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quarta-feira, novembro 25, 2009 
Photo Collage: A man carving a turkey. A pumkin pie. A man and woman walking.

The holiday season is in full swing. This means a lot of holiday gatherings with large amounts of food. During the holiday season we tend to eat and drink a lot more calories. As you enjoy the holidays, remember to balance the calories you consume with the calories you burn.
 
Family, fun…and FOOD! It's what the holidays are all about, right? But that doesn't mean you have to pack on the holiday pounds. Balance the calories you consume with the calories you burn, and avoid any holiday weight gain.

Take the Extra Calories Out of Cooking!

    Photo: A woman eating vegetables

    If you're heading out to a party — holiday, birthday or any sort — eat a light, healthy snack before you go. Broth-based soups, cereal with skim milk, or just plain fruit are all good options! This will help curb your hunger and decrease your visits to the buffet table.
    Modify recipes to reduce the amount of fat and calories. For example, when making lasagna, use part-skim ricotta cheese instead of whole-milk ricotta cheese. Substitute shredded vegetables, such as carrots, zucchini, and spinach for some of the ground meat in lasagna.
    Bring a low-fat, holiday dish to the party. Need some suggestions? Visit CDC's Healthy Recipes for details.
    When eating or snacking in front of the TV, put the amount that you plan to eat into a bowl or container instead of eating straight from the package. It's easy to overeat when your attention is focused on something else.
    You've tried the leftover turkey sandwich, right? Now try the leftover turkey salad! Add a few pieces of turkey to a generous portion of mixed greens, tomatoes, raw broccoli, carrots, or any of your favorite vegetables. Toss with a light salad dressing and some dried cranberries for an authentic holiday taste.

Photo :A glass of water with a wedge of lemon.

Rethink Your Drink!

    Choose water, diet, or low-calorie beverages instead of sugar-sweetened beverages.
    For a quick, easy, and inexpensive thirst-quencher, carry a water bottle and refill it throughout the day.
    Limit your alcoholic beverage intake. Alcoholic drinks can have many calories, especially holiday favorites like eggnog. Try to drink water or low calorie beverages instead.

Get Active, Healthy, and Happy!

    Make a goal with a friend to achieve the new Physical Activity Guidelines! Visit CDC's Physical Activity for Everyone for details.
    Regular physical helps with weight control, reduces the risk for many diseases, and strengthens muscles, bones and joints. 
    Sign up for a 5K walk or run to keep your mind focused on physical activity goals. Maintain your physical activity during the holidays — better yet, try and get more active!
    Find fun, creative ways your friends and family can spend time being active instead of eating.

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terça-feira, novembro 24, 2009 

Photo: Pregnant women.

Pregnant women can get seriously ill with the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus (sometimes called "novel H1N1 flu" or "swine flu"). Learn how to protect yourself and your baby and what to do if you have symptoms of the flu.

 
Photo: Pregnant women

A pregnant woman who gets any type of flu has a greater chance for serious health problems. Compared with people in general who get 2009 H1N1 flu, pregnant women with 2009 H1N1 flu are more likely to be admitted to hospitals. Pregnant women are also more likely to have serious illness and can die from 2009 H1N1 flu. To protect yourself and your baby, make sure to get both the 2009 H1N1 flu shot and the seasonal flu shot.
If you are pregnant and have flu symptoms, call your doctor right away. Treatment should begin as soon as possible. Treatment works best when started early (within 48 hours after symptoms start).

Read more about the 2009 H1N1 Influenza and Pregnant Women

Flu Shots and Pregnant Women

Pregnant women should get both the 2009 H1N1 flu shot and the seasonal flu shot because they can get seriously ill from any type of flu. Pregnant women should get the "flu shot"—a vaccine made with killed flu virus. This one is given with a needle, usually in the arm. Both 2009 H1N1 and seasonal flu shots are "killed" vaccines, so you cannot catch the flu from getting these shots. The other type of flu vaccine—a nasal spray—is not approved for pregnant women.
There is no evidence that thimerosal (a mercury preservative in vaccine that comes in multi-dose vials) is harmful to a pregnant woman or a fetus. However, because some women are concerned about thimerosal during pregnancy, vaccine companies are making preservative-free seasonal flu vaccine and 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine in single dose syringes for pregnant women and small children. CDC advises pregnant women to get flu shots either with or without thimerosal.

