Today – May 31^st – is…

World No Tobacco Day

This year’s theme is:

"Tobacco Health Warnings"

Picture warnings have been shown to be particularly effective at making people aware of the health risks of tobacco use and convincing them to quit.

More and more countries have been requiring that packages of tobacco show the dangers of the product's use – which is called for in the guidelines to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Since the theme revolves around pictures, I’m thinking I should end the write-up, here, & get straight to them:

I'd post more of them as-is, here... but they don't seem to be available in a readily-post-able form... so here are links to more:

(Just click to view...)

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The MONTH of MAY is…

American Stroke Month &

National Stroke Awareness Month

“CBS Cares” has been doing short PSA’s (Public Service Announcements) on a variety of health topics.  I saw several different short PSA’s on TV, recently, about stroke awareness.  This was one of them:

Maybe I was just looking in the wrong places, but I must say that when I visited the website which was mentioned in the ads, I had a tough time “learning more” there (at least in regards to strokes – there was some info. on some of the other topics).  Hmm… awareness kind of loses its’ impact if it’s not readily-available, user friendly, & such – don’t you think?

I still like the fact that they’re running the PSA’s, though – that’s an important awareness effort.

Now, if YOU’D like more information about stroke warning signs & prevention, just click on the links below (no hunting involved… unless the links fail or somethin’ ):

“The Warning Signs Of A Stroke” [click]

(One short page – 6 quick bullet-points.)

“Stroke Prevention Guidelines” [click]

(Nine different points, with info., are given in this one-page guideline.)

Related Events:  The MONTH of MAY is also National High Blood Pressure Education Month.

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This week – May 24^th – 30^th, 2009 – is…

Older American's Mental Health Week

Older American's Mental Health Week hopes to spread the message that:

“Mental Illness is NOT a normal part of aging.”

Awareness & understanding help by reducing the stigma about mental illness which keeps many older Americans from seeking help.  For instance, with older people who are often taking multiple medications, one or more of those may cause depression; & knowing this may help people bring the matter up with their doctors & have their medications reevaluated, rather than going through months or even years of unnecessary suffering.  Also, statistics show that 80% of older adults recover from depression after receiving treatment that includes both psychotherapy and anti-depressant medication.

Mental illnesses are real, common and treatable; yet, although one in four American adults have a diagnosable mental illness, less than one-quarter of them get any type of proper attention or appropriate treatment for it.  Undiagnosed and untreated mental illness, however, has serious implications for older adults and their loved ones; & older adults have the highest suicide rate in the country.

Do you know the difference…

…between healthy grieving over losses and unhealthy depression?

…between normal worries and anxiety disorders?

….between normal use and overuse of alcohol and medications to dull emotional and/or physical pain?

Check out this quick fact page, below:

“Ten Facts About Mental Health and Aging” [click]

For more FREE information:

(including free document downloads, resources & links)

General Mental Health Resources Page [click]

Source: www.mentalhealthweek.org

To Learn More about Mental Health for Older Americans, Visit:

American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Geriatric Mental Health Foundation

  “A Guide to Mental Wellness in Older Age: Recognizing and Overcoming Depression”

Older Adult Consumer Mental Health Alliance

Related Events:  The MONTH of MAY is Mental Health Month & also Older Americans Month.

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Today – May 19^th – is…

Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Day

22q13 Deletion Foundation

Phelan-McDermid Syndrome is a genetic disorder which is associated with specific developmental and physical features resulting from the loss of a small amount of genetic material from Chromosome 22. The name for it is said as: "22-q-one-three."  (See the link above [Foundation - in purple] for more information.)

New to you?  Me, TOO (I learn a LOT, doing this)!  I had never heard of this syndrome before this month.

& today is also…

World Hepatitis Day

World Hepatitis Alliance

One in 12 people worldwide are living with either chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C; but awareness of this remains low – so many people who are infected are unaware of it.

Are YOU number 12?  ‘Am I Number 12?’ is the World Hepatitis Day slogan, because they want each of us to stop & think about how common hepatitis is, globally, & whether we may be at risk (and if so, to get tested)… and also to know about how to avoid becoming infected.  Visit the link above or www.aminumber12.org for more information.

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“Farrah’s Story”

If you missed the two-hour documentary about Farrah Fawcett’s experiences with being diagnosed with & treated by cancer (which aired last night [May 15, 2009] on NBC), it is now available for viewing online.

Farrah was originally diagnosed (on Sept. 22, ’06) with anal cancer, which eventually became stage 4 - metastasizing to her liver.  She & Ryan O’Neal (her long-time ‘significant other’) had also gone through Ryan’s earlier diagnosis & treatment for CML (Chronic Myelogenous leukemia [diagnosed in 2001]); & the death of Farrah’s sister,Diane, to lung cancer (in 1998). 

Much of “Farrah’s Story” includes real-life footage of Farrah (taped by her good friend, Alana Stewart) visiting doctors & going through treatments, surgery, & recovery.  Alana, at one point, had suggested that they needn’t tape all of it; but Farrah told her that this was "what cancer is" (kudos, Farrah)... so, fair warning: there’s footage of her throwing up, in there (sick from anesthesia… she counted herself vomiting 76 times, total, once), & going through the pain & hair loss & good news & bad… all  of the real stuff that cancer brings.  The affect on the family is also shown – with deeply-felt comments & footage from Ryan O’Neal & Farrah’s son, Redmond (who’s currently in jail on drug charges, but was released for a three-hour visit [a few weeks ago]).

