National LGBT Health Awareness Week

This year the theme of LGBT Health Awareness Week is Closing the Gap. The LGBT community has, on average, worse health outcomes and less access to the care we need than the straight community. We cannot afford to ignore the gap anymore. We need to educate ourselves and our health care providers about our unique health needs as well as our health risks. We need to commit to closing the gap, because everyone deserves good health!

To help accomplish this, we have provided many resources. You can learn more about specific health issues relevant to the LGBT community, download and print out fact sheets, find events to attend and see ideas of simple ways individuals and organizations can get involved.

More information on how to get involved and download materials here.

H/T to Feministing.

Organization Spotlight: Gay Mens Health Crisis

Gay Mens Health Crisis (GMHC) is the world’s first and leading provider of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and advocacy.

World Cancer Day - LGBT Resources

Today is World Cancer Day and its aim is to create awareness about cancer, and to encourage prevention, detection, and early treatment.

The organizers of WCD maintain that studies show 43% of cancers can be prevented through healthy behaviors:

* Stop tobacco use and avoid exposure to second-hand smoke
* Limit alcohol consumption
* Avoid excessive sun exposure
* Maintain a healthy weight, through eating healthily and exercising regularly
* Protect against cancer-causing infections

LGBT Resources for support, treatment, and prevention:

Information:
ACS Cancer facts for lesbian/bisexual women

Centers for Disease Control LGBT Health

Trans-health


Advocacy & Screening:
National LGBT Cancer Network

Mautner Project (National Lesbian Health Organization)

Gay and Lesbian Medical Association

Lesbian Community Care Project

National LGBT Tobacco Control Network


Support:
OUT With Cancer

Organization Spotlight: Gay and Lesbian Association of Dentists and Doctors (GLADD)

The Gay and Lesbian Association of Dentists and Doctors (GLADD) is available for those in the United Kingdom looking for help/support/advice or to make social contacts with other LGBT dentists and doctors.

World Hepatitis Day - Why the Gay/Bi Community Must Take Action!

Today is World Hepatitis Day and we must be aware of the alarming statistic that one in twelve people have chronic hepatitis. Many of those infected are unaware due to a lack of symptoms, and many others don't know about easy steps to take to protect themselves.

Hepatitis is of major concern to the gay/bisexual community, partners can be infected through anal, vaginal and oral sex, as well as through rimming, fingering, and sharing sex toys.

The hepatitis B virus is spread through direct contact with infected blood as well as most major body fluids, including blood, semen, sweat, tears and breast milk. The hepatitis C virus is spread through direct contact with infected blood. Very rarely it may be passed on through other body fluids.

The most common routes of infection are:

* Blood transfusions and receiving blood products before screening was introduced
* Medical or dental interventions without adequate sterilisation of equipment
* Mother to infant during childbirth
* Sharing equipment for injecting drugs
* Sharing straws, notes etc. for snorting cocaine
* Sharing razors, toothbrushes or other household articles
* Tattooing and body piercing if done using unsterilised equipment

Tips for protection:
Make sure to take precautions by getting vaccinated, using condoms, and dental dams, washing your hands after the bathroom and before you eat, and avoiding sharing sex toys.



It's easy to get tested, and to get vaccinated to prevent the spread of the disease.

Healthcare Equality Index 2009

The annual Healthcare Equality Index has been released by the Human Rights Campaign in conjunction with the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association and shows the healthcare industry lags in addressing the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender patients.

Key findings:

Anti-Discrimination Policies. Less than seven percent of participating facilities protect patients from discrimination based on gender identity, while nearly three-quarters of participants provide these protections based on sexual orientation

Visitation Policies. The HEI survey has identified model visitation policies that are explicitly inclusive of the LGBT community. These model policies will set the standard for credit on these questions in the future.

Advance Healthcare Directives. All HEI-participating facilities have compliance policies requiring the honoring of legally-valid advance healthcare directives. Unfortunately, LGBT individuals come forward with tragic stories of hospitals failing to recognize these directives, reflecting a disconnect between the existence of written policies and the actual implementation of these policies on the part of all personnel. Future HEI surveys will focus on staff training related to advance healthcare directives as a means to eliminating this disconnect.