Protect Yourself and Others

Take these everyday steps to protect your health

What to do if you have Symptoms of Flu

If a pregnant woman thinks she has flu, she should call her doctor right away. If needed, he or she will prescribe an antiviral medicine that treats the flu. The medicine is most helpful if it is started soon (within the first 48 hours) after the pregnant woman becomes sick. If lab testing for flu was done, treatment should not wait for test results to come back. Start treatment right away.
Talk with your doctor about how to reach him or her quickly by telephone if you think you have the flu.
Call your doctor immediately if you think you have any of these symptoms.
    fever **
    cough
    sore throat
    runny or stuffy nose
    body aches
    headache
    chills
    fatigue
    sometimes diarrhea and vomiting
**Not everyone with flu will have a fever.

Treatment during Pregnancy

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) or zanamivir (Relenza®) can be used to treat 2009 H1N1 flu. To get these medicines, a doctor needs to write a prescription. These medicines fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from making more viruses in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious health problems that can result from flu illness. At this time, Tamiflu® is the best medicine to treat pregnant women who have 2009 H1N1 flu.
Fever should be treated right away. It can cause problems for the pregnant woman and her unborn child.  Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) is best for a pregnant woman to use to lower a fever.

Is it safe for me to take antiviral medicines for flu while I am pregnant?

The flu can cause severe illness and even death in pregnant women. Taking antiviral medicines can help prevent these severe outcomes. At this time, there are no studies suggesting harm to a pregnant woman or her unborn baby if she takes antiviral medicines. Being pregnant should not stop women from using antiviral medicines if their doctor advises them to take the medicine. Antiviral medicines can be taken at any stage during pregnancy. Take the medicine your doctor prescribes.

Feeding Your New Baby

If you can, breastfeed. Breast milk is the perfect food for your baby. There are many ways that breastfeeding and breast milk protect your baby’s health. Babies who are breastfed get sick from infections like the flu less often and less severely than babies who are not breastfed. Flu can be very serious in young babies. You do not have to stop breastfeeding if you have the flu.
If you are sick with the flu, certain precautions can be taken to protect your baby.

Pregnant Women who work in Schools, Child Care or Health Care

Pregnant women who work in schools, child care and health care are at higher risk for being exposed to the flu. Certain precautions can be taken to reduce this risk.

Protect Yourself, Protect Your Baby

    Get your flu shots — pregnant women will need both the 2009 H1N1 flu shot and the seasonal flu shot.
    If you have been exposed to someone who likely had the flu, call your doctor.
    If you start to feel sick, call your doctor right away. Take the medicines your doctor prescribes.
    Plan to breastfeed as soon as your baby is born.

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segunda-feira, novembro 23, 2009 

Screen capture of Interactive Cancer Atlas application

The Interactive Cancer Atlas (InCA) allows you to create customized United States maps showing how many people were diagnosed with or died from cancer by cancer site, gender, race/ethnicity, and state during a given period.

 
CDC's Interactive Cancer Atlas (InCA) uses data from United States Cancer Statistics (USCS) to create United States maps that allow you to make quick comparisons. For example, you can use InCA to compare—
    How many people were diagnosed with one of 26 types of cancer during different years.
    The incidence or death rate for a certain type of cancer among states during one year, and how the states' rates compare to the national rates.
    How many people died from one type of cancer vs. another type of cancer.
    The rate of diagnosis (incidence rate) with a certain type of cancer among white, black, and Hispanic people.
    How many men vs. women were diagnosed with a certain type of cancer during one year.
The trend data player puts the data in motion. It shows how the data changed over the years from 1999 to 2005 (the latest year for which statistics are available). In addition, you can download and print the data for future use.
While InCA is useful for anyone who is interested in cancer data, this tool is particularly helpful for researchers, epidemiologists, local and community health project managers, grant writers, policy makers, journalists and authors, and cancer control and prevention program staff at federal, state, and local health departments.

