Beliefs and Practices in Women Health

Beliefs and Practices in Women Health

• Ramaiah Bheenaveni *

Rural women’s health is an infinitely broad topic. Many Indian women have come from circumstances in which women have limited access to healthcare. Traditionally, there has been discrimination towards women in decision-making; access to resources such as food, education and health care; job opportunities; and in child-rearing and parenting. However, women’s health in rural areas affects everything in their environment from their families to their economies and vice versa. A woman’s health, especially among the poor and illiterate, is often neglected not just by her family but by the woman herself. She is taught not to complain and if she does then she is directed either to use condiments in the kitchen or try faith healing.

Man is unique in that he has a distinct cultural environment of his own. This includes all the conditions in which men are born, brought up, live, work, procreate and perish. Culture as an environment is deeply related to the health of humans. It includes patterns of social organizations designed to regulate a particular society; one can understand the behaviour of people belonging to various sections and predict how an individual of a particular section will react in a given situation. With our knowledge of health, the treatment of diseases among ignorant peoples appears to be strange since they frequently follow practices of praying, wearing of amulets or consulting an exorcist who recites certain verbal formula. Hence, we can say that beliefs and cultural practices are predominately playing significant roles in the human health more peculiarly in the health of women.

Many rural people did not know about the services set up for them at sub-centres and PHC by the government because they did not see any evidence of these services being provided for them. As a part of the awareness programmes, the health workers (ANM) have been organizing to several exposure trips at the villages. It was there that the women were informed about the specifics of various services supposed to be made available to them. This encouraged some of them to ask questions and report on the situation in their PHC. They explained that though a nurse did visit their village it was not a daily visit, nor did she go beyond a certain point in the village, and certainly did not take a round of the village. They made a show of doing their duty by providing nominal services.

A variety of factors, including an older population, a limited supply of health care providers, and further distances from health care resources may contribute to special health concerns for people in non-metropolitan areas. Access to health care and social services are critical issues for rural women.

Belief is the psychological state in which an individual is convinced of the truth of a proposition. Like the related concepts truth, knowledge, and wisdom, there is no precise definition of belief on which scholars agree, but rather numerous theories and continued debate about the nature of belief 1.

The cultural phenomenon of social organization, according to Giger and Davidhizar (2004), includes groups in the social environment that influence cultural development and identification. The family, an important aspect of the social organization phenomenon, strongly influences cultural behavior through a process of socialization or enculturation of children and group members (Giger & Davidhizar; Niska, 1999). These learned cultural behaviors guide individuals through life situations, events and health practices. Understanding family from a cultural perspective is a significant element in providing nursing care to Mexican-Americans since Giger and Davidhizar identify the family as being most values in this culture.

Environmental control is defined by Giger and Davidhizar (2004) as the ability of persons within a particular cultural heritage to plan activities that control their environment as well as their perception of one’s ability to direct factors in the environment. Kuipers’ (1999) discussion of this model, in relation to Mexican-American culture, emphasized the construct of environmental control with a focus on locus-of-control, health beliefs, and folk medicine. Locus-of-control explains the way in which individuals, within their cultural environment, perceive their ability to control what happens to them and to their health. Health may be viewed as being dependent on outside forces or their own actions (Bundek et al., 1993). Beliefs about health and illness, which are components of environmental control, affect health practices, use of health resources, and a person’s response to experiences of both health and illness (Giger & Davidhizer, 2004; Northam, 1996). A third component of environmental control, folk medicine, includes alternative therapies such as using herbs and teas or visiting a cultural folk healer.

Objectives:

1. Exploration of women beliefs on health, risk and their relationship to lifestyles;

2. Elicitation of their views across a range of health-related behaviours and practices, especially puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and child rearing, and assessment of the potential for the positive promotion of women health in these and other areas of her sexual health.

3. Identification of the sources of information and influences on the development of health beliefs amongst women, particularly with respect to common elements in attitudes to risk-taking across a number of health beliefs and practices.

4. To focus on what women themselves know and want to know, including the salience of health, and the relevance of health-related knowledge in their lives

Hypothesis:

1. There is a positive relationship between social beliefs and cultural practices of a given society

2. Positive relationship may be observed among the social beliefs and cultural practices and various other factors such as caste, religion, social and traditional customs in society

3. The explanation for the persistence of belief systems is that people remain committed to them, but for this commitment to last long, the belief system must be validated

Research Design:

A quantitative and qualitative study, building on our previous work in this area, concerning the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices of female children and young women to health, risk and lifestyles. A guiding methodological principle underpinning the study was the development of a sensitive research design for rather than on women: a study grounded not simply in what women know or need to know, but also in what they want to know and feel to be important in the context of their everyday lives. The methods enabling these principles to be taken forward are described below.

a) Area of the Study:

The Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh consists of ten districts namely Hyderabad, Ranagareddy, Mahabubnagar, Medak, Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Nalgonda, and Khammam. From this region, the village Ramchandrapur in Koheda Mandal of Karimnagar district has been randomly selected as an area of the study.

b) Universe & Sampling:

According to 2001 census, the village Ramchandrapur has an approximate population of 1840 who from nearly 550 families. This village has a primary health centre (PHC), but lacks a major hospital within a range of 35 kms. And this village has been selected as universe for this study.

So for this study, the researcher adopted stratified-proportionate random method of sampling based on caste composition of the villagers and selected the respondents from the families mentioned in the habitation list of Ramchandrapur. This village population data was collected from Supraja Seva Samithi, a voluntary organization, which is working in the region for the last 10 years in the fields of health, education and environmental protection. The list consists of various caste grouping and from which proportionate stratified samples were selected. Then a list of about 181 respondents was prepared for data collection. Therefore, it is obvious that an attempt has been made to present a general picture of community data and on the basis of which, views and attitudes of the respondents were taken into consideration.

C) Tools of Data Collection:

As the research is qualitative and quantitative, non-participant observation and interview schedule was adopted for the collection of primary data. The aspects that will cover in the interview schedule were defined under two parts, one is for socio-economic and cultural status of respondents such as name, sex, age, social status, education, religion, income, nature and type of the house, etc. and the other for socio-cultural beliefs and practice patterns in health and the related treatment of the villagers.

D) Analysis and interpretation of data:

After arranging the collected data through tabulation and classification, they were analyzed and interpreted in the socio-cultural context so as to give a scientific basis to the study. Although statistical methods like frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, t-test, chi-squire and ANOVA have been used in the study, they were applied in a relevant way.

