Depression Facts
By: Carmen Lentz
The word “depression” gets tossed
around a lot these days. Listen in on conversa
tions, and you’ll hear people talk about “being
depressed” about their grades, their financial
status, their romantic involvements (or lack
thereof), their weight, and so forth. Since so
many people say they are depressed about so
many topics, it becomes difficult to find the
right words to convey what true depression is
and what it feels like.
Very often, when we think of a person
as being depressed, images of sadness, crying,
or loneliness come to mind. These symptoms
are certainly part of the picture of depression,
but there are other common symptoms that we
don’t always associate with emotional distress.
For example, did you know that unexplained
aches and pains may signal depression? Or that
digestive problems may be indicative of depres
sion or anxiety?
Most people don’t understand that there
can be both an emotional and a physical com
ponent to depression. Knowing all the signs and
symptoms can help to get you linked to
treatment earlier Here are some of the
physical and emotional symptoms to watch for
that may indicate assessment for treatment is
indicated;
Physical symptoms:
*A change in sleep patterns - sleeping poorly,
sleeping excessively, interrupted sleep
*Feeling tired, or conversely, feeling resdess
*Difficulty concentrating
*Weight change - either a loss of appetite with
accompanying weight loss or an increase in ap
petite with weight gain.
*Nagging aches and pains that don’t get better
Emotional symptoms:
♦Feeling sad or empty
*Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, or hopeless
ness
*Loss of interest in usually enjoyable activities
or hobbies
* Suicidal thoughts
Everyone is going to have an “off’
day once in a while. However, if you or some
one you know has experienced some of these
symptoms for more than a couple of weeks, an
assessment by a trained provider is advisable.
Feel free to stop by the Counseling Center in
Student Health and Wellness for more informa
tion about depression and its treatment. The
Counseling Center also has a copy of the video
The Truth about Depression: Real stories of de
pression in college that is available for student
groups, classes, or anyone who is interested to
see.
Carmen Lentz, LPC, NCC, DCC
Director of Counseling Services
lentzcs@sapc.edu
910-277-5036
Ping My Health
By: Carmen Lentz
Would you like to know how your
health habits compare to other people your age?
Would you like to know where you could im
prove your health habits? Would you like to get
a free, personalized report on how you’re doing
sent to your inbox? Well, you can!
St. Andrews is participating with other
colleges across the US in an online health pro
motion program entitled Ping My Health. The
program assesses the health habits of college
students nationwide and provides participants a
feedback report across six health areas; alcohol
and drug use, smoking, physical activity, nutri
tion, sexual activity, and mental health.
and drug use, smoking, physical activity, nutri
tion, sexual activity, and mental health.
After 125 surveys are completed on
our campus, SAPC will get a summary report
which helps us identify areas where health The
information on individual participants is confi
dential, and you are the only person who sees
your report.educational programming would
best serve our,campus.
As a bonus for participants, the PingMy-
Health site is offering a chance to win an iPod.
St. Andrews is offering two $50.00 cash prizes
that will be awarded when 125 or more surveys!
are completed on campus. To register to win,
simply print the “Thank you” page which ap
pears after you finish the survey and drop it off
in the Ping My Health box in the Student Af
fairs Office. Any questions? Call Carmen Lentz
in Counseling Services at ext. 5036. Thanks
. a
Stem cells are cells that can help repair
damaged cells and tissues. Stem cell research
has been in the mouths of many celebrities.
Celebrities are joining forces to help raise funds
concerning stem cell research. Celebrities from
different backgrounds such as Michael J. Fox
(“Spin City”), Sheryl Crow (singer/songwriter),
Jeff Suppan (Kansas City Royals), Patricia Hea
ton (“Everybody Loves Raymond”) and Kurt
Warner (Arizona Cardinals) are doing their part
to spread the news about stem cell research.
There are three types of stem cells. Em
bryonic, fetal and adult stem cells are the three
types being studied. Embryonic stem cells are
the most controversial because to obtain them
the embryo is destroyed. The embryo starts off
with only fifty to one hundred and fifty cells.
These cells develop into the two hundred types
of different cells found in adults.
Embryonic stem cells are versatile be
cause they can become any cell in the human
body. Here is how that works, you see embry
onic cells have not matured into any specialized
cell. They are just beginning to develop with the
embryo. For example, muscle cells, brain cells,
and heart cells are specialized cells. They are
Stemming From a Cell
By: Melody Kirkpatrick
already mature and function for their specific
organ. The specialized cells can not change into
any other cell.
Since the embryonic cells are versatile,
it makes it harder for the scientist to control
them. The embryonic cells can turn into any
other cell in the body. They can even turn into
unintended cells. Here is another example, if
you need liver cells, the embryonic cells you
are implanted with might turn into heart cells
instead of the liver cells. Another disadvantage
of embryonic stem cells is that they can grow
rapidly causing tumors.
The fetal stem cells (cord blood stem
cells) are obtained from the umbilical cord after
birth. The good thing about fetal stem cells is
that they might be used more often then embry
onic stem cells because it is safer for the em
bryo. Also, they have the same characteristics
of embryonic cells. They too can change into
other cells.
Adult stem cells are the easiest to deal
with because they are mature and specialized
cells. Researchers know the functions of adult
stem cells depending on which organ in the
body they were harvested from. Adult stem
cells have been used for people who have blood
disorders such as leukemia. Leukemia is treated
by bone marrow transplants. Bone marrow
transplants are simply adult stem cells repairing
damage done.
Some disadvantages of adult stem cells
are they are more difficult to grow in a labora
tory, they can’t change into any other cell and
there are not a lot of them in the body. On the
bright side, if implanted, they have a very low
risk of tumor growth and they are no threat to
your immune system.
Every cell in the human body starts off as
a stem cell in an embryo. Stem cells need more
research for researchers to further understand
how they work and function. Once researchers
can understand the complexities and their out
comes, people with injuries and diseases would
be on a better path to healing.
Stop the Spread of Infection
By: Sue Grooms
The spread of infection can be controlled if
everyone will adhere to these basic hygiene
measures;
Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly
with soap and water or using alcohol-based
hand sanitizer
Wash any cut or break in the skin with soap and
water and apply a clean bandage daily.
Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or
bandages.
If you do assist with wound care, wear gloves
and after removing the gloves immediately
wash your hands and forearms.
Avoid sharing personal items such as towels,
washcloths, razors or toothbrush
All wounds should be covered with a bandage.
Make sure that you wash your hands before and
after changing the bandage.
If you have a cut or wound come to Health and
Wellness and pick up some ointment and band
aids.
The number one way to prevent infection is'
hand washing!
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