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sexta-feira, novembro 20, 2009 

Photo: Students

Planning to study abroad soon? With so many pre-trip topics to tackle, something as common as flu might not even cross your mind. This year, protecting yourself and others from flu is more important than ever. Wherever you are studying, here are some tips for staying healthy during flu season.


In honor of International Education Week 2009, CDC is promoting healthy travel for students studying abroad. Whether you are already abroad or plan to go soon, take some time to consider how seasonal and 2009 H1N1 flu might affect your trip.

Why should I be concerned about flu during my study abroad program?

Graphic: International Education Week 2009. November 16-20. U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of Education. http://iew.state.gov

Regardless of whether they are in the United States or in another country, campus environments of most colleges or universities bring many people together in the same place. Students, faculty, and staff of any college or university can get sick with flu and easily spread it to others on campus, as well as in the larger community.
Age can also be a factor. So far, the largest number of 2009 H1N1 flu cases have been confirmed among people younger than 25 years old. This age group is also at risk of getting seasonal flu.
Here is the good news: seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 flu are not reasons to cancel your study-abroad plans! We've come up with some simple steps you can follow to help make sure you stay healthy and get the most from your study-abroad experience!

Before you go, remember to:

See a doctor.

Symptoms of the flu (including 2009 H1N1 flu) can include:

*fever

cough

sore throat

runny or stuffy nose

body aches

headache

chills

fatigue

you may have vomiting and diarrhea

*You may have respiratory symptoms without fever.

*You may have respiratory symptoms without fever.
For international travel, CDC recommends that you make an appointment to see a doctor familiar with travel medicine at least 4–6 weeks before you leave. The doctor will review your medical history and your study-abroad program to make sure you receive the right vaccinations, medicines, and information to stay healthy and safe.

Get your flu vaccine.

Vaccines are the most important tool we have for preventing the flu. You can lower your chances of getting seasonal flu by getting a seasonal flu vaccine.
Consider getting the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine to protect against 2009 H1N1 flu if it is available. If you are younger than 25 years of age, you are in a recommended initial target group to receive the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine. For more information, see Key Facts About 2009 H1N1 Flu Vaccine.

Travel only when you feel well.

If you become ill, stay at home or in your place of lodging if you are already abroad, until your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours. If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications, seek medical care immediately. To learn more, see What To Do If You Get Sick: 2009 H1N1 and Seasonal Flu.
If you are already outside the United States and need help finding medical care, Consular personnel at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad and in the U.S. are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens. To contact the U.S. Embassy or consulate in the country where you are visiting:
Photo: A student exiting a taxi.

Dial: 1-888-407-4747 if calling from the U.S. or Canada,
Dial: 00 1 202-501-4444 if calling from overseas, or

Follow basic health tips while you are traveling abroad.

Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

More Information

For more general health information on how to prepare for your study-abroad program, check out the Travel Health Tips for Students Studying Abroad webpage.
For other ways to stay healthy while traveling, see the CDC Travelers' Health website.
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quinta-feira, novembro 19, 2009 

Photo: A woman jumping into the air

On November 19, challenge yourself and jumpstart a healthier life by taking part in the Great American Smokeout. Quit smoking for twenty-four hours and it could be the first day of a healthier, tobacco free life.

 

Why is the Great American Smokeout Important?

Photo: A group of young men and women playing with a soccer ball

Nearly 3 out of 4 smokers say they want to quit. If you are one of the millions who want to quit, join the Great American Smokeout on November 19th. Do the most important thing you can for your health or for someone you love. Quit for one day. Just one day can turn into a lifetime, because the ultimate goal is to stop using tobacco permanently and begin a healthier life.
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Every year, more than 440,000 Americans die prematurely due to smoking and 38,000 non-smokers in the U.S. die from inhaling cigarette smoke. Yet, there are still 46 million (20.6%) adults in the United States who are current smokers and another 125 million children and adults who are exposed to secondhand smoke.

