Health Ministry

March 2006

Health Ministry spotlights the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross Chapter is committed to meeting the humanitarian needs of people in our area, be it in disaster preparedness, disaster response, first aid and CPR training, or disease prevention. We can help to support our Red Cross chapter programs and services through our gifts of time, talents, and donations. Monetary contributions can be made by phone, by mail, or online. The gift will be sent to your local area chapter based on zip code.

The Red Cross needs individuals to volunteer to serve in a variety of functions including:

• Volunteer Staffing

• Health Services

• Client Casework

• Feeding

• Transportation

• Facilities

• Supply

• Sheltering

There is always the opportunity to donate blood. The Gift of Life. To learn more about blood donation opportunities, visit www.givelife.org or call 404-876-3302.

Because of the cost to sort, package and distribute small individual items such as clothing, food or cleaning supplies, the Red Cross is unable to accept this type of donation. It is recommended that these items are donated to other organizations that are equipped to put them to the best possible local use.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter of the American Red Cross is:

1955 Monroe Drive, NE

Atlanta, GA 30324 

Phone: 404-876-3302

Fax: 404-575-3082

January 2006

January is Cervical Cancer Prevention Month…

    Over 10,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed annually leading to approximately 4,000 deaths, many of which could have been prevented if abnormal cell changes were detected early.

    The key to preventing cervical cancer is regular Pap screenings. Cervical cancer or early cervical pre-cancers often have no signs or symptoms and are only detected through screenings. Cervical cancer rates are higher among older women; but, it is also very important that younger women are screened regularly.

    The single most important thing that a woman can do to prevent cervical cancer is to participate in a regular screening program. Women who are screened have a dramatic reduction in the risk of cervical cancer compared to women who do not get tested. When surveyed, women who do not regularly receive Pap tests indicated that their reason for skipping the exam was a lack of education about the test. It is important that women are educated about Cervical Cancer and share this information with their female relatives.

    Minority populations and persons of low socioeconomic status are affected disproportionately, which may be attributed to disparities in health resources available for minority and low income citizens. Through its National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, the Center for Disease Control provides critical breast and cervical cancer screening services to medically underserved women.

    In Georgia, The Cancer Screening Program is a statewide breast and cervical cancer early detection program that is offered by more than 200 public health clinics and selected nonprofit agencies to low income, uninsured women. Screenings provided include: clinical breast examinations, mammograms (if 40 or older), pelvic examinations, and Pap tests. The goal of the program is for every woman who has an abnormal screening result to be referred for and receive the follow-up care she needs. To access services women may go to the Public Health Department in their county of residence.

Additional information on cervical cancer and other types of cancer can be found through several Internet resources, including:

• American Cancer Society

• American Social Health Association

• CancerCare

• Centers for Disease Control

• Eyes on the Prize

• Gynecologic Cancer Foundation

• National Cancer Institute

• National Cervical Cancer Coalition

• OncoLink

• Society of Gynecologic Oncologists

• USDA Office of Women’s Health

• Women’s Cancer Network

Make an appointment for your regular screening today!

August 2005

    Organ donation is the process of surgically removing an organ or tissue from one person and placing it into another person. Transplantation is necessary because the recipient's organ has failed or been damaged by disease or injury. Organ transplantation is one of the greatest advances in modern medicine. Unfortunately, the need for organ donors is greater than the number of people who actually donate. Every day in the United States, seventeen people die waiting for an organ and eighty thousand men, women and children await life saving organ transplants.

    This brings us to the subject of minority organ donation. Of the eighty nine thousand people waiting for organs, one third are African American. Of the eighteen people who die each day waiting for a vital organ, three are African American. African Americans are 35% of those waiting for a kidney transplants. This is a disproportion since African Americans, though 25% of donors are 50% of the needy. We, as African Americans, need to donate more than our share because we are more in demand.

    African Americans donate less frequently than whites for five reasons: lack of information, religious beliefs, free or premature deaths, mistrust of the medical community (that they would not be saved if they were in a bad accident and fears that their organs would only go to whites).

    These fears need to be dispelled. Matching is most compatible when the donor is of the same race; therefore, we are most served when the donor is race compatible. Please remember that 27% of those waiting for organ donation are African American.

Organs and tissues that can be transplanted include: liver, kidneys, pancreas, heart, connective tissue, lung, intestine, cornea, middle ear, skin, bone, bone marrow, heart valves

It is important that you let your family know of your desire to be an organ donor. We need to help each other. God would be pleased.

Brothers and sisters please don't take your organs to heaven. Heaven knows we need them here.

July 2005

Caring for Your Eyes

The eyes are very delicate parts of the body. It is important to practice good eye care in order to protect your eyes and vision. The following are a few tips to help keep eyes healthy for life:

Tip 1: Visit an Eye Care Expert Regularly

• Adults and children should have their eyes checked at least every two years. It is recommended that eye exams occur every year, especially for those with existing eye conditions.

Tip 2: Avoid Eyestrain

• Using your eyes in dim light can cause eyestrain. Good lighting can make reading and other work easier.

• Sitting too close to the television can also cause eyestrain and headaches.

• Make sure your computer screen is 20 to 28 inches from your eyes at a 10-20 degree angle.

• Being exposed to too much sunlight can cause eyestrain and lasting damage.