Findings:

Socio-Economic Profile:

During the field work, observed that 22 castes were appeared and most of the respondent belongs to the BC castes like Yadava, Gouda, Munnuru Kapu, Vishwa Brahmin, Mudiraj and a insignificant number of people belongs to services caste like Mangali, Chakali, Mera and so on. A considerable amount of people belongs to SC community i.e. Mala and Madigas. Only a few respondents belong to ST (Erukala) community. Out of the 181 respondents, 55 percent are male and 45 percent female,. This research is carried out with almost all the equal four fold age groups of respondents. Thus, it is noted that age group is scattered in this study. More number of respondents i.e. 91% belongs to Hindu religion and 5% are Muslim. Nearly 4% of the respondents belong to Christianity. It is also proved that common phenomena of religion composition in India.

In this village, a majority of the respondents i.e. 82 (45%) are illiterates. The next more number of respondents have studied up to primary and secondary level i.e. 24 (13%). There are 21 (12%) of the respondents can read and write. A significant number of respondents i.e. 18 (10%) claimed to have studied up to college level while the small number of people who have studied up to professional level, technical level and others stands at 7 (4%), 3 (2%) and 2 (1%) respectively. The findings reveal that more number of the respondents i.e. 55 (30.4%) are labourers and one-fourths of the respondents i.e. 45 (24.9%) are engaging in the farming. On the whole 38(21%) are continuing their caste occupation while 20 (11%) and 17 (9.4%) respondents are doing other occupation and brought up into the service sector respectively. Only a few of the respondents i.e. 6 (3.3%) are carrying out business.

It is also noted that a majority of the respondents i.e. 84.21% are living under the tiled houses and a significant number of the respondents i.e. 15.79% posses R.C.C houses. A substantial number of the BC community respondents i.e. 75% owned the tiled house and rest of them i.e. 14.29% have R.C.C. houses and 8.04% own asbestos roofed houses. Most of the SC respondents i.e. 91.49% are residing under the tiled houses while only 8.51% consist R.C.C. houses. Among the ST respondents, 33.33% have R.C.C., tiled house and thatched house equally. Regarding the income, less than 24% of the respondents earn Rs. 1501 – 2000 per month. Almost equal number i.e. 22.7 and 21.5 % of the respondents earn below Rs. 500 and between Rs. 1001 and 1500 respectively. A significant number of respondents i.e. 20 % obtaining monthly income is in the range of Rs. 501 – 1000 while only 12.7% claimed their income was over Rs. 2000.

This village consist very good fertile lands, There is just below half of the respondents i.e. 84 (46.4%) have not possess any land on their own. There are 35 (19.3%) of the respondents possess land between 1- 2.19 acres. A significant number of respondents i.e. 28 (15.5%) and 20 (11.04%) are having land between 2.20 – 4.39 acres and 5 – 9.39 acres respectively. A considerable number of respondents i.e. 14 (7.7%) are owned land 10 and above acres.

Social Dogmatism on Menstruation

Patriarchal societies have tended to control women by first announcing menarche (the onset of menstrual cycle in a young girl) to the world in an apparently celebratory fashion while thereafter attempting to control the implied fertility and sexual power by monthly rites of pollution, restriction and isolation of the menstruating woman.

The various names for menstruation or ‘periods’ point to its polluting quality. For instance in Telugu, it is called samurta or peddamanshi meaning attaining maturity. Menstrual blood is believed to be polluting. There are varying restrictions put on a girl due to this belief such as not touching people or hanging washed clothes out to dry; not touching certain flowering plants lest they die or not fruit; sleeping on a jute bag or woollen blanket away from others. A woman cannot touch her child during menstruation. If she has to, the child must first be unclothed completely or made to wear silken clothes. Visiting or touching images of gods, temples, religious scriptures is also prohibited. A fear is inculcated in the adolescent that she will sin if she breaks these taboos. Restrictions are also placed on diet. These pollution taboos result in many women getting an enforced rest for at least these three days of the month since they are barred from carrying out their normal activities.

Not only is menstrual blood supposed to be dirty, but evil too. A menstruating girl should not let her shadow fall on a child with measles lest the child turn blind. The used menstrual cloth also possesses an evil quality. If men see the cloth, dry or otherwise, they could go blind. If a cow were to swallow the cloth she would curse the girl with infertility. In villages in A.P., women do not throw their menstrual cloth-they either burn it or bury it.

There seem to be some similarities between Hindus and Muslims regarding the practice of some of these rituals. Among Muslims, the menstruating woman should not touch holy books lest they become impure. Converted Christians follow, although to a lesser degree, the rituals of their original castes. The taboos and rituals clearly devalue. Women’s reproductive powers. The notion of women being polluted and unclean can be ascribed to patriarchal control of women’s reproductive powers. While the woman fulfils a vital social role of giving birth to progeny through her biological reproductive capacity, she is, at the same time, isolated during menstruation.

Cultural Practices of Puberty

Most women do not know about the physiology of menstruation and therefore the first experience of menstruation is filled with fear, shame and disgust. In some areas such as in rural areas of A.P. the girl is sometimes told to dub three or four dots of menstrual blood or mustard oil on the wall and draw a line between the second and third or third and fourth; it is believed that she will finish her menstruation within two and a half or three and a half days in all subsequent periods.

Elaborate rituals are performed in south Indian states-as well as in many parts of north India-at the onset of menstruation. The onset of puberty is traditionally viewed in terms of the girl’s emergent sexuality and prospective motherhood. The pubescent girl is given an elaborate ritual bath, after a massage with turmeric and vermillion. The Mudiraj communities in A.P. isolate the pubescent girl for 21 days within the house, away from the male gaze. The room in which she is secluded is separated with an iron rod and a fire is kept constantly burning during this period. Fire signifies purity and also keeps away daiyyam or witches and evil spirits. The girl is polluted and hence prohibited from touching people and other people are not allowed to touch her. In case of default, a bath is essential for ritual purification.