How Can I Quit?

Although it can be tough, you can quit. Smokers who use proven interventions, such as assistance from a healthcare provider, FDA-approved medications, and behavioral counseling, greatly increase their likelihood of quitting for good.
Smokers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and certain U.S. territories who want free help to quit can access 1-800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669) for telephone counseling or referrals.
More resources for quitting are available at the bottom of the page.

History of the Great American Smokeout

The Great American Smokeout grew out of a small-town event in Massachusetts in 1971, when high-school guidance counselor Arthur Mullaney asked people to give up cigarettes for one day and donate the money they would otherwise have spent on cigarettes to a college scholarship fund.
In 1974, Lynn Smith, editor of Minnesota's Monticello Times, organized the state's first observance of "D-Day," or "Don't Smoke Day." Starting in November, 1976, the California Division of the American Cancer Society (ACS) adopted the idea and ultimately designated the event the Great American Smokeout, successfully convincing nearly a million smokers to quit for one day in the event's first year. Soon the event went nationwide under the sponsorship of ACS.
The Great American Smokeout is also a time to highlight some of the other proven interventions that increase smoking cessation: establishing smoke-free environments in homes, workplaces and restaurants; increasing the price of cigarettes; and mass media campaigns to inform and motivate tobacco users to quit.

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quarta-feira, novembro 18, 2009 

Photo: Three Native American youth with their dog.

November is Native American Heritage Month. This year's theme is "Revitalizing Health – Energizing Our Mission in an Era of Change". CDC's Injury Center works with tribal nations to implement motor vehicle injury prevention programs. This month, learn about American Indian/Alaska Natives' risks on the roads and how CDC-funded programs are helping to reduce these risks.
 
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional injury for American Indian/ Alaska Natives ages 1- 44. Both American Indian/ Alaska Native children and adults are at especially high risk of being injured or killed in a crash.

The Reality

Low rates of seatbelt and child safety seat use, as well as a relatively high prevalence of alcohol-impaired driving, contribute to an increased risk of injury and death among American Indian/ Alaska Native motorists.  Consider that:
    Among infants less than one year of age, American Indian/Alaska Natives have the highest rate of motor-vehicle traffic deaths.
    Among American Indian/Alaska Natives 19 years of age and younger, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of injury-related death.
    American Indian/Alaska Natives have the highest alcohol-related motor vehicle mortality rates among racial/ethnic populations.
Thankfully, there are proven strategies and effective programs to reduce crash-related injuries and death among members of tribal nations.

Effective Tribal Programs

Photo: A child in a safety seat.

CDC's Injury Center funded four tribes from 2004-2009 to tailor, implement, and evaluate evidence-based interventions to reduce motor vehicle-related injury and death in their communities. The following pilot programs were successful at increasing seat belt use, increasing child safety seat use, and decreasing alcohol-impaired driving:

The Tohono O'odham Nation (TON) passed a primary seat belt law in 2005. A primary seat belt law allows enforcement officers to ticket a driver for not wearing a seat belt, without any other traffic offense taking place. Efforts to support the law focused on increasing seat belt use on the Reservation with a comprehensive media campaign and working with Tribal Police to enforce the new law. Driver seat belt use increased 47% and passenger seat belt use increased 62% from 2005 to 2008.

The Ho-Chunk Nation Motor Vehicle Prevention Program (MVPP) also set goals to increase seat belt use and child safety seat use. Through a number of activities—including partnering with local County police departments, implementing a comprehensive media campaign, and conducting targeted education and training for police officers—the Program, from 2005 to 2009, has seen driver seat belt use increase 38%, passenger seat belt use increase 94%, and child safety seat use increase from a baseline of 26% in Fall 2005 to 76% in Spring 2009.


Photo: A young driver behind the wheel of a car.
The White Mountain Apache Tribe Motor Vehicle Injury Prevention Program has focused on increasing seat belt use and decreasing alcohol-impaired driving through the use of DUI sobriety checkpoints, enhanced police enforcement, and a comprehensive media campaign. In 2008 they conducted 24 sobriety checkpoints and stopped 13,408 vehicles. They also tracked rates of seat belt use among drivers and passengers and found that driver seat belt use increased from 13% to 54% and passenger seat belt use increased from 10% to 32% from 2004 to 2008.

