Illness

Could you imagine that your hair products may possibly give you asthma? This is what has significantly been conveyed to us through two journals we are about to discuss. These two write ups has beautifully covered the issue but with different genre and are categorized in two types; the scholarly scientific article and popular science article.

If we talk about scholarly scientific articles; they are basically original research on a specific topic and written purely in the scientific method. These can be of two type of journals i.e. discipline-specific and less discipline specific. The first category’s audience is normally another scientist of the same field as the author and for the second category, the audience is the scientist in different fields.

Popular science articles communicate information to a general audience on science-related topics or news. These articles are normally a summary of original research reports or scholarly scientific articles. The article chosen as a scholarly scientific article is “Measurement of endocrine disrupting and asthma-associated chemicals hair products used by Black women” written by Jessica S. Helm in environmental research.

The audience of this article is obviously scientists’ community which is unaware of these facts till now or has a little research on the topic. This journal is based on a strong research and its purpose is to spread the awareness of the side effects of hair products used by Black women. The popular science journal that has been taken in contrast with the scholarly scientific article is from a blog where a writer has expressed his/her concern.

The name of the journal is “Hair products for Black women contain mix of hazardous ingredients”. This is basically a summary or easy version of the facts indicated in the scholarly scientific article stated above. The writer has tried to convey the information to the general public on the risks that hair products are causing through these dangerous chemicals.

It is important to know the linguistic difference between scholarly scientific and popular science journal. Linguistic difference underlines the techniques through which the journal has been organized, diction used along with facts and figures stated to understand the logical picture of any particular topic.

It should clearly define the purpose of an article, the intention of the author with possible, require information about them. It takes along the audience and occasion to describe important elements and occurrences. We should know the significance of techniques used for writing any article whether it is choice of words or selection of data to highlight the factors involved.

Linguistic analysis works along with three main strategies logos (logic), pathos (emotion) and ethos (moral). They are called mode of persuasion. Journals which are normally pure research-based and written logically and rationally are said to be logos analysis. Pathos linguistic articles describe the emotions of the people as they are written in an emotional manner.

Ethos critically belongs to human ethics and explain things in a careful manner for better societal proceedings. It is important to do the analysis and differentiate both the articles in term of their organization, diction and figures.

As we start with the organizing pattern of both the journals, we could observe a clear difference between them. The scholarly scientific article has been written while using logos and ethos whereas popular journal basically indicates ethos and pathos analysis. The scholarly article is skillfully organized as we see it from the start till end.

A proper heading of the article can be seen along with names of the authors and place of publication. The writer has even highlighted the keywords on the left side of the first page. This is kind of a proper research paper starting with an abstract and introduction. It has indicated methods of the research step by step such as ‘Selection’, ‘Chemical Analysis’, and ‘Data Analysis’.

We could also see ‘Results’ section with appropriate subheadings of different chemicals to elaborate their usage with an accurate percentage. Some discussions with limitations of the research ended with a conclusion. A conventional in-text citation and references with indexes are marked at the end of the journal.

Most importantly every section has a proper heading with a complete detail and data on it. The writer has informed on the harmful chemicals including their exact amount used in hair products. Possible outcomes or results of these chemicals on the health of Black women are incorporated so that to raise the awareness level on health-related issues.

Likewise, if we review the popular science article it’s a general publication. We cannot see any pattern or organization as the scholarly science article has in it. Literally, it has been written for a general public, therefore, the organization is simple and easy to comprehend so that message could be conveyed to common people.

We could hardly see any heading/section or in-text citation except one reference which has been marked at the end of the article. Simple but elaborative; the organization is good as we see it public perspective.

Words and phrases choice have also been contrasted in both the articles. Scholarly Journal has been formed in pure scientific language and narration whereas popular science article can be said as a blend of both. We could see refined scientific phrases and words used to describe the process and outcome of using the hair products made of risky chemicals.

