LHIC News and Updates
Health In The News
Members Message Board
LHIC Meetings
Upcoming LHIC Community Health Forum
Please mark your calendars and join us on Thursday, March 24 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Howard County Miller Library for our 1st LHIC Community Forum. The purpose of the Forum is to share with community members the work that the LHIC is doing to improve health outcomes in the County. This will also be an opportunity for LHIC organizations to showcase their programs. Space is limited. Please register at the following link: https://hclhic-community-health-forum.eventbrite.com
Please remember the LHIC Digest is a way to advertise your programs, events and news items! When you have news or events to share, please email them to Alvaro, LHIC Program Manager, at aortiz@healthyhowardmd.org.
Everyday Mindfulness Linked To Healthy Glucose Levels
Science Daily reports that researchers investigating how mindfulness may affect cardiovascular health have measured a significant association between a high degree of 'everyday' mindfulness and a higher likelihood of having normal, healthy glucose levels.
The overarching hypotheses are that people practicing higher degrees of mindfulness may be better able to motivate themselves to exercise, to resist cravings for high-fat, high-sugar treats, and to stick with diet and exercise regimens recommended by their doctors.
Click Here to Read Full Article
Health Officials Urge FDA To Add Black Box Warning On Opioids, Benzos
City and health directors from across the country are urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to adopt new labels to "explicitly warn about a dangerous combination of medications" that have been fueling the nation's prescription drug overdose epidemic over the years.
Available online, the petition, which has been signed by academics, researchers and physicians, requests that the FDA amend black box warnings on all opioid analgesic and benzodiazepine class medications. As reported by Forbes, the petition also calls for the FDA to require medication guides that specifically warn patients of concurrently using both drug classes.
How We Label People With Mental Illness Influences Tolerance Toward Them
Published in The Journal of Counseling & Development, a new study found that people were less tolerant toward individuals who were described as being "mentally ill" as opposed to "people with mental illness."
Medical News Today reports that according to study coauthor Darcy Haag Granello, professor of educational studies at the Ohio State University, the findings suggest that language choice when referring to a person with a mental illness is not simply a matter of "political correctness."
Want To Avoid Knee Surgery? Lose Some Weight New Study Finds
Obese people who lose a substantial amount of weight can significantly slow the degeneration of their knee cartilage, according to a new MRI study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
As reported by Healthy Aging Magazine, obesity is a major risk factor for osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease that affects more than a third of adults over the age of 60, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The knee joint is a common site of osteoarthritis, and in many people the condition progresses until total knee replacement becomes necessary. Aging baby boomers and a rise in obesity have contributed to an increased prevalence of knee osteoarthritis.
Click Here to Access the Report
Howard County Health Department
Free Training! Monday, March 21 10:00 a.m. at the Howard County Health Department - 8930 Stanford Blvd. Columbia, MD 21045. If interested, please RSVP to shunt@howardcountymd.org or call (410) 313-6724.
This year's Howard County American Heart Association Heart Ball is on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at Turf Valley. Join the AHA as they celebrate their work and mission; their donors and volunteers; and — most importantly — the lives saved and improved because of everyone's effort. The Heart Ball promises to be an engaging evening of fun and passion bringing community and philanthropic leaders together. Last year, the Heart Ball campaign raised just over $51 million nation-wide allowing the funding for over $123 million of research and programs across the country and in the community. Please click here for more information or contact Rolanda Oliver at Rolanda.oliver@heart.org.
New FBI/DEA Film
HC DrugFree encourages you to watch this new film, and remember, the prescription drug epidemic is in our community, too. Education is necessary to protect your family: www.fbi.gov/ChasingTheDragon
Win $100, $75, $50, or $25 from HC DrugFree
HC DrugFree wants to thank you for supporting the In the KNOW about prescription pain medication campaign. Howard County residents 18 and older can enter at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HCInTheKNOW
Columbia Association
Breath Deep Columbia - 5K Walk To End Lung Cancer
​Saturday, April 23, 2016
​Check in/Registration begins​ 8:30 a.m.
P​rogram 9:30 a.m.
​W​alk 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
​C​losing ceremony/M​usic 11:30 ​a.m.​ to Noon​
​Town Center and Lake Front Plaza​ - Rain or Shine​
For more information, please click here.
Good Fat, Bad Fat: The Facts of Fats
Maryland University of Integrative Health
7750 Montpelier Road
Monday, March 7
Low-fat, fat-free, saturated fat, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, trans-fat, oh my! Do you know your fats and the truth about fats? For years, dietary recommendations advocated low-fat and no-fat diets. However, recent research confirms healthy fats are essential for health and wellness. During this community lecture, MUIH will demystify the belief that all fats are bad and make you fat. You will learn about the different type of fats, which ones are necessary for your health and what fats you should be enjoying on a regular basis. You will also have the opportunity to taste some yummy treats filled with healthy fats.
Please click here to register.
Acuthon
Wednesday, March 9
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
MUIH Spring Renewal ACUTHON will take place during lunch and the early evening hours of Wednesday, March 9. In a relaxing setting, you will receive a very simple yet effective acupuncture treatment. Whether you have experienced acupuncture before or are a beginner, you are welcome and can expect to leave feeling relaxed, tended, and refreshed. Participants must be at least 18 years of age and must register in advance.
Please click here for a complete listing of MUIH events.
Medicare 101: What You Can Expect From Medicare
Wellness Center Medical Pavilion
10710 Charter Drive
Are you currently on Medicare or soon will be? Do you provide care to someone covered by Medicare? This presentation will review Original Medicare (Part A Hospital and Part B Medical) and Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D). Learn what is covered, your costs, how Medicare works, and available benefit programs. Presented by the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), Howard County Office on Aging.
Learn about Medicare Advantage/Health Plans (Part C) and Medicare Supplement policies (Medigap). What should you consider when deciding which Medicare choices are right for you? Understand how plans vary, your costs, and when is the best time to enroll. Learn how to protect yourself and Medicare from healthcare fraud. Presented by the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), Howard County Office on Aging.
Howard County General Hospital Wellness Center
Please click here for a complete listing of events at HCGH Wellness Center.
Howard County Library System
The HC Library systems offers many educational classes and enriching experiences for all ages and interests. Click here for a complete listing and check out their Well and Wise category under Event Types.
Healthy Weight Work Group
Ascend One Building
8930 Stanford Blvd.
Barton Room A
Access to Care Work Group
Barton Room B
Behavioral Health Work Group
Community Health Forum
Howard County Miller Library
9421 Frederick Rd
Jeananne Sciabarra
Director, Health Care Transformation
jsciabarra@healthyhowardmd.org
Alvaro Ortiz
LHIC Program Manager
aortiz@healthyhowardmd.org
Copyright © 2016, Howard County Local Health Improvement Coalition, All rights reserved.