Greg Laden is a blogger, writer and independent scholar who occassionally teaches. He has a PhD from Harvard in Archaeology and Biological Anthropology, as well as a Masters Degree in the same subjects. He is a biological anthropologist, but for many years before going to graduate school to study human evolution, he did archaeology in North America. He thinks of himself as a biologist who focuses on humans (past and present) and who uses archaeology as one of the tools of the trade. Greg blogs regularly on ScienceBlogs at http://www.scienceblogs.com/gregladen/.
Dr. Joseph J. Salvo attended Phillips Andover Academy, received his A.B. degree from Harvard University and his Master and Ph.D. degrees in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University. Dr. Salvo joined the GE Global Research Center in 1988. His early work focused on the development of genetically modified bacteria and fungus, for the production of novel high performance polymers. In the mid 1990's he turned his group's efforts towards developing large-scale internet-based sensing arrays to manage and oversee
business systems. Most recently, he and his team have developed a number of complex decision engines that deliver customer value through system transparency and knowledge-based computational algorithms. Commercial business implementations of his work are currently active in Europe, and Asia as well as North and South America.
Dr. Peter Tu received his undergraduate degree in Systems Design Engineering from the University of Waterloo, Canada, and his doctorate from Oxford University England.
In 1997, he joined the Visualization and Computer Vision Group at the GE Global Research Center in Niskayuna, NY. He has developed algorithms for the FBI Automatic Fingerprint Identification System. He is the principle investigator for the ReFace program, which has the goal of automatically computing the appearance of a person’s face from skeletal remains. Dr. Tu has also developed a number of algorithms for the precise measurement of specular and high curvature objects. His current focus is the development of intelligent video algorithms for surveillance applications.
This is the eighth daily question on the Collective Imagination blog.
Every day, respond to the question (or another commenter's answer) and you will be eligible to win a custom ScienceBlogs USB drive. We'll announce the previous day's winner in each daily question post.
Yesterday, we asked what one thing you could do to today improve your personal health. Out of 28 responses, the number one answers were, not surprisingly, exercise more and eat better (less, more frequently, more fruits and veggies, etc.). Other answers included practice meditation, eliminate stressors, and get a proper eight hours of sleep.
We randomly selected Sharon McDonnell, who said that she could laugh more with her friends—we could all use more of that! Sharon, email us at [email protected] to claim your prize.
We'll be giving out USB drives daily through the end of March. To get your own, answer today's question in the comments below:
If you were to assign a letter grade to your personal health, what would it be?
For more information about health care and technology, check out GE's healthymagination.
Medicine & Health
Comments
I say B+. I'm healthy and happy
Posted by: Aida | March 10, 2010 11:35 AM | Reply
C
Posted by: SouthernFriedSkeptic | March 10, 2010 11:47 AM | Reply
I'll go for a B. Lack of exercise and smoking pull it down from an A+, but aside from that, no heart issues, no diabetes, no tendency to major illnesses whatsoever, good bones, fairly good joints.
Posted by: OmegaMom | March 10, 2010 12:24 PM | Reply
B-
Little out of shape, but most of what pulls down the grade is headaches, frequent minor illnesses, and my dependence on antidepressants.
Posted by: Keely | March 10, 2010 12:37 PM | Reply
C, but getting better.
I had a cardiac arrest in January and am in rehab right now.
Posted by: NewEnglandBob | March 10, 2010 12:48 PM | Reply
B. While I don't feel like I'm suffering for my lack of exercise or healthy foods, I seem to have that natural knack of keeping a relatively healthy form.
Posted by: DiceGolem | March 10, 2010 12:59 PM | Reply
A-
My cardio-vascular fitness could be better, and I know my strength has declined a bit from the long absence from the gym. Otherwise very good.
Also, cardiac arrest 2 months ago and currently in rehab rates a C? What do you have to do to get an F - be haemorrahging internally as you type in your response?
Posted by: TheBrummell | March 10, 2010 1:15 PM | Reply
Reactive arthritis, two bouts with bad skin cancer, both eyes clouded with cataracts within 2 weeks, have plastic lenses now. Tinnitus from arthritis meds. And the list goes on. I was a nuclear reactor operator in the Navy for 8 years back in the 70's.
Grade F Damn.
Posted by: GRR | March 10, 2010 1:21 PM | Reply
A solid B.
While I'm trying to lose weight and eat generally healthily, I'm limited in the kinds of exercise I can do due to an old injury and I still need to lose a couple more pounds.
Could be worse.
Posted by: Katharine | March 10, 2010 1:29 PM | Reply
Thanks for giving us an opportunity to show-off :-)
B-. Healthiest I've ever been... it would be a solid A except for my immune system rising in rebellion and attacking my beta cells (If I hear "Viva la revolutione!" one more time from my pancreas...). Piles of veggies, small amounts of lean meat, run ~15 miles a week and workout 2-3 times a week. I think the only thing I'm doing wrong is not getting enough sleep, but I don't know how that can happen in academia unless one does nothing but work, eat, and sleep - gotta see my wife sometime!
