Check out my first-ever Podcast from April 27, 2010. In the episode, I discuss how you can use the customized search engine Google Squared to get organized health information quickly and easily.
I hope you find the episode interesting and informative. Feel free to leave comments with feedback on the podcast or suggestions for future episodes. Thank you and enjoy!
Sexual education for kids and teens is quite the hot topic, especially when it comes to the information students receive in their schools. Debates over how best to prevent teen pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases rage on, yet rates in many states continue to rise. Due to the popularity of social media among teens and young adults, it makes sense that advocacy groups have turned to these sites to reach out to teens and provide accurate sexual health information.
New Media to Address Old Problems
ISIS, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using new media to provide sexual health information to young adults. The group has used several social media strategies to address rising STD and pregnancy rates among American teens. Though I have not used any of these services before writing this blog, I examined much of the material and found it highly educational and interesting.
Though socially conservative parents may cringe at the thought of their children using the Internet to get information about sex, they have to get it somewhere. Judging from the United States’ high STD and pregnancy rates compared to other Westernized nations, it’s clear that the “safe sex” message is not getting through to our teens. I think using social media to reach the very people who use it most makes more sense than any other method, and I applaud these groups for putting ideology aside and making it easier for young adults to access the information they need.
When you’re feeling under the weather, what’s the first thing you do? Do you call up your doctor and schedule an appointment? Or, like millions of Americans, do you search your symptoms on the Internet first? The first thing I do whenever I notice an unusual symptom or feel sick is Google my symptoms. The last thing I want to do when I’m sick is call up the doctor and have to wait days or weeks for an appointment while continuing to suffer from whatever is bothering me.
Share symptoms, Connect with others
But besides using search engines to find more information about a disease or disorder, people are increasingly turning to social media to self-diagnose and find remedies. While it may seem odd to rely on strangers rather than your home doctor for medical information, it can be a great way to obtain quick information from people who have had similar experiences. We all know that the Internet provides us with a (false?) sense of privacy, and I would imagine that people find it a lot easier to pose a question as an anonymous stranger than have to admit their maladies to a doctor face-to-face.
Personally, I am often worried that I’m making too big of a deal about something that’s bothering me, so I prefer to try to find an answer from an online community. Apparently, I’m not alone. According to a 2009 Manhattan Research survey, 35% of U.S. adults used social media for health and medical purposes in 2009, up from 27% in 2008.
According to the survey, 80 million U.S. adults in 2009 also created or consumed health care content on:
Below is an interesting video highlighting the way the Internet has changed health care:
Rise of the E-Hospital
Hospitals are getting in on the social media action too. Over 400 have Facebook and Twitter pages, and over 200 have YouTube channels. The entire health care industry is adapting to care for the millions of “e-patients” who turn to the Internet over traditional treatment methods. According to an article on Free Republic, President Obama has pledged $50 billion dollars over the next 5 years to help hospitals digitalize their health records. Creating electronic health records will improve the quality and reduce the costs of health care for most Americans.
But this digital revolution comes at a price–privacy. There are obviously risks in sharing confidential health information over the Internet. But this is already what people are doing on social media sites. People may think they’re anonymous, but anything they search or type can be traced back to them. Social media is transforming everything, and the health care industry is no exception. Personally, I think it’s vital for the industry to adapt to the way people are using the Internet for health care today. Getting the best, most helpful information for patients is what’s important, and social media could be just what the doctor ordered.
As I have mentioned in past posts, people all over the world are using social media websites to get healthy. Now, even the United Nations has joined in using social media to fight the spread of malaria in Africa. On March 15, the Special Envoy for Malaria at the United Nations announced a special Social Media Envoy group that will use social media to raise awareness and help eliminate the disease. A long list of famous “Tweeters” have pledged to make one social media action, such as a tweet, Facebook post, or blog entry every month for the next year starting from World Malaria Day on April 25.
Some notable people who have signed on in the social media fight include:
According to the UN’s press release regarding the new initiative, over 90 percent of malaria deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa. Since 2007, over 190 million insecticidal mosquito nets have been delivered to the continent, covering nearly 400 million people or over 50 percent of the population, an increase from 10 percent in 2005. The UN hopes that raising awareness through social media will help generate more funding and aid to help protect the population from this epidemic.
This is a map of Malaria cases by country. As you can see, the disease is particularly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa.
It’s great that celebrities and media giants are getting involved, and I believe this will really have an impact on stopping the spread of the disease.Though social media has been used before to raise money for research into diseases that plague Americans, such as cancer and heart disease, this is the first UN envoy dedicated to using social media to combat a specific disease.
