Health & Wellness
ealthbeat
Americans can't perform
CPR adequately, says study
In conjunction with National CPR / AED
Awareness Week, which was June 1-7. the American
Association released study findings which
most Americans do not believe they could per
caidiopulmorur> resuscitation (CPR) or an
ited external defibrillator (AED) to help save
I cardiac emergency.
online survey of more than 1 ,100 adults. 89
percent said they were willing and able to do some
thing to help if they witnessed a medical emergency.
Yet only 21 percent were confident they could per
form CPR, and only 15 percent believed they could
use an AED in an emergency. More than half of those
:yed didn't recognize an AED in a typical set
Survey respondents reported lack of confi
5, concern about legal consequences and fear of
hurting a victim asS*asons they would not take
action in a cardiac emergency.
The intent of National CPR/AED Awareness
Week is to encourage the public to get CPR training
said learn how to use an AED to reduce death and
disability from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Only
about six percent of out-of-hospital SCA victims sur
vive.
Grant increase for WSSU
Winston-Salem State University's success in
training students in pursuit of a terminal degree in
biomedical or behavioral research has prompted a
significant increase in a five-year National Institutes
of Health (NIH) grant from $794,000 to $1 .3 million.
The NIH Minority Access to Research Careers
Undergraduate
Student Training
in Academic
Research
(MARC
U*STAR) pro
gram provides
scholarships to
students in their
junior and senior
years to engage
in mentored
research, includ
ing a summer of
study at a differ
ent research uni- 1
versity, to pre- 1
pare students for
successful
admission into
biomedical Ph.D
programs. The
primary gpal is to increase the poqjL of talented
minority students at WSSU who are well prepared
academically and sufficiently experienced in
research to be competitive for admission to top grad
uate programs leading to the Ph.D. degree in disci
plines important for biomedical or behavioral
research
"The tenacity of our faculty, staff and administra
tors is the key to our success. It is our determination
to carry out the mission of WSSU which happens to
be a measurable goal of MARC U*STAR program,"
said Dr. Azeez Aileru, WSSU professor of neuro
physiology, director of the Biomedical Research
Infrastructure Center and MARC U*STAR program
director. 'The enormous energy that students bring
into the program made it easy for the faculty precep
tors to successfully mentor them. Consequently, the
NIH is happy and I am happy."
Currently the program consists of four juniors
and seniors and 14 dedicated faculty mentors from
the psychology program and the departments of life
sciences, chemistry and physical therapy at WSSU,
as well as the department of Physiology and
Pharmacology at Wake Forest University School of
Medicine.
Cancer Survivorship Summit
sclieduled for tomorrow
The North Carolina Comprehensive Cancer
Ptognun Survivorship Summit, a free all-day event
for cancer patients and survivors, their caregivers,
advocates and healthcare professionals, will take
place on Friday, June 13, from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at
die Twin City Quarter, 460 North Cherry Street.
The Summit is free but registration is required. A
continental breakfast and box lunch are provid
ed. For more information or to pre-register call 919
707-5337 or email nccompcancer@ncmail.net.
Sponsored by the Comprehensive Cancer Center
Wake Forest University, Lineberger
hensive Cancer Center, Duke
nsive Cancer Center and the Americas]
Society, the summit offers seminars and
:-out sessions covering all aspects of the physi
and emotional journey through cancer and
tured speakers include acclaimed author
Schlessel Harpham, a physician, mother of
long-time cancer survivor, who addresses
of life
nges of life as a cancer patient, Tindtng
When treatments aren't going well and charting
life after
it sessions offer attendees an opportunity
their concerns about barriers to care,
cancer patients, resources and share stories
... a.
The day will end with attendee* signing the
can Cancer Society's Celebration Bus - a
I of the "Celebration on the Hill Event" sched
for September. The bus represents a "call to
11" for elected officials to become more proac
i in addressing the fight against cancer and meet
; the needs of cancer patients.
