Fall Allergies Start Their Attack
HIV/AIDS * Frequently Asked Questions
Flu Shots * It's time to get your flu shot again!
How to Quit Smoking for the Last Time! * Helpful hints for smokers who want to quit
Recipe * Chicken and Grapefruit salad southwestern style!
Did You Know? * Get the "dirt" on soap
Sickle Cell Anemia Awareness Month
Fruits & Vegetables * Do you follow the 5 a day rule?
Telephone Numbers * A print-out reference of important numbers
WELLNESS CALENDAR * Events for the months to come.

This newsletter is published by the Office of Health Promotion. Comments and questions should be addressed to Susan Butler, Ed.D., CHES, RSPH 1525 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30322 or email at sbutl03@sph.emory.edu

Fall Allergies Start Their Attack

The most common allergen during the fall is ragweed. Ragweed pollens are microscopic and can travel 300 to 400 miles through the air. This means that even if there is no ragweed in your yard, it can still wreak havoc on your allergies. Sagebrush, pigweed, tumbleweed, and Russian thistles are also common allergens in the fall.

Molds can also cause problems for allergy sufferers, especially in the South where they grow year-round. Dust allergies may be more problematic in the fall and winter since your doors and windows stay closed, trapping dust indoors.

With allergens everywhere, is there anything you can do to prevent fall allergy attacks? The best thing to do, of course, is to avoid the allergen, but this is not very realistic.

Try these two suggestions for relief:

1. Do not go outdoors between 5-10 am because this is when pollen counts are highest.
2. Run an air conditioner to keep humidity low.

If these tips do not help, visit an allergist to discuss your treatment options. Antihistamines, decongestants, and allergy shots are commonly prescribed to relieve symptoms. If nothing helps, invest in a good box of tissues!

Flu vaccinations are vital for those aged 65 and over or people with cardiovascular, pulmonary, or metabolic disorders. Opportunistic infections, like pneumonia, can have serious consequences in these groups.

Many people think that if they got a flu shot last year they do not need to get one this year. This is not true. You need to get a new vaccination every year. New vaccinations are required because the influenza virus mutates from year to year.

Flu vaccines may cause side effects like soreness at the site of the shot, fever, or tiredness. These are rarely serious enough to prevent someone from getting the vaccination. The only people that should not get the vaccine are those who are allergic to eggs.

If you want to avoid the flu season this winter, go to your doctor's office soon to receive this year's flu vaccine. No-cost/low-cost flu shots are being sponsored by Emory Healthcare, Emory University Health Service and The Emory Well House. Call 404-727-WELL for more information.

November 19^th is the Great American Smokeout. This is a national campaign that promotes smoking cessation. It is expected that nearly 12 million smokers will try to quit smoking on this day. But as many smokers know, it requires more than wanting to quit to be successful. If you decide to take part in the Smokeout, write it down on a calendar as your Quit Date. It may help to taper down the amount you smoke in the weeks leading up to your Quit Date. Some other suggestions are:

1. Tell friends and family members when your Quit Date is so they can encourage you.
2. Ask another smoker to quit with you.
3. Join a support group.
4. Chew gum or eat sunflower seeds.
5. Exercise or call a friend to get your mind off the cravings.
6. Reward yourself for remaining smoke free.
7. Practice time management and relaxation techniques to handle stress.

Remember, it IS possible to quit smoking ...just ask one of the 48 million Americans who proudly call themselves quitters!

Dressing: 1 cup orange juice 1 tsp. olive oil ½ tsp. dry mustard ¼ tsp. chili powder 1/8 tsp. paprika dash salt

Grill or broil chicken breasts: cool slightly. Cut into bite sized strips. In a salad bowl, toss together lettuce, bell pepper, chicken and grapefruit sections. For dressing, in a shaker jar place remaining ingredients; shake well. Pour over salad; toss and serve. Makes 2 main dish salads.

Calories, 315; fat, 6 g; cholesterol, 66 mg; fiber, 4 g; sodium, 77 mg; percent calories from fat, 17%.

This is an official 5 A Day Recipe from the 5 A Day website at http://www.dcpc.nci.nih.gov/5aday/Recipes.html Check it out!

According to Roman legend, soap got its name from Mount Sapo, a mountain were animals were sacrificed. Rain would wash animal fat and ashes down to the river where the women used this mixture to clean.

