Category Archives: Health

New Light on Leukemia

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There have been cases of cancer throughout recent years, many incurable. One of these diseases is leukemia, a dreaded cancer of which there was no hope for a cure. Many elderly people died from this cancer which deeply saddened their loved ones. However, recent research suggests that eventually scientists could develop a cure for leukemia before it undergoes a more aggressive form.Image result for leukemia microorganims

Leukemia is a disorder in which the blood cells and bone marrow accumulate at unstable levels through the lymphatic system. Sometimes a person’s diagnosis for leukemia may not be accurate. No matter the case, it cannot be cured even if a patient goes through chemotherapy. The therapy does work for some patients, but it only regulates symptoms for others.

Yet on January 29, 2019, the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research Drug Discovery program discovered a brand-new type of therapy that may treat leukemia. In tests, the protein MLL-1 binds with another called WDR5 causing leukemia. Researchers now plan to disrupt this process so that stopping the cancer is a possibility. This development soon led the Celgene Corporation to make a large investment to ensure further research and innovations for preclinical trials. Since then, there have been many collaborations to make this cure a reality.

For information on leukemia symptoms-click here

And for more information on leukemia cure development here

The Secrets Of Her … A Lazy Woman’s Skin

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It is 4 a.m. and the alarm that I set has ruined yet another night of good sleeping.

Being a full-time college student and full-time employee can be very hectic and stressful. Waking up every morning takes me an extra thirty minutes, long after my alarm goes ringing off. Every morning I lie awake for those thirty minutes contemplating if getting out of my bed is worth it or not. When I finally decide that it is, now I am thirty minutes behind on my schedule. I have to Comb my hair, brush teeth, iron clothes, make hot tea, grab my gallon of water and I’m running out the door to make it to work on time.

Who has time for make up when you’re in a race to beat time? For me, I’d rather go bare faced than to look like a clown in a rush. I’d love to be at the stage where I can be the type of woman to sit and sip a cup of herbs with her husband, while going through a 10-step facial routine before bed, but I’m not. After completing long hours of homework at the end of day, I am on to the shower and back to bed to get some rest before the next day! As an on the go college student, I’ve adapted to a 6-minute skin care routine every night before my shower. Although I am not going to share my 6-minute routine, I will give you four tips on how to develop clear soft skin and a popping glow.

Photo Courtesy of PointsKitchen.com

First and foremast, you want to make sure you are drinking a proper amount of water every day to keep your body and skin hydrated. Water is the most important element for your body and drinking it can provide many of benefits.

Photo Courtesy of Walmart.

Tip #2, Witch Hazel is your friend My favorite brand is made by Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner 16 and sold at Walmart. All you have to do is just pour little Hazel on a dry towel and massage it into your face. You should see the dirt being removed from your face and feel your pores opening. It is such a tingly refreshing feeling.

 

Photo Courtesy of Walmart.

Tip #3, Cocoa butter is amazing. My favorite brand of Cocoa butter is by Palmer’s of course. A 350 ml bottle from Walmart can take you a long way. I used to work the job of a day care teacher and my babies would always ask me if I had brought them marshmallows. Sadly, I lied and told them yes, but they could only find them if we could go a whole day without anyone in the class having to flip to a red card as a discipline consequence.Needless to say, they never received the chance to eat marshmallows with Ms. P!

Photo Courtesy of Dollar General

Last but not the least, have you heard of Vitamin E oil? The dollar general sells the body Vitamin E oil at a low price of $2. Vitamin E has proven to make the skin healthier and provide a nice glow. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that prevents formation of free radicals that damage our skin cells. Its antioxidant properties neutralize the oxidant effect that damages collagen and makes the skin dry and forms wrinkles, fine lines, age spots and discoloration. Vitamin E also contains anti-inflammatory properties and can protect and repair the skin from cellular damage.

Ladies take care of your skin and your skin will repay you with a healthy glow. It is important when being a lady on the go that you don’t look like you’ve been on the go. Who needs make up when your skin is popping?

