March 2008
From the Communications Director
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS),
Office on Women's Health (OWH)
"For each petal on the shamrock this brings a wish your way. Good health, good luck, and happiness for today and every day."
— Irish Blessing
St. Patrick's Day is one of those holidays that just makes you feel good. As a child there are usually parties to go to or some green outfit to wear. Now that I'm older, I might not be as festive, but I still enjoy a little luck o' the Irish now and then.
I've always been a pretty lucky person, but when it comes to my health, I'd rather not rely on luck. I take a proactive approach to taking care of myself and my family. Whether it's keeping up with doctors' appointments or just making sure I fit in fun physical activity like trail running or biking, I make sure I'm doing all that I can to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Another way I take the lead on my health is by making sure I'm up-to-date on all of my screenings. Even if it's something as unpleasant as a colonoscopy, I know that it's important to monitor my health. Since it is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, remind the women in your life that colorectal cancer affects an equal number of women and men each year. There are different colon cancer screening tests available, depending on your age, risk factors, and health. Most of us will need to start screenings at age 50, but it is important to ask your doctor which screening tests you need and when.
So instead of a glass of green beer, raise a glass of water to your health this month – and take charge of your health by getting the check-ups and tests that you need.
Valerie Scardino, M.P.A.
Communications Director, Office on Women's Health, HHS
How Can We Help You?
We get hundreds of e-mails from you every month. From thank you letters to serious health questions, we strive to reply with the most accurate and up-to-date health information.
Request of the Month:
We received an e-mail from a woman who believed she had all of the symptoms of bulimia, but she never made herself throw up. She was bulimic 20 years ago and is no longer making herself purge, but she still has other related symptoms. She wanted some resources she could look at prior to her doctor's appointment.
We gave her links to the following information on our web site and mentioned a few that were specifically designed to help people see if they have an eating disorder. We also gave her contact information for an eating disorder treatment facility.
We suggested she also contact the following organizations for more information:
March's Featured Health Topic
A feature designed to help you find important health information on womenshealth.gov and girlshealth.gov
Colon Health
When discussing colon health, colon cancer might be one of the first things that comes to mind. No one knows the exact causes of cancers affecting the colon and rectum, together known as colorectal cancer. Yet regular screening tests can help prevent and detect colon cancer early. March, National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, is the perfect time to remind us all to ask our doctors when we should have colonscopies and other colorectal health screening tests.
There are also other colorectal health problems that affect women, such as inflammatory bowel disease and ulcerative colitis. Here are a few resources to help you learn more about colorectal health and how to seek help.
March Recipes
 Want some home-style recipes that make you think of mom's cooking? Here are some of our favorites from the National Cancer Institute's book "Down Home Healthy Cooking."
Featured Organizations
These organizations can provide additional information on the topics featured in this month's newsletter.
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girlshealth.gov Corner
New! Spotlight on Adora Svitak
What could Adora do at 8-years-old that most of us will never achieve in a lifetime? Read her interview to find out!
Read Adora Svitak's story.
Growing Great Girls
Have you signed up for Growing Great Girls, our newsletter for parents of "tween" and teenage girls? Go to our Parent’s section on girlshealth.gov and click on the yellow subscription box on the right side to register today!
News from womenshealth.gov and the Office on Women's Health (OWH)
March 10th is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
Since 1985, AIDS cases in women have more than tripled; from 8 percent in 1985 to 27 percent in 2005.
There are many ways women and girls can take action in the fight against HIV/AIDS:
- Know your status—get tested for HIV
- Avoid risky behaviors that increase HIV risk, such as unprotected sex
- Discuss HIV prevention with family, friends, and colleagues
- Provide support to women living with HIV/AIDS
- Host and/or participate in an event for National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in your community
- Listen and learn from the stories of women living with HIV/AIDS
Visit the National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day page and discover how to raise awareness in your community.
National Women’s Health Week - Start Planning Your Event!
Celebrate the 9th annual National Women's Health Week from May 11, 2008, Mother’s Day, through May 17, 2008.
During the week, families, communities, businesses, government, health organizations, and other groups work together to educate women about steps they can take to improve their physical and mental health and prevent disease, like:
- Engaging in physical activity most days of the week
- Making healthy food choices
- Visiting a health care provider to receive regular check-ups and preventive screenings
- Avoiding risky behaviors, like smoking and not wearing a seatbelt
Start planning an event with your organization now and check our web site for materials for planning activities as well as registration information.
The 2008 WOMAN Challenge will begin on Mother's Day
This May, thousands of women across the country will embark on an 8-week physical activity challenge for better health. They will be part of the WOMAN Challenge (Women and girls Out Moving Across the Nation). It kicks off May 11th and lasts eight weeks, ending on July 5th.
Sign up now to receive an email announcing the official start of registration!
Free Posters Available for Health Fairs! Order in Bulk
Promote womenshealth.gov by providing your clients, patients, or health fair attendees with our free materials. We have posters in English and Spanish that promote our toll-free call center and our web site. Order today by calling us at 1-800-994-9662.
Daily Updates from womenshealth.gov
Want daily updates from womenshealth.gov? Visit womenshealth.gov's Twitter site to get daily women's health news. We send you daily messages about happenings at womenshealth.gov, as well as information on a wide variety of women's health topics. It's a great way to stay plugged in!
Other News on Women's Health
National Sleep Awareness Week
Sleep is a basic human need and is as important to our health as proper nutrition and physical activity. In fact, according to the National Sleep Foundation, studies find that the less people sleep, the more likely they are to be overweight or obese. People who report sleeping 5 hours a night, for example, are much more likely to become obese compared to people who sleep 7–8 hours a night. March 3-9, 2008 is National Sleep Awareness Week. It is a great time to make sleeping 7-8 hours a night a priority.
March Health Observances
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