may-2015-health-wellness-and-nutrition-supplement

2015 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT

PREVENTION STRATEGIES CAN ENHANCE WELLNESS PRESENTED BY

SPONSORED BY

NEWSPAPER READING IS A HABIT

A Healthier

DON’T BREAK THE HABIT!

You Starts Today

As springtime continues, many

District residents have started to take advantage of the warmer weather, taking early morning jogs, riding their bicycles on designated routes and even venturREAD THE WASHINGTON INFORMER YOUR WAY:

ing to their closest golf course or tennis court.

In Print – feel the ink between your fingers of our Award Winning Print Edition

n

On the Web – www.washingtoninformer.com updated throughout the day, every day

Our theme for this supplement,

“Prevention Strategies Can Enhance

n

n

On your tablet

Health and Wellness,” affirms the nation-

n

On your smartphone

al directive of the Centers for Disease

n

Facebook

Control as well as President Obama’s

n

Twitter Weekly Email Blast – sign up at www.washingtoninformer.com

Affordable Care Act. That strategy tells

n

us that Americans can be proactive in their lives by focusing on ways that help them stay healthy and fit.

202-561-4100 For advertising contact Ron Burke at rburke@washingtoninformer.com

...Informing you everyday in every way

In years past, citizens of the U.S.

and the medical community tended to focus on sickness and disease, looking for answers after physical ailments had already taken control of our bodies. But now there’s

In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark THE WASHINGTON INFORMER NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published weekly on each Thursday.

Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices. News and advertising deadline is Monday prior to publication. Announcements must be received two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2015

by The Washington Informer. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send change of addresses to The Washington Informer, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20032. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of photographs. Subscription rates are $45 per year, two years $60. Papers will be received not more than a week after publication. Make checks payable to: THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E Washington, D.C. 20032 Phone: 202 561-4100 Fax: 202 574-3785 news@washingtoninformer.com www.washingtoninformer.com

PUBLISHER Denise Rolark Barnes STAFF Denise W. Barnes, Editor

a new attitude, a new philosophy that makes a lot more sense. If we change the way we live and set our sights on wellness and prevention, we can not only live longer, but also improve the quality of our lives while reducing health care costs.

What can you do today? Consider some of the habits that you have adopted and

look for ways to change for the better. Make a real stab at tobacco-free living. Reduce

D. Kevin McNeir, Managing Editor

your alcohol intake and avoid using drugs. Examine the kinds of foods you eat – leave

Ron Burke, Advertising/ Marketing Director

that greasy, fast food burger alone and feed that urge to snack with fruits, vegetables

Lafayette Barnes, IV, Assistant Photo Editor

and nuts.

John E. De Freitas, Sports Photo Editor

Dorothy Rowley, Online Editor

day, stop and pause for moments of meditation and silence.

Brian Young, Design & Layout Mable Neville, Bookkeeper

Take a yoga class, get a membership to a local health club and throughout each If you’re still sexually active, take care of yourself – that means being selective in

Mickey Thompson, Social Sightings columnist

terms of who you share your body with and protect yourself from possible STDs.

Stacey Palmer, Social Media Specialist

Finally, because we live in a world that moves at lightning speed, make sure you’re

Angie Johnson, Circulation

avoiding situations of high stress, possible violent encounters and burnout.

REPORTERS Stacy Brown, Sam P.K. Collins, Eve Ferguson, Elton Hayes, D. Kevin McNeir, Dorothy Rowley, Barrington Salmon

Community of Hope and Donate Life, all push an agenda that urges us to exercise, have regular physical examinations, eat healthier and to always take time to smell the roses.

PHOTOGRAPHERS John E. DeFreitas, Shevry Lassiter, Roy Lewis, Travis Riddick , Rob Roberts, Nancy Shia INTERNS Sarafina Wright

Many of our sponsors for this supplement, including AmeriHealth, Walmart,

We only have one life to live – let’s make the best of it.

D. Kevin McNeir Managing Editor The Washington Informer

www.washingtoninformer.com / MAY 2015 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT

H-2

National Prevention Strategy:

America’s Plan for Better Health and Wellness http://www.cdc.gov/Features/ PreventionStrategy/ The National Prevention Strategy is a comprehensive plan that will help increase the number of Americans who are healthy at every stage of life. Created by the National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council in consultation with the public and an Advisory Group of outside experts, the Strategy recognizes that good health comes not just from receiving quality medical care but from stopping disease before it starts.

Good health also comes from clean air and water, safe outdoor spaces for physical activity, safe worksites, healthy foods, violence-free environments and healthy homes.

Prevention should be woven into all aspects of our lives, including where and how we live, learn, work and play. Everyone—businesses, educators, health care institutions, government, communities and every single American—has a role in creating a healthier nation.

Called for by the Affordable Care Act, the National Prevention Strategy includes actions that public and private partners can take to help Americans stay healthy and fit.

It helps move the nation away from a health care system focused on sickness and disease to one focused on wellness and prevention.

Importance of Prevention Increasing the focus on prevention in our communities will help improve America’s health, quality of life and prosperity. For example, seven out of 10 deaths among Americans each year are from chronic diseases (such as cancer and heart disease), and almost one out of every two adults has at least one chronic illness, many of which are preventable. Racial and ethnic minority communities experience higher rates of obesity, cancer, diabetes and AIDS. Children are also becoming increasingly vulnerable.

Today, almost one in every three children in our nation is overweight or obese which predisposes them to chronic disease and the numbers are even higher in African American and Hispanic communities.

Focusing on preventing disease and illness before they occur will create healthier homes, workplaces, schools and communities so that people can live long and productive lives and reduce their healthcare costs. Better health positively

H-3

impacts our communities and our economy: • With better health, children are in school more days and are better able to learn. Numerous studies have found that regular physical activity supports better learning.

Student fitness levels have been correlated with academic achievement, including improved math, reading and writing scores.

• With better health, adults are more productive and at work more days. Preventing disease increases productivity—asthma, high blood pressure, smoking and obesity each reduce annual productivity by between $200 and $440 per person.

• With better health, seniors keep their independence. Support for older adults who choose to remain in their homes and communities and retain their independence (“aging in place”) helps promote and maintain positive mental and emotional health.

Investments in prevention across the life span complement and support treatment and care. Prevention policies and programs can be cost-effective, reduce health care costs, and improve productivity.

between clinical and community prevention efforts, such as diabetes prevention programs that support preventive efforts among underserved groups and can improve access to preventive services.

