PRISON IS NOT MENOPAUSE FRIENDLY: Be Prepared to Self Advocate

By Kwaneta Harris

From PHN Issue 58, Fall 2024

What Are Menopause and Perimenopause?

Menopause = Meno (monthly period) + Pause (stop). Menopause is
the end of having a menstrual cycle. Technically, it is twelve months without
having a menstrual period. Perimenopause leads to menopause. It is when a person with ovaries is in their final reproductive years. Symptoms of menopause can begin during perimenopause and continue for up to a decade. Despite the name, the journey to menopause is not just about our period stopping. Some people don’t have periods due to a hysterectomy or infertility. It’s easier to think of menopause as a time of reduced hormone production.

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ASK PHN: SKIN CANCER

By M. Ali and Leah Owen-Oliner

From PHN Issue 57, Summer 2024

Dear Prison Health News,
Could you please send information about topics such as skin cancers?
—Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,
Thank you for this great topic suggestion, as skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. Skin cancer most often occurs due to exposure to sunlight (UV radiation), and it involves an abnormal growth of skin cells. Sunlight is necessary for the production of vitamin D by our bodies. However, too much sun exposure, especially from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when UV radiation from the sun is the strongest, can cause sunburns and be harmful long term (even if you don’t get sunburned). Skin cancer affects
people of all skin tones, including those with darker complexions, so it’s important to lower your risk by limiting direct sun exposure, using sunscreen (SPF 30 or greater) when possible, and checking your skin regularly for changes. Catching skin cancer early gives you the best chance for successful treatment. While there are a few different types of skin cancer, here are the three
major ones:

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I’VE FALLEN AND I CAN’T GET UP! HOW TO MAINTAIN GOOD BALANCE AND FLEXIBILITY

By Troy Glover

From PHN Issue 56, Spring 2024

Prisoners perceive time differently in prison. In our imagination, that pecan tree in our backyard is still full, green, and vibrant. Those polyester butterfly-collared shirts I own are still in style. For prisoners, time seems to stand still.

Because many of us are serving long sentences, it is imperative that we try to maintain optimum health. The best way to do this is through proper nutrition and exercise. Many prisoners only focus on endurance and strength training. As we grow older, we need to incorporate another facet to that regime of wellness: balance and flexibility.

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GET BUSY! COMBATTING THE HEALTH RISKS OF A TEXAS SOLITARY CELL

By Kwaneta Harris

From PHN Issue 56, Spring 2024

At 51, living in a solitary confinement cell in Texas increases my likelihood of an early death. It’s a daily fight to remain physically and emotionally healthy. I’ve been incarcerated 17 years, with seven and a half in the hole. Texas is known for its brutal prison conditions: No air conditioning. No ability for anyone to purchase individualized TVs. A two-page commissary list for everyone. Although, on paper, we are allowed out of our cell daily for a shower and outdoor/indoor recreation, that’s seldom enforced. I developed a regimented daily routine. As a Black woman, I know I’m at risk for diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and stroke. As a former nurse, I know how to combat the harm this box was designed to do.

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Convict Chronicles: FEELING OFF? You’re Not Alone.

By Leo Cardez
From PHN Issue 53, Summer 2023

I read an article in Men’s Health that really struck me. It wasn’t specifically written for the inmate community, but it should have been. In the piece, Dr. (psychiatrist) Gregory Scott Brown is discussing something called adjustment disorder (AD).

In layman terms, AD is a disproportionate reaction to something stressful in one’s life. AD may make one feel worried, hopeless, or a general sense of unease. Sound familiar? Post-COVID inmate issues are pretty similar across the U.S.: anger over job/program/assignment loss, despair about the difficulty in staying in touch with loved ones, sensitivity over race relations, and general malaise over extended lockdowns brought about by anything from quarantine protocols to staff shortages. In time, all these tiny attacks to your routine and well-being add up.

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“MARCH” of the Legionella

By Thomas Michael Simmons
From PHN Issue 53, Summer 2023

Many baby boomers recall 1976, when people attending an American Legion convention fell gravely ill to a form of pneumonia later named “legionnaires disease.” Legionnaires disease is caused by the bacteria Legionella pneumophila, which is among the most common causes of pneumonia. Legionella can be attributed to biofilms found in plumbing and water storage systems, construction, and water temperature fluctuations. They thrive and grow quickly in 98.6-degree Fahrenheit environments. Legionella grows best in large, complex, and poorly maintained water distribution systems, such as air conditioning and cooling systems.

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Dehumanizing of Persons Involves Words

By Daniel Ramirez
From PHN Issue 52, Spring 2023

Criminality begins with potential perpetrators dehumanizing potential victims in their own mind. Using words such as this person is a “monster” or an “animal” or even a “snake.” Not worth the ground he/she walks on. And so on… We put a negative spin on a person so we can have a reason to look down on them or treat them unfairly. Potential perpetrators use labels upon people whom they want to victimize and treat any way they want.

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A Word About Syphilis

By Thomas Michael Simons, IPE
From PHN Issue 52, Spring 2023

While its origin is not completely known, the earliest evidence of syphilis was found in the Pre-Columbian Indigenous population of South America. Syphilis is caused by the Treponema pallidum spirochete bacterium, and it can cause serious health problems if not treated. It is transmitted by coming into contact with a syphilitic sore during anal, oral, or vaginal sex. These sores appear on or around the anus, penis, or vagina (they’re found in the rectum, on the lips, or in the mouth). It can be congenitally (present before birth) spread from a pregnant person to a fetus or baby.

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What to Know About COVID-19 Tests

By M. Ali
From PHN Issue 52, Spring 2023

COVID-19 is an illness caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. It spreads when a person with the virus (symptomatic or asymptomatic) releases droplets and particles from their mouth or nose. This can occur when they breathe, cough, or sneeze in close contact with another person. It can also occur in poorly ventilated or crowded indoor settings, such as correctional and detention facilities. The best way to prevent COVID19 infection and reinfection is to practice basic hygiene like washing your hands with soap and water, wear a well-fitting mask, stay up to date with vaccines, and avoid contact with individuals who may have the virus. While the use of masks to prevent the spread of this virus has been politicized and debated, randomized controlled trials have found that community-level mask wearing does reduce COVID-19 infections and may be an especially effective resource in crowded facilities.

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The ABCs of HEPATITIS

By Hannah Calvelli and Lucy Gleysteen
From PHN Issue 51, Winter 2023

Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver. There are several types of viruses that cause hepatitis, but this article will focus on types A, B, and C. The liver is a large organ in the body, located under the right rib cage. It has many important roles, including cleaning toxins out of the body; breaking down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats to help digest food; regulating the amount of blood in the body; and helping blood in the body to clot. Hepatitis is caused by infections from different viruses (called hepatitis A, B, and C) that damage the liver.

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