The Great Divide
Though I admire the people involved for dedicating themselves to this cause, the fact that they’re using social media really highlights the tremendous gap between Western nations and sub-Saharan Africa. Wealthy celebrities and public figures are using the latest technology to raise money for an area where few people have access to clean water, let alone a computer. Though the people reading these tweets and Facebook posts likely have no personal connection to malaria, they are the ones with the means and resources to help eradicate it.
Every Bit Counts
This new campaign makes me think about how even you and I can do little things to help, like blog about this issue to spread awareness, or make a small donation to the cause. To be honest, before hearing about the UN’s social media plan, I had not thought about the impact of malaria at all, so I guess the campaign is already doing its job. Hopefully, other regular people will join in the social media campaign to end malaria–whether it’s through a donation, volunteer work, or even a supportive tweet.
For those battling a serious disease, writing in a journal or blog may seem like a big waste of time. However, writing has shown to have a positive impact on people’s well-being, especially for those coping with illness. The Internet and social media sites have given patients the ability to blog and connect with others facing similar difficulties for support, encouragement, and companionship.
This past summer, my uncle’s sister was diagnosed with a brain tumor and began posting in an online journal to keep her family and friends updated on her symptoms and treatments. This was the first time I had encountered a social media site focused on bringing together people with serious illnesses. I was amazed at the outpouring of support she received from friends, family, and even strangers.
I still read her journal as she continues to battle the tumor and have left many supportive messages as well. Even though her posts were sometimes sad to read, I appreciated knowing what her status was from day to day since the tumor came on so suddenly, and it was difficult to keep updated with her in Syracuse and me in Geneseo. Since then, I have become interested in other social media sites devoted specifically to people suffering from a disease.
Share Struggles, Find Friends, & Create Connections
The website Blog For a Cure features an online community of over 2400 members. It allows cancer patients and others dealing with terminal illnesses to share their day-to-day struggles, progress, and effects of their treatment. There is also a Memorial Page for bloggers who pass away due to their diseases. Other bloggers, family members, and friends can leave feedback and supportive messages as well.
CancerMatch is another site that connects patients with different types of cancer and allows them to create profiles and form networks of friends with similar diagnoses. It also allows members to post events in their communities to meet up with their online friends and create support groups. Though it focuses on connecting people for all types of relationships, it is especially focused on helping cancer patients find romantic partners. I can imagine it is extremely difficult for terminally ill people to find potential dates while coping with their illnesses. This seems like a great way to connect people who otherwise may have not found each other.
Even if you’re not battling an illness, you can still leave patients feedback on these sites. Sometimes all it takes to make someone’s day is an encouraging word from a stranger. The blogs on the first site are often sad but truly inspiring. Reading about my uncle’s sister’s struggles really helped put my daily annoyances in perspective. When you read about someone who is really struggling, a bad test grade or a fight with your roommate doesn’t really seem so bad.
During the freezing, snowy winters here in Geneseo, NY, sometimes the last thing I want to do is bundle up and walk to the gym. But I also know that if I don’t exercise during the winter, I’ll regret it once bathing suit season rolls around. The great thing is, the internet makes it possible to exercise even without going to a gym. You can avoid all those membership fees, long lines, and smelly cardio rooms by working out in the comfort of your own home–or in my case, dorm room.
Watch and Learn
I’m terrible at trying to follow fitness routines in magazines, so videos work great for me because I can see exactly how to perform exercises properly. The first place I usually search is YouTube. There are tons of free fitness videos, including many from real personal trainers. You can easily find videos that require only basic equipment like hand weights. I love using these videos for exercises with weights because the weight room at my gym tends to be male-dominated and a little intimidating. Here’s a video I have found to be effective featuring a short, tough ab workout:
DailyBurn is another great resource for exercising without the gym. You can subscribe to exercise programs that are working for others or customize your own. The site also features a huge library of exercises with video instruction.
Find a Fitness Buddy
Once the weather gets warmer, you can still use the web for exercise–just move your routine outside. Sites like IntroPlay and FitLink allow users to meet up with people in their community in order to train together, organize sporting events, or find a workout buddy. I usually like working out on my own best, but these sites would be great for anyone seeking motivation or companionship while working on their fitness goals.
Twitter is a great way to get health information, recipe ideas, workout tips, and support. It also provides a way to hold yourself accountable for your health and lifestyle decisions through interaction with other members.