The San Carlos Apache Tribe Motor Vehicle Injury Prevention Program has focused on reducing alcohol-impaired driving and increasing seat belt use among tribal members. Media campaigns, sobriety checkpoints, enhanced police enforcement, and local community events have all been important components of their program. Since 2004, total DUI arrests have increased 52%, driver seat belt use has increased 46%, and motor vehicle crashes have decreased 29%. In 2007, the San Carlos Tribal Council passed a primary seat belt law and a .08 blood alcohol concentration (BAC) law.

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sexta-feira, novembro 06, 2009 

Photo: A stressed woman












Sometimes after experiencing a traumatic event that is especially frightening—including personal or environmental disasters, or being threatened with an assault—people have a strong and lingering reaction to stress. Getting the right care and support can put problems in perspective and help stressful feelings and symptoms subside.
 Photo: A worried woman


Stress is an inevitable part of life that everyone - adults, teens, and even children - experiences at times. Stress can be beneficial by helping people develop the skills they need to cope with and adapt to new and potentially threatening situations throughout life. However, the beneficial aspects of stress diminish when it is severe enough to over whelm a person's ability to cope effectively.

Sometimes after experiencing a traumatic event that is especially frightening—including personal or environmental disasters, or being threatened with an assault—people have a strong and lingering reaction to stress. Strong emotions, jitters, and sadness or depression may all be part of this normal and temporary reaction to the stress of an overwhelming event. But when the symptoms of stress are intense or last too long, it can cause people to feel overwhelmed and have an effect on their ability to cope.

Common reactions to a stressful event can include:
    Disbelief and shock
    Fear and anxiety about the future
    Difficulty making decisions
    Apathy and emotional numbing
    Loss of appetite  
    Nightmares and reoccurring thoughts about the event
    Anger
    Increased use of alcohol and drugs
    Sadness and depression
    Feeling powerless
    Crying 
    Sleep difficulties
    Headaches, back pains, and stomach problems
    Difficulty concentrating
Photo: A man feeling stressed.














Feeling emotional and nervous or having trouble sleeping and eating can all be normal reactions to stress. Getting the right care and support can put problems in perspective and help stressful feelings and symptoms subside in a few days or weeks.Here are some tips for getting the right care and support in difficult times.
    Stay in touch with family.  Stay around people who are caring and positive.
    Stay active. Go for a walk or run.
    Get involved. Get involved in activities to support your community.
    Avoid drugs and alcohol. Drugs and alcohol may seem to help with the stress temporarily; in the long run they create additional problems that compound the stress you are already feeling.
    Find support. Ask for help from a parent, friend, counselor, doctor, or pastor. Talk with them about the stress you feel and problems you face.
    Take care of yourself. Get plenty of rest and exercise and eat properly.
    Take a time-out. If you feel stressed, give yourself a break. Allow some down time, even if it is only a 30-second time-out.
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quarta-feira, outubro 21, 2009 

Photo: Mothers holding their children.
Photo courtesy of the World Health Organization.

More infants are being immunized today than ever before. However, millions of children living in the world's poorest countries remain unprotected and at risk for serious disease and death. CDC works with international partners to reduce illness and death from vaccine-preventable diseases.
 
State of the world's vaccines and immunization.
Full text of The State of the World's Vaccines and Immunization, written by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and the World Bank, is available online.
Increased immunization coverage around the world is a key reason why the number of children dying each year has fallen below 10 million for the first time in documented history.

The State of the World's Vaccines and Immunization, released on October 21, 2009, reports the successes in the overall global immunization effort. Despite great progress, millions of children are at risk, particularly in the poorest nations and communities, where preventable diseases take their deadliest toll.