Yoga in TXK

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Yoga is a Hindu theistic philosophy teaching the suppression of all activity of body, mind, and will in order that the self may realize its distinction from them and attain liberation. It is a system of breathing techniques, physical postures, and often practiced independently to promote physical and emotional well-being. Yoga is a great exercise that helps you relieve stress, burns fat, allows you to gain flexibility and mobility, detoxify the body, aids in organ function, improves your posture, helps with concentration and build your confidence. Citizens across the ArkLaTex practice exercise with yoga every day. 

Image Courtesy of Texarkana Yoga

Texarkana, Texas offers the citizens TXK Yoga. Texarkana Yoga is located off I-30 on Mall Drive. The studio is a clean, modern and simply decorated to create a welcoming, peaceful and focused practiced.

Texarkana Yoga has ten instructors each offering a diverse teaching style and are very passionate about their yoga craft. TXK Yoga instructors have each been trained under a 200-HR Yoga Alliance teacher trainer program. Current yoga instructors list as: Brittany Carder, Venus Lillis, Leslie Looney, Denise Means, Lauren Correll, Sandra Mullins, Lynnell Westerman, and Jim Booker.

Image Courtesy of Texarkana Yoga

The owner Jen Dickerson has spent half of her life in yoga and has over 23 years of experience. Jen mostly teaches the power yoga sessions heavily influenced Bryan Kest’s teachings and inspirations. Jen said “Her mission in life is to bring yoga to everyone who has a pulse. No mater your background, shape, size or physical condition, there is a form of yoga for everyone”.

Classes are offered every week on time schedule from Sunday- Saturday and often taught by different instructors on different days, along with fun and creative yoga workshops during the holidays, wellness, and nutrition classes. The different yoga classes to be offered is Sunrise yoga (Hot), Hot yoga, Cool yoga, Warm yoga, and Mornings for men.

Texarkana Yoga offers a special membership option for students at the rate of $55 a month with unlimited sessions or $10 drop in per session. For more information on TXK Yoga log on to https://www.texarkanayoga.com/ , visit 2011 Mall Drive #5 Texarkana, Texas 75503 or call 903-293-1626.

Download the Texarkana Yoga app today via Android or IOS to sign up for classes.

TAMUT Took on Dodgeball

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Texas A&M University Texarkana has over forty organizations on campus to keep students engaged and active in the community. Intramural sports is an extremely active organization, hosted by Campus Recreation, which holds weekly sports, games, and activities. For a few weeks this semester, the campus was covered in advertisements encouraging students to sign up for an intramural dodgeball team. Games were held from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the Patterson Student Center with a variety of teams formed by students, faculty, athletes, Greek life, and other clubs.

The dodgeball games came to a close in mid February, the last night consisting of a championship tournament with ten games, back to back. Each game required two referees to monitor the ten people on the court and two ball retreivors. The gymnasium, where the games took place, was lively with laughter, music, competitive banter, and a few screams as balls were thrown across the court at opponents.

Time keeper Madison Walters commented on the games, “it’s pretty funny, boys take this so seriously while most of the girls have no idea what’s happening.” She continued to laugh about other intramural events, “you should have seen intramural basketball…that was so bad!” Walters went on to say they were surprised by the number of participants for this sport. Usually they struggle to fill out teams, but dodgeball had about ten games a night.

The center referee, Ellie Kemins, was getting visibly upset by some of the participants. This was the first year TAMUT hosted a dodgeball league in the new gymnasium and there were a few hiccups throughout the night. Kemins commented, “it’s just a game! We need to adjust a few of the rules so this goes smoother next year…a holding limit, no talking to the officials…” Intramural officials looked tired as they chased balls for the players and kept everyone accountable on the court.

While the event lasted for three hours the pace never slowed down. One game started as soon as the previous finished with students lining up for their turn to play. The dodgeball league was a success from all the looks of tired smiling faces as they enjoyed their time with friends. There is a first for everything, and although some hiccups occurred, it was a lively event.

