Today is Public Health Thank You Day. Sponsored by Research!America, the Association of Schools of Public Health, the National Association of County and City Health Officials, the CDC, and other groups have aligned to take time to recognize public health professionals who work to protect the rest of us.
October is National Dental Hygiene Month (NDHM)! This year’s celebration will center on the family-focused theme ÔÇ£A Healthy Smile Lasts a Lifetime.ÔÇØ
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association is encouraging dental hygienists and other dental professionals and supporters across the country to get involved with NDHM this October to increase public awareness of the oral health-total health connection and the importance of educating the entire family on situations which impact their oral health. It is imperative to start early with a daily oral care routine to help prevent cavities and periodontal disease. NDHM is the perfect time to spread that message even moreÔÇöwhile celebrating the profession of dental hygiene!
The month of October is a time to think of all persons that have fought the battle against breast cancer. In the U.S., breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women. According to the American Cancer Society there are nearly 200,000 cases that are expected to arise this year alone. There are a growing number of male cases and that is expected to reach 1,910 by the end of the year. If you or a loved one is facing breast cancer educate yourself on what it is, how it develops and new treatment methods that are available.
The American Cancer Society is teaming up with the New Orleans Saints to raise awareness about breast cancer by wearing pink all month long. The items will be auctioned off with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society. Locally, this yearÔÇÖs American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer raised slightly over $150,000.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.nbcam.org/index.cfm
October is Talk About Prescriptions (TAP) Month where ÔÇ£Communication is Key!ÔÇØ
The National Council on Patient Information and Education has a set of questions that patients can ask their health provider when given a prescription.
Patients are more responsible for drug treatment decisions concerning their own health. Better medicine communication between consumers and their healthcare providers is the key to safe and appropriate medicine use ÔÇô and better health.
National Physician Assistant Week is celebrated each year from October 6-12. It is “intended to support, celebrate, highlight, and recognize the significant impact PAs have made and continue to make in health care. It is an opportunity to promote public awareness of the physician assistant profession and to salute the outstanding growth of the PA workforce.” LSUHSC Shreveport will be admitting students to its PA program next fall. The School of Allied Health Professions in New Orleans has a PA program in its strategic plan as well.
October is Health Literacy Month. The intention is to highlight the need for organizations and healthcare providers to offer understandable health information to their patients or clients. This year’s theme is “Why Health Literacy Matters: Sharing Our Stories in Words, Pictures, and Sound.” “Health literacy is the ability to understand health information and to use that information to make good decisions about your health and medical care.”
Heart disease and stroke are the world?óÔé¼Ôäós leading cause of death.
World Heart Day, held on the last Sunday of September each year, was created to inform people about cardiovascular diseases.
This year’s theme is to “Work with Heart” to encourage healthy lifestyles at workplaces.
Find more information about 2009 World Health Day at:
http://www.world-heart-federation.org/what-we-do/world-heart-day/
September 21st is recognized as World Alzheimer’s Day.
According to Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) “The theme for World Alzheimer’s Day 2009 is ‘Diagnosing Dementia: See It Sooner.'”
Although there is still a great deal to learn about Alzheimer’s Disease, many resources are available to those who wish to learn more.
The month of September not only ushers in the official end of summer, it is also designated National Preparedness Month (NPM).
NPM encourages Americans and their communities to prepare and plan for emergencies that affect the general public. Ranging from common power outages to horrific national disasters, the American Public Health Association stresses the importance of being prepared.
September 15th is designated Get Ready Day so take the time on this date to come up with a plan for yourself and your family.
What vaccines have you had? And what vaccines do you need?
August is National Immunization Awareness Month so take the time of year to look into such questions.
According the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, ?óÔé¼?ôVaccines offer safe and effective protection from infectious diseases. By staying up-to-date on the recommended vaccines, individuals can protect themselves, their families and friends and their communities from serious, life-threatening infections.”
The CDC website offers in-depth resources on immunizations, including an immunization scheduler for bothchildren and adults.
Fragile X syndrome is the most common known cause of intellectual disability that can be inherited. CDC and its partners have been working on several public health activities to find out more about fragile X syndrome.
Fragile X is a group of genetic disorders that can affect individuals and their families in many ways because they are all caused by changes in the same gene, the Fragile X Mental Retardation 1 (FMR1) gene. The group of fragile X conditions includes:
Fragile X syndrome
Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) can cause tremors and problems with walking, balance, and memory. FXTAS occurs in some older men who have changes in the FMR1 gene.
Fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency (FXPOI) can lead to infertility and early menopause. This condition affects some females who have changes in the FMR-1 gene.
Learn more about Fragile X syndrome from the CDC.
July 21st is National Junk Food Day, but try not to go wild. According to the CDC, Louisiana went from having under 15% obesity rate in 1990 to a rate of 25-29% in 2008. If you’re going to celebrate today, just try to be smart and eat healthy the rest of the week.
According the CDC “Ever 9 1/2 minutes someone in the United States is infected with HIV,” and according to AVERT “In 2007, the highest rates of new AIDS diagnoses were in Miami (33.1 per 100,000 people), New Orleans (31.5), Baton Rouge (31.4) and Washington (30.5)”
So what can you do?
June 27th is National HIV Testing Day so take advantage of the testing opportunities taking place around you and learn the facts about HIV.
The list of local testing sites can be found below, or you can find information for other cities by visiting this site.
Who: EXCELth, Inc. HIV Prevention Program
What: Free Rapid HIV Testing
When: June 27, 2009, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Where: Dillard University w/ The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, 2601 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70122
Info: Free Rapid HIV testing, incentives. Contact: Barbara A. Peters, 504-524-1210, bpeters@excelth.com.
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Who: NO/AIDS Task Force – Community Awareness Network
What: Free Rapid HIV Testing
When: June 27, 2009, 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Where: 7800 Earhart Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70125
Info: Free HIV Testing with free food. Contact: Allison Vertovec, 504-821-2601 ext. 257, allisonv@noaidstf.org.
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Who: NO/AIDS Task Force – Community Awareness Network
What: Free Rapid HIV Testing
When: June 27, 2009, 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Where: 507 Frenchmen St., New Orleans, LA 70116
Info: Free, confidential, Rapid, HIV Antibody screening tests. Contact: Allison Vertovec, 504-821-2601, allisonv@noaidstf.org.
Were you too distracted talking on your cell to realize it’s Distracted Driving Week?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driver inattention is responsible for about 80 percent of all traffic collisions. In recognition, the National Safety Council has deemed June 22-28th Distracted Driving Week, part of National Safety Month 2009. Get fact sheets, traffic safety policies and watch the video Death by Cellphone on their website.
The National Headache Foundation has declared that June 7-13, 2009 is National Headache Awareness Week.
Over 45 million Americans suffer from chronic, recurring headaches, with over half of these classified as migraines.
Headaches have numerous causes. Correctly diagnosing and treating a headache patient depends primarily on establishing an accurate and open line of communication.
The American Headache Society provides information on a variety of resources available to patients and medical professionals that are dedicated to the study and treatment of headache. Learn what you can do to help stop the pain.
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