National Aplastic Anemia and MDS Awareness
National Handwashing Awareness
National Aplastic Anemia and MDS Awareness: Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation, Inc.
The Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation (AA&MDSIF) is an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to support patients, families, and caregivers coping with Aplastic Anemia (AA), Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS), Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH), and related bone marrow failure diseases.
Aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) can strike any person of any age, of any gender or any race, in any neighborhood, anywhere in the world. These life-threatening noncontagious diseases affect thousands of men, women, and children every year.
In most cases, the cause of the disease is unknown. Bone marrow disease has been linked to environmental factors to which we are all commonly exposed. Researchers suspect that undefined genetic factors make some individuals more susceptible to bone marrow disease than others.
If you or a family member has been diagnosed with a bone marrow disease, there are many resources available. Your doctor can provide you with detailed information and there are organizations designed to help you understand the condition.
BlueCross BlueShield of Texas offers Case and Disease Management programs where you could speak with a nurse about managing the disease and use the Personal Health Manager tool to research the disease and any treatments suggested by your provider. For more information regarding these programs, please visit Blue Care Connection or call (800) 462-3275.
National Handwashing Awareness: Henry the Hand Foundation
Want to stay healthy for the holidays?
Following the 4 Principles of Hand Awareness you will be in virtual isolation regardless of the people around you. Direct contamination of your mucus membranes (eyes, nose or mouth) is how infectious disease enters your body. It is not wafting through the ventilation system in the building. Let's work together to minimize the fear factor of infectious disease pandemics or seasonal illness. Only you are responsible for giving yourself the flu or flu-like illness!
4 Principles of Hand Awareness:
- Wash your hands when they are dirty and before eating.
- Do not cough into your hands.
- Do not sneeze into your hands.
- Above all, do not put your fingers into your eyes, nose or mouth!