Relay for Life

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Experience 2

Nearly everyone has been touched by the effects of cancer in some way.  No donation is ever too small to contribute to the ground-breaking research, patient care programs and education initiatives provided by the American Cancer Society.

The Relay for Life Texarkana is set for Saturday, April 27. The Opening Ceremony begins at 3 p.m. at the Four States Fairgrounds. Anyone interested can join a relay team prior to the event and have fun holding a team bake sale or a car wash to raise funds and awareness. Or, join us on the day of the event to celebrate the survivors and caregivers.  First, the survivors walk the celebratory lap followed by the caregivers as the crowd cheers them on for their support.

Experience 4

Photo courtesy 2019 American Cancer Society 

Next, the team members walk up and down the path to symbolize their support in the fight against cancer. Anyone is welcome to dedicate a luminaria, which is a small paper bag decorated with the names of loved ones, which line the path of the walk. After dark, each bag is lit in honor or remembrance of a life touched by cancer, accompanied by a moment of silence for those we’ve lost. Afterwards is a closing ceremony which usually ends around 10 p.m.

Experience 6

Photo courtesy 2019 American Cancer Society

Come out and join us for this celebration where you and your teammates take turns walking the path to symbolize the ongoing fight against cancer. Also, check out other teams’ tents for games and activities, you can also help support the cause by purchasing raffle tickets or food. Use your talents and special passion to help the American Cancer Society save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight for a world without cancer.

For more information visit: Relay for Life Texarkana

Logo

The event contact is Brett Barnes
brett.barnes@cancer.org

(432) 386-6868

American Cancer Society
ATTN: Relay for Life of Texarkana
1301 S Broadway Ave
Tyler TX 75701

Kids’ Yoga with Santa!

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Texarkana Yoga is offering a Kids yoga with Santa workshop on Sunday, December 16 from 5-6:30 p.m. The workshop will be instructed by Brittany Carder. Brittany said “I consider my classes an opportunity to teach mindfulness and awareness of the body and the breath, allowing students to cultivate inner peace for themselves as well as build strength and increase flexibility and endurance”. The workshop will be co-instructed by Venus Lillis who has been practicing yoga for about 10 years and teaching since 2017. Venus regularly teaches Hot Power Yoga, Kids Yoga, Yoga Nidra, and Warm Yoga.

Image Courtesy of TXK Yoga

This fun-filled Christmas themed class will encourage self-expression, social interaction and mind/body awareness through games and yoga poses! Santa will make a special stop by the studio at the end of each class to encourage wellness & good behavior! Each child will get to sit on Santa’s lap and receive a special treat bag!

Kids may bring a bottle of water, please no other drinks or snacks. Mats provided. Wear comfortable clothing.

Limited Spots Available! Class drop-in is $15. For more information or to sign up for yoga with Santa click here.

Dance Your Way to Fitness Downtown

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Sassy Chair Fitness Facebook flyer advertisement for upcoming dance calorie’burning class. Texarkana native Tiffany Larkins will host the class and everyone is welcomed. Photo/Graphic Credit Tiffany Larkins.

Fitness instructor and dancer Tiffany Charmise Larkins will host a Sassy Chair Fitness workout class this Saturday evening 17 November, 7-9 p.m. Attendees of all shapes and sizes are invited to the calorie burning, fun, and energetic class at the Diva Maintenance Building 214 E. Broad Street Texarkana, Arkansas 71854.

“The event is targeted to having an enjoyable workout and empowering self-love. Dancing is a wonderful way to burn calories. The clients will sweat and they will enjoy being able to look in the mirror and feel sassy and sexy,” said Larkins.
The class is not restricted to women and anyone is welcome.

With a dance background and a current healthy fitness career, the dance veteran combined the into the confidence-building fitness course, Sassy Chair Fitness. “I came up with the concept because I have been a dancer all my life and wanted a way express myself through music. I feel most beautiful when I dance”, said Larkins.

