Finding a Flu Shot Just Got Easier

• Author: Health Informer
• Filed under: Health News
• Date: Oct 26,2008

Free Online Search Lists Over 35,000 Flu Shot Clinics

Last year, fewer than 25 percent of children ages 6 to 23 months were fully immunized for the flu during the flu season. Since asthma and allergy patients already have chronic respiratory problems, the risks associated with getting the flu can be greater for them.

So the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is making it easier for the 20 million Americans with asthma and the 50 million with allergies to find flu shot clinics with a free “Flu Shot Finder” at www.aafa.org.

The flu is a serious and potentially deadly viral infection that spreads easily and is a major concern, especially for people with other chronic respiratory diseases. Each year, the flu causes approximately 20,000 hospitalizations and nearly 100 deaths in American children under age 5. Annual flu shots are highly recommended for anyone with underlying medical conditions such as asthma.

The Foundation’s Flu Shot Finder is a simple online zip code search that links to a database of more than 35,000 flu clinic locations nationwide. The Flu Shot Finder returns a list of clinic names, dates, times, addresses and phone numbers to help consumers find the most convenient location and schedule a visit. The Flu Shot Finder Web page also provides links to helpful information about influenza; flu shot guidelines from the CDC and more.

“Flu symptoms can cause more trouble for people with chronic respiratory conditions,” says Angel Waldron, a spokesperson for AAFA. “When you’ve already got a chronic disease like asthma, a severe flu could make it worse.” For more free information about AAFA, asthma or influenza, visit www.aafa.org, or call 1-800-7-ASTHMA.

Source: The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

Survey Shows Americans Crave Easier Ways to Eat Healthfully

• Author: Health Informer
• Filed under: Health News
• Date: Oct 25,2008

Choosing More Nutrient-Rich Foods Makes Eating Well Practical and Enjoyable

The U.S. is at a crossroads when it comes to nutrition advice. For decades, Americans have heard a lot about what not to eat, and much less about nutrient-rich foods to enjoy when building a healthy diet. Various stamps, stars and seals on food packaging labels also tend to focus on what foods don’t contain — like fat, sugar and salt — rather than the valuable nutrients consumers should look for.

Now, a new survey sponsored by the Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition (NRFC) finds that Americans are more confused than ever about healthy eating. And a recent report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office adds to many other voices calling for a unified food labeling system to help convey clear, consistent advice to consumers about the nutritional quality of foods.(1)

According to the survey, 54 percent of Americans are overwhelmed by the information and advice they receive on what to eat and what to avoid, and 61 percent are interested in learning about the beneficial nutrients found in foods and beverages, not just the amount of fat, sugar and salt a food contains.

“It’s clear that Americans are confused about healthy eating and are looking for a simple, sound approach to build a healthy diet and live well,” notes Adam Drewnowski, Ph.D., director of the nutritional sciences program at the University of Washington Center for Obesity Research. “We need to help people embrace and enjoy food — not fear it, or be confused by it. We can do that by focusing more on nutrient-rich foods.”

The NRFC encourages people to restore balance to their diets in this way, and supports the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005, which encourages choosing more nutrient-dense foods. Nutrient-dense foods are defined as those that “provide substantial amounts of vitamins and minerals and relatively few calories.”(2)

Eating the nutrient-rich way means considering the total nutrient package of a food or beverage: Looking at how many beneficial nutrients it contains, such as vitamins, protein and fiber, as well as the amount of fat, sugar and salt. Nutrient-rich foods include foods from all five food groups: milk, fruits, vegetables, grains, and meat and beans.

The survey found that 78 percent of Americans agree they would like a simple, practical tool that would help them build a healthy diet based on getting the most nutrients from the foods they choose. Drewnowski agrees: “Following this approach to eating allows people to choose foods they enjoy that provide key nutrients important to overall health.”

“The nutrient-rich foods approach can be applied to individual food choices, meals and the overall day to develop a lifetime of healthy eating. It’s not a specific diet plan, but a general shift in the way people can think about food,” notes NRFC spokesperson Mary Abbott Hess, LHD, MS, RD, LD, FADA.

Hess shares the following tips for easily applying the nutrient-rich foods approach to everyday meals:

• Savor the first few bites of any dish. Top foods with chopped nuts or reduced-fat shredded sharp cheese to get crunch, flavor and nutrients in every bite.

• Spend a few minutes to cut and bag veggies to increase nutrients in the diet of every family member. Try some ready-to-eat favorites like red, green or yellow peppers, broccoli or cauliflower flowerets, carrots, celery sticks, cucumber, snap peas or whole radishes. Keep cut vegetables handy to use as mid-afternoon snacks, side dishes, lunch box additions or as a quick nibble while waiting for dinner.

• Serve meals that pack multiple nutrient-rich foods into one dish, like hearty, broth-based soups that’s full of colorful vegetables, beans, lean meat, or chill with a dollop of low-fat yogurt on top. Serve these with whole grain breads or rolls.

