Our health committee meetings are held on the 3^rd Mondays of the month unless there is a conflict or a holiday. Our next meeting with be March 17, at 8pm ET. We are going to start thinking about a special Health Fair/Panel for this year. Please stay tuned for more information.

If you are a former member of the health committee or would like to find an area where you could be involved, please contact me at health@nfbpwc.organd I will put you on my list. The more you can contribute, the easier it makes it for me. I’d love to have you.

Notes from the Chair:

Your Health Committee team has been hard at work. We have a long-term plan to create a Virtual Health event later this year. However, a few small pet projects have developed that you will hear about soon enough. Many thanks to my team of women who have stepped up and truly helped out.

March is the National Lymphedema Month. Your Health Committee chair Susan has this condition and will write more on this next month in honor of her birthday. In the meantime, please look at this for more information:

https://www.lymphapress.com/blog/ways-to-celebrate-lymphedema-awareness-month/

Thank you to those who helped spread the word and attended the Heart of a Woman event. The attendance numbers were higher this year than last year. Many thanks to President Barbara Bozeman for her inspiring introduction and greetings video. I am hoping to have speakers from this event join us for our events and keep the communication and connection with Houston Methodist Hospital for more than just an event.   They  provide  invaluable  resources  and information that our organization needs for future personal and professional education. Over the years we have had a great partnership for this event. Let’s continue this connection for the long term!

Healthy Thinking for the Month:

If you are dealing with some kind of condition, do not be afraid to share your story and your diagnosis. Not only are you contributing to awareness, but education. Your story could save someone’s life.

Health Awareness Dates:

March is –

Alport Syndrome Awareness Month; Clap 4 Health Month; Colic Awareness Month; Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month; *Deaf History Month (3/13 to 4/15); Malignant Hypertension Awareness & Training Month; National Caffeine Awareness Month; National Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Month; National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month; National Eye Donor Month; National Multiple Sclerosis Education & Awareness Month; National Kidney Month; National Ladder Safety Month; National Nutrition Month; National Pet Vaccination Month; National Women's History Month; Poison Prevention Awareness Month; Save Your Vision Month; Spiritual Wellness Month; Vascular Abnormalities Awareness Month; Workplace Eye Wellness Month

American Red Cross Month or Red Cross Month - https://www.redcross.org/

Brain Injury Awareness Month Link - https://biausa.org/public-affairs/public-awareness/brain-injury-awareness

Child Life Month Link -

https://www.childlife.org/resources/child-life-month

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Month - https://thrombosis.org/2022/03/dvt-awareness-month/

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month - https://nacdd.org/ddam1/

Endometriosis Month - https://endomarch.org/

Lymphedema Awareness Month - https://lymphnet.org/lymphedema-awareness

National Athletic Training Month - https://www.nata.org/advocacy/public-relations/national-athletic-training-month

National Breast Implant Awareness Month - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/march-national-breast-implant-awareness-month-kantor-kantor-llp/

National Essential Tremor Awareness Month - https://essentialtremor.org/

National Snow Guards Safety Month - https://www.rockymountainsnowguards.com/

Problem Gambling Awareness Month - https://www.ncpgambling.org/problem-gambling/pgam/

Transgender Month of Action for Healthcare Equality - https://transequality.org/

Trisomy Awareness Month -

https://www.nichd.nih.gov/newsroom/resources/spotlight/031513-trisomy

If you are a former member of the health committee or would like to find an area where you could be involved, please contact me at health@nfbpwc.org and I will put you on my list. The more you can contribute, the easier it makes it for me. I’d love to have you. 

Healthy Recipes –

If you would like to submit a healthy recipe to publish in future newsletters, please send them to health@nfbpwc.org

This month, instead of a recipe, how about a health book with recipes?

This book was picked up used at a local antique store and provides a plethora of information about foods, diseases and how foods are a source of healing and sickness. There are simple recipes to work with as well as menus for various conditions ranging from diabetes to gout. It’s a great way to learn about the foods we eat and how they react with our bodies.

You can get more information and purchase the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Foods-Ultimate-Authority-Nutrition/dp/0878578129

Article courtesy of Health Committee member Denise Robinson (PA) via Chantla Israil

Periods, Poverty and Menopause: The Joys of Being a Woman (Send Help)

Let’s talk about two of the most glamorous aspects of womanhood: periods and menopause. One brings monthly chaos and expenses we never signed up for, and the other sneaks in like uninvited guests, flipping our internal thermostat to "lava" and stealing our ability to remember why we walked into a room. And yet, society still acts like these are niche topics we should discuss in hushed tones.