The average kitchen dishcloth can contain 4 billion living germs.

Poor personal hygiene by food handlers is the second leading cause of food borne illness.

For more facts on soaps and detergents, look at the Soap & Detergent Association's website: http://www.sdahq.org/

Sickle Cell Anemia Awareness Month

Sickle cell anemia occurs when the red blood cells are shaped like sickles. This irregular shape makes them more likely to become stuck in the blood vessels and block blood flow. Without blood, tissues can not get oxygen and they die. This is painful and causes serious medical conditions.

Since sickle cells die quicker than normal cells, there is a shortage of red blood cells. This condition is called anemia.

Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disease. This means that children inherit it from their parents. If a child inherits only one defective hemoglobin gene, he will be a carrier of sickle cell anemia but will not have symptoms. If both genes are defective, the child will show symptoms of sickle cell anemia.

Although the severity of symptoms varies greatly, common problems include:

• Pain and swelling in the hands and feet
• Fatigue, paleness, and shortness of breath
• Sporadic pain in any joint or organ
• Eye problems, including blindness
• Yellowing of the skin and eyes
• Delayed growth in adolescence
• Frequent infections
• Acute chest pain

In the US, this disease affects 72,000 people, mostly of African and Spanish descent. In fact, 1 in 12 African-Americans carries the sickle cell trait.

It is vital for those with sickle cell anemia to eat properly, get plenty of rest, and prevent infection. Regular visits to a physician can help detect early complications before they become serious. While there is no cure, the symptoms can be treated with pain-killing medications and blood transfusions

If you are concerned about the likelihood of your child inheriting the disease, consult a genetic counselor.

If you would like more information on sickle cell anemia, contact the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at 301-251-1222, or write them at:

Do You Follow the 5 A-Day Rule?

It may help by realizing what a serving size is. The National Cancer Institute defines a serving of fruit or vegetables as:

• 6 ounces of 100% fruit juice
• a medium sized piece of fruit
• ½ = cup of raw or cooked vegetables
• ¼ cup of dried fruit
• 1 cup of raw, leafy vegetables
• ½ = cup of peas or beans.

With many Americans eating meals on the go, fruits and vegetables are often forgotten. But they don't have to be! Try some of these helpful hints:

• Drink fruit juice with your breakfast, or have a banana or berries on your cereal.
• Keep packets of dried fruit in your bag or desk drawer for an afternoon pick-me-up.
• Have cut vegetables in the refrigerator for a quick, easy snack.
• Add a baked potato to your lunch or dinner meal

For more suggestions and delicious recipes, visit the Official 5 A Day website at http://www.dcpc.nci.nih.gov/5aday

1525 Clifton Road
Blomeyer Teaching and
Resource Center
First Floor
 

October	November	December
12: Cooking with Soy Demonstration  Cost=$3 12:00-1:00 p.m. Blomeyer Teaching and  Resource Center 1525 Clifton Road, First Floor	12: Fun and Healthy Snacking Demonstration, Preparing to Quit Smoking  Cost:  $5 12:00-1:00 p.m. Blomeyer Teaching and  Resource Center 1525 Clifton Road, First Floor	2: Holiday Cooking Cost:  $5 12:00-1:00 p.m. Blomeyer Teaching and  Resource Center 1525 Clifton Road, First Floor
20: Flu Shots Cost: $12 11am-2pm Rollins School of Public Health 1518 Clifton Road Room 854	19:  Great American Smokeout Interactive Stop Smoking booth DUC (Dobbs University Center) 10a.m.-2p.m. Sponsored by the Office of Health Promotion and Student Health Services	Visit our display on Drunk Driving 1525 Clifton Road Blomeyer Teaching and Resource Center First Floor
26: Wellness article in Emory Report Topic:  Smoking	30:  Wellness article in Emory Report Topic:  Designated             Drivers	Happy Holidays

*Unless noted, all programs are held in the Blomeyer Training and Resource Center, Demonstration Kitchen, 1525 Clifton Road,1st Floor. To register for any of these activities above or if you have questions, call Wanda Frazier at 404-727-2853.

Do you have any thoughts or suggestions for the newsletter? Or is there a health topic you would like to see addressed? Let us know! Call Wanda Frazier at 404-727-2853 or e-mail her at wfraz02@sph.emory.edu with your ideas.