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February 05
The 1st Friday in February is…
National Wear Red Day
&
National Women’s Healthy Heart Campaign
FEBRUARY is American Heart Month (US) & Heart Month (CA)
Photo courtesy of The Heart Truth,
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
National Wear Red Day is a program of The Heart Truth® – an awareness campaign for women and heart disease awareness, through the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute. NWRD has a goal of better heart health for all women.
During NWRD, they want to spread this “critical message” to women everywhere:
"Heart Disease Doesn't Care What You Wear—It's the #1 Killer of Women.®"
Do you know The Heart Truth® about women and heart disease? More women die of heart disease than any other disease-even breast cancer. In fact, one in four women dies of heart disease. And living with it can lead to disability and a decreased quality of life.
It’s a harsh reality, but one which – if recognized – has the potential to save SO many lives through proper screening & preventative measures!
Few women take their risk seriously-or personally. Having just one risk factor can double your risk for developing heart disease. Multiple risk factors will multiply your risk.
What can you do to lower your risk?
Know the risk factors for heart disease:
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Overweight/obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Family history of early coronary heart disease
- Age (for women, 55 and older)
Talk to your doctor to find out if you are at risk, and take action: Not smoking, heart healthy eating, physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and taking prescribed medication can help to control and reduce the risks.
Wear red today! (A dress, a shirt, as skirt, a purse, a tie, red shoes, or Red Dress Pin.)
Photo courtesy of The Heart Truth, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
This year, the Red Dress Collection will be merging with Fashion Week in NYC on February 11th. For more info on that, click HERE.
For more information about women and heart disease, visit: www.hearttruth.gov.
Source: The Heart Truth, a national awareness campaign sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), a part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with: American Heart Association; Office on Women's Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; WomenHeart: the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease; and other organizations committed to the health and well-being of women.
®National Wear Red Day is a registered trademark of HHS and AHA. The Heart Truth and Red Dress are trademarks of HHS.
The National Women’s Healthy Heart Campaign is sponsored by the Sister to Sister: Everyone Has a Heart Foundation, which is a non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to the PREVENTION of heart disease in women. Sister to Sister helps to provide free cholesterol & blood pressure screenings to women around the country.
Check out Sister to Sister’s “Screen Four” & take the pledge to get screened for heart disease:
Screen Four
www.sistertosister.org/screenfour/take-the-pledge
S2S also has lots of tips, walking & lifestyle-change plans, recipes, inspiring stories, & an online community on their website: www.sistertosister.org.
A previous Care-Aware post w/add’l info/links/video, etc. about both of these awareness campaigns is available HERE [click].
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February 04
February 4th is…
World Cancer DAY
February is National Cancer Prevention Month
World Cancer Day seeks to spread awareness for cancer prevention and how a number of simple steps can significantly reduce the risk of developing cancer later in life. It is led by the International Union Against Cancer (UICC)*, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and key partners.
WCD also kicks off a year-long campaign. The theme for 2010 is...
"Cancer can be prevented too"
Over 12 million people a year receive a cancer diagnosis…
…7.6 million people die of the disease.
More people die from cancer than from AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.
Globally, 1 in every 8 deaths are due to cancer.
About 40% of cancers are potentially preventable.
The 2010 campaign highlights cancers which can be caused by infectious agents (viruses, bacteria and other pathogens) and the means for their intervention and prevention. The campaign is backed by a new scientific report – “Protection against cancer causing infections” (PDF) – which focuses on the nine infections that can lead to cancer.
20% of cancer cases can be attributed to viral & bacterial infections
which either directly cause or increase the risk of cancer
The recent developments of two vaccines offer preventative measures against two big cancer risks. The first vaccine protects against the hepatitis B virus which can lead to liver cancer, which is the third highest cause of death by cancer in men. The HPV vaccine protects against the human papillomavirus which can lead to cervical cancer, which is the third highest cause of death by cancer in women. Other cancers, such as stomach cancers, are also known to be caused by chronic infections. The good news is that simple interventions like vaccinations, antibiotics, improved sanitation and learning avoidance strategies have the potential of reducing the number of cancer cases & deaths by millions!