But here’s the real kicker: while some women are scrambling to afford basic period products, others are battling a society that barely acknowledges menopause exists. Welcome to the full-circle experience of reproductive injustice.

Period Poverty: When Your Wallet is the Real Villain

Imagine walking into a store, grabbing a box of tampons, and realizing they cost as much as your lunch. Now imagine having to decide between buying those tampons or eating that lunch. That’s the reality of period poverty. Menstrual products are not a luxury, yet many girls and women in the U.S. including right here in Pennsylvania struggles to afford them. In Fayette County, poverty rates are higher than the state average, period poverty is a real crisis. Some girls miss school because they don’t have the right supplies, and others must rely on makeshift solutions like toilet paper or old socks (which, in case you’re wondering, is not recommended). And let’s not forget menstrual products are still taxed like designer handbags. Because nothing screams necessary medical expense like a “luxury” tax on the thing that keeps your jeans from looking like a crime scene.

The Silent Struggle of Menopause

Now, for the grand finale of the menstrual journey: menopause. Just when you think you're done buying pads and tampons, your body decides to hit you with hot flashes, mood swings, and a metabolism that suddenly moves at the speed of a snail. Menopause is like that coworker who doesn’t do anything but still makes the whole office miserable. One minute, you're freezing; the next, you're sweating like you're auditioning for Survivor: The Sahara Edition. And let’s

not even start with insomnia, brain fog, and joints that suddenly feel like they belong to a 90-year-old.

What’s worse? No one talks about it. There are a million books on how to survive puberty, but menopause? Silence. Doctors often brush it off with a “that’s just part of aging” as if that’s supposed to make you feel better while you’re fanning yourself with a restaurant menu at dinner.

How Period Poverty and Menopause Are Weirdly Connected

You know what’s fun? The fact that if you’ve struggled with period poverty when you were younger, chances are menopause won’t be much easier. Lack of access to proper healthcare and menstrual education doesn’t just disappear when your period does. Many women in low-income areas—including Fayette County -- face menopause without proper medical care, support, or even basic knowledge of what the heck is happening to their bodies.

And let’s not forget just because you technically stop needing menstrual products doesn’t mean you don’t need some form of protection (hello, surprise bladder leaks). But just like pads and tampons, incontinence products also come at a price that feels like a personal attack.

So, What Can We Do?

If we can have an entire aisle dedicated to flavored water, we can surely make menstrual products and menopause care is more accessible.

Here’s what needs to happen:

• Menstrual products should be free in schools, shelters, and public spaces. Because no girl should skip class over something she can’t control.

• Menopause needs a PR campaign. We need education, better healthcare support, and workplace policies that don’t treat menopausal women like malfunctioning robots.

• Stop taxing period products. If we’re not taxing essentials like food, then why are we taxing the bodily function that happens every month?

• More research on menopause. Because "just deal with it" is not a medical treatment plan. At the end of the day, whether you’re battling poverty or trying to figure out if your sudden rage is hormonal or justified (spoiler: it’s both), one thing is clear: women deserve better.

So, let’s talk about it, fight for it, and make sure the next generation doesn’t have to navigate this nonsense alone. And in the meantime, let’s keep pushing for change because dealing with periods and menopause is hard enough without having to fight for basic dignity too.

Bio: Chantla Israil, is a passionate advocate for menstrual equity, women’s health education, and empowerment. As the founder of Moment of Maturity, I work to break stigmas surrounding menstruation and menopause through workshops, curricula, and public speaking.

I have developed educational programs for young girls, women, organizations, males and vulnerable communities, ensuring they have access to critical reproductive health knowledge and resources. My dedication to advocacy led me to appear on The Tamron Hall Show. Through my YouTube channel/talk show and community initiatives, I want to continue to inspire, educate, and uplift menstruators and people of all ages.

Additional Information from Emily VanVleck on Period Poverty

Vice President of Advocacy, Emily VanVleck, serves as NFBPWC’s representative on the National Coalition to End Period Poverty. The coalition, consisting of nonprofits and various stakeholder groups dedicated to ending period poverty, meets once a quarter to discuss any developments and legislative action.

In the last coalition meeting priorities were set for 2025, including H.R.922 which would set aside social service funds for states to use to increase availability for menstrual products to low-income individuals. The Good Samaritan Menstrual Act which extends liability protections to organizations in efforts to encourage donation of menstrual products is expected to be reintroduced by Representative Meng, however, nothing has been introduced yet.

