Myths, half-truths, and facts about the treadmill

When the wind is brisk or the sun is scorching, runners are faced with choosing between braving the elements or playing it safe on the treadmill. But the treadmill has a reputation for being boring and negatively affecting a runner’s overall performance.

Freshman Anna Burkey began college career with a goal to run 300 miles this academic year. Every weekday morning, Burkey laces her running shoes and goes to the Perry Center.

“I started out hating running, and now I’ve grown to love running. I’m already at 280 miles,” Burkey said. “I tried to make a goal that would be really challenging, but I didn’t want it to be too unreasonable.”

Although Burkey ran the trails around Bourbonnais when the weather was warmer, for the past few months she’s been stuck on the treadmill.

Fitness writer for About.com, Christine Luff, writes that a few treadmill mistakes are improper running form, running the same pace for the entirety, and running the entire workout on a steep incline.

Junior Wesley Sproul is a marathon runner. He runs most of his winter runs on a treadmill, but rarely steps on the machine during the summer. “It’s more of a winter, stay in the rhythm of running thing,” he said.

Sproul’s biggest aversion to running on a treadmill is the way it forces him to change his stride. He shortens his strides on the treadmill because he is afraid of kicking the front of the machine or falling off the back. “It doesn’t feel natural. It feels restricted,” he said.

Dr. Casey Kerrigan, physiatrist researching the biomechanics of treadmill walking and running with the National Institutes of Health, found the idea that the treadmill belt propels you forward, creating less work for the runner, and the treadmill belt pulling your leg through, resulting in a passive extension of the hip are myths.

Even though your stride may change when running on a treadmill, the relative movement of your muscles remains the same and they are being conditioned the same way, Kerrigan said.

Runners also have a habit of running on a one-percent-incline on a treadmill to mimic an outdoor run. According to Kerrigan, this strategy is not helpful unless you are running at a speed of 7.5 mph or more. She wrote on her blog, OESH, that if you are running at a pace faster than your usual outdoor pace, think of it as a “needed winter confidence booster.”

Sproul practices this technique by varying the speed of the treadmill giving it a more realistic feel because it allows you to speed up and slow down the way you would naturally do if you were running outside.

Burkey said, “I like to run outside just to relieve stress or enjoy the day, but when I run on the treadmill I go for speed because it makes you go a certain pace.”

Lady Penguins place third in regionals

Olivet Nazarene University’s Lady Penguin ultimate Frisbee team placed third out of five teams in the 2014 regional tournament April 11 and 12.

Beginning last year with eight experienced senior Frisbee players, senior Victoria Dean, co-captain of the Lady Penguins, said that this year has been a learning experience since the seniors were replaced with freshman.

Junior Michelle Dykstra, co-captain with Dean, said she hopes to continue to learn to work together as a team unit. “I’ve seen individual improvement, which is awesome,” Dykstra said. “It’s been really hard with the weather to practice. Having more time to learn together [would help us improve as a team].”

This year, the Lady Penguins are taking it one step at a time. Completing their second year as an organized team, they competed against Knox, Valpraiso, North Park, and Kalamazoo.

The Lady Penguins began their Saturday playing Knox. Ryan Murray, 2010 graduate from Olivet, doubling as coach and mascot for the Lady Penguins, was dressed in a long sleeved tiger t-shirt and mismatching knee-high socks. He ran the length of the field, following the direction of the Frisbee, as he coached and cheered on the team. The Lady Penguins lost to Knox five to eight.

Next, Valpraiso versed the Lady Penguins. During the game, freshman Alynn Franklin ran towards the Frisbee as it flew towards the end zone. Taking a leap, she reached out and grasped the Frisbee tightly, pulling it to her chest. Out of relief and disbelief, she giggled with joy.

“It was my first [touchdown]. I didn’t play sports growing up,” Franklin said.

The Lady Penguins lost four to thirteen. Keeping up their spirits, they gathered together at the end of their game and shouted, “Good game, Valpo.” After a few moments of silence, the other team waddled over to the Lady Penguins, huddled around them, and said, “Good game, Lady Penguins.”