• Empowering People to Make Healthy Choices: Policies and programs can make healthy options the easy and affordable choice, and when people have access to actionable and easy-to-understand information and resources, they are empowered to make healthier choices. For example, health care professionals can use multiple communication tools (e.g., mobile phone applications, personal health records, and credible health websites) and culturally competent methods to support more traditional written and oral communication.

• Eliminating Health Disparities: By eliminating disparities in achieving and maintaining health,

A Plan for Better Health and Wellness The over arching goal of the National Prevention Strategy is to increase the number of Americans who are healthy at every stage of life. The strategy provides evidence-based recommendations that are fundamental to improving the nation’s health through the active engagement of all sectors of society to help achieve four broad strategic directions: • Building Healthy and Safe Community Environments: Prevention of disease starts in our communities and at home; not just in the doctor’s office. For example, businesses and employers can adopt practices to encourage their workforce to increase physical activity and reduce pollution (e.g., workplace flexibility, rideshare and vanpool programs, park-and-ride incentives, travel demand management initiatives, and telecommuting options).

• Expanding Quality Preventive Services in Both Clinical and Community Settings: When people receive preventive care, such as immunizations and cancer screenings, they have better health and lower health care costs. For example, expanding the linkages

MAY 2015 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

Prevention should be woven into all aspects of our lives, including where and how we live, learn, work and play.

Everyone—government, businesses, educators, health care institutions, communities and every single American—has a role in creating a healthier nation.

we can help improve quality of life for all Americans. For example, health care providers can train and hire more qualified staff from underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups and people with disabilities.

To help achieve these goals, the Strategy identifies evidence-based recommendations that are most likely to reduce the burden of leading causes of preventable death and

major illness. The Strategy’s seven priority areas are: • Tobacco free living • Preventing drug abuse and excessive alcohol use • Healthy eating • Active living • Injury and violence-free living • Reproductive and sexual health • Mental and emotional wellbeing n

Celebrate Women; Celebrate You.

By Karen Dale, Market President of AmeriHealth District of Columbia

2027 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20020

AmeriHealth District of Columbia Member Wellness Center

Connecting with our members right in their neighborhood!

At the AmeriHealth District of Columbia (DC) Member Wellness Center, members can: • Get one-on-one advice on how to get and stay healthy • Take healthy cooking and fitness classes • Ask questions about their AmeriHealth DC benefits Visit www.amerihealthdc.com or scan the QR code to see the wellness classes we offer. Classes change each month.

Free transportation can be provided to all members.

This program is funded in part by the Government of the District of Columbia Department of Health Care Finance.

Sunday, May 10 was Mother’s Day and marked the beginning of National Women’s Health Week.

Let’s continue to celebrate by being well. As we empower ourselves to be proactive about our health, we can encourage other women to do the same.

Follow these important health tips and pass them on to the women in your life: Schedule doctors’ visits and important screenings. Women have unique health needs.

For instance, pregnancy and cervical cancer are conditions that only happen in women.

And some conditions that affect both men and women can affect women differently — like breast cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV).

Schedule appointments with your primary care provider (PCP) and your OB/GYN each year. They can help you stay healthy. Talk to them about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), preventive health screenings, and breast and cervical cancers. It helps to find doctors you are comfortable with, so you can talk openly about your body and its changes.

Get checked together. It’s important for women to schedule mammograms (X-rays of the breast) and clinical breast exams. These can help doctors find early stages of breast cancer. Beat any fears you may have by going together. Join us and other AmeriHealth District of Columbia (DC) members for one of our Pinkie Parties. Pinkie Parties are workshops that provide free breast cancer screenings to hundreds of AmeriHealth DC members throughout the year. The workshops also provide support and education to increase awareness. In addition to screenings, women of all ages should do a breast self-exam at least 1 time every month. Checking your body and having regular mammograms can lower the risk of losing the battle with breast cancer.

Join a fitness group. Staying healthy doesn’t have to be boring. Try something new to get active. Join a Zumba® class with your girlfriends. Try doing yoga in your living room. It’s relaxing, and it’s free. Maintaining a healthy weight and exercising can help women stay balanced. It can even help fight against some cancers.

AmeriHealth DC members can take free fitness classes at our Member Wellness Center.

Eat, drink and be well. Drinking more water, eating healthier and limiting portion sizes can help you manage sugar and cholesterol levels. Make good choices by choosing healthy meals, drinks and snacks. Try sugar-free beverages and 100 percent juices instead of sodas. If you drink alcohol, limit yourself to 1 drink. However, do not drink alcohol during pregnancy. And eat more fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains. Try a “green smoothie” for a great way to get your daily serving of fruits and vegetables. There are many tasty recipes to try. Share and swap healthy recipes with your family and friends. You can even talk with a nutritionist to create a nutrition plan.

Find a support system. Life can be hard at times. Find people that support you.

It helps to have people in your life who make the right choices and can help you do the same. It can be unsafe to surround yourself with people who abuse drugs and alcohol. Also, if you are feeling down often, it may help to see a behavioral health specialist. Find one that you are comfortable with so you can speak openly with him or her. There is plenty of support for you. You may also find support from faith-based communities, family and friends. You can even be a part of someone else’s support system. Lean on each other when times are rough.

Remember your strength. There are plenty of healthy ways to deal with life’s struggles. Believe in yourself and ask your support system for encouragement. Staying positive, being active and eating healthy can make you feel good both physically and mentally. Do things that make you happy and keep up any healthy hobbies you may have.

The women in our lives are nurturing and empowering, and we should all empower each other to stay healthy. Caring for ourselves first will help us take better care of each other. Celebrate National Women’s Health Week by scheduling an appointment with your doctor. Then thank a woman in your life and share in the gift of good health.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MedlinePlus and the Office on Women’s Health n

www.washingtoninformer.com / MAY 2015 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT

H-4

Focusing on ADHD in Children Submitted by AmeriHealth District of Columbia Children are known to be active. Many are energetic and love to seek adventure.

They have creative minds and lively imaginations. But if your child is too hyper and unable to focus, he or she could have a common condition called attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Types of ADHD There are 3 types of ADHD. These types describe how hyper and how distracted your child is. The 3 types are: • Predominantly (mostly) inattentive. This type of ADHD makes it hard to focus and pay attention. Your child may daydream a lot and have trouble finishing tasks, like homework or chores. He or she may get bored easily and change topics often when talking. Children with this type of ADHD may have trouble listening and following the rules.

• Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive. If your child is constantly restless, he or she may have this type of ADHD. It may cause fidgeting and trouble staying still. Younger children may run, jump and climb more than other children their age.

