Healthy Women Today. A Newsletter from the National Women's Health Information Center (www.4woman.gov, 1-800-994-9662). The Office on Women's Health, U S Department of Health and Human Services

June 2001 edition

FROM THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

Office on Women's Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

We are happy that you have requested to receive the National Women's Health Information Center e-newsletter HEALTHY WOMEN TODAY! This issue of HEALTHY WOMEN TODAY features information on Hormones and Headaches, healthy recipes to help keep you in shape this summer, and updates on health information from the Office on Women's Health, and the Department of Health and Human Services. Also, we are highlighting Men's Health Week (June 11-17), with Father's Day on June 16, and a new release of our What About Men's Health page (see below for more information).

Thank you to all of the women and men across the United States who participated in the Lupus Town Hall Meeting: Unlocking the Mysteries here in Washington, D.C., or via satellite broadcasts. This event was a tremendous success, and has provided women everywhere with hope that research will continue, and confirmed that women with lupus are not alone. You can read more about this Town Hall Meeting at: www.4woman.gov/Lupus/index.htm.

We still want to hear from you, so please continue to contact us with personal stories about how NWHIC's services have made a difference in your health or your health lifestyle. Please tell us what you like most about NWHIC. If your comments are chosen, we will contact you for permission to feature you (first name and city only) in the next edition of Healthy Women Today! You can send your comments via the web site feedback form. on www.4woman.gov. Your comments are important in shaping the information we provide to women everywhere!

Until our next edition, enjoy the warm days of summer and be sure to warm-up and stretch before that swim or walk (remember to wear sunscreen!), and eat as much healthy produce as you can (see the healthy recipes provided below).

Carol Krause

JUNE FEATURED HEALTH ARTICLE: WHEN HORMONES ARE A HEADACHE

June 3-9 is National Headache Awareness Week

Did you know that headaches are prompted by hormones? Hormones, or chemicals made in your endocrine glands, like the thyroid and pituitary, initiate and regulate many of your body's functions. One example is whether you will respond to a headache "trigger" with a feeling of pain. Headache triggers like stress, muscular tension, or changing hormone levels, cause your brain's blood vessels to overreact. This causes reduced blood flow and widening of arteries in the brain, which triggers the release of hormone-like substances that make you feel pain.

Although all headaches are prompted by hormones, only women suffer from "hormone headache." Lucky us! Our uniquely female hormones and the changes our bodies endure from month to month, contribute to women suffering from migraines 3 times more than men do. What hormones are involved? Well, serotonin, the primary hormonal trigger for headaches, seems to be metabolized differently by people who get migraines, and it also interacts differently with female hormones. Secondly, many women suffer headaches around the time of their menstrual period or ovulation when levels of estrogen and progesterone change. Some women have pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) headaches along with a range of other symptoms like fatigue, joint pain, constipation, and acne. Migraine headaches are also the most common side-effect of women who take oral contraceptives (birth control pills), since the pills increase the fluctuations of hormones in the body. Lastly, life-changing stages in our lives, like pregnancy and the post-partum period and menopause, can cause headaches from the fluctuations of hormones, especially the drop in estrogen levels.

If you suffer from headache pain, you might feel a lot better if you see your health care provider! The National Headache Foundation suggests you see a specialist in headache care if your health care provider seems to dismiss or minimize your headache pain, or says things like, "It's probably due to stress," or "Women get a lot of headaches, and it's probably just hormones." Your health care provider also should take time to discuss your history and answer your questions.

Seek immediate medical attention if:

Your headaches (the pain and duration) have gotten worse over days and weeks;
You (especially if you've over 50) have never had headaches before, and these came on suddenly;
You are feeling weak, or have numbness or a change in your hearing or sight;
Your headache is unrelenting, and none of the over-the-counter medications you have taken relieve the pain;
Your memory, personality or cognitive abilities seem to be changing;
A stiff neck, rash, nausea, vomiting, fever, breathing problems, or head injury accompanies your headache.

For more information on headaches, call NWHIC at 1-800-994-9662, or visit our web site at www.4woman.gov.

NWHIC RELEASES REVISED MEN'S HEALTH PAGE

What About Men's Health?