North Park was third to play the Lady Penguins. During the game, freshman Esther Paek and freshman Alyssa Pifer collaborated to scored a point. According to Pifer, Peak caught the disk and immediately made eye contact with her. Paek proceeded to throw the disk just when Pifer was able run past North Park.

The Lady Penguins beat North Park 12 to 11. Dykstra said, “When we finally got that, it was a shift in momentum and we were able to play the game.”

Kalamazoo was last to play the Lady Penguins on Saturday. The Lady Penguins won 11 to six.

Sunday’s games were played against Knox and Kalamazoo. The Lady Penguins lost to Knox 11 to five, but beat Kalamazoo 10 to six in their last game.

Freshman Brooke Smith said, “Our communication was loads better. We switched our offense.” Referencing the Lady Penguins first tournament of the year on Mar. 29 and 30 in Chicago, Smith said, “I think everyone got a lot more confident from Chicago to here.”

High schools give students opportunity to be healthier

Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School (BBCHS) and Kankakee High School are implementing new health food guidelines announced by the Obama administration on Feb. 25.

These health food rules ban the promotion of sugary drinks and junk food from scoreboards and vending machines in schools, which are part of Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative, according to Daily News America.

“The idea here is simple – our classrooms should be healthy places where kids aren’t bombarded with ads for junk food,” Obama told the Associated Press. “When parents are working hard to teach their kids healthy habits at home, their work shouldn’t be undone by unhealthy messages at school.”

A memorandum sent out to School Nutrition Association Members and Supporters said this new rule, informally becoming known as the “Scoreboard Rule,” is phasing out marketing of any type of food that does not comply with Smart Snacks, nutrition standards offering healthier food options to students during the school day.

Kim Abrassart, Food Service Director at BBCHS, is finding ways to provide students with healthier snack options with the help of Smart Snacks and the “Scoreboard Rule.”

“I think it’s good,” Abrassart said. “I think a lot of times students pick up bad behaviors early in their life.” Abrassart said that although such things such as sugar and salt isn’t bad in and of itself, when consumed often and in large quantities it could lead to type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. “You’ll pay for it later on,” she said.

Director of Food Service at Kankakee High School, Cathy Breeck, said removing the advertisement of unnecessary items such as sugary sports drinks is good because advertisements have created a lot of the problems that have to be dealt with today.

“If people didn’t see advertisements all the time they wouldn’t be tempted. Advertisement is what encourages us to eat and do and be things that we really don’t need,” Breeck said. “If it’s not on every billboard you see it’s not going to be in the face of people. School shouldn’t be a place where we’re doing that.”

BBCHS does not supply their vending machines with candy, gum, or soda, according to Abrassart. She said they also changed the vending machines in BBCHS to have just water brands advertised on them, not Pepsi, Coke or sugary sports drinks.

“We now serve fresh fruit everyday. I got rid of Hostess. It wasn’t very popular at the time, but I could see the handwriting on the wall, where this was going, and I knew if I could take things away and add things slowly it would be better,” Abrassart said.

Team World Vision discusses mission

“You can do these races to change the lives of those kids in Haiti,” founder of Team World Vision, Michael Chitwood said at the Chicago Marathon Leaders Conference on Mar. 29.

Marathon runners gathered together in Chicago to listen to motivational speakers like Anthony Halpin and Wendy Ploegstra, who ran the Comrades Marathon, and Steve Spear, who ran from Los Angeles to New York last summer. Leaders for Team World Vision also discussed with how to encourage their teams to stay strong and connect other runners.

Rusty Funk, Team World Vision coordinator, opened the eight-hour conference explaining that World Vision’s role as the leading provider of clean water in the developing world.

Chitwood spoke next. He explained how running for wells can change lives by providing access to safe water in places like Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia, Uganda, and Rwanda.

“Team World Vision is for everybody from every walk of life,” Chitwood said to the group that will lead a team of runners through training and raising funds for the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 12.

