Author: LaTangellia Walker

By Tan Walker | UAB Community Health and Human Services Intern

How much water should you drink a day? You probably already know that daily water consumption is a daily necessity, but can you consume too much water? The answer is yes! But how is this possible?

The popular recommendation for water consumption is to drink 8-10 glasses of water per day, which is roughly 2,000 oz. Consuming over the recommended amount of water daily results in many complications, illnesses and even death. Hyponatremia, also known as “water intoxication” causes abnormally low levels of sodium and other electrolytes in your bloodstream, which can then lead to serious health problems such as seizures, coma, and in rare cases, is fatal (Hursh et al., 2022). 

You may also experience water poisoning or a disruption of brain function. This happens when there is too much water in the cells (including brain cells), causing them to swell (WebMD., 2022). You may experience things like confusion, drowsiness, and headaches. You may also be at risk of having seizures or going into a coma.

The good news is there are plenty of signs that suggest you may be consuming too much water:

1. You never leave the house without a water bottle in your hand.
2. You have throbbing headaches throughout the day.
3. Your urination is beginning to become uncontrollable.
4. Your urine looks like water (no color).
5. You urinate frequently (including during the night).
6. You drink water even when you aren’t thirsty.
7. You experience leakage.
8. You experience nausea or diarrhea.
9. You notice swelling or discoloration in your hands, lips, and feet.
10. Your muscles feel weak and tend to cramp easily.
11. You feel tired and fatigued.

Hursh, L. R., Conklin, L. M., & Andersen, C. H. (2022, August 1). 11 potential signs you’re drinking too much water, from doctors. The Healthy. Retrieved October 5, 2022, from https://www.thehealthy.com/hydration/drinking-too-much-water/ 

WebMD. (n.d.). What happens when you drink too much water? WebMD. Retrieved October 5, 2022, from https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-is-too-much-water-intake

By Tan Walker | UAB Community Health and Human Services Intern

It is more common for people to walk alone than you think. Some people walk to work, around a college campus, walk home, or even just to their cars. Although people don’t think twice about walking alone, there is always a higher risk for something dangerous to happen. 

Unfortunately, violence is an urgent public health problem, and it affects people in all stages of life. It can also lead to a lifetime of physical, emotional, and economic problems (Violence prevention home page, 2021). In 2019, more than 19,100 people were victims of homicide and more than 1.5 million were treated in hospital emergency departments for an assault-related injury (Violence prevention CDC, 2022). 

Safety should be the number one priority when planning to go anywhere.It is important to have a plan for safety in place to ensure that you are protected. A few things to consider when walking alone include:

• Always being aware of your surroundings 
• Don’t wear headphones when walking by yourself
• Don’t daydream as you walk
• Consider walking with a friend or family member
• Hold all personal belongings close to your body and in sight
• If you sense danger, move quickly to a safe location
• Carry a small weapon with you to use for self-defense if needed

Listed below are a few weapons that can be used for self-defense:

• Pepper Spray
• Pocket knife
• Taser or Stun Gun
• Concealed Gun
• Panic alert button on your cell phone

Having a safety plan in place when walking alone won’t lower the risk of violence, but it will help people like you and me to be better prepared for anything coming our way!

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, September 28). Violence prevention home page. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved September 20, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/index.html 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, January 18). Violence prevention at CDC |Violence prevention|injury Center|CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved September 20, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/about/index.html 

Homedefense. (n.d.). How to stay safe while walking anywhere alone. Home Defense Academy. Retrieved September 20, 2022, from https://www.homedefenseacademy.com/stay-safe-walking-anywhere-alone/#:~:text=Let%E2%80%99s%20look%20at%20some%20safety%20suggestions%20you%20can,wooded%20areas%20away%20from%20public%20view.%20More%20items 

By Tan Walker | UAB Community Health and Human Services Intern

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many individuals to take on the responsibility of becoming “essential” in the workplace. Since the pandemic, working conditions in the United States have progressively gotten worse, resulting in workers beginning to set strict boundaries with their employers.

According to CBS News, “Quiet Quitting” has been a trending topic over the past few months. This catchy phrase is code for “just doing your job” and was created by Gen Z and millennial employees (CBS Interactive, 2022). But is it really quitting if they are still technically working? This has been a controversial topic between older and younger employees.

Many conservatives believe that going above and beyond in the workplace is an unwritten expectation for all employees. Conservatives also think that “quiet quitting” is an act of laziness, selfishness, and lack of professionalism.

However, Gen Z and millennial employees beg to differ. This generation believes that doing the bare minimum at work is sometimes necessary to protect their peace and mental health. They also question if giving 120% to a job is worth it when the majority of employers don’t really care about their well-being anyway. Most modern-day employees are exhausted from dedicating majority of their time to an unfulfilling 9-5 and believe there is more to life than working.

So, what happens next? At this rate, economist predict that the U.S, will experience higher levels of job insecurity, recessions, and higher inflation and interest rates (CBS Interactive, 2022). Will Gen Z employees become more efficient in the workplace, or will they continue advocating for themselves and play America’s game?

CBS Interactive. (n.d.). “quiet quitting”: A revolution in how we work or the end of working hard? CBS News. Retrieved September 15, 2022, from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-is-quiet-quitting/