Health & Wellness
Healthbeat
Advocates are pushing wider
distribution of female condoms
(BLACK PR WIRE) - As World AIDS Day
approaches on December 1, new data from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
indicate that HIV/AIDS remains a serious health cri
sis among African American women and men. In
Hoytt
response, siaie anu locai
health departments are
working with the CDC to
increase access to HIV
prevention, testing, and
treatment programs in
African American com
munities. Many local
health departments are
also increasing access to
the female condom, a
woman-initiated HIV pre
vention method that was
first introduced 15 years
ago.
TV.. IT O .. n .1
Drug Administration (FDA) recognized the safety
and effectiveness of the female condom as a dual
method for HIV and pregnancy prevention in 1993,
but its high cost relative to the male condom has lim
ited access in the United States until recently.
Health advocates have also launched a global
campaign - "Prevention Now!" - to demand
increased access to the female condom in communi
ties heavily impacted by HIV/AIDS. While public
health programs around the world distribute six to 12
billion male condoms every year, just 26 million
female condoms were distributed in 2007, roughly
equal to one female condom for every 62 women
Wtween the ages of 15 and 49.
Unlike the male condom, the female condom can
ljc inserted before sex starts. It also provides women
with an alternative HIV prevention method if their
husbands or partners refuse to use a male condom.
Because women wear the female condom, men don't
have to wear protection during sex, a factor that can
help prevent "male condom fatigue."
"African American women must have increased
access to HTV prevention methods that give them the
power to make the choices and the decisions about
their health," said Eleanor Hinton Hoytt, president
and CEO of the Black Women's Health Imperative,
the only national organization dedicated solely to the
health and wellness of Black women.
Craven County schools
recognized by USDA
NEW BERN, N.C. - USDA Food and Nutrition
Service Regional Administrator Don Araette present
ed Gold Certificates to school officials in Craven
County, N.C. for four of their elementary schools
meeting USDA's HealthierUS School Challenge at
the highest level. The winning schools are: Ben D.
Quinn Elementary, Bridgeton Elementary, Havelock
Elementary and Oaks Road Elementary. They are the
first schools in North Carolina to win Gold Awards,
USDA's highest.
"I'm pleased to recognize these four Craven
County elementary schools for achieving Gold-level
status," Amette said. Q
USDA has issued a challenge to schools through
out the nation to make changes to their school nutri
tion environment, improve the quality of the foods
served, and provide students with more nutritious,
healthy choices. These schools' achievements are
very significant because obesity is a growing concern
for school children in the United States. USDA
believes that schools should be taking a leadership
role in helping students learn to make healthy eating
and active lifestyle choices.
Local 'Cure' affiliate
hires programs manager
The North Carolina Triad Affiliate of Susan G.
Komen for the Cure has appointed Tasha Renee
Smith as its community programs manager.
In her role, she will manage Affiliate activities
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fillment of the Komen
vision and mission,
including the Komen NC
Triad grants, community
outreach, education and
survivor programs.
"I'm excited about the
many opportunities I see
to increase our outreach
and build awareness in the
triad," Smith said i
can't think of a better
place to bring my educa
tion and professional
Smith
> together to make a meaningful difference
s community level than Susan G. Komen for the
?&' ' 19
native of Pennsylvania, Smith came to
n-Salem in 1997 to pursue her Ph.D. in cancer
sgy at Wake Forest University School of
t. She says she considers Winston-Salem her
. After earning her doctorate, Smith then went
I -Chapel Hill for her Master erf Public Health
Epidemiology She most recently coordinated *
1 breast; cancer research project at Wake Forest
Baptist Medical Center.
i's incredible knowledge base will be an
i asset to our community and to the work of
our Affiliate." said Shelley Holdcn. Affiliate
president. "With this addition to our team, we will be
able to increase outreach and education efforts, and
greater assistance to the patients, survivors,
and supporters who call on us for infor
Young smokers turning to QuitlineJNC
CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT
Young folks are taking full-advantage
of a statewide hotline designed to help
smokers kick the habit.
QuitlineNC was established by the NC
Health and Wellness Trust Fund, which
strives to make state residents stronger,
both physically and economically, by
funding programs that promote preventive
health. The Fund was created by ? the
General Assembly in 2000 to allocate a
portion of North Carolina's share of the
national tobacco settlement. HWTF has
invested $199 million to support jireven
tive health initiatives and $102 million to
fund prescription drug assistance pro
grams.
Data shows that one year after a media
campaign targeting young smokers ages
18-24 was launched, QuitlineNC has sus
tained a three-fold increase in calls from
young adults. Young adults were targeted
in the campaign because they have the
highest smoking prevalence of any age
group in North Carolina. According to the
most recent data from the Behavioral Risk
Factor Surveillance System survey
(2007), 31 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds
in North Carolina smoke, well above the
national rate of 24 percent. Studies show
that tobacco users can double their
chances of quitting for good with the help
of phone-based cessation programs like
QuitlineNC.
"The NC Health and Wellness Trust
Fund is committed to reducing the devas
tating effects of smoking and
tobacco use, and we continue to make
significant strides in increasing the num
ber of young adults who
are using effective strategies to quit
tobacco," said Governor-elect and HWTF
Chair Bev Perdue.
"QuitlineNC is a proven program that
provides tobacco users with the help they
need to quit."
QuitlineNC is a free, one-on-one
phone-based cessation service that pairs
tobacco users with 'coaches' who develop
a quit plan and provide ongoing support.
