health-related news
for the arts community

FOR YOUR HEALTH CALENDAR

Saturday / January 12, 2008 / 11:00am – 3:00pm
Three Kings Day Celebration - "Fiesta De Los Reyes Magos 2008"
The Hudson Guild /41 W. 26th Street / between 9th & 10th Avenues
LatinaSHARE invites breast and ovarian cancer survivors and their families to a celebration of the twelfth anniversary of the Three Kings Day Celebration. Bring your favorite food and music to celebrate with us. To register, call (212) 719-2943, ext. 338.

Monday / January.14, 2008 / 6:00 - 7:30pm
Safe, Effective, Holistic Treatments for the Side Effects of Chemo and Radiation
SHARE Main Office, 1501 Broadway, Suite 704A (bet. 43d & 44th Sts.)
Join Dr. Lauri Grossman, D.C., Chair of the Department of Medicine and Humanistic Studies at the American Medical College of Homeopathy, as she discusses the most effective holistic treatments for the side effects of chemo and radiation. Learn what you can do to safely and effectively take the heat out of hot flashes and the nagging pain out of neuropathy. Leave this discussion with tools to help you overcome fatigue and find suggestions for restful sleep. And all without harmful side effects! Please bring photo I.D. Click here for information on other SHARE programs.

Wednesday / January 16, 2008 / 6:00-8:00pm
Child Health Project: Bronx Borough Coalition Meeting
198 E. 161st St., 2d floor
The Child Health Project is coordinated by the Commission for the Public’s Health System and the 100 Years – Child Health Planning Committee. For more information, contact Carlos Alicea, The Bronx Health Link, at 718-590-2648

January through June 2008
Free HIV Trainings for Non-Physician Service Providers
Regional Training Center/AIDS Institute/NYS Department of Health
CME/CNE/OASAS/CASAC Credit Hours available for some training
AIDS Community Research Initiative of America (ACRIA) is one of ten NYS DOH AIDS Institute Regional Training Centers, which provide roughly 500 training days to approximately 8,000 - 8,500 non-physician health and human services providers annually. Based on regional demand and on-going needs assessments, training centers offer courses from a menu of more than 30 trainings. Each training center regularly offers job-specific introductory training for staff who serve as community HIV/AIDS educators, HIV test counselors, case managers, and nurses. Regional training centers are uniquely poised to provide training about new state regulations that affect HIV/AIDS services. New courses are continually being added to the menu.

Click here to download the application and course descriptions online.

MontePlus Club / Events Calendar / Winter 2007-2008
The MontePLUS Club is a club designed to provide information, education and resources to help adults 55 years of age or older manage their changing healthcare needs and offers rewards including discounts on meals and parking at Montefiore Medical Center Divisions.

The club is proud to introduce a great lineup of FREE educational seminars for the upcoming winter season. These seminars have been designed to discuss popular health topics and are scheduled at several locations for your convenience. Please join experts at Montefiore Medical Center for engaging discussions that focus on important healthcare issues every adult should be informed on.

Space is limited. Please register in advance. Call 1-800-MD-MONTE (1-800-636-6683)

Tuesday / January 15, 2008 / 10:00am-11:00am
Podiatry: Taking Care of Your Feet
Montefiore Medical Center, Cherasky Auditorium (Gun Hill Road Entrance)
111 East 210th Street, Bronx, NY 10467
Led by Dominic J. Catanese, DPM, FACFAS - Director of Podiatry Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center

Wednesday / January 16, 2008 / 10:00am-11:00am
Patient Safety: What You Need to Know When Visiting a Hospital
Montefiore Medical Group Cross County
1010 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10704
Led by Joseph Friedman - Patient Safety Analyst, Montefiore Quality Management

Workshops on Home Safety and Other Women's/Children's Health Topics Available to Community Organizations
The Bronx Health Link, a non-profit educational clearinghouse, announces that it is now offering a free workshop on Home Safety for parents of children 5 years and under, as well as for care providers, available to any community-based organization in the Bronx. The workshop, which lasts one hour, covers such topics as electrical wiring, lead paint, fire hazards, carbon monoxide, and toxic chemicals.

The workshop is offered in English or Spanish, and we provide information, brochures, and incentives that consumers can use at home to safeguard their children. We are offering the workshop to groups of 8 or more, which can include consumers and/or care providers.

In addition, we offer workshops on

• Asthma
• Lead Poisoning
• SIDS Risk Reduction
• Diabetes
• Breast Health
• Domestic Violence
• Immunizations

If your agency would like to schedule this workshop, please contact the Bronx Health Link at 718-590-2648 or lsolis@bronxhealthlink.org.

Updated Brochure Available on Risks of Flu Vaccines
SafeMinds has updated their Flu Vaccine brochure providing current information on the flu vaccines available for 2007/2008 flu season. This brochure effectively communicates the risks that remain in the thimerosal- containing vaccine, as well as which vaccines are available do not contain thimerosal.

We encourage you to distribute this brochure in your doctor's office and other places people may be seeking information regarding these vaccines. Please feel free to download the file by clicking here or e-mail eksafeminds@gmail.com to receive copies of the brochure in the mail.

Cultural Competency 'Paramount' in Delivering Adequate Medical Care, Surgeon Leader Says
The Orange County Register on Tuesday featured an interview with American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Diversity Board Chair Ramon Jimenez, who discussed the importance of cultural competency in medical care.

AAOS has launched its own culturally competent care program, which seeks to educate physicians on cultural sensitivity in an effort to improve quality of care. In the interview, Jimenez said the cultural competency in medical care is "paramount at this time, particularly when we realize that the minority population will reach 50% in the U.S. in the next 30 years." He added, "I'm not saying that every doctor needs to know the nuances about every race and ethnicity. But we need educational materials so we can give patients from different cultures ideas on what to expect in their treatment and so on. After all, just because you learn about an Asian patient's needs, you can't be expected to know about the cultural differences of 33 Asian countries."

According to Jimenez, a "patient should be able to rely on the doctor's cultural knowledge" to deliver adequate care because only 7% of communication is verbal. In addition, Jimenez said, "Patients who get turned off trying to talk to a doctor or cope with the health care system itself may wait until problems become greater before seeking treatment. This means greater financial expense and use of the health care system" (Haas, Orange County Register, 11/27).

Kaiser Health Disparities Report can be downloaded by clicking here.

Treating Tobacco Addiction
In the current issue of NYC Dept. of Health & Mental Hygiene. 

• Ask every patient about smoking status. Advise every smoker to quit.
• Provide brief counseling and pharmacotherapy to help patients become tobacco free.
• Educate patients about the risk of secondhand smoke.
• Encourage patients to maintain a smoke-free home.

City Health Information is a publication produced by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene as a primary means of communicating public health information to the City's medical care community.

This 9-page publication can be downloaded at by clicking here.

Should I Get a Flu Vaccine This Season?
Health Sciences Institute

Dr. Tom Jefferson is an epidemiologist and the coordinator of the Cochrane Vaccine Fields, an organization that promotes vaccine reviews and develops criteria for assessing vaccine effectiveness and safety. In a 2006 issue of the British Medical Journal, Dr. Jefferson reported on the quality of existing research on inactivated flu vaccine (the type that requires needle injection).

In an article titled "Influenza Vaccination: Policy Versus Evidence," Dr. Jefferson makes these four key points:

1. Most flu vaccine studies are poorly designed, giving unreliable validity to questionable results;
2. Systemic reviews provide evidence that inactivated vaccines have "little or no effect" on measures such as time missed from work, hospital stays, or death (either directly from flu or flu-related complications);
3. Given the widespread use of flu vaccines, the available data concerning safety is remarkably small;
4. The generally accepted confidence in the effectiveness of inactivated flu vaccines is at odds with the existing evidence;

In the e-Alert dated (1/4/05), HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., discussed three natural agents he uses in lieu of a vaccine: vitamin C, grapefruit seed extract, and olive leaf extract. Dr. Spreen told me that at the fist sign of aches, sore throat, cough or any other symptoms of flu (or cold, or other infections), he starts with several grams of vitamin C, and then follows that with 1,000 mg (one gram) every hour until symptoms recede. Click here for details.

Reference: "Influenza Vaccination: Policy Versus Evidence" British Medical Journal, Vol. 333, No. 7574, 10/28/06

Author's response to critical letters

Healing Circle Training – Casa Atabex Ache
Year-Long Self Healing/Community Organizing Training

• Do you want to learn techniques to heal and create the life you want to live in today with yourself, family, and community?
• Do you want to learn skills/tools to organize for social justice that honor the organizing of Womyn of Color?
• Do you want to support healing circles at Casa and in the Mott Haven Communities?
• Do you want to step up to the powerful womyn that you are?
• Do you want to learn conflict resolution skills, violence prevention, peer leadership skills, stress reduction and embark on your journey of healing your life, family and community?

