The dreaded “Freshman 15″ - the reputed number of pounds a college Freshman gains during the first year of college - has become almost an accepted fact-of-life on American campuses. And that’s unfortunate, especially when you consider the dramatic rise in obesity this country has experienced over the last 20 years. This rise in obesity - as well as the decrease in physical activity and excessive intake of calories, sugars and fast food - has led to the dramatic increase in the number of young people with type 2 diabetes. These youth are at increased risk of developing heart disease, nerve damage, stroke and kidney disease.
Overweight youth with poor eating habits prior to college simply cannot afford to gain the Freshman 15. It puts their long-term health at risk. And for those teens with good eating habits, college becomes a ‘testing ground’ wherein the choices they make can affect their health going forward.
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Death from an insect sting is rare - about 40 people die each year, in the U.S., because of a severe allergic reaction to an insect sting. However, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, five percent of Americans can suffer from a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to an insect sting. During the summer, I see several people each week in the emergency department because of an allergic reaction to an insect bite or sting.
Most of us have little or no reaction to an insect sting. The site of the sting may become red, itch or swell. In contrast, a severe reaction to a sting can affect one’s entire body - leading to hives, lightheadedness, even a drop in blood pressure.
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