===================== JeffNEWS, May 1, 1995 ===================== You and Your Health and Safety Need Help to Save Your Skin, Stop Smoking, Start Sleeping? ---------------------------------------------------------- Jefferson's Health Awareness Program offers you three ways to improve your life. o "Your Skin and How to Save It," a video education series, takes place: o Monday, May 1, at noon and at 12:45 p.m. in the dermatology conference room, 402 Bluemle o Thursday, May 11, noon, suite 110, 1015 Chestnut Street o Tuesday, May 23, noon, suite 110, 1015 Chestnut Street The video, hosted by actress Cheryl Ladd, features dermatologists nationwide, including our own Guy Webster, MD, associate professor of dermatology, Jefferson Medical College. It focuses on a variety of skin problems, including aging, and what you and your doctor can do to keep your skin healthy. o The Smoke StoppersSM smoking cessation program will hold free introductory classes on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 2 and 3, from noon to 1 p.m. or from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The fee for employees is $60. Those who complete the course and remain smoke-free for six months will receive a full rebate. To reserve your seat and for the location of the introductory class, call 6319. o A free SleepWell! Education Program will take place Monday, May 8, from noon to 1 p.m. in 218 Curtis Building. This program, facilitated by Karl Doghramji, MD, director of Jefferson's Sleep Disorders Center, offers information on how to get a better night's sleep so you'll have more energy and be more alert. To reserve your seat, call 6319. Defend Yourself Against a Silent Killer --------------------------------------- May is National High Blood Pressure Education Month. High blood pressure (hypertension) is a serious condition that can lead to stroke, as well as heart and kidney disease. Even if high blood pressure runs in your family, you can reduce your chance of developing it. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommends these four steps to help you prevent or lower high blood pressure: o Maintain a healthy weight. Losing extra pounds lowers blood pressure. o Become physically active. Try to do some form of aerobic activity for 30 minutes most days. o Salt does not cause hypertension, but does exacerbate it in some people who already have this condition. Avoid salting your food and try to cut down on highly processed foods, which are high in sodium, if you have high blood pressure. o If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Have no more than two drinks a day. Spring Safety Tips for Kids --------------------------- Kids will soon be out in droves, riding their bikes, playing in the woods and swimming in ponds and creeks. With increased outdoor activity this time of year, parents may need a refresher on child safety precautions. Alan Forstater, MD, an emergency medicine specialist at Jefferson, suggests: o Make sure kids have reflectors and lights on their bikes and wear helmets. It's now a law in Pennsylvania that children under the age of 12 wear safety helmets when riding bikes. o Advise children never to dive in creeks, ponds and surf, and to swim only in places where there's adult supervision. o Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors in wooded or grassy areas that are home to ticks. Examine your clothing and hair carefully for ticks once indoors. o Treat bee stings or insect bites by washing the affected area with warm water and soap. Watch for symptoms of an allergic reaction. If your child previously experienced a severe reaction to bug bites get a first aid kit of self-injectable adrenaline for use in emergencies from your doctor. Hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion can reduce itching that often accompanies insect bites. Cooking Classes Teach You Healthy Ways With Food ------------------------------------------------ Whether you're ready to tackle the art of homemade breadmaking or merely want to update your repertoire of swift and simple recipes for your busy healthy life, the department of nutrition and dietetics' spring selection of Cooking a' la Health classes are deliciously informative. Join chefs and owners of Dining With Heart restaurants, catering and take-out facilities as they share ways to bring zip and tang to your kitchen with spices, flavored vinegars and fresh herbs and cook up a bounty of delicious lighter tasting recipes for warmer weather. Classes will be held in room 101, Bluemle Life Sciences Building, from noon to 1 p.m. Bring your lunch, but save room to sample the items prepared in the cooking classes. Registration is $5 per class, or take all six for $25. To enroll, call Health Awareness at 6319. Wednesday, May 3 Marinades and Salsas Wednesday, May 10 Fowl Play Wednesday, May 17 Add Some Spice to Your Life: Contemporary Cooking With Spices Wednesday, May 24 Cooking With Flavored Vinegars and Fresh Herbs Wednesday, June 7 Heart-y Loaves Wednesday, June 21 Treats from the Pacific Rim Jefferson Offers You a New Fitness Benefit ------------------------------------------ With your May 4 paychecks, you'll receive a brochure about a new Jefferson benefit: GlobalFit. GlobalFit offers you a choice of memberships, discounted up to 75 percent, at 38 premier health clubs in the five-county Philadelphia area; Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties in New Jersey, and in Kent County, Delaware. For more information, call Kathleen von der Hayden, assistant manager, employee benefits, human resources, at 7858. To register, call 1-800-294-1500. Have Your Hearing, Speech and Language Screened in May ------------------------------------------------------ The Jefferson Hearing Center of the department of otolaryngology- head and neck surgery at 909 Walnut Street will conduct free hearing screenings for employees and their dependents age 5 and older during May in recognition of Better Hearing and Speech Month. To schedule a hearing screening appointment, call 8897. In addition, the speech/language pathology section, department of rehabilitation medicine, will conduct free speech and language screenings for employees and their dependents. To schedule a speech and language screening appointment, call 2554. On Tuesday, May 16, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., both departments will distribute information on better speech and hearing in the west Atrium cafeteria. Don't Miss Jefferson at the Women's Show ---------------------------------------- Jefferson is participating in the 1995 Philadelphia International Women's Show, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, May 4 to 7. Representatives from Jefferson, Wills Eye Hospital and A.I. DuPont Institute will be on hand to answer questions and distribute materials on health topics of interest to women and their families. Jefferson physicians will present lectures on hormone replacement therapy, contraceptive options, communicating effectively with your doctor, osteoporosis, weight loss and diabetes. Dining With Heart chefs will showcase their culinary gifts with healthy cooking demonstrations, complete with free food samples. Interested community members can also sign up to become a Jefferson volunteer. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Sunday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission is $7 at the door or $6 in advance. For more information, call 1-800-JEFF-NOW. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Information provided by: Editor, JeffNEWS (215) 955-6204 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------