Period Poverty Awareness Week will be May 12-18, 2025. We encourage all members and chapters to host period product drives to donate to local organizations supporting women. Please get in touch with the advocacy committee for more information on how to host a period product drive or view ourinfographicon the national website!

If you are a former member of the health committee or would like to find an area where you could be involved, please contact me at health@nfbpwc.org and I will put you on my list. The more you can contribute, the easier it makes it for me. I’d love to have you. We will meet on the 3^rd or 4^th Monday of the month unless there are any conflicts or holiday forthcoming. Next meeting is March 17, 2025.

Remarkable Woman – Valerie Oser

Growing up, my mom worked as a nurse as an LPN through hospitals, nursing homes, hospice and wherever she could use her medical experience. So, I learned a lot about medical things from her over the years. When I was in high school, she would be a guest speaker talking about health medical issues, giving a tour of the nursing home she worked at, and inspiring them to do good work. Whenever someone had a medical question among friends or family, she always had her knowledge to share. I think I’ve gained some of that from growing up and having her take care of me.

She was married to my dad Paul Oser for 45 years until her passing and she was a very spiritual person. She loved to sing in the choir and was active in the church.

The Woman I’d like to honor for Women’s History is my own mother Valerie L. Oser. She passed away 3 years ago March 12, 2022, from stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. She survived stage 1 breast cancer for at least 9 to 10 years until Covid returned as Stage 4. So, it makes sense to honor her for Women’s History Month since it is the same month in which she passed.

She was also a very outspoken person on issues and was never one to shy away from politics.

She was a member of BPW/Michigan and earned Woman of Achievement honors in the early 2000s.

By: Susan Oser
NFBPWC Health Chair

Our health committee continues to keep on going. While one plan is made it evolves and changes with more discussions and more voices in the mix. Our meetings are held on the 3^rd Mondays of the month unless there is a conflict or a holiday. Our next meeting with be February 17, 2025, at 8pm ET.

Our signature event that we co-sponsor with Houston Methodist Hospital is Heart of a Woman, which is slated on February 7, 2025. Please see the details below.

If you are a former member of the health committee or would like to find an area where you could be involved, please contact me at health@nfbpwc.organd I will put you on my list. The more you can contribute, the easier it makes it for me. I’d love to have you.

Healthy Thinking for the Month:

February is a big month for heart health. Make sure you get your CT scans, and any check-ups that are heart-related to make sure everything is ok. Get active. Eat healthy. Do anything to lessen the chances of being a heart attack or heart disease victim.

Health Awareness Dates:

February is –

AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month; American Heart Month; Declutter For a Cause Month; Fasting February; International Boost Self-Esteem Month; International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month; Marfan Syndrome Awareness Month; Marijuana Awareness Month; National Care About Your Indoor Air Month; National Condom Month; National Children's Dental Health Month; National Hot Breakfast Month Link; National Pet Dental Health Month; National Self Check Month; National Snack Food Month; National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month; National Therapeutic Recreation Month; National Time Management Month; Pet Dental

Health Month; Relationship Wellness Month; Spay/Neuter Awareness Month; Wise Health Care Consumer Month; Worldwide Renaissance of the Heart Month

If you are a former member of the health committee or would like to find an area where you could be involved,

please contact me at health@nfbpwc.org and I will put you on my list. The more you can contribute, the easier it makes it for me. I’d love to have you.

Healthy Recipes –

If you would like to submit a healthy recipe to publish in future newsletters, please send them to health@nfbpwc.org

Article courtesy of Health Committee member Bonnie O’Leary, (WA) –

Aortic Valve Insufficiency: Understanding the Condition and Exploring Surgical Options, Including TAVR

Aortic valve insufficiency, also known as aortic regurgitation, occurs when the aortic valve in the heart fails to close properly. This valve, which consists of three leaflets, regulates blood flow between the left ventricle and the aorta, the major artery responsible for delivering oxygenated blood to the body and brain. Regurgitation leads to blood leaking backward into the heart, forcing it to work harder and reducing its efficiency in supplying oxygen to the body. Some

individuals may inherit a two-leaflet valve, a congenital defect that thickens over time and fails to close fully in adulthood.

Symptoms

Symptoms of aortic valve insufficiency can develop gradually or appear suddenly. Common signs include:

• Shortness of breath, especially during exertion

• Chest pain or tightness that worsens with activity

• Fatigue

• Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias), such as a fluttering sensation

• Fainting or lightheadedness

• Swelling in the feet, ankles, or legs

The earliest symptoms are typically shortness of breath and fatigue. If you experience any of these symptoms, consult your doctor promptly, as this condition is one of the most common and serious forms of heart valve disease.

