hsimone « Pepsi Refresh Everything Blog

Hannah'S POSTS

Video Games For Good On O’ahu (VIDEO)

The community service-based Mililani High School Video Game Club in Hawaii recently secured $5,000 to send forty students to a leadership camp designed to deepen their commitment to community improvement. What started as a bunch of kids united by a passion for gaming has evolved into offline engagement in the real world, from organizing recycling drives to leading Wii exercise clinics for seniors. Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Grantee Story: Tunes For Troops Delivered

Desert Storm veteran Steve Newton of Clever, Missouri is committed to recognizing the incredible service of veterans. He co-founded Silver Star Families with his wife after they spent time with a family visiting their wounded son at a VA hospital. Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

How To: Give The Perfect Interview

To secure a Refresh grant, most likely you’ll need to be interacting with the press to spread the word about your great idea. Once you’ve been chosen for a grant, you’ll want to tell the stories of your successes. Reporters might make you a little nervous, so I’ve put together a quick tip sheet to get you ready for those lights and cameras. Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Hollywood Rolls Out the Red Carpet for Do- Gooders

The Do Something Awards in Hollywood this week had all the makings of the typical pat-on-the-back awards show. Red carpet slammed with flashing bulbs? Check. Teenage girls screaming for the Jonas Brothers? Check. A bunch of celebrities vying for a shiny award for outstanding achievement? Check.

But after I had a closer look, I could see the press was asking about volunteerism. Joe Jonas was talking about the power of social change. The celebrities nominated to get the big award of the night were five inspirational people under the age of 25 who have transformed the world around them. Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Introducing Health Ambassador Hannah Simone

Hello! My name is Hannah Simone and I am honored to be your Health Ambassador for the Pepsi Refresh Project. Mallika has shared her fulfilling experiences with me and I am excited to be part of such an innovative program that supports ideas from you and your community and helps make them a reality. Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Grantee Story: Serving Up Success

Sharon Ponton has played sports her whole life. As a health and physical education teacher and student activities leader at her local high school, Sharon says that much of her present leadership, confidence and self-esteem has come from her lifelong participation in sports. Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Grantee Story: Stopping a Silent Killer in the Bay Area

Hepatitis B is an infectious illness known to be a silent killer. People infected with Hepatitis B can suffer from liver inflammation, vomiting, jaundice and chronic sufferers may eventually be diagnosed with liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. In America, one in about 1000 of the general population is chronically affected. In the Asian-American Pacific Islander (API) community, 1 in 10 people are affected, which means Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have a hundredfold increased risk of contracting Hepatitis B compared to the rest of the population. For communities such as Alameda County in Northern California where the API population makes up a significant portion of the demographic, lack of awareness and lack of resources translate to an unchecked health issue that affects everyone. Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Grantee Story: A Warm Embrace for Parents of Struggling Newborns

Three mothers started Project Sweet Peas in July 2007. Their mission was simple: to provide care packages to families with newborn infants in the Intensive Care Unit. The care packages consist of a tote bag with a photo album, a camera, baby clothes, a hand-foot mold and puzzle books for parents spending many nervous days at the hospital. Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Grantee Story: Refreshing the Alton Park Tennis Courts

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When pharmacist and parent-volunteer Theresa Willis watched kids file out of the school campus in her hometown at Alton-Godfrey, Illinois at the end of the school day, she noticed that many of the young students were obese or overweight. Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Grantee Story: A Network of Breast Cancer Good Samaritans

At the young age of 41, Debbie Cantwell was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had two small children, ages 3 and 4, and a full-time job. While Debbie focused on getting through treatment, her family and friends helped Debbie and her family with everything from cooking meals to picking up kids from school to cleaning the toilet… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

How To: 5 Steps to Stoplight Meditation

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The mental and physical health benefits of meditation are endless. Even taking a few moments to quiet your mind and focus on your breathing can significantly reduce your body’s stress response, keeping your blood pressure low and your immune system strong. There’s evidence that regular meditation can be just as effective as anti-depressants in treating clinical depression… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

How To: Get Abs of Steel for Pennies

Ignore those T.V. commercials- you don’t need a gym membership to get a buns of steel work-out. With a set of dumbbells, a stretch resistant band and some willingness to get moving, you can customize your own work-out routine without having to wipe strangers’ sweat from an exercise bike sweat or getting the eyeball from 30 strangers when you’re struggling with some weird machine… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

