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January 2004 Events * First National Wear Red Day: Taking Women's Health to Heart Topic(s): Heart and Circulation, Women"s Health When: February 6, 2004 Where: Nationwide Institute: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) The first National Wear Red Day is scheduled for Friday, February 6, a day when people nationwide will take women's health to heart by wearing red to show their support for raising awareness that far more American women die of heart disease than any other cause. By showing off a favorite red dress, suit, shirt, or tie, Americans will unite in the national movement to give women an urgent wake-up call about their risk of heart disease. The NHLBI developed a red dress icon as the centerpiece of The Heart Truth, its national awareness campaign for women about heart disease, and is excited to work with national and local partners to proclaim the first Friday of February (American Heart Month) National Wear Red Day. Special events and awareness activities will be held at clinics, hospitals, workplaces, and other public places to help spread The Heart Truth and to motivate women to take their heart health seriously and take steps to reduce their risks. The Heart Truth campaign is sponsored by the NHLBI in partnership with the Office on Women’s Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the American Heart Association, WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, and other groups committed to the health and well-being of women. Next Steps For more information on women and heart disease and ideas on how to raise awareness in your community, visit The Heart Truth Web site at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/hearttruth. The official red dress lapel pin is available for $2.50 from the NHLBI Health Information Center at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/hearttruth or by calling (301) 592-8573 [TTY: (240) 629-3255]. * National Alcohol Screening Day Topic(s): Alcohol / Alcohol Abuse / Alcoholism When: April 8, 2004 Where: Nationwide Institute: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) The sixth annual National Alcohol Screening Day (NASD) will be held on April 8. This day is designed to raise awareness of who might be at-risk drinkers. Planned actvities and services include free and anonymous health screenings and, if appropriate, referrals for people considered at-risk drinkers. NIAAA is hosting the events, together with Screening for Mental Health and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Included in this year’s registration packet is a video that provides tips on how to run a successful NASD site. Next Steps For on-line registration or information about becoming a part of NASD, please visit www.NationalAlcoholScreeningDay.org. * Obesity and the Built Environment: Improving Public Health Through Community Design Topic(s): Environmental Health When: May 24–26, 2004 Where: Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, DC Institute: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) This conference will provide a forum to discuss and illustrate how elements of the built environment contribute to obesity. These elements include ready access to food and reduced physical activity. The conference will examine how environmental health research and interventions can address the public health problem of obesity. Who should attend? * Academicians from schools of public health, architecture, planning, medicine, and nursing. * Representatives of environment, health, planning, and transportation agencies of federal, state, and local governments. * Advocacy and public health professional organizations and associations. * Community and business leaders. * Policy-makers, urban planners, communication specialists, health educators, physicians, nurses, and public health practitioners. Next Steps For further information, please visit www.niehs.nih.gov/drcpt/beoconf. Resources * Assessing Alcohol Problems: A Guide for Clinicians and Researchers Topic(s): Alcohol / Alcohol Abuse / Alcoholism Format: Book, Guide Institute: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) The second edition of Assessing Alcohol Problems: A Guide for Clinicians and Researchers was recently published. In the area of alcoholism and alcohol treatment, the guide is a valuable tool for new and current researchers and clinicians. The revised guide is user-friendly and includes additional topics such as new uses of biomarkers in treatment and research, assessment of alcohol craving, and adolescent assessment and treatment instruments. All topics, derived from the most current research, are presented in a loose-leaf format. The guide begins with a general overview followed by a Quick Reference Instrument Guide divided into seven assessment domains: screening, diagnosis, assessment of drinking behavior, adolescent assessment, treatment planning, treatment and process assessment, and outcome evaluation. An appendix, complete with fact sheets and sample instruments, is included in the guide. Next Steps To order copies of and pay for the guide, please contact NIAAA at (301) 443-3860. * Ephedra Warning Prompts Revision to Consumer Advisory Topic(s): Complementary and Alternative Medicine Format: Fact Sheet, Consumer Advisory Institute: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) In light of the recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warning about ephedra-containing dietary supplements, NCCAM's Consumer Advisory on Ephedra updated its Web site. On December 30, 2003, the FDA recommended that consumers immediately stop using supplements containing ephedra, a substance derived from botanicals. The FDA plans to follow up its advice with a ban on ephedra-containing supplements, but the ban will not extend to ephedra in traditional Chinese medicines. Next Steps Learn more about ephedra on NCCAM's Web site at http://nccam.nih.gov. View NCCAM's updated consumer advisory at http://nccam.nih.gov/health/alerts/ephedra/consumeradvisory.htm or order copies from the NCCAM Information Clearinghouse at (888) 644-6226. * New Public Service Announcement Aims to Prevent Underage Drinking Topic(s): Alcohol / Alcohol Abuse / Alcoholism Format: Video, Public Service Announcement Institute: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) In an effort to prevent underage drinking, NIAAA has produced a new television public service announcement (PSA) entitled The Party’s Over. The PSA targets early adolescents who are preparing to move into high school and is available in either a 60- or 30-second version. The PSA emphasizes that underage drinking is not “cool” and that there are many fun activities for adolescents to participate in that do not include alcohol. The PSA informs teens that, contrary to popular belief, most of their peers do not drink alcohol to have a good time. The PSA sends a positive message to teens about not using alcohol and also provides information about a NIAAA-sponsored Web site, www.thecoolspot.gov, where viewers can find out more about teens and drinking. Next Steps Copies of the PSA video can be ordered through NIAAA at (301) 443-3860. * Publications Cover 'Flu Shots, Teeth Care, and Other Aging-Relevant Topics Topic(s): Seniors" Health Format: Brochures, Fact Sheets Institute: National Institute on Aging (NIA) 'Flu shots, teeth care, and other topics of interest to seniors are covered in several new publications produced by the NIA. These include Age Pages, which are a series of informative health publications written for the layperson. The latest brochures and fact sheets are: * Age Page: On-line Health Information—Can You Trust It? * Age Pages (Spanish translation): Flu; Shots; Teeth and Mouth Care * Caregiver Resource List * Connections (Vol. 11, #1-2): Issue on end-of-life issues and care * NIA Publications Catalog: A comprehensive list of all NIA publications * NIA Spanish Publications Order Form: A comprehensive list of all NIA translated publications Updated/reprinted publications include: * Age Pages: Hormones after Menopause; Crime and Older People; Planning for Long-Term Care—Choosing the Right Place; Depression; Diabetes; Foot Care; and Sleep * Age Pages (Spanish translations): Cancer; Diabetes; Foot Care; HIV; Hyperthermia; Hypothermia; Medicines; Sleep * Alzheimer’s Disease Fact Sheet * Exercise: A Guide from the National Institute on Aging * What’s Your Aging IQ?: A quiz to access your understanding of aging Next Steps To order general publications, call (800) 222-2225. To order Alzheimer's disease publications or to ask questions about Alzheimer's, call (800) 438-4380. * Updated Booklet Describes Science Behind Vaccines Topic(s): Immune System, Vaccines Format: Booklet Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) A newly revised booklet on vaccines, Understanding Vaccines: What They Are, How They Work, is now available through NIAID. The 51-page booklet answers some of the more common questions about what vaccines are, how they prevent disease, and how they are made and tested. It also discusses what vaccine research might achieve in the future. A glossary is included. Next Steps To order a free copy, go to: www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/orderforms/freepampo.htm or call (301) 496-5717. A pdf version is available online at www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/vaccine/pdf/undvacc.pdf.