"On a national observance where
tobacco-users are challenged to quit
tobacco use for the day, QuitlineNC gives
young adults a way to kick the habit for
good," said Vandana Shah, executive
director of the HWTF. "This recent call
data report confirms that through
research-based campaigns like 'Call it
Quits,' HWTF can link North Carolinians
to proven methods of quitting tobacco."
QuitlineNC ( I-8OO-QUIT-NOW or 1
800-784-8669) is available 8 a.m. to 3
a.m., seven days a week.
State celebrates record
rate for seat-belt usage
CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT .
More North Carolinians than ever are buckling up, a fact that state officials are tak
ing great pride in.
"More North Carolinians are getting the message and buckling up," said State
I ransportation Secretary Lyndo lippett.
"Continued education and enforcement
through our 'Click It or Ticket' initiative has
truly made a difference in our state. I urge
those who still choose to remain unbuckled
to take five seconds prior to each trip and
buckle up, it could save your life."
Last week, it was announced that North
Carolina's seat belt usage rate has reached its
highest to date. According to an annual sur
vey, the state's usage rate increased to 89.8
percent, a 4 percent increase since 2005 and
above the national rate of 82 percent.
The N.C. Governor's Highway Safety
PjfOgram administered "Click It or Ticket"
campaign is taking much of the credit for the
record increase in usage. The program began
as a national pilot project in 1993 to increase
seat belt usage and child passenger safety through stepped-up enforcement of the state's
seat belt and child safety seat laws.
The state's usage rate was 65 percent when the program began 15 years ago. In 2003,
the National Highway Traffic Safety^dministration adopted the campaign as a nation
al model that is now used in more than 40 states. ?
According to NHTSA, results are tabulated from probability-based observational
surveys, all of which follow established criteria. NHTSA's National Center for Statistics
and Analysis verifies that all states comply with the standard each year.
Last year in North Carolina alone, there were 1 ,706 traffic-related fatalities and 744
of those were unrestrained drivers or passengers.
Help is on the Way
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PRNcwsFoto/U tuque Image Inc
Hussein Balhas, 8, was born in Lebanon
with overwhelming congenital defects,
including a left eye completely covered
with skin and a right one incapable of fully
closing. The boy is receiving medical assis
tance from the ALO Cultural Foundation,
which was founded by marketing guru
Wafa Kanan. In September, the foundation
made it possible for Hussein to visit the
United States where he, Qmong other
things, met basketball legend Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar.
Local doctors: Ginkgo won't help dementia
CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT
Researchers at Wake Forest
University Baptist Medical
Center say that the notion that the
popular herbal supplement
Ginkgo biloba can improve
memory for those with dementia
or Alzheimer's is a myth.
A $30 million, multi-center
study tested the effectiveness of
120 milligrams (mg) of ginkgo
twice daily versus a placebo in
lowering the incidence of demen
tia and Alzheimer's in normal,
elderly people and those with
mild cognitive impairment.
Results show that the 240 mg
of ginkgo daily has no effect on
the onset of dementia or develop
ment of Alzheimer's. The study
appears in a recent issue of the
Journal of the American Medical
Association.
The Ginkgo biloba for the
Evaluation of Memory (GEM)
Study was the largest clinical
trial ever to evaluate the effects
of the dietary supplement.
"Alzheimer's disease is a
devastating disease affecting
large numbers of older adults,"
said Dr. Gregory Burke, the lead
investigator for the Wake Forest
University Baptist Medical
Center clinical site. "Our best
strategy is to prevent dementia
before it begins."
The GEM Study was con
ducted at Wake Forest Baptist
and three other sites: the
University of Pittsburgh, Johns
Hopkins University and the
University of California-Davis.
Investigators followed a total
of 3,069 participants age 75 or
older, who had either normal
cognition or mild cognitive
impairment.
In Europe and the United
States, ginkgo supplements are
among the best-selling herbal
medications and it consistently
ranks as a top medicine pre
scribed in France and Germany.
Avoiding the Holiday Bulge
Many of the celebrations in our lives are
associated with food, food and more food.
That is certainly true for the end of the year
holidays. And since most folks are less
active during the cold winter months, this
can be devastating for those trying to main
tain a healthy weight.
Although a recent study
showed that Americans
gain on average about 1
pound between
Thanksgiving and the end
of the year, the study also
showed that once that
pound gets added, it typi
cally doesn't come off. It's
even worse for people who
are already overweight or
obese, who gain an average
of five pounds during the holidays. These
extra pounds can increase your risk for many
chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer,
high blood pressure, stroke and heart dis
ease. This makes it especially important to
develop and keep healthy habits during the
holidays.
One very important part of eating healthy
4
during the holidays is portion control.
Simply put, this means being careful about
the amounts of foods that you eat. While it
is certainly true that the foods that you eat
are important to being healthy, it's also
important to watch the amounts of the foods
you eat to keep the weight
down. Here are some help
ful tips to try to help with
portion control during the
holidays:
Use your hand as a guide
for measuring how much of a
food you should eat.
According to the American
Heart Association, you can
use the following guides just
by using your hands: your
fist represents the size of one
cup of fruit, salad, or casseroles; your
cupped hand represents Vi cup of pasta, rice,
beans, potatoes, cooked vegetables, pudding,
or ice cream; the palm of your hand repre
sents 3 ounces of beef, pork, poultry or fish;
your thumb represents one tablespoon of
See Holiday food on All