Then step into your training powerfully for the Spring Season!

Eligibility for Spring Training

• Has attended at least 4 emotional release healing circles in the past 12 months
• If you have only been to 1 healing circle in the past 12 months, you can attend at least 4 circles during the Fall and Winter Seasons (November 2007- March 2008)
• Is not attending another training on spiritual philosophy
• Committed to doing healing circles in the Mott Haven community and other community based organizations.
• Organizer/ Activist/ Healer

Individuals/Organizations

• If you have been to healing circles in past couple of years and are interested, please contact Casa.
• If you are interested in learning the techniques and doing circles with Casa and your organization, please contact Casa.

Contact Casa if you are interested in the Spring Healing Circle Trainings.  Spots are filling up, so call to reserve your seats.

Casa Atabex Ache-The House of Womyn's Power/La Casa del Poder de la Mujer
471 East 140th St, Bronx, NY 10454
Tel: 718-585-554
Email: Fuerzagoddess@aol.com
www.casaatabexache.org

FOR YOUR HEALTH CALENDAR

Saturday / November 3 / 1:00pm
Healing Circle for Adult Womyn of Color: Letting Go to Listen
Casa Atabex Ache -The House of Womyn’s Power, 471 East 140th St., Basement Level, Between Brook & Willis Ave., Bronx, NY 10454

• Doors open at 1:00pm
• Circle is from 1:30 – 5pm
• Doors close promptly at 2:15pm

The Fall Season Brings New Beginnings & Changes. School is Back, Time for Work, etc. Are the winds of change taking you for a whirlwind? Are you feeling hopeless? Do you feel totally disconnected? Do you want to let go to be open and free? Then walk into your self-healing space. Casa creates a safe environment, in which sisters of color can emotionally heal in community -- through collective transformation there is personal freedom.

• Bring/Wear white clothing
• Please bring flowers, fruit, juice, water, candles for our community altar
• $20 suggested donation (includes circle & healthy snack)
• No one will be turned away for lack of money

Call to register today! 718-585-5540 or email: piperanderson@gmail.com, toyinatcasa@aol.com

Thursday / November 8, 2007 / 8:00am - 3:00pm
23rd Annual Mayoral Conference on Alzheimer's Disease
Javits Convention Center / 655 W. 34th St. / NYC

This is the largest and most successful municipal conference in the nation that addresses the concerns of family members and professionals who provide support to those with Alzheimer's Disease and others with long term care needs. The theme of this year's Conference, Advances in Aging, delves into the latest developments in Alzheimer's disease research, affording long term care, and new directions for aging. We are pleased to once again offer multi-lingual translation of the plenary session and select workshops in Spanish, Russian and Mandarin to help the City's diverse caregiver and senior communities. Sponsored by the New York City Dept. of the Aging, Aging in New York Fund, Inc., Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation, with Alzheimer's Foundation, NYC Chapter. Click here for Information and registration.

Thursday / November 8, 2007 / 9:00am - 2:00pm
Child Health Clinics, 1908-2008; 100 Years Celebration - Kick Off Forum
District Council 37, 125 Barclay Street, Lower Manhattan

Who should attend: Parents, youth, health & disability rights advocates, health care professionals, activists, policy-makers, officials, schools, community-based organizations, religious members of faith-based organizations, labor unions & businesses.

• Hear from a diverse group of people representing parents, youth, community-based organizations, city government, providers & advocates, & labor.
• Event is Free!
• Free Food, Giveaways, Children’s Art Display, Entertainment, Discussions
• Language Interpreters Will Be Available

To RSVP for the event, please call 212-246-0803 or email us at Commission@Cphsnyc.Org.
Directions: A, C, or E trains to Chambers Street; 1 or 2 trains to Chambers Street; N or R trains to City Hall; 4, 5 or 6 trains to City Hall.

Friday / November 16, 2007 / 12:30 – 2:00pm
Albert's Leaders of Tomorrow:
The Bronx Youth Partnership to Reduce Mental Health Disparities
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Dean's Conference Room Belfer 303

• Speaker: Laurie Bauman, PhD, Director, AECOM Preventive Intervention Research Center
• Refreshments will be served
• Sponsors: Bronx Center to Reduce and Eliminate Ethnic and Racial Health Disparities (Bronx CREED) and Hispanic Center of Excellence (HCOE)
• For more information, please contact Bxcreed@aecom.yu.edu

Saturday / December 1 / 1:00pm
Healing Circle for Adult Womyn of Color: I Am Spirit!
Casa Atabex Ache -The House of Womyn’s Power, 471 East 140th St.,
Basement Level, Between Brook & Willis Ave., Bronx, NY 10454

• Doors open at 1:00pm
• Circle is from 1:30 – 5pm
• Doors close promptly at 2:15pm

The Fall Season Brings New Beginnings & Changes. School is Back, Time for Work, etc. Are the winds of change taking you for a whirlwind? Are you feeling hopeless? Do you feel totally disconnected? Do you want to let go to be open and free? Then walk into your self-healing space. Casa creates a safe environment, in which sisters of color can emotionally heal in community -- through collective transformation there is personal freedom.

• Bring/Wear white clothing
• Please bring flowers, fruit, juice, water, candles for our community altar
• $20 suggested donation (includes circle & healthy snack)

No one will be turned away for lack of moneyCall to register today! 718-585-5540 or email: piperanderson@gmail.com, toyinatcasa@aol.com

Workshops on Home Safety and Other Women's/Children's Health Topics Available to Community Organizations
The Bronx Health Link, a non-profit educational clearinghouse, announces that it is now offering a free workshop on Home Safety for parents of children 5 years and under, as well as for care providers, available to any community-based organization in the Bronx. The workshop, which lasts one hour, covers such topics as electrical wiring, lead paint, fire hazards, carbon monoxide, and toxic chemicals.

The workshop is offered in English or Spanish, and we provide information, brochures, and incentives that consumers can use at home to safeguard their children. We are offering the workshop to groups of 8 or more, which can include consumers and/or care providers.

In addition, we offer workshops on:

• Asthma
• Lead Poisoning
• SIDS Risk Reduction
• Diabetes
• Breast Health
• Domestic Violence
• Immunizations

If your agency would like to schedule this workshop, please contact the Bronx Health Link at 718-590-2648 or lsolis@bronxhealthlink.org.

From BCA's October 2007 issue of E-News

FOR YOUR HEALTH CALENDAR

Oct 15 / 6:00pm / Health Discussion/ Bronx Library Center Auditorium
Talk/Discussion on Breast Health – Learn about the risk factors for breast cancer and what you can do to help lower your risks. Presented by Judith Leuchter, Health Education Manager, Montefiore Medical Group. Admission is free. Bronx Library Center is located at 310 East Kingsbridge Road (at Briggs Avenue) in the Bronx. Click here for directions. For information, call 718-579-4244.

Oct 3 / 9:30am-12:30pm / Basic Medicaid Workshop
105 East 22nd Street, 4th Floor NYC
You will learn Medicaid’s eligibility rules and will be able to identify the Medicaid categories which are key to eligibility, identify various avenues to apply for Medicaid in the community, and how to maintain ongoing eligibility. Also included are strategies and techniques to navigate the Medicaid system in order to advocate effectively when clients experience common challenges with the Medicaid system. Cost: $40.00. Registration required. To register, call Migdalia Molina at 212-614-5497. Sponsor: Community Service Society/Public Benefits Resource Center. www.cssny.org/pbrc/index.html.

Ongoing / HIV Prevention Groups for Men & Women
19 East 98th Street (between Madison & 5th Avenues), 8th Floor, NYC
Visiting Nurse Service of New York and Mt. Sinai Hospital are conducting a variety of HIV prevention groups for Mt. Sinai clients and residents of East and Central Harlem. Mpowerment is a series of fun and informative events for men of color who have sex with men; SISTA is for women of color and focuses on building self-esteem and ethnic pride while teaching assertiveness; Holistic Health Recovery Program is a series of self-empowerment workshops for active and recovering substance users. Participants may be HIV positive or negative. Refreshments, MetroCards and gifts are provided. Call Ms. Atkins at 212-609-1689 for information.

Mpowerment: A program by, for and about Men. Monthly groups & events. Dates TBA.

