Seven ways to create a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of others

Overview of Stress: Stress significantly affects health, contributing to disease development and burdening healthcare systems considerably. It is a significant factor in various ongoing health issues, particularly cardiovascular diseases, which are often impaired by everyday psychosocial pressures, such as work-related stress.

The following are the roles of stress in disease development.

Gender Differences in Stress Responses: Gender plays a vital role in how individuals experience and manage stress. Research reports that women are more likely to develop mood disorders and autoimmune. At the same time, men tend to have higher rates of early substance abuse, infectious disease, mortality, and antisocial behavior. Unsuccessful stress management can lead to severe physical and mental health consequences for both individuals and communities.

Physiological Responses to Stress: The study reports that stressful events can trigger emotional responses such as anxiety and worry, impacting the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary (SAM) system, which may lead to unhealthy lifestyle choices, comprising poor sleep, alcohol consumption, decreased physical activity and increased smoking thereby increase the risk of diseases.

Chronic Stress in Specific Environments: Chronic stress in educational settings and workplaces impacts mental and physical health noticeably. Also, it indicates that occupational stress significantly affects mental well-being.

Traumatic Events as a Stress Source: Traumatic events are a prevalent source of stress that affects a large portion of the population. The study reports that In North America, about 60% to 75% of individuals will experience a traumatic event in their lifetime, including serious accidents, exposure to war, sexual assault, chronic childhood abuse, or neglect.

Light at night (LAN) refers to the use of artificial or natural light during nighttime hours for visibility purposes.

 Deprato et al. (2025) reports that approximately 80% of the global population is exposed to light-polluted skies, and LAN is now considered a major environmental pollutant. Sources include streetlights, vehicles, homes, industries, and even atmospheric reflections.

LAN disrupts the body’s circadian rhythm, the internal 24-hour clock regulated by the brain’s suprachiasmatic nucleus. When artificial light interferes with natural dark–light patterns, it delays the circadian clock and sleep-wake cycle, leading to melatonin suppression, sleep disturbances, and an increased risk of various diseases (Deprato et al., 2025). Blue-rich and bright LED lights cause the most significant disruption (Deprato et al., 2025). The study reports that LAN exposure is linked to higher rates of depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and other severe mental disorders, likely due to circadian misalignment, sleep deprivation, and changes in brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine.

 Implications:

1.The findings suggest that light pollution and artificial light exposure at night are not only environmental/visual concerns but also have mental health implications.

2. Encourages rethinking nighttime habits — including screen use before bed, bedroom lighting, blackout curtains, and managing exposure to streetlights or indoor lights at night.

3.The implications of light at night may vary by culture or by groups

4. Designing homes and neighborhoods that minimize intrusive nighttime lighting in bedrooms, promoting lighting standards that consider human health

Prevention/ Mitigation strategies

1.Reduce screen time before bed: Use “night mode” or blue-light filters on devices, dim the brightness, and avoid stimulating content.

2. Improve bedroom lighting: Use blackout curtains, turn off or dim indoor lights, remove bright electronic indicators, and opt for warm, low-intensity lighting in the evening.

3. Maintain a consistent sleep–wake schedule: Even if artificial light is present, a regular circadian rhythm helps mitigate disruptions.

4. Use lighting design for sleep: In the evening, switch to warmer (red/orange) wavelengths; avoid bright overhead white/blue light late at night.

5.Monitor and adjust ambient outdoor lighting: If streetlights are intrusive, consider using blackout curtains or an eye mask; if indoor lighting spills into the night, turn off non-essential lights.

Source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179188

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021), Cigarette smoking damages almost every organ in the body, leading to numerous diseases and overall health decline. In the United States, smoking is responsible for over 480,000 deaths each year, nearly one in five deaths. For women, smoking can make it more difficult to conceive and can adversely affect a baby’s health before and after birth. In men, smoking can reduce sperm quality, decreasing fertility and increasing the risk of congenital disabilities and miscarriage. Smoking also harms oral health, potentially leading to tooth loss. Moreover, it increases the risk of cataracts, which cloud the eye’s lens and impair vision. It can cause age-related macular degeneration (AMD), damaging a small spot near the retina’s center needed for central vision. Additionally, smoking is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus and can complicate its management, with active smokers having a 30-40% higher risk of developing diabetes compared to nonsmokers.

The four major diseases linked to smoking are

• Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Increased mortality rates due to smoking.
  • Elevated risk of ischemic heart diseases.
• Respiratory Conditions
  • Smoking is a primary cause of chronic respiratory deaths.
  • Increased risk of respiratory diseases and tuberculosis.
• Stroke
  • A Study reports a Positive correlation between smoking prevalence and stroke-related deaths.
• Lung Cancer
  • Study reports there is a higher likelihood of lung cancer with increased daily cigarette consumption.

