In partnership with our member charities, Community Health Charities continues to offer National Health Day email updates to businesses throughout the state to promote and enhance the health and wellness of employees and their families. Feel free to contact us if you are interested in learning more about any of the monthly National Health Day topics or the health initiatives of Community Health Charities. We may offer a Lunch & Learn relevant to a topic that may be of interest to the employees in your workplace.
Click here for a printer friendly version.To support any of the health charities we represent, be sure to ask about our charitable giving campaigns for the workplace to support your health charity(ies) of choice.
National Cholesterol Awareness Month
High cholesterol is the leading risk factor of coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Over 105 million Americans have a total cholesterol of 200 mg/dl or higher; a level when cardiovascular risk begins to rise. Knowing the facts about cholesterol can reduce your risk for a heart attack or stroke. How well do you know cholesterol? Click on to www.americanheart.org to find out healthy ways of controlling your cholesterol. Lunch & Learn topics related to heart disease are available. Please refer to topics 5, 22, 28, 31, and 42 in your Lunch & Learn booklet.
Source: American Heart Association
Cancer Awareness Month
It is important to be cancer aware as some cancers are more difficult to recognize than others. Know the warning signs and risk factors. Early detection is important. Some cancers, like skin cancer, may be prevented. There are major risk factors associated with some cancers. For instance, many cancers including cervical and lung are related to tobacco use. All men are at risk for prostate cancer but several factors can increase the chances of developing the disease, such as age, race, and diet. Environmental factors, defined broadly to include tobacco use, diet, infectious diseases, chemicals, and radiation, cause an estimated 75 percent of all cancer cases in the United States. Research has not been able to explain why certain children develop cancer and others do not. However, high levels of exposure to radiation, such as the use of X-rays during pregnancy, have been linked with one or more childhood cancers. Most women with ovarian cancer do not have any known risk factors. Risk factors increase the odds of getting a disease but do not guarantee it will occur. Only a small number of women who have risk factors will develop ovarian cancer. Some risk factors might include age, obesity, reproductive history, the use of fertility drugs, and a family history of ovarian, breast, and colorectal cancer. For more information on the risk factors and treatments available for a specific cancer, go to www.cancer.org.
A Lunch & Learn topic related to colorectal cancer is available. Please refer to topic 24 in your Lunch & Learn booklet. A Lunch & Learn topic related to breast cancer is available. Please refer to topic 29 in your Lunch & Learn booklet. A Lunch & Learn topic related to prostate cancer is available. Please refer to topic 43 in your Lunch & Learn booklet.
Source: American Cancer Society and Cancer Facts & Figures 2007 www.cancer.org, National Childhood Cancer Foundation www.curesearch.org
National Suicide Prevention Week September 9-15
Suicide is a major public health issue, ranking as the eleventh cause of death in the United States. Depression is a major factor, especially in the suicide of older adults. Eight out of ten persons who are suicidal give signs of suicide ideation. These warning signs do not necessarily mean someone is suicidal but can also be a signal for help: expressions of hopelessness and helplessness, threatening suicide or expressing a strong wish to die, daring or risk-taking behavior, personality changes, depression, giving away prized possessions, lack of interest in future plans, sudden or impulsive purchase of a firearm, and obtaining other means of killing oneself such as poisons or medications. Take any mention of suicide seriously. Do not be afraid to ask whether this person is considering suicide. Do not attempt to talk anyone out of suicide. For more tips on how to respond to someone who shares with you their feelings of helplessness, depression or statements of wanting to die, go to www.mentalhealthamerica.net. In an acute crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's 24 hour toll-free crisis hotline, 1-800-273-8255, who can put you into contact with your local crisis center that can tell you where to seek immediate help in your area. Lunch & Learn topics related to mental health are depression, anxiety, stress, and life transition. Please refer to topics 1, 23, 27, and 41 in your Lunch & Learn booklet.
Source: Mental Health America (formerly the National Mental Health Association) www.mentalhealthamerica.net
Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma Awareness Month
If you or someone you know has been recently diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society offers information, support, and guidance. For information on living with blood cancers and up-to-date disease related information, the Society's Information Resource Center can be accessed at 1-800-955-4572 where you will be connected with a patient services manager. For more information on leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma, go to www.leukemia-lymphoma.org. A Lunch & Learn topic related to leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma is available. Please refer to topic 11 in your Lunch & Learn booklet.
Source: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
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ALS Association (CT MA NH RI)
Alzheimer’s Association (CT MA NH RI VT)
Alzheimer’s Services of Cape Cod & the Islands (MA)
AMC Cancer Research Center (MA)
American Cancer Society (CT MA NH RI VT)
American Diabetes Association (CT MA NH RI VT)
American Heart Association (CT MA NH VT)
American Kidney Fund (CT MA)
American Liver Foundation (CT MA NH VT)
American Lung Association (CT MA NH RI VT)
American Macular Degeneration Foundation (MA NH VT)
American Parkinson Disease Association (CT MA NH VT)
Arthritis Foundation (CT MA NH RI VT)
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (MA NH VT)
Autism Society (NH VT)
Autism Speaks (CT MA NH RI VT)
Brain Injury Association (CT MA NH RI VT)
Cancer Research Institute (CT MA NH)
Children’s Tumor Foundation (CT MA NH RI VT)
Community Health Charities of New England (CT MA NH RI VT)
Community Research Initiative of New England (MA NH)
Community Servings (MA)
Connecticut CFIDS & FM Association (CT)
Connecticut Hospice Institute (CT)
CT Oral Health Initiative (CT)
Crohn’s And Colitis Foundation Of America (CT MA NH VT)
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CT MA NH RI VT)
Dyslexia Foundation (The)(MA)
Easter Seals (CT MA NH RI VT)
Easter Seals Greater Hartford Rehabilitation Center (CT)
Epilepsy Foundation of CT( CT MA NH)
Families First Parenting Program (MA)
Hospice & Palliative Care Federation (MA NH)
Huntington's Disease Society of America (MA NH VT)
Jonathan O. Cole, MD Mental Health Consumer Resource Center (MA)
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (CT MA NH RI VT)
Kenneth B. Schwartz Center (MA)
Lea's Foundation for Leukemia Research (CT)
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (CT MA NH RI)
Lupus Foundation of America (CT MA NH VT)
Lyme Disease Foundation (CT)
March of Dimes (CT MA NH RI VT)
Mental Health Association of CT (CT)
Muscular Dystrophy Association (CT MA NH RI VT)
Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MA NH VT)
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) (MA NH VT)
National Down Syndrome Society (MA)
National Kidney Foundation (CT MA NH VT)
National Marfan Foundation (MA)
National Multiple Sclerosis Society (CT MA NH RI VT)
New England Hemophilia Association (MA)
Planned Parenthood of Vermont (VT)
Prevent Blindness (CT MA)
Research to Prevent Blindness (MA)
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (CT MA RI)
Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, CT Chapter (CT)
Special Olympics Connecticut (CT)
Spinal Cord Injury Association, Greater Boston Chapter (MA)
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Outreach Foundation (MA NH)
United Cerebral Palsy Association (CT MA)