How To: 7 Steps to Sweet Slumbering

Sleep deprivation is a huge health issue. Statistically speaking, more car accidents are caused by drowsy people than drunk people. Long-term sleep deprivation can set you up for health risks including diabetes, obesity, heart disease and irregular hormone levels. Yikes. A good night’s sleep is more important than we thought… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Grantee Story: Making Strides Against Alstrom Syndrome

Jan Marshall, a researcher at the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine, has been researching Alstrom Syndrome for the last 20 years. She’s helped families of Alstrom Syndrome patients start Alstrom International, a private foundation supporting patients, families, physicians and researchers interested in curing the disease… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Grantee Story: A Community Gym for Monroe County

For Ferran Kefauver, the director of the Monroe County Health Council, the problem of obesity and physical inactivity in Monroe County, Tennessee is very apparent. Her husband, a P.E. teacher at the local school, sees overweight kids every day unwilling to participate in physical activity and eating candy from the vending machines during lunch… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

How To: Become a Toxic Avenger at Home

In a perfect world, every ingredient listed in every product would be tested for safety, and nothing sold at the store would contain any toxins. Unfortunately, there’s no complete guarantee of product safety, even with a popular brand sold at a chain mall. Pesticides still linger on fruits and vegetables. Non-stick cookware still emits dangerous fumes when heated. No regulatory agency exists for personal care products, which means manufacturers can include toxic synthetic chemicals with impunity. Toxin avoidance requires personal vigilance… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

LOOK: Therapists with Tails

Health generally means a good diet, regular exercise, and access to medical care, right? The organizers of Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) believe that companion animals are equally important for folks isolated by chronic illness, disease, or disability… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

LOOK: A Sick Bay to Save the Day

Suppose you’re a busy working parent. Your school-age child wakes up with a high fever, and she’s too young to stay at home alone. You have no family members or close neighbors who can take care of your child, and you can’t afford to take time off from work for fear of losing your job in this recession… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

How To: 4 Tips To Avoiding Cyberchondria

Are you a cyberchondriac?

Cyberchondria, anointed the word of the year in 2008 by Webster’s New World Dictionary, is a condition that wouldn’t have existed a decade ago. It’s a term to describe an escalation of concern over symptoms based on online search results. With more and more of us attempting self-diagnoses through the world wide web, healthcare practitioners see plenty of patients interpreting minor symptoms as a sign of something dire…
Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Grantee Story: Taking Suicide Prevention on the College Tour

1100 is a hard number to imagine. Imagine 1100 school backpacks of all colors and sizes lined up in a grassy field. Imagine each of those backpacks represents a college student who committed suicide in the last year… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

How To: Start a Local Yoga Craze

Once a trend limited to big cities, yoga has become more mainstream and accessible than ever. The health benefits are endless: improved flexibility, increased strength, better posture, lower blood pressure, decreased stress and an overall better sense of well-being. Unlike other exercise activities that may require gym or sports equipment, all you need is your own yoga mat to get into the practice…. Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Grantee Story: Bulk Banking Diapers in Detroit

Diapers are an undeniable necessity– for parents raising infant children, and for senior citizens too. For underserved people on food stamps or WIC, though, no state or federal assistance exists for this basic daily need and for seniors living only on Social Security, Medicare doesn’t cover diapers. The diaper problem is an ever present financial burden for non-profits… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

How To: End Childhood Obesity, One Household At A Time

One in three children in America are overweight or obese. Not surprising, considering that two of three adults are already in that category. An unhealthy weight can be the harbinger of long-term health problems, such as cardiovascular disease, bone and joint problems, and sleep apnea– not to mention associated social and psychological problems… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

How To: De- Stress Your Work Place in 9 Steps

You don’t need to be a medical student to know that stress wreaks havoc on your body. Stress can cause headaches, stomach pain, inflammatory bowel disease, sleep problems, back pain and make you more susceptible to sickness. Long-term stress can cause hypertension and make you more predisposed to stroke or heart attacks.