The mission of Team World Vision is to give people the opportunity of life changing experience, a physical, spiritual, and community experience, and radically change the lives of children on the other side of the planet, Chitwood said.

People then broke up into small groups to discuss the importance of team captains for Team World Vision, the characteristics of a good team captain, and to come up with a mission statement.

“Keeping people focused on the goal, the purpose, the reason,” said Ryan Criss, team captain of Missio Dei Church in Chicago. “I think it’s difficult in the midst of the training. It gets discouraging and tiring, but if you have someone to remind you why we’re running, why we’re doing this, it sort of reenergizes people.”

Wesley Sproul, leader of Olivet’s team, said to his group discussion that it’s important for team captains to inspire unity, create a welcoming environment, and have a heart of service.

At the end of the conference, leaders received an iron-on “C” for their World Vision jerseys. The “C” stands for captain, Funk said. “It’s about being vulnerable to the people you are leading.” 

He said the “C” also opens up communication between leaders and team members by saying, “You can ask me questions. I’m here for you.”

Later that afternoon, leaders were encouraged to discuss fundraising goals and opportunities. Marathon runner Stephen Rexroth said, “Running didn’t bother me. Fund raising terrified me. But you’re not begging people to give you money, you’re inviting them to join your mission.”

A lot of people go from running nothing to running a marathon, which is an amazing experience, but add raising $5,000 and “it’s something like you’ve never felt before,” Haplin said. “Let your life be changed because of the fundraising,” he said.

Spear, keynote speaker, then described the seemingly impossible obstacles he overcame during his 3,081 miles across the country.

The most discouraging week was in Illinois last July. Having gotten over the flu the week before and trying to make up for lost time, Spear ran the equivalent of seven marathons in seven days with a heat index of more than 115 degrees.

“We serve a God who makes the invisible visible,” Spear said. “It’s not really how many miles we run or the speed in which we cover them, but it’s the fact that we move, and we keep moving one faithful step in front of the other.”

Congressional report pushes for e-cigarette review

Electronic cigarettes are being reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration for regulation, AP reports.

According to a Congressional report released Monday, concerns about e-cigarettes such as the flavors of the cigarettes and the marketing that could appeal to young people are driving the push for restrictions and warnings. The report highlights e-cigarettes' lack of age restrictions and no uniform warning labels.

"I can't understand why the FDA is taking this long. It is clear that the longer they wait, the more young people will be addicted," Staff of Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin said.

An investigation into the practices of nine e-cigarette makers launched by the congressional delegation in September looked at the companies for information on their marketing practices, steps taken to restrict sales to minors, types of warning labels, and claims of health benefits or reduced exposure to potentially harmful substances.

According to Durbin, the agency needs to accept responsibility for their product before standsrds for sales and marketing can be established.

Read the full story here: "Congressional report presses for e-cigarette rules"

Story Ideas for April 15

1. There was a home frisbee tournament on Saturday. I don't know if this counts for sports, but my roommate said the Lady Penguins did pretty well. I was able to see a few of the games. This would be interesting to write because there is so much different lingo in ultimate frisbee.

2. Again, I'm not sure if this would count (and I can't remember if there has already been a story on it), but swim team members are working towards swimming long distance to raise money for World Vision instead of running in the Chicago half/full marathon.

Story Ideas for April 10

1. New inhaled insulin. Would diabetic students use it? What do they think of it? How does it work? Not FDA approved yet...

2. The do's and dont's of fasting. Whether it's for "spiritual" reasons or to shed a few pounds, what effects does fasting have on our bodies? Are there students who fast on a regular basis? What is their reasoning?

Man testified he did not give permission to search vehicle

A Kankakee man arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and cannabis testified in court that there was no probable cause to stop and search his vehicle at a DUI checkpoint on July 4, 2013.

Justin Harvell, 21, of 7286 North Road Kankakee, Illinois, testified in court on Apr. 3 that the officer who stopped him at a DUI checkpoint on Armour Road did not ask permission to search his vehicle.

