"Is Gluten Making You Sick?"

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), October has also been designated "Celiac Disease Awareness Month." If you are like me, you are probably asking yourself, 'What is celiac disease?' I'm glad you asked.

Frequently asked questions about the disease and the Awareness Campaign are as follows:

What is celiac disease?

Celiac disease is an immune reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. When people with celiac disease eat foods containing gluten, their immune system responds by damaging the small intestine. The tiny, fingerlike protrusions lining the small intestine are damaged or destroyed. Called villi, they normally allow nutrients from food to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Without healthy villi, people with celiac disease cannot get the nutrients they need to stay healthy. This lack of nutrients can cause a host of health problems, such as diarrhea, osteoporosis, hair loss, anemia, and infertility.

What is the NIH Celiac Disease Awareness Campaign?

The NIH Celiac Disease Awareness Campaign seeks to heighten awareness of celiac disease among health care professionals and the public. The Awareness Campaign stems from consensus recommendations of an independent panel of experts convened by the NIH to assess current diagnosis, treatment, and management of the disease. The consensus panel concluded that as much as 1 percent of the U.S. population has celiac disease, but the vast majority remain undiagnosed. To address this disparity, the panel recommended that the NIH spearhead efforts to educate health care providers and the public about the disease. Officially launched in 2006, the Awareness Campaign was developed by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the NIH, with coordination among the professional and voluntary organizations working on celiac disease.

What does the Awareness Campaign do?

The Awareness Campaign offers materials and resources for health care professionals and the public about the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and management of celiac disease. The Awareness Campaign provides fact sheets, booklets, practice tools for health care professionals, NIH research information, and resources from professional and voluntary organizations that focus on celiac disease. All of these resources are available through the Awareness Campaign’s website at www.celiac.nih.gov and the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearing-house, a service of the NIH’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The Awareness Campaign distributes resources through an exhibit booth at national conferences and publishes an e-newsletter with information about celiac disease resources, meetings, and other activities.

Why is a national campaign about celiac disease necessary?

Until recently, celiac disease was thought to be uncommon in the United States. However, recent findings estimate about 2 million people in the United States have celiac disease, or about one in every 133 people. More than 95 percent of people with the disease remain undiagnosed. Blood tests are available to help diagnose the disease.

The disease is largely underdiagnosed for several reasons. Celiac disease can present through a broad range of symptoms, many of which physicians do not readily associate with the disease. In addition, many of the symptoms are attributed to other diseases and conditions, ultimately leading to the wrong diagnosis.

Experts who attended an NIH Consensus Development Conference on Celiac Disease in June 2004 determined that increasing physician awareness of the various manifestations of celiac disease and appropriate use of available testing strategies could lead to earlier diagnosis and better outcomes for celiac patients. A national campaign is the vehicle through which to convey these important messages to the health community and the public.

What is the main goal of the Awareness Campaign?

The Awareness Campaign seeks to raise awareness among health care professionals and the public about the prevalence of celiac disease in the United States availability and validity of blood testing as a diagnostic tool health consequences associated with celiac disease misper- ception that celiac disease is just a gastrointestinal disease.

How is the Awareness Campaign funded?

The Awareness Campaign is funded through the NIH, which receives its funding through congressional appropriations.

Is there a cure for celiac disease?

Although there is currently no cure, celiac disease, in most cases, can be successfully treated by adhering to a gluten-free diet.

Where can people go for more information about celiac disease?

The Awareness Campaign’s website, http://celiac.nih.gov/default.aspx, has more information about celiac disease, as well as a list of celiac disease organizations. To sign up for the Awareness Campaign e-newsletter, Celiac Disease News, go to www.celiac.nih.gov/NewsletterSubscription.aspx.

*This information made possible from the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, 2 Information WayBethesda, MD 20892–3570. Phone: 1–800–891–5389. TTY: 1–866–569–1162Fax: 703–738–4929. Email: nddic@info.niddk.nih.gov

World Blindness Awareness Month

National Non-Profit Works to Eliminate Vision Loss in US by Arming Patients with Reliable Eye Health Information


October 10, 2007 - SAN FRANCISCO – According to the World Health Organization, nearly 180 million people in the world suffer from blindness or visual impairment. In observance of World Blindness Awareness Month in October, EyeCare America – a public service program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology — wants to remind everyone that unnecessary vision loss could largely be prevented if patients had access to sight-saving information and resources. Additionally, October 11th is World Sight Day, a health observation that is recognized by health organizations around the globe.

In honor of World Blindness Awareness Month taking place in October, EyeCare America encourages everyone to become more empowered about their eye health by logging on to its newly designed website at www.eyecareamerica.org.

According to a 2005 study by Neilson/Net Ratings, a global leader in media and market research, the internet is considered the most trusted source for health information after physicians. As the number of Americans seeking health care information on the Internet grows, EyeCare America plans to match that trend by providing website visitors centralized vision care information, written in language that is clear and easy for them to understand.

The interactive website is part of EyeCare America’s educational mission to empower consumers with reliable educational information. Visitors can log on to find accurate and up-to-date eye care information, learn more about the leading causes of blindness such as glaucoma or macular degeneration, locate an eye doctor in their area and even share important health topics with family and friends through a convenient email forward function.

Other easy-to-use functions include online tools such as a vision simulator, which allows users to see how vision would be affected from common eye diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma. Informative videos, created by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, are an added feature on the site and will provide consumers with a complete interactive experience.

