Health Archive

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National Influenza Vaccination Week is December 4 – 10, 2011

– December 5, 2011Posted in: Health

It is Not Too Late to Vaccinate: Georgia Department of Public Health Encourages Flu Shots                   

ATLANTA – Flu season has been in full swing since August, but it’s never too late to guard yourself against infection.  Dec. 4 is the first day of National Influenza Vaccination Week, and the Georgia Department of Public Health would like to emphasize the continued importance of flu vaccination for all Georgians.

“People of every race, class and environment are equally susceptible to flu infection,” said Steven Mitchell, immunization director for the Georgia Department of Public Health.  “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone six months and older receive a flu shot, and failure to get vaccinated accounts for countless needless infections each year.

According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, communication lapses between patients and doctors are partly to blame.  A recent survey by the CDC concluded that one in five adults believes vaccines are optional for healthy adults.

Operating under this impression, a significant portion of the population will fail to arm itself against the flu this coming season, putting everyone at higher risk for continued infection and transmission of the disease.  CDC survey results show only 40.5 percent of Georgians were vaccinated in 2010-2011.  In this category, Georgia ranks 41 out of the 50 states.

An influenza vaccination is the best way to prevent flu and potentially serious complications.  National Influenza Vaccination Week emphasizes the importance of flu vaccinations and presents an ideal time to improve Georgia’s rankings.  Flu season starts as early as August but can extend as late as May.  The CDC recommends that everyone get to a doctor’s office, pharmacy or health department and invest in good health through vaccination this winter.

The Georgia Department of Public Health encourages all Georgians to protect their friends, family and themselves from vaccine-preventable diseases by getting vaccinated.

 

For more information on immunization, visit http://health.state.ga.us/programs/immunization.

 

Tags: flu shots, Health, immunization
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District combats premature births with education, CenteringPregnancy®

– November 23, 2011Posted in: Health

 

Written by Carolyn Maschke

 

Each year, more than half a million babies in the United States are born too soon, placing them at risk of severe health problems and lifelong disabilities, says Southwest Health District Health Director Dr. Jacqueline Grant.

“Among those most at risk are children born in medically underserved communities such as those of rural African American women and Hispanic farmworkers,” said Grant, who is an OB-GYN. “We see these at-risk populations here in our 14-county health district.”

November is Prematurity Awareness Month. “Southwest Health District wants to raise awareness that premature birth is the No. 1 killer of newborns,” Grant said. “We are using this educational opportunity to let people know that our country’s premature birthrate has risen by 36% over the last 25 years. That’s cause for concern.”

Premature births cost society more than $26 billion a year and take a high toll on families, according to the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“In our health district, one way we are addressing premature births is by offering the CenteringPregnancy® prenatal model of care, which has a proven track record of improving birth outcomes and reducing premature births – especially in underserved minority communities,” Grant said. “We began offering CenteringPregnancy® at the Dougherty County Health Department, and this year we expanded the program to a second site in Colquitt County at the Ellenton Farmworker Program.”

She said CenteringPregnancy® delivers obstetrical care in a group setting, but also allows patients one-on-one time with their healthcare provider. “It empowers women to be proactive with their health and the health of their baby from preconception throughout the birth process and beyond.”

Participants learn about topics such as nutrition and breastfeeding, take their own blood pressure and weight, enjoy healthy snacks and participate in activities designed to prompt discussion. The Centering staff includes a board-certified OB-GYN, nurse-practitioners, certified nurse midwives, nurses and administrative staff.

Additional benefits include access to services such as WIC, pharmacy, perinatal case management (PCM), and postpartum family planning.

For more information, contact the Dougherty program at 229-430-6260 or the Colquitt program at 229-324-2845.

 

Tags: Health, premature births
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Health Department promotes HIV testing

– November 23, 2011Posted in: Health

 

Written by Carolyn Maschke

 

Five of Southwest Health District’s 14 counties are among the top 20 in the state with disproportionately high rates of HIV among women of childbearing age – so Public Health officials are offering free testing opportunities and other events to raise awareness in coming days.

“Baker County has the highest rate of women of reproductive age living with HIV in Georgia,” said Southwest Health District Health Director Dr. Jacqueline Grant. Higher than average rates are also found in Calhoun, Terrell, Decatur, Dougherty and Grady counties, she said.