Harvell said that when the officer, state trooper Clayt Wolfe, stopped him he provided his license and insurance when asked. The officer told him his eyes looked glassy and had him step out of the car to search his person and vehicle without permission, Harvell told the court.

According to Wolfe, Harvell was not intoxicated, but was asked to step out of his vehicle because his eyes were glassy and his hands were shaking. Wolfe told the court that Harvell gave him permission to search his vehicle. Wolfe found a backpack on the back seat of Harvell’s truck, which had in it a clear plastic bag, containing suspected cannabis.  

Harvell said that his eyes were glassy because of his work on Arthur Bush farm. He told the court he did not give Wolfe permission to search his vehicle.

Presiding Judge Kathy Elliott will give a decision after reviewing case law on May 8. At that time, attorneys will present closing arguments. 

Inhaled insulin review date delayed

The review date of the new treatment for diabetes, inhaled insulin, is extended by three months by MannKind Corp and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration less than a week after the FDA recommended approving the treatment, Reuters reports.

The treatment Afrezza consists of a small inhaler that delivers insulin powder to the lungs. This enables diabetics to bypass injected insulin. The FDA said longer-term studies were necessary to gauge the risk of lung cancer and other possible side effects.

MannKind announced Monday that the new review date for Afrezza is set for July 15. If approved, this would be the first inhaled insulin treatment available in the U.S. since 2006.

Read the full story here: "MannKind says FDA delays decision on inhaled insulin treatment"

Story Ideas for April 3

1. Neuro drinks are nutritional supplement drinks designed to help you through your daily life. From helping you sleep to helping you focus, Neuro drinks are becoming increasingly popular, but are they safe? What are you really drinking and why does it have the effect on your body that it does? This would require a lot more research.

2. Hello allergy season! Welcome to another spring, summer, and fall of sneezing, coughing, and feeling like you have a constant cold. How can you prevent allergies before the season begins? What can you do to stop that itching feeling in the back of your throat? What's the best routine to lessen your misery?

Health care website faulty

The Obama administration's health care website is down for maintenance Monday morning on the last deadline day for new sign-ups, AP reports

Visitors to HealthCare.gov were sometimes directed to a virtual waiting room, which was created to lessen the strain during times when the website is being heavily used. 

Aaron Albright, administration spokesman, said that the website is maintenanced during off-peak hours. The Department of Health and Human Services said the problem was "a software bug" unrelated to the number of people applying.

Read the full story here: "Health care website stumbles on last day" 

Jonathan Merritt speaks to Olivet journalism students

Hearing a professional speak about your chosen field of study is always a treat in the college world. Here for Olivet chapel Mar. 26 and 27, Jonathan Merritt was able to take time out of his busy day to sit down with the Beat Journalism class for a visit.

Ever the storyteller, Merritt came prepared with advice for up and coming writers - both journalists and otherwise. These are The Ten Things Merritt Wished He Had Known as a Beginning Writer.

1. Every word matters. Writing can always be made tighter and more concise. In the digital era, our audience is not captive, but we are capable of captivating them.

2. Good writers are good readers. I've always known this to be true, but Merritt made the point that not only should you be reading good literature, but you should also be reading news from and about your field and books about writing. Reading on writing is important to "honing your craft."

3. No one writes to everyone. Choose an audience. Picture your audience. And write in a way that will speak to that audience. Merritt said, "If you fail to know your audience, you'll end up with out one."

4. Storytelling is as important as smarts, probably more. People don't remember statistics, but they'll remember a good story. Merritt said stories are sticky and they're haunting. When incorporating actual persons, places, and events, readers have an opportunity to connect with the story you are telling.

5. Learn how and when to use word magic. Merritt defined "word magic" as metaphors, imagery, repetition, or any other literary devices.

"Most people make one of two mistakes," Merritt said. "They either are blasé writers who just appeal to sort of the cognitive sensibilities of their readers, and it's just flat out boring. Or they come to discover metaphor or imagery or repetition, or any of these other literary devices, and it's like their first sniff of cocaine. And their writing becomes so larded with all of this junk that it's hard to read. It's like coffee that has too much sugar in it."