Not surprisingly, work is one of the most common reasons why people are stressed in this country. Think of the times you’ve been insanely busy with work: you were probably sleeping less, eating poorly and feeling completely under the weather… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Q&A: Fundraising Gone Viral

At GiveForward.Org, you can set up a fundraising page for any type of project: starting a new non-profit, raising money for a volunteer travel trip, or for a friend or loved one’s medical expenses.

Ethan Austin and Desiree Vargas, co-founders of GiveForward.Org, launched the website in August 2008. One and a half years later, they’ve found nearly 95% of the fundraising pages on GiveForward.Org are for loved ones’ medical expenses. “Most people are raising money for their friends with cancer,” says Austin. “But we’ve also seen people raise money for organ transplants, multiple sclerosis treatment, and even… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Grantee Story: Belleville Farmers Market

Rick Delashmit is doing extraordinary things for his community.

As one of the first winners of a Pepsi Refresh Everything grant, Rick’s intent is to get children to try fresh fruits and vegetables through the Taste Buds program. With obesity and preventative health on America’s mind, Rick’s local and fun approach to health education is bound to have long-term impact. “It’s a way to have a direct impact on the nutrition of our youth,” he says… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Q&A: What’s So Funny About Intensive Care?

Want better health? Build some belly laughs into your daily routine.

Hob Osterlund is a Pain and Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist who witnessed first-hand in her patients how entertainment can lift their spirits, reduce anxiety and give them courage to face their treatment. This inspired her to create and host the Chuckle Channel–a closed-circuit television comedy channel made specifically to play in hospitals and healthcare settings 24 hours a day for anyone in a hospital who needs a little rib tickling… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Ideas For Good Nutrition and Healthy Eating

Every time we sit down to eat or grab a snack, we are making a choice about what goes into our body. What if we inspired more people to take more conscious responsibility for making healthier choices? By empowering individuals with a sense of self-responsibility for their diet, we have the power to build healthier and happier communities.

Over in Solon, Iowa, a Solon Community School District Nurse wants to use the 5K grant to set up a snack stand at her school, which would serve fruits, vegetables and whole grain snack options to the student body. Students would also be in charge of running the stand, which will teach them the basics of operating… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Ideas For Improving Health Through Online Communities

The internet opens up many exciting possibilities for improving health. Fellow cancer patients can find each other through online communities to seek support and common knowledge. In every big city, you can probably find a local meet-up group online to run, jog, bike and do yoga with your fellow neighbors. The digital age creates infinite opportunities for dialogue, collaboration and inspiration for all of us to live a longer and more active life.

In Loma Linda, CA, Lucrecia wants to use the 5K grant to open an earth-friendly online fashion boutique, with 25% of proceeds going to brain cancer research and 5% of proceeds to support educating children and parents about good nutrition… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Q&A: Swelling the Ranks of Minority Marrow Donors

Thousands of patients with leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening diseases are in dire need of a matching bone marrow donor. The need is even more urgent for Asians. Consider the statistics: the national Be The Match Registry has over 8,000,000 donors, but only 25% are minorities. Of those 25%, only 550,000 are Asian Americans. Racial and ethnic heritage are extremely important factors in finding a donor match, and a lack of minority donors means minority patients have a far slimmer chance of a life-saving transplant.

This is where Asians For Miracle Marrow Matches (A3M) comes in. Founded in 1991 and now located in Little Tokyo in Downtown Los Angeles, A3M began as a grassroots movement to help… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Events: Health

Get ready to do some push-ups for good. In San Rafael, CA, participants can do push-ups for Charity Marin at the 5 Star Fitness from 10AM to 11AM on Saturday March 20, with all proceeds going to the Wounded Warrior Project. The Wounded Warrior Project raises awareness and public aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women.

Over in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Department of Parks & Recreation, Wiliam S. Hart Park and Celestial Vision Productions presents the Spring Into Health and Wellness Festival on Sunday, March 21… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

How To: Organize a 5K Charity Run

When you organize a charity run or walk-a-thon, you accomplish so much for the health of the community. For starters, you get a large group of people exercising. Who knows, your event just might be the starting point for some lifelong couch potatoes to take better care of their health!

