University of South Carolina Libraries
< Door Our lifesi All of us determine, through ine way we live, now buuii oux lives will end. Some factors, such as those we inherit from our parents, are beyond control, but the cumulative effects of a person's lifestyle usually determine one's fate. Our ability to avoid . premature illness and death is relatively new. At the turn of the century, the greatest killers were influenza, tuberculosis and smallpox, all communicable diseases not subiect to individual control. ANTIBIOTICS, vaccines and many other medical advances have virtually conquered these diseases. However, increased standards of living, improved housing and adequate sewage disposal have done more to mitigate illness than medicine ever could. But, counter-forces have been undoing much of the progress. Foremost among these forces are sedentary living encouraged by mechanized conveniences, the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and drugs, eating patterns which put sensual pleasures above the AMil f K A UUUliy liccua aiiu uiv psychological stresses of modern living. In 1977, Americans consumed more than three billion gallons of beer and four hundred gallons of hard liquor. One in every eight Americans is an alcoholic. Six hundred and two billion cigarettes per capita were smoked in 1977. AMERICANS consumed 10 times as much legal drugs as the seven other most populous nations. Every month there are | thirteen U.S. drug purchases WELCOM jj I ^ 1 306 Hampton c way to h iyles reflect 01 per capita, excluding alcohol 1 211^^1 J rm.A turn megai urugs. me ?ver?ge American eats 55 teaspoons of white-refined sugar daily. Forty percent of our diet is composed of fat, eighty percent of Americans are overweight and fifty percent are obese. The result has been a drastic nhonfla in rtur notion'e honlth VllUllgV ??? VMA AIMV1VII W 11VMAMI Major killers today are heart disease, cancer, stroke and accidents. The problem is that although it is easy to convince a person in pain to see a doctor, it is difficult to get a healthy person to moderate harmful habits. THERE ARE many reasons why people don't follow a nxnunntiiio annpna/>h Thov pi C VCIlit Y V nppnuuvii. A iivj . don't know enough about it, health insurance plans don't pay for it and advertising promotes a "good life." The behavior of many reflects the belief that the dangerous consequence of some habits applies only to others. Peoole know far too little about how the body functions IE BACK, S It's Ki< j^'#? Be on Goi gjA ... morning worshi ^ Bible study to f< fMr, \ with separate cl graduate studer ITnf... a homecooked ? free fni 7 ...NEWliKlSATH Jw, 5:00 P.M. ... an informal eve 41? First ? it Sumter / Columbia /" ealth?) ir health and how to keep them func- [ tioning well. Too many people I use commercials to obtain j health information. j Potions for gaseous stomachs, splitting headaches and tired blood are commercially hawked, while im portant facts about nutrition, exercise, rest, relaxation and other personal habits are unknown or ignored. UNFORTUNATELY, people take better care of their cars than of their bodies. They insure the car gets proper fuel but expect the body to reamin hi ii ...? i 1L... neanny no mailer wnai uiey feed it. They insure the car is driven regularly but expect to maintain health and muscle tone in a neglected body. In our complex world, one cannot be expected to assume total responsibility for learning all that he needs to know to maintain a high level of wellness. Neither can a share of individual responsibility be shirked. It is increasingly evident that better health and longer life can only be achieved through in telligent efforts by individuals. Mature decisions about diet, exercise and smoking are critical. This column aims to raise the health consciousness of the university community. By providing information on health issues and exploring selfhelp skills, we intend to emnhasize the necessitv of taking responsibility for one's health and the benefits that stem from healthful lifestyles. Editor's net*: An article related to health will be featured at the beginning of each month In the Oamacock, of which thl> it the first. The column it produced in cooperation with Open Door. ; J TUDENTS 3k-off Time! tl's team, too, with p for students at 9:30 A M >llow at 11:00 A.M. asses for freshmen ? its Sunday dinner ? and it's l)N choir rehearsal at :ning worship at 7:00 P.M. baptist Church felephone 256-4251 Elegant D low country olera vegei mushrooms sauteed in juicy New York Strip s I a view of the city at nif and more?Friday eve T7, ? nn j. riv j. ( of Caro Make sure you have a p 1 8th floor of Capst j| Call 777-8198 for i [ ? M.D./D.V.M. In Medical & Veterii The Institute of Internationa offers total medical education TT C I U1C u .o. 1. Direct admission into accr in Italy and Spain. 2. Master of Science Degre recognized colleges and un leading to advanced placemei other foreign medical schools schools. 3. While in attendance at tl Institute will provide a suppl Sciences Curriculum whicn transfer into an Amerl (COTRANS). 4. For those students who d stitute provides accredite< clerkships at cooperating U. 5. During the final year of ] the Institute provides a si pmiciioivc uiiuitai uicuiti ! prepares the student to examination. 6. IF YOU ARE NOW? POSSESSOR OF AN M.S. 0 THE SCIENCES, WE CA VANCED PLACEMENT MEDICAL SCHOOL. | The Institute has been resp more American students to i Imtui any uuiu uigtuiiiMtuuii INSTITUTE OF INTERN EDUCAT1 I Chartered by the Regents o State of New York 3 East 54 Street, New York 10 < naMUHmMWH . * inmg < I ( table soup, pure butter, \teak, rht?all this nings. op I una ilace at the Top. one dorm, 'eservations. i European nary Schools Ed Medical Education l leading to practice in rulif/ul c/vViaaIc cuiicu incvuv^u ovuuvio e in cooperation with iversities in the U.S. at in Spanish, Italian or ; or veterinary medical le medical school, the emental Basic Medical prepares students for can medical school 0 not transfer, the In1 supervised clinical S. hospitals. foreign medical school ipplemental and comne curriculum which ? take the ECFMG OR WILL BE?THE >R Ph.D. DEGREE IN N OFFER YOU ADIN A EUROPEAN tonsible for processing foreign medical schools ATIONAL MEDICAL [ON | f the University of the 022 (212) 832-2089 , .is