Advocating for the  

Rheumatology Community 

On Tuesday, Sept. 20, the American College of Rheumatology will host its annual Capitol Hill fly-in - Advocates for Arthritis. The fly-in will bring together rheumatology professionals and patients to advocate on behalf of the rheumatology community. Participants have the opportunity to meet with their lawmakers and discuss current issues affecting the rheumatology community - including sharing what it is like to have a rheumatic disease.

Virtual Participants Needed! 

You can join the ACR's efforts by sharing your personal story through the ACR's Virtual Hill Day. This is your opportunity to ensure lawmakers understand scleroderma and support the efforts of organizations that work to help those affected by this disease.

Please consider participating in the Virtual Hill Day on Sept. 20 as the ACR works to ensure your story makes it to Capitol Hill!

ACR PR Campaign

This year's fly-in will also serve as the official launch of the ACR's new public awareness campaign - Simple Tasks. The goal of this campaign is to educate legislators, administration officials, advocacy leaders, and physician groups about the value of rheumatology - starting with helping them understand the severity of diseases such as scleroderma. The campaign website (www.simpletasks.org) will launch on Sept. 19.  

It's Not Too Late! African-American Patient Education Day

It's not too late to register for the African-American Scleroderma Patient Education Day next weekend in Baltimore.

Join the Scleroderma Foundation, along with Virginia Steen, M.D., from Georgetown University Medical Center, and Laura K. Hummers, M.D., from Johns Hopkins University Medical Center, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, at the Tremont Plaza Hotel.

The Risk of Getting Shingles 

Almost 1 out of every 3 people in the United States will develop shingles, also known as zoster or herpes zoster. There are an estimated 1 million cases each year in this country. Anyone who has recovered from chickenpox may develop shingles; even children can get shingles. However the risk of disease increases as a person gets older.  

People with medical conditions that keep their immune systems from working properly, such as certain cancers, including leukemia and lymphoma, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and people who receive immunosuppressive drugs, such as steroids and drugs given after organ transplantation are also at greater risk of getting shingles.   

Find out more about shingles - from symptoms to complications - from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). 

A Visual Guide to Understanding Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)  

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), also known as "spastic colon," is a common disorder. While most people experience digestive troubles once in a while, what sets IBS apart is belly pain and diarrhea or constipation that comes back again and again. IBS affects 10 to 15 percent of people in North America.

Learn more about IBS in a slideshow from WebMD. 

Setting Limits is Key for Caregivers 

Realizing the added pressure of being a full-time caregiver is not the only challenged faced by many. In many cases, it is the stress of caring for a loved one, all while maintaining a job and supporting a family. It is at this moment where setting limits and making choices becomes most important. The key step is learning how to say "no," yet maintaining a strong bond with your care recipient.

Read how caregivers can prevent "burnout" in this article from "Today's Caregiver."