Topics include:

• Open discussion
• Meet New Friends
• Current Health News
• Music & Gifts
• Party
• Safe

Sisters Informing Sisters (SISTA): Five-week sessions. Participants are asked to start at session #1. Gifts, Refreshments & Metro Cards Will be Provided

Topics include:

• Building Self Esteem
• Assertiveness Training
• Negotiating condom use and Safer Sex

Holistic Health Recovery Program: Ongoing weekly workshops. Participants can enter at any time. A comprehensive series of workshops dealing with substance use and recovery issues by focusing on self-empowerment. Food and Drinks, Confidential, No Drug Testing, Gift Cards, MetroCards, Awards, Safe and Supportive. Bring a friend.

Topics include:

• Goal setting
• Negotiating skills
• Problem-solving
• Stress management
• Safe choices
• Self-awareness
• Health promotion
• Relationship skills
• HIV prevention

EXERCISE MAY HELP HEART FIX ITSELF
HealthDay News

Not only will exercise help keep your heart healthy, it may help your heart repair itself, German researchers said Wednesday at a European Society of Cardiology meeting in Vienna.

A Leipzig University study of 37 people found that people with significant heart failure who rode a bicycle for up to 30 minutes each day over four months produced new stem cells and small blood vessels. People who didn't ride the bike didn't show these changes, the Associated Press reported.

Exercise can send up to 10 times the normal amount of blood to muscles, the wire service said. Stem cells may then be dispatched to repair any damage to the muscles. With continued exercise, these cells may also help adapt the body to stress by building new vessels and strengthening the muscles.

"People think that if they have heart failure then they're at the end of the road and they can't exercise," said Dr. Freek Verheugt, a cardiologist at the University of Nymegen in the Netherlands. "But this study shows that exercise can work to produce new blood vessels, even in patients with serious heart disease.

From BCA's September 2007 issue of E-News:

For Your Health Calendar

INTRODUCTION TO ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE RESOURCES
Tues / Sep 18 / 10:00am-12:00pm
New York Academy of Medicine, Hartwell Room, the Academy Library,
5th Avenue & 103rd Street

This course is designed for individuals looking for information on alternative approaches to health and medicine. Participants will learn about a variety of complementary and alternative health resources including the Alt-Healthwatch database, a full-text database of alternative medicine periodicals and magazines.

• Speakers: Reference librarians of the Academy
• Admission is free, but advance registration required. Please register via e-mail or telephone: Linda Gardin: libtrain@nyam.org or 212-822-7367.

FREE HIV TESTING
Wed / Sep 19, 10:00am-3:00pm
In front of Bronx Care @ Third Avenue, 2737 Third Avenue, Bronx, NY 10451

• Free HIV tests and incentives provided by Project WAVE.
  Free literature, giveaways, incentives and refreshments!
• Sponsored by Project WAVE (War Against the Virus Escalating) New York, Adolescent & Young Adult Health Program, and Bronx Care Third Ave
• For more information, call Seeromanie Baboolall at 718-838-1029 or Marianne Carlo at 718-960-2087

NETWORKING PARTY FOR HIV POSITIVE HETEROSEXUALS
Sat / Sep 29 / 7:00pm-12:00am
Mehanatta (Where SEHO used to be), 113 Ludlow St. New York, NY 10002 (between Delancey & Rivington Street East Village)

Come join us for an evening full of fun, and networking.  Dance all night, meet new and old friends. You might even meet the love of your life.

• Admission: $ 15.00
• Dress code: Semi-Formal
• You must R. S. V. P. in order to attend the party. Please make sure to R. S. V. P. by Sat., Sept 22
• Directions to the party will follow after you R. S. V. P.
• E-Mail: posrelationship@aol.com or call: Altagracia at 917-386-5142
• Please Be On Time!
• Sponsor: Positive Relationships - “Where positive heterosexuals click”
• Visit: www.positiverelationships.org for events posting and check out our 7 Days Western Caribbean Cruise for HIV positive heterosexuals, family and friends.

GROUPS SEEK TO ADDRESS CULTURAL BARRIERS TO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE CARE
Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report
The Alzheimer's Association and other groups have begun a campaign to address cultural barriers to care for dementia patients in minority communities, the Boston Globe reports. As part of the campaign -- which targets blacks, Hispanics, Asian-Americans and other ethnic and racial groups, the association has developed and distributed educational materials in English and Spanish for patients and physicians. In addition, the association plans to launch a media campaign in English and Spanish and increase efforts to help physicians identify patients at risk for dementia.

"Driving the initiatives is concern that increasing numbers of African-Americans and Latinos are at high risk of Alzheimer's and other types of dementia because they have cardiovascular disease or diabetes and because they are reaching their 60s, 70s and 80s, when dementia typically strikes," the Globe reports. In addition, some recent studies also have found that minorities are more likely than whites to develop dementia and Alzheimer's. The association also seeks to ensure that minorities have access to new treatments for dementia (Dembner, Boston Globe, 7/23).

WEB SITES OFFER MORE INFORMATION ON QUALITY OF PHYSICIANS, HOSPITALS
Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report
The Los Angeles Times on Sunday examined how "insurers, the government and other sources are providing information, especially on the Internet, about the quality of the nation's doctors and hospitals -- details that were simply unavailable a decade ago." According to the Times, many of the "more sophisticated tools are still in their early stages, and the information they provide can be incomplete," but, with a "little homework, consumers can get their hands on all kinds of information" on the quality of physicians and hospitals.

Consumers can examine state medical board Web sites, which often provide information about medical malpractice claims and disciplinary actions against physicians. In addition, consumers can examine Web sites sponsored by health insurers, the federal government and private companies that rank physicians and hospitals based on quality measures.

Sarah Loughran, executive vice president of Health Grades, said, "The fact is health care consumers need more information. Can you imagine buying a car and not being able to research it beforehand?" Maribeth Shannon, director of the Market and Policy Monitor program at the California HealthCare Foundation, added, "More transparency about the quality of care helps patients make more informed decisions" (Costello, Los Angeles Times, 7/22).

WEB SITE SEEKS TO HELP PATIENTS ACCESS FULL RANGE OF WESTERN, ALTERNATIVE CARE OPTIONS
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation – News Digest
As a growing number of patients and providers seek to pair Western medicine with alternative therapies, a new Web site aims to facilitate such care coordination, the South Florida Business Journal reports. Launched in May, the Yellow Courtyard Web site encourages collaboration among patients and medical professionals by offering information on various care modalities and health topics, as well as a database of providers skilled in a range of therapies. In addition, for a fee ranging from $1,495 to $6,250, the service matches patients with a primary education provider who assembles a care team of physicians and alternative medicine specialists with experience treating conditions such as cancer, stress and nutritional deficiencies. After the patient meets with each care professional, the team collaborates to develop an individual treatment plan combining conventional Western treatments with alternative practices such as acupuncture, massage and hydrotherapy. Roughly 1,800 patients and approximately 100 health care providers have signed up to participate in the Web site since it launched in May. The site's creator, a Miami resident and cancer patient, says Yellow Courtyard aims to shift the health system from "exclusionary medicine" to a collaborative environment that allows patients to access a "global network of practitioners and tools" (Bandell, South Florida Business Journal, 7/20/07; Yellow Courtyard Web site.

FREE ENGLISH CLASSES beginning Wed / Sep 5
Citizens Advice Bureau: Bronx Works
391 East 149th Street, Suite 520, Bronx, New York 10455

We can help!
Pre-registration required.
To register: Call Maria Castillo at: (718) 993-8880 Ext. 61 or come to our office.
We offer information Monday thru Thursday at 10:00am

CERTIFIED NURSE AIDE TRAINING PROGRAM
LaGuardia Community College, 29-10 Thomson Avenue, Queens, NY 11101
October-December / Tuition-Free

The CNA training program includes:

• Nurse Aide Technical Skills
• Supervised Clinical Practice
• NYS Exam Prep Sessions
• Career/Employment Preparation
• Basic program requirements:
• High School Diploma
• Have a Home Health Aide certificate
• Be currently employed in any field for 6 months
• Be available for evening [5:30 PM - 9:30 PM] and Saturday classes
• Able to work with very ill and disabled patients
• Able to work evening and night shifts
• Good physical health (verified by a pre-employment physical)

Sponsor: The Citizens Advice Bureau: Bronx Works
Information: Sophie Mabiala, 718-993-8880 x 44 or Sara Farimani, 718-993-8880 x22

CHILDREN MAY INHERIT CRAVING FOR JUNK FOOD
Children born to pregnant women who eat junk food may develop the same cravings, a new study published in the British Journal of Nutrition concludes.

