Free
Fact Sheet on Childhood Obesity
The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools has
created a four-page fact sheet that summarizes key findings on the
background and health consequences of childhood obesity.
Information about nutrition and physical activity in schools is also
included. Download the free fact sheet from http://www.healthinschools.org/sh/obesityfs.asp.
(7/04)
Staying
Alive
Eat right by following the U.S. Department of Agriculture's tips on
diet, food safety, and fitness. Go to www.nutrition.gov
for more information.
Potential
Heart Disease Breakthrough
In what's being called "shocking" and
"astounding," an experimental treatment has been shown to
unclog arteries -- even in people with advanced heart disease. It
worked so well in some people that it reduced artery-clogging plaque 10
times better and far faster than drugs did in any other study. Learn
more about this promising treatment that the lead researcher calls
an "epiphany."
Updated
NIH Senior Health Web Site
The NIH Senior Health web site has been updated and now includes new
topics and a "talking web" feature. The site includes a
section on Exercise for Older Adults with videos, demonstrations of
exercises, and safety tips. The web site is a collaboration
between the National Institute on Aging and the National Library of
Medicine and can be found at http://nihseniorhealth.gov.
(7/04)
Registry
of Children's Obesity Efforts
Shaping America's Youth is a national initiative to centralize
information about the various ongoing efforts to fight obesity and
inactivity among children and adolescents. Information will be
obtained about intervention programs, funding sources, and ongoing
research to increase physical activity and healthy eating behaviors and
will be organized into a national, searchable database. A summary
document will also be created. For more information on the
initiative or to register your organization's effort, visit http://www.shapingamericasyouth.com
or call 1-800-SAY-9221. (7/04)
New
Active Living Resource
The
International City/County Management Association (ICMA), an Active
Living Leadership partner, has created "Active Living for Older
Adults: Management Strategies for Healthy and Livable Communities
Guide." Intended for local government leaders and managers,
the guide explains active living and provides general strategies for
beginning an active aging initiative. It also provides specific
strategies for key areas, including streetscape design, transportation,
housing, land use, and promoting awareness. Visit http://www.activelivingleadership.org/resources.htm
to access the guide. (7/04)
New
Online Continuing Medical Education Programs on Obesity
The National
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), in cooperation with the North
American Association for the Study of Obesity (NAASO) has developed two
free online continuing medical education modules on the assessment and
management of overweight and obesity in adults. These modules
provide health care practitioners with practical information based on a
thorough review of the science that was published in the Clinical
Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of
Overweight and Obesity in Adults: Evidence Report.
The courses
review the importance of weight management and the health risks
associated with overweight and obesity, what patients should be treated
and how they should be treated, the motivations that lead to successful
weight loss, and appropriate treatment strategies. Learn about
these important issues through the use of case studies and the treatment
algorithm. The courses are available on the NHLBI Web site at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/obesitycme/,
as well as through the NAASO Web site at http://www.naaso.org.
The courses are free and are available online all of the time.
Cine-Med, Inc. has designated each educational activity for a maximum of
2 category 1 credits toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award.
What
Are The Numbers
Optimal blood
pressure for cardiovascular health and stroke prevention is less than
120 over 80. (The top number measures pressure when the heart
contracts; the bottom, when it relaxes between beats.) According
to national guidelines, blood pressure is divided into the following
categories:
Normal:
below 130/85
High
Normal: 130-139 over 85-89
Stage 1
Hypertension: 140-159 over 90-99
Stage 2
Hypertension: 160-179 over 100-109
Stage 3
Hypertension: 180 over 110 or higher
National
Heart Attack Alert Program
The
award-winning "Act in Time to Heart Attack Signs" Small Group
Session Lesson Plan is now available online. Use it for your next
talk at a senior center, hospital, church, adult education class,
worksite health and safety meeting, or community group.
The lesson plan
includes:
- Talking
points on how to recognize and respond to a suspected heart attack.
- Reproducible
handouts to increase retention of key information.
- 22
professionally produced overhead masters or PowerPoint slide show to
help you present your talk.
- Tips on how
to plan and publicize your discussion.
To view and
download your copy of the lesson plan, simply click on http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/heart/mi/sm_group.htm.
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