Causes and Risk Factors

Aortic valve insufficiency may result from various factors, including:

• Structural defects such as aortic stenosis

• Rheumaticfever,whichcancause inflammation and stiffen the valve

• Traumatic chest injuries

• Inflammatory conditions like endocarditis, lupus, or arthritis

• Infections such as syphilis

Risk factors include older age, chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Left untreated, the condition can lead to heart failure, arrhythmias, or sudden cardiac death. Preventive measures include maintaining a heart-healthy lifestyle, monitoring blood pressure regularly, scheduling routine medical check-ups, and seeking immediate treatment for infections.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing aortic valve insufficiency has become straightforward with non-invasive methods like echocardiograms (ultrasound) and MRI scans. The condition is graded based on severity:

• Grade 1: Mild regurgitation

• Grade 2: Mild-to-moderate regurgitation

• Grade 3: Moderate-to-severe regurgitation

• Grade 4: Severe regurgitation

Treatment Options: TAVR

A significant advancement in treating this condition is the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure. Unlike traditional open-heart surgery, TAVR is minimally invasive and involves inserting a catheter through a vein in the upper leg to replace the faulty valve. The new artificial valve, which resembles

a crown with three functional leaflets, is positioned inside the existing valve and begins working immediately.

Key details of the TAVR procedure:

• Duration: Approximately one hour

• Recovery: Patients typically stay overnight and are discharged the next day

• Benefits: No chest incision is required, significantly reducing recovery time

Postoperative Care

Recovery from TAVR involves cardiac rehabilitation and adherence to medical guidelines. Recommendations include:

• Avoiding heavy lifting and limiting stairs

• Not driving until your doctor clears

• Monitoring the surgical site for infection

• Taking prescribed medications, including blood thinners if necessary

• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including proper nutrition and avoiding smoking

Contact your doctor immediately if you experience:

• Fever above 100.4°F

• Persistent dizziness or lightheadedness

• Shortness of breath that doesn’t improve with rest

• Unrelenting pain or bleeding

Personal Experience

I underwent the TAVR procedure in the summer of 2020 after being diagnosed with severe aortic valve insufficiency. My symptoms included increasing shortness of breath, which I initially attributed to allergies and lung congestion. As a registered nurse, I had overlooked these signs until a radiology scan revealed that my valve’s opening was only 6% functional. Without intervention, I faced the possibility of sudden cardiac death within months.

The TAVR surgery was life-changing, enabling me to undergo another necessary major surgery shortly thereafter. Today, I lead a fuller, more active life, participating in activities like gardening, going to the gym, and spending time with my grandchildren.

Statistics and Call to Action

Delaying valve replacement in cases of severe aortic stenosis carries significant risks:

• 1 in 10 patients may die within five weeks without intervention

• Risk of death increases by 30% within six months, 40% within one year, and 50% within two years

Globally, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, who often experience delayed diagnoses and referrals for valve conditions. Be proactive about your cardiac care—seek a second opinion if necessary and advocate for timely treatment.

Final Thoughts

The TAVR procedure is a groundbreaking solution for aortic valve insufficiency. For those hesitant about pursuing treatment, I hope my story inspires you to take the necessary steps to improve your health and quality of life.

BONNIE O’LEARY, BSN, RN

BPW National Health Committee Member

References:

1. American Heart Association/ACC 2020 Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Valvular Heart Disease

2. Google Search: "Aortic Insufficiency Grading"

3. Google Search: "Post-Op Care After TAVR"

4. Abbott Structural Heart, www.cardiosmart.org/topics/aortic-stenosis

5. NewYork-Presbyterian,"AorticValveRegurgitation:SymptomsandCauses,"www.nyp.org/heart/heart-valves/aorticvalveregurgitation

Heart of a Woman Information

It is important to learn about our heart as women. It is one of the leading causes of death in women because, so few know its risk factors, warning signs, etc. Since February Heart Health Month, and a plethora of education will be out there on heart health education, the Houston Methodist Debakey Heart and Vascular Center will be holding their annual Heart of a Woman on February 7 starting at event at the Houston Methodist Research Institute. However, if you are not able to attend the event, there is a hybrid component to attend online and catch-up with any missed talks online in real time.

You can find out more information at this link here: https://learn.houstonmethodist.org/cardiovascular-disease/how-2025

One of the reasons it is such an important event for NFBPWC is that the organization has partnered with Houston Medical Hospital for the last few years. With this partnership, both organizations can connect on topics that cover and cross-reference women’s issues on both sides. They include topics such as effects of stress, on the cardiovascular system, work balance

life for women and health professionals, and under- representation of women in clinical trials. With this strong partnership, you are encouraged to represent NFBPWC in a big way, network with others outside of the organization, and learn something about your heart health too.