Dance veteran and fitness instructor Tiffany Larkins will host her first hometown Sassy Chair Fitness Saturday, November 17th 7:00pm-9:00pm. Photo Credit Tiffany Larkins

This will be the first Sassy Chair Fitness class the Texarkana native will host in her hometown. “I currently hold classes In Little Rock where I reside, however it will be my first Sassy Chair class in my hometown of Texarkana”, said Larkins.

According to Larkins, “You can burn anywhere from 200-500 calories depending on the effort you engage.”

The course will also include popular R&B music for attendees to enjoy. “The music varies but is typically slow R&B”, said Larkins.

Dance experience or backgrounds are not required, however, attendees should wear comfortable dance workout gear. “I take the time to break down each step and most people would be surprised at how well they can perform. They are able to wear what they feel best in and most comfortable this ranges, as long as they can dance in the outfit”, said Larkins.

Tiffany Larkins with her Little Rock Sassy Chair Fitness Group. Photo Credit: Tiffany Larkins

Larkins looks forward to her hometown event.”I encourage my students by the end of of class to ‘lose themselves’ and really take in the routine and feel the music. Before class begins we say affirmations and take time to just appreciate people gathering to enhance their efforts to better health”, said Larkins.

To register for tomorrow’s event or follow the next Sassy Chair Fitness class, follow Sassy Chair Fitness Facebook page or her personal Facebook page, Tiffany Charmise Larkins. It is $10 per per person and attendees can register in person before class. Contact via phone: 903-276-5511.

When Life Gets Tough

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Have you ever found yourself looking at your life or the situations you are in and just wonder: How did I even get here? Life as a young adult in college has a major tendency to get complicated. Even that sentence is probably a huge understatement! It seems even when one problem clears up, another appears. However, remember that every student experiences this, without exception. Below you’ll find some simple mental fixes to help you get through the day.

Take a deep breath! I have found that once I feel just slightly overwhelmed it is all downhill from there. I sometimes feel like completing everything in front of me is going to be impossible or fear that I won’t be able to get it all done, but when I just take a deep breath I calm down enough to move on to the next step.

Slow down! You know that old saying, slow and steady wins the race? It most definitely applies to college life. For me, working two jobs, taking a full load of classes, navigating a healthy relationship, as well as all the extraneous parts of life makes me feel like I just have to get done with everything as fast as possible. In turn, I only feel even more behind, so I take a deep breath and then slow down. Slowing down more often than not looks like dealing only with what is directly in front of me. Everything else I just put out of my mind until I’ve accomplished what’s necessary for the day I’m immersed in.

Next, be grateful. To be honest, this is most often the most difficult part of being a college student. My husband is out of school and I see how much freedom he has with his time and how little stress he carries around and I find myself very jealous of his situation. But then I remember how far I’ve come and how much I’ve learned both from my classes and my life experience during this phrase of life. I remember how few people are given the opportunity to pursue a college career and how people fought for the right for all people to be able to attend college. That perspective truly humbles me so gratitude can find its way in.

So no matter where you are in this college life or what you’re facing this semester, I hope these steps help. I hope you know you’re not alone. Most of all, I hope you’re encouraged to continue working towards graduation day and completion of your degree!

Texarkana Play Fights Teen Domestic Violence

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Baby Girl 2: My Dad is Dope combats teen domestic violence at the Sullivan Performing Arts Center November 3rd Saturday 4:30pm and 7:00pm. Courtesy of Vanessa Jackson-Fields.

Local play writer and director Vanessa Jackson-Fields brings teen domestic violence awareness through her new play, Baby Girl 2: My Dad is Dope. New young actors and returning cast members demonstrated lesser-known warning signs and dangers of an abusive relationship at the Sullivan Performing Arts Center, 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday.