Offspring born to pregnant rats fed crackers, potato chips, and sweets ate more unhealthy foods than offspring born to mothers who ate a more healthy diet of "rat chow," U.K. researchers at the Royal Veterinary College found.

The junk food diet fed to some rats was continued past birth as mother rats breastfed their offspring, according to a BBC Online report on the study. The sweet-eating rats tended to eat more overall, the researchers found.

The scientists suggested that "pleasure chemicals" generated by the mothers who ate junk foods may have affected the developing brains of fetal rats.

"Future mothers should be aware that pregnancy and lactation are not the time to over-indulge on fatty and sugary treats on the assumption that they are 'eating for two,'" said Professor Neil Stickland, the study's lead author.

www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=607361

WORKSHOPS ON HOME SAFETY AND OTHER WOMEN'S/CHILDREN'S
HEALTH TOPICS AVAILABLE TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
The Bronx Health Link, a non-profit educational clearinghouse, announces that it is now offering a free workshop on Home Safety for parents of children 5 years and under, as well as for care providers, available to any community-based organization in the Bronx. The workshop, which lasts one hour, covers such topics as electrical wiring, lead paint, fire hazards, carbon monoxide, and toxic chemicals.

The workshop is offered in English or Spanish, and we provide information, brochures, and incentives that consumers can use at home to safeguard their children. We are offering the workshop to groups of 8 or more, which can include consumers and/or care providers.

• In addition, we offer workshops on:
• Asthma
• Lead Poisoning
• SIDS Risk Reduction
• Diabetes
• Breast Health
• Domestic Violence
• Immunizations

If your agency would like to schedule this workshop, please contact the Bronx Health Link at 718-590-2648 or lsolis@bronxhealthlink.org.

From BCA's August 2007 issue of E-News:

For Your Calendar

Miracle Faith Church Hope & Deliverance Health Fair / Saturday, Aug 11

• 1345B Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10459
• FDNY-Fire safety
• NYC-DOH Immunization
• HPD –Handy Van
• Parks Recreation
• Bronx Lupus Cooperation
• A Better Bronx for you
• NYPD
• HMO-Health First
• Congressional Glaucoma Van
• Food Exchange
• Bronx Health link
• Viva Mujer/Viva los Hombres

Sponsored by: Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center & Health Plus Insurance Plan. For information, call Pastor James Tyson at 718-861-4000 or 646-206-5547 or e-mail Kndtyson@aol.com.

USA Today Series Examines Issues Related to Elder Care
Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report

(June 25) USA Today on Monday published several articles on issues related to elder care as part of a five-day series. Headlines and summaries appear below.

• "Becoming 'Parent of Your Parent' an Emotionally Wrenching Process": "Caring for elderly parents ... can threaten the emotional health," as well as the physical health, of caregivers and their families, USA Today reports (Fetterman [1], USA Today, 6/25).
• "Elder Care Shifting Away From Nursing Homes": A "shift away from institutionalized care is growing" among adult children who care for their elderly parents because of "the growth of less-restrictive types of care," such as assisted-living facilities and supervised adult day care, USA Today reports (Block, USA Today, 6/25).
• "Growing Up Meant Becoming a Caregiver": The article profiles Ray Payton, a Virginia woman who cares for both of her grandparents in their home and works two jobs to pay for their expenses (Fetterman [2], USA Today, 6/25).

 "Many Worry About Being Able To Care for Relatives in the Future": Almost half of the 59% of baby boomers who do not offer personal or financial help or both to their elderly parents have concerns about their ability to offer such help in the future, according to a USA Today/ABC News/Gallup poll, USA Today reports (Fetterman [3], USA Today, 6/25).

"Proposed Legislation Would Help Caregivers With Financial, Day Care Aid": Lawmakers have proposed several bills that seek to reduce costs for family caregivers -- some of which would provide caregivers with tax credits of as much as $3,000 annually -- but Congress "hasn't passed any of the proposals in final form," USA Today reports (Fetterman [4], USA Today, 6/25).

Click here for links to the above articles.

Free Summer Meals for NYC Children!
Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York

(July 3) The 2007 Summer Meals Program, sponsored by the New York City Department of Education's Office of School Food Services, offers free breakfast and lunch to all New York City children from June 28th and August 31st. All children under the age of 19 are eligible regardless of income, citizenship status, residency or enrollment in public school, and there is no application, registration, documentation, ID or fee required. Meals are being served at more than 700 schools, pools, parks, libraries and New York City Housing Authority complexes throughout the five boroughs.

Click here to search for a Summer Meals site nearest you.

Loss of Sense of Smell Could Predict Alzheimer's, Study Finds
Medical News Today

(July 4) A new U.S. study suggests that losing one's sense of smell in old age could be a predictor of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) which is often a precursor of Alzheimer's disease.

The study is published in July's issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a mild thinking, learning and memory disorder that does not interfere significantly with daily living, is often a precursor to Alzheimer's diseases, but scientists don't know much about how to predict its development. Inability to recognize familiar odours has been associated with more rapid cognitive decline, and with the transition from MCI to Alzheimer's.

Dr. Robert S. Wilson and colleagues from the Rush University, Chicago and also from the University of Pennsylvania decided to test the hypothesis that losing one's sense of smell could be a predictor of MCI in a longitudinal study.

The participants were 589 older people with an average age of 79.9, who showed no signs of cognitive impairment at the start of the study in 1997. The study ended 5 years later in 2002.

Their sense of smell at the start of the study was measured using a test where 12 familiar odours were placed under their nose. They were asked to identify each smell from four possible options. Also at the start of the study and then every year for five years, they had clinical evaluation that included medical history, a neurological exam and cognitive function testing.

Reference: "Olfactory Identification and Incidence of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Older Age." Robert S. Wilson, Julie A. Schneider, Steven E. Arnold, Yuxiao Tang, Patricia A. Boyle, and David A. Bennett. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2007; 64:802-808, Vol. 64 No. 7, July 2007.

Click here to view abstract.

Flower Essence Is Effective Stress, Anxiety Reliever, Study Shows
Medical News Today

(July 2) A just published scientific study conducted by researchers at the University of Miami School of Nursing in conjunction with The Sirkin Creative Living Center (SCLC) has found that Rescue Remedy, an all-natural remedy created from flower essences, is an effective over-the-counter stress reliever with a comparable effect to traditional pharmaceutical drugs yet without any of the known adverse side effects, including addiction.

Rescue Remedy, manufactured by Nelsons, contains five flower essences: Rock Rose to alleviate terror and panic, Impatiens to mollify irritation and impatience, Clematis to combat inattentiveness, Star of Bethlehem to ease shock, and Cherry Plum to calm irrational thoughts. Available in a convenient spray bottle or in drop form, it helps to provide better emotional balance and fast, convenient relief from everyday stress.

"The result of this independent study is not only welcome news for those of us who encounter stressful situations every day, but particularly for the 40 million Americans who suffer from physician-diagnosed anxiety," said Ronald Stram, MD, who regularly prescribes Rescue Remedy to his anxious and stressed patients. "Stress compromises your ability to fight off disease and infection. It can even rewire the brain, making you more vulnerable to everyday pressures and problems."

Rescue Remedy has been a popular stress reliever since 1930 but until now had not been thoroughly investigated scientifically. This study specifically examined the product for the reduction of acute situational stress. A double-blind clinical trial comparing a standard dosage of Rescue Remedy against a placebo of identical appearance was conducted in a sample of 111 individuals aged 18 to 49. The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) - a standard means to evaluate anxiety - was administered before and after the use of Rescue Remedy or placebo. The results suggest that Rescue Remedy may be effective in reducing high levels of situational anxiety. The results were just published in the latest edition of Complementary Health Practice Review.

Reference: Complementary Health Practice Review, Vol. 12, No. 1, 3-14 (2007).

Click here to view abstract.

From BCA's July 2007 issue of E-News:

For Your Calendar

2007 National Conference on Latinos and AIDS
Mon.-Tues., July 30–31
Miami Beach Resort & Spa - Miami, FL.

A National Forum on HIV/AIDS for Health Professionals Who Provide Care for Latinos.

The goal of this activity is to update the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of healthcare providers who care for patients with HIV/AIDS. This activity is also designed for healthcare media, federal and state legislators, AIDS service organization officers, social workers, peer counselors, church leadership and corrections healthcare personnel.

You may register online through our website: www.minority-healthcare.com.