Simple ways to prevent cancers:
- Stop tobacco use and avoid exposure to second-hand smoke
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Avoid excessive sun exposure
- Maintain a healthy weight, through eating healthily and exercising regularly
- Protect against cancer-causing infections
Source: UICC
Are YOU at risk? Take this quick QUIZ [click] .
Please sign the World Cancer Declaration: www.uicc.org/declaration
For More Info on the World Cancer Campaign, visit: www.worldcancercampaign.org
* Founded in 1933, UICC is the world’s leading consortium of cancer-fighting organizations, with over 300 members spanning Africa, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. Located in Geneva, Switzerland, the headquarters provides reporters with editorial materials and access to interview opportunities with experts from cancer-fighting affiliates in over 100 countries (www.uicc.org).
© Care-Aware™ 2008-10 http://care-aware.spaces.live.com BOOK-MARK Care-Aware™ as one of your Favorites! «
Visit the Care-Aware™ home page (if you’re not already there). Follow Care-Aware™ on Twitter @Care_Aware
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FREE Care-Aware™ RSS Subscriptions are available: Just click on “Subscribe to RSS Feed” (in same strip as “Alerts”, above).
Share Awareness: Pass on the URL/address to this blog post (below) &/or to the main Care-Aware™ Space (above); or post this HTML clickable-link code for the Care-Aware home page: <a href="http://care-aware.spaces.live.com" target="_blank"> Care-Aware™</a> (Click to Visit)<br>
February 03
February 1st-7th is…
National Patient Recognition WEEK
February 3rd is…
National Patient Recognition DAY
I just wanted to give all of the patients out there a quick shout-out during Nat’l Patient Recognition Week, & on National Patient Recognition Day. I was going to edit the previous Care-Aware post for that, but for some reason it wasn’t wanting to let me, today; but there’s more information & links available in that previous post, which you can view here:
Care-Aware Nat’l Patient Recognition Day
http://bit.ly/NPRday
Hoping that all of you who are patients are VERY well cared-for!! Be well (as well as possible)!
For more on Nat’l Patient Recognition Week, visit: www.nprw.com
© Care-Aware™ 2008-10 http://care-aware.spaces.live.com BOOK-MARK Care-Aware™ as one of your Favorites! «
Visit the Care-Aware™ home page (if you’re not already there). Follow Care-Aware™ on Twitter @Care_Aware
Get email-notices of Care-Aware™ posts: Just click on “Sign up for Alerts” in the strip @ the top of the blog on the Care-Aware™ home page.
FREE Care-Aware™ RSS Subscriptions are available: Just click on “Subscribe to RSS Feed” (in same strip as “Alerts”, above).
Share Awareness: Pass on the URL/address to this blog post (below) &/or to the main Care-Aware™ Space (above); or post this HTML clickable-link code for the Care-Aware home page: <a href="http://care-aware.spaces.live.com" target="_blank"> Care-Aware™</a> (Click to Visit)<br>
January 31
I just wanted to open a blog-post for January, 2010 - I've been way behind on keeping up with the Care-Aware blog, & if I don’t open one quick, here, Jan will disappear, & there’ll be nothing in that area of the blog summary which I can edit stuff into later on (so if you see a couple other blank ones, before this, that’s what they’re for also).
Hope you've been following on Twitter! I’ve been able to get in some ‘tweets’ there (a few minutes here & there), at least. If you’re not familiar with Twitter, know that you needn’t sign up in order to view the @Care_Aware ‘profile’ (main) page, there, with the info I post. Just go to http://twitter.com/Care_Aware.
If you (or I) have missed any of January's Awareness items you can view the summary of them (& their related blog-postings) here [just click].
To preview the Awareness topics & events for February, click here. Please note that some day/week events may shift as to their start-date, from year to year (some may begin on the same date, & others may start on the same week/day (2nd Monday, 3rd full week, etc.). I’m trying to ferret out these things & update the posts accordingly, whenever I get a chance.
By the way: The last day of each month (like today) has been set aside for spreading awareness for "Rare/Orphan" diseases (any disease which, in itself, affects 200,000 people or less), so I wanted to mention that as well - they add up to a LOT of different diseases & a HUGE number of people, altogether, who are affected. More is available (info/links, etc.) on the Care-Aware twitter page. Feb. 28th will be Rare Disease Day.
