30th Commemoration of HIV/AIDS

National HIV Testing Day (NHTD): June 27

 

Thirty years ago this June, an article reporting the first known cases of what we now call AIDS was published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Since then, extraordinary progress has been made in treating and preventing HIV, and annual new infections have fallen by more than two-thirds since the height of the epidemic.

Despite this progress, HIV remains a crisis in our country. Over the last three decades, prevention efforts have helped reduce new infections and treatment advances have allowed people with HIV to live longer, healthier lives. But as these improvements have taken place, our nation's collective sense of crisis has waned. Far too many Americans underestimate their risk of infection or believe HIV is no longer a serious health threat, but they must understand that HIV remains an incurable infection. Today, the most infections are among people under 30—a new generation that has never known a time without effective HIV treatments and who may not fully understand the significant health threat HIV poses. The reality remains that about 50,000 new infections occur each year in the U.S. and, today, more than one million people are living with HIV in our nation. Reducing HIV rates in the U.S. is not only possible – it’s imperative – and new advances in HIV prevention hold promise in changing the course of this epidemic.

How can I find out more about HIV and AIDS?

You can call CDC-INFO at 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636); TTY access 1-888-232-6348. CDC-INFO is staffed with people trained to answer your questions about HIV and AIDS in a prompt and confidential manner in English or Spanish, 24 hours per day. Staff at CDC-INFO can offer you a wide variety of written materials and put you in touch with organizations in your area that deal with HIV and AIDS.

On the Internet, you can get information on HIV and AIDS from www.AIDS.gov or www.cdc.gov/hiv

Find a testing site near you

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Sources:
http://www.cdc.gov
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/brochures/at-risk.htm
http://www.actagainstaids.org

New Sunscreen Labels to Help you Get the Best Protection

Beginning next summer the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is changing sunscreen labels to make it easier for you to pick a product that offers the protection level you want.  The labels will clearly tell whether a sunscreen protects against sunburn, skin cancer and signs of premature skin aging; and whether it is a broad spectrum product.

Broad spectrum sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher will protect against all three.  Anything less than 15 SPF will only protect against sunburn and soon will be labeled with a warning that reads "Skin cancer/skin aging alert: Spending time in the sun increases your risk of skin cancer and early skin aging.  This product has been shown only to help prevent sunburn, not skin cancer or early skin aging".  Future labels will also include information on how much time a user can expect to get the declared SPF level of protection while swimming or sweating. 

Spending time in the sun increases the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging.  To reduce this risk, consumers should regularly use sun protection measures including:

• Use sunscreens with broad spectrum SPF values of 15 or higher regularly and as directed.
• Limit time in the sun, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun’s rays are most intense.
• Wear clothing to cover skin exposed to the sun; for example, long-sleeved shirts, pants, sunglasses, and broad-brimmed hats.
• Reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours, more often if you’re sweating or jumping in and out of the water.

Follow this link for more information on sunscreen, basic information on skin cancer and skin safety.

Food with Antioxidants

Learn more about the foods that are high in antioxidants. By now you have probably heard the saying, 'you are what you eat'. Well that may be more true than many people realize. Those that are concerned about a healthy immune system, may want more information on which foods are rich with natural antioxidants to help support and maintain a healthier immune system.

Depending upon which experts you read about, or listen to, you may get a variety of opinions on the importance of eating foods that are high in antioxidants, or superfoods, to give your body a fighting chance to ward off infections, colds and sickness. Studies have shown a diet rich with superfoods and other fruit and vegetable choices can help reduce the risk of certain types of disease and sickness. Many health experts say that eating balanced meals along with plenty of vegetables and fruits can help to keep you well. While the lists of foods are not complete, it is a good starting point in understanding which fruits and vegetables contain immune system building nutrients. See your healthcare provider for complete information on these health concerns.

What are Foods with Antioxidants

These are foods, fruits and vegetables that are believed to help protect, build up and increase your immune system and to help neutralize certain free radicals in the body. The three major helpful vitamins or vitamin E, vitamin C and beta-carotene. You can typically find these in various amounts, in fruits and vegetables.

• Sources of Beta Carotene include mangos, carrots, spinach, green vegetables, apricots and kale.

• Sources of Vitamin E include whole grains, soybeans, olive oil, sweet potatoes, beans, leafy green vegetables, nuts, oatmeal, split peas and brown rice.