Chemicals names like “endocrine disrupting chemicals, phthalates, phenols, parabens, cyclosiloxanes, UV filters, Glycol ether and alkylphenols” has been used to provide particular detail related to chemicals which are used in hair products and normally not included in the ingredient sections of the product label; causing dangerous disease in US Black women.

Writer has indicated a variety of facts in the report such as “Exposure to chemicals from personal care products is thought to occur primarily via absorption through skin and inhalation” and ” Recent research suggests that EDCs in common consumer products, including hair products, contribute to these hormone-mediated diseases. For example, use of hair oil and hair relaxers is associated with earlier menarche higher incidence of fibroids and increased risk of breast cancer”.

Comparing these facts with the non-scholarly article, we merely see any of these instances as it is written in a simple format. Although we can see some scientific words marked to explain the possible risks with names and percentage of the chemicals used in these damaging hair products. The problem has been narrated in a simple but comprehensive form.

Phrases are unlike the scholarly article indicating the outcomes faced by Black women. The blog writer has tried to raise the issue by summarizing the scholarly article in an understandable approach. For instance “This study is a first step toward uncovering what harmful substances are in products frequently used by Black women, so we can better understand what’s driving some of the health issues they’re facing.”

Obviously, the scholarly journal is full of figures and facts. As we can analyze the table taken from the journal. These figures comprehensively show the facts narrated in the article with a smart approach of indicating various portions/quantities used in products consequently highlighting potential risks and threats of illness.

The journal has really invoked the data needed by other scientists of the same field to analyze and judge the actual study for formulating future strategies.

Hildegard believes that all humans consist of four elements. Hildegard divides the elements into two different kinds, the upper and the lower. The upper elements are intangible and consist of fire and air. The lower elements are tangible and consist of water and earth. She believes that a human’s spirit and soul are made of the upper elements while the body itself consists of the lower elements. She finds that fire is in a human’s brain and marrow, while air is in the breath and rationality. Water is found in moisture and in a human’s blood, while earth is in a human’s bones and flesh. In “Elements and humors” Hildegard states, “…when they are at variance they make them ill and kill them.” Hildegard attributes illness and death in all humans to an imbalance of elements.

Hildegard’s theory on humors is similar, but also very different from Hippocrates’ theory. Hildegard believes there are four humors. She finds there are two predominant ones called flegmata and two succeeding ones called livores. She believes that the flegmata humors in a healthy human will exceed the inferior livores humors, and the inferior humors will balance the abundant humors through their deficiency. When any humor is exceeding its measure, the human is in danger. Usually when a livores humor is exceeding its measure, the humor will not have enough force to overtake the predominant humors. In some cases, the inferior humor is stimulated by a predominant humor and the person is in danger and cannot be at peace. Hildegard believes that there is an exception to her theory. The humans that have been graced by god will have their humors balanced by god.

In “Disorders and diseases” Hildegard explores various symptoms and illnesses while associating various humors or elements to each. Hildegard believes that migraines are founded from black bile and all other bad humors. She theorizes that migraines are located sometimes on the left and sometimes on the right. When black bile increases to excess, the migraine is located on the left. Hildegard finds healing migraines to be very difficult. When attempting to reduce black bile, the bad humors are being stimulated. Whatever reduces the bad humors also increases the black bile. Hildegard believes it is difficult to reduce the bad humors and black bile at the same time, resulting in untreated migraines.

Many of Hildegard’s observations in patients revolve around their eyes. She believes that eyes are made of fire and water. The fire keeps the eyes strong, and the water provides vision. Grey eyes are mainly formed from air and are usually weak compared to other eyes. Grey eyes can be damaged by fog and humid air. Hildegard believes that physically healthy human will have clear eyes, regardless of color. If a human has clear eyes that sometimes reveal a blue cloud, the signs indicate the human will not die soon. Hildegard also believes the eyes to be windows of the soul. If someone has eyes that are cloudy or turbid, it indicates death. The cloudier the eyes are, the sooner death will take place. When the eyes are mostly clear but also a little cloudy and watery, it is a sign of life.