Innovative Treatments? Yes... But What to Do about Side Effects?
Tues., July 17, 6:00 – 7:30pm
SHARE Main Office, 1501 Broadway, Suite 704A, between 43rd and 44th Streets, NYC.

Join Karen Devries, R.N., O.C.N., Oncology Nurse Clinician/Charge Nurse at Beth Israel Medical Center, who will discuss the side effects associated with new and innovative therapies and possible interventions to counter these difficulties. Ms. Devries’ many years of experience include the administration of chemotherapy, the coordination of patient care and close follow up for those in treatment.

Free, but pre-registration is required.  Leave a message at 212-719-2943 x338 – leave the name of the event and your name and phone number.

Click here to learn about other SHARE programs.

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Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Lower Blood Pressure
The nutrients are found in certain fish, nuts, seeds and vegetable oils
HealthDay News

(June 4) A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids -- found in certain fish, nuts, seeds and vegetable oils -- may help lower blood pressure. That's the conclusion of a study that examined data from 4,680 people in China, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Researchers looked at participants' blood pressure and dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids. After compensating for a number of factors known to affect blood pressure (such as age, weight, exercise, salt intake, gender and alcohol consumption), the researchers concluded that high dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids was associated with:

• 0.6 mmHg lower systolic blood pressure (top number) and 0.6 mmHg lower diastolic blood pressure (bottom number), on average, for the entire study group.
• About 1.0 mmHg lower systolic blood pressure and 1.0 lower diastolic blood pressure among the 2,238 people who were not on a special diet or taking supplements or medication to treat high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes.
• About 0.9 mmHg lower systolic blood pressure and 0.9 mmHg lower diastolic blood pressure among the 2,038 people without high blood pressure.

The findings are published in the June issue of the journal Hypertension.

"Foods with omega-3 PFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids) had more of an effect in people who were not already taking medication and had not yet developed high blood pressure," study lead author Dr. Hirotsugu Ueshima, professor and chairman of the department of health science at Shiga University of Medical Science in Japan, said in a prepared statement.

Previous studies found that a population-wide decrease of 2 mmHg of blood pressure could reduce deaths from stroke by about six percent and deaths from coronary heart disease by about four percent. "With blood pressure, every millimeter counts. The effect of each nutrient is apparently small but independent, so together they can add up to a substantial impact on blood pressure," Ueshima said.

"If you can reduce blood pressure a few millimeters from eating less salt, losing a few pounds, avoiding heavy drinking, eating more vegetables, whole grains and fruits (for their fiber, minerals, vegetable protein and other nutrients) and getting more omega-3 fatty acids, then you've made a big difference," Ueshima said.

Click here for article.

Recent Studies Find Benefits to Music Therapy
Natural Standard – Monthly Newsletter

(June) A group of recent studies has investigated the effects of music therapy on a variety of patients, from young, grieving youth to terminally ill elderly. Music therapy has been studied for a number of illnesses with strong, positive scientific evidence including mood enhancement, relaxation, stress, anxiety, autism, cystic fibrosis, dementia, depression, grief, infant development, neonatal care, mental performance, nausea/vomiting, pain, Parkinson's disease, quality of life, schizophrenia, sedation, sleep quality and stress.

Music is an ancient tool of healing that was recognized in the writings of Pythagoras, Aristotle and Plato. The modern discipline of music therapy began early in the 20th century with community musicians visiting veterans' hospitals around the country to play for those suffering from the traumas of war. Patients' responses led to the hiring of musicians by hospitals.

Music is used to influence physical, emotional, cognitive and social well-being and improve quality of life for healthy people, as well as those who are disabled or ill. It may involve either listening to or performing music, with or without the presence of a music therapist.

Music therapists work in psychiatric hospitals, prisons, rehabilitative facilities, medical hospitals, outpatient clinics, day treatment centers, agencies serving developmentally disabled persons, community mental health centers, drug and alcohol programs, senior centers, nursing homes, hospice programs, correctional facilities, halfway houses, schools and private practice.

An Australian study investigated music therapy referral trends with palliative care and found that music therapy is commonly prescribed by healthcare providers. Researchers analyzed music therapy (MT) referral trends from palliative care team members across nine Australian inpatient and community-based palliative care settings. In the study, 354 participants (196 female, 158 male) were referred ranging in age from four to 98 years-old and most were diagnosed with cancer (323 participants or 91 percent). Nurses (167 or 47 percent) referred most frequently to music therapy. Thirty-six percent or 130 patients were referred for symptom-based reasons, and 24.5 percent or 87 patients were referred for support and coping.

Researchers concluded that study results suggest implications for service delivery of music therapy practice, interdisciplinary care and benchmarking of music therapy services.

In a related study, scientists evaluated and compared the effects of Orff-based music therapy, social work and wait-list control groups on behavioral problems and grief symptoms of bereaved school-aged children. Social work and music therapy sessions were provided weekly for one hour over an eight-week period. Twenty-six participants attended three different public elementary schools, and each school was randomly assigned to one of the conditions. Pre and post-test measures consisted of the Behavior Rating Index for Children (BRIC) and the Bereavement Group Questionnaire for Parents and Guardians (BP). The BRIC measured behavioral distress and the BP measured grief symptoms prior to and following participation in the assigned conditions.

The study found that participants in the music therapy group significantly improved in behaviors and grief symptoms, and those in the social work group experienced a significant reduction in their behavioral problems but not their grief symptoms. Participants in the wait-list control group made no significant improvements in either their grief symptoms or behavioral problems.

Researchers concluded that study results support the use of Orff-based music therapy interventions for bereaved children in a school-based grief program.

Another study from the Journal of Music Therapy explored the effect of music therapy on the spirituality of persons in an in-patient hospice unit as measured by self-reporting. Ten participants were used as their own control in an ABAB design format. Session A consisted of approximately 30 minutes of music therapy, after which the patient/subject responded to a spiritual well-being questionnaire; Session B consisted of approximately 30 minutes of a non-music visit, after which the patient/subject responded to a spiritual well-being questionnaire.

The study found a statistically significant increase in spiritual well-being scores on music days.

And finally, a study examined the effects of music therapy on pain, also in a hospice setting. The focus of the study was to describe current trends in pain assessment in end of life care with a secondary focus on music therapy techniques commonly used to address pain for hospice patients. Study authors conducted a survey of 72 board certified music therapists and 92 hospice and palliative nurses. The survey found that most music therapists in the hospice setting incorporate formal pain assessment into their practice; both nursing professionals and music therapists surveyed utilized multiple assessment tools to assess patient pain.

Researchers concluded that there are a variety of music therapy techniques utilized by music therapists with hospice patients to address acute and chronic pain symptoms.

Click here for article.

Nursing Home Accelerates Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer's: Study
HealthDay News

(June 1) Moving to a nursing home speeds up cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease patients, say researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. They followed 432 Alzheimer's patients who lived in the community at the start of the four-year study. During the study, 155 of the participants were placed in nursing homes.

All participants showed a gradual cognitive decline, but many who were placed in a nursing home showed a more rapid decline. Conversely, people who had day care for three-to-four days a week at the beginning of the study did not show the same levels of decline.

"The findings suggest that the transition from the community to a nursing home is particularly difficult for people with Alzheimer's disease and that those planning for their care should consider the possibility that experience in adult day care programs may help prepare affected persons for institutional living," study author Robert S. Wilson, a neuropsychologist at the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, said in a statement.

The study appears in the June issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Click here for article.

Mediterranean Diet Dramatically Reduces Children's Allergies and Asthma
NewsTarge

(June 4) Researchers studying children in Greece found that those who eat a Mediterranean diet rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, and olive oil experience less respiratory allergies and asthma than other children. Dr. Paul Cullinan of Britain's Royal Brompton Hospital and National Heart and Lung Institute and colleagues in Greece and Spain studied 690 children aged 7 to 18 using a 58-food frequency questionnaire.

Comparing children on the Greek island of Crete who ate the most fresh fruits and nuts to children who ate the most margarine, researchers discovered "a high consumption of nuts was found to be inversely associated with wheezing, whereas margarine increased the risk of both wheezing and allergic rhinitis (sneezing and runny nose)."

"Eighty percent of children ate fresh fruit (and 68 percent vegetables) at least twice a day," they wrote in their report, published in the journal Thorax. Researchers reported that "data suggest a beneficial effect of commonly consumed fruits, vegetables, and nuts and of a high adherence to a traditional Mediterranean diet during childhood on symptoms of asthma and rhinitis. Diet may explain the relative lack of allergic symptoms in this population."