Mark Twain said, "You thunder and lightening too much and the reader will cease to get under the bed."

6. Don't just focus on material, focus on movement. Instead of asking yourself what you want to say, ask yourself, what do you want people to feel, to do, and to become?

7. Structure matters. Structure your story based on who your audience is. Write to appeal to your audience. Merritt said to illustrate or demonstrate and then tell them what you were teaching them. Write inductively; lead with a story.

8. Don't fall in love with your work. This might be one of the hardest points for me. When I like what I write, I love what I write. My writing has come to define who I am. However, according to Merritt, when you work under editors and simply to better your writing, sometimes your favorite sentences have to go.

Don't fail to be teachable, he said, people won't always value what you value. "Instead of falling in love with your work, as followers of Jesus focus on the one who has called you to it," Merritt said.

9. Simplify, simplify, simplify. This goes along with writing concisely and not falling in love with your work.

George Orwell wrote the "Six Rules of Writing" in one of his essays. He said, "Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech that you are used to seeing in print. Never use a long word where a short one will do. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out. Never use the passive where you can use the active. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous."

10. You are the plan. It would be easier to believe after four years of college that your degree will land you your dream job, but according to Merritt, talent doesn't cut it. More important than that, you must outwork everyone else. Listen to the Whisper of God's voice guiding you. In Merritt's case, this Whisper lead him to move to New York. (If that same Whisper told me to move to New York I would drop everything in a heartbeat and go!)

These ten points are true, important, and something that we all must discover ourselves as we grow as writers. What stuck with me the most from Merritt's words, however, was that he felt the calling of God to be a writer.

When hearing missionaries speak about their calling, or pastors, or any other position esteemed in the church, it's difficult not to wonder "What about me?" I've asked myself time and time again if God called people to other careers - nurses, doctors, football players, maybe? And although I think I've always believed it so, hearing Merritt say he was called by God to be a writer struck home for me.

God has a beautiful, wonderful plan for our lives. It might not always be easy - no, I can assure you it won't be, but it is His. Our lives are not our own. I don't yet know where journalism will take me, but I do know that with God all things are possible as long as we trust in Him and His perfect and pleasing will.

I could go on and on about all I learned from Jonathan Merritt this week, but I won't bore you with what's been laid on my heart. Mr. Merritt, it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

Story Ideas for March 27

1. An in-depth piece about Olivet students training for and running the Chicago Marathon this fall. Why would someone do something that crazy? How are students planning on raising the $1300 to participate? What are the biggest fears of runners and how can they combat that? Team World Vision chapel is Thursday, Mar 27.

2. There's a knitting/crocheting frenzy spreading college and high school campuses. Why is everyone suddenly so obsessed with knitting their own scarves? An article by CNN cites research on how "crafting" can help people who suffer from anxiety, depression, or chronic pain.

Outbreak of deadly virus in Guinea

After an outbreak in Guinea of the deadly virus Ebola, Health officials rush to contain the virus after 59 people died, AP reports.

The virus is believed to cause severe internal bleeding and those suspected of exposure to Ebola are being quarantined. There is no vaccine or specific treatment for this virus.

Guinea's country director for the aid group Plan International, Ibrahima Toure, said, "The Ebola fever is one of the most virulent diseases known to mankind with a fatality rate up to 90 percent."

Toure said there is a risk for a widespread epidemic with devastating consequences because communities within the area move about freely. World Health Organization is dispatching experts to help ministry officials in Guinea.

The virus is transmitted through direct contact with blood or secretions of an infected person, or objects that have been contaminated with infected secretions. 

Read the full story here: "Officials rush to contain Ebola virus in Guinea" 

Story Ideas for March 20

1. Illinois has one of the highest rates of lead poisoning in the country, according to a recent article from the Daily Herald. Lead paint poisoning is among the top preventable health risks in the area. With the older buildings on Olivet's campus, is there possibly any lead paint hanging around? What are the health risks of breathing in lead paint and how can we get rid of lead paint if we have it? This would require a lot of research and talking to people. Just thought it was an interesting idea.