Hopefully, after this event the partnership can continue by asking some of the featured speakers to present their topics to the organization through the Health Committee or other organizations.

For more information on the Heart of a Woman event, please visit https://nfbpwc.wildapricot.org/heart-of-a-woman

Susan Oser

NFBPWC Health Chair

By: Susan Oser NFBPWC Health Chair, health@nfbpwc.org

Our health committee continues to keep on going. While one plan is made it evolves and changes with more discussions and more voices in the mix. Our meetings are held on the 3rd Mondays of the month unless there is a conflict or a holiday. Our next meeting with be December 16, which will also be our Healthy Holiday party where you can share a healthy recipe, book, or dish you’ve made that night to share. They will also be collected to put into future Health Committee articles. Our signature event that we co-sponsor with Houston Methodist Hospital is Heart of a Woman, which is slated on February 7, 2025. Please see details below.

If you are a former member of the health committee or would like to find an area where you could be involved, please contact me at health@nfbpwc.org and I will put you on my list. The more you can contribute, the easier it makes it for me. I’d love to have you.

Healthy Thinking for the Month:

Here is a graphic from Mi Gen Michigan on post-election

self-care:

Health Awareness Dates:

December is –

Aids Awareness Month, Give the Gift of Sight Month, Honor Your Pharmacist  Month, International Sharps Injury Prevention Month, National Drunk & Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month, National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, Safe Toys and Gifts Month, Take a New Year's Resolution to Stop Smoking (TANYRSS) (12/18 - 2/12) Always ends on Super Bowl Sunday}, Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome Month, Worldwide Food Service Safety Month The following article is courtesy of Health Committee member Kathy Clevenger-Burdell’s research – The Texas Tribune [and posted in accordance with the Advocacy Platform: Health Equity and Justice section]

A Texas woman died after the hospital said it would be a crime to intervene in her miscarriage

Josseli Barnica is one of at least two pregnant Texas women who died after doctors delayed emergency care. By Cassandra Jaramillo and Kavitha Surana, ProPublica, Oct. 30, 2024

Josseli Barnica grieved the news as she lay in a Houston hospital bed on Sept. 3, 2021: The sibling she’d dreamt of giving her daughter would not survive this pregnancy. The fetus was on the verge of coming out, its head pressed against her dilated cervix; she was 17 weeks pregnant, and a miscarriage was “in progress,” doctors noted in hospital records. At that point, they should have offered to speed up the delivery or empty her uterus to stave off a deadly infection, more than a dozen medical experts told ProPublica.

But when Barnica’s husband rushed to her side from his job on a construction site, she relayed what she said the medical team had told her: “They had to wait until there was no heartbeat,” he told ProPublica in Spanish. “It would be a crime to give her an abortion.”

For 40 hours, the anguished 28-year-old mother prayed for doctors to help her get home to her daughter; all the while, her uterus remained exposed to bacteria.

Three days after she delivered, Barnica died of an infection.

Barnica is one of at least two Texas women who ProPublica found lost their lives after doctors delayed treating miscarriages, which fall into a gray area under the state’s strict abortion laws that prohibit doctors from ending the heartbeat of a fetus.

Neither had wanted an abortion, but that didn’t matter. Though proponents insist that the laws protect both the life of the fetus and the person carrying it, in practice, doctors have hesitated to provide care under threat of prosecution, prison time and professional ruin.

ProPublica is telling these women’s stories this week, starting with Barnica’s. Her death was “preventable,” according to more than a dozen medical experts who reviewed a summary of her hospital and autopsy records at ProPublica’s request; they called her case “horrific,” “astounding” and “egregious.”

The doctors involved in Barnica’s care at HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest did not respond to multiple requests for comment on her case. In a statement, HCA Healthcare said, “our responsibility is to be in compliance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations” and said that physicians exercise their independent judgment. The company did not respond to a detailed list of questions about Barnica’s care.

Like all states, Texas has a committee of maternal health experts who review such deaths to recommend ways to prevent them, but the committee’s reports on individual cases are not public and members said they have not finished examining cases from 2021, the year Barnica died.

ProPublica is working to fill gaps in knowledge about the consequences of abortion bans.

Reporters scoured death data, flagging Barnica’s case for its concerning cause of death: “sepsis” involving “products of conception.” We tracked down her family, obtained autopsy and hospital records and enlisted a range of experts to review a summary of her care that ProPublica created in consultation with two doctors.