This kind of behavior can make them impatient and more prone to getting hurt. It may also cause outbursts and bad temper.

• Combined presentation. If your child has symptoms from both of the types listed above, he or she may have a combined type of ADHD. Diagnosis It can be difficult to know the difference between ADHD and normal child-like behavior.

Every child misbehaves and has trouble focusing once in a while. And not every child with the condition is hyperactive.

Children with ADHD can be calm and quiet, but have trouble paying attention and following instructions. Children with ADHD can play video games for hours but not be able to complete simple tasks.

H-5

The condition often begins between 3 and 6 years old. The cause is unknown and there’s not a single test to diagnose ADHD. But there are treatments available. A doctor will gather information about the child and decide on next steps.

Your child must be having problems with these behaviors in at least 2 different places for an ADHD diagnosis. As part of the assessment, you will need information from a setting other than the home. There are forms that you can ask your child’s teacher or daycare worker to fill out. Sometimes the child’s doctor will do the assessment.

Other times, the doctor may refer your child to a behavioral health specialist. If it’s hard for you and your child to get to the doctor or specialist’s office, ask if they offer telehealth services.

Telehealth services allow patients and doctors to talk in real time using computers.

ADHD can start early and continue into adulthood. Monitor your child’s attention and activity. Talk to your child’s doctor if you think he or she may have the condition. Medical professionals, like your doctor or behavioral health specialists, are the only ones who can diagnose and help treat ADHD. Treatments Treatment is different for everyone. Your child’s doctor can help choose the treatment best for your child. Treatments include: • Medicines. ADHD medicines are used to help with focus, hyperactivity and acting on impulse. These medicines can be either stimulants or non-stimulants. Although it may seem strange to give someone with ADHD a stimulant, it can actually help those with the condition stay calm. The doctor may have to try a few medicines before finding 1 that works for your child.

• Behavioral therapy. Seeing a family therapist may help your child manage his or her condition. Family therapy will focus on the child’s actions and teach safe and healthy behaviors. It can provide tools and plans for dealing with ADHD in school, at home and at play.

It can be unsafe for ADHD

to go untreated. Hyperactivity and lack of focus may cause accidents and injury. It may also cause trouble with family, teachers and peers.

Remember, ADHD is not uncommon. Keep an eye on

MAY 2015 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

your child’s actions and behaviors, and talk to the doctor if you think your child may have ADHD. You can help keep your child healthy, safe and focused.

Sources: Centers for Disease Con-

trol and Prevention, The National Institute of Mental Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration All images are used under license for illustrative purposes only. Any individual depicted is a model. n

May 11-17th is National Women’s Lung Health Week Did you know that lung cancer is the #1 cancer killer of women in the country? The American Lung Association has launched a nationwide initiative to address this fact: that lung cancer kills more women than breast cancer, and has since 1987. This week, May 11-17th, is National Women’s Lung Health Week. During the observance, the Lung Association is urging women everywhere to share your voice and make lung cancer a cause that people care about.

understands their risks. We raise our voices for innovations in research that will lead to earlier detection and more personalized treatments—so that everyone has a fighting chance.

And we work to advance lung health—a life free of lung disease—for everyone who suffers from asthma, COPD and other lung diseases, or has someone in their life who does. We stand together against lung cancer and for

lung health. We stand together as one LUNG FORCE—for our breath, for our lives.

To stand with LUNG FORCE and against lung cancer, visit www.lungforce.org.

Healthcare professionals and patients are invited to learn the latest on lung cancer research, prevention strategies and more, at the DC Metro LUNG FORCE Expo on June 8th at the Hilton Alexandria. Visit www.lungforce.org/ expo to register. n

Consider these facts: 1 Every five minutes, a woman in the U.S. is told she has lung cancer.

2 The lung cancer death rate has more than doubled over the past 35 years.

3 Anyone can get lung cancer.

LUNG FORCE is working to change people’s minds about what it means to have lung cancer—so that everyone

LOOKING FOR A DOCTOR OR DENTIST?

Comprehensive Care for your family at the

Visit the Conway Health and Resource Center

Conway Health and Resource Center

most insurance and medical plans accepted • same-day appointments for current patients •

CALL NOW F OR AP P OINTMENT S!

COMMUNIT Y OF HOP E 202.540.9857 MEDICAL AP P OINTMENT LINE

202.540.9862

This program is funded in part by the Government of the District of Columbia, Department of Health’s Community Health Administration.

“Community of Hope is about love, compassion and caring.”

2nd and 3rd Generation Patients

www.communityofhopedc.org

DENTAL AP P OINTMENT LINE

BREAST CARE FOR WASHINGTON 202.465.7164 4 AT LANT IC ST REET, SW WASHINGTON, DC 20032 Our Family Caring For Yours

Over 40 and due for your annual mammogram?

Take care of your health with the latest screening technology.

We serve all women regardless of ability to pay.

No referral necessary for a screening mammorgram. www.breastcaredc.org www.washingtoninformer.com / MAY 2015 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT

H-6

Walmart Increases Access to Affordable, Healthier Food Submitted by Walmart As the world’s largest food retailer, Walmart believes it has the opportunity and responsibility to provide families access to affordable, nutritious, sustainably grown food. But too many families are still not taking advantage of all that is offered.

To close this gap, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation recently provided support to two local organizations, Share Our Strength (SOS) and Calvary Women’s Services, to provide programs on health and wellness which educate residents on how to purchase healthier food on a budget.

Share Our Strength recently held a Cooking Matters® at the Store tour at the Georgia Avenue Walmart, where more than 260 D.C. residents spent a day gaining new skills for buying healthier food on a budget. Cooking Matters® at the Store is an initiative developed by Share Our Strength and sponsored by the Walmart Foundation; it teaches shoppers to compare unit prices, read food labels, find whole grains and buy more fruits and vegetables to provide healthier food for their families.

A survey released by SOS found that 85 percent of low-income families want to make healthy meals, but only about half are able to do so on a regular basis.

Families cited the cost of healthy groceries as their primary obstacle.

“In Washington, D.C., one in five kids can’t count on getting the food they need every day,” says David Sloan, director of Share Our Strength in Maryland. “Our Cooking Matters at the Store program equips parents with the skills needed to shop for healthy food on a tight budget, so there’s enough food on the dinner table.”

As the Cooking Matters® program emphasizes, eating healthy doesn’t have to break the bank.