• Sources of Vitamin C include broccoli, tomatoes, citrus fruits, guava, pineapple, spinach, mangos, papaya, cantaloupe, brussel sprouts and asparagus.

Video: Antioxidant Content of Specific Foods  




This video is narrated by a doctor, who outlines a list of the top 12 foods that are high in antioxidant power. You can watch and listen as he talks about the content of each of the top foods.


Resources:
• www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20040617/antioxidants-found-unexpected-foods  
• my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/prevention/nutrition/antioxidants.aspx  
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_antioxidants_in_food

Improve the Air Quality this Summer

The Air Quality Index is a tool used to express the local air quality on a daily basis to help you determine if there are any health risks.  The AQI is expressed on a scale from 0 to 500 with the higher scores indicating greater levels of air pollution and health concerns.  There are six color coded AQI categories that range from "good" to "hazardous".  Follow this link to check the air quality in your area and obtain important information.

Some groups (children, older adults, and people with lung or heart disease) are more sensitive to poor air quality and may need to take extra precautions by avoiding prolonged periods or heavy outdoor activity. 



You can take steps to improve the air quality index this summer by:

• Refueling your car after dusk
• Limiting engine idling
• Avoiding using gas powered lawn equipment
• Conserving electricity and set your air conditioner at a higher temperature
• Combining trips or using public transportation

List of Breathing Diseases

It is just human nature that we take things for granted, such as being able to breath well. However, many people suffer from a wide range of breathing disorders and lung diseases. To help highlight and bring attention to this area of respiratory health problems, read below for a list of of lung conditions.

The lungs are organs located in our chest, that are responsible for helping us breathe. The lungs help to facilitate and process carbon dioxide and oxygen as we breathe. Without healthy lungs, life would be much more difficult. Unfortunately, many people live with lung disorders and breathing conditions and diseases everyday of their lives. Some symptoms and effects can be minor and others can be life threatening.

List of Breathing and Lung Diseases

While the following list is incomplete, it does highlight many of the major respiratory conditions that affect millions of people on a daily basis.

1. Acute Bronchitis
2. Asbestos Related Disorders
3. Asthma
4. Chronic Bronchitis
5. Chronic Cough
6. COPD - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
7. Emphysema
8. Interstitial Lung Disease
9. Lung Cancer
10. Melioidosis
11. Pleural Effusion
12. Pulmonary Embolism
13. Pneumonia
14. Sarcoidosis
15. Secondhand Smoke
16. SARS - Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
17. Sinus Infection
18. Sleep Apnea
19. Smoking
20. Tuberculosis
21. Whooping Cough

Also see:
• COPD Support Groups information  
• Spiriva coupons
• Sleep disorders common types  
• Snoring causes  

Video: Childhood Asthma  



Resources:

• www.medicinenet.com/lungs/focus.htm     

• dir.yahoo.com/health/diseases_and_conditions/respiratory_diseases/         

COPD Support Groups Information

If you suffer from COPD symptoms, or know someone who does, then a support group may be able to help the patient or caregiver with issues related to their breathing condition. Sometimes being able to share personal experiences and have an information exchange can put a person at ease and provide hope. While it is never a substitute for your doctor's assistance, it can help some people.
One of the main risks and factors to acquiring chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is smoking.

COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a progressive disease and will generally include one or more breathing conditions such as chronic asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Since this disease can get worse as time goes by, it is important to visit your doctor on a regular basis and to follow their instructions on treatment option recommendations and management.

COPD Support Groups and Resources:

While it is always best to discuss all issues and symptoms with your doctor or healthcare provider, many patients do like to seek out others that share in the same or similar breathing issues. The following will outline a few resources that some may find helpful.

• COPD Support Groups - copd.supportgroups.com: This group provides posts, discussions, inspirations  journals, support tips and videos.
• COPD International - www.copd-international.com: Many sufferers are learning how to better deal with their symptoms. You can learn more at their main chat room, webinars and message boards.  
• Support for patients and caregivers - www.copd-support.com: This resource provides various programs that are designed to help both the patient and the caregiver with answers to many common questions. Visitors also share experiences where they see fit.    

Also see:

• Spiriva coupons
• List of breathing diseases  

Video: Easy New Breathing Test for Adults and Children

Resources:

• www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Copd/Copd_WhoIsAtRisk.html