Please join us in celebrating Men's Health Week from June 11-17. This week is a time to remind the men in your life that they are important to you, and their health is important to you. Father's Day is June 16th, and what better present than to remind the man in your life about a check-up he is due for? You can find this information on our new Men's Health section, below.

"What About Men's Health?" We hear this question often, and it is a good one. Statistically, men live 7 years less than women and face major health risks that can be prevented and treated if they are diagnosed early. Women need help to learn more about the leading health concerns of the men in their lives because women are their major health caregivers/providers and consult a doctor 150% more frequently. Therefore, women can play a key role in preserving the health of the men they care about. Helping men to adopt healthy lifestyles and obtain important preventive screenings are great ways to show your love and concern!

You may access our Men's Health Page at www.4woman.gov/mens/index.cfm
For more information on men's health, please call NWHIC at (800) 994-9662.

COOKING HEALTHY IS EASY - START EATING RIGHT TODAY!

It's not too late to get in shape for the summer! This month, NWHIC is featuring recipes from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute:

Corn Chowder Soup - www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/syah/cornchow.htm
Mediterranean Baked Fish - www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/syah/mdbkfish.htm
Garlic Mashed Potatoes - www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/syah/garmaspo.htm
Chicken Marsala - www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/syah/chickmar.htm
Black Beans with Rice - www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/syah/bbwrice.htm
Banana-nut Bread - www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/syah/banutbre.htm

JUNE'S NATIONAL HEALTH OBSERVANCES

Fireworks Safety Month
National Safety Month
Vision Research Month
National Scleroderma Awareness Month
National Cancer Survivors Day (June 3)
National Headache Awareness Week (June 3-9)
National Men's Health Week (June 11-17)

IMPORTANT NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Guest Editor Features this month are:

English Guest Editor: "Heart Disease" by Jane Chesnutt, Editor-in-Chief of Woman's Day Magazine.
To read this article, please go to: www.4woman.gov/editor/Jun01/index.htm
Spanish Guest Editor: "Ya llega la cigüeña" ("The Stork is Coming") by Joceline Frank, Editor of Espera (Expecting) Magazine.
To read this article, please go to: www.4woman.gov/editor/Jun01/s-index.htm

COMING SOON to NWHIC!! - Health information for girls, ages 14-18

NWHIC has added four new Frequently Asked Questions:

Diabetes and American Indian/Alaska Native Women - www.4woman.gov/faq/diabetes-native-american.htm
Health Care Access and African American Women - www.4woman.gov/faq/african_american.htm
Health Care Access and Hispanic American Women - www.4woman.gov/faq/hca-ha.htm
Health Care Access and American Indian/Alaska Native Women - www.4woman.gov/faq/hca-na.htm

HHS Organ Donation Initiative

Delivering on a promise he made on his first day on the job, HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson launched a new national initiative to encourage and enable Americans to "Donate the Gift of Life." Initial steps in the campaign included the launch of a national "Workplace Partnership for Life," in which employers, unions and other employee organizations will join in a nationwide network to promote donation.

Secretary Thompson also released a model organ and tissue donor card, incorporating proven elements from today's donor cards. View the full press release at www.4woman.gov/owh/pr/2001%20NA%20PRs/17Apr01.htm. You can also find more information on Organ and Tissue Donation at:

Organ Donation - www.organdonor.gov/
Frequently Asked Questions about Organ Donation - www.4woman.gov/faq/organ_donation.htm

For more "What's New" and Announcements go to: www.4woman.gov/new.htm

NATIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE SELECTED AS SEMI-FINALIST IN THE INNOVATIONS IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AWARDS

The National Centers of Excellence in Women's Health Program (www.4woman.gov/COE/index.htm) sponsored by the Office on Women's Health has been selected as a semi-finalist in the Innovations in American Government Awards. These awards are intended to draw attention to exemplary achievements in government problem solving and to amplify the voices of public innovators in communicating their practices. You can find more information about the award program at: http://www.4woman.gov/COE/news/innovations-pr.htm.