Barnica’s autopsy report lists her cause of death as sepsis with “retained products of conception,” meaning tissue that grew during her pregnancy but remained after her miscarriage.

Credit: Highlighted and redacted by ProPublica

Among those experts were more than a dozen OB-GYNs and maternal-fetal medicine specialists from across the country, including researchers at prestigious institutions, doctors who regularly handle miscarriages and experts who have served on state maternal mortality review committees or held posts at national professional medical organizations.

If you are a former member of the health committee or would like to find an area where you could be involved, please contact me at health@nfbpwc.org and I will put you on my list. The more you can contribute, the easier it makes it for me. I’d love to have you. We will meet on the 3rd or 4th Monday of the month unless there are any conflicts or holiday forthcoming.

By: Susan Oser
NFBPWC Health Chair, health@nfbpwc.org

Greetings. The first meeting of the Health Committee is in the books. While it was a smaller than expected turnout, some great ideas and a theme came out of it. So, our main theme for this year is focusing on our more seasoned members of the organization and what their health concerns are. Stay tuned to this column for future announcements and updates.

If you are a former member of the health committee or would like to find an area where you could be involved, please contact me at health@nfbpwc.org and I will put you on my list. The more you can contribute, the easier it makes it for me. I’d love to have you.

Healthy Thinking for the Month:

If you are suffering from election burnout you are not the only one. The constant bombardment of commercials, mailers, rallies on TV, etc. has been overwhelming. The best thing to do is turn it off and ignore it. These ads are all about asking for donations using feat, intimidation and negativity. So, if you want to do something positive, call a friend, take a walk…do anything that makes you feel happy and at peace. Elections may come and go, but in the end, we still must take care of ourselves.

Health Awareness Dates:

November is –

American Diabetes Month, Children's Grief Awareness Month, Diabetic Eye Disease Month, Epilepsy Awareness Month, Eye Donation Month, Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month, Hepatitis C (HCV) Education, Awareness and Screening Month, Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Movember, MADD's Tie One On For Safety Holiday Campaign (11/1- 1/1/25), National PPSI AIDS Awareness Month, National Alzheimer's Disease Month, National COPD Month, National Diabetes Month, National Family Caregivers Month, National Healthy Skin Month, National Home Care & Hospice Month , National Hospice & Palliative Care Month, National Impotency Month, National Long-term Care Awareness Month, National Marrow Awareness Month, National Medical Science Liaison (MSL) Awareness & Appreciation Month, National Pet Cancer Awareness Month, National PPSI Aids Awareness Month, NET Cancer Awareness Month, Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, Pet Diabetes Month, PPHI Aids Awareness Month, Prematurity Awareness Month, PTA Healthy Lifestyles Month, Stomach Cancer Awareness Month, World Vegan Month

We will try to meet on the 3rd or 4th Monday of the month unless there are any conflicts or holiday forthcoming.

By: Susan Oser
NFBPWC Health Chair, health@nfbpwc.org 

Apologies for taking so long to get organized for future Health Committee meetings and  communications. There’s been a few technical delays that by the time this report is posted,  should be in the process of moving forward. I thank those of you who have answered my  emails, and I have contacted. I hope once we get started that we can become an active and  viable part of NFBPWC. 

One issue I’d like to personally highlight is October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This is very personal  to me since I lost my mom about 2 ½ years ago to Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer. I’m sure some of you feel this  way too whether you are a survivor, are currently fighting the battle, or have lost someone. You don’t have to  just get a mammogram in October but anytime of the year. And if it is your first time, let your radiologist know  and they will make your experience as comfortable as possible. 

PSA – Please make sure to check your deadlines to renew your Medicaid and Medicare. They come up quickly  and you might lose it if you don’t make the deadline or submit the right information. 

If you are a former member of the health committee or would like to find an area where you could be involved,  please contact me at soser@nfbpwc.org or health@nfbpwc.org and I will put you on my list.  

Nermin Armad, Chair of Women on the Move Committee and current NFBPWC Secretary submitted a  contribution I want to share to give you an idea of what I am looking for with contributing articles: 

Women's health is as portable as women are, but each of us is responsible for ourselves.

