Our Blog goes Pink! - Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Whep has gone pink for the second half of October in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month! October is the one month where pink water shoots from fountains, tall city buildings display bright pink lights and NFL players trade their traditional colored gear for hot pink. And of course, you see the very popular pink ribbon more than ever on people, buildings and special merchandise.

However, it is important to remember the significant of breast cancer  not only in October but everyday of the year. In the U.S., 1/8 or 12% of women are estimated to develop breast cancer. It is the also the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women, with over 39,000 women dying every year.

For all women, and especially those who are at higher risk, it is important to screen for breast cancer. Early detection is one of the best ways to combat cancer. Women 50-79 should have a mammogram every two years. If you are younger with a family history, consult your doctor on the best time you should start having a mammogram. Clinical and self breast exams can also detect suspicious lumps. If you don't like the feel of something you find, get examined!

Today, there are over 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in America. With all the money and research going in to the cause, hopefully we will continue to see the number of survivors increase and the diagnosis and death rates fall. How will YOU support breast cancer awareness? Don't forget your pink this month!

For more information on Breast Cancer:
 http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/
 http://www.cdc.gov/canceR/breast/

Ways to get involved:
- Many stores are now giving the option to donate when you make a purchase at the register
- Walks are being held all around the country:
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Schedule 
Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk
Walk with Avon

- If you would like to donate directly to any organization, simply type "Breast Cancer donation" into Google and choose an organization that you like. Remember to do your homework, as some companies take advantage of the charitable implication of the pink ribbon. Read more here.

Why Can't I Get Enough Sleep pt. I - Sleep Apnea

After a long, hard day at work, we all look forward to kicking off our shoes, winding down for the evening, and getting a good night of sleep. Sleep is as natural to us as breathing, and is easy to take for granted…until it becomes a problem.

Why is it difficult to get a good night of sleep, even though your body and mind want to rest? There are many explanations, and sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder, will be discussed in this blog entry. Additional causes of poor sleep, such as insomnia, restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movements, and circadian rhythm disorders, and will be addressed in future entries.

Sleep apnea is characterized by difficulty with breathing while asleep. This breathing difficulty is called an apnea, and may range in quality, from using more effort to breathe (obstructive sleep apnea) to complete absence of breathing effort (central sleep apnea). Sleep apnea may make it hard to fall or stay asleep. On top of this, sleep apnea affects your health in the long-term if left untreated. Sleep apnea increases your risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke and death, among others.

Unfortunately, we are often not aware of having sleep apnea because we can’t observe ourselves while sleeping. However, if someone sleeps with you at night, he or she may have seen you stop breathing, or heard you snoring, both of which are signs suggestive of sleep apnea. Other risk factors for sleep apnea include male gender, being overweight, and older age.

How can you figure out whether you have sleep apnea? If you have a sleeping partner, ask him or her whether they have witnessed you snoring or stop breathing while asleep. You can also take the following questionnaire, called the STOP BANG questionnaire, to determine whether you are at increased risk for obstructive sleep apnea, the most common type of sleep apnea. Answering “YES” to three or more questions indicates that you are at higher risk for obstructive sleep apnea, and should see a sleep specialist for further evaluation.

STOP BANG Questionnaire

Have you been told that you Snore?                                                             YES                NO

Are you often Tired during the day?                                                             YES                NO

Do you know if you stOp breathing or has anyone witnessed you                 YES                NO

stop breathing while you are asleep?                                                            YES                NO

Do you have high blood Pressure or are you on medication to                      YES                NO

control high blood pressure?

Is your Body mass index greater than 28?                                                    YES                NO

Are you 50 years old of Age or older?                                                         YES                NO

Are you a man with a Neck circumference >17 inches, or                            YES                NO

a woman with a neck circumference > 16 inches?

Are you of male Gender?                                                                            YES                NO

For more information on obstructive sleep apnea:

http://yoursleep.aasmnet.org/Disorder.aspx?id=7

En Espanol: http://yoursleep.aasmnet.org/pdf/OSASnoringSpanish.pdf

Eating disorders - Can they meet halfway?