2. Cooking instead of eating out is a good way to eat healthier and really know what you're eating. Are there any students on campus who cook all the time to avoid Sodexo because it's healthier? Why do people on campus cook? Do they actually cook or just warm up frozen food from Wal-Mart? Are there any cooking classes on campus or some around Bourbonnais? This is just a fun little piece that I'm thinking about.

'Chocolate' pills tested to study heart health

A study to determine whether or not the nutrients in dark chocolate can help prevent heart attacks and strokes is being launched, AP reports.

The study includes 18,000 men and women nationwide taking pills packed with nutrients found in dark chocolate. The nutrients in the pills would be the equivalent to eating thousands of candy bars.

This is the first large test of cocoa flavanols; the second part of the study will test to see if multivitamins help prevent cancer. In previous smaller studies, cocoa flavanols were found to improve blood pressure, cholesterol, the body's use of insulin, artery health and other heart-related factors.

The study is sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and Mars Inc.

Read the full story here: "Study to test 'chocolate' pills for heart health"

Story Ideas for March 6

1. Changing your lifestyle vs. dieting. A recent article on CNN featured a woman who "dropped eight dress sizes by changing her style." It is so easy for college students to get carried away in the cafeteria. Before you know it, you've downed a serving of fries, a grilled cheese, pizza and pasta, and are on your way to dessert. How can we avoid this? We're on our way to spring, the time of year when people try to "shape-up" and slim down.

2. A study about insomnia shows that it may be more of a 24/7 disorder than just a sleep thing. According to research, those who suffer from insomnia have more active brains than those who don't. Especially when keeping odd hours, college students have a definite problem with getting enough sleep. Some of this could be linked to insomnia, most of it is just poor sleeping habits.

3. Everyone has a smartphone nowadays, and part of having a smartphone is all the cool little apps you can download. An article by CNN talks about fitness apps, "5 fitness apps that actually get results." What apps at Olivet do students use? Do they think it's useful/helpful in maintaining a healthy lifestyle? Is it possible to go over the edge when using fitness apps? I use a calorie counter app and sometimes all it does is drive me insane!

Pro-vaccine messages have opposite effects

Pro-vaccine messages boomerang, as parents uneasy about its effects, study shows.

Pro-vaccine facts, images, and stories for childhood vaccination increase parent's fears about negative side effects of vaccination, according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics, NBC News reports.

The study, which was published Monday, found that the messages of disease-sickened kids increased the fears parents have about vaccine side effects. None of the messages increased parent's intent to vaccinate their children. 

Barbara Loe Fisher, President of the National Vaccine Information Center, said it's a mistake for public health officials to assume that those who resist public health messages about vaccines and diseases are ignorant and uneducated. ​

Read the full story here: "Pro-vaccine messages actually backfire, study finds"

Frozen river threatens housing

Students from Olivet Nazarene University look over Warner
Bridge to the frozen tundra of the Kankakee River.

On February 24, Warner Bridge closed between Illinois Route 113 and Illinois Route 102. 


The bridge is left desolate. The quiet atmosphere makes one think they are walking through a peaceful wood, not across a major road. The frozen water around the bridge creates a landscape similar to how a giant would view the Rocky Mountains. 

Water swirls across the top of the thinner ice, being pulled down and up again, hypnotizing the viewer. 
Ice is piled up next to the bridge, putting pressure on the structure, and spilling over the river banks, threatening the resident's homes. 


A couple strolls across the bridge, taking in a sight that hasn't been seen in 30 years.


Blocks of ice piled on on the river create a 

dangerous environment for residents.

Mellisa Rathbun, although not a local, traveled this bridge to and from work for two years. Joined by her neighbor, Rathbun came to the bridge to experience the stalled river firsthand.


"It's sad for all those homeowners who do live along the river because they're obviously going to have to be displaced if this continues to build up and where is this all going to go when it all melts?" Rathbun said.