The site was designed keeping in mind those who suffer from low-vision. Innovative features on the website allow users to increase the type size up to three sizes; contrast the content into both light on dark or dark on light and finally, the layout of the web pages can be changed to single -column viewing to accommodate low-vision reading aids.


About EyeCare America


Established in 1985, EyeCare America, the public service program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, is committed to the preservation of sight, accomplishing its mission through public service and education. EyeCare America provides eye care services to the medically underserved and for those at increased risk for eye disease through its corps of 7,200 volunteer ophthalmologists dedicated to serving their communities. More than 90 percent of the care made available is provided at no out-of-pocket cost to the patients. EyeCare America includes programs for seniors, children, glaucoma, diabetes, and AMD, and is the largest program of its kind in American medicine. Since its inception, EyeCare America has helped more than 860,000 people. EyeCare America is a non-profit program whose success is made possible through charitable contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations. More information can be found at: www.eyecareamerica.org.

*EyeCare America contributed to this page.

"An Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away"

October is National Apple Month! National Apple Month is the only national, generic apple promotion conducted in the United States. Originally founded in 1904 as National Apple Week, it was expanded in 1996 to a three-month promotional window from September through November. National Apple Month's mission is to increase apple industry sales, and to enhance consumer awareness and usage of apples and apple products. Its goal is to increase apple industry sales through a fall retail display contest, food service promotional contest, and to develop strong relations with retail, food service and apple industry members.

National Apple Month has two major components:

Retail components of the program involve fall display contests for retailers and military commissaries, in which retailers can vie for cash prizes by submitting details on store displays that meet the judging criteria. Additionally, an "Apple Merchandiser of the Year" is crowned for outstanding merchandising of apples and apple products throughout the year.

Food service utilizes the media and direct outreach to connect with various segments of the industry, communicating pertinent information regarding menus applications, value of the apple and apple products and current product information. Food service operators are chosen for recognition based on the use of apples and apple products in menus throughout the year.
National Apple Month is promoted to the trade segments by program staff, by state producer organizations, by sponsor sales representatives and by program members. The program communicates with retailers and food service operators via medias.

National Apple Month is a restricted-fund (financially self-supporting) program of the U.S. Apple Association (http://www.usapple.org/). The program is funded by sponsorship revenue, and voluntary membership dues collected from industry members. If you are interested in supporting or participating in National Apple Month promotions, please contact National Apple Month Director Kay Swartz Rentzel at ksrentzel@aol.com.

The health benefits of apples and apple products were first recorded as early as medieval times, giving rise to the old English saying "Ate an apfel avore gwain to bed Makes the doctor beg his bread" and its more recent variation, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Apples' healthy attributes have received considerable renewed interest recently, following the publication of several studies linking apple nutrients to an impressive range of health benefits. Apples and processed apple foods can be an important part of a healthy diet.

Have you had your apple today?

*Contribution by the U. S. Apple Association

October is "Adopt A Shelter Dog Month"

Several years ago, we adopted a dog from the Carroll County Animal Shelter. At the time I was working for Carroll County Government and had asked the director of the shelter to let me know when they received small dogs for adoption. While sitting in my office one day, the director and her assistant brought me a small dog of mixed breed, and it was love at first site. He fell in love with me and I with him, and 13 years later, we are still 'best friends.'

I immediately named him 'Benjamin Davis'. With his cute little under bite and big black eyes, he just looks like 'a Benjamin Davis.' When I brought him home, my husband and daughter fell in love with him, too. Over the years, we've nicknamed him, 'Mr. B', 'Mr. Bennie', 'Bennie Boy' and 'Bennie'. I call him 'my son,' and he is still just as adorable today as the day we adopted him.

Full of personality, he thinks he's a boy and can't actually say, 'Out', when he wants to go outside. (No kidding!) And, he thinks he's invisible at times----seriously! When it's time to come inside, I'll call his name and no matter where he is he'll go into a 'ninja stance'---standing very still, one leg slightly bent, ears up and and not moving an inch. After about five minutes or so, I'll say, 'Come on, here, Bennie! I see you---you'll not invisible.' He'll immediately come out of his 'invisible stance' and come running towards the house. It is the funniest thing! But I said all that to say, if you are looking for a pet, consider the Carroll County Animal Shelter. They receive hundreds of animals every year, some of which have been abandoned by their owners for one reason or another.

The Carroll County Animal Shelter is located at 280 Zyzzx Street, Carrollton, Georgia. They are generally opened from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and can be reached by calling, (770) 8334-8150. They can assist you in adopting a pet and answer any questions you may have. The ASPCA (American Society for the Pervention of Cruelty to Animals) is another organization you may contact regarding pet adoptions.

The ASPCA was founded in New York City in 1866 to prevent cruelty to animals in the United States. The ASPCA has been headquartered in New York City since its founding and maintains a strong local presence, but with the gradual addition of programs and staff that extend its anti-cruelty mission across the country, the ASPCA is now recognized as a national animal welfare organization. ASPCA activities are divided into NYC Regional Programs, National Programs, and Communications and Support. The ASPCA is a privately funded 501(c) (3) not-for-profit corporation. The ASPCA offers adoption tips on their website including, questions to ask yourself before adopting; tips for adopting the perfect family pet; the right pet for you, a kids and pet interaction guide; what to consider before adopting exotic animals as pets; how to prepare your home for your new pet; the top 10 things you need to do before bringing your new pet home and other valuable information. There is also a section on how we can help our local animal shelter. Visit their website at www.aspca.org/ for further information and how to join the ASPCA.

If you are considering buying a pet, I recommend trying the Carroll County Animal Shelter,first. You won't be disappointed, and you'll be helping our community.