Hope this year is being good to you all, so far! Wishing you much wellness!
© Care-Aware™ 2008-10 http://care-aware.spaces.live.com BOOK-MARK Care-Aware™ as one of your Favorites! «
Visit the Care-Aware™ home page (if you’re not already there). Follow Care-Aware™ on Twitter @Care_Aware
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FREE Care-Aware™ RSS Subscriptions are available: Just click on “Subscribe to RSS Feed” (in same strip as “Alerts”, above).
Share Awareness: Pass on the URL/address to this blog post (below) &/or to the main Care-Aware™ Space (above); or post this HTML clickable-link code for the Care-Aware home page: <a href="http://care-aware.spaces.live.com" target="_blank"> Care-Aware™</a> (Click to Visit)<br>
November 25
November 25th, is:
International Day
for the
Elimination of Violence Against Women
On November 6th, 2009, UNIFEM launched the global advocacy initiative: “Say NO – UNiTE to End Violence against Women.” The program & website will join people together from around the world to take actions to end the violent acts against women & it will also spotlight those global efforts & demonstrate the groundswell of support for this important issue. UNIFEM & “Say NO – UNiTE” are organizations established under the United Nations’ umbrella.
Actress Nicole Kidman is a Goodwill Ambassador for UNIFEM & also a SayNO – UniTE Spokesperson. Here are two videos for the day, with her in them – the PSA & welcome videos for SayNO – UNiTE:
No is No in Any Language
Say No - UNiTE Welcome Message
(Click to view video, if missing here.)
Up to 70 percent of women experience physical or sexual violence from men in their lifetime — with the abusers usually being someone known to them. Perhaps the most pervasive human rights violation that we know today, it harms families & fractures communities, stalling human development, undermining economic growth. Violence against women and girls has far-reaching consequences, & it devastates lives. Everyone has a role to play in combating this global pandemic; the time to act together is NOW.
[Source: UNIFEM.org]
Learn more:
Facts & Figures on Violence Against Women [click]
www.saynotoviolence.org
November 25th also marks the start of the “16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence” – which began in 1980. This campaign pointedly begins on the same day as the International Day To End Violence Against Women & ends on International Human Rights Day; & it originated at the Women’s Global Leadership Institute (WGLI) organized in 1991 by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL).
Over 2,800 organizations in 156 countries have participated in the “16 Days…” campaign, and the movement continues to grow. There’s a full International Calendar of Activities; & it’s available on FaceBook, as well.
The 2009 theme for 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence is:
“Commit ▪ Act ▪ Demand: We CAN End Violence Against Women!”
Read more about the 16 Days campaign here.
RELATED CARE-AWARE POSTS:
International Day to End Violence Against Women (2008 post)
© Care-Aware™ 2008-9 http://care-aware.spaces.live.com BOOK-MARK Care-Aware™ as one of your Favorites! «
Visit the Care-Aware™ home page (if you’re not already there). Follow Care-Aware™ on Twitter @Care_Aware
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FREE Care-Aware™ RSS Subscriptions are available: Just click on “Subscribe to RSS Feed” (in same strip as “Alerts”, above).
Share Awareness: Pass on the URL/address to this blog post (below) &/or to the main Care-Aware™ Space (above); or post this HTML clickable-link code to the Care-Aware home page: <a href="http://care-aware.spaces.live.com" target="_blank"> Care-Aware™</a> (Click to Visit)<br>
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October 18
The 3rd weekend (Fri-Sun) in October is…
The United Nations’ 2015 Millennium Campaign
Stand Up Against Poverty
Have you been following the Stand Up and Take Action (to end poverty) campaign, this weekend? It’s now in its’ 4th year, and millions of people around the world are Standing Up and Taking Action to show their support for the fight against poverty and for the (UN’s) Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
- 1.4 BILLION people around the world exist on less than $1.25 per day!
- One woman dies EVERY MINUTE as a result of pregnancy & childbirth!
- More than 1 BILLION people lack clean drinking water!
The problem is huge; yet, we CAN change it – TOGETHER!!
You Can End Poverty
I just wanted to give you a quick heads-up on it, if you haven’t been following Care-Aware™ on Twitter* (if not, you should – as I’m doing most of the postings from there, now). There’s still time to join in!
