, but it certainly
is not a predetermined fate. Knowing what illnesses and diseases
you are most at risk for can serve
as motivation to lead a healthier
lifestyle and start taking necessary
preventative
measures.
Gallant
asserts
that this
knowledge
can help you
to maximize your
health. For
example,
perhaps in
your search
you learn
that your
great grandmother was
diagnosed
with lung
cancer. You
may, and
Finding your family’s
medical history may be
more difficult than just
climbing the family tree.
probably should, think twice about
lighting your next cigarette.
It’s no surprise that a current
state of good health can make us
feel a little bit invincible at times,
and even lessen our concerns for
the future. A college-age individual
may feel that he or she is too young
to be concerned about medical
issues that probably will not arise
for decades. In recognition of this,
Gallant argues that this is the most
opportune time to start making the
right choices. “At this point, you’re
laying the foundation for the rest
of your life,” she says. “You have to
make the most of it.”
I’m adopted, now what?
Those who are adopted may find it
more difficult to compile a complete
family history, as biological relatives
may not be in close contact. The task
of tracking down those who share
your DNA may seem intimidating, but
there are some methods you can use
to aid the process.
One option is to contact the
National Adoption Directory Search
(childwelfare.gov/nad), a service of
the Children’s Bureau, where you can
learn how to get your birth parents’
medical and genetic history.
The use of birth control pills prevents HIV/AIDS infection. FICTION. Birth control pills do not prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases.
spring 2007 | 17
ACHOO!
By Kristal Michalatos, nutrition major
Photograph by Derek Li
Allergies create
inconveniences for those
suffering the red eyes
and non-stop sniffles.
Homeopathy can help.
H
omeopathy continues to attract
attention in the media and
medical journals as a popular form
of alternative or complementary
medicine. Allergies are also becoming prevalent, affecting about
50 million people in the United
States. Over-the-counter decongestants and antihistamine drugs are
used frequently for allergy symptoms and unfortunately, “cause
drowsiness and can produce dryness in the throat and mouth that
is as uncomfortable as the allergy
symptoms it relieves,” says Victoria
Dolby, author of the article “Colds
& Allergies Can Strike in Any
Season and Homeopathy is Ready”
in Journal of Better Nutrition.
Homeopathy is based on an energy
medicine, and it is similar to
acupuncture but without the needles.
Used as anti-inflammatory
Sneezing
Itching of the nose and palate
Histaminum
Sabadilla
Arundo or Wyethia
Symptoms and remedies provided by
health and wellness educator Carol Blair
and authors Judyth ReichenbergUllman and Robert Ullman.
Those who are willing to try a more
holistic approach may consider
homeopathy in reducing these
unpleasant allergic symptoms.
Homeopathy comes from the
Greek words homoios pathos,
meaning “similar suffering.” According to health and wellness
educator and certified nutritionist
Carol Blair from Natur-Tyme in
Syracuse, “Homeopathy is based on
are “based on the totality of your
an energy medicine, and it is simisymptoms, mind, body, and spirit,
lar to acupuncture but without the
not just the physical symptoms.”
needles.” Blair explains that it is
Blair says they are very inexpensive
not the most accurate explanation,
and do not interfere with other
but the easiest for most westerners
medications because there isn’t any
to understand. Homeopathy uses
the energy from natural substances medicine in them, just energy. “It is
even safe for babies,” Blair explains.
to repel imbalance out of the body
The use of homeopathic remand helps the body to heal itself.
edies has been increasing over the
Homeopathic remedies “are not
years. With such a large market in
drugs, they are simply energy,”
products out there, it is important
says Blair, that helps stimulate the
to know how to look for the right
body’s own ability to heal using
remedy. Many health stores, like
small amounts of natural subNatur-Tyme, have sections listed
stances. These substances are very
just for homeopathy. Most of the
diluted, then potentized, and can
remedies in the accompanying
basically “be made from anything.”
chart can be found listed in the inFor example, allium cepa comes
gredients of a product. Associates
from the red onion, which is found
also can be very helpful in directin several homeopathic remedy
ing someone to the right remedy in
products. Raw onions typically
many of these health centers.
cause secretion of tears, stinging
and irritation around the eyes and
nose, clearing nasal passages.