The Impact of the Food Habits on Women Health:

Although women are more or less marginalized and neglected in relation to the quality and quantity of food, certain occasions in a woman’s life are celebrated with the offering of a variety of nutritious foods specially prepared for her. Almost every community has the practice of feeding a girl on her first menstruation with delicious and nutritive foods, with the time of seclusion for the period ranging between nine to 21 days. In parts of A.P., sweets made of jaggery, groundnuts, sesame, fenugreek, wheat flour and sorgum are given to the girl. Menstruation for the first time in the house of one’s in-laws is also considered very auspicious in all regions of A.P. and is celebrated with gaiety.. The idea seems to be to give the girl ‘rich’, that is, strength-giving foods as well as both ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ foods.

Certain ‘hot’ foods (like jaggery) and ‘cold’ foods (like tamarind and lemons) are taboo as it is believed that the girl will suffer from menstrual pain. ‘Hot’ foods may cause heavy bleeding and ‘cold’ foods may cause severe menstrual pain. Special foods are understood to compensate for the loss of blood, regularise the menstrual cycle and flow, strengthen her reproductive organs and generally contribute to her fertility.

Work Prohibition of Pregnant Women:

It is also observed during the fieldwork that almost all the respondents have revealed that prohibition of work is compulsory while a women pregnancy but this notion is varies to one community to another. The higher social status communities are not allowed to perform the works even domestic works also from the early months to after late months of maternity. Whereas weaker section women perform the daily domestic actives some of them perform field activates but it is only in the early months. They should also take rest in the late months of pregnancy and early months of maternity.

Encourage and Disencourage Food Items During the Pregnancy of Women:

During pregnancy and lactation, many traditional communities across the country restrict a woman’s food intake. It is believed that if a pregnant woman eats too much, the foetus will not have room to move. The abdomen is supposed to contain both the food and the foetus and the latter’s space needs should be given greater priority. Another reason for controlling a pregnant woman’s food consumption is perhaps that excess weight would reduce the productivity of her work in the fields and around the house. A widely prevalent practice all over India is shrimanta. In the seventh month of pregnancy special rituals are performed and different types of sweets are prepared and given to the parents-to-be. The purpose is to give moral support and encouragement to the pregnant woman and celebrate her achievement of having reached near full-term. The sweets are generally made of wheat flour, jaggery, ghee, fenugreek and dry fruits. In the final stages of pregnancy, the pregnant woman is supposed to cat these foods custom every day. This is a good custom because it provides the calories and protein needed for the rapidly growing foetus in the last trimester of pregnancy.

Food Items Encourage % Disencourage %

1.Milk 173 95.5 8 4.4

2.Green leafs 148 81.7 33 18.2

3.Toddy 80 44.1 101 55.8

4.Non-Veg 132 72.9 49 27

5.Papaya — — 181 100

6.Potato 49 27 132 72.9

7.Brinjal 50 27.6 131 72.3

The above table explains the villager’s perceptions on encourage and disencourage food items during the pregnancy of women. The data shows that there are 173 (95.5%) of the respondents have stated that they are encouraging milk and its related food items and only insignificant number of respondents i.e.8 (4.4%) are not encouraging the food items of milk. As many as 148 (81.7%) of them revealed that they are encouraging green leafs and rest of the significant number of respondents i.e. 33 (18.2%) are not interested to give the green leafs to the pregnants. Interestingly the data depicts that more than half of the respondents i.e. 101 (55.8%) have said that they are encouraging toddy and 80 (44.1%) of them are not giving taking toddy. A substantial number of the respondents i.e. 132 (72.9%) have expressed that they are encouraging the consummation of non-vegetarian foods like mutton, chicken and egg. The total number of respondents is practicing the prohibition of papaya consummation during the pregnancy. All most all equal number of respondents i.e. 49 (27%) and 50 (27.6%) have revealed that Potato and Brinjal are encouraged food items and as similar 132 (72.9%) and 131 (72.3%) of them are not encouraging the food items of Potato and Brinjal.

The data regarding Caring of Pregnant Women among the Villagers clarifies the pursuance of the opinion of several communities respondents such as Yadava 14 (7.7%), Gouda 3 (1.7%), Munurukapu 11 (6.1%), Oddera 6 (3.3%), Vishwa Brahmin 5 (2.8%), Mala 25 (13.8%), Madiga 21 (11.6%), Padmashali 7 (3.9%), each 3 (1.7%) of Mangali, Dudekula and Erukala, Kumari 2 (1.1%) and each 1 (0.6%) of Pusala, Mera, Chindi and Dakkali have stated that family and their kins are taking care of their pregnant women. In this category the total numbers of SC and ST communities are appeared because of less financial status and peer group pressure. A majority number of working caste like Yadava, Munnurukapu, Oddera, Padmashali, Dudekula and Kummari are appeared. However, these communities’ people are visiting either government or private hospital for check up their health conditions during early pregnant hood as well as before delivery. One more interesting thing that the caste Mangali itself is traditional birth attendant community in this village so we may consider them in response to this query that they are taking care about pregnant as a traditional birth attendant and as a family. On the whole 3 (1.7 %) of Yadava, 2 (1.1 %) Gouda, 1 (0.6 %) of Munnurukapu and Kummari, 8 (4.4 %) of Chakali, 5 (2.7%) of Dudekula and the total number of Mudiraj 7 (4%) community respondent have expressed that traditional birth attendant are taking care about pregnant of their communities. It is important to note that previous these caste people took care about pregnant but at presently they are seeking the help of traditional birth attendant by reason of saving of time. These kind of villagers always busy in their routine work if they involve in the caring process they should be lost more time in order to money also. The data also describes that all most all the respondents of Deshmukh 3 (1.6%), Vysya 4 (2.2%) and Vaisnava 5 (2.7%) communities have revealed that health workers or ANMs are looking after the pregnant women. It may due to the higher awareness regarding health and personal bias or prejudices of health workers or ANMs who are interested to associate with the higher social status communities.

On account of preferable birthplace; the responses of majority respondents i.e. 112 (62%) is that birth at the traditional birth attendant is more preferable. As many as number of respondent i.e. 36 (20%) have revealed that they prepared birthplace is Government Hospitals and the reaming respondents i.e. 32 (18%) have expressed their perception that Private Hospital are preferable to give the birth. The cluster analysis of data also provides the social status wise explanation that there are 7 (4%) of OC respondents, 19 (10.5%) of BCs and 10 (5.5%) of SCs are interested to go to the government hospitals. There are 10 (5.5%) of OCs and 23 (12.7%) of BCs were interested on Privates hospitals. Among the reaming of categories, the more number of BC respondents i.e. 70 (38.5%), 37 (20.5%) and the total number of ST community respondents i.e. 3 (1.7%) and only few {2(1.1%)} of OC respondent are still interested to give birth under the observation or treatment of traditional birth attendant.