“Obviously, there are other more populous counties – such as Fulton – that have more women of child-bearing age who have HIV, than Baker. We don’t have as many population-wise, but when you just look at the rates themselves, when you compare apples to apples, the numbers are alarmingly high,” Grant said.

To combat the high numbers as well as observe World Day AIDS Day, the Dougherty County Health Department will offer free confidential HIV testing Dec. 1 from 9 a.m. – noon and 2 p.m. – 5 p.m., said District HIV/AIDS Program Manager Chanel Scott-Dixon. Testing will also be available at Albany State University in collaboration with the university and Teen Maze, she said.

Test results take approximately 20 minutes, and counseling is available, Scott-Dixon said.

Other county health departments are also offering free testing and educational events throughout the week, Grant said.

Only one person out of five is aware they have the HIV infection, according to the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Women who are not engaged in risky behavior – such as having multiple sex partners or sharing needles – may not be aware that they have the infection and that they can pass it on to their unborn children, Grant said.

“We want to raise awareness about the importance of taking the test and taking control,” said Grant. “All too often, patients don’t get diagnosed until years after they have become infected. Detecting it early and starting treatment at once can prevent full-blown AIDS from developing and prolong lives.”

Since anyone can get HIV/AIDS, the CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 be tested as a routine part of their medical care, she said, but it is especially important for women to be tested early in pregnancy.

Southwest District’s HIV AIDS program offers education, testing, counseling, contact and partner identification, notification and referral for treatment. “Our services are offered through our 14 county health departments,” Grant said.

For more information about HIV/AIDS, go to www.southwestgeorgiapublichealth.org or contact the Dougherty County Health Department at 430-6200.

 

Tags: Health, HIV, Public Health
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Tips on How You and Your Kids Can Be Healthy This Thanksgiving

– November 22, 2011Posted in: Health


 

The Thanksgiving holiday season is a wonderful time of the year filled with family, friends and of course, food. While the spirit of Thanksgiving is to give thanks for all that we have, the holiday has become increasingly focused on food and eating. There’s no harm in enjoying a meal with your family on Thanksgiving, but it’s important to remember that the purpose of the holiday is not simply to over-eat.

Childhood obesity continues to be a threatening epidemic in Georgia. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is continuing to see cases of obesity at all three of its hospitals. The consequences of obesity on children include health issues that are typically seen only in adults, such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, joint problems and high cholesterol. Strong4Life aims to help families take small steps that add up to big changes to help prevent or reverse the consequences of obesity.

Thankfully, there are a lot of ways you can make this Thanksgiving a healthier one for the whole family. Strong4Life helps families bring together four essential building blocks every kid needs to be healthy – Eat Right, Be Active, Get Support and Have Fun. You don’t have to take a break from trying to be healthy just because it’s the holidays; instead, try incorporating one or two of the tips below into your family’s holiday routine:

 

Eat Right

  • Try to incorporate more whole fruits and vegetables into your Thanksgiving meal; you’ll save on the calories that are often added to fruits and vegetables to make heavy casseroles.
  • Serve water with sliced lemon or lime with your Thanksgiving meal instead of sugary beverages like lemonade, alcohol and sweet tea. You’ll get more flavor with less sugar and calories.

 

Be Active

  • Leading up to Thanksgiving, encourage your family to spend one less hour in front of the television and one more hour of physical activity per day to help offset the extra calories consumed on Thanksgiving Day.
  • On Thanksgiving Day, consider leaving the T.V. and computers off all day so your family will have more opportunities to be active.

 

Get Support

  • Sometimes, overindulging at the holidays can lead to eating unhealthy all of the time. Try to recognize when your family’s holiday eating has become an unhealthy habit and work together as a family to make better choices.
  • If you are concerned about childhood obesity, talk to your healthcare provider about more steps your family can take to lead a healthier lifestyle.

 

Have Fun

  • Play a game of touch football, Frisbee or kickball after the Thanksgiving meal to help everyone feel energized rather than lethargic.
  • Promote “play time” and encourage activities that are fun and physical such as hop-scotch, jumping rope, tag or hide-and-go-seek.

 

Remember that parents serve as role models for their children, so make sure your actions are ones that you would want your children to follow. By making a few simple changes, your whole family can enjoy a healthy and happy Thanksgiving!

