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Showing posts from December, 2024

The Green Revolution: Using Recycled Leaves in Your Garden

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As the seasons change, leaves often blanket our yards, and many of us rake them into piles, bag them up, and send them away. But did you know that these fallen leaves can be a goldmine for your garden? Recycling leaves is an eco-friendly way to enrich your soil, reduce waste, and create a thriving ecosystem. Here’s how you can turn this natural resource into gardening gold. Why Recycle Leaves? 1. Nutrient-rich compost Leaves are packed with essential nutrients like carbon, potassium, and phosphorus. When decomposed, they break down into a nutrient-rich organic matter, perfect for feeding plants and improving soil structure. 2. Water Retention Recycled leaves help retain moisture in the soil, reducing the need for frequent watering. 3. Eco-Friendly Solution Recycling leaves keeps organic waste out of landfills, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 4. Natural Pest Deterrent A layer of leaf mulch can deter weeds and pests, creating a healthier environment for your plants. H...

Foxleaf on Bluesky!

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  Follow me on Bluesky! @foxleaf-forlife.bsky.social

Hypertension in Black Communities: Exploring Genetic and Socioeconomic Contributors

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Introduction Hypertension, or high blood pressure, elevates arterial pressure and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and kidney failure. In the United States, hypertension disproportionately impacts the Black community, with approximately 55% of Black adults diagnosed with the condition (American Heart Association, 2024). This report examines the genetic, environmental, and socioeconomic factors that drive hypertension within the Black community and offers strategies to enhance prevention, screening, and disease management. This report explores the genetic, environmental, and socioeconomic factors contributing to hypertension within the Black community and proposes targeted strategies to improve prevention, screening, and management efforts. Hypertension Hypertension is a sustained systolic blood pressure of 130 mm Hg or higher or a diastolic blood pressure of 80 mm Hg or higher (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023). There are two classified ca...

Implications of Adherence to COVID-19 Mitigation

               Humanity has endured numerous pandemics throughout the years. Without pharmaceuticals, other protective measures had to be taken. Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) have been implemented throughout the centuries to help control the spread of infectious diseases and maintain the structure of society (Piret & Boivin, 2021). Isolation, quarantine, and border control were some NPIs deployed to mitigate the spread of disease (Piret & Boivin, 2021).             The COVID-19 pandemic proved challenging due to many factors. One major factor that caused increased infections was the difficulty of getting people to adhere to NPI strategies. Mask-wearing social distancing and quarantines became politicized, leading to non-compliance.  This is unfortunate, as studies have shown that when mask-wearing mandates are implemented, there is a...

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in Football Players

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   Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) has become an emerging health issue in the National Football League (NFL). A more vital understanding of the risks associated with playing in the NFL and the connection with CTE is needed.  CTE is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by repetitive traumatic brain injury (Marrero & Dlugasch, 2024). A high-impact sport with lots of collisions to the head puts NFL players at high risk for CTE.  According to Marrero and Dlugasch, 2024, every 2.6 years of professional football played doubles the odds of a player developing CTE. A challenge with CTE is that confirmation of the disease can only be done postmortem. This challenge makes it essential to develop risk analysis tools so players and organizations can make better decisions regarding player safety. Failure Modes and Effects Analysis for CTE This Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) for CTE Diagnosis...