Guard Archives - Mediarabe

Optimism, resilience may guard heart health in Black adults

October 7, 2020

Optimism, a sense of purpose and feeling in control are a recipe for better heart health among Black adults, even in neighborhoods where heart disease and stroke are more common, a new study shows.

Researchers looked into how psychosocial well-being, or resilience, affected health. They found that in neighborhoods with high rates of people having or dying from heart disease or stroke, Black adults with higher resilience scores had a 12.5% lower rate of cardiovascular disease than those with lower resilience.

Living in a neighborhood with fewer or limited socioeconomic resources is recognized as a social determinant of health, the conditions in which people are born and live that could impact a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease.

“Almost everything we know about Black Americans and their health focuses on deficits, yet we really need to begin to identify strengths,” one of the study’s principal investigators, Tené T. Lewis, said in

Individual psychological well-being may guard heart health in Black adults

October 7, 2020

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heart — Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Feeling optimistic, that you have a sense of purpose in life and that you are in control of your environment—characteristics of psychosocial resilience—are associated with having better cardiovascular health among Black adults, independent of neighborhood context, according to a study published today in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association journal.

Highlighting a relatively understudied area of research, this study shows that psychosocial well-being, or resilience, may positively affect cardiovascular health among Black people. One known factor that negatively impacts health in the Black community is the neighborhood itself, as people living in neighborhoods with more socioeconomic disadvantages have higher rates of heart attacks, strokes and deaths from these factors. Living in a neighborhood with fewer or limited socio-economic resources is recognized as one of a number of social determinants of health, which are factors that may affect one’s risk of cardiovascular disease.

Guard troops leave food banks needing volunteers

October 2, 2020

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After several months moving boxes and helping people with food, Indiana National Guard soldiers at Old Bethel & Partners can use volunteers.

Indianapolis Star

Jeff Maag knows what it’s like to go a day without food. He remembers the hunger he felt as a kid waiting for his mom to scrape something together or for a friend to drop food off.

And that’s why Maag, 52, volunteers at the Old Bethel and Partners food pantry on East 21st Street near North Franklin Road.

The pantry is now in desperate need of volunteers like Maag after the 10 soldiers from the National Guard who have worked at the pantry since the start of the coronavirus pandemic began to leave this week, said Arin Schellenberg, the program manager at the pantry.

Across Indiana, most National Guard soldiers will be leaving food banks and pantries this week despite the continued high demand

Leaders in several states warn residents to be on guard as worrying Covid-19 trends emerge

October 1, 2020

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Leaders in states across the country are sounding the alarm about rising Covid-19 cases that experts say could foreshadow a coming surge.

a person taking a selfie in a car: Medical technicians work at a drive-thru coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing facility at the Regeneron Pharmaceuticals company's Westchester campus in Tarrytown, New York, U.S. September 17, 2020. Picture taken September 17, 2020. Brendan McDermid/Reuters

© Brendan McDermid/Reuters
Medical technicians work at a drive-thru coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing facility at the Regeneron Pharmaceuticals company’s Westchester campus in Tarrytown, New York, U.S. September 17, 2020. Picture taken September 17, 2020. Brendan McDermid/Reuters

In New York, several Covid-19 clusters have created 20 “hotspot” zip codes — many in New York City — that have an average test-positivity rate of about 5.5% — nearly seven times higher than the rest of the state (0.82%), the governor said.

The clusters are a “stark reminder” that New Yorkers need to stay vigilant, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday.

“Wear a mask, socially distance, follow the public health guidance — because this thing is not over,” Cuomo said in a statement.

Leading health officials including Dr. Anthony Fauci, the

Minnesota National Guard confronts mental health issues head on

September 28, 2020

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CAMP RIPLEY – Sergeant First Class Joshua Guyse comes from central casting as a senior infantry instructor for the Minnesota National Guard: A sturdy six-foot-three, haircut high and tight, a feared-but-respected reputation as “the right hand of Satan,” in Guyse’s words. When he talks, you listen.

One morning, the 48-year-old stood in front of the 175th Regiment Regional Training Institute here and spoke about something that has gone from relatively unspoken to top of mind in the military: Mental health and suicide prevention.

“Nobody’s afraid to ask for help if they have a broken leg,” he said. “But if somebody has a mental health issue, are they comfortable coming to ask for help? Why not? Pride. Stigma. Shame. Afraid it might affect their career.”

Guyse knows every soldier here has been touched by suicide. One just got a call from a military buddy who mentioned suicide four times.

Over the

Ohio National Guard Extends Food Bank Support Mission > U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE > Story

September 28, 2020

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The Ohio National Guard continues to assist 14 food bank locations and warehouses across the state.

The guard’s COVID-19 response began when Gov. Mike DeWine signed a state active duty proclamation to activate personnel from the guard and Ohio Military Reserve to assist with humanitarian efforts, March 18, 2020. About 350 guardsmen are currently supporting the food bank mission.

Federal funding for the National Guard’s nationwide COVID-19 response missions has been extended into December. While there are Ohio National Guard units transitioning out of the food bank mission in order to return to civilian and military obligations, new units are being brought in to continue providing assistance at all 14 locations throughout the state.

“The length and scope of this mission has been unprecedented for the National Guard, and our work is not finished yet. I am proud of the efforts of every soldier and Airman who has stepped up

MA Health Officials On Guard As Coronavirus Case Count Creeps Up

September 27, 2020

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MASSACHUSETTS —After weeks of steady declines in coronavirus cases, Massachusetts has seen an increase in recent days, recording 515 new confirmed COVID-19 cases Saturday and prompting state health officials to acknowledge the numbers are heading in the wrong direction.

Some of the increase can be attributed to comprehensive testing at colleges and universities in Massachusetts, most of which welcomed students back late last month, Tory Mazzola, a spokesman for the state’s COVID-19 Command Center, said in a statement. But, with the state set to ease some restrictions on restaurants on Monday, Mazzola said officials are closely watching town-by-town case counts.

Also on Patch: MA Reports 515 New Coronavirus Cases, 18 Deaths

While Gov. Baker on Wednesday announced eased restaurant restrictions in the state that include increasing the maximum at a table from six to 10 people, and allowing bar seating for customers ordering food, some towns and cities — including