October 2008
From the Communications Director
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS),
Office on Women's Health (OWH)
"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place."
— George Bernard Shaw
Being a communications director, I understand the importance of good communication. However, being a parent and a patient, I also understand how difficult it can be to talk about important issues—especially when it comes to health.
Talking with your doctor about your health can sometimes be intimidating. You may have many concerns or you might feel nervous, worried, or overwhelmed. Or you may only have a few minutes to speak with your doctor, so you might forget to ask important questions. It can help to prepare before your visit to make sure you can get the most out of the time you have with your doctor. Learn how to talk with your doctor or nurse with our tip sheet.
Talking with your family about their health can be just as difficult. There are a wide range of issues that are difficult for children and teens to understand and for adults to explain. For example, explaining a parent's depression or a sibling's anorexia can be an incredible challenge. At the same time, talking about the importance of screenings and routine exams to prevent disease with the men in your life may also be a challenge. Yet men often learn about health from wives, girlfriends, or mothers, so it's important to keep talking. Keeping the lines of communication open can be key to your health and the health of your loved ones.
Speaking about health issues with your doctor and family should be an important part of your overall wellness plan. As you gear up for end-of-the-year holidays, keep the lines of communication open and enjoy getting to know your family and yourself a little better.
Valerie Scardino, M.P.A.
Communications Director, Office on Women's Health, HHS
Spotlight on Women's Health
We ask the questions we know you're interested in so you can get an inside look at women's health
Interview with a Dentist
Think about all the things your mouth allows you to do: speak, smile, sigh, kiss, smell, taste, chew, swallow, and cry. Taking good care of your mouth, teeth, and gums can lower your risk of oral and other health problems. This interview with dentist Dr. Walter Hunt gives you even more ways to take care of your teeth and gums and highlights the importance of oral health as part of overall healthy living. Read our interview with Dr. Walter Hunt.
Share this important article with other women in your life!
Featured Health Topic
A feature designed to help you find important health information on womenshealth.gov and girlshealth.gov
 Violence Against Women
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and October 8 is Stop America's Violence Everywhere Today. Violence against women in any form is a crime, whether the abuser is a family member; someone you date; a current or past spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend; an acquaintance; or a stranger.
Victims of domestic abuse or domestic violence may be men or women, although women are more commonly victimized. About 1 in 4 women in United States are victims of domestic violence at some point in their lives.
If you feel you are in physical danger call 911 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). You can also visit the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline.
To learn more about domestic violence, we recommend these resources:
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 man who wanted to know if a woman can get Chlamydia from a yeast infection.
First, we encouraged him to consult with a doctor regarding his health questions and concerns. We also recommend he review the following online publications for more information:
In addition, we provided organizations he can contact for additional information about his concerns:
Recipes
 | Want to help your kids make healthier choices when it comes to the food they eat? These recipes from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service are just the thing!
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Featured Organizations and Health Observances
These organizations can provide additional information on the topics featured in this month's newsletter.
To keep track of upcoming health observances, visit National Health Observances and click on the month you wish to view.
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girlshealth.gov Corner
Girls Will Love These Quizzes
Now that school's back in, we know girls around the country are taking lots of quizzes—but the ones they'll find on girlshealth.gov are a lot more fun! They will find over a dozen quizzes designed to teach them about their health, including "What does it take to stay safe in a relationship?" and "What is in a cigarette?". We promise, they'll enjoy taking these quizzes—and they'll learn something important, too!
Growing Great Girls
Have you signed up for Growing Great Girls, our newsletter for parents of girls? Go to our Parent's section on girlshealth.gov and click on the link in the blue subscription box on the top right side of the page and register today!
News from womenshealth.gov and the Office on Women's Health (OWH)
Order Your Free 2009 Women's Health Calendar
The 2009 womenshealth.gov calendar is now available to order! For single orders (1 per customer), use our online order form. To order the calendar in bulk quantities, contact our call center today at 1-800-994-9662.
The Healthy Woman - New Book Coming Soon!
The Healthy Woman: A Complete Guide for All Ages will be available in bookstores nationwide and online in November 2008. From the nation's leaders in women's health, the Guide covers a broad range of health topics affecting women of all ages.
Content includes:
- Recognizing signs of heart attack and stroke as well as understanding risk factors
- Preventing and managing type 2 diabetes
- Dealing with the diagnosis of an autoimmune disease
- Understanding the impact of chronic pain
- Learning how to care for your mental health
- Preparing your body for pregnancy and delivery
...and much more!
The Healthy Woman empowers women to take charge of their health by providing easy-to-read explanations, practical tips, charts showing which tests are needed and when, and resources for more information. In each chapter readers will find personal health stories from women all across the country. The book also features a resources section, as well as a glossary of terms and an index for easy reference.
In addition to consumers, The Healthy Woman will be an invaluable resource for health care professionals and public health officials who provide or recommend health resource materials to women and those who care about them.
Pre-order your copy today!
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
This year, the Office on Women's Health (OWH) highlighted an important aspect of violence against women—teen dating violence. The event, Prevention of Teen Dating Violence: You Can Make A Difference!, highlighted the unique issues facing teens and various approaches to preventing teen dating violence. The two-hour seminar will included opening remarks by the Assistant Secretary for Health and two expert panel discussions. Visit the event web site to learn more, including how to listen to the webcast.
The WOMAN Activity Tracker
We've listened to your feedback, and this year we are proud to announce a brand new program to help you stay active all year long: The WOMAN Activity Tracker!
Register or sign into the WOMAN Activity Tracker today!
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
Quick Health Data Online Monthly Spotlight
Every month Quick Health Data Online highlights topics of interest and relevant data available on their web site. October's spotlight is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Keep Your Health Goals with this 2009 Wall Calendar
Achieve heart health goals easier than ever in 2009 with the colorful Keep the Beat wall calendar. Discover fun healthy living tips and track heart disease risks with ease. Check the daily "active today" boxes to follow physical activity goals and find easy-to-use charts to keep tabs on blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, and body mass index (BMI). February is dedicated to women’s heart disease. Buy now and save; special pricing on multiple orders continues through October 15, 2008! Order your copy today!
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