How Alcohol Abuse Can Lead to Depression
It’s no secret that college students are known for drinking to excess. But what many don’t know are the links between alcohol abuse and depression. Alcohol changes the brain’s chemistry, and when someone drinks too much regularly, they’re more likely to develop depression or other mood disorders. It may be hard at first, but you should talk with your doctor about how you can cut back on drinking before it leads to something worse. Connections Between Depression and Alcoholism Alcohol abuse and depression disorders have a two-way relationship. Both can coexist and are prevalent psychiatric conditions that frequently occur together; each …
The National Holiday You Should Care About
Since 1995, June 27th has been designated as National HIV Testing Day—NHTD—in the United States. The main objectives of this essential day are to emphasize and encourage people to: Get tested for HIV. Know their HIV status. Get linked to care and treatment services. Why Is This National Day So Important? Early HIV testing is a crucial element in slowing the spread of HIV infection and saving the lives of those who test positive. Unfortunately, many people are unaware that they’ve been infected with HIV and are unlikely to take the necessary precautions that help prevent the spread to others. On the other …
Preparing for Pride Month
For over 50 years, LGBTQ organizations and countless allies worldwide have commemorated the 1969 Stonewall Riots with outdoor Pride marches, parades, live entertainment, educational workshops, and more. But this year, due to the pandemic and the need to maintain social distancing, these important celebrations may look a lot different during Pride Month 2021. However, just because you can’t march arm-in-arm doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate and carry on the essential work of pushing for change, educating, and supporting LGBTQ communities everywhere. Whether you’re a veteran or a newbie participant, preparing for Pride Month 2021 will surely be unlike any other year that …
The History of HIV on the African-American Community
African-Americans are disproportionately affected by HIV, more than any other racial group in the US. Despite a recent overall drop in HIV diagnoses, there are still significant disparities between racial groups. African-Americans accounted for 42% of the HIV diagnoses but made up only 13% of the country’s population in 2018. In the African-American community, black gay and bisexual men are the most affected by HIV, followed by black heterosexual women. More measures must be implemented to help address the fact that the African-American population remains overrepresented across all transmission modes. While prevention efforts continue to increase, certain challenges remain involving HIV and …
Getting Tested in Fort Worth
here’s no denying COVID-19 is the health crisis in everyone’s minds right now, but that doesn’t mean other health-related issues have been put on hold. HIV is a key example. Anyone who is sexually active is at risk of contracting HIV and dealing with the resulting health effects. We’ve written before about the importance of HIV testing in Fort Worth, but COVID-19 may have upended many of the normal testing procedures. Many medical professionals have either temporarily closed their operations or stuck with telemedicine until lockdown restrictions are lifted. Some may stay locked down even longer to protect at risk-patients. Other settings …