For more tools, tips and tactics to follow the nutrient-rich foods approach and take the guesswork out of healthy eating, visit http://www.nutrientrichfoods.org/. The site offers recipes, meal ideas, a supermarket shopping list and science-based resources to help people build and enjoy a nutrient-rich lifestyle.

About the Survey

This study was conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs, a global survey-based market research company, on behalf of the Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition (NRFC) on September 9-12, 2008. Margin of error is +3.1.

Participants surveyed: 1,019 adults from all regions of the United States participated in the survey. Survey respondents were 48 percent male and 52 percent female, and the majority of participants were between ages 25 and 64.

About the Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition

The Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition is a partnership dedicated to helping people build healthier diets by showing them how to get more nutrition from their calories. It brings together leading scientific researchers, health professionals, communications experts and representatives of each of the five basic MyPyramid food groups. For more information about the Nutrient Rich Foods approach, visit http://www.nutrientrichfoods.org/.

The following food organizations are members of the Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition: California Avocado Commission, California Kiwifruit Commission, California Strawberry Commission, Egg Nutrition Center, Florida Department of Citrus, Grain Foods Foundation, The Beef Checkoff Program through the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Dairy Council, National Pork Board, U.S. Potato Board, Wheat Foods Council, and the Wild Blueberry Association of North America. In addition, the Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition includes experts who comprise a Scientific Advisory Committee and Consumer Communications and Nutrition Behavior Advisory Committee.

(1) United States Government Accountability Office. Food Labeling: FDA Needs to Better Leverage Resources, Improve Oversight, and Effectively Use Available Data to Help Consumers Select Healthy Foods. Report to the Chair, Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives. 2008. Accessed at: http://www.gao.gov/.

(2) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005. 6th Edition, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, January 2005.

Source: Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition

Alzheimer’s Association Grant Furthers Successful Research at UMass Lowell

• Author: Health Informer
• Filed under: Health News
• Date: Oct 25,2008

‘SmartPill’ Uses Vitamin Formulation to Improve Brain Health, Memory

Researchers at UMass Lowell have demonstrated success in improving the memory and brain function of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, findings that will be published in the December/January issue of the American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Called the “SmartPill,” the vitamin-based formulation has been shown to improve memory and recall speed in normal adults and Alzheimer’s patients, without side effects. On Monday, Oct. 20, the Alzheimer’s Association presented a grant, awarded competitively at the national level, to support additional clinical trials to test whether the formulation can delay the onset of the disease.

James Wessler, president and CEO of the Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, presented a check for $240,000 for three years to UMass Lowell Prof. Thomas Shea, the lead researcher on the “SmartPill.” A licensing agreement to bring the pill to the market under the name MemoryXL to be sold without a prescription is in negotiations.

“This formulation is the first, non-prescription, low-cost intervention for Alzheimer’s disease,” says Shea, a professor in UMass Lowell’s Biological Sciences Department. “One can start this at the first indication of memory problems, or even before for general brain health, instead of waiting for the severe deterioration of advancing Alzheimer’s.”

Shea, representatives of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter and UMass Lowell, including Chancellor Marty Meehan, were among those who attended the presentation, which was held on the UMass Lowell campus.

Wessler said at the event, “Prof. Shea’s work couldn’t be more important. If we can push back by five years the onset of Alzheimer’s, then 50 percent of today’s Americans – who would otherwise get the disease – will never experience Alzheimer’s.”

“Prof. Shea’s important research combines scientific rigor with an eye on the end result. He has increased our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease, but he’s doing even more to improve the brain functioning and quality of life for patients,” said Meehan. “We’re moving quickly to share the good results. We want to see innovation in the lab translated into real products that make a difference in people’s lives.”

For more on living with Alzheimer’s disease, call the Alzheimer’s Association help line at 800-272-3900 or check out www.alz.org/MA.

Source: University of Massachusetts Lowell

U.S. Announces Community Grant Awards to Fight Malaria

• Author: Health Informer
• Filed under: Health News
• Date: Oct 24,2008

The U.S. government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), announced over $11 million in grants to eight organizations working in seven countries in Africa to extend the coverage of malaria prevention and control activities in communities most affected by malaria, particularly children under age five and pregnant women. The grants were provided through the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), an interagency initiative led by USAID with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as key partners.

The Malaria Communities Program (MCP) providing these grants is a $30 million initiative created under PMI to support the efforts of communities and indigenous organizations to combat malaria in Africa. First Lady Laura Bush first announced the MCP at a White House Summit on Malaria in December 2006. The program specifically aims to identify organizations that are new to partnering with the U.S. government and are uniquely positioned to work at the community level. The program also seeks to increase local and indigenous capacities to undertake community-based malaria prevention and treatment activities and to build local ownership of malaria control for the long term. MCP grant recipients will operate within respective PMI country strategies, which have been developed in collaboration with each country’s Ministry of Health and National Malaria Control Program, with in-country partners, and with other donor organizations working in-country.