Cultural Competency Training. Seventy-two percent of participating facilities provide cultural competency training addressing sexual orientation and healthcare issues relevant to lesbian, gay and bisexual community. Seventy-one percent of participating facilities provide cultural competency training addressing gender identity and healthcare issues relevant to transgender community.

Employment Non-Discrimination Policies. Ninety-eight percent of the participating facilities bar employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, while only 63 percent of those policies include “gender identity or expression” or “gender identity.”

The full report can be viewed here.

Swine Flu and The HIV Positive Community

The threat of a swine flu epidemic in the United States has many people living with HIV concerned about their health and safety. POZ and AIDSmeds check in with WHO and the CDC for the latest. In short: While there are reasons to be cautious, there’s no reason to panic.

What is swine flu?

Swine flu is a respiratory disease common among pigs. Though people are not usually susceptible to swine flu, animal-to-human transmission has been documented, notably among farmers working closely with pigs. What’s unique about the particular strain now under surveillance—dubbed swine influenza type A/H1N1—is its ability to spread from person to person.

A possible reason for this is the fact that pigs can be infected with not only swine influenza, but also flu viruses that affect humans and birds. The genetic material from multiple influenza viruses can then mix. Swine influenza typeA/H1N1, for example, contains genes from two strains of swine flu, one strain of bird flu and one strain of human influenza.

Is swine flu deadly?

All types of influenza that cause disease in humans can be deadly—approximately 200,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 people die from flu-related complications every year in the United States.

There is no reason to believe that the swine flu being reported is any more deadly than the regular seasonal flu. Of the 40 confirmed cases of swine flu in humans in the United States as of April 27, none have resulted in death. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all cases reported in the United States thus far were associated with mild symptoms of illness, with only one patient requiring brief hospital care.

Is swine flu a threat to people living with HIV?

People living with HIV—as well as those with other chronic conditions, such as heart disease, asthma and diabetes—are believed to face an increased risk of serious influenza-related symptoms. According to the CDC, there is often a spike in the number of heart- and lung-related hospitalizations among people living with HIV during the winter influenza season as opposed to other times of the year. Studies also indicate that influenza symptoms might be prolonged and the risks of influenza-related complications—including death—are higher for certain HIV-positive people.

It is not clear that this strain of swine flu poses any more or less of a risk to people living with HIV. One theory: Given that, at least in Mexico, swine flu mimics what was seen during the 1918 influenza pandemic—it appears most serious among people between 18 and 35 years of age; those with healthy immune systems that become hyperactive in response to the virus and causes serious respiratory inflammation and disease—and may be less of a threat to those with compromised immune systems, such as people living with HIV. Unfortunately, it is not clear if this theory will hold up, given that many HIV-positive people are responding well to antiretroviral treatment, compounded by the possibility that a hyperactive immune response to HIV, not the virus itself, is responsible for HIV disease progression and a heightened risk of non-AIDS related health problems.

To help prevent seasonal flu, an annual vaccine is recommended for people with HIV to lower the risk of infection or serious disease if infection does occur. Unfortunately, a vaccine has not yet been developed against swine influenza A/H1N1. But people living with HIV can take steps to prevent infection.

How can I protect myself?

The CDC and other public health experts list fairly simple ways to prevent the spread of swine influenza A/H1N1. These include:

* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
* Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
* Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
* Very little is known about the benefits of wearing face masks to help control the spread of flu. Whenever possible, instead of relying on face masks, try avoiding close contact and crowded conditions—particularly if swine flu reaches pandemic status.
* No evidence shows that swine flu can be transmitted through food. Eating properly handled pork—cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees—is safe.
* If you come down with influenza-like symptoms, contact your doctor’s office immediately and stay home from work or school.

It is possible to rapidly develop a vaccine—if it’s needed. “We’ve identified the virus,” Richard Besser, MD, acting director of the CDC said during a White House press briefing on Sunday. “Should we decide to manufacture a vaccine, we can work toward that goal very quickly.” Though it would likely take at least four months to develop and mass produce a vaccine against H1N1, it could be available in time for a possible second wave of swine flu this coming winter.

Crossposted via Mike Tidmus.

Organization Spotlight: Gay Lesbian Medical Association

GLMA's mission is to ensure equality in health care for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and health care providers.