National Women's Blood Pressure Awareness Week

The HHS Office on Women’s Health (OWH) will host National Women’s Blood Pressure Awareness Week (NWBPAW), October 11 - 17, 2020. The weeklong observance emphasizes the importance of blood pressure control and monitoring. NWBPAW empowers women to take control of their health by sharing everyday actions they can take to improve their heart health. #NWBPAW

Daily Themes

Sunday: Heart Disease in Women

Monday: High Blood Pressure in Women

Tuesday: Understanding and Controlling Hypertension

Wednesday: Monitor Your Blood Pressure Daily

Thursday: Develop Healthy Heart Habits to Lower Blood Pressure

Friday: Community Resources & Success Stories

Saturday: Sharing What Works: Personal Stories

Ways organizations can support National Women’s Blood Pressure Awareness week in 2020:

Promote the health observance on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn)
Include our messages in your e-newsletter, blog, etc.
Share key information with members/customers/clients encouraging them to promote the observance through their own channels
Promote National Women’s Blood Pressure Awareness week on your website

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National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is also National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and OMH joins federal and non-federal partners in encouraging women to talk with their primary care providers about getting screened for breast cancer.

According to the CDC, African American and white women get breast cancer at about the same rate, but African American women die from breast cancer at a higher rate than white women. Regular screening is important in the early detection of breast cancer and the HHS Office on Women’s Health has resources to help us understand the importance of mammograms, clinical breast examinations and breast self-exams.

OMH encourages regular screenings and check-ups with primary care medical personnel. An early diagnosis can help lead to successful treatments. For more information about breast cancer, treatment options available, clinical trials and research, please visit the National Cancer Institute’s breast cancer webpage.

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Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. One in three women in the U.S. has been a victim of domestic violence, regardless of age, economic status, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.

Know the possible signs of abuse. If you know a friend or loved one who is being abused, there are ways you can help.

Visit womenshealth.gov and girlshealth.gov for more information on domestic violence and how to help a friend who is being abused.

If you or someone you know are in a crisis or need immediate help, dial 911 or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-SAFE (7233) or TTY (800) 787−3224

Sleeve Up to Fight Flu

This season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is encouraging everyone to roll their sleeve up for the annual influenza vaccine. By continuing to wear a mask, washing hands often, and getting a flu vaccine we can help stop the spread of flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 this fall and winter season. Additionally, HHS is asking everyone to get vaccinated against the flu by this Halloween and say Boo to the Flu!

According to the CDC:

Everyone aged 6 months and older needs a flu vaccine.
The flu can cause serious complications such as pneumonia.
Getting a flu vaccine lowers your chances of being hospitalized from the flu.
Getting a flu vaccine can help save medical resources this fall and winter.

Join the CDC in raising awareness about the importance of getting vaccinated by using the hashtag #SleeveUp to #FightFlu on social media and by sharing resources and graphics.

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Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative during COVID-19

The Latino Commission on AIDS will host a webinar entitled “Advancing the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative during COVID-19” on Wednesday, October 14th at 2:00 p.m. (ET). Guest speaker Harold Phillips, Chief Operating Officer of the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America (EHE) initiative, will talk about EHE’s goals and how to achieve them while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic.

Register here today to tune in to this important conversation.

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National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day - October 15

Every year on October 15, National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day is observed to address the impact of HIV and AIDS in the Latino community in the United States. Visit our Minority Population Profiles to learn how HIV/AIDS is impacting the Hispanic/Latino community.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

In 2017, Hispanics/Latinos accounted for 26 percent of the new HIV diagnoses in the U.S. and dependent areas.
One in 6 Hispanic/Latinos with HIV are unaware they have it.
Hispanic/Latinos have higher rates of some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) than some other races/ethnicities.
Poverty, migration patterns, lower educational level, and language barriers may make it harder for some Hispanics/Latinos to get HIV testing and care.

Help spread awareness and visit HIV.gov's website for resources, graphics, tools and more.

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Community Engagement Alliance Against COVID-19 Disparities (CEAL)

The HHS National Institutes of Health (NIH) Community Engagement Alliance Against COVID-19 Disparities (CEAL) offers guidance and resources to community leaders so they can connect Hispanic/Latino and other minority communities with important, accurate information on public health, COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials and the importance of being included in research studies. For more information about volunteering for a COVID-19 study, please visit the COVID-19 Prevention Network.

COVID-19 Resources

COVID-19 could elevate the risk of heart attacks in women, and cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death among Hispanics/Latinas. For information on heart disease among women, please visit the American Heart Association Facts About Heart Disease in Women and Datos sobre las cardiopatías en mujeres (Spanish).

Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio has launched Juntos, We Can Stop COVID-19, a digital communication campaign in English and Spanish to help Hispanic/Latino families take action to slow the spread of coronavirus. The campaign features Hispanic/Latino culturally relevant and research based resources, bilingual fact sheets, infographics and video role model stories.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have created Conversations on COVID-19: Impacts on Communities of Color, a series of conversations with experts on a variety of topics related to minority health, health equity and COVID-19.