A very interesting article "Fat and Thin Find Common Ground" was published yesterday in the New York times in perfect timing with the eating disorders lecture. Only this May did binge eating disorder become an official mental condition in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. In response to this, some are wondering if now being under the umbrella of "mental condition" will first spawn more attention to the specific needs of binge eaters, and second will allow the eating disorder community as a whole to come together more productively to look at the broad scale of similarities among those with eating disorders.

Be sure to check this article out and let us know what you think!

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/10/can-the-fat-and-thin-just-get-along/?_r=0

TGIF Quote of the Week

TGIF! Happy Friday everyone. I know we have some major exams on the horizon for some of our students. Make sure to stay motivated and positive!


Here is the Quote of the Week:
In every difficult situation is potential value. Believe this, then begin looking for it. 

-Norman Vincent Peale

Have a Great Weekend!

Women's Health Scholars 101: Info Session

Want to become a Women's Health Scholar? The Women's Health Education program will be hosting a scholars info session on October 21, 2013. We will be discussing all the essentials you need to get started with us! Please RSVP if you plan to attend.

We hope to see you there!

When: Monday, October 21
Queen Lane, Room 228
12:00pm -1:00pm  and at 1:00-2:00pm
Please RSVP to Simuelle.myers@drexelmed.edu

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Domestic violence is a major problem, and effects everyone. Worldwide, 1/3 women are expected to be victims of domestic abuse (That is close to one billion women!). In the United states, an average of three women and one man are murdered by intimate partners everyday. DV is an unnecessary problem that costs the US over 5.8 billion dollars a year in healthcare services to victims.

It is also an issue that begins early on. Children who are in homes with DV are more likely to be in a violent relationship when they are older (as both a victim and a abuser). It is also concerning that 1/5  offemale teens report being in a abusive relationship, and 40% of teen girls know a peer who has been abused in their relationship.

This is not just a problem for the victims, this is everyone problem and there is a good chance that you know someone who has been abused. If you or someone you know has experienced abuse, don't be silent and seek help. (Resources below)

Seeing so many different people, it is likely that physicians are treating patients who are victims of abuse. Screening for DV and knowing what resources patients have available can be the first step in someone seeking help that could saved their life.

 TheHotline.org provides quick resources for identifying domestic violence and what to do if you or a loved one is in a violent relationship. Their number has representatives waiting 24 hours a day. Don't be silent about Domestic Violence!

DV Statistics
http://dvrc-or.org/domestic/violence/resources/C61/

The New Health Insurance Marketplace is Open

The government may have shutdown this morning, but the healthcare marketplace instated by the Affordable care act still opened today. The marketplace allows you to shop for health insurance much like you would shop for  many other things. After setting up a profile, the site lets you know what you are eligible for, and gives you different places and plans to choose from. Those who want to sign up have between today, October 1, 2013 and March 31, 2014 to do so. Some plans are expected to kick into effect as early as January 1, 2014. What changes will we be seeing across the board regardless of if you will be buying a plan through the market place or if you are staying with your current insurance?:

-You can no longer be denied for a pre existing condition
-No lifetime limits on coverage
-No loss of coverage if you get sick
-Many preventative care procedures will no longer require a co-pay or deductible.

Regardless of what is going on within the government, this is a time where everyone needs to work to educate themselves on what these changes are going to mean. Healthcare and public health professionals should be knowledgeable on the basics to help communicate these changes with patients. And Patients (which is everyone at some point) need to utilize the many ways you can find out information (listed below) about the Affordable Care Act, to better understand what steps they need to make next.

What do you think about these changes? Let us know!

Healthcare Marketplace online: https://www.healthcare.gov/
Healthcare Marketplace by phone: 1-800-318-2596
To find a location near you for assistance, call the number above or search your zip code under the "find local help" section of healtcare.gov by clicking here.

More info on health reform:
http://www.healthreform.gov/

Also, here is a link to short video that that explains what we can expect starting today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZkk6ueZt-U