You’d aslo bring much-needed awareness for a health charity or cause that affects many people. Whether you are raising funds for breast cancer research, a cystic fibrosis support group or AIDS awareness, the money from the event will improve… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Ideas For Substance Addiction Awareness and Recovery

Many of us have at least one family member, close friend or neighbor who is struggling with drug addiction, substance abuse or alcoholism. Solving this problem requires a multi-pronged effort with many community strategies going on at once. We need more education and awareness efforts among young elementary school children. We need to give high school students access to drug-free programs and environments. We need more recovery programs for individuals who want to quit.

The Woodson YMCA, in collaboration with the Wausau area police departments in Wiscounsin, want to continue to educate and engage in local youth through the D.A.R.E. program they complete in the 5th grade… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

How To: 5 Steps to Organizing A Blood Drive

Have you given blood before? It’s quick and it saves lives. Donated blood is used for all sorts of treatments, from anemia to leukemia. How about taking things a step further by organizing a local blood drive at your next community event? If you get at least 10 people to donate blood, you are already saving up to 30 lives. Plus, it’s a great way to raise health awareness in your local community. The local American Red Cross is more than happy to provide support and equipment to get your first blood drive up and running… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

News Round Up: Health

Is there a racial gap in stroke incidents in the United States? A new study shows that African-Americans are more likely to die from stroke than whites. African-Americans are less likely to have regular follow-up exams for management of risk factors, and also have higher risk for diabetes and high blood pressure, which increases chances for a stroke. Further studying of the racial gap can bring insight into what strategies are needed for reaching subgroups with high risk for diseases and illnesses… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Health Ideas For Building Community Spaces

For those of you who grew up with a neighborhood park with good playground equipment, you are lucky. Gang-ravaged neighborhoods or lack of community resources prevents so many people in this country from enjoying a good stroll in the park or a chance to rollerblade on the weekends. By providing more public spaces for physical activity in more communities, we are not only improving the health of the individuals, but also improving the health of the community as a whole.

East Marshall Community Foundation from Iowa wants to create an all-weather fitness track to “inspire and empower individuals to make the right decisions when it comes to their health.” East Marshall is a collection of small rural communities with no major downtown or grocery story, and the project hopes the fitness track will bring the communities together… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

News Roundup: Health

Less reason to feel guilty when you want to take a cat nap during work: a new study suggests that a restful nap during the mid-day can help you perform better in the afternoon, as naps can help clear the brain’s memory storage to make room for new information, tasks and skills… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Refresh Ideas to Get People Running

Of all the ways to get your daily amount of physical exercise, running is the one of the most effective. Requiring only a decent pair of running shoes, running can be done anywhere at any time of the day. In addition to a number of health benefits ranging from better heart health to optimal weight maintenance, running can also boost your confidence and keep your mental energy high. Imagine how much healthier and happier our communities would be if more people– especially young people– got inspired to get up and start running on a regular basis.

Alan Oates’ mission is simple: using the 5K prize, he wants to help pay for runners who do not have the financial means to pay for the marathon registration fee. Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Events: Health

Who doesn’t want to party while exercising? Combine exercise and night life at a Night Club Cardio session in Los Angeles on Wednesdays from 6:30 – 7:30 PM. Taking place in a nightclub setting on Hollywood Blvd., Nightclub Cardio is a true cardio workout… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Q&A: Treating the Whole Patient

As a doctor, Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz’s intent is to approach each patient in a holistic and personal manner. A certified OB-GYN practicing in Los Angeles, Dr. Gilberg-Lenz specializes in holistic pregnancy care, and recently received her certification in Ayurveda (a traditional Indian system of medicine). She hopes to educate patients, fellow doctors and the larger health community on the benefits of holistic patient care and integrative medicine… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

SPOTLIGHT: Healthier Kids For a Healthier Community

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In order to raise a healthy community, we need to make sure our kids are eating healthy, exercising regularly and having fun! Check out these Refresh Project contest submissions that are aiming to improve our nation’s physical and mental health, one kid at a time:

Ready, set, go! Brandy Woodall, a certified personal trainer, triathlete, Ironman and mother of two children wants to get the children in her community off the couch and towards the finish line. She wants to use the 5K grant and her fitness expertise to create a sustainable running program that will teach children basic nutrition… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

