As we reflect on the close of another year we cannot help but be affected by the many generous expressions of sharing and goodwill that have been shown to the Greater New Bedford Community Health Center and its patients. It has been an extraordinary time in which we saw 26 years of dreaming and planning for an expanded downtown campus fulfilled. It would not have been possible without the support of public and private funding and individual donations - it would not have been possible without you.

This is the time for not only looking back but to looking ahead to the dreams and plans as yet unfulfilled. There are always those in our community who face an insecure future regarding their health. This means we must remain committed to building and developing our health care services to the community. We turn to you to help us make sure that those who need help, get help. I urge you to share with the least fortunate and most vulnerable members of our community in a tangible way with a generous donation during this holiday season.

We wish each and every one of you a holiday filled with happiness, good cheer, and, above all, peace. May you enjoy a prosperous, healthy and happy New Year.

Sincerely on behalf of the health center family,
Peter Georgeopoulos
Acting President &
CEO/CFO

According to the American Heart Association, there’s lots of room for improvement when it comes to physical activity and students.  Data from 2005 showed that only 43.8 percent of males and 27.8 percent of females in grades 9-12 met the recommended levels of physical activity.

That same year, more than 21 percent of high school students reportedly played video games or used a computer for something other than schoolwork for three or more hours per day.

And more than 37 percent of all students watched television three or more hours on an average school day.

We at The Health Gazette recognze that health is unavoidably political. It affects people, it costs individuals and governments (public funds) a lot of money -- how could it not be political?

So we were interested to read a statement by Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas), Republican Presidential candidate for 2008, under the title "Health Freedom". Here it is:

Americans are justifiably concerned over the government’s escalating intervention into their freedom to choose what they eat and how they take care of their health.

The December Ezine Edition of The Health Gazette will be publised on time, December 1st, 2007. This edition will be distributed by email from the far south coast of New South Wales, Australia, where the editor will interrupt his beach holiday just to ensure this last edition for the year reaches subscribers on time. The archived edition will be available around mid December.

The featured article in the December edition is titled: Varicose Veins: Prevention and Treatment. This commonly experienced but little discussed condition does not have to be suffered until it becomes bad enough for surgical intervention. Contrary to popular opinion some treatment is available and it does not involve the use of dangerous drugs. Many people will be interested to read the steps to prevention.

Taking Care Of The Knee As You Age

Knee pain is the most common reason for visiting an orthopedic surgeon in America.  According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2003 there were 19.4 million visits made to physician’s offices because of knee problems (from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons web site).

The knee is the largest joint in the human body and can be injured easily, and as people age they may want or need to reduce stress on their knees.  Here are a few recommendations from the About Joints web site:

• Try to limit the number of trips you make up and down stairs.
• Remember to take a break.  While you carry out your daily activities, sit down and take a rest whenever you feel like you need one.
• Avoid heavy housekeeping duties when possible, such as scouring the tub and scrubbing floors, for example.
• Avoid long periods of standing while you are cooking, washing dishes, etc.  If possible, sit down while you take care of these chores.
• Avoid carry and lifting heavy objects.
• Keep as many things as possible in a convenient location, so that you will not be required to bend and stretch in awkward ways as much.