This global campaign is gaining so much attention and so many local events that the official numbers of attendees for it’s numerous events are being submitted to the Guinness Book of World Records! You can still be a part of that, too: Submit your event-numbers before 23:59 GMT on Oct 18th, 2009 to be counted (http://tr.im/CaRU).
STAND UP and TAKE ACTION 2009
There are lots of other things we can do to help the movement against global poverty – year-round! For more info, visit:
www.standagainstpoverty.org
* To follow/view (&/or get RSS feeds of) Care-Aware™ on Twitter – go to http://twitter.com/Care_Aware (@Care_Aware). You can also view most-recent updates (“tweets”) in the purple box in the upper right-hand corner of the Care-Aware home page (just click the arrows on it to scroll through more tweets).
© Care-Aware™ 2008-9 http://care-aware.spaces.live.com BOOK-MARK Care-Aware™ as one of your Favorites! «
Visit the Care-Aware™ home page (if you’re not already there). Follow Care-Aware™ on Twitter @Care_Aware
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FREE Care-Aware™ RSS Subscriptions are available: Just click on “Subscribe to RSS Feed” (in same strip as “Alerts”, above).
Share Awareness: Pass on the URL/address to this blog post (below) &/or to the main Care-Aware™ Space (above); or post this HTML clickable-link code to the Care-Aware home page: <a href="http://care-aware.spaces.live.com" target="_blank"> Care-Aware™</a> (Click to Visit)<br>
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September 27
September 27th is…
WORLD HEART DAY
  
World Heart Day is sponsored by the World Heart Federation® (WHF) – who hope to globally educate people about heart disease and stroke.
Heart disease and stroke are the world’s leading cause of death.
(That’s 17.2 million lives each year.)
At least 80% of premature deaths
from heart disease and stroke could be avoided
…if the main risk factors
– tobacco, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity –
are controlled.
The theme for WHD 2009 is…
“Work With Heart”
This year’s theme recognizes the interdependence of healthy employees and the successful achievement of business objectives. The WHF, along with the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Economic Forum, and other businesses around the world, encourage others to implement workplace wellness programs.
“Dancing, walking, climbing stairs, even the smallest steps count towards a healthier lifestyle”:
World Heart Day 2009 video: "Work with Heart"
(Back-up Video-Link [click, if you can't see the video, here])
There’s lots of good stuff to check out on WDF…
Do you know YOUR “heart age”? Find out:
Calculate Your Heart Age (Tool)
Learn More about Workplace Wellness Programs:
Tips for Employers & Employees
What’s Going On in Your Corner of the Globe?:
WHD Activity Plans (Map)
Special – FREE eBook for Women’s Heart Health:
TAKE CHARGE: A Woman’s Guide to a Healthier Heart
(21pp PDF by HEARTSTRONG, LLC)
For MORE on WHD, visit the WHF website:
World Heart Federation®
© Care-Aware™ 2008-9 http://care-aware.spaces.live.com BOOK-MARK Care-Aware™ as one of your Favorites! «
Visit the Care-Aware™ home page (if you’re not already there). Follow Care-Aware™ on Twitter @Care_Aware
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FREE Care-Aware™ RSS Subscriptions are available: Just click on “Subscribe to RSS Feed” (in same strip as “Alerts”, above).
Share Awareness: Pass on the URL/address to this blog post (below) &/or to the main Care-Aware™ Space (above); or post this HTML clickable-link code to the Care-Aware home page: <a href="http://care-aware.spaces.live.com" target="_blank"> Care-Aware™</a> (Click to Visit)<br>
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September 20
National Invisible Chronic Illness Week
(Second full week of September)
Peeking into the Invisible:
Writers Expose Their Hidden Worlds
Much of what people with invisible illnesses experience is invisible to the eyes of those who look at them, from the outside. This week, however (and all throughout the year), they are speaking out – and their words give everyone some eye-opening glimpses into their otherwise-hidden experiences with illnesses.
1 in 2 people in the USA live with a chronic condition,
and 96% of illnesses are invisible.
