Community Health Charities of Connecticut is proud to offer Lunch & Learn seminars 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 Days by scheduling a Lunch & Learn. Parkinson's Awareness Month (American Parkinson Association / Easter Seals Greater Hartford Rehabilitation Center) Almost 30 percent of people with a long-term illness do not follow their doctors' directions on how and when to take their medicine. It is important to have your prescription filled and to take the right amount of medication at the times and duration prescribed. How you take your medications can influence how your healthcare practitioner interprets your body's response to these medications and how your Parkinson's disease and symptoms need to be managed. A Lunch & Learn topic related to Parkinson's is available. Please refer to topic 45 in your Lunch & Learn booklet. Easter Seals Greater Hartford Rehabilitation Center also recognizes this month. Source:American Parkinson Disease Association Website: www.apdaparkinson.org National Donate Life Month (National Kidney Foundation of Connecticut) Approximately 89,000 individuals in the U.S. are currently waiting for life saving organs; 4,000 new individuals are being added monthly to the waiting list. An average of 17 people die daily from the lack of available transplantable organs. There were 25,952 transplants performed between January and November 2005. As of March 28, 2006, there were 91,614 individuals waiting for an organ. Due to the lack of available donors in this country, 3,886 kidney patients, 1,811 liver patients, 457 heart patients, and 483 lung patients died in 2004 while waiting for life-saving organ transplants. Organs such as the kidney, liver, pancreas, intestines, and heart can also be delivered by living donors. In 2005, 39 living donor transplants were performed in CT; 127 transplants from deceased donors. From 1988 to 2005, there were 833 living donor transplants in CT; 2,247 transplants from deceased donors. Get the facts about organ donation. http://www.kidney.org/transplantation. Don't forget to tell family members that you have decided to become a donor so that they will understand and support your decision. Zero lives will be saved if you do nothing! A Lunch & Learn topic related to organ donation is available. Please refer to topic 13 in your Lunch & Learn booklet. Sources: National Kidney Foundation Website www.kidney.org; National Kidney Foundation of CT Website www.kidneyct.org; United Network for Organ Sharing Website www.unos.org; CT Coalition for Organ and Tissue Donation Website www.ctorganandtissuedonation.org CPR Awareness Week, April 1-8 (American Heart Association, Heritage Affiliate) The American Heart Association reports that about 75 to 80 percent of all cardiac arrests that occur out of the hospital happen at home. Approximately 95 percent of those suffering a sudden cardiac arrest die before reaching a hospital. Knowing CPR can make the difference between life and death. The American Heart Association, Heritage Affiliate is offering FREE CPR TRAINING from April 1-8. Reservations are required; walk-in's not accepted. Space is limited at some locations. Note: This course is not a CPR certification course for medical professionals. Call 1-877-AHA-4CPR (1-877-242-4277) TODAY! A Lunch & Learn topic related to CPR is available. Please refer to topic 6 in your Lunch & Learn booklet. Source: American Heart Association Website www.americanheart.org For Free American Heart Association Recipes, click here. Lupus Alert Day, April 1 (Lupus Foundation of America, CT Chapter) Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease causing the body's immune system to attack its own tissue and organs. If you are a woman and have been experiencing symptoms such as achy, painful and/or swollen joints, an unexplained fever of over 100 degrees, a persistent, extreme fatigue/exhaustion, chest pain with deep breathing, and prominent redness or color change on your face in the shape of a butterfly across the bridge of your nose and cheeks, without explanation, you should consult with a medical professional about obtaining additional tests for lupus. A Lunch & Learn topic related to Lupus is available. Please refer to topic 10 in your Lunch & Learn booklet. Source: Lupus Foundation Website www.lupus.org National Minority Cancer Awareness Week, April 16-22 (American Cancer Society) Minority groups face special problems and concerns about cancer. National Minority Cancer Awareness Week is an effort to bring heightened awareness to these issues. African American's have a higher mortality rate than whites for the major cancer sites (colorectal, male lung, female breast, and prostate ) as well as a higher incidence rate for all of these cancers except female breast cancer. Other minority populations have lower incidence rates for all of the major cancer sites but have higher rates for cancer of the uterine cervix, liver, and stomach. The incidence of cervical cancer is highest in Hispanic/Latina women. The American Cancer Society has found that higher incidence and mortality rates are related to not receiving equal access to prevention, early detection, and quality treatment. Lack of health insurance, low incomes, language barriers, and social inequalities are also obstacles, contributing to early detection and the greater chance of developing cancer. For Free American Cancer Society recipes, click here. MS Awareness 2006 Walk (National MS Society, CT Chapter and Western CT Chapter) Multiple Sclerosis, a chronic and often disabling disease of the central nervous system, presents with mild symptoms such as numbness in the limbs or severe symptoms such as paralysis or loss of vision. Multiple sclerosis is usually diagnosed between ages 20 and 40; the unpredictable physical and emotional effects can be lifelong. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of multiple sclerosis in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are giving hope to those affected by the disease. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is dedicated to ending the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis. Each year, more than 7,000 Connecticut residents come together to celebrate the annual Multiple Sclerosis Walk. Dates for this year's walk are April 2, 23, and 30. Check these websites for more information: www.ctnmss.org and www.msswct.org. Lunch & Learn topics related to multiple sclerosis are available. Please refer to topics 30 & 33 in your Lunch & Learn booklet. Source: www.ctnms.org and www.msswct.org Women's Eye Health & Safety Month (Prevent Blindness Tri-State) Did you know that hormonal changes and cosmetic use can affect your eyesight? Hormonal changes that come with pregnancy can alter the strength needed in glasses and contact lens. Dry and puffy eyes can occur. Migraines linked to hormonal changes are possible. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, it is important to check with your healthcare practitioner if you experience visual changes. The unsafe use of eye cosmetics can lead to serious eye infections, irritations, corneal abrasions, or allergies. To prevent bacterial growth, do not use old mascara applicators, avoid "natural" or "preservative- free" products, keep mascara away from extreme hot and cold temperatures to prevent bacterial growth, and do not share mascara and remove make-up at night. For more ways to ensure healthy eyesight, go to www.preventblindness.org/factsheets Source: www.preventblindness.org Kick Butts Day, April 5 (American Lung Association of CT) Kick Butts Day is the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. Kick Butts Day serves as an opportunity to educate kids about the dangers of tobacco and a chance for them to achieve results in the field of tobacco prevention, control, and education. Did you know that 88,609 kids will become regular smokers in 2006; 28,355 will die prematurely from their addiction? Did you know that approximately 22 percent (42,400) of high school students in Connecticut smoke, or that every day, 1,200 Americans die from tobacco and secondhand smoke? The focus of Kick Butts Day 2006 will be on the number 1,200, raising awareness about this disturbing statistic. To plan your Kick Butts Day activities, log onto www.kickbuttsday.org . The American Lung Association is a major partner of Kick Butts Day. Lunch & Learn topics related to smoking are available. Please refer to topics 19 and 32 in your Lunch & Learn booklet. Sources: American Lung Association Website www.lungusa.org; Tobacco Free Kids Website: http://tobaccofreekids.org If you would not like to receive these updates each month, please send an email to the list administrator by clicking here.