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National Wear Red Day for Women- Feb. 1, 2008
One day a year, the American Heart Association points out that "what you wear is a matter of life and death". This year, that day is February 1st. The American Heart Association's National Wear Red Day for Women raises awareness that cardiovascular disease is the number one health threat facing women today; cardiovascular disease kills one woman every minute. On February 1st, Go Red by wearing a red dress, scarf, jacket, shirt, hat, tie, or other item in support of women who have been touched by heart disease or stroke. Going Red in your own fashion is about finding a personal way to take part in the fight against heart disease in women. There are many ways to do something special to love your heart. Visit your healthcare practitioner, eat healthier, increase your exercise, or wear red on February 1, 2008 for National Wear Red Day. For more information about National Wear Red Day for Women or the Go Red for Women movement, including FREE materials, FREE women's programs, and a red dress pin, call 1-888-MY-HEART or visit www.goredforwomen.org. A Lunch & Learn topic related to women and heart disease is available. Please refer to topic 28 in your Lunch & Learn booklet.
Source: American Heart Association
National Children's Dental Health Month
The American Dental Association sponsors the National Children's Dental Health Month (NCDHM) to raise awareness about the importance of oral health in children. Give Kids a Smile is an annual program observed on the first Friday in February and is designed to provide education, as well as preventative and restorative care to children of low-income households without access to dental care. The Connecticut Oral Health Initiative, the Connecticut State Dental Association, and other groups work to help children at an early age to develop good oral care habits. Good oral health is an important part of one's overall health. Conditions like gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums caused by plaque and bacteria above the gum line, if left untreated, can progress to a more serious and damaging stage of infection called periodontitis. Recent studies have demonstrated an association between periodontitis and stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. For more information on this program, go to www.csda.org, www.ada.org, and www.ctoralhealth.org.
Source: Connecticut Oral Health Initiative
Heart Month
Nearly one in three American adults has some form of heart disease. The development of heart disease occurs as a result of many risk factors. Maintaining a healthy heart starts with identifying those risk factors that can be changed and those that cannot. What we eat is a risk factor we can control. A healthy diet and lifestyle are shown to be major factors in reducing the risk of heart disease. For many, maintaining a healthier diet is easier to do at home than when dining out. The American Heart Association offers suggestions on how to make eating out less challenging and more enjoyable. Avoid restaurants that offer all-you-can-eat buffets or specials as you are more likely to eat unhealthy food and take in more calories. Ask your server how foods are prepared and whether you can have a smaller portion or a healthy substitution for items such as French fries, onion rings etc. Eliminate cream-laden desserts and replace them with fresh fruit, sorbet, gelatin, and angel food cake. Skip appetizers and bread and butter as they often contain extra sources of fat. To keep portions smaller, split an entrée with your dining partner or take half of it home when dining alone. For more information on eating heart healthy when dining out and reducing your risk of heart disease, go to www.americanheart.org. Lunch & Learn topics related to heart disease are available. Please refer to topics 5, 6, 22, 28, 31, & 42 in your Lunch & Learn booklet.
Source: American Heart Association
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