Here are simple tips from SOS to save money on nutritious family meals:

• Look for whole grains: Whole grain versions of bread, rice, or tortillas can keep you feeling full longer. Make sure the first ingredient is a whole grain word (like whole wheat flour, whole oats, or brown rice).

• Compare unit prices: Shelf food tags usually show two prices – the price you pay and the unit price. Unit prices compare the cost of food in different size packages or different brands.

• Fresh, frozen and canned produce all have benefits: You don’t have to spend a lot on produce. Fresh, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables are all healthy options.

• Look for produce in its whole form: It’s tempting to buy pre-washed or chopped fresh produce, but it often comes with a hefty cost. (A pound of shredded carrots usually costs more than a pound of whole carrots to shred at home.)

• Compare the serving size to the amount you usually eat: Nutrition Facts Panels show both “serving size” and “servings per package.” A 20 oz. bottle of orange juice might have 100 calories per serving but there are 2.5 servings per bottle. So if you drink the full bottle, you’re getting 250 calories.

Calvary Women’s Services’ is another organization providing educational resources to its residents to raise awareness, provide support and empower women to tackle their health issues. Calvary’s Life Skills, Education, and Arts Program (LEAP) offers women a chance to nurture healthy habits by participating in an intensive Nutrition Education Course, a wide variety of nutrition and health/ wellness learning opportunities, cooking classes, and culinary job training referrals. The organization stresses not only education based topics, like understanding calories, but also the practical application of eating better.

“At Calvary, we take a holistic approach to health and wellness, and the Nutrition Education

Program provides a crucial piece to our current programming and ensures that we can bring new and dynamic health and wellness programming to homeless women in D.C.,” said Calvary’s Executive Director Kris Thompson.

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are working with farmers and suppliers, and collaborating with nonprofit organizations around the world, to ensure more people have access to the foods they want and need.

As a business member of the D.C. community, and an employer that supports 700 people at their D.C. locations, Walmart is committed to being a good neighbor and helping residents save money and live better. n

Walmart is proud to be in Washington, DC and we look forward to continuing to make a positive impact in our community!

We are honoring our commitments: $14 million in philanthropic giving by Walmart and the Walmart Foundation has benefited DC not-forprofits 700 new jobs with career advancement opportunities were created; more than 65% of these jobs were filled

by DC residents 41% of our sub-contractors were local DC Certified Business Enterprises to build our first two DC stores

To learn more, visit WalmartWashingtonDC.com.

H-7

The “Spark” Design

, Walmart and Save money. Live better. are marks and/or registered marks of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

MAY 2015 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

2010 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

A Heart Recipient Says Thank You

This story has been adapted from a speech by Amy Sherald at the 2014 Ceremony of Remembrance I received a heart transplant on Tuesday, December 18th, 2012.

December 18th has always been a special day because it’s the birthday of one my favorite people in the world… my mother. Now, not only is that date her birthday, but it’s also my second birthday, the day I was given a second chance at life by someone who loved life enough to become a donor.

This someone was Kristin.

Kristin was a mother, a sister, a daughter and a dental hygienist.

And now, she’s the woman who rescued me. My hero. I am her living legacy, and she is my miracle. I carry her giving spirit within me every day.

I can honestly say I never imagined I would be here, sharing my story with you today. I never imagined I would be living the rest of my life with another person’s heart beating inside me.

I’m a runner. Running is something I love to do. Ten years ago, while I was training for a triathlon, I went for a checkup and found out something was very wrong with my heart. At that time, I was running 45 miles a week, never smoked, and always had an irregular heartbeat, so I wasn’t concerned about my health.

I was only 30-years-old when I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. I hadn’t had a clue anything was wrong with me.

My doctor told me I couldn’t run anymore because my heart function was so low he wasn’t even sure how I had made it to his office. He said, “You are one

lucky girl.”

So, I stopped running, and for the nine years that followed, every time I saw anyone running down the street or in the park, I would say to myself, ”You don’t even know how lucky you are.”

I was stubborn and kept walking. I figured if I was actually going to die, it would have happened already with how active I was. I was in denial about being sick, and in my head I would just tell myself I was out of shape when I found myself struggling during my walks.

Reality finally set in. I was at 5% heart function and had trouble breathing yet I was told I was still too well to become at Status 1A (the top of the transplant list).

Then, I blacked out at the Rite Aid in Lexington Market. In the ambulance, I never felt so fragile in my life. On the way to the hospital, I thought I was going to die, so I tried to think positively because I didn’t want to die afraid.

“At least now I don’t have to pay back my school loans!” I said to myself with a laugh.

So finally at the age of 39, Continued on page H-9

All artwork featured is by Amy Sherald. To learn more, visit www.amysherald.com

www.washingtoninformer.com / MAY 2015 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT

H-8

Continued from page H-8 my little engine that could was completely tuckered out. I was admitted into The Johns Hopkins, in Baltimore, Maryland where I had to stay, until my miracle happened. I was lucky and a slot opened up for me to move to Status 1A. In about two weeks, I was number one for a heart transplant.

Waiting for this second chance at life was an indescribable experience. During the many days I spent waiting, I finally had an excuse to watch TV. I hadn’t owned a television in 10 years.

I immediately became a TV junkie…I’m now trying to break that addiction. Though I should send a little shout out to the Food Network and Chef Gordon Ramsey for keeping me such good company!

The great part about waiting for an organ is everybody around you wants to grant your every wish because they want to keep your spirits up. After all, you can’t schedule a transplant, so after the first month you start having fun with the residents and the fellows.

One of my favorite doctors on rounds (over time I had nicknamed him Sugar Daddy Schulman) offered to write a prescription for me: 3 ounces of wine to be taken orally once a day. Either

H-9

that or Coors Light… I said wine would be great! What showed up the next day was some cough syrup concoction that tasted like Mad Dog 20/20. Being the wine snob I am, I politely refused. A couple of hours later, a resident showed up—not only with a bottle of wine, but also with real wine glasses I’d requested. You know I was grinning ear to ear!

At night, I would lay awake thinking about my life. I still had a few things on my bucket list, but I hadn’t done too badly in my 39 years. I had a wonderful family. I’d been healthy for most of my life. I had travelled abroad. I had been to art school and turned out to be a really good painter.

I had made peace with dying, since I figured I should have been dead already. Only one thing that I didn’t manage was to find the right guy. I spent a lot of time daydreaming about Mr. Right.

As the days ticked by, I began to send out thoughts of good intention to the person whose life I was going to extend, and to that person’s family. I knew I was waiting for someone around my age and that made me sad. I knew I would feel the family’s loss as if it were my own.