Tip 3: Wear Sunglasses

•  Over-exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light can cause eye damage. The easiest way to protect your eyes is to wear the right sunglasses. When buying sunglasses, look for glasses that offer “100% UV protection.”

Tip 4:    Teach Children Eye Safety

• Walk, don’t run, with sharp objects such as scissors, pen, pencils, and rulers.

• Avoid guns, slingshots, and firecrackers.

• Use good lighting to avoid tiring your eyes when reading, writing, or using the computer.

• Tell parents, school nurse, or teachers if your eyes are bothering you.

• Never look directly at the sun.

•  Wear a helmet when biking, skateboarding, or roller-skating and wear a seatbelt in the car.

Tip 5:    Take Care of Your Eyes if You’re Diabetic

• People with diabetes are more likely to have eye problems. Prevent eye problems by:

-        Control your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels

-        Exercise regularly

-        See your family doctor regularly

-        Eat a good diet

-        Quit smoking

-        Avoid alcohol

• Call your doctor immediately if you:

-        Have blurred vision for more than 2 days

-        Suddenly lose vision in one or both eyes

-        See black spots, cobwebs, or flashing lights that aren’t really there

Protect your eyes—they are the windows to your brain!

June 2005

During the month of June, we would like to focus on Men’s Health.

History has proven than men are conscious about other affairs, but not their own health.

There are several health concerns that men should be aware:

• High Blood Pressure- As we now know high blood pressure is considered
  the silent killer, therefore frequent BP checks are necessary.

• Diabetes- An occasional blood sugar count can let one know when and if 
  getting into danger and need an evaluation.

• With both high blood pressure and diabetes, diet plays a very important role, especially as one gets older and activity decreases.

• Prostrate Cancer- Most cases of prostrate cancer occur in men older than 50 years of age. African American men are most likely to develop prostrate cancer and die from it. Having relatives with prostrate cancer increases a man’s risk for developing the disease, and these men should begin testing at the age of 45 years.

• Lung Cancer- Lung cancer is one of the few cancers that can be prevented, because it is usually caused by smoking. Other risk factors include radon and asbestos exposure, particularly for smokers.

• Colon Cancer- Most colorectal cancers are found over the age of 50. Men with a personal or family history of the disease or who develop polyps in the colon or rectum, or have an inflammatory bowel disease are at greater risk than the general population. Again diet and exercise play a significant role. A diet mostly of high fat foods, being overweight, smoking and being inactive also increases risk of the disease.

• Foot Care- Care is necessary to prevent foot problems. The feet should be checked and washed daily. Toenails should be clipped straight across and filed gently. Comfortable shoes should be worn and fit properly. Exercise daily to improve circulation. Walking in bare feet is not recommended.

Early detection gives the best chance to do something about the above list of health problems. Knowing about these conditions and how they can be prevented or found early
can save life.

May 2005

The health issue for the month of May is mental illness.

Mental illnesses (brain disorders) are far more common than cancer, diabetes, heart disease or arthritis. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that one out of four families in the U.S. will have a loved one with a mental illness. More hospital beds are occupied by people with serious mental illnesses than with any other disease.

• Mental illnesses are not the same as mental retardation, which involves deficits in learning ability and intellectual process.

• Mental illnesses are not the result of weak character or bad parenting.

• Serious mental illnesses are brain disorders, biologically based, and no one’s fault.

• As with physical illnesses, there are many different kinds of mental illnesses with many different causes.

Families of people with mental illness face many stresses: financial burdens, emotional upheaval and practical problems of living with someone who is seriously ill. Families are not the cause of serious mental illnesses.

Stigma keeps mental illness in the closet. It’s the subtle and not so subtle ridicule our society places on mental illness that prevents people from seeking treatment. It stifles funding for services and research. Stigma closes minds and fuels discrimination. Stigma is harder to deal with than the disease itself.

When referring to mental illness, use standards of accuracy and good taste that apply to any serious illness. It is offensive to depersonalize people who have a biologically based disorder.

April 2005

The month of April is considered Cancer Control Month

Thousands of black American lives could be saved over the next 10 years; yours could be on of them. The fact is black Americans are diagnosed with cancer and die from it more often than any other group.  Many could survive cancer if they begin today the make a few changes in diet and health habits.

By spreading the word about cancer and making some simple lifestyle changes, one would be taking crucial steps toward maintaining good health and helping others to stay healthy.  It is important to understand the facts of cancer.

• Lung cancer- among male smokers, black men tend to get lung cancer and smoking-related diseases more than white men.  For black American women, lung cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death.

• Colorectal cancer has increased in both black men and women.

• Cervical Cancer- Black American women older than 50 are twice as likely to develop cervical cancer and die from it.

• Prostrate- the rate of newly diagnosed prostate cancer increased in Black American men at a rate of 126 percent and the death rate increased 41 percent.

According to recent statistics, the leading causes of cancer death for black Americans are as follows:

• Black males: 1. Lung cancer, 2. Prostrate cancer, 3. Colorectal cancer.
• Black females: 1. Lung cancer, 2. Breast cancer, 3. Colorectal cancer.

Take charge of your health by eating right (limit fatty food and red meats), not smoking, seeing your doctor regularly and get some physical activity. Also limit alcohol intake and finally protect your skin from UV rays (stay out the sun as much as possible between 10 am and 4 pm).