Practices after Delivery:

Women underfed themselves during pregnancy and strove for a small baby to ensure easy delivery. Babies were not to be breast fed on first three days and baby-clothes were not used till a ceremony (purudu/Naming) on 9th day to 21st day. Mothers could not leave the delivery room till that day. To minimize the toilet needs, they severely restricted their intake of fluids and food during first week after delivery. Mothers did not wash hands properly; their clothes and linen were often dirty. Newborn babies, even if sick, were not moved out of home. The usual explanations for the sicknesses in neonates were ‘evil eye’, ‘witch craft’, or ill effects of foods eaten by mother.

The practice of breast-feeding female children for shorter periods of time reflects the strong desire for sons. If women are particularly anxious to have a male child, they may deliberately try to become pregnant again as soon as possible after a female is born. Conversely, women may consciously seek to avoid another pregnancy after the birth of a male child in order to give maximum attention to the new son

Summary and Conclusions:

Due to the orthodoxical and traditional dogma, majority numbers of respondent are not possess proper notion on Women’s health. In addition to supernatural beliefs about what brings on disease, women also have some beliefs about the non-physical causes of ill-health. The most commonly found syndrome was ‘weakness’ which consists of fatigue, body ache, ghabrahat (a generic term used for anxiety, fear, restlessness, trepidation, etc.), pallor, low backache and burning of palms and feet. Thus poverty, illiteracy and social backwardness complete the subordination of women. In reality, therefore, most women carry a tremendous degree of mental anguish and agony due to the improper beliefs and practices.

However, practices existed to over come or to tune with the problems, which may be physical, psychological, cultural and environmental. Subsequently practices are to be strengthen in order to persisting as the beliefs. Once, belief is to be got its own identity; the existence of practice should automatically come by the deeds of the victims or followers. Sometimes belief might be deteriorate due to the business, cost effective and the rationalism should also vanish the irrational beliefs so that we can eventually conclude beliefs exist by the practices which may takes place to over come the problems or to adjust with the nature.

References:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belief

2. Giger, J.N., & Davidhizar, R. E. (2004): “Transcultural nursing: Assessment and intervention” (4th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby publication.

3. Spector, R. E. (2004): “Cultural diversity in health & illness” (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall Health publication..

4. Bundek, N. I., Marks, G., & Richardson, J. I. (1993): “Role of health locus of control beliefs in cancer screening of elderly Hispanic women”. Health Psychology, 12(3), 193-1999.

5. Pachter, L. M. (1994) “Culture and clinical care: Folk illness beliefs and behaviors and their implications for health care delivery”. Journal of the American Medical Association, 271(9), 690-694.

6. Roberson, M. H. (1987): “Folk health beliefs of health professional”. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 9(2), 257-263.

7. Treistman, J. (1988): “Health beliefs in socio-cultural perspective”. In G. Caliandro & B. L. Judkins (Ed.), Primary nursing practice (pp. 119-133). Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman and Company.

About the Author

http;//www.ramaiahbheenaveni.com

Dr. Davis talks about Melanoma

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Who are you voting for?

I am urging you to vote for me in the upcoming election. here are reasons why.

- I was once a calligraphy enthusiast

- I advocate asbestos in the school room as teaching aids

- All toads will be known as “frogs” as toads do not exist

- Every thursday one must wear a mustache or official one legged boot

- Stapler juice, drano, and antifreeze will be added to vendors menus around the country

- Every third child shall be named Charles B. Wellington

and- Every person will be granted a large amount of solid gold baby sea otters on every labor day

Vote for me and all of your wildest dreams will come true

I’m T-Bill Flamingo, and I approve this message

Vote for Shiny Toaster in 2008!

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Early and Late Signs of Lung Cancer

As with most cancers, the earlier you sense lung cancer the better your odds of survival. In fact, when it’s caught in the 1st stages, there’s a nearly 50% survival rate after 5 years. This is an extraordinary number considering the proven fact that overall, lung cancer has only a 15% survival rate.

And that’s why being privy to the indications of lung cancer can imply the difference between surviving and becoming a statistic.
The Early Signs

from the early signs of lung cancer can easily be mistaken for other conditions, it’s frequently difficult to take them seriously. It’s time to concentrate.
Lung cancer symptoms are often related to the location of the abrasions, which settle into the tissues of the lung first. That’s why the early signs tend to reflect common cold, influenza, and bronchial illnesses. Once the cancer moves beyond the bronchia, new symptoms arise.

The Later Signs

As an example, if the malignancy has spread to the brain, then common signs might include vision problems, stroke, and migraines. As you can see, these are serious symptoms that might be related to any quantity of sicknesses.

in addition, signs such as depression, weight loss, fatigue, shoulder discomfort, difficulty swallowing, and hoarseness should be regarded seriously.
When To See A Doctor

This is particularly true if you have been a smoker or are presently smoking, or if you’ve ever had exposure to asbestos over a long-lasting period.
Here are the signs that should provoke action :

- Unexplained loss of weight

- determined shortness of breath

- mulish breathing infections that keep coming back

- discomfort in your chest

- Fatigue ( again, if it has no obvious cause )

The point to remember is that your immune system is busy fighting the disease.
Conclusion

there is a proviso, unfortunately. Nearly a quarter of the people diagnosed with lung cancer never experience any symptoms in the slightest. So while these lung cancer signs can serve as red flags, their absence doesn’t mean everything is absolutely fine. Another reason to see your GP for a yearly check up.
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About the Author

Rafael has been writing articles online for a few years now. Not only does this author specialize in diet, fitness and weight loss, you can also

check out his latest website on Mesothelioma Lung Cancer which reviews and lists the best info

Asbestos Removal Contractor which gives you the best resources for families of victims.

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Is There a Mesothelioma Cure?

Let’s see if we can determine whether or not there is a mesothelioma cure. In this day and age it can seem absurd that there are no cures for cancer let alone a mesothelioma cure. Mesothelioma is a cancer, and as such, there is no true “cure” for it yet. However, if the disease is caught early, various treatment options can not only extend a patient’s life, but also their quality of life. While the traditional survival rate for those diagnosed with mesothelioma is often set at eight to 12 months, more recently, a five year survival rate of some has increased substantially. This goes to show that treatment and drugs to battle mesothelioma cancer has increased and improved dramatically in the last few years. This may be due to the fact that more is known about mesothelioma cancer now than it ever was before.

