October 2014

Health Literacy Month 2014: Be a Health Literacy Hero 

October is Health Literacy Month, a time when organizations and individuals worldwide raise awareness about the importance of understandable health information. The theme for Health Literacy Month 2014 is "Be a Health Literacy Hero." Here's how you can be a Health Literacy Hero:

 

Spread the word. What inspired you to advocate for health literacy? Perhaps you were inspired by personal experiences when health communication either went very badly or exceptionally well. Take action this year by sharing stories about why health literacy matters.

 

Partner with others. It can sometimes feel like you are a voice of one when it comes to advocating for yourself. Please know that you are not alone. There are an ever-growing number of health literacy resources and partnerships. There also are many regional and state-wide health literacy collaborations. A good place to find like-minded folks within the U.S. is at CDC's "Health Literacy Activities by State." Whether you join an existing network or start a new one, be a partner for action.  

Stay Connected
 
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...and now YouTube!
Announcing the Personal Campaigns Challenge Winners!  

The RM Personal Campaigns Challenge was a big hit with our volunteers! We are so proud to see so many volunteers accept the challenge. Thank you ALL for participating and taking the time to spread the word about RM! You helped connect family and friends to the world of research and helped us all move one step closer to a healthier tomorrow.  

 

We asked our winners, Hannah Scarborough and Toby Spinner, to provide some feedback on how easy it was to participate and what motivates them to get involved in research. Hannah said, "I posted a notice on all the Facebook pages I am involved in, including my college's page[and] a lot of people seemed interested." Toby said, "I am a member of a small group of people across the world that have DISH (Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis). This is considered an orphan disease and very little research is being done...Many doctors are not aware of the disease and how to treat it. I joined ResearchMatch and invited all 300+ members of our close  d Facebook page to join. We want the word out on this disease and are willing to help in any way we can."


Congratulations, Hannah and Toby! Bravo to all our volunteers and for research! When everybody is involved in research, everybody wins!

October is International Down Syndrome Awareness Month!

According to the National Down Syndrome Society, one in every 691 babies is born with Down syndrome each year, making it one of the most common genetic conditions in the United States. The condition is caused by a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21 which alters the course of fetal development and causes the characteristics associated with Downs. A few of the common physical traits of Downs are low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes, and a single deep crease across the center of the palm - although each person with Downs is a unique individual and may possess these characteristics to different degre es, or not at all. Down syndrome is very rarely seen as a complex or severe disability, rather it is more commonly described as a mild to moderate developmental delay.  

Recent research has found a genetic link between Downs and Alzheimer's and other neurological conditions. Although, great strides have been made in understanding Down syndrome and other developmental disorders, more research needs to be done! Celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month by volunteering for research at www.researchmatch.org 

- Get Matched!

What You Need To Know About Ebola
There has been a lot of discussion about Ebola in the news the past few weeks so in honor of Infection Prevention Week (October 19-25), RM is taking a moment to help clarify a few points about this scary disease. Ebola is a rare and deadly disease caused by infection with one of the five known Ebola virus strains. The disease was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since then, outbreaks have appeared sporadically however national and international health authorities are currently working to control a large, ongoing outbreak involving areas in West Africa

People suffering from Ebola typically have a fever higher than 101.5F, headache, joint and muscle aches, sore throat, and weakness. They may also have diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, and internal and external bleeding. There is currently no vaccine to prevent Ebola, but there are steps you can take to minimize your likelihood of contracting the disease. If you must travel to an area affected by the 2014 Ebola outbreak, protect yourself by doing the following:

  • Wash hands frequently or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid contact with blood and body fluids of any person, particularly someone who is sick.
  • Do not handle items that may have come in contact with an infected person's blood or body fluids.
  • Do not touch the body of someone who has died from Ebola.
  • Do not touch bats and nonhuman primates or their blood and fluids and do not touch or eat raw meat prepared from these animals.
  • Avoid hospitals in West Africa where Ebola patients are being treated. The U.S. Embassy or consulate is often able to provide advice on medical facilities.
  • Seek medical care immediately if you develop fever (temperature of 101.5�F/ 38.6�C) and any of the other following symptoms: headache, muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bruising or bleeding.
  • Limit your contact with other people until and when you go to the doctor. Do not travel anywhere else besides a healthcare facility.


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