Will County Emergency Management Director Harold Damron told CBS is keeping watch on two major ice jams that could cause problems when the river begins to melt. "They can cause water levels to rise and fall, literally within a matter of minutes sometimes," he tells CBS Chicago.

Story Ideas for February 27

1. Chemical water is gross. No one wants to drink the water around Bourbonnais anymore. Why did they change it? Was there something "bad" in it before? I don't have a problem with the new taste or smell, but everyone seems to be complaining about it. Maybe there's a filtration system people can use to make it not taste like metal.

2. There have been even more healthy food rules forced upon schools by the Obama administration. According to an article published on ABC7 Chicago, New rules limit marketing unhealthy food in schools, scoreboards in high school gyms aren't even exempt from promoting "unhealthy" foods. New rules announced by the Obama administration Tuesday said that scoreboards are only able to advertise healthy foods. I'm not sure how this would relate back to Olivet, but I do not think the government should be able to regulate what comes out of our vending machines. The good thing about all these health food rules is that with them comes the child nutrition law which is expanding feeding programs for students who quality for free and reduced meals.

Drug used to prevent meningitis

A vaccine created by the Swiss drug maker, Novartis, is being used on college campuses in the U.S, AP reports.

The drug is a preventative against meningitis B. The University of California Santa Barbara is using the vaccine Bexsero until March 7 to help protect 20,000 students and staff after an outbreak, according to Novartis. 

The Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Bexsero twice in response to outbreaks of meningitis on U.S. college campuses.

The vaccine, which is a shot used for the B strain of the meningitis bacteria, is approved for use in Europe, Australia, and Canada, but has not yet been approved for general use in the U.S. 

Read the full story here: Novartis meningitis vaccine used at 2nd US campus 

Discomfort of living with digital eye strain

Your eyes allow you to gawk at that funny hat your aunt got you, smile at the rays of sunlight peaking through the clouds, and give you that first impression of the person with whom you’re going to spend the rest of your life.

These days your eyes also look at a lot of new things, such as the screen you are staring at to read this article.

Technology enables us to get answers with a click of a button, but according to a new study, looking at a screen for hours at a time can cause digital eye strain.

Digital eye strain is the temporary discomfort you get after staring at a computer, smartphone, TV screen, or other electronic device screen for two or more hours, according to The Vision Council, a global voice for vision care products and services. Digital eye strain causes red, dry or irritated eyes, blurred vision, and eye fatigue, along with general body aches and headaches.

“Demanding office hours and technological advances have increased the amount of time my patients are spending in front of digital devices. But the daily grind is exhausting on more than just the mind; it strains and fatigues eyes,” vice chairperson of the board of directors of The Vision Council, Raanan Naftalovich, wrote in an article on the council’s website.

Lisa Jeziorny, optometrist at Drs. Long and Dunlap Optometrists, said she often sees patients who complain about “tired eyes,”  especially after a long workday According to Jeziorny, the tiredness is sometimes caused because people need corrective lenses. But at other times, frequent breaks is all they to let their focusing system relax.

Junior Dan Strasser can talk of experience. A film studies major, Strasser spends four to five hours in front of a screen every day.

According to The Vision Council, 33 percent of people spend three to five hours in front of a digital device, 32 percent spend six to nine hours, and 28 percent spend 10 or more hours in front of digital devices throughout the day. Of those people, 70 percent of adults in the U.S. said they experienced digital eye strain.

It is not always easy to reduce the time you have to spend in front of a screen, but there are ways to make it easier on your eyes.

“I heard that you should try and match the brightness of a computer screen to the brightness of the room,” Strasser said. “I've found that has helped with the eye irritation that comes with staring at a computer screen for a long time.”

Dry eye is also an easily correctable problem. Jeziorny said an easy solution is artificial teardrops.

The computer is part of our lives now, so we need to figure out ways to combat the system, Jeziorny said. “It’s just making sure you’re blinking more often and taking frequent breaks so that your focusing system doesn’t get locked up.”