I haven’t mentioned one important fact: my 36-year-old baby brother passed away from a 2-year battle with lung cancer (and he

didn’t even smoke) on December, 7, 2012. Just 11 days before my transplant, he died in a hospital in Georgia, with my mother and sister by his side. I was too sick to travel, but I got to say goodbye over the phone. Now, I think a lot about how comforting it would be if he could have become an organ donor. Just knowing parts of him were still out there helping someone else have the chance for a longer life would make me smile.

Serendipitously enough, I walked out of the hospital on New Year’s Eve to begin my second life. I was on the road to recovery. I was so exhilarated, I went a little overboard! I started taking viola lessons. I bought an $1800 road bike because I was going to be a competitive cyclist and go to the Olympics. I was so excited to be able to put salt on my food (I felt like I had been eating cardboard for 9 years on a no salt diet)! Six months out, I was on Match.com. I was going to find myself a man. I was completely ignoring the fact I was on steroids and acting like a crazy person.

But it all worked out! Reality has set in. I am now a year and 6 months out from my transplant.

I’m selling my bike for a cheaper

MAY 2015 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

version because, you guessed it: I AM NOT a professional cyclist.

Nor do I have time to be one. I am an artist. I actually did meet a wonderful man on Match and we fell in love. Coincidentally, his birthday is the same day as my Kristin’s: June 12th. We just celebrated a year together last week. Bless his heart for sticking it out with me—through a year full of tremendous emotional ups and downs.

And YES! I am running again.

In the beginning I cried at the end of almost every run because it just felt so good. I was overwhelmed with joy and gratefulness. I am very much alive, and I have Kristin and her family to thank. I thank Kristin for saving my mother from having to lose two children within a few months in the same year. I thank Kristin for every brush stroke in my paintings, for every breath I take on a run, and for each morning I wake up with a steady heartbeat, and when it is overwhelmed with love. I know I wouldn’t be here without Kristin.

There are times in life when you realize words just aren’t enough and this is surely one of those moments. How do you tell the family of your donor ‘thank you’, for saving your life when

you know they have lost a loved one? Because of your loss, we are living and breathing. I’m sure every transplant recipient in this room will agree with me when I say that our joy to be alive stands at attention to your grief.

I met Kristin’s family for the first time at this year’s Ceremony of Remembrance. I didn’t find out until right before I was going to speak on stage they were there, and I was already a nervous nelly.

It was very emotional for me.

We don’t take the time to get to know strangers regularly. Getting to know Kristin’s family is so meaningful.

And so, I would like to say thank you to all the donors’ and donors in spirit because they are here with us today. I realize there is really no way to put someone at ease in regards to the loss of a loved one, but the gift myself and other recipients have received is unsurpassable. There is no greater gift than to help somebody live.

Nothing can compare to it. Absolutely nothing. Thank you for the bravery, strength, compassion, and selflessness that led you to turn your loss into an act of mercy; a gift of new life for those of us who had no hope for a future.

We are forever deeply grateful.

Thank You. n

Let’s Get Physical Active Lifestyle Prevents Illness, Disease

By Stacy M. Brown WI Contributing Writer Health officials and experts are clear.

Engaging in regular physical activity is tantamount in improving an individual’s health.

“The importance of just staying active, moving around, walking is just something that almost everyone can do and it shouldn’t be neglected,” said Karen Davis, a pediatrician who lives in Bethesda, Maryland.

Active living counts as a prevention strategy that can enhance health and wellness and it’s a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Prevention Strategy that’s found in the Affordable Care Act which public and private partners can take to

help Americans stay healthy and physically fit.

“You’ve got to get from behind the desk, get up from the couch and leave the television and computer alone for a while,” Davis said.

“Go out and walk a few blocks, jog a little if you can. Just make sure that you’re active and it will save you and your loved ones money on doctor’s bills and medicine and a lot of grief.”

A 2014 report from The Physical Activity Council revealed that the level of inactivity among Americans age six and older declined from 28 percent to 27.6 percent over the past year after a steady rise since 2008.

Also, about one-fifth of Americans belonged to a health club, an all-time high, according to the International Health, Racquet &

Sports Club Association.

Additionally, at the end of 2014, WalletHub ranked the 100 most populated cities in the country based on how well they accommodate or encourage an active lifestyle.

The website analyzed 25 key metrics, ranging from the average monthly fitness club fee to the number of sports clubs per capita.

Washington, D.C. finished 39th out of the 100 cities surveyed, in part because WalletHub noted that fitness clubs in the District were among those with the highest monthly fee for members. The District did rank fourth among those with the highest number of swimming pools per capita.

Still, getting fit has become a priority, even for government officials, including those on Capitol Hill, who’ve already shown that they’re not taking the initiative lightly.

Officials on the Hill have held business attire-friendly workouts and a Congressional Fitness Caucus has continued to encourage fitness.

One 2014 event included blood pressure and body composition

Dr. Gilbert Daniel, Internal Medicine and Maribel Torres, RN, Chief Nursing Officer

Engaging in regular physical activity is important for good health. /Photo courtesy of theblackhomeschool.com

“The importance of just staying active, moving around, walking is just something that almost everyone can do...”

Karen Davis Pediatrician

Did you know...? ① ② ③ ④ ⑤

United Medical Center was designated as the safest hospital in Washington, D.C. by Consumer Reports.

UMC is one of the first hospitals in D.C. to provide private patient rooms.

United Medical Center has 180 physicians, physician’s assistants, and nurse practitioners in 35 specialties dedicated to providing exceptional care.

United Medical Center was the first hospital in the region to offer low-dose mammography testing.

Our Emergency Department treats approximately 60,000 patients each year.

Make UMC your hospital. We offer convenient access to medical care where you work and live.

Not-For-Profit Hospital Corporation 1310 Southern Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20032 202.574.6000 www.united-medicalcenter.com

screenings, videogames like “Dance Dance Revolution,” seated massages and a light workout.

The event was also an effort to push the Personal Health Investment Today [PHIT] Act which would allow pre-tax health investment accounts such as a Health Savings Account to pay for sports activities, fitness center dues, payments for some exercise equipment and workout videos.

The Scripps Howard Foundation Wire reported that the bill proposed limits of $1,000 for individuals and $2,000 for families.

“It’s expensive to be physically active,” Cameron Jacobs, manager of sponsor relations, research and social media at PHIT America told the Scripps Howard Foundation.

“If you remove that financial barrier, Americans will be getting more active.”