News Round Up: Health

Last week, word was out that aspirin may help decrease breast cancer death. Now the latest research suggests ibuprofen may help reduce risk of Parkinson’s disease. Beyond the drugstore, dolphins may help us find new ways to cure diseases. A new scientific study details how dolphins can turn on and off insulin resistance in their bodies depending on their food availability, which essentially means they can go into a diabetic or non-diabetic state according to what they are eating. Studying this physical mechanism may help unlock answers to treating and preventing Type 2 diabetes… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

SPOTLIGHT: Refresh Health Ideas For Empowering Children With Disabilities

The disabilities rights movement has made many important advances, but individuals with disabilities still face a lifetime of limited resources. When we give children with disabilities an opportunity to improve their physical health, we are giving them the recognition that they matter in this world. In Oregon, YMCA PartnerSports Camp wants to use the 5K prize to operate a sports camp in rural Oregon where they will pair significantly disabled youth with able-bodied volunteer youth to learn new sports skills, practice healthy dietary habits and build sustaining friendships… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Happiness Does Your Heart Good

Is happiness that important for your heath? According to a recent observational study, there is a strong relationship between positive emotions and coronary heart disease. Though more rigorous clinical trials need to be made, the results of this new study can potentially change the way physicians and clinicians help their patients to improve their health… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Spotlight: Giving the Underprivileged Better Health Access

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Many of us take for granted our daily access to basic health necessities: medicine, yearly eye exams, band-aids, dental floss. If you have the means to schedule a doctor’s appointment or go to the gym for a regular work-out, then you are luckier than most people.

Fortunately, many passionate individuals and organizations want to help impoverished people with a chance for better health. Check out the three Refresh Project contest submissions that are focused on better access to basic health necessities.

The Detroit Area Diaper Bank want the $5K grant to provide diapers for mothers in need. According to their Refresh Project page… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Q&A: Bringing Western and Alternative Medicine Together

Rachael Wong is the executive director of the Hawaii Consortium for Integrative Health Care, a non-profit organization that works with community partners to advance the practice of healthcare in which both Western medicine and complementary and alternative medicine are equally represented. It is the only organization of its kind in the nation. Diagnosed at the age of 18 with lupus, an auto-immune disorder, Wong has been concerned with medicine for much of her life, and has emerged as an important voice for embracing a more inclusive, integrative healthcare system…. Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Aspirin: Fighting Headaches- And Breast Cancer?

Can aspirin help breast cancer patients survive? A recent study of more than 4,000 nurses showed patients who took aspirin had a 50 percent lower risk of dying from breast cancer and a 50 percent lower risk that cancer would spread further. The study’s authors caution that it is too soon to assume a direct link between aspirin intake and a decrease of breast cancer death… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

SPOTLIGHT: Refresh Ideas For Mental Health And Inner Healing

When we are healing the mind, we are also healing the body. More and more people recognize the correlation between good physical health and good mental health, which is why it’s important to support efforts by individuals and organizations who give struggling individuals a chance for personal happiness and a sense of well-being in mind, body and spirit. Over in New York, the Mandala House wants to use the 5K prize to provide free yoga classes for trauma survivors… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Pregnant? The National Children’s Study Needs Your Help For the Next 21 Years

Are you currently pregnant? A government-sponsored, nationwide children’s study needs your help.

If you sign up for the study, you and your unborn child will make a commitment to participant of the largest, most comprehensive long-term study of the health of children up to 21 years of study. Researchers will be collecting and analyzing your and your child’s toenail clippings, breast milk, blood… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Got Chocolate? Your Heart May Thank You

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Did your sweetie give you a box of chocolates yesterday? New studies imply eating dark chocolate may help decrease risk for stroke, and also decrease the odds of dying from one. In one study, the stroke rate was 22 percent lower in people who ate chocolate once a week, and another study reported that death from stroke was 46 percent lower… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

News Roundup: Health

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It’s always big health news when an well-known person undergoes major surgery. Last week, it was former Democratic President Bill Clinton, who had to undergo an unplanned heart procedure in which doctors fixed a blocked artery by inserting a device called a stent… Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Spotlight: Refresh Health Ideas For Free Medical Care and Check-Ups

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For millions of Americans, a visit to the doctor is a luxury they can’t afford. With unemployment and poverty rates at an all-time high, more and more individuals don’t have access to regular check-ups, annual exams, dental care and other medical services that can detect early warning signs for serious diseases and save lives.