Because of the way homeopathy
works, “it causes no harm, and
works very quickly if you pick the
Symptoms Homeopathic Remedy
right remedy,”
Hay Fever, watery eyes, nasal Allym Cepa
says Blair. In
discharge, sneezing
order to pick the
right remedy, it
Bee stings, bites, swelling Apls Mellifica
might be best
Post nasal drip Hyperaspis
to consult with
Watery eyes, mucus, lump in throat Fadilla
someone with exSinus-type symptoms Sinusalia
perience because
Common allergy relief Allergy Mittel
these remedies
Free or inexpensive HIV testing is available at most hospitals, health centers, family planning centers, and HIV centers. . Get tested. There’s no excuse.
18 | healthy you
A serving of health
Registered dietitians provide
life-enriching information
and support.
By Jennifer BouChamoun, nutrition major
W
food-related companies, private
practices, community and public
settings, research areas, and even
universities and medical centers.
Many students are unaware of the
nutrition services offered here at
Syracuse University. Ruth Sullivan
and Michelle Gallant are our
registered dietitians on campus.
Sullivan works with food services
in the dining and meal planning
for students with specific
needs. She helps
As part of our health fee, we have dietary
decide which foods are
access to confidential nutrition
offered in the dining halls
and maintains the online
counseling and dietary planning.
nutrition analysis web site
for all meals prepared on campus.
One way to ensure you receive
“We’re always open to new recipes
accurate nutrition and diet
and opinions for the dining areas,”
information is to search out a
explains Sullivan. Gallant provides
registered dietitian (RD). An RD is
nutrition counseling at the health
a professionally trained authority
center. As part of our health fee,
in the role that food and nutrition
we have access to confidential
play in health. They are a reliable
nutrition counseling and dietary
source of nutrition information
planning. Questions concerning
and can provide sound advice
clinical-related issues, eating
on eating and health. They can
disorders, basic food information,
assess or regulate your current
or even how to make creative meals
dietary intake and answer your
in the dining hall can be answered
questions regarding weight loss/
by our dietitians.
gain/maintenance. They can
Registered dietitians can also
also introduce you to a plan that
hold additional certifications in
will assist you in achieving your
specialized areas of practice, such
personal health and fitness goals.
as pediatrics (C.S.P.), diabetes
Dietitians can be found in such
(C.D.E.), strength/conditioning
places as hospitals, fitness centers,
(C.S.C.S), among others. Don’t be
corporate wellness programs,
e all know the ways to stay
healthy are through diet and
exercise, yet why is it so hard for us
to stay fit and in shape? We rely on
books and the Internet for different
diets, but with all the fad diets and
false information out there, how
do we know what works? Reading
nutrition labels doesn’t help either
when we don’t know what all the
facts mean.
fooled by those who claim to be
nutritionists yet have no license
in dietetics. Anyone can call
himself or herself a nutritionist
by doing some research, going
online, and ordering a certificate.
According to the American
Dietetic Association, in order to
become a registered dietitian, one
must complete a minimum of an
ADA-approved bachelor’s degree
program, complete an accredited
supervised practice program, pass a
national examination, and complete
continuing professional educational
requirements to maintain
registration. With the latest and
upcoming information on food and
nutrition, it is essential that RDs stay
up-to-date in their growing field.
With health insurance costs
on the rise, it is becoming more
important to stay healthy. By
meeting with an RD now, we can
learn the best ways to take care of
our bodies in order to avoid or delay
future problems and complications.
Food is a part of our everyday
lives. We couldn’t function without
it. We all have questions about
nutrition, and if the RD doesn’t
know the answer, you can bet he
or she would find it out for you.
Take advantage of all the accurate
nutrition knowledge registered
dietitians have to offer. They are
there to help you.
Where Can You Find A
Registered Dietitian?
At SU:
• Ruth Sullivan (Food Services)
• Michelle Gallant (Health
Services)
In general:
istock.com
• Hospitals
• Fitness Centers
• Private Practices
Syracuse University
College of Human Services and Health Professions
and the Division of Student Affairs
426 Ostrom Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13244
Phone: (315) 443-9808 Fax: (315) 443-9807