4Woman.gov -- The National Women's Health Information Center -- U S Department of Health and Human Services

Healthy Women Today
May 2003

FROM THE NWHIC PROJECT OFFICER

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health

National Women's Health Week (NWHW) May 11th -17th is finally here!!! How will you be observing it this year? The National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC) is offering a free NWHW Information Packet that provides fact sheets to promote awareness for NWHW. These fact sheets (http://www.4woman.gov/whw/2003/packet.htm) offer a wealth of information on a variety of topics that include cancer, HIV/STDs, cardiovascular health, diabetes and many others.

National Women's Health WeekNWHW is a national effort of organizations to raise awareness about steps women can take to improve their health. The focus is on the importance of incorporating simple preventive and positive health behaviors into everyday life. It encourages awareness about key health issues among all women, especially African American, Asian American/Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native women, since recent research has shown there are significant health disparities among these groups compared to white women.

The State Offices on Women's Health (OWH) are observing NWHW in a number of ways, including participation in several local, regional and national events such as the first ever National Women's Check-Up Day, May 12th. On this day, community health centers, hospitals and health care providers across the country are encouraging women to come in for preventive screenings.

Those of us in the Office on Women's Health in Washington, DC working on the NWHW national plan, decided to practice what we are preaching and plan a week of healthy activities to mirror those going on across the country. On Monday, May 12, National Women's Check-Up Day, all of the Health Units in the SW Complex will provide free screenings to all Government employees. Other activities include a presentation on nutrition, a training session on running, and a Buddy Walk/Run to the Washington Monument. We all plan to get out and exercise together, eat healthy, and get or at least make an appointment for a check-up.

We hope you join our efforts! This year, start a Mother's Day tradition and encourage your mom, sister, aunt and friends to get a check-up. Or try visiting a participating center together.

Happy Mother's Day!!

Valerie Scardino, M.P.A. 
Project Officer, Office on Women's Health, DHHS

NATIONAL WOMEN'S HEALTH WEEK

WHAT IS NATIONAL WOMEN'S HEALTH WEEK?

National Women's Health Week is a national effort by an alliance of organizations to raise awareness about manageable steps women can take to improve their health. The focus is on the importance of adding simple preventative and positive health behaviors into everyday life. It encourages awareness about key health issues among all women, and especially African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic American, and American Indian/Alaska Native women, since recent research has shown there are significant health disparities among these groups compared to white women.

For more information on how you can participate, contact the National Women's Health Information Center at: 1-800-994-9662 or visit our web site at: www.4woman.gov.

NOW AVAILABLE FROM NWHIC - National Women's Health Week Information Packets!!!

This information packet (also available in Spanish) includes a fact sheet on National Women's Health Week (NWHW), and a variety of publications about check-ups women need. To find out how you can participate in NWHW, and learn about what check-ups are needed, call us at: 1-800-994-9662 or visit our web site at: www.4woman.gov! You may download this information packet from the NWHIC web site by going to: http://www.4woman.gov/whw/2003/packet.htm.

The National Centers of Excellence in Women's Health, Second National Forum - Vienna, VA
(May 13-14, 2003)
"Understanding Health Differences and Disparities in Women - Closing the Gap"

The Office on Women's Health is planning a Second National Forum on the National Centers of Excellence in Women's Health (CoE) to be held at the Sheraton Premiere Hotel in Vienna, Virginia, on May 13-14, 2003. The Forum will share information and findings among CoEs with representatives of other academic health centers interested in adopting the CoE model or its components. You may learn more by going to: www.4woman.gov/coe/forums/index.htm.