However, there is still much to be understood about this aggressive disease. While the common diagnosis for mesothelioma is that it is indeed a form of cancer, not all researchers are in agreement. So as of yet there are no mesothelioma cure that has been developed; however there are things that people can do to ease any symptoms that they have. Your doctor or health professional will be able to help ease the symptoms and make the last few years or months a lot easier.

Some people think that mesothelioma cancer is a viral infection that has turned malignant. Thus, their prognosis is that the asbestos fibers which cause the disease could possibly activate an already present common virus infection, and eventually cause a variety of clinical conditions for the patient. While many of these clinical conditions may appear to not be harmful, in benign pleural effusions researchers don’t typically find what is known as a pleural cavity that is then full of asbestos needles. Consequently, researchers either aren’t culturing for the right agent, or they need more time to conduct broader research about the true nature of Mesothelioma.

Finally, here are some known medical facts that are not particularly common about Mesothelioma cancer:

• It is extremely rare for the Serosal membranes to be malignant other than with Mesothelioma cancer.

• It is not asbestos dependent.

• It is not smoking related.

• It only really happens when there is evidence of pleurisy.

• The latency period is longer than any other known malignancy.

While these facts contain specific, medical, terminology which some may be unfamiliar with, it is important to present the terminology as it known; scientifically. While the personal diagnosis, or that of a loved one, with mesothelioma can already seem like a devastating occurrence, it is important for people to educate themselves more specifically about such terms. This will assist both the patient, and their loved ones, to better understand the disease they are battling, and to more effectively communicate with their physicians regarding mesothelioma.

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Mesothelioma And Asbestos Cancer Cure

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Mesothelioma Settlements- Class Action Law Suits and Settlement Trust

Mesothelioma is most times caused by exposure to asbestos fibers usually at the work place. Most asbestos companies despite knowing the dangers of exposure to this harmful substance exposed their innocent workers to the substance. These companies can be made to pay for their negligence if the victim seeks for compensation through the means of a lawsuit. Two ways through which a victim can receive compensation are a} through a class action lawsuit and b} through a settlement trust.

Class Action Lawsuit

This is a large suit filed on behalf of a group or class of people. If you are involved in this type of lawsuit without your prior knowledge, you might be notified by the lawyer in charge of the class action lawsuit of your involvement in your involvement in the lawsuit. When you receive this type of notification you should read it carefully and if you do not wish to be included in the lawsuit you should inform the lawyer to remove your name from the list of people involved in the lawsuit.

This type of lawsuit has its advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage is that with the large number of claimants involved an out of court settlement is likely saving you all the stress of passing through a trial.

The disadvantages of such a mass action lawsuit are:

1-You will have no control over the direction of the case, the lawyer will not be reporting to you alone but will be working for the interest of a large number of different plaintiffs.

2-Once you are partaking in a class action lawsuit you are not allowed by the law to take any other legal action against the company so you would not be able to collect any additional compensation later in future.

Settlement Trust

Sometimes by the time you file for compensation from an asbestos related company the company might have been declared bankrupt and to get a compensation you will have to file a claim with the company’s established settlement trust. With this type of settlement there are neither court visits nor trial. You must hire an experienced mesothelioma attorney to fill a claim form and submit it to the settlement trust, your claim will be reviewed by the trustees of the fund who will approve for the payment of an amount of money to you. What you will get from this type of settlement is usually between 5-15% of the actual amount of your claim.

Every mesothelioma victim must be fully aware of all the legal options available to him/her and seek for expert legal representation.

About the Author

Bello Kamorudeen.For more information on mesothelioma lawsuits go to http://www.mesotheliomacorner.blogspot.com

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What is the possibility of asbestos being in the vinyl flooring in my 1978 house?

We are in the process of remodeling our guest bedroom. When we pulled up the carpet we found vinyl flooring underneath. What is the likelihood of the glue used containing asbestos? We started pulling up one of the tiles, but stopped. I know we can get a piece tested or do it ourselves. Does anyone know where to find a DIY kit?…or is that a bad idea. Thanks!!

I would think the glue would NOT have asbestos. I’ve had some experience with asbestos in the past and I believe the government stopped the usage of asbestos on the early 1970’s (1972-74). I think the glue is safe. The only way asbestos becomes a problem is when it’s air born. AND for it to do you damage you would have to breath A LOT of it. I’m sure your house and the glued flooring are fine. If you go to remove the floor, wear a mask (asbestos or not).

Good luck!

Backyard Landfill

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Would you attempt to remove ASBESTOS from your basement on your own?

Assuming you understand the dangers asbestos poses – and assuming you don’t have any of the equipment professional, certified asbestos removers are required to wear and use – would you risk removing it on your own anyway?

If you need a more detailed scenario – pipes in basement of a 140+ year old home in the north east United States were wrapped in asbestos, probably in 1946 or later – but no later than 1971. The wrappings appear 95-98% intact – but there is some damage where it’s torn and appears crumbling.

In many areas it is again local laws to do this. If you do it your self there is no record that is was done properly or legally and you may have a problem if you try to sell later and have no documentation.

You also have to dispose of the stuff and that also poses a problem. If you get caught hauling the stuff around there could be serious legal problems.

I understand what you are saying but I don’t think I would take the risk for legal reasons as much as anything else.

Use Of Asbestos In Homes is a post from: Mesothelioma Trial Lawyers

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Rome New York Mayor James Brown will run for third term
ROME — Rome Mayor James F. Brown presented his State of the City address at American Alloy Steel on Wednesday night, saying the company is a profound example of keeping both jobs and an industry alive in the city, stabilizing tax rates and being creative.
ASAP Resoration LLC

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Maybe Kane had plans for his $1.20?

One Suicidal Wing from Anchor Bar

Scott Norwood replica jersey

O.J. Simpson’s Heisman Trophy

A bag of commerative asbestos from the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium

Drive from Buffalo Airport to Niagara Falls

1/4 of a beer at the HSBC Arena….You know, if he were 21

Frank Reich’s 1992 AFC Championship ring

Down payment on a starter home in Buffalo

120 pulls on one of the penny slot machines at Delaware North’s Fairgrounds Gaming and Raceway

Donate $1.20 to Marshawn Lynch to help him pay for his legal fees

Exchange it for $1.30 Canadian, go over the border and drink legally

A night with a high class Buffalo area escort

Pay one of Delaware North’s employees their hourly pay

Go on a dollar menu date (Dutch of of course) with the disgusting fat pig that heckles your favourite player

Pretend you are Drew Rosenhaus and prank call Terrell Owens

(courtesy of Stanley Cup Chowder)

Thanks for the laughs!

my own feeble contributions……..

