National Hurricane Preparedness Week

National Hurricane Preparedness Week started yesterday. Hurricane season begins next week on June 1st and runs through November. Luckily, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts a “near normal” Atlantic storm season.

Don’t forget to consult these LSUHSC sponsored sites:
Chancellor’s Memorandum (CM-51) – Policy on Weather Related Emergency Procedures
LSUHSC New Orleans: Emergerency Information – This site currently has no news, but you can sign up for the text alert system and the link to other LSUHSC supplied emergency information.

Other websites to consult:
Emergency.Louisiana.gov
Emergency Preparedness – City of New Orleans
Department of Emergency Management – Jefferson Parish
Homeland Security & Emergency Operation Center – St. Tammany Parish
Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness – St. Bernard Parish

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is upon us again. And while it is the official start of summer in much of the US, it is most importantly a “day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service.”

In honor of this day, here are a couple of interesting websites for the veterans or families of veterans:
MedlinePlus: Veterans & Military Health
Veterans History Project from the Library of Congress

Extra Set of Chromosome 21 – Key to Cancer Treatment?

A new study released in the advanced online publication section of Nature.com investigates why individuals with Down’s Syndrome have 10% the expected rate of cancer.

Link to the pdf of the Nature article is available to LSUHSC faculty staff & students. It can be accessed off-campus with a valid LSUHSC library barcode & PIN. You can find more information at our remote access webpage.

Scourge of Scurvy – Defeated over 260 years ago

On this date in 1747, a Scottish Naval physician began the testing that uncovered the cause of scurvy and lead to its cure. So go eat an orange today, in honor of Dr. James Lind.

Importance of the Proposed Academic Medical Center

Chancellor Hollier has recorded to audio spots on the meaning and impact of the proposed new Academic Medical Center in New Orleans. Check them out:
Spot 1
Spot 2

Please share them widely.

May 18 is HIV Vaccine Awareness Day

National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIAID) provides Fact Sheets, Brochures, and Questions & Answers about HIV vaccine research and trials.

HIV Vaccine Researchers are working to develop a vaccine that is 100 percent effective and will protect everyone from HIV infections. HIV research is essential for Louisiana citizens. Look at the facts below.

HIV/AIDS in Louisiana FACTS
?óÔé¼?ó As of March 31, 2008 a cumulative total of 27,744 persons have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in Louisiana, including 302 cases in children under the age of 13.
?óÔé¼?ó There are persons living with HIV in every parish in Louisiana, and this number continues to increase each year, largely due to more effective drug therapies.
?óÔé¼?ó A total of 15,795 persons were known to be living with HIV/AIDS in Louisiana, of which 8,281 (52%) had been diagnosed with AIDS as of March 31, 2008.
?óÔé¼?ó In 2007, 1,152 new HIV cases were diagnosed in Louisiana; 30% of the cases were in Region 1 (New Orleans area) and 28% were in Region 2 (Baton Rouge area).
?óÔé¼?ó In 2007, 803 new AIDS cases were diagnosed in Louisiana. Of these cases, 33% occurred in Region 1 (New Orleans) ad 27% occurred in Region 2 (Baton Rouge).
?óÔé¼?ó In 2006, Louisiana ranked 5th highest in state AIDS case rates and 12th in the number of AIDS cases diagnosed in 2006.
?óÔé¼?ó Baton Rouge ranked 4th for AIDS case rates among the largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. in 2006; New Orleans ranked 8th.
?óÔé¼?ó In Louisiana, 30% of new HIV cases and 31% of new AIDS cases are among women.
?óÔé¼?ó HIV continues to disproportionately affect African Americans in Louisiana. In 2007, 72% of newly diagnosed HIV cases and 75% of newly diagnosed AIDS cases were among African Americans.

Color Copier Multi-Tasks

The color photocopier at the Isché Library has moved back down to the 3rd floor near the circulation desk. It has been programmed to make:

ACT F.A.S.T

Do this simple test to detect stroke symptoms:

Stroke mortality rate has declined over the past few years both in Louisiana and the US.

For 2005:
?óÔé¼?ó Louisiana?óÔé¼Ôäós rate was 17% above the national median rate.
?óÔé¼?ó Age?óÔé¼?Éadjusted mortality rates were 56.7 per 100,000 population for Louisiana and 46.6 per 100,000 population for the US.
?óÔé¼?ó Black females showed the highest stroke death rate of 78.6 per 100,000 population
followed by black males with the rate of 78 per 100,000.

Do you know your numbers?

May is National High Blood Pressure Month and it’s a good time to get to know your numbers.

Blood pressure is the force of blood against the artery walls. It is stated as a set of two numbers, the top (systolic pressure) measures the force of your heart beating and the bottom (diastolic pressure) measures the relaxation between beats.

According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, a high blood pressure diagnosis results when you have repeated readings of 140 over 90. Pre-hypertension is the term given to readings from 120 to 139 over 80-89.

High blood pressure is considered a “silent killer” because often there are no symptoms at first. Through time, uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure, or kidney failure.

More than 72 million American adults, 1 in 3, have high blood pressure. Although certain risk factors, such as age or family history, can’t be controlled, we can make lifestyle changes to help maintain a healthy blood pressure.

Get yourself checked. Learn your numbers now.

Get Your ZZZ’s

In a long list of health observances, May brings you “Better Sleep Month.”

