Lupus Awareness Month

Every 30 minutes someone in the United States is diagnosed with Lupus. May is Lupus Awareness Month, so we wanted to help spread awareness of this unpredictable and potentially life threatening disease.

What is Lupus?

Lupus is a chronic, inflammatory disease that can affect various parts of the body especially the skin, joints, blood and kidneys.

• Lupus affects mostly women age (15-44), however men, children and teenagers can develop lupus too.
• Women of color are 2-3 times more likely to develop lupus.
• People of all races and ethnic groups can develop lupus.
• Lupus can range from mild to life threatening and should always be treated by a doctor. With good medical care, most people with lupus can lead a full life.
• Lupus is not contagious, not even through sexual contact. You cannot “catch” lupus from someone or “give” lupus to someone.

For more information visit:

http://www.lupus.org/newsite/pages/lupus-awareness-month.html

Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month

The American Academy of Dermatology has designated May as Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month, to raise awareness of melanoma, a potentially fatal skin cancer, and to encourage early detection. Melanoma has a high cure rate, with early detection.

Who gets skin cancer?

Anyone can develop skin cancer, however, Caucasians are at higher risk than people of other races, especially if:

• You have more than 50 moles, large moles or atypical moles.
• A blood relative has had melanoma.
• You have fair skin.
• You have red or blonde hair.
• You have blue or green eyes.
• You have had skin cancer before.
• You have had other cancers, such as breast or thyroid cancer.

We would also like to share this video where real people address their 16-year-old selves by sharing stories about their struggles with Melanoma.

For more information visit:  http://www.melanomamonday.org/

Hepatitis Awareness Month

May is Hepatitis Awareness Month, so we urge everyone to learn what can be done to prevent the spread of hepatitis. Many forms of hepatitis are preventable and many more can be treated if detected early.

What are the common types of viral hepatitis?
In the United States, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C are the most common forms of viral hepatitis. Over 5 million Americans are living with chronic viral hepatitis today and many more who do not know it.

How can hepatitis be prevented? 

Taking the following steps and encouraging others to do the same can prevent viral hepatitis:

• Get vaccinated for hepatitis A and hepatitis B
• Practice good hygiene
• Practice safe sex
• Use only clean needles for tattoos and body piercings
• Do not share needles
• Do not share razors, toothbrushes, or other personal items
• Get medical care if you are exposed to blood or needle sticks

For more information visit:

http://hepatitisfoundation.org/

National Women’s Health Week

Women often serve as caregivers for their families, putting the needs of their spouses, children, and parents before their own. As a result, women’s health and wellbeing becomes secondary. As a community, it is our responsibility to support the important women we know and do everything we can to help them take steps for longer, healthier, and happier lives.

May 8-14 is National Women’s Health Week- a weeklong health observance coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health. National Women’s Health Week empowers women to make their health a top priority. It also encourages them to take steps to improve their physical and mental health and lower their risks of certain diseases. Those steps include:

• Getting at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous physical activity, or a combination of both, each week
• Eating a nutritious diet
• Visiting a health care professional to receive regular checkups and preventive screenings
• Avoiding risky behaviors, such as smoking and not wearing a seatbelt
• Paying attention to mental health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress

For more information, visit:

http://www.womenshealth.gov/whw

World Asthma Day

World Asthma Day is an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to improve asthma awareness and care around the world. This year’s event will take place on May 3, and the theme will be “You Can Control Your Asthma.”

The number of patients suffering from asthma has doubled during the last 10 years. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 300 million people are affected and by the year 2025 another 100 million will have the disease.

According to the GINA Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention (2010), asthma control means that a person with asthma has:

• No (or minimal) asthma symptoms.
• No waking at night due to asthma.
• No (or minimal) need to use “reliever” medication.
• The ability to do normal physical activity and exercise.
• Normal (or near-normal) lung function test results (PEF and FEV).
• No (or very infrequent) asthma attacks.

Barriers to asthma control:

• Diagnosis-Some people with asthma symptoms may never receive a diagnosis of asthma
• Treatment– High cost of medicines, lack of access to medical care
• Education– People may not understand how to use medications properly
• Environmental Health– Avoiding risk factors that cause asthma symptoms

For more information please visit http://www.ginasthma.org//WADindex.asp.”