Gas for an IROC-Z

A link on a gold nugget chain( or is that in Crapchester?)

How much money Moyes will get if Reinsdorf winds up with the Coyotes. Needed a hockey spin in here,lol.

A beer, hot dog, or soda at the 3/8 mile Bullring race track in Vegas.

A ticket for the new UFL Las Vegas Locomotives (Yes, that’s what they are calling it)

1/3 of a box of cookies from the largest terrorist organization in the USA ……..”Would you like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?”

A high class escort? I wonder…….Would Kane ask for the 20 cents change from her too?

Dangers of Asbestos: Find a Lawyer, Attorney, Legal Advice

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Officials Test Levels of Asbestos at Wtc Site

The Environmental Protection Agency has been conducting tests to measure the levels of asbestos and other pollutants in dust and air samples at ground zero. Fortunately, in the two months following the attacks, few samples were found to be above federal standards in thousands tested.

However, some workers at ground zero have reported a persistent cough, sore throat and other respiratory problems they claim is a result of prolonged exposure to the smoke and dust. The condition has been dubbed the “World Trade Center cough.”

Although the majority of the tests show levels of contaminants including asbestos at low risk to the general public, workers at ground zero could be at a higher risk because of the long hours they spend in the dusty environment. Therefore, workers are encouraged to wear protective gear. Meanwhile, officials continue to monitor the site.

Commercial production of asbestos insulation began in 1879, and until the early 1970s, asbestos was widely used for insulation and fireproofing because its fibers are strong, flexible and do not burn.

However, it was discovered that asbestos is potentially harmful when dust from the manufacture and installation of asbestos-laden materials releases fibers into the air. When inhaled, it can lead to serious health problems including lung cancer and mesothelioma – a cancer of the lining of the chest or abdomen.

Because of the long latency period of asbestos disease, which can span 15 to 30 years, people do not develop it immediately after exposure.

Despite a federal ban on the production of most asbestos products in the early 1970s, installation of these products continued through the late ’70s and into the early ’80s. Workers in many industries including construction, automotive and shipping have come in contact with asbestos- containing material. Because asbestos fibers are airborne, workers can bring them home on their clothes.

If you have been exposed to airborne asbestos on the job and have been diagnosed with a related illness, you may be able to receive financial compensation by filing a lawsuit against the manufacturers of the asbestos products to which you were exposed. Weitz and Luxenberg, a 51-attorney firm in New York that specializes in asbestos cases, can help you through the procedure.

About the Author

For More Health Article Visit :: http://www.webhealthclinic.com/

Asbestos TEST (Feb 2010)

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]]> How Does the Medicare Plan D Apply to Mesothelioma Patients?

The Part D drug benefit is prescription drug coverage for people with Medicare. Medicare offers Part D to everyone with Medicare. (People enrolled in Medicare are called Medicare beneficiaries.) Part D coverage may help you lower your prescription drug costs and help protect you from higher costs in the future. It can give you greater access to the anti cancer drugs you need to treat your cancer . To get Medicare Part D drug coverage, you must join a plan that is run by an insurance company or other private company that has been approved by Medicare.

If you join a Medicare drug plan, you usually pay a monthly premium. If you decide not to join a Medicare drug plan when you are first eligible (able to join), you may pay a penalty if you decide to join later. If your income and resources are limited, you might qualify for extra help paying Part D costs.

There are different plans that vary in cost and the type of drugs that are covered by each plan and it is hard to compare them. As a mesothelioma cancer patient, your may incur huge annual drug expenses , so it is important to look at each plan’s coverage, as well as your cost-sharing obligations during coverage gaps. Coverage gaps are dollar limits that, when reached, leave you responsible for some or all of the drug costs

The coverage gap or “donut hole” is the gap in which you must pay 100% of your prescription costs. Once your total drug costs (what you and the plan pay for your prescriptions) reach a pre-set dollar amount for the year, you will hit the “donut hole.” Then you will pay all of your drug costs until the total out-of-pocket costs reaches another pre-set amount. Reaching this amount triggers what is called catastrophic coverage. After that, Medicare Part D will cover 95% of your drug costs and you will pay a flat co-pay or 5% of the cost of the drug for the rest of that year. (Keep in mind that some cancer drugs cost a lot and 5% can be several hundred dollars a month.)

If your drug plan has a coverage gap , here are some ways you can avoid or delay entering the gap, and save money on drug costs while in the gap:

-See if you can switch to generic drugs or other lower-cost drugs.

-Ask your doctor about drugs that would work just as well as the ones you’re taking now. Even though many cancer treatment drugs do not have generics, the savings in non-cancer drugs may be enough to help you avoid the coverage gap.

You can find out more about saving money by using mail-order pharmacies, generic, or less-expensive brand-name drugs from the Compare Medicare Prescription Drug Plans section of medicare website-www.medicare.gov.

Keep using your Medicare drug plan card, even if your drug expenses get up to your coverage gap. Using your drug plan card ensures that you’ll get the drug plan’s discounted rates and that the money you spend counts toward your catastrophic coverage.

For mesothelioma cancer patients, this new benefit covers some drugs that were not covered in the past. Before Medicare Part D, Medicare covered only those prescription drugs given as injections in doctors’ offices or treatment centers. That included many cancer drugs. Coverage of these cancer drugs will continue under Medicare, while the new Part D coverage will help pay for the anti cancer drugs that are prescribed for you at the local pharmacy.

The new Part D drug benefit is good news for Medicare beneficiaries who have been diagnosed with cancer, especially those who do not have any other way to pay for their prescriptions. Medicare Part D drug plans must accept all who apply and are eligible – no matter their age or health status. Still, the coverage under this benefit does have some gaps that require out-of-pocket spending. And, not every drug on the market will be covered by every Medicare-approved drug plan. It is very important that you carefully review your drug plan options and compare the plan’s covered drugs to the drugs you take. Keep in mind that the plan can change, and you will need to be abreast of new developments every year.