This awareness comes at a perfect time; as the days get longer and hotter, and people make time for well-deserved rest and relaxation.

Getting the right amount of sleep is just as important as a healthy diet and exercise. However, factors like stress and sleep illnesses can interrupt a satisfactory night’s rest.

Visit The Better Sleep Council to learn interesting sleep statistics, common sleep problems and to discover the interesting history of our wonderful friend, The Bed.

RefWorks Mobile

RefWorks, the popular web-based bibliographic management system, is now available via web-enabled mobile phones, smart phones, and personal data assistants (PDAs). Your Group code is required. For more information on group codes, see our RefWorks info page.

A RefWorks class will be held Thursday, May 28, 2009, 10 – 11 am, at the LSUHSC Main Campus- Library computer lab room 405. For more information, contact mknapp@lsuhsc.edu

USPSTF for iPhone

From AHRQ:

The DHHS Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is announcing the release of the Electronic Preventive Services Selector (ePSS) tool for iPhone/iPod Touch. Go to http://epss.ahrq.gov to download.

ePSS iPhone/iPod Touch Key Features:
* Search and browse the USPSTF recommendations
* View USPSTF recommended preventive tools
* Full mobility with USPSTF database on the iPhone/ iPod Touch
* User friendly interface customized specifically for iPhone/ iPod Touch
* Email notifications of available updates
* User friendly ePSS data updates

eBooks for your smartphone

STAT!Ref, an online book provider of over 80 medical, dental and nursing textbooks, is now optimized for mobile devices. Simply access the link from your phone or PDA’s browser and you will be automatically redirected to the mobile site.

You must be able to access to the internet on your mobile device to use STAT!Ref mobile.

Links
STAT!Ref on campus: http://online.statref.com/Search.aspx?grpalias=StFH&mobile=true
STAT!Ref off campus: http://0-online.statref.com.innopac.lsuhsc.edu/Search.aspx?grpalias=StFH&mobile=true

More info from STAT!Ref.com.

Get Ready for National Women’s Health Week 2009!

This year the 10^th annual National Women?óÔé¼Ôäós Health Week kicks off today!?é?á It is a weeklong health observance coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services?óÔé¼Ôäó Office on Women?óÔé¼Ôäós Health (OWH). This year?óÔé¼Ôäós theme is ?óÔé¼?ôIt?óÔé¼Ôäós Your Time?óÔé¼?Ø.

Some tips to increase physical and mental health include:

• Getting at least 2 ?é?¢ hours of moderate physical activity, 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous physical activity, or a combination of both each week
• Eating a nutritious diet.
• Visiting a health care professional for regular checkups and preventive screenings.
• Avoiding risky behaviors, like smoking and not wearing a seatbelt.
• Paying attention to mental health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress.

Locally there are a few events that are taking place:

Taking it to the Streets ?óÔé¼ÔÇ£ A City Walk and Lunch promoting women?óÔé¼Ôäós mental and physical health (http://www.tulane.edu/~tuxcoe/NewWebsite/com_womens_health/index.html)

Ask your Health Provider ?óÔé¼ÔÇ£ Clinical screening & exam, HIV & STI treatment and/or prevention, Taking the Pledge! (http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices/?ID=264)

So far, Louisiana only has 6 women who took the pledge and is trailing far behind Missouri which has 155 pledges, so take the pledge today!

One week, not enough?

If you?óÔé¼Ôäód like to continue the Woman Challenge there is an eight-week online activity program that allows you to track your progress, so sign up today!

For more information please visit http://www.womenshealth.gov/whw/ .

May bike days

Bikes in the Roman Street Parking Garage. Can you guess which one is mine?

In line with National Physical Fitness Month, May is also deemed National Bike Month by the League of American Bicyclists.

Bicycle commuting is a great way to squeeze regular exercise into a hectic schedule. Commuting time can be used to stay in shape instead of sitting frustrated in traffic. Bicycle commuters get to work on time more often and are happier and more productive. 80% of people who switch from sedentary commuting to cycling improve their heart, lungs and blood vessels greatly in 6-8 weeks, so they get sick much less often.

For a 180 pound man, a 10 mile round trip bike commute burns 400 calories. For a 130-pound woman this same commute burns 300 calories. In fact, children who walk or bicycle to school have higher daily levels of physical activity and better cardiovascular fitness than do children who do not actively commute to school, according to a 2008 article from Preventing Chronic Disease.

Local Bike Links:
New Orleans Metro Bicycle Coalition: http://www.mbcnola.org/
Includes official bike route maps

Bikely: New Orleans bicycle routes
http://www.bikely.com/listpaths/srchkey/new+orleans/country/254/region/140
Bikely lets you map your own bike paths or search paths others have created. Here’s one for biking Uptown to the Medical district.

New Orleans Bicycle Club: http://www.neworleansbicycleclub.org/
For the local bike racing enthusiast

Rubarb bikes: http://www.rubarbike.org/
Upper 9th ward community bike shop

Plan B: http://www.bikeproject.org/
Community-run bike project that functions as an open workspace for bicycle repair

Nolacycle: http://www.nolacycle.blogspot.com/
Ongoing project aimed to create a high quality cycling map of New Orleans

Bike Polo: http://www.nolabikerace.com/
Not for the faint of heart.