 

Dr. Stephanie Walsh, M.D. is the Medical Director of Child Wellness at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

 

 

Tags: Health, Thanks-giving
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District combats premature births with education, CenteringPregnancy®

– November 16, 2011Posted in: Health


 

Written by Carolyn Maschke

 

Each year, more than half a million babies in the United States are born too soon, placing them at risk of severe health problems and lifelong disabilities, says Southwest Health District Health Director Dr. Jacqueline Grant.

“Among those most at risk are children born in medically underserved communities such as those of rural African American women and Hispanic farmworkers,” said Grant, who is an OB-GYN. “We see these at-risk populations here in our 14-county health district.”

November is Prematurity Awareness Month. “Southwest Health District wants to raise awareness that premature birth is the No. 1 killer of newborns,” Grant said. “We are using this educational opportunity to let people know that our country’s premature birthrate has risen by 36% over the last 25 years. That’s cause for concern.”

Premature births cost society more than $26 billion a year and take a high toll on families, according to the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“In our health district, one way we are addressing premature births is by offering the CenteringPregnancy® prenatal model of care, which has a proven track record of improving birth outcomes and reducing premature births – especially in underserved minority communities,” Grant said. “We began offering CenteringPregnancy® at the Dougherty County Health Department, and this year we expanded the program to a second site in Colquitt County at the Ellenton Farmworker Program.”

She said CenteringPregnancy® delivers obstetrical care in a group setting, but also allows patients one-on-one time with their healthcare provider. “It empowers women to be proactive with their health and the health of their baby from preconception throughout the birth process and beyond.”

Participants learn about topics such as nutrition and breastfeeding, take their own blood pressure and weight, enjoy healthy snacks and participate in activities designed to prompt discussion. The Centering staff includes a board-certified OB-GYN, nurse-practitioners, certified nurse midwives, nurses and administrative staff.

Additional benefits include access to services such as WIC, pharmacy, perinatal case management (PCM), and postpartum family planning.

For more information, contact the Dougherty program at 229-430-6260 or the Colquitt program at 229-324-2845.

 

Tags: Health, pregnancy
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Southwest Health District urges vigilance as Shigella cases spread

– November 7, 2011Posted in: Health

 

Written by Carol Maschke

 

Southwest Health District Health Director Dr. Jacqueline Grant said cases of shigellosis, a bacterial infection that causes diarrhea (often bloody), fever and stomach cramps, have been confirmed in additional counties, and wants the public to take precautions to help stop the disease from spreading.

“It is more widespread than just Worth and Dougherty counties,” Grant said. “Seeing it in multiple counties in the District does not particularly surprise us, since Shigella is easily spread when infected persons share food or beverages or touch surfaces that are then touched by others.”

However, the spread of Shigella from an infected person to others can be stopped by frequent and careful hand washing with soap and warm water. “Wash for at least 20 seconds, which is approximately how long it takes to sing the `Happy Birthday’ song twice, and make sure you clean around and under the nails. Towel-drying is recommended when possible,” Grant said.

Cleaning surfaces, especially with cleansers containing bleach, is also important, but the best way to prevent the infection from spreading is by good hand hygiene, she said.

The first clusters of Shigella were identified in September among young Worth County children, Grant said. However, infections have now been confirmed in seven counties and are also being seen in older children and adults.

“The infection is easily spread and can linger in a community if proper precautions aren’t taken,” Grant said.

There is no vaccine to prevent Shigella.

“Some people who are affected may not have symptoms, but may pass the bacteria on to others,” Grant said.

Also, people with shigellosis should not prepare food or drinks for others until they have been shown to no longer be carrying the Shigella bacterium, or if they have had no diarrhea for at least seven days. Sick children should not return to school until they produced fully-formed stools for 48 hours and are free of symptoms.

The infection usually clears up in five to seven days.

Public Health’s recommendations regarding Shigella include:

-          Do not use Lomotil (Diphenoxylate and Atropine), Imodium (loperamide) or similar over-the-counter medications for diarrhea, which will worsen the illness and prolong bacterial shedding.

 

-          Consult your healthcare provider if you have symptoms.

 

-          Schools and childcare providers are to contact their county health department if there are two or more children with symptoms of Shigella.

 

For more information about Shigella, go to www.southwestgeorgiapublichealth.org or www.cdc.gov or contact your county health department.