Sexually Transmitted
Infections: Protect Yourself
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In previous articles we have talked
about the transmission, diagnosis, and
treatment for HIV infection and AIDS.
This week will be the first in a three
part series discussing other sexually
transmitted infections (STIs, also
known as sexually transmitted dis
eases or STDs) that are prevalent in
our community. STIs are infections
that any sexually active person can
contract, whether you engage in vagi
nal, oral, or anal sex. Moreover, the
greater number of sex partners you
have, the greater your risk for infection
becomes.
According to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), African Americans have high
er rates than whites of Chlamydia
(eight times higher), gonorrhea (18
times higher) and syphilis (almost six
times higher). Let's talk about each
one of these infections and their symp
toms. (If you would like additional
information on human papillomavirus,
or HPV, please call our toll-free phone
number; we have a separate article on
this infection). ?
Chlamydia ??
Chlamydia is a serious STI that
can cause irreversible damage (includ
ing infertility) to a woman's reproduc
I ,
tive system. The infection is caused by
the bacterium. Chlamydia trachomatis,
and is very common among teens and
young adults, although anyone can get
it. Pregnant women can also give the
infection to their babies. The disease is
often silent? that is, it may not have
any symptoms until it is too late. When
symptoms do occur, they may include:
- unusual vaginal discharge;
- bleeding during urination; or
- pain, bleeding, or discharge if
you have anal sex.
Men can also become infected
with Chlamydia. Symptoms men may
notice include:
- unusual discharge from the
penis;
I
- burning or itching during urina
tion; and/or pain , bleeding or discharge
if you have receptive anal sex.
Fortunately, Chlamydia can be
cured with antibiotics. Still, because
Chlamydia often has no symptoms, a
person may not know they have it and
can pass it on to others without know
ing it. This is why testing is so impor
tant if you are sexually active.
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is caused by a bacteri
um called Neisseria gonorrhoeae; the
CDC estimates that 700,000 new cases
are diagnosed each year. The highest
rates of gonorrhea are among teens
and young adults, but like Chlamydia,
See STI on All
Study: Bad health costly to N.C.
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
I
A study released last week shows that physical inac
tivity and unhealthy lifestyle choices are robbing North
Carolina's economy of more than $57 billion each year.
The study, 'Tipping the Scales: How obesity and
unhealthy lifestyles have become a weighty problem for
the North Carolina economy," cites eight important risk
factors among adults that contribute to the annual loss of
$57 billion in public and private money. The primary risk
factors are excess weight (nearly $3 billion); lack of
physical activity (over $2 billion); inadequate fruit and
vegetable consumption (over $2 billion); and type II dia
betes (over $200 million).
To put the total $57 billion figure in perspective, the
entire annual budget for the state of North Carolina is
more than $20 billion.
"This is no longer just a personal problem. Statewide,
We are tipping the scales at an alarming rate and adding
pounds that are costing us money... big money," said
Ben Blankenship, president and CEO of Be Active North
Carolina.
The cost falls largely on the employers in the form of
health insurance and lost productivity. Broken into cate
gories, it can be traced to direct and indirect health care
expenses (over $10.5 billion) and lost productivity ($42.7
billion).
The study suggests things are likely to get worse.
Without aggressive efforts to reverse the trend, the annu
al drain on North Carolina's economy could jump to
more than $75 billion by 201 1 .
The news is not much better for young people. The
report concludes that the combined cost of physical inac
tivity, excess weight and type II diabetes among North
Carolina's children is estimated to be at least $105 mil
lion annually. Without improvement, that figure is
expected to rise to $165 million by 201 1 .
Be Active North Carolina also announced the intro
duction of "Three Percent," a statewide campaign to raise
awareness about the impact of poor health on the state's
economy. "If three out of every 100 overweight or obese
North Carolinians achieved a normal weight through
healthy eating and regular movement, the state could
save more than three billion dollars over the next five
years," explained Blankenship.