Posted by: Scaurus | March 10, 2010 1:41 PM | Reply
I'll commit to a B+. Getting a little more exercise and reducing some stressors would bump me up into the A range.
Posted by: beverly | March 10, 2010 1:50 PM | Reply
A+
I sustained a closed head injury with multiple brain contusions in a car accident on December 21, 2005. In a coma for about 1 ½ months. I had a tracheotomy, laparotomy, and scalp lacerations. I was in occupational, physical, & speech therapy for about 2 weeks. I was discharged on March 2, 2006.
The brain is built for change. It’s a miraculous organ that can rewire itself to make new connections and fix old ones. Brain injury recoveries are not impossible, just improbable.
Posted by: SianJon | March 10, 2010 3:06 PM | Reply
Pretty healthy for 57. I'd say at least a B+.
Posted by: Janice in Toronto | March 10, 2010 3:48 PM | Reply
C.
I was born with a Congenital Heart Defect (Tricuspid Atresia) but after 3 heart operations, a pacemaker (and a replacement!) and a stroke, I'm doing really well! My life is close to being normal. (Still got to get back to walking, though!)
Posted by: Steve Catoe | March 10, 2010 4:56 PM | Reply
D. I eat (and have always eaten) well, despite gastro-intestinal disorders; a recent scan showed I have a perfect gallbladder, the only bit of me that seems OK, LOL!
Ankylosing Spondylitis, osteoarthritis, two serious heart conditions and neurological problems have restricted my mobility but I have a good family and wonderful friends who come over to cheer me up and drag me out so I'm not isolated; laugh with me when one or more of my limbs decides to ignore instructions; show infinite patience when my voice goes AWOL; and keep me feeling useful by asking for advice even when I can provide little to no practical help.
Thanks to them, I score my mental health as an A.
Posted by: Tigger_the_Wing | March 10, 2010 5:07 PM | Reply
D+
I'm currently unable to get much done due to constant problems, but they appear to be of a temporary nature and although I'm now forced to seek out a new doctor due to the inabilities of my current doctor, I should be able to return to better health soon enough.
Posted by: Maronan | March 10, 2010 5:23 PM | Reply
A B+. I don't have the healthiest lifestyle, with the stress of grad school + an infant. So my sleep and eating patterns are way off. And my emotional/mental health is poor. Also, I need to go to the dentist a lot more. As far as other conditions, chronic sinusitis and headaches with what seem to be increasing frequency are about the worst of it. None of this constitutes 'major' illness (except maybe depression, but I'm highly functional in many ways).
I have very low blood pressure, good weight, and I feel comfortable with physical activity again (I had to be uncomfortable, during my pregnancy, to really appreciate how important that one is).
Posted by: becca | March 10, 2010 5:29 PM | Reply
B-, I am an okay weight and manage to do alright with calorie restriction through a vegetarian, no fast food diet. However, I don't get out nearly as much as a I should.
Posted by: MS3 | March 10, 2010 6:32 PM | Reply
I died somewhere in early 2000. I had a wife, 4kids, a home, a house and i cant remember when it happened.
everything around me is different. When i see my kids my parents are always around. My job has people that could have died before, like law enforcement officers. Im always working, having that excuse to not be around. I have girls that want to date me and make it know that she has herpes. my police co worker/friend told me to stay away from her that she wants my soul? he tells me that he was once a crab fisher and almost lost his life cause of the sea conditions. i sometimes wonder if he did. I once had a personal issue with a gal that i was seeing. i had a friend from work drop me off at the hotel she was staying at. well after a few hours i didnt feel comfortable being with her cause i felt that she had been with another man, she was not normally at hotels. but when i left, i was crying and not being too noticable. but crying, when i was approached by A Johovahs witnesses. He handed me a brochure and went his own way. I just had to relate this experience so that another might relate. thank you
Posted by: alfred vargas | March 11, 2010 4:32 AM | Reply
C+
I'm a bit overweight (~190 lbs), but walk a good 2 hours everyday, and eat a good Asian diet, so my physical health (combined with an excellent family medical history) puts me into a B+.
But my social and mental health are a drag on me. I am very awkward in social situations and constantly mess up with people, unintentionally. This puts a huge downer on my social needs and makes me semi-depressed half the time. That puts me down a letter grade.
Posted by: Lyle | March 11, 2010 4:50 AM | Reply
C. I have several health problems that aren't my fault, but I do my best to manage them so that counts for something. The biggest problem is hypothyroidism which I will have forever. The medicine helps a great deal, but I doubt I'll ever feel "normal". I also have chronic lower back pain, painfully dry skin during the winter, and I'm prone to anemia if I forget to take iron supplements.
Posted by: catgirl | March 11, 2010 8:53 AM | Reply
At the moment I'm a C, but recovering from breast cancer and several surgeries, I intend to go back to the full A that I used to be! I need to, if I want to finish grad school. But I'm sure I will, with that awesome husband and beautiful daughters of mine!
Posted by: Luli | March 11, 2010 1:23 PM | Reply