OTHER HHS NEWS & EVENTS

Diabetes Town Hall Meeting: Satellite Broadcast & Live Web cam - Washington, DC 
(May 20, 2003 -- 10 am - 1 pm)

Recognizing that diabetes has an enormous impact on the health of America and its pocketbook, and that over half of the people diagnosed with diabetes are women, this meeting will highlight the issue of diabetes across the life span of women. This will include a discussion of the unique impact diabetes has on women in terms of increased risk of heart disease (the leading killer of women), and other serious and deadly complications. This meeting will also include discussion about the unique role women have within the family setting, as the gatekeeper for family health and care decisions, often for spouses, children and parents. The goals of the event are:

1. To provide accurate up-to-date health information on diabetes across the life span for women.

2. To educate women about their risk for diabetes with prevention and management approaches.

3. To foster the development and support of diabetes control programs for women.

4. To showcase national and community resources for women and diabetes.

5. To encourage the establishment of networks for interaction, information and community action on diabetes prevention and treatment.

Older Americans Month - Assistant Secretary Josefina Carbonell announces the 2003 theme for OAM - "What We Do Makes A Difference."

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Administration on Aging continues the tradition of honoring older Americans and their caregivers, and of celebrating our families and our communities as the foundation of our society. Check out the AoA's page dedicated to Older Americans Month - it includes the History of OAM, Proclamations, Materials & Downloads and more! www.aoa.gov/press/oam/oam.asp

NEI Sponsors Healthy Vision Month

Beginning May 2003, the National Eye Institute, one of the Federal government's National Institutes of Health, will sponsor Healthy Vision Month. Each year, Healthy Vision Month will focus on a different Healthy People 2010 vision objective. The focus for May 2003 will be objective 28-4: reduce blindness and visual impairment in children and adolescents. Log on to the web site for more information: www.healthyvision2010.org/hvm2003/.

MAY FEATURED HEALTH ARTICLE

Wellness Starts with Physical Activity

If you are overweight or obese, losing weight can lower your risk for many diseases. And physical activity is an important part of weight loss treatment! (Obesity is measured with a Body Mass Index (BMI). Health risks increase as the BMI rises. Go to www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/calc-bmi.htm to figure out your BMI.) For most women, carrying extra weight around their waists or middle (with a waist larger than 35 inches) raises health risks (like heart disease, diabetes, or cancer) more than carrying extra weight around their hips or thighs.

An active lifestyle can help every woman. Being physically active can provide these benefits:

  • Reduces your risk of dying from heart disease or stroke.

  • Lowers your risk of getting heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes.

  • If you have high blood pressure, it lowers it.

  • Helps keep your bones, muscles, and joints healthy.

  • Reduces anxiety and depression and improves your mood.

  • Helps you handle stress.

  • Helps control your weight.

  • Protects against falling and bone fractures in older adults.

  • May help protect against breast cancer.

  • Helps control joint swelling and pain from arthritis.

  • Gives you more energy.

  • Helps you sleep better.

  • Helps you look better.

It's easy to add 30 minutes of physical activity into your day! Here are steps you can take to get moving:

  • Choose an activity that's fun.

  • Change your activities, so you don't get bored.

  • Doing housework may not be fun, but it does get you moving! So does gardening, yard work, and walking the dog.

  • If you can't set aside one block of time, do short activities during the day, such as three, 10-minute walks.

  • Create opportunities for activity, such as parking your car farther away, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or walking down the hall to talk to a coworker instead of using email.

  • Don't let the cold weather keep you on the couch! You can still find activities to do in the winter like exercising to a workout video, or joining a sports league. Or, get a head start on your spring cleaning by choosing active indoor chores like window washing or reorganizing closets.

  • Use different jogging, walking, or biking paths to vary your routine.

  • Exercise with a friend or family member.

  • If you have children, make time to play with them outside. Set a positive example!

  • Make activities into social occasions-have dinner after you and a friend work out.

  • Read books or magazines to inspire you.

  • Set specific, short-term goals and reward yourself when you achieve them.

  • Don't feel badly if you don't notice body changes right away.

  • Make your activity a regular part of your day, so it becomes a habit.

  • Build a community group to form walking clubs, build walking trails, start exercise classes, and organize special events to promote physical activity.

