May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month and now is the perfect time to help educate your family and friends about these conditions and how to best manage them. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that more people have asthma now than ever before – about 1 in 13 individuals. Allergic conditions are one of the most common health issues for all, with 50 million people experiencing various types of allergies each year. Nearly half (45%) of HealthStreet members younger than 65 years of age report allergies; approximately the proportion of people (50%) of members older than 65 report allergies. Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, and a scratchy throat, with severe cases causing rashes, hives, low blood pressure, and trouble breathing.
Although neither asthma nor allergies has a cure, you can track symptoms and identify your triggers and allergens, avoid allergens, create an allergic asthma reaction plan, and carry necessary medication. HealthStreet links members to research studies on asthma: see below if interested.
If you missed the recent Our Community, Our Health (OCOH) Town Hall event on emergency asthma care, view our recorded webinar on HealthStreet’s YouTube channel.
Community Health Worker Updates
CHWs provide outreach around the city throughout the week, offering FREE health resources like Deterra™ Deactivation Bags and NARCAN® Nasal Spray kits. CHWs can also let you know which research studies you may be eligible for and can help you sign up to become a HealthStreet member.
If you can’t meet with our CHWs while they are on outreach, always feel free to stop by HealthStreet at 2401 SW Archer Rd, Gainesville, FL 32608. Our hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 10am to 4pm. We offer a clothing and toiletry closet and we can provide you with health-related resources, referrals, and more!
Events Calendar
Every month, HealthStreet hosts a variety of services, Community Health Worker outreach efforts, classes, support groups, and events! Check out our May calendar.
Essentials in COVID-19 Testing, Treatments and Prevention for Your Patients and Community
HealthStreet News
Impact of HealthStreet’s Community Engagement During the Pandemic
From April 2020 to March 2021, HealthStreet CHWs and staff have worked remotely and in-person to provide tailored services and referrals to community members. Our infographic highlights some of our success. HealthStreet CHWs continue to engage with our community and develop new partnerships to further reduce health disparities and gaps; they also link community members to opportunities to participate in research.
Interested in participating in research?
Here are a few studies that you can participate in now:
+The VITAL Study is testing the effectiveness of the WW (formerly Weight Watchers) program in blood sugar control. Eligible participants must have a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, be 18-70 years of age, and have a BMI between 27-50. Calculate your BMI.
+The Sentence Comprehension after Concussion Study is examining how sentence comprehension and cognition is effected after having a concussion. Eligible participants must be 18-35 years of age who have had a head injury or concussion within the past year.
+The Wrist-worn Alcohol Monitor Study is testing a newly developed wrist-worn alcohol monitor to see how accurate and reliable it is. Eligible participants must be either 21-64 years of age and HIV+ or 30-50 years of age and HIV-.
+The PREVENTABLE Study is testing if atorvastatin can help older adults prevent dementia, disability, and heart disease. Eligible participants must be 75 years of age or older without dementia, diabetes, or heart disease.
+The Skin Health in Women Study is determining whether cranberry juice improves skin health in women. Eligible participants must be 45-65 years of age, female, white, at least 110 pounds, and have a BMI of 18.5-29.9.
If you are interested in hearing about these or other studies, contact our Study Navigator, Sara, at 352-294-4873.
Do you or someone you know have cancer? We’d love to talk about opportunities to participate in research. Please share this link to become a member and learn about cancer screenings.
Visit UF Health COVID-19 Vaccination page to find a vaccination location near you. 
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