About the Author

Bello kamorudeen.For more information on Mesothelioma Treatment go to
http://www.mesotheliomacorner.blogspot.com

Weitz & Luxenberg: Top NY Mesothelioma Lawyers

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A title for my dissertation? Something about the control & removal of Asbestos within existing social housing?

i have a month to hand in, but im struggling to come up with some direction. i have lots of info on asbestos but i need to think of some kind of conclusion. im doing a degree in building surveying. thanks in advance.

How about ‘The importance of containing asbestos found within existing social housing & the process of removal’

That’s a tough question to answer, you should use the structure of your dissertation to help you decide on a relevant question.

Belanger Environmental Associates Inc -

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Asbestos in the Home

Many building products, over the years, have contained asbestos. Many of these products are still present in homes that were built prior to the mid-1980’s. So What exactly should you know about asbestos? Take a look….

Homeowners fear the word “asbestos.” The most common places to find asbestos are probably old asbestos-cement siding, old asbestos flooring or asbestos that was used as insulation on heating ducts and heating systems. The general guideline is that, as long as asbestos is confined – so the fibers cannot escape and become airborne, it is not much of a problem. Of course if, down the road, a remodel is in order any asbestos material has to be treated as hazardous waste.

There are two very common household products that might – or might not – contain asbestos. It is hard to guess. Those products are vermiculite attic insulation and popcorn textured ceilings. While vermiculite is a mineral that is different than asbestos, the problem is that vermiculite mined prior to 1991 came from a mine near Libby, Montana. The mine had a natural deposit of asbestos, which tainted some of the vermiculite with asbestos fibers. While it is not for sure that all of this insulation will have asbestos fibers, it is considered likely that it will. Basically, the EPA suggests that, if you have older vermiculite, leave it alone and do not disturb it. Modern vermiculite, since 1991, comes from three other facilities and is considered to have a low potential for asbestos contamination. Popcorn textured ceilings, installed up into the mid 1980’s, might have asbestos fibers present.

If vermiculite insulation or popcorn ceilings are present in the home, to establish whether or not they contain asbestos, one must collect samples and send them off to a lab. Inexpensive lab tests will confirm the presence of any asbestos. For further information on asbestos or asbestos testing, you should visit the EPA website. The site is very helpful and has a number of guidelines and suggestions regarding general safety and the use or cleanup of asbestos building materials. Never take a chance on asbestos, a small test can make a huge difference in your health.

About the Author

This article was produced by the writing team of Eric Badgley & Angee Gardner; specializing in Lynden Real Estate and Bellingham Real Estate, along with Mt. Vernon Home Inspectors. Making sure buyers are protected.

Spooky Abandoned Town

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I was exposed to asbestos for only one day, should I be worried?

I was in an old abandoned building that was built using asbestos and walked around in it, did not touch anything, for a few hours today. I found out afterwards about the asbestos being there. Should I be worried? Is there anything I can do?

if you weren’t disturbing anything you have nothing to fear. I suspect you go into buildings that contain asbestos all the time (old schools, churches, etc…). It was a common isolator (a very effective one at that) in the past. It becomes dangerous when it is disrupted (ie during restorations or tear downs) and particles float in the air. I suspect someone is trying to scare you to keep you out of abandoned buildings. abandoned buildings are always fun to explore when you take care and avoid homeless maniacs.

Mesothelioma – StateLawTV.com

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Good news for parents seeking Chinese toys with no lead! Did you see the latest?

The CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit contains no lead. Instead it it contains 5 percent asbestos. Merry Christmas from our Chinese friends. And if your child get mesothelioma from this, well, that’s just globalization.

I miss the “made in Korea” and “Made in Taiwan” days. Thanks for the heads up on this gem of globalization.

Mesothelioma News: Asbestos Lawyers Get Legal Compensation

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Asbestos Exposure Free Interesting Hint

If you are searching for information related to asbestos exposure or any other such as bleaching teeth, teeth whitening faq, teeth bleaching gels or teeth stains you have come to the right article. This piece will provide you with not just general asbestos exposure information but also specific and helpful information. Enjoy it.

Buying teeth whitening products from your local pharmacy is an economical and time saving alternative to costly teeth whitening procedures. If you are too busy or have financial constraints, over the counter teeth whitening products is a good option. Most teeth whitening products are available at your local pharmacy but you do need to have a prescription in order to buy one. For this, you may need to go your dentist at least once.

Many people that want to have their teeth whitened go to the grocery store and purchase the product they think will work the best.  These products often do more harm than good by making teeth and gums sensitive and changing the color of teeth to an unnatural shade of white.

About a decade ago, people knew only one way of getting their teeth whitened- that was through dental in-office whitening. It was a wearisome procedure but slowly when people started showing a compulsive concern of having a whiter set of teeth, the impulsion goaded a number of different bleaching formulas and teeth whitening kits started flooding the every day market.

If this article still doesn’t answer your specific asbestos exposure quest, then don’t forget that you can conduct more search on any of the major search engines like Search. To get specific asbestos exposure information.

A “brite smile” is considered to be a person’s greatest asset. Yellow or stained teeth reflect insecure smile as these break confidence and affect one’s personality. This situation gives rise to the need of different teeth whitening procedures. Today, tooth-whitening kits have flooded the industry of cosmetic dentistry. We find hundreds of different bleaching formulas, teeth whitening kits and other teeth whitening products flooding the market, that claim to give you perfecta teeth whitening. Different advertisements for dental offices are also noticed that offer excellent professional services for whiter and brighter teeth.

A teeth whitener light is just a special light that help activates the gel found in the tooth whitening tray. A white tooth whiting lights is an important part of the home teeth whiting system. It is free and recommended.

The price of this whitening method is $500 to $1000. That is obviously too expensive for most people. I would recommend the home teeth whitening systems. As long as you do not mind touching up your teeth every four months you will fine! And if you want the white to last longer, cut down on the coffee!

It was intriguing to find that many people, oblivious of their background, found this article related to asbestos exposure and other home teeth whitening gel, dental implant, and even best laser teeth whitening helpful and information rich.

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So here is chance to get your free tips on asbestos case and in addition to that get basic information on saving money visit asbestos lawsuit

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A Brief History of Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring fibrous mineral of metamorpic hydrous magnesium silicate. The term “metamorphic” is used to describe a process of extreme heat and pressure which creates specific secondary patterns of minerals with new chemical and/or physical properties.