Talk to your health care provider before you start any physical activity if you:

  • Have heart disease or had a stroke or at high risk for them

  • Have diabetes or are at high risk for it

  • Are obese (Body Mass Index of 30 or greater)

  • Have an injury (like a knee injury)

  • Are over age 50

  • Are pregnant

GUEST EDITOR FEATURE FOR MAY 2003

The Guest Editor Article on NWHIC's site this month is: "The Consumer's Guide to Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis." Our featured health article comes to us from the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE "BOX"

Last month, the American Medical Association in conjunction with the Association for Childhood Education International and 70 other supporting organizations joined schools, libraries and community groups to encourage millions of Americans to turn off their TVs for a week and participate in healthier, more active lifestyles.

It is estimated that by the age of 65, most Americans have watched what would equal 9 years of television programming. During the week of April 21st - 27th, an estimated 7 million viewers participated in TV-Turnoff Week. Below, we have provided other options to your daily dose of reality TV!!

1. Sitcom-free half hour: Take a brisk walk. The trees are budding and the air is fresh.

2. No Time for Grime Hour: Go through your closets and "Spring Clean"!

3. 2 Hours without a Made for TV Movie: Opt for a do-it-yourself steamy spa treatment you "never have time" for. Start with a hot foot soak, followed by a soothing mud mask and wind down with a candlelit bubble bath.

4. 4 Hours of Must Not See TV: Instead of sitting around the small screen with your friends or family eating, spend an evening preparing a healthy meal together. You can create your own memorable episode with unscripted conversation. Take a look at our "Cooking Healthy is Easy" section below for ideas.

5. TV Free Week: Give up four hours of daily TV and you could add more than 24 hours to every week: Learn to play a musical instrument, plant a garden, train for a 10K; plan a family reunion; or volunteer at a local school or shelter.

You can learn more about this year's event, by going to: www.tvturnoff.org/index.html.

COOKING HEALTHY IS EASY - START EATING RIGHT TODAY!

As the weather gets warmer, you will want to spend more time outdoors and not in the kitchen. These quick, light dishes are offered by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Diet (www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/hbp/dash/new_dash.pdf). They are recommended to those looking to lower elevated blood pressure levels and total fat intake, saturated fat intake, cholesterol intake. And they taste great! Try one today.

Side Dishes:

New Potato Salad:
http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/nhbpep_kit/rec_wrap.htm?recipe=potato_salad.htm

Scallion Rice:
http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/nhbpep_kit/rec_wrap.htm?recipe=scal_rice.htm

Chicken Salad:
http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/nhbpep_kit/rec_wrap.htm?recipe=chicken_salad.htm

Entrées:

Chicken and Spanish Rice:
http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/nhbpep_kit/rec_wrap.htm?recipe=chick_rice.htm

Spicy Baked Fish:
http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/nhbpep_kit/rec_wrap.htm?recipe=fish.htm

Turkey Meatloaf:
http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/nhbpep_kit/rec_wrap.htm?recipe=turkey.htm

Zucchini Lasagna:
http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/nhbpep_kit/rec_wrap.htm?recipe=lasagna.htm

NATIONAL HEALTH OBSERVANCES IN MAY

  • National Women's Health Week (11-17)
  • National Women's Check-Up Day (12) 
  • Older Americans Month
  • Healthy Vision Month
  • Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
  • Hepatitis Health Month
  • Mental Health Month
  • National Digestive Diseases Awareness Month
  • National High Blood Pressure Education Month
  • National Physical Fitness & Sports Month
  • National Stroke Awareness Month
  • National Suicide Awareness Week (6-12)
  • International Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Day (12)
  • National Missing Children's Day (25)
  • World "No Tobacco" Day (31)

THIS MONTH'S SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS FOR YOUR HEALTH

WHO IS USING NWHIC'S SERVICES?

For the first time this year, New York produced the most calls to our toll-free Information and Referral line. Help your state become our "number one" state by encouraging your friends, colleagues and family members to call our toll-free service if they need information on women's health topics.

The five most popular NWHIC web pages this month were:

Our most frequently asked health topics this month were requests for information on: Prevention, Diabetes, Menopause, Breast Cancer and Nutrition.

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