Newcomer Kiauna Smith portrays smart, outgoing, family-oriented, high-school valedictorian, college-bound Jasmine (Baby Girl) escaping from her former violent boyfriend, Marcus (Kameron Randle) a year after a relationship ended.

“It’s written around a young teenage girl that didn’t know the signs of an unhealthy relationship or a potential abuser, because usually they start off really nice, well-cut people, and you have to know the signs that they can potentially be an abuser. This show points out all the signs, especially this day and time”, said Vanessa Jackson-Fields.

The 15-year Anniversary play began with the early stages of obsession, control, and stalking in teen dating violence via today’s communication media: texting, phone calls, and emailing. “They become obsessed with you. Show up at your door when they’re not wanted, even though you told them not to. They keep you away from your family and friends and want you to be with them all the time”, said Jackson-Fields.

Domestic violence advocate and play writer, Vanessa Jackson-Fields poses in the Perot Theater, where her first play took place in 2003. Photo Credit Tiffany Brown

According to One Love Foundation and Joyful Heart Foundation, isolation is considered a domestic abuse warning sign. The family foundation also mentioned belittling, intensity, manipulation, and jealousy, which Jackson-Fields mentioned in her play. “You might think it’s because ‘Oh they just jealous’, and think it’s cute, but it’s not. Being jealous can be very dangerous. It’s like they have ownership over you. They believe you belong to them,” said Jackson-Fields.

Jackson-Fields included real-life scenarios of physical abuse, potential sexual abuse, and a horrific tragedy. “Shoving, grabbing and getting very angry. The play kind of shows a lot of that. It gets very graphic”, said Jackson-Fields.

Domestic teen violence does not discriminate against social class, race, gender, age, or family background. It can occur among upper and middle-class teenagers. “I always remember April Love. She came from a nice middle-class family. She was so smart and had a bright future. She was killed September 2005 by her boyfriend on a college campus. It was days before they found her. You never would’ve thought, she would be killed in an abusive relationship”, said Jackson-Fields.

According to The Telegraph UK writer Amanda Prowse, abuse can happen in middle-class families. In fact, middle class abuse cases are rarely reported, as seen in the teen domestic violence play. “Abuse is sweeping the country and nobody really pays attention, until someone loses their life”, said Jackson-Fields.

Jackson-Fields cast newcomers Isaiah Germany, Jashaun Wedlong, returning cast members Pastor Lamarcus Franklin, Tammie Harvey, Dr. Mary Phillips, and Connie Thompson as a supportive family, however their favorite baby girl, Jasmine found herself in a violent relationship. “This play is showing when you’re in these relationships, it not only affects you, but everybody around you”, said Jackson-Fields.

Domestic violence survivor turned advocate play writer, Vanessa Jackson-Fields. Photo Credit, Tiffany Brown.

The former abuse victim turned advocate encourages teen boys and girls to speak up before it’s too late. “I hope they learn okay I know he’s doing that, but I need to get away. Run! Get away from him or her! Go to your parents or somebody you know that will support you. Do not try to handle it alone or hold back, because you can’t. If they do it one time, that’s just a warning”, said Jackson-Fields.

If you are experiencing domestic violence or know someone that’s experiencing domestic violence please speak up or link to Texarkana Domestic Violence. Or call (903)-794-4000 or visit 424 Spruce St, Texarkana, TX 75501, 8-5.

Stay in Bed, Stay in School

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The average American public high school student starts school between seven-thirty and eight in the morning, which means the student wakes up around six to six-thirty. After a seven hour school day students have jobs, clubs, sports, homework, and other extracurricular activities to attend to. High school students are missing out on the sleep they need because of  late nights and early mornings. Students who participate in extracurricular activities, obtain jobs, or are overloaded with homework have a higher risk of health problems due to the amount of sleep they are losing.

In order to produce higher academic success and a more healthy educational environment, high schools should start later in the morning to let students be more alert and prepared. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that high schools start at 8:30 a.m. or later to allow students the opportunity to get the recommended amount of sleep on school nights, about 8.5-9.5 hours.