"And we can all start by exercising thirty minutes per
day. Increasing our physical activity levels doesn't mean
we all have to run marathons. Taking a brisk walk around
the neighborhood or playing outdoors with the kids
counts too. As long as we're moving, we're making
progress. Three percent becomes a number we can all
live with."
A copy of the study is available online at
www.threepercentnc .com .
New
shots
standards
for kids
Free vaccination
clinic today
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
North Carolina's law
makers have made several
changes to the rules regarding
vaccination of school-aged
children, including rising
sixth-grade students.
Effective January 1,
2 0 0 8,
state
adminis
trati ve
rules
have
been
changed
to add
require
m e n t s
for a
booster
dose of
Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and
acellular pertussis) for all stu
dents who are entering the
sixth grade on or after Aug.
1, 2008, if five years or more
have passed since the last
dose of tetanus/diphtheria
toxoid. These rule changes
will go into effect beginning
with the 2008-09 school year.
"Since these vaccinations
are required, children will be
able to receive the booster
dose of Tdap for free," said
Dr. Kenneth Simington, assis
tant superintendent of stu
dent services for Winston
Salem/Forsyth County
Schools.
"Parents simply need to
set up an appointment with
their child's physician or
local health department to
receive the immunization
prior to school entry. The
vaccine will be provided at
no charge; however, the
physician may charge a small
fee to administer it."
A free Tdap vaccination
clinic for rising sixth
graders in Winston
Salem/Forsyth County
Schools will be held today
(June 12) from 8:30 a.m. to 4
p.m. at the Forsyth County
Department of Public Health,
799 Highland Avenue.
Parents are asked to bring
their child's immunization
record with them to this free
clinic. \
Parents must show proof
of their child's vaccination in
the form of a copy of the
Certificate of Immunization
to the child's school to show
proof of vaccination for Tdap.
Parents have up to 30 calendar
days from the first day of
attendance to present the
required up-to-date immu
nization record for the child.
If the child's immuniza
tions are not up-to-date,
they must be obtained or in
See Shots on All
State issues heat safety guidelines
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
State officials last week warned citizens
across North Carolina to take the necessary pre
cautions to protect themselves from heat-related
health problems due to the heat wave the state is
experiencing.
The National Weather Service issued a heat
advisory for much of the state last week as tem
peratures rose into the upper 90s.
Those most at risk in this extremely hdt
weather include infants and children up to four
years of age, people 65 or older, people who are
excessively overweight or physically ill with
conditions such as heart disease or high blood
pressure, and those who are working outdoors
and might overexert themselves during work or
exercise.
The N.C. Departments of Health and Human
Services and Crime Control and Public Safety
offer these tips during the high temperatures to
help avoid heat-related health problems:
Do not leave infants, children, or pets in a
parked car, even for just a few minutes. Car inte
riors can quickly heat up and cause , serious
injury or death. ,
Drink plenty of fluids, preferably water, but
avoid alcohol and large amounts of sugar. Do
not wait until you are thirsty to drink.
Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals
from the body. If you exercise or work outside,
drink two to four glasses of cool, non-alcoholic
fluids each hour. A sports beverage may replace
the salt and minerals you lose in sweat.
However, if you are on a low-salt diet, talk with
your doctor before drinking a sports beverage.
Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fit
ting clothing. Protect yourself from the sun and
keep cool by wearing a wide-brimmed hat along
with sunglasses and by putting on sunscreen of
SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes prior to going out
side.
Stay indoors and if at all possible, in an air
conditioned place. If your home does not have
air conditioning, try to find a neighbor, relative
or public place that does. Just a few hours spent
in air conditioning can help your body stay cool
er when you go back into the heat.
Take a cool shower or bath.
Avoid, as much as possible, using your stove
and oven. This will help keep cooler tempera
tures in your home.
If you are 65 years of age or older, have a
friend or relative call to check on you twice a day
during a heat wave. If you know someone in this
See Heal on All