Here’s a sampling via some of the guest-blog articles featured/mentioned on the National Invisible Chronic Illness Week website:
When Abnormal Becomes The New Normal
by Kristen, a 28yo woman who has a a Bachelor of Science and a master’s degree in biomedical engineering who has dysautonomia, POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) & chemical sensitivities. Her blog is called “Colors of Qavah.”
What Others See Isn’t Our Reality
by Andrea Runyan – a young woman who studied math at Stanford University before coming down with tick-borne infections on top of pre-existing fatigue (Andrea has Bartonella, Lyme disease, adrenal fatigue). Her blog is called “Free Ideas!!”
The Letter to Normals
by Ronald J. Waller, who has Fibromyalgia (FM) and Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) – as posted on FibroHugs.
Poem “Too Young”
By Carolynn Cheatham, age 21, who’s been dealing with various forms of chronic pain (from a sudden/unknown onset) for the past 4 years.
Today You Walked Past Me…
by Sarah, 41, a wife, mother, and former teacher who lives with fibromyalgia.
Unlikely Chameleons, Living with an Invisible Disease &
In Order To Appear Invisible, You Have To Be Invisible
by Leslie Rott, a 23yo woman with a bachelor’s degree in English and Sociology - currently working on her Ph.D. Leslie has systemic lupus and rheumatoid arthritis (which were diagnose in 2008). Her blog is called “Getting Closer To Myself."
From “It’s all in your head” to the “Accidental Significant Find”
by Stephanie LH Calahan, productivity and organization consultant, speaker, author & publisher who was diagnosed (after 8 yrs. of mis-diagnoses) with a pituitary tumor.
Living with DAILY Frustration
by Kerri Sweeris of Living with Chronic Illness blog. Kerri lives with Myasthenia gravis, fibromyalgia, diabetes, osteoporosis and depression (& also with her husband & young son).
Invisible Illness: Type 1 Diabetes
by Kerri Morrone Sparling – author/creator of the “Six Until Me” diabetes patient blog (“Best Patient Blog” 2008)
“On Invisible Illness” & “Beyond Memes: Public versus Private”
Author Laurie Edwards has dyskinesia, bronchiectasis, and celiac, & has written the book “Life Disrupted.” She writes about chronic illnesses in her “A Chronic Dose” Blog.
The Hardest Part is that People Just Forget Our Illness
by Ashley, a young wife who has TMJ Disorder, & whose husband, David were high school was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis (in Feb. ’08). Ashley’s blog is called “A Young Wife’s Tale – Hand Me Another Diet Coke.”
The Cave of Denial: A Place to Hide
by Tiffany Christensen, an author & blogger http://sickgirlspeaks.blogspot.com/ of “Sick Girl Speaks!”, & speaker who has been in & out of hospitals for 30 years, & had 2 lung transplants due to cystic fibrosis, plus diabetes (brought on by the prednisone treatments).
How to Give an Ill Friend Love, Understanding, and Support
by Jessica Barto of FibroBlog (who has FMS, CFS & Spondylolisthesis).
When Your Children Are Ill
by Deana Tritch - a wife, mother and homemaker in IN who has two children with dystautonomia.
Find MORE II Wk Guest-blogger Pieces HERE
Lots MORE Links to II Wk Bloggers:
Visiting Blogs that Mention Invisible Illness
Participating II Wk Blogs @ BloggersUnite
30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know
Related Care-Aware Posts:
National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week
A Week of Visibility for People with Invisible Illnesses
Visit these websites for more info:
National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week
The Invisible Disabilities Advocate®
© Care-Aware™ 2008-9 http://care-aware.spaces.live.com BOOK-MARK Care-Aware™ as one of your Favorites! «
Visit the Care-Aware™ home page (if you’re not already there). Follow Care-Aware™ on Twitter @Care_Aware
Get email-notices of Care-Aware™ posts: Just click on “Sign up for Alerts” in the strip @ the top of the blog on the Care-Aware™ home page.
FREE Care-Aware™ RSS Subscriptions are available: Just click on “Subscribe to RSS Feed” (in same strip as “Alerts”, above).
Share Awareness: Pass on the URL/address to this blog post (below) &/or to the main Care-Aware™ Space (above); or post this HTML clickable-link code to the Care-Aware home page: <a href="http://care-aware.spaces.live.com" target="_blank"> Care-Aware™</a> (Click to Visit)<br>
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