Here’s a brief promo piece about Farrah’s documentary:

Farrah comments that there needs to be more awareness, research/funding, & utilization of treatments which are already being used in other countries (& which have been proven as effective, there).  Care-Aware™ agrees!

A big “thank you” to Farrah & her family & friends (& doctors/staffs) for bringing more, real cancer awareness into the world-wide spotlight.  Our love & prayers go out to her & all of her loved ones.

You can read about “Farrah’s Story” &/or watch the full video by clicking on the links below:

“‘Farrah’s Story’ a Tale of Inner Strength (Article) [click]

“Farrah’s Story” – Full Documentary (11-part videos) [click]

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Tuesday – May 12th, 2009 – is…

Fibromyalgia Awareness Day

National Fibromyalgia Association

International Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Day

CFIDS Association of America

CDC: CFS Info.

International Nursing Day

(Anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth)

Florence Nightingale International Foundation

Sex Differences In Health Awareness Day

Identifying the biological & physiological differences betweem men & women,

& how that affects health & disease for both.

Society for Women's Health Research

Related Awareness Events:  The MONTH of MAY is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) Awareness Month, National Fibromyalgia Education and Awareness Month, & Women's Health Care Month.  This week (May10 – 16, 2009) is also National Women's Health Week.

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Thursday - MAY 7^th, 2009 – is…

National Day of Prayer

This year’s event is the 58th Annual National Day of Prayer. 

This year’s theme is:

“Prayer, America’s Hope”

The verse chosen this year is from the Psalms:

"May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you." – Psalm 33:22

NDP features the song "Somebody's Praying"  sung by Ricky Skaggs:

Words and Music by John G. Elliott, Arranged by Mark Hayes.

You can also get a complimentary MP3 download of "Somebody's Praying" (plus one featuring Ricky Skaggs on Prayer) by clicking here.

The National Observance of NDP will take place, Thursday, May 7th, in Washington D.C. from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and will be broadcast LIVE via webcast and through GOD TV, channel 365 on Direct TV and channel 138 on Sky Angel. The webcast will be accessible through Tangle and NDP.

The Webcast will resume at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific) in Los Angeles, California for a special LIVE prayer event where entertainment industry professionals and churches across Los Angeles are gathering

To view the webcast(s) CLICK HERE, then click on the video screen on the left-hand side of the page during the webcast times.

For more on NDP, visit the official National Day of Prayer website, here. 

How does prayer relate to health & wellness (if at all)?  Many studies have actually been done on the affects of prayer, meditation & spirituality on health.  In fact, just in the past few years, even the NIH has begun to get involved in such studies through its’ Frontier Medicine Initiative.  If you missed the link on this info. from the previous Care-Aware™ prayer day post (for World Day of Prayer) just click on the link below:

Read “Can Prayer Heal?” [click]

(WebMd Feature Article)

REMINDER:  The related event, National Day of Prayer Sunday, will be held this coming Sunday, May 10, 2009.

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Today – May 1^st – is…

May Day

May Day is often celebrated with the distribution of baskets of flowers – sometimes left on a person’s doorstep anonymously as an act of kindness.  In certain times & countries, there was also often dancing involved – around a “May Pole” festooned with long ribbons (which became intertwined within the dance).  “April showers bring May flowers” after all.

Flowers are helpful & healthful way beyond May, though:  scientific studies have shown that they’re good for multiple facets of health & wellness.  If you’re allergic to flowers, don’t worry – many/most of these benefits can also be attained by simply looking at photos of flowers & such… or at a garden out the window.  

The simple presence of a potted plant can aid patients in surgical recovery, for example.  A study done at Kansas State University showed that patients who had plants in their rooms after surgery had significantly less need for post-operative painkilling medications, lower systolic blood pressure & heart rates, lower ratings of their pain, anxiety, and fatigue, and more-positive feelings and higher satisfaction about their rooms, even (when compared with patients in the control group).  That said, keep in mind that many hospitals do not allow plants & flowers to be brought in to patients, any longer, due to those who are allergic to pollens & molds &/or have asthma & other breathing problems which are worsened by them.

Another scientific study showed that flowers make people happy immediately upon receiving them; & that happiness lasts for a long time, & get’s ‘paid forward’, as those happy people then tend to make more connections with other people.

Senior citizens who receive flowers experience less depression than those who don't, according to - researchers from Rutgers University & elsewhere - & also score higher on memory tests.  They make the effort to seek out conversations with other people, after receiving flowers, as well.

Umm... might want to leave some room to work, there!

When flowers and plants are present in the workplace, they’ve found that people are better-able to perform their jobs – being more productive and coming up with more-creative solutions to problems at hand... which in turn reduces workplace stress.  Many other studies have confirmed multiple health & wellness benefits related to flowers.

So, if there’s a health-related “May Day” afoot, try some flowers – in addition to your friendship (but, find out if your recipient may be allergic to the real ones, first – then go for photos/cards/posters & such)!  Pass out some flowers this May… & all the other months, too.

Of course, looking at cute pets can help, too… but that’s another post.   

Sources include:  American Society for Horticultural Science; Society of American Florists;  & Society of American Florists; & Evolutionary Psychology (ISSN 1474-7049 – Vol. 3. 2005)

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