With the government shutdown, many aspects of daily life have been severely impacted. The rate of food insecurity is increasing, and challenges related to housing, transportation, and other social determinants of health are becoming more pressing. SNAP benefits have been frozen, leaving many families struggling to put food on the table. As a result, more individuals and families are turning to food pantries and community resources for support.

At the same time, the cost of food and necessities continues to rise, deepening the struggles faced by countless households. These are difficult times, but I want to encourage everyone affected to stay strong, remain hopeful, and trust that better days are ahead.

Here are some practical ways to cope and survive during the rising costs and government shutdown:

• You must focus on needs such as housing, food, transportation, utilities, and medication.
• Decrease or pause non-essential spending, such as new purchases, entertainment, or dining out.

  Manage Your Money Wisely

• Avoid any unnecessary debt.
• Prioritize rent/mortgage and food.
• Discuss with your utility company, landlord, or bank to explore any available payment plans or deferments during the shutdown.

Explore any available community resources

• Assess community and faith-based resources (Local food banks, churches, non-profits) for support with food and bills.
• Check your city’s website to find out what supports are available to access.

   Protect Your Mental and Emotional Health during the difficult time

• Financial insecurity can be draining. Stay connected with family, friends, and coworkers for emotional support.
• Get good exercise, rest, and be consistent with your routines
• Have faith and be hopeful that the challenges are temporary and will surely pass
• Focus on what’s within your control.

Maintain Perspective

• Use this period to build your financial discipline and strength
• Celebrate each time you pay a bill and make meals; a win is worth celebrating
• Reflect on value by focusing on more relationships, essentials, and faith than on any material things

Uterine fibroids (UFs) represent the most prevalent non-cancerous tumors among women of reproductive age. Symptomatic fibroids can lead to significant health issues and are the primary reason for hysterectomies in the United States and globally, contributing to substantial socioeconomic impacts and affecting over 70% of women of reproductive age (Langton et al., 2024). African American women tend to develop fibroids approximately 10 years earlier than White women in the US and bear a disproportionate health burden from these tumors

Black women experience UFs at higher rates, with an earlier onset, more severe symptoms, and faster disease progression compared to other groups.

According to Sithembinkosi Ndebele (2024), 85% of participants were non-Hispanic Blacks. Black participants had a higher likelihood of a UF diagnosis, and the following risk factors were reported contributing to the high prevalence of UFs in Black individuals:

1. Socioeconomic Status: Lower socioeconomic status is reported to increase the rates of UFs.
2. Adverse Environmental Exposures: Increased exposure to environmental pollutants is associated with a higher prevalence of UFs.
3. Chronic Stress: Experiences that increase chronic stress are significant contributors.

Lifestyle and socioeconomic factors, closely tied to neighborhood characteristics, further influence UF prevalence. These factors include:

1. Body Mass Index (BMI): A higher BMI correlates with a higher risk of UFs.
2. Alcohol Use: Regular alcohol consumption is positively correlated with UF diagnosis.
3. Income and Occupation: These factors influence access to healthy food and healthcare.

As we know, obesity stands as a significant health concern affecting the lives of African Americans. It is imperative to grasp the barriers that contribute to the rising rates of obesity within this population.

Obesity is characterized by excessive body fat accumulation influenced by environmental and genetic factors and poses various health risks, including specific cancers, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disease. Omondi & Freysteinson (2023) estimated annual medical expenses related to obesity issues in the United States to be around $147 billion. Research reveals that obesity prevalence is notably high among African Americans, with rates around 49.6%, surpassing non-Hispanic Whites at 42.2%. Mainly, obesity rates are higher among African American women, reaching 56.9%, compared to 41.1% among African American men (Lofton et al., 2023).

Access to nutritious foods is limited for African Americans, who often consume less nutritious diets with high levels of added sugars and fried foods. Multiple obstacles hinder healthy eating habits, including limited knowledge, the cost of nutritious foods, time constraints for meal preparation, reliance on transportation to access stores, and communication barriers with healthcare providers regarding dietary habits.

Similarly, opportunities for physical activity are restricted, exacerbating the obesity issue. Reduced physical activity levels and increased sedentary behaviors like gaming or screen time have been associated with higher body mass index (BMI). African Americans facing obesity encounter various challenges in engaging in physical activity, including a lack of awareness regarding effective exercise methods, limited access to affordable exercise programs, inadequate facilities, transportation limitations, and health concerns.

References

Omondi, H., & Freysteinson, W. M. (2023). Understanding Obesity in African American Women Using Leininger’s Theory. Nursing Science Quarterly, 37(1), 71–75. https://doi.org/10.1177/08943184231207383

Lofton, H., Ard, J. D., Hunt, R. R., & Knight, M. G. (2023). Obesity among African American people in the United States: A review. Obesity, 31(2), 306–315. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23640

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