“I am committed to expanding the work of nongovernmental and faith-based organizations, and other community based entities to reach people with the tools and knowledge to control malaria,” said R. Tim Ziemer, U.S. Malaria Coordinator. “The key to saving lives, especially children, is to expand proven approaches and interventions until they reach each and every child who needs them.”

Grant information:

Concern Universal Malawi

Concern Universal, in partnership with the Holy Family Hospital and the District Health Office, will implement a 4-year, $1.3 million malaria program targeting approximately 60,000 under-five children and pregnant mothers in the Phalombe District in southern Malawi. Through community education and training activities, the project will increase community awareness and knowledge on malaria prevention, treatment and case management; promote correct and consistent use of insecticide treated nets (ITNs); increase access to intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) among pregnant women; and build the capacity of indigenous organizations in malaria management.

EQUIP Liberia

With a three-year grant totaling $1.5 million, EQUIP will deliver malaria prevention and treatment to an estimated 285,000 individuals in two counties in Liberia. Through community mobilization, training of community health workers, and institutional capacity building, EQUIP will provide assistance to promote the importance of pregnant women and children under five sleeping under an ITN; provide early and correct diagnosis and treatment with artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT); and improve the proportion of pregnant women receiving two or more doses of sulfadoxine-pyrimthamine (SP) during pregnancy.

The Mentor Initiative Liberia

Through a three-year, $1.5 million grant, The MENTOR Initiative and its partners will implement a malaria program in Liberia, covering five counties with a total population of more than 655,000, including more than 105,000 children under five and 30,000 pregnant women. The program will focus on building the capacity of local partners to design and deliver malaria education campaigns; develop and deliver effective community level Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials; and ensure effective malaria case management through the training of community health workers and midwives.

Caritas Senegal

Caritas Senegal, in partnership with the National Association of Private Catholic Health Posts, will implement a 3-year, $1.5 million malaria prevention and treatment project targeting four districts in Senegal. The program will directly reach more than 930,000 people, including an estimated 200,000 pregnant women and children under five relying on the well-developed network of community health educators, called relais, and other community organizations in communities, health huts and health posts. It will do so by delivering malaria prevention and education programs increasing access to ACTs, and promoting household ownership and proper use of ITNs.

Aidez Small Project International (ASPI) Ghana

Through a 3-year, $1.1 million grant, ASPI will continue its successful partnership with Keta District Health Directorate to deliver its malaria treatment and prevention program in 23 communities in the Keta District of Ghana. ASPI also plans to expand its program into two additional districts, Ketu South and Ketu North, with the goal of working in 95 communities by 2012. The program will reach an estimated 152,000 people by distributing ITNs and promoting consistent and correct use of them; training community agents to implement malaria services and education; organizing bed retreatment campaigns; conducting house-to-house visits to ensure accurate use of preventative treatment among pregnant women; and promoting early recognition by care givers of malaria symptoms among children under five, to ensure prompt treatment with ACT.

Fayyaa Integrated Development Association (FIDA) Ethiopia

The FIDA will implement a $1.5 million, 3-year program targeting an estimated 1.7 million people in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. Through its existing large network of churches, mosques and schools, FIDA will work to improve the capacity of community and faith based organizations, health committees and other community groups participating in malaria prevention and treatment activities; provide targeted IEC materials to households; ensure high quality malaria diagnosis and treatment in the private sector; link malaria control to FIDA’s existing HIV/AIDS projects; and strengthen malaria prevention and treatment during pregnancy through delivering integrated services in antenatal clinics.

HealthPartners Uganda

HealthPartners and its affiliate, Uganda Health Cooperative, will implement the Uganda Health Cooperative Malaria Communities Program, a 4-year, $1.3 million project to build local capacity and ownership of a sustainable system for community based malaria prevention and treatment activities in the Bushenyi district in Southwestern Uganda. Reaching an estimated 730,000 people, the program will partner at the community level by training community drug distributors; implement education and behavioral change activities promoting ITN use, the importance of preventive treatment among pregnant women, and recognition of malaria warning signs and the need for early treatment; integrate supportive supervision for antenatal clinic workers; will implement training on the use of severe malaria drugs and the new National Malaria Control Program malaria treatment policy; and improve stock management of malaria drugs.

ADPP Angola

Over a three-year, $1.5 million grant, ADPP will address malaria prevention and treatment needs of an estimated 100,000 people, including 25,000 pregnant women and children under five in Zaire province of northern Angola. The program will increase the demand for ITNs and ACT by working with teachers in nearly 200 primary schools to reach the families and communities of school children with information, education, and communication on malaria prevention and control, and practical preventive measures. ADPP will work with other NGOs and church organizations to strengthen connections between the community and existing health services to increase health seeking behavior and demand for malaria services in their target communities.

For more information about USAID and PMI, please visit www.usaid.gov.

The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, have provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for nearly 50 years.

Source: U.S. Agency for International Development