In partnership with our member charities, Community Health Charities is proud to offer National Health Day email updates to businesses throughout the state to promote and enhance the health and wellness of employees and their families. Feel free to contact us if you are interested in learning more about any of the monthly National Health Day topics. We may offer a Lunch & Learn relevant to a topic that may be of interest to the employees in your workplace. To support any of the 34 health charities we represent, be sure to ask about our charitable giving campaigns for the workplace to support your health charity(ies) of choice. Go Red For Women Friday, February 3rd The American Heart Association has launched Go Red For Women, a nationwide campaign to raise awareness that heart disease is women's number 1 killer and stroke is number 3. Red is a symbol for women and heart disease. Cardiovascular disease causes about one death per minute among females claiming more women's lives than the next seven causes of death combined - about a half million women's lives yearly. Visit www.americanheart.org for more information on Go Red for Women Day. 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 - www. americanheart.org For Free Heart Healthy recipes, click here. National Heart Month Heart disease and stroke are the first and third leading causes of death in the United States for both men and women, accounting for nearly 39 percent of all deaths. This year, an estimated 700,000 Americans will have a new coronary event, while 500,000 will have a recurrent one. Cardiovascular disease may be prevented by understanding various health threats and making the following changes: controlling your cholesterol, adding more physical activity and exercise to your life, watching your salt intake, quitting smoking, losing excess weight and getting a yearly checkup. All of these steps may make a lifesaving difference in preventing cardiovascular disease. Warning signs of a heart attack may include: breaking out into a cold sweat, discomfort in the chest and other areas of the upper body, shortness of breath, nausea, and lightheadedness. Warning signs that indicate you may be having a stroke include, but are not limited to: sudden numbness on one side of the body, sudden severe headache with no known cause, sudden confusion, sudden trouble speaking, sudden trouble seeing, sudden dizziness, and sudden loss of balance. Remember: heart attack and stroke are life-and-death emergencies where every second counts. This heart month, find out how you can learn CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). Visit www.americanheart.org to learn more about cardiovascular disease and what you can do to prevent it. Lunch & Learn topics related to heart disease are available. Please refer to topics 5, 6, 22, 28, 31 & 42 in your Lunch & Learn booklet. Sources: American Heart Association - www.americanheart.org For Free American Heart Association Recipes, click here. National Hospice Month The first American hospice was Connecticut Hospice in Branford, Connecticut. The word "hospice" can be traced back to medieval times, when it referred to a place of shelter and rest for the weary or ill travelers on a long journey. In 2003, an estimated 950,000 patients were admitted into hospice programs. Cancer diagnoses accounted for 49 percent of hospice admissions; about 50 percent who died at home died under hospice care. Lunch & Learn programs related to hospice are available. Please refer to topics 25 and 26 in your Lunch & Learn booklet. Age-related Macular Degeneration/ Low Vision Awareness Month Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss and affects 1.6 million Americans age 65 and older. Aging increases the risk of AMD. If you are 65 or older, you should… have a complete eye exam every one to two years with your eye      doctor, even if you have not had any vision changes. be aware of the signs and symptoms of AMD: Straight lines such as telephone poles or sides of buildings appear wavy. The type in books, magazines or newspapers appear blurry. Dark or empty spaces may block the center of your vision. avoid smoking, eat healthy foods and stay active. know that the risk factors for AMD include individuals who are     age 50 and older, have high blood pressure, smoke, or have a     family history of AMD. Those with risk factors are strongly     encouraged to see an eye doctor every one to two years for a     complete eye exam. An eye exam will ensure detection of AMD     and other eye conditions that can threaten vision and can be     treated early. Source: Prevent Blindness America - www.preventblindness.org Top 13 Winter Safety Tips Avoid snow shoveling if you are in poor physical condition or if health factors make it risky. Know your exercise limits. Use caution when shoveling snow mixed with rain or sleet. When outdoors and exerting energy, be aware of the warning signs of a heart attack such as excessive shortness of breath, inappropriate sweating, pain in the chest, arm or shoulder. Call 911 immediately. Recognize signs of hypothermia (body temperature dropping to a subnormal level). Symptoms can include lack of coordination, mental confusion, slowed reactions, shivering, and sleepiness. Children and the elderly are most at risk. Keep warm! Layer clothing. Wear a hat, scarf, and gloves in frigid emperatures to keep body heat from escaping. Alcohol consumption and physical activity in harsh winter weather conditions may increase the likelihood of hypothermia. If you burn wood (clean, dry and seasoned) in a fireplace or stove, maintain proper ventilation when you use a fireplace to reduce the amount of smoke in home environment. If you use a wood-burning stove, have the chimney connection and flue checked each year. The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning increases during the winter. Install a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm near bedrooms and on each floor of your home. Know the symptoms of CO poisoning: headache, fatigue, dizziness, and shortness of breath. Keep on hand extra blankets, flashlights with extra batteries, matches, first aid kit, manual can opener, snow shovel, rock salt, and special needs items (e.g., diapers). Stock a few days' supply of water, required medications, and food that does not need to be refrigerated or cooked. If you have asthma, take your medication 15 to 30 minutes before exercising. Wear a mask or scarf to warm cold air before breathing. Avoid strenuous exercise during cold weather if your asthma is not controlled. NEVER run engines in a garage, even if the garage door is open. Open the overhead garage door before starting the car. Then back out. Deadly fumes from vehicle exhaust include carbon monoxide. If you would not like to receive these updates each month, please send an email to the list administrator by clicking here