Hildegard also observes her patients’ cheek color. When healthy, the color of a human’s cheeks should be slightly red. Hildegard believes the color of a human’s cheeks is from the fiery breath of life and the cheeks can show that the soul is secured into the body. When someone has cheeks with a deep red color, it is a sign of death. The sign means that the soul is showing all its power on the outside of the body, while on inside of the body the soul is weak. Other signs that Hildegard tends to look for can revolve around the person’s behavior, voice, demeanor, urine, or feces.

In “Treatment” Hildegard explains, “…the prescribed remedies that were recommended by God will either cure human beings or they will die, or God does not want them to be cured.” Most of Hildegard’s treatments are quite simple, and most involve a mixture of plants and herbs. She recommends only taking these treatments out of necessity and using discretion while being treated. She also suggests taking the substances with bread and wine and rarely taking the treatments on an empty stomach.

For a person suffering from migraines, Hildegard recommends taking aloe and twice as much myrrh. Grind them into a powder and add flour and poppy oil. Take the substance and cover the head, then put on a cap and leave it for three days. The explanation behind her treatment is that the substance will provide fattiness to the brain and relieve the headache. For pain in the lungs, Hildegard treats by taking lunch-wurt and cooking it in water. She believes that pain is the lungs is caused by bad humors sending vapors to the brain, conducting it to the lungs and causing pain.

Peter is a 64-year-old who decided to take early retirement to enjoy life and not work so hard. He decided it was time to enjoy his grandchildren and like any other typical retiree enjoy traveling. Recently having built a house in Morelos, Mexico it was time to enjoy it. Peter has always been the life of the party. Anyone who meets him instantly falls in love with the person he is. He is a hard worker, compassionate, very dependable person. He will take the shirt off his back to help you. As you get older you start feeling the aches and pain that comes along with aging and Peter was starting to feel it or so he thought it was from aging. After a routine checkup he is told to immediately go to the hospital there was something abnormal in his blood work. After spending four days in the hospital going through many testing, Peter is given the worst news you can possibly get. Three words you never want to hear come out of your doctor’s mouth “ You have cancer”. Being diagnosed with a terminal disease can be devastating not only for the patient but also for the family and friends. After overcoming from the initial shock you want many answers to questions you might have. Many questions will remain unanswered or it is not the response you were hoping for. All you know is that being diagnosed with a terminal disease, the end result is going to be death. Therefore, Euthanasia should be offered and allowed for these cases. The three main reasons why Euthanasia should be allowed are these patients have no chance of recovery, shortens suffering, and after all, they have the right to a “good death”.

Being diagnosed with a terminal disease basically means there is no cure and no chance of recovering from the illness. There is no nice or easy way a doctor can give you such devastating news. Many feelings run through your body. Feelings of anger, sadness, and denial are the most common. Your body feels numb, you have tunnel vision, and it seems as if you can not comprehend anything else after being told you are dying. Many can not process the thought of having a painful death. These deaths of a terminal ill patient are not only painful for the patient but also for the family and friends. There is no right or wrong way to deal with death. Just like there is no correct way to react to the diagnosis. Priorities will need to be put in place and decisions will need to be made. For many talking about planning your funeral is like the big elephant in the room, you simply don’t want to acknowledge it. That is when Euthanasia is usually considered. According to Wikipedia Euthanasia comes from the Greek word “eu” meaning “good” and “Thanatos” meaning “death”. The definition is “ the practice of intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering”. Everyone wants to have a “good death” or painless one. Dying in your sleep is a good example of a good death or even a sudden death can be considered good because it is quick and you do not feel it. Euthanasia allows the doctor, with the patient’s consent, to administer a lethal dose of medication which ends the suffering and the patient dies. The first time it was actually used in medical context was by Francis Bacon in the 17th Century. Additionally, I now understand that I am dying and I am living. Dying is a part of living and living is a part of dying. Every day I remind myself that knowing I am dying offers me the opportunity to be my best self, to spend the time I have left by living fully in the present.