Health is critical for all women, but ironically most women do not have the time to really look after themselves,  especially those who are on the move. Any woman who relocates will spend time finding good doctors for her  children, but for convenience will go to the doctor her spouse selects (through work), provided by her job or  school, or if she moves without a framework of support, the first doctor recommended by her insurance company.  As a working woman, I did not have time to check out doctors, and to invest in planning my holistic approach to  my health. Fortunately, my mother had found amazing doctors for us in most of the places we lived (we moved  every 2 years). As a result, I knew and understood my body, and could gauge when I needed professional help.  Now, I am fine tuning my approach to health. At 67 I want to be independent for as long as possible - and started  to work on my mind and body as a whole. I research doctors, and I talk to them to understand what they believe  is important. For me, a doctor is not like a car mechanic, who fixes an emerging or apparent problem. A doctor  is a collaborator, who explains changes to the body before they happen, who helps one be mentally and physically  prepared for the next steps. I also am aware of my body, and changes - such as I should have less milk products  as I age (whole fat or not), but I need more protein for my memory (150 grams a day is my calculation for myself).  I need to have 45 - 60 minutes of sustained level 2 cardio workouts at least 3 times a week. The result after a year:  I went windsurfing in July (first time since 1985), I went horseback riding in August (first time since 1974, and I  go hiking again. I have lost 32 kilograms by changing when I eat (and by giving up food with growth hormones,  and making my own bread), and can easily walk (despite arthritic knees).  

Looking after my husband for 5 years, 10 years on his walker, and sitting in an office chair every day, being a  passenger on too many long-haul flights were killing me. I lost all the muscle of my more sportive youth. I did  not need a Doctor to tell me that. But I did not understand that my body welcomed the chance to do a lot of things  that my mind had given up on. Women on the move do not need health infrastructure as much as they need  resource to build a healthy outlook on life. That is critical. NFBPWC's Health Committee is an opportunity to  provide resources to internalize that vision. 

Health Awareness Dates: 

October is – 

AIDS Awareness Month (President Reagan), American Pharmacists Month, Antidepressant Death  Awareness Month, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month,  Bullying Prevention Month, (World) Blindness Awareness Month, Caffeine Addiction Recovery Month,,  Celiac Disease Awareness Month, College Students with Disabilities Advocacy Month, Contact Lens Safety  Month, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Down Syndrome Awareness Month, Dyslexia Awareness  Month, Eat Better, Eat Together Month, Eczema Awareness Month, Emotional Intelligence Awareness  Month, Emotional Wellness Month, Eye Injury Prevention Month (Note: There is also one in July.), Go  Sober For October, Health Literacy Month, Home Eye Safety Month, Long Term Care Planning Month,  National AIDS Awareness Month, (Note: July is HIV Awareness Month also.), National  Audiology/Protect Your Hearing Month, National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, National  Chiropractic Health Month, National Critical Illness Awareness Month, National Dental Hygiene Month,  National Depression Education & Awareness Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month,  National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, National Down Syndrome Month, National Dwarfism  Awareness Month, National Family Sexuality Education Month - Let's Talk!, National Liver Awareness  Month, National Medical Librarians Month, National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month, National  Orthodontic Health Month, National Pescatarian Month, National Physical Therapy Month, National  Protect Your Hearing Month, National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, National Spina Bifida  Awareness Month, National Stop Bullying Month, National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, National  Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month, Organize Your Medical Information Month, Positive  Attitude Month, Rett Syndrome Awareness Month, Talk About Medicines Month, Vegetarian Month,  World Menopause Month

By: Susan Oser
NFBPWC Health Chair, health@nfbpwc.org 

Hello everyone. I am your new Health Committee Chair, Susan Oser from the great state of  Michigan. I would like thank President Barbara Bozeman for having trust in me in this role. 

What makes the right person for this position? 

1. I had a mother who was a licensed practicing nurse (LPN), so I learned some of the  basics from her. 

2. I am currently going through some of my own health-related issues that I would like to encourage you to  take care of your own health. 

3. I decided to take on this role because I feel like there is a big need to discuss women’s health.  4. I would like to make sure there are resources for reaching out for all forms of health issues. 

If you are a former member of the health committee or would like to find an area where you could be involved,  please contact me at soser@nfbpwc.org and I will put you on my list. I have not decided on a meeting date or  time officially, but once I do, I shall let you know. If you have any suggestions for focus topics, articles to write,  etc. Please let me know.  

I would like to make women’s health something we should not be scared to talk about no matter what age we  are or what kind of situation we are going through.