For some people, this is unacceptable–and they want to do something about it right now. The following Refresh Health projects aim to make basic health services available to anybody for free…

Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Shorter Radiation Treatment For Breast Cancer Patients On the Horizon?

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Great news for breast cancer patients: according to a new Canadian study, women who need radiation after breast cancer surgery do just as well with three weeks of treatment compared to the women who do it for five weeks. The two-week difference did not make a substantial difference in 10-year recurrence rates and cosmetic outcomes…

Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

EVENTS: Health

donation.21110 Are you a creative person living in Los Angeles? When you want to take a break from looking for the next paying gig, how about volunteering your creative gifts to inspire children with serious medical conditions? At The Art of Elysium, working actors, artists, DJs, fashion designers, hair stylists, makeup artists, photographers, and all sorts of other creative types can dedicate their time…

Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

This Is Your Brain On A Mediterranean Diet

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Want to keep your brain fit as long as possible? Start regularly eating Mediterranean food. A new study that tracked the long-term dietary habits of 712 adults living in New York found that the group who followed the Mediterranean diet most closely were 36% less likely to have brain damages associated with silent strokes compared to the group whose diet least resembled a Mediterranean diet. Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Three Simple Tips for Healthier Kids

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Worried about your child’s health? According to a recent study that tracked 8,550 4-year-olds in a nation-wide study, three factors can reduce your child’s risk for obesity by up to 40%: eating dinner regularly with family, limiting T.V. time, and adequate sleep. All three factors helped decrease childhood obesity, regardless of the family’s socioeconomic status or whether or not the parents were overweight. Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

News Round Up: Health

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This week’s big health news was the medical journal Lancet’s retraction of the controversial 1998 medical piece by Dr. Andrew Wakefield which linked vaccinations to an increased risk in developing autism. The effects on public opinion towards vaccination were swift: more U.S. parents opted out of getting their children vaccinated, a group that rose from 0.7% in 1997 to 2.1% in 2000. Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Are You Wearing Red Today?

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Where’s your red top? Sport some red today to raise awareness for National Red Wear Day. You can join other women across the nation who are donning a red article of clothing to raise awareness for heart disease, currently the No. 1 killer of adult females. Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Helping New Mothers, One Text at a Time

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Busy expectant mothers and mothers of infants can now take advantage of a new service that texts timely child development information to their cell phones for free. Called Text4Baby, the White House announced this service earlier today. It’s an effort to decrease infant mortality in this country- the United States has one of the highest rates of infant mortality compared to other industrialized nations. Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Recess Before Lunch= Healthier Kids?

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Can switching lunch and recess make a difference when it comes to kids’ health? For many elementary schools, it has. Pilot studies conducted in various U.S. schools show that scheduling recess before lunch in elementary schools has decreased food waste, increased consumption of milk, fruit and vegetables, and decreased visits to the nurse. Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Health News Round Up

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Feel like your memory is getting bad? Don’t forget to take regular mental breaks, especially after you’ve just learned new information. While you’re at it, eat a bowl of blueberries. According to research announced in the last few days, both activities are good for protecting and sharpening your memory. Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Should Pregnant Mothers Not Take Antidepressants?

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New studies suggest that antidepressants may delay lactation and cause more breastfeeding difficulties. In one study, mothers who took selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants were twice as likely to have delayed lactation than mothers who did not take any drugs. Delayed lactation is defined as absence of regular milk production within 72 hours of giving birth. As delayed lactation is a problem in the United States with no definitive cause, this study may bring more concrete evidence for how delayed lactation occurs. Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Hope For Kids With Cancer

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We are getting closer to better treatments for children with cancer. Two leading medical centers, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, are teaming up to launch the largest effort to date to find every genetic mutation that causes childhood cancer by sequencing all the genes in childhood tumors. Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Why is Teen Pregnancy on the Rise?

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Recent data on teen pregnancy rates reveal the decade-long decline of teen pregnancy has ended. According to a report released by the Guttmacher Institute, a think tank that advocates for sexual and reproductive health worldwide, teen pregnancy rates increased by 3 percent in 2006, as 750,000 women between the ages of 15 and 19 got pregnant. This is the first jump in pregnancy rate since 1990. Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

LOOK: Connecting Breast Cancer Patients Globally

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Vicki Tashman was a 44-year-old mother of two when she received her breast cancer diagnosis over the phone. Soon thereafter she began chemotherapy sessions to treat invasive Stage 1 cancer. In the weeks that followed, Tashman pursued all the suggestions of her doctors: she kept a regular journal, attended survivor support groups, interviewed several physicians for medical recommendations, and turned toward a close network of family and friends. In spite of these efforts, though, Tashman still felt that something was missing: the ability to personally connect with someone who knew exactly what she was going through.