 

Tags: disease, Health, Shigella outbreak
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Frequent, thorough hand-washing best defense against Shigella infections

– October 31, 2011Posted in: Health

 

Written by Carolyn Maschke

 

Disease investigators and other officials from Southwest Health District are working together to control an outbreak of Shigella, a bacterial infection that causes diarrhea (often bloody), fever and stomach cramps.

“The spread of Shigella from an infected person to others can be stopped by frequent and careful hand washing with soap and warm water,” said Southwest Health District Health Director Dr. Jacqueline Grant.

The first clusters of Shigella were identified in September among young Worth County children, Grant said. However, infections have now been confirmed in Dougherty County and are also being seen in older children and adults.

“Public Health considers this a community outbreak,” Grant said. “We want the entire community to be aware that the infection is easily spread and can linger in a community if proper precautions aren’t taken.”

There is no vaccine to prevent Shigella.

“Some people who are affected may not have symptoms, but may pass the bacteria on to others,” Grant said.  “That is why it is extremely important to practice good hand washing, which means around and under the nails for at least 20 seconds.”

Also, people with shigellosis should not prepare food or drinks for others until they have been shown to no longer be carrying the Shigella bacterium, or if they have had no diarrhea for at least seven days. Sick children should not return to school until they produced fully-formed stools for 48 hours and are free of symptoms.

The infection usually clears up in five to seven days.

Public Health’s recommendations regarding Shigella include:

 

-          Do not use Lomotil (Diphenoxylate and Atropine), Imodium (loperamide) or similar over-the-counter medications for diarrhea, which will worsen the illness and prolong bacterial shedding.

 

-          Go to your healthcare provider if you have symptoms.

 

-          Schools and childcare providers are to contact their county health department if there are two or more children with symptoms of Shigella.

 

For more information about Shigella, go to www.southwestgeorgiapublichealth.org or www.cdc.gov  or contact your county health department.

 

 

Tags: Health, Shigella outbreak
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Early detection boosts survival rates in women with breast cancer

– October 26, 2011Posted in: Health, Press Releases

By Carolyn Maschke

 

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women – and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in the United States – but mammography can detect it at its earliest, most treatable stage, says Southwest Health District Health Director Dr. Jacqueline Grant.

“Mammography can detect breast cancer up to three years before lumps can be detected during breast self-examination or by a clinical examination,” said Dr. Grant. “Yearly screenings for breast cancer are recommended for women 40 and older.”

The most recent data available from the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that while white women had the highest incidence of breast cancer, black women were more likely to die from the disease than any other group.

“To help reduce this disparity, we are stressing the importance of screening to black women. We are encouraging those concerned about mammogram costs to contact their county health departments to learn about the District’s Breast and Cervical Program,” Grant said.

Qualified low-income women 40 through 64 are eligible to receive free mammograms through the Southwest Health District Breast and Cervical Program.

“When breast cancer is found early, treatment is most effective, and many women go on to live long and healthy lives,” Grant said.

“Along with early detection through screening, other ways to lower your risk of breast cancer include controlling your weight, exercising, knowing your family history, limiting the amount of alcohol you drink and learning the risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy,” Grant said.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For more information about symptoms of the disease, its risk factors or the Southwest Health District Breast and Cervical Program, contact your county health department or go online to www.southwestgeorgiapublichealth.org.

Tags: Breast cancer, cancer, early detection, Health, women's health
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Exercise focus of health talk

– September 24, 2011Posted in: Health

A nationally renowned speaker is visiting Albany to answer a critical call to action to focus on encouraging primary care physicians and other health care providers to include exercise when designing treatment plans for patients. The initiative, “Exercise is Medicine,” is committed to the believe that exercise and physical activity are integral in preventing and treating disease.

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Tags: exercise, exercise program, Health
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Exercise focus of health talk

– September 21, 2011Posted in: Health, Lifestyle, Press Releases

            A nationally renowned speaker is visiting Albany to answer a critical call to action to focus on encouraging primary care physicians and other health care providers to include exercise when designing treatment plans for patients. The initiative, “Exercise is Medicine,” is committed to the believe that exercise and physical activity are integral in preventing and treating disease.
             Dr. Adrian Hutber of the American College of Sports Medicine will speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27 at the Darton College Theatre about this life-saving initiative. The Dougherty County Medical Society event is free and open to the public.
            For information, contact Paula Bacon at paula@dc-ms.org or 344-8989.
Tags: Darton college, exercise, Health
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