Health Awareness Dates: September is – 

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Month, Atrial Fibrillation Month, Baby Safety Month, Blood Cancer  Awareness Month, Cholesterol Education Month, Craniofacial Acceptance Month, Global Pulmonary Fibrosis  Awareness Month, Gynecology Cancer Awareness Month, Histiocytosis Awareness Month, (World) Leukemia  and Lymphoma Awareness Month, Mesothelioma Awareness Month, Mold Awareness Month, National Alcohol  & Drug Addiction Recovery Month, National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, National Disease Literacy  Month, National DNA, Geonomics & Stem Cell Education Month, National Food Safety Education Month,  National Head Lice Prevention Month, National Infant Mortality Awareness Month, National Osteopathic  Medicine Month, National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, National Pediculosis (Head Lice) Prevention  Month, National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, National Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, National  Sickle Cell Month, National Skin Care Awareness Month, National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month,  National Suicide Prevention Month, Pain Awareness Month, Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, Polycystic  Ovarian Syndrome Awareness Month, Self-Care Awareness Month, Sports and Home Eye Health & Safety  Month, Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month, World Alzheimer's Month.

Keri Hess Laursen
NFBPWC Health Committee Chair, Downtown Sacramento Member Health@NFBPWC.org 

The Health Committee is seeking a co-chair, no experience required! 

The Health Committee currently meets the 2nd Monday of each month at 5pm PST.   

Please email Keri at:  health@nfbpwc.org to inquire about serving as co-chair or to get on the Health Committee listserv. 

 

Rapid Response Committee Report   

By: Susan E. Oser, NFBPWC Rapid Response Committee Chair 

What Makes an Effective Rapid Response Team 

In an article written for The Management Center website I found some great information on what makes a good rapid response team. 

Source: 

https://www.managementcenter.org/resources/tipsfor-running-an-effective-covid-19-rapid-responseteam/ 

Please connect with Sue Oser at rapidresponse@nfbpwc.org if you have any ideas on topics that should be focused on and discussed as we get into the big election cycle. 

Keri Hess Laursen
NFBPWC Health Committee Chair, Downtown Sacramento Member Health@NFBPWC.org

The Health Committee is seeking a co-chair, no experience required!

The Health Committee currently meets the 2nd Monday of each month at 5pm PST.

Please email Keri at: health@nfbpwc.orgto inquire about serving as co-chair or to get on the Health Committee listserv.

NFBPWC Health Committee is Seeking a Co-Chair!

Keri Hess Laursen, NFBPWC Health Committee Chair, Downtown Sacramento Member Health@NFBPWC.org 

The Health Committee is seeking a co-chair, no experience required!

The Health Committee currently meets the 2nd Monday of each month at 5pm PST.  

Please email Keri at:  health@nfbpwc.org to inquire about serving as co-chair or to get on the Health Committee listserv

Period Poverty Call to Action

Message from NFBPWC President Megan Shellman-Rickard

As you may be aware, NFBPWC has started a new initiative to tackle period poverty, led by our Young BPW. As you may not be aware, period poverty is a pressing issue in the US, affecting millions of menstruators every year who struggle to access essential menstrual hygiene products. To commemorate Period Action Day, held annually on the second Saturday of October, I am reaching out to you, our dedicated NFBPWC leaders, to encourage your participation in our nationwide Period Product Drive Campaign.

What is the Period Product Drive Campaign?

Our Period Product Drive aims to collect and distribute menstrual hygiene products to those in need in our local communities. By hosting a drive, you'll be contributing directly to alleviating period poverty and promoting menstrual health and hygiene. The goal is to coincide period product drives in our chapters nationwide with Period Action Day.

Why Participate?

By organizing a Period Product Drive, you'll be helping individuals who often lack access to necessary period supplies. Your efforts will directly improve the quality of life for women in your community. Engaging in this campaign also allows you to connect with your community on a deeply meaningful level. It's an opportunity to raise awareness about period poverty and mobilize support. Lastly, hosting a drive empowers your chapter and its members to drive positive change. Your leadership can inspire others to get involved and make a lasting impact.

Resources and Support:

To assist you in your efforts, we have prepared a comprehensive guide containing planning tips, promotional materials, and information about period poverty. Additionally, the period poverty team is here to provide guidance and answer any questions you may have along the way. We also encourage you to use the period product price tracker put together by the period poverty team. We will be using this information to create more advocacy and educational campaigns.

Period Product Drive Info.pdf

Let's come together and take action against period poverty. Your dedication as affiliate chapter leaders is what makes our organization thrive and our impact real. Together, we can create a world where everyone has access to the basic necessities they deserve.

Please let us know if you're interested in hosting a Period Product Drive, and we'll be more than happy to provide you with all the support you need to make it a success. You can also join the next period poverty meeting scheduled for September 28th. Feel free to reach out to Young BPW Emily VanVleck at evanvleck@nfbpwc.org for further information or assistance.

Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our cause. Let's make a difference together!