4Woman.gov -- The National Women's Health Information Center -- U S Department of Health and Human Services

Healthy Women Today
March 2003

FROM THE PROGRAM MANAGER for NWHIC

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

Ahhhhh!!! Spring is definitely in the air (or at least on everyone's minds)! In the DC area, everyone starts to look forward to the warm weather, outdoor lunches under the cherry blossoms and of course preventing hay fever and allergies. Don't allow the threat of allergies keep you in hibernation all season. By avoiding pollen when levels are at their highest, you can continue to enjoy the outdoors.

The coming months will also be an excellent time to visit local farmers' markets for freshly picked fruits and vegetables rich in color and nutrients that prevent chronic diseases such as cancer, stroke and heart disease. Our "Cooking Health is Easy" section below, offers tempting, high-fiber, low fat recipes that may put a stop to such diseases. Because of such, researchers are now looking into the correlation between colorectal cancer and high-fiber foods. The National Cancer Institute also provides information on nutrition through their "5 A Day" Campaign (www.5aday.gov). It also provides information on portion control, tips on meals, budgets, school lunches and physical activity.

This time of year also brings to mind the thought of St. Patrick's Day, Mardi Gras and possible alcohol abuse. While opinions vary on what is considered abuse, it is generally believed that on any given day, a woman should not have more than two drinks. Before you start your celebrating, designate a driver ahead of time. A designated driver is a non-drinking driver! If you choose to indulge, be safe and check your local cab companies for a sober ride home program. While out, sip your drink, alternate with non-alcoholic drinks and consume food. If need be, make a reservation or spend the night. You may contact the National Commission on Drunk Driving for additional information (www.ncadd.com).

Until next month, be safe and enjoy your holiday!

Valerie Scardino, M.P.A. Program Officer for the National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC)

HHS NEWS and OTHER EVENTS

Diabetes is costing Americans their lives, their health and their well-being. But there is good news on the horizon: HHS research has shown that millions of overweight, at-risk Americans can delay and possibly prevent type 2 diabetes with moderate changes in diet and exercise. A new HHS campaign, "Small Steps. Big Rewards. Prevent type 2 diabetes" provides people with tools they can use to make necessary lifestyle changes, including modest weight loss and physical activity. The campaign is led by the National Diabetes Education Program, a joint program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health. More than 200 partner organizations helped create the campaign to make sure "Small Steps. Big Rewards" will reach those who are at highest risk for diabetes. Free materials are available at http://ndep.nih.gov/.

IMPORTANT NWHIC & OWH NEWS

The National Centers of Excellence in Women's Health, Second National Forum -- May 13-14, 2003
"Understanding Health Differences and Disparities in Women - Closing the Gap"

The Office on Women's Health, within the Department of Health and Human Services, is planning a Second National Forum on the National Centers of Excellence in Women's Health (CoE) to be held at the Sheraton Premiere Hotel in Vienna, Virginia on May 13-14, 2003. The Forum will share information and findings among CoEs with representatives of other academic health centers interested in adopting the CoE model or its components. You may learn more by going to: http://www.4woman.gov/COE/forums/index.htm.

Additionally there are several new CoE publications available this month on-line. The "CoE Evaluation Study Executive Summary" consists of a two-year evaluation study of the 15 National Centers of Excellence in Women's Health (CoEs) that were in operation at the initiation of the study in 1999. The evaluation employed both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to assess the following: whether a national model developed for the CoEs was implemented (consisting of five core components: clinical care, research, professional education, leadership development, and community outreach); the type of impact being designated as a CoE had on the academic health centers that housed them; the CoEs greatest strengths and challenges since receiving national designation (the CoE program began in 1996); the quality of clinical care provided by the CoEs; and the level of satisfaction experienced by patients attending the CoE clinics. You can download the publication at http://www.4woman.gov/COE/pubs/EvaluationReport.pdf

Also available on-line are the "CoE National Qualitative and Quantitative Evaluation Study Articles" with an introduction by Wanda Jones. They are accessible by going to the following link http://www.4woman.gov/COE/journals/index.htm.

Funding Opportunities Open for New Centers

The National Centers of Excellence in Women's Health (CoE) and the National Community Centers of Excellence in Women's Health (CCOE) Programs are currently accepting proposals/applications for new Centers.

The CoEs are housed within academic medical centers (www.4woman.gov/coe/index.htm) and the CCOEs within community-based organizations (www.4woman.gov/owh/ccoe/index.htm), but they both provide for the integration of clinical services, training, research, public education and outreach, and leadership development for women. The CCOE program also provides technical assistance to ensure the replication of promising models and strategies. This funding is not for the development of new programs or to fund direct services but rather to integrate, coordinate, and strengthen linkages between activities/programs that are already underway in order to reduce fragmentation in women's health services and activities.