OWH NEWS, INITIATIVES & CAMPAIGNS

Regional Young Women's Health Summits

We are pleased to announce that the three Regional Young Women's Health Summits, sponsored by the Office on Women's Health, are taking place this summer. The Summits are being held in San Antonio, Texas; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Los Angeles; California. Young women are faced with many decisions that impact their current and future health. Many decisions are based on individual and/or peer group perceptions of what is "good" for them and what is "bad," and are often based on erroneous health information. Sometimes those decisions and actions put them at risk for serious health consequences, either immediately or later in life. Conditions such as HIV/AIDS, STDs, teen pregnancy, eating disorders, diabetes, osteoporosis, lupus, intimate and partner violence, rape and sexual assault, are just a few health issues that impact young women.

The goals of the Summit are to:

Bring together both younger and older women to discuss the issues facing young women.
Provide/disseminate/discuss health information that will promote healthy lifestyles.
Promote positive images of young women in the media and community.
Promote the development of leadership skills through the formation of mentoring relationships between young and older women.
Establish a network for interaction, information sharing and community action for girls and young women.

To learn more about the Office on Women's Health 2001 Summits, or to register, please go to: www.4woman.gov/YWHS/2002/index.htm

Pick Your Path to Health

The Pick Your Path to Health Campaign (www.4woman.gov/PYPTH/) helps women take simple and time-sensitive steps to improve their health, and provides tools for local communities to promote practical, culturally relevant action steps to wellness.

JUNE PICK YOUR PATH TO HEALTH THEME:
Health Care Access: Your Health Matters

JUNE PICK YOUR PATH TO HEALTH PERSONAL ACTION STEPS:

Be persistent in accessing good health information for you and your family.
Keep a calendar of your medical appointments.
Start your child's healthcare early, and go for prenatal visits.
Call for free health information: 1-800-994-WOMAN.

You can also join the PYPTH listserve for regular updates and community action steps. Visit our home page for details: www.4woman.gov.

THIS MONTH'S SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS FOR YOUR HEALTH

Headache Information Page - www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/headache.htm
Nonprescription Pain Relievers - rex.nci.nih.gov/NCI_Pub_Interface/Pain_Control/nonprescript.html
Frequently Asked Questions About Migraine Headaches- www.4woman.gov/faq/migraine.htm
Choosing and Using a Health Plan - www.ahrq.gov/consumer/hlthpln1.htm
Checkup On Health Insurance Choices - www.ahrq.gov/consumer/insuranc.htm
Talking with Your Doctor - A Guide for Older People - http://www.niapublications.org/pubs/talking/index.asp
For publications on over 800 health topics, check out our health topic search at
www.4woman.gov/search/search.cfm, or call 1-800-994-WOMAN!

GUEST EDITOR PROGRAM

Become one of our featured GUEST EDITORS! For more details about this free publicity opportunity go to: www.4woman.gov/editor/proginfo.htm.

WHO IS USING NWHIC'S SERVICES?

Last month, the NWHIC web site had 253,774 visitors and received an extraordinary 4,983,124 hits to the site!

Once again, our toll-free Information and referral line received the most calls from New York. Help your state become our "number one" state by encouraging your friends, colleagues and family members to call our toll-free services if they need information on women's health topics!

The most popular NWHIC web pages in May are:

On-line Medical Dictionaries and Journals - www.4woman.gov/nwhic/references/dictionary.htm
NWHIC publications and organizations database search - www.4woman.gov/search/search.cfm
Healthy Pregnancy - www.4woman.gov/Pregnancy/index.htm
Frequently Asked Questions About Women's Health - www.4woman.gov/faq/index.htm
Body Image & Health - www.4woman.gov/bodyimage/index.htm
Office on Women's Health - www.4woman.gov/owh/index.htm
2001 Daily News - www.4woman.gov/nwhic/news/
Women with Disabilities - www.4woman.gov/wwd/index.htm
A Breath of Fresh Air! Independence from Smoking - www.4woman.gov/QuitSmoking/index.cfm

Health Topics

Cancer
Disabilities
Research
Prevention
Nutrition
Children
Menopause
Breastfeeding
Abuse
Fetal Development
Exercise
Physical Activity

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