Need ideas for your upcoming employee newsletters? Check out our list of key November dates & events, with links to helpful resources. Be sure to remind staff about EAP availability as a free, confidential source of help!
American Diabetes Month – Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of US death, but most people first have prediabetes. Over a third of US adults have prediabetes but don’t know it. The CDC defines diabetes in simple terms as “a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy.” There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2 and gestational – learn more about these 3 types of diabetes.
- People with diabetes have a higher risk of stroke, high blood pressure, hearing loss, vision loss, kidney damage than people without diabetes.
- Two of three people with diabetes report having high blood pressure or take prescription medications to lower their blood pressure.
- People with diabetes are twice as likely to experience hearing loss.
- Diabetes is the leading cause of vision loss in people 18–64 years old.
- Nerve damage from diabetes is called diabetic neuropathy, affecting about half of all people with diabetes.
- Having diabetes can lead to kidney damage which can lead to kidney failure and disease.
Take a 60-second Type 2 diabetes test and learn more about your risk of prediabetes and steps for prevention, .
Lung Cancer Awareness Month – Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death overall and among both men and women. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about 197,000 people in the United States are told they have lung cancer, and about 136,000 people die from this disease each year, Nearly 9 in 10 lung cancers are caused by smoking cigarettes – but tobacco use can cause cancer almost anywhere in your body. People who currently smoke or smoked in the last 15 years, may be eligible for a new low-dose CT lung cancer screening test. Screening is used to detect lung cancer early, when it is more likely to be curable.
This year, the Lung Cancer Foundation of America has a special focus on veterans and lung cancer risks that they face. Lung cancer is “=one of the most prevalent and deadliest cancers among Veterans. While many of the contributing factors are the same as any population, vets face unique risks due to exposure to hazardous substances, such as asbestos and burn pits during their military service.
For current smokers, the American Lung Cancer Association’s Freedom From Smoking program gives options, resources and support to quit for good. Your EAP also offers one-to-one telephonic coaching for Smoking Cessation.
National Family Caregivers Month – More than 53 million family caregivers provide unpaid care. November is a time to acknowledge and honor families who are often caregiving “around the clock.” The National Council on Aging (NCOA) joins the Caregiver Action Network, The National Alliance for Caregiving, and Share The Care in celebrating family caregivers this November, which first began in 1994. Learn how to support family caregivers taking care of older adults
National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month – Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia, which is a term that describes memory loss symptoms and cognitive decline significant enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s dementia, the most common type of dementia, accounts for 60 to 80 percent of all cases. At the beginning of Alzheimer’s disease, struggles with memory, communication, and planning may be frequent but mild. As the disease progresses, those diagnosed may experience gradual changes in behavior and declines in memory, navigational abilities, and communication.
Other noteworthy October dates:
- National Epilepsy Awareness Month
- National Care at Home Month
- 11/5 – Election Day
- 11/11 – Veteran’s Day
- 11/12 – World Pneumonia Day
- 11/21 – Great American Smokeout
- 11/28 – Thanksgiving
Blog posts you may have missed:
- Keeping a Calm, Cool Workplace in a Heated Election Year
- Flu Vaccines & Respiratory Virus Guidance
- How’s the Psychological Safety in Your Workplace?