The scientists found intake of grapes, oranges, apples, and fresh tomatoes, which are local products widely available in Crete, had no association with atopy -- a hereditary immunoglobulin-related problem that can predispose a child to certain atopic allergic illnesses -- but was protective for wheezing and rhinitis.

"This benefit is thought to be linked to the vitamins and antioxidants which [fruits, nuts and vegetables] contain," said Leanne Male, assistant director of research at Asthma UK, "Asthma UK is currently funding a number of research projects to further explore this association."

Researchers stated grapes had never before been shown to protect against allergies. Compounds found in grape skins, especially antioxidant substances, may be responsible, they said.

"Most consumers do not know it, but allergies are often brought on by a highly inflammatory diet comprised of processed foods," said Mike Adams, author of The 7 Laws of Nutrition, "Switching to unprocessed foods, including fresh vegetables, olive oil, and vinegar results in a sharp reduction in inflammation, thereby reducing allergies in both children and adults."

Click here for article.

From BCA's June 2007 issue of E-News:

For Your Calendar

Cooking Up a Storm: Eating Healthy for Life (For Breast or Ovarian Cancer Survivors) / Sunday, June 3, 5:00 - 7:30pm
Jewish Community Center, 334 Amsterdam Avenue at 76th Street, Manhattan

You've heard the theories, read the studies, listened to the experts. Healthy eating will improve the way your body functions, strengthen your immune system and control your body weight. But will it taste good?  Join culinary expert Julie Negrin, M.S., certified nutritionist in a hands-on cooking class and learn to prepare several mouth-watering dishes that will enhance your dining and satisfy your palate.  Focus will be on vegetables, fruits and fish recipes. In collaboration with the JCC in Manhattan.

Sponsor: SHARE
Free, but pre-registration is required.

Call the JCC to register: (646) 505-5708. JCC program code: ESUSOS00S7. A maximum of 12 women - so register early.

"People First" Coordinated Care Listening Forums / Wednesday, June 6th
NYC - Time and place to be announced
Putting YOU at the Center of New York's System of Care

The purpose of these forums is to obtain input from the people who use multiple services in the areas of health care, addiction, mental health, and developmental disabilities and their families regarding their experiences. We also welcome input from providers and others. Our goal is to obtain insight on how to improve quality and outcomes, as well as coordinate support for people who have needs across multiple systems.

The forums are a starting point for new collaborative initiatives aimed at better serving our citizens. We would like to hear from you regarding your experiences in accessing care, the quality of care you received and the ease of coordinating your care, and look forward to seeing you.

Sponsors: NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS); NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH); NYS Department of Health (DOH); NYS Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD)

DOH Email: dohweb@health.state.ny.us
Website: www.nyhealth.gov

OMRDD Email: public.affairs@omr.state.ny.us
Website: www.omr.state.ny.us

OASAS Email: public.affairs@oasas.state.ny.us
Website: www.oasas.state.ny.us 

OMH Email: transformation@omh.state.ny.us
Website: www.omh.state.ny.us

Living a New Normal -- an Educational Networking Session for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer / Thursday, June 7, 6:30 - 8:30pm
SHARE Main Office, 1501 Broadway, Suite 704A, between 43 and 44 Sts., Manhattan

Here's an opportunity for young women diagnosed with breast cancer to meet and share experiences around common issues. Psychologist Dr. Ruth Livingston, William Alanson Institute, Director, Living with Medical Conditions, will facilitate a candid and interactive discussion on facing fears, managing anxieties and developing communication strategies to improve your quality of life. Refreshments will be served.

Co-sponsored by SHARE & Young Survival Coalition.

Free, but pre-registration is required.  Leave a message at 212-719-2943 x338 - leave the name of the event and your name and phone number.

For other SHARE programs, click here.

Arthritis Lecture / Bronx Library Center / June 11 / 6:00pm
People with Arthritis Can Exercise! Review the most common types of arthritis. Find out about the do’s and don’ts of exercise for people with arthritis. Judith Leuchter, MA Health Education Manager, Comprehensive Family Care Center, Montefiore Medical Group. Admission is free. Bronx Library Center is located at 310 East Kingsbridge Road (at Briggs Avenue) in the Bronx. Click here for directions. For information, call 718-579-4244.

9th Annual Community Health Education Day (CHED 2007) / Fri., June 22 - Set-Up Time: 8:30am; Event Time: 11:00am-3:00pm
Bronx County Building, Veterans' Memorial Hall, 851 Grand Concourse (at E. 161st St.)
The Bronx Health Link, Inc. (TBHL) is pleased to announce that our 9th Annual Community Health Education Day (CHED 2007) has once again been chosen by the Office of the Bronx Borough President as the signature Health Event for Bronx Week 2007. We would like to invite your organization to participate at CHED 2007 by providing health screenings, and/or conducting outreach and education on your services and programs to the Bronx community.  Last year's event attracted over 700 attendees.

Senior Citizen Wellness Fair / June 6, 2007 10:00am-2:00am
St. Mary’s Park (143rd St & St.Ann’s Ave)
718-402-5155 ext 305
Sponsored by Lincoln Hospital, NYC parks and Recreation, and HealthFirst

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Workshops on Home Safety and Other Women's/Children's Health Topics Available to Community Organizations 
The Bronx Health Link, a non-profit educational clearinghouse, announces that it is now offering a free workshop on Home Safety for parents of children 5 years and under, as well as for care providers, available to any community-based organization in the Bronx. The workshop, which lasts one hour, covers such topics as electrical wiring, lead paint, fire hazards, carbon monoxide, and toxic chemicals.The workshop is offered in English or Spanish, and we provide information, brochures, and incentives that consumers can use at home to safeguard their children. The workshop is given by Ms. Suhey Francisco, an experienced environmental health educator. We are offering the workshop to groups of 8 or more, which can include consumers and/or care providers.

In addition, we offer workshops on:

• Asthma
• Lead Poisoning
• SIDS Risk Reduction
• Diabetes
• Breast Health
• Domestic Violence
• Immunization

If your agency would like to schedule this workshop, please contact the Bronx Health Link at 718-590-2648 or lsolis@bronxhealthlink.org.

Green Walking Beats the Blues; New Study Recommends Ecotherapy for Depression
Medical News Today

Going for a green walk in a park or countryside where one is surrounded by nature reduces depression whereas walking in a shopping centre or urban setting increases depression. This is the message of Mind, a leading UK mental health charity that this week is launching a new "green agenda" for mental health based on the concept of "ecotherapy".

The campaign is backed by two studies commissioned from the University of Essex. One study looked at the effect of "green" exercise such as walking, gardening and conservation work on mental health, and the other compared the impact of outdoor versus indoor exercise on mental wellbeing. Mind is calling for ecotherapy to be recognized as a "clinically-valid frontline treatment for mental health problems".

They mention a report where 93 per cent of GPs admit to prescribing drugs because of a lack of alternatives. For instance, a well recognized effective treatment in the UK is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), but the average waiting time in some areas is four years, says Mind.

They are not advocating ecotherapy as a replacement for drugs, but they want doctors and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) which issues guidelines and approval of treatments, to recognize it has an important contribution to make alongside existing treatments.

Other countries are already prescribing ecotherapy as a treatment for mental distress. For instance in the Netherlands and Norway, GPs can prescribe their patients a stay in a care farm. The Netherlands has 600 care farms and Norway 400 care farms. The UK has only 43, and none of them is directed at mental health.

Ecotherapy is about getting out of doors and becoming active in a green environment as a way of boosting mental health, say Mind. This includes taking regular walks in the countryside or the park, flying a kite, or taking part in a gardening therapy project.

www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthnews.php?newsid=70852

Diet Rich in Cereal Fibers May Help Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
The nutrient magnesium may also offer protective effects, German study says
HealthDay News - by Ed Edelson

A diet rich in fiber from cereals and in magnesium may help lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, German researchers report. Ann Albright, president-elect for health care and education at the American Diabetes Association, said the suggestion that fiber from cereal might be better than fiber from fruits and vegetables in preventing type 2 diabetes "warrants further investigation. But I don't think we should take away the idea that fruits and vegetables are not important," she added.

As for the nutrient magnesium, "there are a whole lot of challenges around the study of micronutrients," Albright said. "They are difficult to study. I don't think the public health message is that we should go out and up our intake of magnesium." The mechanism by which magnesium intake might affect the risk of diabetes "is unclear," she said.

Type 2 diabetes, which generally occurs in the adult years as the body loses it ability to metabolize sugar adequately, is a growing problem, due largely to growing obesity rates, the German researchers noted. Estimates suggest that the number of people worldwide with type 2 diabetes may rise from 171 million in 2000 to 370 million by 2030, according to background information in the article. The associated illnesses, death and health-care costs linked to the disease underscore the need for effective preventive measures, the study authors noted.