Physical inactivity is the fourth leading cause of death, according to the World Health Organization’s 2004 Global Health Risks data.

A 2013 health report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that about 35 percent of adults 20 years and older are obese.

Overweight and obese individuals are more likely to develop heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and hypertension, among other health problems, the foundation reported.

The yearly medical cost of adult obesity reportedly stands at about $140 billion, much of it due to diabetes.

Childhood obesity is also a problem and officials said the Fitness with Integrated Teaching Kids Act would help by requiring the Secretary of Education to award grants to states to implement programs that promote physical activity, fitness and nutrition in schools.

Nearly one-in-three children and adolescents are either overweight or obese, according to Let’s Move, an initiative launched by First lady Michelle Obama.

Physical activity guidelines recommend that children engage in 60 minutes or more of physical activity a day.

Helen Durkin, executive vice president of global public policy at IHRSA, said children who are active are more likely to be active as adults.

“Even if they get away from it, it’s easier to get back in the routine,” Durkin said.

Often, nutrition is the focus when talking about staying healthy, Durkin said, but physical activity needs to be a part of the discussion, too.

“Everyone has to eat, so every time you put something to your mouth, nutrition is at the front of your mind,” she said. n

www.washingtoninformer.com / MAY 2015 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT

H-10

Save money. Live better.

Save money. Live better.

These words are more than just a tagline. They define our mission to create opportunities soThey people live better.

These words are more than just a tagline. definecan our mission to so people can live better. Weby work to fulfill our Wecreate workopportunities to fulfill our mission everyday providing mission everyday by providing access to affordable fresh food and access to affordable fresh food and merchandise; creating merchandise; creating jobs that lead to life-long careers; and making a jobspositive that impact lead to careers; and making a positive onlife-long the communities we serve. impact on the wehelping serve.people live better.

At Walmart, we communities are passionate about One community at a time.

At Walmart, we are passionate about helping people live better.

One community at a time.

Get to know Walmart.

Visit corporate.walmart.com for more information.

The “Spark� Design

H-11

, Walmart and Save money. Live better. are marks and/or registered marks of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

MAY 2015 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

2010 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Eat Your Way to Healthier Living

By Stacy M. Brown WI Contributing Writer Eating often can prove to be one of the prevention strategies that can enhance health and wellness, at least according to some local fitness experts.

“Eating every two to three hours helps to build muscle and prevents the storage of fat,” said Lisa Reed, a renowned fitness expert for the District’s ABC Channel 7 and News Channel 8.

Reed, the owner of Lisa Reed Fitness in Arlington, Virginia, regularly appears on television and radio programs including WTOP, ESPN and Let’s Talk Live.

She said eating frequently alerts the body to the fact that food is always accessible.

“If you eat large meals and then don’t eat for long periods, your body will store the food in case you don’t get another meal,” Reed said.

Further, the United States Surgeon General said eating healthy can help reduce the risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis and several types of cancer. The practice could also help individuals maintain a

healthy body weight.

“The guidelines provided by the surgeon general also tell us that eating healthy means consuming a variety of nutritious foods and beverages, particularly fresh fruits and vegetables,” said Steve Lyons, a fitness coordinator in Northeast.

The District area claimed the top spot in the American College of Sports Medicine 2014 ranking of health and community fitness.

The rankings took into account chronic health problems like diabetes and asthma, health behaviors like smoking and fruit consumption; and a walk score which measures how easy it is to walk to services and amenities.

The local area achieved a high of 77.3 out of 100 possible points with notable strengths listed for personal health behaviors and activities that support healthy living.

“These are important topics to talk about. (The report) clearly can be a call to action for certain places,” said Timothy Church, director of preventive medicine research at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rogue, Louisiana.

When President Barack Obama

signed the Affordable Care Act, he noted that it provided unprecedented resources through the Prevention and Public Health Fund to support community-based strategies to prevent chronic diseases and to improve public health.

The measure also created the National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council, which provides federal leadership to engage states, communities and private partners in creating a healthier nation through the recommendations of the National Prevention Strategy, which serves as a guidepost for making sure that Americans are healthy at every stage.

USA Today reported that under the health care law, most insurance plans are required to help patients who are obese to lose weight.

Screening and counseling for obesity has to be covered with no patient cost-sharing (co-payments, co-insurance or deductibles) by most insurers under the preventive services benefit of the Affordable Care Act, Susan Pisano, a spokeswoman for America’s Health Insurance Plans, the national trade association representing the health insurance

industry, told the newspaper. Medicare already covers that service.

Reed added that getting enough sleep also plays a large role in having a healthy lifestyle, noting that sleep debt also increases resistance to insulin, interfering with how a person’s metabolism processes fat.

Above all, she said it’s important to eat properly.

“Make sure that your minimeals are well balanced and nutritious. Balance protein and

vegetables to give your body energy,” she said.

“Your body burns twice as many calories digesting high-protein foods as it does digesting foods that are high in carbs or fat. In addition protein is a building block for muscle.

Fruits and veggies are important because they contain fiber, which helps stabilize blood sugar levels as the body tries hard to break it down.

Plus, vegetables are low in calories, yet high in nutrients.”

Eating every two to three hours can lead to healthier living, according to fitness expert Lisa Reed. / Photo Courtesy of Lisa Reed

DC Free Summer Meals Program

June 22 - August 21, 2015 At select DC Parks and Recreation Camp Sites and at Non-DPR Summer Meals Program Sites Kids and Teens do not need to show registration, documentation, or ID to receive their meals.

To find a site near you, call (202) 576-7622 or visit dcsummermeals.dc.gov DPR

DC DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION

www.washingtoninformer.com / MAY 2015 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT

H-12

Mental and Emotional Well-Being

By Stacy M. Brown WI Contributing Writer If everyone were more open and honest about their health, pain and suffering can be prevented and those in need will receive the help to which they’re entitled.

In fact, several local experts have noted that the mental and emotional well-being of residents are part of the federal government’s prevention strategy that can enhance health and wellness.

It’s also a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Prevention Strategy found in the Affordable Care Act. “By participating in the ‘Campaign to Change Direction,’ Woodley House and other like-minded agencies attack the stigma of mental health,” said Gary Frye, the executive director of Woodley House in Northwest which helps people with mental illness live full and healthy lives with dignity.

“Many persons in the United States in need of mental health services are afraid to seek these services due to the negative stigma

in our society,” Frye said in an email. “This program – the Campaign to Change Direction – is a concerted effort to … change the stigma.”