Proposals for the CoE program will be due by May 30, 2003. For more information, contact Marie Sunday, Contracts Officer, at 301-443-7081. Applications for the CCOE program will be due by May 1, 2003. For more information, contact Karen Campbell, Grants Management Officer, (301) 594-0758.

Lupus Awareness & Education Seminars (January 18, 2003 - September 30, 2003)

In accordance with HHS goals to decrease health disparities and increase education about issues involving the health of minorities and women, the Office on Women's Health, in partnership with a number of community based organizations, has scheduled lupus awareness and education seminars in various locations throughout the country. These seminars will be held in Arizona, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Contact Susan Sanders for more information at 202-690-5414.

MARCH'S FEATURED HEALTH ARTICLE

Frequently Asked Questions About Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is cancer of the colon or rectum. The colon and the rectum are part of the body's digestive system, which removes nutrients from food and stores waste until it passes out of the body. The colon and rectum form an almost 7 foot long muscular tube called the large intestine (also called the large bowel).

Most types of colorectal cancer begin with polyps (or grape-like growths on the lining of the colon and rectum). Polyps are very common in people over age 50 and usually are benign (not cancerous). But some polyps do develop slowly over the years into cancer, often causing no symptoms. Screening tests can find polyps that can be removed, preventing cancer. Screening tests can also pick up colorectal cancer at an early stage, when it can be cured.

To read more about Colorectal Cancer, please go to www.4woman.gov/faq/colon.htm

GUEST EDITOR FEATURE FOR MARCH 2003

The Guest Editor Articles on NWHIC's site this month are:

Endometriosis: Frequently Asked Questions, from the Endometriosis Research Center. To read this article, please go to www.4woman.gov/editor/mar03/index.htm.

-- and featured Spanish health article:

Endometriosis: Guía para Pacientes from La Sociedad Americana de Medicina Reproductiva (American Society for Reproductive Medicine) . To read this article, please go to: www.4woman.gov/editor/mar03/s-index.htm.

COOKING HEALTHY IS EASY - START EATING RIGHT TODAY!

As the weather begins to warm, most Americans have access to more varieties of fruits and vegetables. These colorful fruits and vegetables (greens, reds, oranges, and yellows) provide antioxidants, which are shown to reduce your risks for heart disease, cancer and strokes. The vibrant recipes below come from the American Institute on Cancer Research (www.aicr.org) and are sure to taste as good as they look.

Soup:

Roasted Red Pepper Soup:
http://www.aicr.org/information/recipe/soupssearch.lasso?recipeid=381

Boston Bean Soup:
http://www.aicr.org/information/recipe/soupssearch.lasso?recipeid=420

Salad:

Spinach and Shrimp Salad with Citrus Dressing:
http://www.aicr.org/information/recipe/saladssearch.lasso?recipeid=462

Strawberry Chutney:
http://www.aicr.org/information/recipe/saladssearch.lasso?recipeid=432

Rice/Pasta:

Vegetable Fried Rice:
http://www.aicr.org/information/recipe/pastasearch.lasso?recipeid=307

Spring Asparagus with Pasta:
http://www.aicr.org/information/recipe/pastasearch.lasso?recipeid=431

Entrees:

Baked Tandoori Chicken:
http://www.aicr.org/information/recipe/entreessearch.lasso?recipeid=262

Vegetable Chicken Stir-fry with Noodles:
http://www.aicr.org/information/recipe/entreessearch.lasso?recipeid=305

NATIONAL HEALTH OBSERVANCES IN MARCH

  • American Red Cross Month
  • National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
  • National Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Month
  • National Kidney Month
  • National Nutrition Month
  • Hemophilia Awareness Month
  • National Poison Prevention Week (16-22)
  • National Patient Safety Awareness Month
  • World Tuberculosis Day (24)
  • American Diabetes Alert Day (25)

THIS MONTH'S SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS FOR YOUR HEALTH

WHO IS USING NWHIC'S SERVICES?

Once again, Maryland produced the most calls to our toll-free Information and Referral line. Help your state become our "number one" state by encouraging your friends, colleagues, and family members to call our toll-free service if they need information on women's health topics.

The five most popular NWHIC web pages this month were:

Our most frequently asked health topics this month were: menopause, diabetes, weight control, cholesterol, and breast cancer.

USER SUPPORT

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