For the study, conducted by researchers at the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, more than 9,700 men and 15,365 women, 35 to 65 years old, who completed a food questionnaire were then followed for an average of seven years.

The researchers also did a meta-analysis -- or review -- of previous studies about the relationship between fiber or magnesium intake and risk of diabetes. Dividing people in the study into five groups based on their intake of fiber from cereals, the researchers found that those who ate the most had a 27 percent lower risk of developing type-2 diabetes than those who ate the least. Greater fiber intake from fruits and vegetables was not associated with diabetes risk, the study found.

Participants who consumed the most magnesium had a 23 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who consumed the least. Green vegetables such as spinach are good sources of magnesium, as are nuts like almonds and cashews.

The research did not touch directly on one important lifestyle issue, physical activity, Albright said. Many other studies have shown "strong evidence of physical activity, as it relates to weight loss, in preventing or delaying development of diabetes," she said.

"So, the take-home messages are that people do need to keep their weight in a healthy range," she said. "And fiber intake is a major component of a healthy diet." The source of the fiber -- fruits, vegetables or cereals -- does not seem to be of major importance, Albright said. "Unfortunately, many people do not get a lot of fiber in their diet," she said. And many people do not get enough physical activity -- 30 minutes a day, most days of the week, is recommended, Albright said.

The findings were published in the May 14 issue of Archives of Internal Medici

www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=604574

From BCA's May 2007 issue of E-News:

For Your Calendar

Thursday / May 3 / 6:00-7:30pm
Spring Cleaning: Detoxing for Health & Rejuvenation
Discover how to rest and refresh your body's natural detoxification system.  Learn how to create a strong foundation for improved health and increased vitality. Join Dana Reed, M.S., C.N.S., C.D.N., to see how you can conduct your own personal spring cleaning by removing foods that burden and harm your body and adding those which can help heal and restore a healthy immune response. Free, but pre-registration is required. Click here. Location: SHARE Main Office, 1501 Broadway, Suite 704A, between 43 & 44 Streets in NYC.

Fifth Annual  Latino Health Conference: "Social Justice and Latino Health:
The Life Cycle"

Friday / May 4 / 4:00-9:00pm
Opening Ceremony and Reception
Saturday / May 5 / 8:00am-7:00pm
Conference and Panel Discussions  
Saturday / May 6 / 12:30-4:30pm
No-cost screenings for: Hepatitis B Virus, High Blood Pressure, and Glucose

Our previous conferences brought together health care professionals from a local, national and international arena including clinicians, academicians, public health specialists, and administrators, as well as legislators and community leaders and advocates. Each conference, attended by more than 400 persons, not only served as forums for the exchange of information, data and ideas, but also invigorated the Latino health care community of the tri-state area and stimulated the creation of highly successful projects. This year the Conference participants will focus on social justice issues affecting the health of Latinos throughout the life cycle. An impressive roster of physicians, health care experts, historians, researchers, media professionals, educators and community advocates will discuss topics such as prevention, access to health care, education, violence, immigrant health, mental health and wellness. Click here for online, email or fax registration. Email: LHC2007@med.nyu.edu. Phone: 212-263-4852. Fax: 212-263-6526. Sponsor: The Center For Latino Health, Institute Of Community Health And Research at New York University School of Medicine.

Monday / May 7 / 6:00-7:30pm
Moving Forward - A 2007 Breast Cancer Update
Anne Moore, MD, Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Attending Physician at the New York Presbyterian Hospital and Chair of the Breast Cancer Committee, will discuss recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. The program is a must for those who are seeking the latest information in this rapidly changing field. Free, but pre-registration is required. Click here. Location: Jewish Community Center, 334 Amsterdam Ave., at 76th Street in NYC. Sponsor: SHARE.

Tuesday / May 8 / 6:00pm
Tour Little India Herb Market with Herbalist Letha Hadady
Visit India in Manhattan to enjoy the pungent aroma of herbs and spices, soothing cosmetics and perfumes, and energy and rejuvenation tonics with the author of Asian Health Secrets.  Optional meal at the end of tour. Free, but pre-registration is required. Click here. Location: Meet at Foods of India, Lexington Avenue, between East 28th & 29th Streets in NYC. Sponsor: SHARE.

Saturday / May 12 / 10:00am-3:00pm
Family Health Festival
Special health fair to create awareness for the entire family and have free health screenings and health educational materials about various illnesses and health issues. Location: P.S. 24, 427 38th Street, Brooklyn. Contact: Carmen Calderin at 718-492-6435. Sponsor: Office of Assemblyman Felix Ortiz.

Tuesday / May 15 / 6:30-8:00pm
ACHÉ Alternative Cooperative for Healing & Empowerment Call to Womyn: Join our Womyn of Color Healers Network!
Do you have hands on healing skills or other healing talents that you would love to share? Would you like to contribute to and learn from others? Are there health and wellness service you need for yourself?

We invite you to participate in The Womyn of Color Healers Network and bring your magic to Casa Atabex Ache! Learn the roots of ACHÉ. Vision community sustainability! Create community health ~What classes would you like to offer? What healing classes would you like to attend? Bring your friends & Family! Bring questions and answers about ACHÈ and our relationship to it. Contact Toyin Adebanjo our Program Director for more questions and to RSVP at toyinatcasa@aol.com or 718-585-5540. Location: 471 East 140th St., Basement Level, Bronx, NY 10454. Casa Atabex Aché meets every third Tuesday of the month.

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More Fruit, Less Meat to Reduce Colon Cancer Risk
Natural Standard Newsletter: The Authority on Integrative Medicine

(Apr. 4) Eating more fruit and less meat may help prevent precancerous colon polyps, a new study suggests. Researchers from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill explained that recent evidence suggests overall dietary patterns, rather than specific dietary components, may be a better predictor of colorectal adenomas or cancers. The scientists used cluster analysis to assess the association between dietary patterns and colorectal adenomas and determine whether adjusting for total energy consumption prior to creating clusters affects this relation. Data from a case-control study of 725 individuals undergoing a colonoscopy was utilized; 203 patients had at least one adenoma or colonoscopy, 522 patients (the controls) had no adenomas. Dietary data was obtained from a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ).

Researchers calculated the daily intake for 18 different food groups and transformed the values into Z-scores. Participants were first clustered without energy adjustment, then again based on their consumption per 1,000 kcal (4,187 kJ). Researchers found that there was no association between dietary patterns and colorectal adenomas without energy adjustment prior to creating dietary clusters, as clusters formed as a by-product of energy consumption. However, after adjusting for energy consumption, three distinct clusters emerged: 1) high fruit-low meat cluster; 2) high vegetable-moderate meat cluster and; 3) high meat cluster. The study revealed that after adjusting for potential confounders, the high vegetable-moderate meat cluster and high meat cluster were at significantly increased odds of having had an adenoma compared with the high fruit-low meat cluster. A high-fruit, low-meat diet appears to be protective against colorectal adenomas compared with a dietary pattern of increased vegetable and meat consumption.

Researchers suggested that individuals eat more fruit, less meat and continue eating the recommended allowances of vegetables. This in light of a recent report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stating that less than one third of Americans are getting the recommended daily allowances of fruits and vegetables. Integrative therapies with strong or good scientific evidence in the prevention and/or treatment of colon cancer include vitamin A (retinol), probiotics, psychotherapy and selenium.

Reference: Austin, GL, Adair LS, Galanko JA, et al. A Diet High in Fruits and Low in Meats Reduces the Risk of Colorectal Adenomas. J. Nutr. 137:999-1004, April 2007. Click here to view abstract.

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Exercise Shown to Powerfully Decrease Cigarette Cravings
News Target - by David Gutierrez

(Apr. 4) Even mild exercise can help stave off cigarette cravings and withdrawal symptoms as well as decrease a smoker's chance of reaching for a cigarette, according to a study published in the journal "Addiction." Researchers from the University of Exeter and the University of Toronto reviewed 14 previously published studies and compared the results. Twelve of the studies reviewed demonstrated that a bout of exercise caused a rapid decrease in cigarette cravings, withdrawal symptoms and other negative effects of cigarette addiction.

As little as five minutes of simple exercises such as walking, isometrics, or muscle flexing proved as effective as a nicotine patch in decreasing an immediate craving. A high-intensity bout of exercise decreased cravings for 30 to 40 minutes, whereas a light bout decreased them for 15 minutes. The majority of studies that looked at withdrawal symptoms found that exercise caused a significant decrease in at least two of six symptoms: anxiety, irritability, restlessness, stress, tension and poor concentration.