Photo credits to depositphotos.com

Getting enough sleep is essential for people of all ages, but especially for high school students. The majority of schools — about 82 percent, on average — started earlier than 8:30 a.m. High school students are busy with hours of school, jobs, sports, homework, clubs, and other extracurricular activities. If school starts at seven-thirty a.m., most students are out the door between seven and seven-ten to get to school on time in all the traffic.

I would try to leave for school before seven-ten and would still be late even though I lived less than ten minutes away. Having to leave around seven means students have to wake up anywhere from six to six-thirty depending on how long it takes them to get ready. Students have to wake up even earlier if they want to make and eat a nutritious breakfast. When school starts early students are likely to skip out on breakfast.

Some early risers wake up extra early and can take time to get ready and to make and eat a nutritious breakfast. Another solution to not getting a nutritious breakfast is preparing it the night before or grabbing something right before walking out the door and eating on the way to school. There are also school breakfast programs that provide breakfast for students in the morning.

Sending sleep-deprived students to school is not productive. For many people, days just don’t seem long enough. In order to cram everything into one 24-hour period, something has to give. Judging by many surveys of Americans, it’s sleep. If students could sleep in they would be more alert during school. Later high school start times means students have the freedom to get up at a decent time and not have to rush to get ready or eat breakfast.

With jobs, homework and extracurricular activities, high school students stay up late at night to try to get all their stuff done before they go to sleep. For example, a student with a job goes straight to work after school and works a five-hour shift, but still has to eat dinner and finish all their homework before falling asleep. Having a later start time for high school means that those students who stay up late get to catch up on their sleep.

On the other hand, not every student has a job or does sports outside of school. There are some students that strictly go to school and go straight home and have plenty of time for homework. Even though the recommended amount of sleep is anywhere from seven to eight hours, some students can function properly and pay attention with less than the recommended amount because it works for their body. When people wake up without the recommended amount of sleep or wake up too early are not fully awake. Sleepy students don’t learn or perform as well as their well-rested peers. Students who do not get enough sleep have a hard time paying attention and staying awake in class. Those students that might drift off with a quick nap on their desk are usually considered lazy, but their teachers and peers do not know how busy they are at home after school.

Photo credits to depositphotos.com

If schools started later and high school students had a chance to get the correct amount of sleep then there would be fewer students falling asleep in class. During adolescence, the body goes through many changes. These include a shift in sleep needs. When students are not falling asleep in classes they pay more attention and their grades can improve. For some students, their classes are too important to fall asleep in the middle of class and miss crucial information. Those students that are in dual credit (DC) and advanced placement (AP) classes cannot afford to miss any information if they want to get the college credit hours during high school.

Pushing back the start time of school means that the end time would also have to be pushed back. This could interfere with jobs or after school activities and give students less time in the afternoon and night to get all their stuff done before falling asleep. Some high schoolers also have the responsibility of picking up a younger sibling or family member from their middle school or elementary school. If schools push back the start time of high school there is a good chance that high school would start at the same exact time as the elementary school or middle school, causing problems for drop off and pick up times. Another outside influence is parent and student schedule conflicts. Having school start early makes it easier for parents to drop off their kids at school and make it to work on time. Even though school starting early makes it easier on the parent, the school bus system, public transportation, personal cars, and carpooling can help students get to school on their own without a parent’s help.

Starting school too early forces teens to lose a large chunk of what’s known as REM — or rapid eye movement — sleep. This type of sleep helps teens (and everyone else) control their moods. But that’s not the only problem. Too little sleep also has been linked with an increased risk of obesity, depression, drug use and other problems.

Students are not getting enough sleep due to high school starting too early. Too little sleep has become so common among teens that the CDC calls it an epidemic, a widespread public-health problem. Students overloaded with homework, sports, clubs and other extracurricular are missing out on sleep. There are many benefits from pushing back the start time of high school including, catching up on sleep, paying more attention in class and health benefits.