“I took advantage of different support groups when I was going through my treatment,” Tashamn says. “But there was really no one there that was my age, with my type of cancer and treatment.” Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

No Fries With That, Please

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Sometimes it’s the one simple change that has the power to initiate healthier eating habits. A recent study shows that parents order 20% less calories for their kids when they are ordering from a menu displaying calorie count for each item, compared to a control group of parents who ordered from a regular menu that contained no nutritional information at all. Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

It’s Never Too Late to Quit Smoking

nosmoking.12510 If you are a smoker, one of your 2010 new year’s resolution may be to quit smoking. Here’s more compelling evidence that it is never too late to quit smoking: even for patients who are already diagnosed with lung cancer, patients who quit smoking live twice as long as patients who continue to smoke after their diagnosis. Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Health News Roundup

Salt reduction seems to be on everyone’s mind this year. Two weeks ago, the New York City Health Department released a national initiative to reduce salt usage by partnering with cities, states and national health organizations in a concentrated effort to decrease salt consumption by 25 percent in the next five years. A recent Reuters article offered a dramatic statistic: “Shaving 3 grams off the daily salt intake of Americans could prevent up to 66,000 strokes, 99,000 heart attacks and 92,000 deaths in the United States, while saving $24 billion in health costs per year, researchers reported on Wednesday.” Consider this the next time you reach for the salt shaker! Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Catching Deadly Medical Mistakes

When we go to the hospital to receive a treatment, many of us don’t even consider the possibility that the doctor might make a mistake while treating our problems. Contrary to what we may believe, medical mistakes–which can run from administering the wrong dosage, wrong drug, wrong concentration to using the wrong treatment for a specific problem–occur on a regular basis, with an average of one patient dying a day from a result of human error, and approximately 1.3 million Americans injured annually from medical mistakes. Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

The 7 Rules For Perfect Heart Health

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As part of a new strategy to decrease heart-related illness among Americans, the American Heart Association released a list of seven key elements for perfect heart health. The list emphasizes living a preventive, proactive lifestyle, rather than simply offering a checklist of risk factors to avoid. The seven lifestyle choices for ideal heart health are: Read & Discuss

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Fish Oil Slows Down Cellular Aging Among Heart Patients

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New studies show omega-3 fish oil helps slow down cellular aging, and may be especially beneficial for patients who have just suffered a heart attack. Up until recently, it has not been exactly clear why fish oil helps reduce risk of additional heart attacks or death from coronary heart disease for patients who have suffered a heart attack. Now we know that increasing the level of omega-3 fatty acid in the blood slows down the change in the length of telomeres–the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes that carry DNA. As fraying or shortening telomeres increases the likelihood of cancer and premature aging, slowing down the change in telomere length means cellular aging is slowed down as well.

Photo: Flickr / telemetry9

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Medical Response in Haiti

As news reports come in from Haiti, the devastation from the Jan 12 earthquake is beyond comprehension. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, with over 80% of its citizens living in poverty. Bodies are lining the streets, and people who need medical care are having difficulty getting to or getting care at hospitals. A great organization to support at this time of need is Doctors Without Borders which provides medical assistance to those most in need and threatened by violence, neglect or catastrophe.

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

A Welcome Message From The Health Ambassador

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Hey there, everyone. My name is Mallika Chopra, and I am thrilled to be the Health Ambassador for the Pepsi Refresh Project. We will be looking at all aspects of health and wellness over the next year – from current events to the everyday tips to living a healthier and more balanced life. We will also be featuring some amazing people, scientists and practioners and the work they are doing to prevent disease, take care of those who are ill, create the next frontier of wellness. Most importantly though, we are so excited to hear your ideas to help our communities and planet. So get acquainted with the program here, spread the word to friends, and lets make your intentions to do good a reality.

Photo: Flickr / tzofia

By: Hannah Simone of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

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