The researchers noted that further studies are needed to discover the mechanisms by which exercise affects the body's response to addiction. "Relatively small doses of exercise should be recommended as an aid to managing cigarette cravings and withdrawal symptoms." - study authors Adrian H. Taylor, Michael H. Ussher and Guy Faulkner Reference: Austin, GL, Adair LS, Galanko JA, et al. A Diet High in Fruits and Low in Meats Reduces the Risk of Colorectal Adenomas. J. Nutr. 137:999-1004, April 2007. Click here to view abstract.

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Online 'Pillbox' to Remind People to Take Medications
Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report

(Apr. 6) A soon-to-be released online device, called Med-eMonitor, will be used as part of a Medicare program in Tennessee to alert patients when to take their medications, the Tennessean reports. The device sends elderly people reminders, usually with a song-like tone, to take their medication. It also sends a message to a secure Internet site through a standard phone line if users have taken the wrong medication or dose, and they will receive a check-up call from a health professional. The system, which will be available in a few weeks, costs about $60 per month. About 270 elderly residents in Tennessee will use the "smart pillboxes" as part of a Medicare program intended to reduce hospitalizations. Bruce Kehr -- chair and CEO of InforMedix, the company that makes Med-eMonitor -- said studies have indicated that more than 90% of people who use the system take their medication as prescribed, compared with 40% to 50% of people who do not use the technology. The Medicare program will target beneficiaries with diabetes and high blood pressure. The device also monitors beneficiaries' health, such as by alerting health professionals about unsafe blood sugar levels. Program officials say they expect fewer hospitalizations will offset the cost of the program (Pinto, Tennessean, 4/5).

From BCA's April 2007 issue of E-News:

For Your Calendar

Thursday, April 5, 6:00-7:00pm
How to Protect Your Bones: the Role of Calcium
Recent studies appear to confirm that calcium pills alone do not prevent osteoporosis.  Join nutritionist Dana Reed, M.S., C.N.S., C.D.N., as she reviews the latest research and interprets what the studies say about calcium.  Lean how simple changes in diet and a balanced approach to nutritional supplements can protect your bones and reduce your risk of osteoporosis even if your doctor has prescribed medications.

Sponsor & Location: SHARE, 1501 Broadway, Suite 704A, between 43 & 44 Streets in NYC. Admission is free, but pre-registration is required. Click here for more information.

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Monday, April 9, 6:00pm
Health Lecture/Discussion / Bronx Library Center
Heart Healthy Diet – Learn what foods you can choose to reduce your risk for heart disease. Presented by Dr. Zach Rosen, Family Physician, Family Health Center, Montefiore Medical Group. Admission is free. Bronx Library Center is located at 310 East Kingsbridge Road (at Briggs Avenue) in the Bronx. Click here for directions. For information, call 718-579-4244.

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Thursday, April 12, 3:00-5:00pm
Prevent Child Abuse Walk-a-Thon
The Family Support Program will be having its third annual Prevent Child Abuse Walk-a-Thon. This event is a fundraiser and the money collected will be given to the NYS Prevent Child Abuse Program. We are hoping to raise over $1000 this year. However, we cannot reach this goal without your help.

We will walk from 167th and Gerard to the Concourse, then down to 160th, turn at the Supreme Court building and then back up on the opposite side of the Concourse to WHEDCO.  Upon returning to WHEDCO, there will be several organizations (Mental Health Association of New York, The Parent Resource Center, Montefiore Child and Adol. Clinic, etc.) dispensing information. WHEDCO will also have a table with information about all our services.

By taking part in the walk, you will help support the statewide programs of Prevent Child Abuse New York.  In the process, you will be educating New Yorkers about child abuse and neglect.  With this effort, you are building a better future for children. Please, there is no minimum or maximum amount for you, your friends and family (no clients please) to contribute and you don't have to walk.

Departure & return point: WHEDCO, 50 East 168th Street in the Bronx.

Thank you for your support and please contact Doxene Roberts if you have any questions at 718-839-1133 x133.

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Thursday, April 12, 6:00-8:00pm
Health & Pleasure Fair for Lesbians, Bisexual Women and Transgenders
208 W. 13th Street, between 7th & 8th Avenues in NYC. Contact: Cristina Moldow, 212-620-7310 x258.

Sponsor: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center. www.gaycenter.org

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Certain Fruit Juices Shown to Have Strong Antioxidant Qualities
HealthDay News
www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=602871

The benefits of specific types of fruit juice to fight against disease have been documented in a number of medical studies. Now, BBC News reports that a team of scientists from Glasgow University have identified purple grape, cranberry and apple juice as those that contain the most antioxidants to fight disease such as Alzheimer's, cancer and heart disease.

The specific chemicals are called polyphenols, and they have the strongest antioxidant properties that fight the substances called free radicals, which are believed to damage cells and precipitate a number of harmful conditions in the body.

According to BBC News, the Glasgow researchers showed purple grape juice made with Concord grapes to have the best range of polyphenols with the highest antioxidant capacity. These were equal to those found in Beaujolais red wine, shown by previous studies that, when used in moderation, was an effective deterrent to free radical buildup in the body.

The BBC quotes Alan Crozier, Professor of Plant Biochemistry and Human Nutrition at Glasgow University, as saying, "Supplementing a healthy diet with a regular intake of a variety of fruit juices such as purple grape juice, grapefruit juice, cloudy apple juice and cranberry juice, will, without major dietary changes, increase the consumer's intake of phenolic antioxidants. "

The study will appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry.

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New National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline Launched
www.loveisrespect.org

The National Domestic Violence Hotline and Liz Claiborne Inc. announced the launch of www.loveisrespect.org, the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline, a 24-hour national web-based and telephone helpline created to help teens (ages 13-18) experiencing dating abuse. Call toll free 1-866-331-9474 or TTY 1-866-331-8453. One-on-one live chat is also available from 4:00pm-midnight, Central Standard Time, 7 days a week.

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Children's Cooking Classes Teach Healthy Eating Habits
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation News Digest: Childhood Obesity
www.rwjf.org/portfolios/features/digest.jsp?id=5059&iaid=138

In an effort to curb rising childhood obesity rates, a growing number of businesses and community groups are hosting cooking classes designed to teach children about nutrition and healthy eating habits, the Detroit Free Press reports. Child health advocates maintain that children who learn to prepare and eat nutritious foods are more likely to make healthy lifestyle choices. Many youth-oriented cooking classes teach children to prepare meals using healthful ingredients that initially may be unfamiliar or unappealing to young children, such as broccoli or sweet potatoes. In addition, some courses teach skills such as picking fresh vegetables at the grocery store and understanding nutrition labels. In the Detroit metro area, children can attend cooking programs offered by the Macomb County Michigan State University Extension and Junior League International, which host classes at community centers and churches. Young Chefs Academy, a Texas-based company with three franchises in Michigan, also hosts weekly cooking courses for children as young as age 4. Although there is a dearth of evidence confirming youth cooking lessons' potential to prevent or reverse obesity, many nutrition experts and parents say the programs are an effective, fun forum for nutrition education (Oleck, Detroit Free Press, 2/16/07).

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Could Baby Boomers Be Approaching Retirement in Worse Shape Than Their Predecessors?
National Institute on Aging
www.nih.gov/news/pr/mar2007/nia-05.htm

Americans in their early to mid-50s today report poorer health, more pain and more trouble doing everyday physical tasks than their older peers reported at the same age in years past, a recent analysis has shown. The research, published in print and online this week by the nonprofit National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), was supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), a component of the National Institutes of Health.

Using a summary health index developed for their analysis, the researchers compared the overall, self-reported health of people in three birth-year groups - those born in 1936-41 (now ages 66 to 71), 1942-47 (now ages 60 to 65) and 1948-53 (now ages 54 to 59). The data came from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationwide, NIA-sponsored survey of more than 20,000 Americans over age 50 that began in 1992. It draws from survey respondents' answers to questions about their health and well-being when they were all between the ages of 51 and 56. The researchers' health index blended HRS participants' ratings of their health, difficulty with physical mobility and agility, and perception of physical pain.

The study showed: (1) The two younger groups were less likely than the oldest group to have said their health was "excellent or very good" at 51 to 56 years of age. (2) The youngest group reported having more pain, chronic health conditions, and drinking and psychiatric problems than people who were the same age 12 years earlier. (3) Compared with the oldest group, the