Last year, Woodley House served more than 300 individuals, helping them live a more stable life while achieving a greater understanding of their illness and work toward regaining their lives in the community.

It is among the community of agencies in the District that also promote the idea that mental and emotional well-being is essential to overall health.

In a summary of priorities, officials at the U.S. Surgeon General’s Office noted that positive mental health allows individuals to realize their full potential, cope with the stresses of life, work productively and make meaningful contributions to their communities.

Frye noted that the Campaign to Change Direction lists five signs of suffering that everyone show know. The signs include: personality change; agitation; isolation; poor self care (diet, personal hygiene, risky behavior); and hope-

Your child has asthma.

We can help you both breathe easier.

lessness.

“If you recognize these signs in yourself or in a family member or friend, you might want to reach out for help,” he said.

The mental and emotional well-being of individuals should be cared for immediately, health officials said. The surgeon general noted that early childhood experiences have lasting, measurable consequences later in life; therefore, fostering emotional well-being from the earliest stages of life helps build a foundation for overall health and well-being.

Help for children proved to be the impetus for Momentous Institute in Dallas, Texas and AT&T releasing three mobile apps on May 6 that they said can help children from age three to the fifth grade better understand their emotions.

Students with a mobile device can use the apps to help regulate their emotions and focus on tasks at hand – whether they are at school, at home or somewhere in between.

It’s noteworthy that the mental and emotional well-being of individuals affects the workplace as

Government and health officials continue to express concern for the mental and emotional well-being of Americans. /Photo courtesy of clearingspringacupuncture.com

well.

Joe Sifer was a moody, agitated and sometimes angry young employee at Booz Allen Hamilton in 1996. Now a senior vice president there, Sifer told U.S. News that without the care the company provided him 20 years ago, he would not be where he is today.

“They helped me get on the path of emotional improvement, emotional awareness and of emotional health and that made a huge difference,” said Sifer, one of approximately 61 million Americans who experience mental illness every year, according to a study

by National Alliance on Mental Illness in Arlington, Virginia.

Dealing with mental illness can be just as challenging as dealing with physical disabilities at a workplace where you have to constantly interact with people, Sifer said, and sometimes these issues make top employees unable to perform their best.

“We know that mental health has no boundaries, and we also know that most of the day is spent in the workplace,” said Andrea Inserra, senior vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton. “As corporate leaders, we need to be concerned for the well-being of our colleagues.” n

At Children’s National, we provide customized care to kids with asthma through a detailed medical consultation and unique treatment plan. We’ll coordinate care with your child’s pediatrician and school nurse and provide education resources for the entire family. Our goal: helping you to help your child stay active and healthy.

That’s care that’s just right.

ChildrensNational.org/JustRight

H-13

C111-037777-03_Consumer-Urban_WaInformer.indd 1

MAY 2015 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

C111-037777-03_Consumer-Urban_WaInformer (Consumer “Urban Asthma” Print) March 5, 2015 11:40 AM

3/6/15 8:45 AM

Welfare 2 Wellness Dr. Karen Khadijah Davis-Foulks launches her new innovative, grass roots, community Welfare 2 Wellness Family Program Moving Beyond TANF 2 Mindfulness Mental Living. Thanks to the Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative, Inc. mini-grant program, Dr. Davis-Foulks was awarded grants to conduct her Relearn, Rethink and Rewrite your personal prescription plan workshop.

Through the workshop, she was able to bring an awareness of the Conscious Self-Healthcare model to non-profits and government agencies and citizens of Ward 8 for free. Dr. K was raised by her mother, Shirley R. Hardy, in the neighborhood of W Street SE in Anacostia where she attended Savoy, Kramer and Anacostia High School. She operated a Colon Cleansing and Digestive System Wellness Center on Galveston Pl SW for 12 years serving the residents of SE DC. In 1994, then known as Ms. Davis-Foulks, she bridged the computer divide for small businesses, non-profits, and residents of Ward 8 and now she is doing the very same thing with health care. Today, she continues her legacy, saving and transforming lives with her relearn rethink and rewrite your self-care prescription

plan bridging the gap in the information made available for self-healing and conscious self-healthcare for individuals.

The “Live Wellness” conscious self-healthcare program exclusively designed for individuals who are receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Medical Mental Support, Food Stamp recipients and Returning Citizens. These workshops and wellness programs are one way that Dr. Davis-Foulks is helping to eliminate health disparities in the community.

“As more and more people begin to take better care of themselves by becoming more knowledgeable about their health and the wellness healthcare services offered, disease care will cease to exist. The selfcare revolution is happening now and more and more people are becoming aware of the damages of pharmaceutical drugs and the systemic challenges Big Pharma presents to allopathic physicians to make a false diagnosis to earn more money,” says founder Dr. Karen Khadijah Davis-Foulks. “You may wait in a doctor’s office for two hours and the physician will have less than 15 minutes to spend with you for an accurate assessment of your health.

A pioneer of the self-care revolution, Dr. Foulks has earned a solid reputation in her field of Quantum Health and Healing as a pioneering NES wellness practitioner and certified registered lymphologist.

Last year, Dr. Foulks experienced first-hand how the medical system can cause detrimental harm to families which propelled her to launch this grass roots self-care family

Moving Beyond TANF 2 Mindfulness Mental Living

programs.

Dr. Karen Khadijah Davis-Foulks is a native Washingtonian and founder of The Ark of Self Healing and Self H.E.L.P. (Health Education for Longevity & Peace) established in 1997 a health wellness maintenance organization for disease prevention (HWMO4DP). Dr. Karen shares information from the non-secular science of quantum informational medicine to assist all with making conscious self-healthcare M.O.V.E.S. (Mental Observation View Is Essential for Success.)

Heart2Heart Healthy Living Radio with Dr. “K” airs Tuesdays from 6:00p.m. – 7:00pm EST on InnerlightRadio.com. Visit her websites www.4celllife.com, www. consciouselfcare.com and www. youtube.com/kdavisf. Call in and share with us your pathway to wellness. Visit this link https:// youtu.be/1pPczp9m6Y0 to hear interview with Dr. Karen Khadijah Davis-Foulks and Doctah Ayo Handi-Kendi on the 5th Annual Emancipate Yourself from Medical Mental Slavery Day Cell-a-bration and the conscious self-care movement.

