HHS WEEKLY REPORT
October 6, 2003 - October 12, 2003

THIS ISSUE AVAILABLE ONLINE WITH EXPANDED INFORMATION AND PHOTOS AT:
http://www.hhs.gov/news/newsletter/weekly

IN THIS ISSUE:
1) Surgeon General and Washington Redskins Launch 'First Down For Fitness'
2) Tommy Thompson Designates Six National Centers of Excellence in Women's Health
3) Secretary's Challenge - Thirty Minutes a Day and Counting: Week Three of The Secretary's Challenge is Going Strong!
4) International Walk to School Day - October 8, 2003
5) Personal Health: Flu Facts for Everyone
6) Secretary Tommy G. Thompson's public schedule

Surgeon General and Washington Redskins Launch 'First Down For Fitness'

U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona and Washington Redskins players Matt Bowen, Ladell Betts, Rock Cartwright, Robert Royal, Darnerien McCants and other team members launched 'First Down for Fitness,' an event to motivate kids to lead healthy and active lifestyles recently.

"We need to find new and creative ways to get kids off the couch and onto the playgrounds. I applaud the Washington Redskins for their commitment to fighting childhood obesity in their First Down for Fitness campaign," U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona said. "By engaging all sectors of society in combating the scourge of overweight that affects 9 million of our children, we can help give them the tools for a healthier today and a brighter tomorrow."

The event included more than one hundred sixth and seventh graders from Loudoun County and Washington, D.C. There were six different fitness stations hosted by Redskins players and coaches, including jump roping, cardiovascular and weight training, football drills, 40-yard dash and various demonstrations. The event concluded with a healthy lunch and the kids receiving a Redskins fitness fun pack containing a jump rope, stopwatch, t-shirt, hat and other fitness-oriented items.

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Tommy Thompson Designates Six National Centers of Excellence in Women's Health

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson designated six new National Centers of Excellence in Women's Health last week, which will provide a one-stop-shop for women in communities, especially targeting rural communities.

"These new National Centers of Excellence provide innovative solutions for women seeking the best comprehensive care," Secretary Thompson said. "They are a part of our continuing commitment to bring quality health care to women, including minority and underserved women across the nation. These new centers will help to develop effective approaches for improving women's health that can be adopted in other communities across the country."

Evaluations of existing National Centers of Excellence in Women's Health have found that the approach strengthens the focus on women's health at academic medical centers. In addition, the centers provide a wide array of clinical preventive services and produce high levels of patient satisfaction.

The new centers announced today are at Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Brown University, the University of Minnesota, the University of Arizona and the Oregon Health and Science University. The centers will serve as "one-stop shopping" models targeted to the health care needs of women. The awards are funded through HHS' Office on Women's Health.

More information on the centers is available at http://4woman.gov.

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Secretary's Challenge
Thirty Minutes a Day and Counting:
Week Three of The Secretary's Challenge is Going Strong!

HHS employees in Washington, D.C., are certain of one thing. Today marks week three and the halfway point of The Secretary's Challenge: Steps to a HealthierHHS, an innovative employee health promotion program designed to get HHS employees physically active and moving 30 minutes a day, five days a week for six weeks.

As Challenge participants continue to rack up time and energy on activities such as walking, jogging and taking the stairs, they simultaneously keep track of their movements by logging into the President's Challenge Web site at http://www.presidentschallenge.org.

"The Secretary's Challenge is a way for the HHS family to realize that daily, physical activity is essential to lifelong health and wellness," Secretary Thompson said. "Accomplishing a goal and feeling healthy about yourself ultimately translates into a better way of living, and increased productivity at work and at home with friends and family. As the Department of Health and Human Services, we must lead the nation by example."

Employees are encouraged to develop group activities among their co-workers, in addition to participating in Challenge events available throughout the six-week period. The program is being pilot-tested in the Washington, D.C. Southwest Complex, with plans of nationwide expansion in 2004.

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International Walk to School Day - October 8, 2003

On October 8, children, parents, school teachers and community leaders will participate in International Walk to School Day to promote safer, healthier communities.

Children need safe routes to school year-round, as they are at increased risk for pedestrian injuries. Learn more about these risks and steps you can take to promote pedestrian safety in your community.

For more information about the event, visit http://www.iwalktoschool.org/.

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Personal Health: Flu Facts for Everyone

Flu vaccine and lung disease

Flu vaccine is your best protection against flu and its complications. But people who suffer from asthma, lung disease, or other respiratory conditions have concerns about getting vaccinated and about choosing the right flu vaccine for them. For more information about flu vaccine, asthma and other lung conditions or diseases, visit the American Lung Association Web site at www.lungusa.org/ and check the information about flu vaccine for the elderly or for people with asthma or lung disease (available at http://lungusa.org/press/association/asn_091803.html)

What's true about the flu?

True: "People can die from the flu."

Influenza (flu) is a highly infectious disease of the lungs, and it can lead to pneumonia. Each year about 114,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized and about 36,000 people die because of the flu. Most who die are 65 years and older. But children younger than 2 years old are as likely as those over 65 to have to go to the hospital because of the flu.

True: "Even if I get flu vaccine, I can still get a mild case of the flu."

Flu vaccine protects most people from the flu. A person who receives flu vaccine can get the flu but will be far less sick than someone who has flu and has not received flu vaccine. Flu vaccine does not protect you from other viruses that sometimes feel like the flu.

False: "The side effects are worse than the flu."

The worst side effect you're likely to get with injectable vaccine is a sore arm. The nasal-spray flu vaccine might cause nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or cough. The risk of allergic reaction to flu vaccine is far less than the risk of severe complications from flu itself.

True: "Not everyone can take the flu vaccine."

You might not be able to get this protection if you are allergic to eggs (used in making the injectable vaccine), and very sick with a high fever, or have had a severe reaction to the flu vaccine in the past.

False: "Only older people need flu vaccine."

Adults and children with conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease need to get flu vaccine. And people who are active and healthy can also benefit from the protection the flu vaccine offers.

False: "You must get a flu vaccine before December."

Flu vaccine can be given before or during the flu season. While the best time to get flu vaccine is October or November, getting vaccinated in December or later can still protect you against the flu.

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Secretary Tommy G. Thompson's public schedule:

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Last updated October 8, 2003
United States Department of Health and Human Services
Contact the HHS Newsletter Team.