Health & Wellness Resources on Twitter
I’ve highlighted a few popular Twitter sites, but there are many more worth checking out, including @FitnessForHim, @CalorieTweet, @GoodHealth, and @FitSugar.
Average Joes Tweeting for Health
Additionally, many regular people use Twitter to voice their health concerns, keep food diaries, and share personal fitness routines. It’s a great way to keep yourself on track and get ideas and feedback from followers. Here are a few examples of personal Twitter accounts with users doing just that:
To find more health tweets, you can also search Twitter using the browse function and choosing “health” as your subject. If you aren’t on Twitter yet, hop on the wagon. Soon you may find yourself tweeting your way to a healthy lifestyle–and helping others along the way.
Based on his diet and fitness book The Spark, author and CEO Chris Downie created SparkPeople.com, now the largest healthy lifestyle community online. With over five million members, the website provides tools, articles, and advice for people looking to lose weight, get in shape, and get healthy.
A Personal Touch
While it shares some similarities with CalorieCount.com and other online communities, it is unique in that Downie directly communicates with members daily, serving as SparkPeople’s “resident motivation expert.” He has written over 10,000 personal messages to users offering encouragement and congratulations on achieving their health goals. I find it very impressive that the CEO cares enough about the users of his company’s website to offer them personal support and feedback.
Devoted to Your Individual Needs
The website also has many other unique features for users looking to gain health and wellness. It is free to sign up, and each user is greeted with a homepage tailored specifically to their goals. The MyTools feature allows you to choose a meal plan to fit your needs, log your fitness activity and daily meals, and enter your weight and other body measurements to view your progress over time. There is also a “Recipe of the Day” feature with healthy recipes submitted by users, along with an “Exercise of the Day” supplemented by an instructional video for performing the activity. The site even has its own YouTube channel featuring how-to videos of people cooking and working out.
Get Healthy, Win Prizes
Though I have just started using the site, my favorite feature is the SparkPoints application, which allows users to earn points by entering their meals and activity, reading articles, posting on the message boards, writing or commenting on a blog, and performing many other activities on the site. This is a great way to motivate people because members can redeem points for prizes such as gift certificates and compete against other users for the most points.
Community Support
There is also a counter updated in real time showing the current amount of calories burned, pounds lost, cups of water drunk, and minutes spent exercising among all members of the site. It’s really cool to watch the counter update continuously as people work toward their health and fitness goals. This website seems like a great tool for losing weight because it makes eating healthy and exercising seem like a fun game instead of a chore. It’s definitely worth looking into whether you are interested in health and fitness or just want to compete and win prizes.
Let’s be honest: the rise of computers and the Internet has not helped stop America’s obesity problem. Sitting in front of a computer for hours a day is not a great way to burn calories, and updating your Facebook status won’t help raise your fitness level. But there are several social media tools you can use to improve your health and overall well-being.
Determining Your Calorie Needs
CalorieCount.com is one of the best sites I have found for people looking to lose, gain, or maintain their current weight. It is not a typical diet program–it has tools for you to enter everything you eat, with nutrition facts for nearly all foods listed, and a metabolic calculator to figure out how many calories a day you burn through normal activity and exercise. You can even enter in ingredients for homemade recipes and figure out their nutritional content. The site also assigns foods a grade from A to F based on their nutritional value. In addition, there are forums on various topics, allowing calorie counters worldwide to come together to share recipes, fitness tips, weight loss/gain tips, and support for dietary issues as well as eating disorders.
Here you can see the nutritional facts for 1 cup of eggs, the nutritional grade according to Calorie Count, and members who have recently joined the site.
Strength in Numbers
Additionally, members can create their own journals and add “friends” on the site, similar to the way one adds friends on Facebook. Many members use their journals to keep them on track in their eating habits, while others use them to voice their daily frustrations as they strive to reach their ideal weights. Members’ friends can read their entries and leave supportive feedback.
Stay Updated
Finally, the site employs several registered dietitians, nutritionists, and doctors who post articles on the site’s blog dealing with health and fitness. These articles and links help keep members informed on the latest research and news about the world of health.
My Experience
A few years ago, my doctor told me I needed to exercise more and cut back on junk food. Calorie Count was an invaluable tool for me because it made me aware of what I was putting into my body and helped me understand the benefits of exercise. Though I do not use the site on a regular basis anymore, I sometimes read and contribute to the forums to pick up tips from other members that I would not otherwise find from a health magazine or website. Even if you are fine with your current weight, I would recommend checking out the site if you are interested in how you can improve your diet or exercise routine and reach your personal health goals.
Healthy Living Through Social Media 