Register to receive information on the FREE WORKSHOPS offered

by Dr. Davis-Foulks in July 2015 at kdavisf@rcn.com. The Shirley R. Hardy Senior Wellology© Program named after Dr. K’s mother is available for seniors 65 years and older that wish to stop taking medication to move from sickness and disease care to a state of well-being and conscious self-care How do you help someone to heal when they can’t get out of bed? You connect

with a NES Wellness Practitioner such as Dr. Karen Khadijah Davis-Foulks, who is a pioneering bioenergetic quantum health and

healing conscious self-healthcare educator. To speak with her directly, phone her at 202.248.7749. Dr. K is not a licensed medical doctor. n

Tips to Help You Avoid Surplus Fat as You Age (StatePoint) There are many ways you can stay fit and promote a long, healthy life. And you probably know about some of them, particularly those habits that are widely discussed in the media and by doctors. However, scientists have recently made new discoveries that can help you activate weight loss while gaining control over deadly aging processes.

Beyond eating a well-balanced diet and getting plenty of exercise, how can you facilitate a healthy body weight?

Your Body’s Enzymes Can Help New research indicates that when certain enzymes in your body are functioning properly, certain aging processes, such as weight gain, can be slowed or even reversed. One enzyme, in particular, known as AMPK, is being highlighted by medical researchers, Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an enzyme found within every cell, serves as your body’s master regulating switch, determining body fat composition and how long you will live. When switched “on,” AMPK triggers the use of stored energy from fats, enhances removal of fats and sugar from the blood, increases production of mitochondria, and reduces inflammation and cellular “junk.”

“When AMPK is more activated, it can help protect you against obesity and diabetes and many degenerative processes can be reversed,” says Dr. Michael A. Smith, senior health scientist for Life Extension and host of “Healthy Talk” on RadioMD.com.

Smith likens the processes that AMPK promotes as “cellular housekeeping,” warning that when these processes don’t work, dysfunctional cells can accumulate and create problems like weight gain and chronic inflammation.

Setbacks As we grow older, cellular AMPK activation decreases, weight gain often follows, and we are more likely to succumb to the destructive factors of aging. Additionally, excess calorie consumption impairs the enzymatic activity of AMPK. Unfortunately, most humans today suffer chronic nutritional overload, say experts.

Solutions Researchers have discovered four ways to boost the body’s AMPK activity: • Exercise: AMPK activity increases with regular vigorous exercise.

• Restrict calories: By taking in fewer calories, you create increased AMPK activity as cells sense a requirement to function more efficiently.

• Metformin: One of the drug metformin’s most beneficial mechanisms is to activate AMPK. This is one way it lowers elevated glucose. However, most physicians only prescribe metformin for Type II Diabetes, making access to this drug difficult for most people.

• Botanical Extracts: Two natural agents, the Chinese herb Gynostemma pentaphyllum and trans-tiliroside derived from rose hips, have been shown to activate AMPK, reducing belly fat, cholesterol, blood sugar, and insulin levels. You can supplement your diet with an AMPK activator to turn off many damaging effects of aging. More information can be found at LifeExtension.com/activateAMPK. Over the years, you don’t just have to quietly accept weight gain and the effects of aging. Take advantage of the new scientific findings that can help you promote a long, healthy and fit life. n

www.washingtoninformer.com / MAY 2015 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT

H-14

Testing Makes Us Stronger When you think about reality television stars, you may not always think advocates for HIV prevention and awareness.

However, cast from Bravo TV’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta and Fashion Queens, recently came together to film a public service announcement (PSA) in support of the Act Against AIDS HIV testing campaign Testing Makes Us Stronger (TMUS).

Acclaimed filmmaker Patrik-Ian Polk (Blackbird) directed the PSA. Testing Makes Us Stronger was developed to help increase HIV testing among black gay men with a specific focus on young men ages 18–24. The campaign uses social media and participation in community and pride events to engage black gay men in the importance of getting tested and knowing their status.

To extend the message further into the community, Polk recruited some of his friends to donate their time and celebrity status to help raise HIV awareness among black gay men.

The result is a collection of PSAs encouraging fans of the reality show to educate themselves on HIV, protect themselves, and get tested. Given the show’s popularity and frequent coverage in the media and across blogs, the videos are an effective way to get the message out to a broader audience.

The PSA debuted at the New York premiere of Blackbird on April 22. Polk shared that in creating the videos, he “wanted to find a way to speak to gay black men in a way that they would listen more carefully.” He expressed that the PSAs are “one of the things I’m most proud of.”

These innovative PSAs use HIV testing as a platform for engaging black gay men and their support systems in conversations about self-care and empowerment and encourage the inclusion of HIV testing as a part of routine care. In addition to choosing less risky sexual behaviors, limiting number of sex partners, using condoms, and

using medicines to prevent HIV, if appropriate, HIV testing is an important tool in preventing transmission and a step towards care and treatment for those unaware of their status or not connected to care.

In the U.S., HIV/AIDS continues to disproportionately affect gay men, who account for more than half of all new HIV infections each year. In 2010, the greatest number of new HIV infections among gay men occurred in young black gay men 13–24 years, who accounted for 45% of new HIV infections among black gay men and 55% of new HIV infections among young gay men overall1.

Like Testing Makes Us Stronger on Facebook, and visit www. gettested.cdc.gov/stronger for more information. (Act Against AIDS www.cdc.gov/actagainstaids) n 1) Estimated HIV incidence in the United States, 2007–2010. HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report 2012;17(No. 4). Published December 2012.

Kenya Moore (The Real Housewives of Atlanta) and Patrik-Ian Polk (filmmaker, Blackbird) on set while filming the new PSA for Testing Makes Us Stronger. / Photo Credit: Duane Cramer

testing makes us As friends, we encourage each other to stay healthy and get tested for HIV.

Find d free, fast and confidential testing near yyou: Find d free, fast and confidential testing near yyou:

HIVtest.cdc.gov/stronger HIVtest.cdc.gov/stronger

/TestingMakesUsStronger /TestingMakesUsStronger

#CDCStronger #CDCStronger

Find free, fast and confidential testing near you:

gettested.cdc.gov/stronger

H-15

MAY 2015 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

...because I move daily.

My name is June and my kids keep me active. When we go to the park to play and walk around, it feels good to hear them say “thank you, mom!”

Those words keep me moving!

AmeriHealth District of Columbia supports healthy lifestyles and moms like June who stay healthy and live well.

Here are some ways you can do the same: • Try dancing, aerobics or yoga for 30 minutes • Go for bike rides • Take extra laps when you’re shopping To see the I am healthy series and get more tips on ways to stay healthy, visit SM

www.amerihealthdc.com/iamhealthy.

www.washingtoninformer.com / MAY 2015 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT

H-16