The State of the World's Vaccines and Immunization

Key points reported in The State of the World's Vaccines and Immunization:
    A record 106 million infants were vaccinated in 2008.
    Vaccines against tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, hepatitis B, and Hib disease are preventing 2.5 million deaths each year.
    Since 2000, expanded use of measles vaccine has helped drop global measles-related deaths from an estimated 750,000 to 197,000 annually. The goal to reduce mortality by 90% in 2010 compared to 2000 is within reach. Most regions have already set targets to eliminate measles from their countries within the next decade.
    The number of cases of polio has been reduced by 99% compared to 1988. Only four countries still have endemic transmission, and the goal of global eradication is on the near horizon.
    The first decade of the 21st century has been the most productive in the history of vaccine development. New life-saving vaccines have been developed for meningococcal meningitis, rotavirus diarrhea disease, pneumococcal disease, and cervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV).
Despite great progress in immunizing more children over the past decade, 24 million children – almost 20 percent of the children born each year – do not get the complete routine vaccinations scheduled for their first year of life. By missing essential vaccinations, these children – most of whom live in the world's poorest countries – are vulnerable to disability and death from serious infectious diseases.
Photo: A healthy child.
Steven Stewart, photographer
If all the vaccines now available against childhood diseases were widely adopted, and if countries could raise vaccine coverage to a global average of 90 percent, by 2015 an additional two million deaths a year could be prevented among children under 5 years old. – World Health Organization (WHO) estimate
See the State of the World's Vaccines and ImmunizationExternal Web Site Policy for additional information, including an executive summary in 6 languages, a webcast announcing the report, and a video showing vaccinated children around the world.

What CDC Is Doing

CDC is a spearheading partner in both the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and the Measles Initiative, whose goal is to reduce global measles deaths by 90% by 2010, compared with deaths in 2000. CDC works with numerous organizations in these initiatives, including WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International, the American Red Cross, the United Nations Foundation, and Ministries of Health from affected countries.
As a global immunization partner, CDC:
    Deploys public health experts to WHO and UNICEF for leadership roles in polio eradication and measles/rubella control programs. These staff work closely with Ministries of Health and their national immunization programs.
    Conducts outbreak investigations and program operations research.
    Helps plan, monitor, and evaluate large-scale vaccination campaigns.
    Funds the purchase of tens of millions of doses of polio and measles vaccines for use in mass vaccination campaigns.
    Trains and deploys public health volunteers for 3-month field assignments in more than 60 countries in the Stop Transmission of Polio (STOP) program.
    Assists Ministries of Health in introducing new vaccines and integrating them into routine immunization programs.
    Works closely with vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) laboratories and develops integrated surveillance of VPDs in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
    Develops and conducts training in data management for both routine immunization and new vaccine surveillance in more than 25 countries.
    Develops and evaluates tools/strategies for improving routine vaccination coverage in high priority countries such as India and Nigeria.

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quinta-feira, outubro 15, 2009 

Photo: Men and women

HIV is a serious health threat to Latino communities in the United States. While Hispanics/Latinos represent approximately 15 percent of the U.S. population, they account for an estimated 18 percent of people living with HIV in the U.S. (194,000 persons), and an estimated 17 percent of new infections each year (9,700 infections). National Latino AIDS Awareness Day provides Latino communities with an opportunity to encourage HIV prevention, testing, and treatment.
 
October 15th is National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD).

Initiated in 2003 by the Latino Commission on AIDS and the Hispanic Federation in partnership with faith and community organizations, NLAAD raises awareness of issues concerning HIV/AIDS with the Hispanic/Latino population living in the United States and abroad.

