Selected elements of the lifestyle of Silesian seniors, taking into account their participation in the activities of the Third Age Universities.

Introduction: UTA can provide older adult people with the satisfaction of needs and creates the opportunity to pursue youthful interests and passions. The aim of the study was to assess selected elements of the lifestyle of Silesian seniors, taking into account their participation in the activities of Universities of the Third Age. Methods: The study involved 631 (100%) senior residents of the Silesian agglomeration. The majority of the study group were women (475; 75.28%), and the average age of the participants was 70.28 ± 6.09 years. To conduct the study, an original survey questionnaire was used, complemented by PPS-10, PAQE and Yesavage Geriatric Depression Rating Scale. Results: Among the surveyed Silesian seniors who did not attend classes at the University of the Third Age, a statistically significantly higher score on the Yesavage's Geriatric Depression Rating Scale was found compared to those confirming their participation in the mentioned activity (p = 0.002). Almost 40% (107; 38.63%) of seniors who did not attend classes at the Universities of the Third Age showed a high level of stress, and every fourth (89; 25.14%) Silesian senior taking part in the above-mentioned activity had a low level of stress (p = 0.04). The median of points obtained on the physical activity assessment scale (PAQE) by seniors attending classes at Universities of the Third Age was statistically higher than seniors who denied participation in the mentioned activity (p = 0.017). Conclusion: Participation in the various activities at the Universities of the Third Age influenced positively well-being, reduced stress and raised physical activity of examined seniors. It is important to promote and start actions leading to seniors' better and easier inclusion to the society life. Future research should concentrate on reasons why many seniors do not attend activities in their leisure time - especially on accessibility of various activities and financial reasons, which in the future will play crucial role in the aging societies.

Risky behaviors of adolescents in the Silesian voivodeship: resistance to stress and physical activity.

BACKGROUND: Movement and physical activity are the natural needs of a living human. Sedentary lifestyle resulting from the development of car communication, improper nutrition, abuse of drugs and addictive substances, constant rush and stress consequently cause destructive health effects. The aim of the study was to analyze risky behaviors among adolescents in the Silesian voivodeship (Poland), taking into account their resistance to stress and physical activity. METHODS: Two hundred eleven people were examined (100%). Among them there were 122 girls (57.82%) and 89 boys (42.18%) aged 16 to 18 years (x=17.3, SD=0.53). The participants were students from upper secondary schools in the Silesian voivodeship. The research tool was an original questionnaire consisting of a metric part, closed questions related to the examined problem and a standardized questionnaire of physical activity (Subjective Experience of Work Load [SEWL]). RESULTS: Most of the girls (47, 38.52%) considered themselves to be medically resistant to stress, while boys (30, 33.71%) believed they were rather resistant to stress. On the other hand, there was no correlation between susceptibility to stress of adolescents in relation to age. From the whole group, up to 203 people (96.21%) have already drunk alcohol. Among them there were 117 girls (95.90%) and 86 boys (96.63%). The first cigarette from the studied group of teenagers was ignited by 137 people (64.93%), including 80 girls (65.57%) and 57 boys (64.04%), while psychoactive substances have been already taken by 51 participants (24.17%). Among them there were 23 girls (18.85%) and 28 boys (31.46%). There was no correlation between the self-esteem of susceptibility to stress and the use of stimulants in both boys and girls. The average value of the Sport Index among girls was 2.75, while among boys was 6.37. CONCLUSIONS: Boys in comparison to girls considered themselves more resistant to stress, while the age in both sexes did not affect self-assessment of vulnerability to stress. Gender of the adolescents did not affect the frequency of stimulants use.

DOCTORS AND ARCHITECTS - DO THESE PROFESSIONS HAVE ANYTHING IN COMMON?

Both architecture and medicine have accompanied man for centuries. Both architects and doctors make every effort to ensure that the objects of their interest (buildings and the human body) comply with the Vitruvian principles of ideal construction. Doctors take steps to restore these principles in the event of a disease, and like architects, they try to keep the subject of their activities as long as possible. It can be said that this two professions have a common ancestor: the first physician known by name in general history - Imhotep - was not only an outstanding doctor, but also an architect. He designed and built the funerary complex in Saqqara on the basis of a combination of different types of burials from lower and upper Egypt. He also was the author of the prototype of the Edwin Smith Papyrus, discovered in Luxor, a document containing the rational and scientific approach of ancient physicians to diseases for which science dominates over magic. Historians are debating whether it is Imhotep, and not Hippocrates, who should be called the father of medicine. The 21st century forces both doctors and architects to take up newer and newer challenges and change standards. Both of these professions today are based on the service provider-recipient relationship. According to modern technologies, they both work in accordance with the guidelines displayed on the computer screen. Doctors take responsibility for human health and life, while architects - for interpersonal relationships created in the buildings they have designed.

Frequency of back pain occurrence among high school youth including their physical activity.

INTRODUCTION: Back pain diseases are among frequently reported health problems. Unfortunately, more often this problem also affects young people, high school students. Lifestyle that people are representing nowadays has a negative impact on their spine. Development of technology and transportation eliminates daily basic physical activity such as taking a walk to the school. Prolonged and inappropriate sitting posture during classes and using the computer at home are predisposing factors for back pain occurrence. PURPOSE: The aim of this paper was to analyze the frequency of back pain occurrence among high school youth and attempt to relate their occurrence frequency with sex, time spent in sitting position, anthropometric parameters and physical activity of examined students. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The examined group initially counted 272 teenagers, but ultimately 218 were taken into account for the analysis and 54 questionnaires were filled in incorrectly and rejected. All of them were high school students. Customized survey consisting of general part and closed questions regarding physical activity (Subjective Experience of Work Load - SEWL) was used as an examination tool. RESULTS: Examined youth spent on average 10.04 hours daily in a sitting position. As much as 195 (89.45%) of examined teenagers declared to experience back pain at least once in their lives. The most of teenagers (117; 53.67%) indicated lumbar spine pain. Girls more often felt spine pain issues in comparison to boys. Short stature of teenagers was often related to back pain occurrence. No correlation between time spent in sitting position and frequency of skeleton axis pain occurrence was noted. Among group of boys a relation between more frequent physical activity and less often spine pain occurrence was observed. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Spine pain is an important health problem of examined youth, occurring more frequent among girls than boys. 2. Body height correlate negatively with frequency of spine pain occurrence among youth. 3. Despite spending more than 10 hours daily in sitting position by examined youth, it didn't affect the frequency of back pain issues occurrence. 4. Higher physical activity of examined boys was related to less often back pains.