As the primary rock is heated and recooled, silicate crystals align in long rows of mineral fibers, which easily separate into tiny shards thinner than a human hair. Asbestos fibers are not a health risk as long as they are undisturbed. However, when asbestos is undergoes natural weathering, or is mined and processed, the microscopic particles waft into the air and cause disease if they are inhaled.

Asbestosis occurs when an inhaled asbestos particle irritates the body’s natural defence mechanisms, causing inflammation and scarring which eventually restricts lung function. Mesothelioma is a malignant tumor of the membranes surrounding the heart, lungs and abdominal cavity. Asbestos can also cause cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, larynx, stomach, lung and lymphoid tissue.

Asbestos exposure can also cause non-fatal illnesses such as asbestos warts, caused when asbestos fibers are lodged in the skin, causing lumps of scar tissue to form around the irritant in the same manner as they do in the lungs to cause asbestosis; pleural plaques, discrete, sometimes calcified fibrous lesions which can be seen on X-rays but are too small to cause breathing impairment; and diffuse pleural thickening, which can cause breathing impairment if it is extensive.

Due to its fire resistant properties, asbestos has been used historically for household and industrial purposes. It has been found woven into burial cloths in ancient Egypt, and Charlemagne reportedly had a tablecloth made of asbestos which he would throw into a fire to clean.

In World War II asbestos was considered so important by the War Department that it was considered a strategic material, and many American workers were exposed in the World War II boom in shipbuilding. After the war, it was widely used in the construction industry.

In modern Western society, it was used for such diverse purposes as lamp wicks, brake shoes, oven insulation, electrical hotplate wiring and home insulation, roofing and flooring. For instance, some kinds of vermiculite used in home insulation into the 1970s contained asbestos. The EPA banned this product in 1977.

When a home owner discovers asbestos in an old home, it should not be a cause for immediate panic. If the asbestos looks intact and is not pulverised, it is best to leave it alone. However, because of legal liability, schools and businesses containing asbestos usually must undergo a costly removal process, hazardous in itself because disturbing the stable asbestos product causes fibers to fill the air. Special equipment must be used to insure that the removal process does not cause health problems where non existed before.

Most industrialised nations have reduced or banned the use of asbestos for at least 30 years and now use fiberglass or woven ceramic fiber as a substitute, but since asbestos-caused disease has a latency period of up to 50 years, patients are still presenting with these illness today. Every year in America, approximately 3000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed, and 550 deaths occurs due to asbestosis. According to the March 1991 Report of the Judicial Conference Ad Hoc Committee on Asbestos Litigation, asbestos exposure has caused the deaths of approximately 200,000 to 265,000 Americans.

Asbestos use peaked in the United States in 1973, when 1 million tons of the material were used. The EPA attempted to institute a complete legal ban on the use of asbestos products in 1989; however, this ban was largely eviscerated by the US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in 1991, and some restricted use of asbestos, albeit in fewer products than before, resumed. Therefore, even today some workers are being exposed to this toxic material.

Asbestos is a serious continuing concern to the Environmental Protection Agency, and their website has detailed information on asbestos and its removal.

Concerns about the health risks of asbestos exposure date back to 1898, when the Chief Inspector of Factories of the United Kingdom reported to Parliament in his Annual Report about the “evil effects of asbestos dust”. He noted that the “sharp, glass like nature of the particles” when allowed to remain suspended in the air, “have been found to be injurious, as might have been expected”. In 1906 a British Parliamentary Commission confirmed the first cases of asbestos-related deaths in British factories and called for improved ventilation and other safety measures. In 1918 an American insurance company produced a study showing premature deaths in the asbestos industry in the United States and in 1926 the Massachusetts Industrial Accidents Board processed the first successful claim by a sick asbestos worker.

Today, lawsuits claiming compensation for asbestos-related illnesses are a growth industry in the legal profession. An internet search of “mesothelioma lawyer” yields 1,910,000 results. The original manufacturers of asbestos products have long since been driven into Chapter 11 bankruptcy; plaintiffs have now turned to suing corporations with peripheral connections to asbestos products. More than 70 American corporations have filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in due to asbestos liability claims.

Since the 1970’s, approximately 6% of all lawsuits filed in American courts have been asbestos-related. The lawsuits now facing the courts have been described as “an elephantine mass” by the US Supreme Court, and are expected to cost between 200 to 275 billion dollars to settle. Asbestos liability is one of the largest issues facing the global insurance industry today.

Most epidemiological studies expected the number of lawsuits to peak in the 1990s, but this has not occurred, either because of the long latency period of asbestos-related diseases, or because legal action is becoming more popular among asbestos-exposed members of the public due to high-profile legal cases and widespread advertising by attorneys who specialize in such cases.

Many complaints have been made by representatives of industries facing lawsuits and the insurance companies who will be expected to pay them that the asbestos-lawsuit industry is rife with fraud, with less that half of all payouts reaching the plaintiffs. Aggressive, ambulance-chasing lawyers are said to exaggerate medical disability and coach clients on their testimony.

The group of plaintiffs includes not only ill people, but also those who have merely have a history of asbestos exposure and want compensation for potential future health risks. According to the American Academy of Acturaries Mass Tort Work Group, more than 100 million Americans have been exposed to asbestos in their workplace during the past century.

About the Author

Christian is an author of several articles pertaining to No Win No Fee, Compensation Claims, Work Accident Claims, Personal Injury Claims and other legal articles.

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What are builders using now in place of asbestos for insulation?

An apartment complex is being built right outside my window in a small town in northern Arizona. After leveling the ground and placing markers, they poured cement bases for each building. Then, they put up wood frameworks. Now there seems to be a bluish white color that was applied to what I assume is the basic wall structure with the building still in a skeleton phase. I’m really curious about the building process and how strong the buildings will be. Although I’m not in either an earthquake or hurricane center, I’m wondering if the buildings would stand if one of those came along. Also: How do they make the wooden framework stick to the cement base? What is the bluish white substance on the first layer of wall?

Beams are placed in the concrete before it dries. If you’re not in an earthquake/hurricane area, then it probably isn’t designed to withstand one, but, it might depending on the factors of safety the designers used. The white blue stuff was the insulation, some kind of fiber glass foam likely.

Philadelphia Naval Shipyard – Mesothelioma & Asbestos Exposure

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