Complex Factors Increase HIV Risk
 

Photo: Two men

There is no single Hispanic/Latino culture in the United States; the factors driving the epidemic in this population are as diverse as the communities themselves. While prevention efforts have helped to maintain stability in the overall level of new HIV infections among Latinos for more than a decade, this population continues to be affected by HIV at far too high a level. A number of factors contribute to the HIV epidemic in Hispanic/Latino communities in the United States including:
    Behavioral risk factors such as men who have sex with men and women, men who have sex with men, men and women who have sex with injection drug users,
    Socioeconomic factors such as poverty, discrimination, social isolation and migration, lack of access to healthcare and language barriers,
    Stigma associated with citizenship status, HIV, and risky behaviors such as sex with men who have sex with other men and substance abuse,
    High prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs),
    Young men who have sex with men are not consistently targeted with effective, culturally-appropriate HIV prevention messages and services, and
    Cultural factors, including where a person is born. For example, data suggest that Hispanics born in Puerto Rico are more likely than other Hispanics to contract HIV as a result of injection drug use. By contrast, sexual contact with other men is the primary cause of HIV infection among men born in Mexico.
Because the U.S. Hispanic/Latino population is expected to triple from 2000 to 2050, HIV/AIDS prevention within this population will continue to be a major priority for public health.

Photo: Three women

What Can Hispanic/Latino Men and Women Do?

    Get tested to learn whether or not they are infected with HIV,
    Seek early medical care if they learn they are infected,
    Protect themselves and others from HIV through safer sex practices and not sharing needles if they inject drugs,
    Educate themselves and others about HIV, and
    Get involved in their communities to help prevent HIV or provide services to those in need.

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segunda-feira, outubro 05, 2009 

Photo: Pill bottle 
Antibiotics do not fight infections caused by viruses, like colds, flu, most sore throats and bronchitis, and some ear infections. Rest, fluids, and over-the-counter products may be your or your child's best treatment option.
 


Dangers of Antibiotic Resistance

Photo: A pharmacist assisting a customer

If antibiotics are used too often for things they can't treat—like colds, flu, or other viral infections—they can stop working effectively against bacteria when you or your child really needs them. Antibiotic resistance—when antibiotics can no longer cure bacterial infections—has been a concern for years and is considered one of the world's most pressing public health problems. Widespread overuse of antibiotics is fueling an increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. So the next time you or your child really needs an antibiotic for a bacterial infection, it may not work.


If You Have a Cold or Flu, Antibiotics Won't Work for You!

Colds and flu are caused by viruses, not bacteria. Taking antibiotics when you or your child has a virus may do more harm than good. Get smart about when antibiotics are appropriate—to fight bacterial infections. Taking them for viral infections, such as a cold, most sore throats, the flu, or acute bronchitis:
    Will not cure the infection;
    Will not keep other people from getting sick;
    Will not help you or your child feel better; and
    May cause unnecessary and harmful side effects.


What Not to Do

    Photo: A doctor consulting a father and child.

    Do not demand antibiotics when a healthcare provider says they are not needed.
    Do not take an antibiotic for a viral infection like a cold or most sore throats.
    Do not take antibiotics prescribed for someone else. The antibiotic may not be appropriate for your or your child’s illness. Taking the wrong medicine may delay correct treatment and allow bacteria to multiply.

If your healthcare provider prescribes an antibiotic for you or your child:
    Do not skip doses.
    Do not save any of the antibiotics for the next time you or your child gets sick.


What to Do

Snort, Sniffle, Sneeze.
View or download "Snort. Sniffle. Sneeze: No Antibiotics Please!" (video 3:47 mins)

Learn about appropriate antibiotic use and how to feel better when you or your child has a sore throat, ear or sinus pain, fever, cough, or runny nose.



Adults and kids should clean their hands often, especially before meals and after touching pets. And make sure both you and your child are up-to-date on recommended immunizations.


Talk with your healthcare provider about the best treatment for your or your child’s illness. To feel better when you or your child has an upper respiratory infection:
    Increase fluid intake;
    Get plenty of rest;
    Use a cool-mist vaporizer or saline nasal spray to relieve congestion; and
    Soothe a throat with ice chips, sore throat spray, or lozenges (do not give lozenges to young children).


Video: Snort. Sniffle. Sneeze. No Antibiotics Please!

CDC created a video to help you learn more about appropriate antibiotic use and how to feel better when you or your child has a sore throat, ear or sinus pain, fever, cough, or runny nose. This video features a doctor, who is also a concerned mom. You can download the video at CDC-TV, download the podcast, or access on your mobile phone.


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