Dawson County Health Department News

Transcription

1 Dawson County Health Department News O rgan i zation N am e February 2017 Inside this issue: Changes This Year For The Health Fair Blood Draws By: Timber Dempewolf Through With Chew Week 2 February Events 2 Teen Violence 3 Sexual Health Month 3 American Heart Month 4 Dental Health Month 5 Calendar W. Bell Glendive, MT Tel: (406) Website: Public Health: Tel: (406) WIC Program: Tel: (406) Home Health: Tel: (406) Family Planning: Tel: (406) Tobacco Prevention: Tel: (406) The Dawson County Health Fair is going to look a little different this year. Blood profiles will be drawn at the Courthouse Community Room during the month of March. The Community Room is located in the basement of the Courthouse at 207 West Bell. Also new this year, participants will need to schedule an appointment for their blood draw, this can be done using our new online scheduler or by calling the Health Department at The link to schedule an appointment online can be found on the Dawson County website home page at or the Dawson County Health Department website at or by clicking the picture below beginning Tuesday January 31, The tests offered this year will remain the same as in years past. The blood tests include a lipid panel, complete blood count, chemistry panel and thyroid and iron tests. Cost for the profiles is $35 with an additional cost of $30 for men having a PSA test Participants are encouraged to share information from the blood profiles with their personal physicians. Results will be available for participants to pick up at the Health Department 1 week after their scheduled appointment. Participation is limited to adults age 18 and over. Participants should fast for at least 12 hours before the blood tests, although they are encouraged to drink water during those 12 hours. Adequate hydration is important to aid in the blood draw and to assure accuracy in testing so additional water intake in the days preceding the draws is advisable. The Health Fair is coordinated annually by Dawson County Health Department and provides an excellent opportunity for adults to learn more about their personal health and to make changes to improve their health. All adults in the area are encouraged to participate. For more information call the Health Department at

2 Dawson County Health Department Newsletter Page 2 Through With Chew Week Through With Chew Week, February 19 25, calls attention to the dangers of using chew, which includes chewing tobacco and snuff. Chew contains at least 28 chemicals that have been found to cause cancer in the mouth, esophagus, and pancreas. Treating oral cancers can involve removal of tissue and bone including the tongue and jaw. Smokeless tobacco can also cause gum disease, heart disease, and precancerous mouth sores. On average, chew products deliver a higher dose of nico- tine than cigarettes making the product more habit forming. In 2015, 12.6% of high school students in Montana used smokeless tobacco. The public awareness campaign is designed to reduce the use of smokeless tobacco among young people. The Montana Tobacco Quit Line is a free service available to all Montanans who would like to quit using smokeless or other tobacco products. Calling the Quit Line is toll-free at QUIT NOW ( ), or visit the website at to enroll. AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month American Heart Month Cancer Prevention Month Tobacco Coalition Meeting National Children s Dental Health Month Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month February 8, 2017 Through With Chew Week Noon 1p.m Random Acts of Kindness Week 3 National Wear Red Day 14 4 World Cancer Day 14 Valentine s Day 8 Tobacco Coalition Meeting 20 President s Day, Office Closed 12 Sexual & Reproductive Health Day National Condom Awareness Day Basement of Courthouse Everyone Is Welcome!

3 Page 3 February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month By: Lynn Newnam Dawson County Family Planning wants you to know that there s a lot you can do as a parent to prevent teen dating violence and abuse. More than 1 in 10 teens who have been on a date have also been physically abused by a boyfriend or girlfriend in the last year. One of the most important things you can do is keep the lines of communication open with your kids. Take steps to make a difference: Be a role model treat your kids and others with respect. Start talking to your kids about healthy relationships early before they start dating. Get involved with efforts to prevent dating violence at your teen s school. Call the National Dating Abuse Helpline at or text loveis to 22522, if you are worried about your teen. You can help keep your loved ones safe and healthy. Dawson County Family Planning wants you to know that love is not abuse. For more information, visit Dawson County Family Planning, 207 W. Bell, Glendive, MT. Call today, Sexual Health Month By: Lynn Newnam February is traditionally known as the month of love and romance. However, along with roses and chocolate comes the need to make well-informed choices about intimate relationships and sexuality. That is why February has been deemed Sexual Health Awareness Month. Sexual health is an important part of the overall health and wellbeing of all people in the community, from the young to the old, irrespective of whether a person has or ever will be sexually active. One common misconception about sexual health is that it means being physically healthy or having regular STI tests. Sexual health is a lot more than safer sex, preventing infection and unwanted pregnancy. Sexual health is about open communication, confidence in making informed choices, acceptance of our differences and a healthy understanding of sexuality and relationships. It is about life, love, and relationships. It is about what happens in the head and heart, it is about thoughts and feelings and how that relates to others. Sexual health is not always important to young people until it is too late. On the other hand, it is often ignored by older people..until it is too late. Did you know that the average age of a cervical cancer diagnosis is 49? Or that the average age of anal, rectal, penile, vaginal, vulvar and oropharyngeal cancers in both men and women is over 60? 38,000 of these cancers can now be prevented if parents have the foresight to consider the future sexual health of their children by getting them the HPV vaccine. Almost 80% of the population has or has had the HPV virus. Most, particularly men, have no signs or symptoms but can pass it on to their partner, who in turn may have no symptoms. Remember that average age of a cervical cancer diagnosis? Most of those women are middle class with a couple of children who are in long term, monogamous relationships. The vast majority never knew they had even been exposed to the HPV virus. HPV can be transmitted through skin to skin contact or mucus membranes. Condoms don t prevent HPV. It is for these reasons that women and men regardless of their relationship status should continue to get regular cancer screenings including yearly oral exams, pap smears and HPV co-testing as recommended by your provider, and yearly colorectal screenings. Be aware! Get screened!

4 Page 4 February is American Heart Month: By: Andeen Raymond Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for more than 800,000 American deaths each year. And it s why entire month of February is devoted to raising awareness of heart health. You should also know: Cardiovascular disease claims more lives each year than all forms of cancer and Chronic Lower Respiratory diseases combined. Cigarette smokers are two to three times more likely to die from coronary heart disease than nonsmokers. Heart disease is the number one killer of women causing 1 in 3 deaths each year. That is approximately one woman every minute. The good news: There are steps you can take to help you manage your heart risk. First we need to understand there are some risk factors you have no control over, such as age, gender, heredity, race and diabetes. But, there are risk factors for heart disease you CAN control, like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, exercise, obesity and stress. Life s Simple 7 List: Manage Blood Pressure High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. When your blood pressure stays within healthy ranges, you reduce the strain on your heart, arteries, and kidneys which keeps you healthier longer. Control Cholesterol High cholesterol contributes to plaque, which can clog arteries and lead to heart disease and stroke. When you control your cholesterol, you are giving your arteries their best chance to remain clear of blockages. Reduce Blood Sugar Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose (or blood sugar) that our bodies use for energy. Over time, high levels of blood sugar can damage your heart, kidneys, eyes and nerves. Get Active Living an active life is one of the most rewarding gifts you can give yourself and those you love. Simply put, daily physical activity increases your length and quality of life. Eat Better A healthy diet is one of your best weapons for fighting cardiovascular disease. When you eat a heart-healthy diet, you improve your chances for feeling good and staying healthy for life! Lose Weight When you shed extra fat and unnecessary pounds, you reduce the burden on your heart, lungs, blood vessels and skeleton. You give yourself the gift of active living, you lower your blood pressure and you help yourself feel better, too. Stop Smoking Cigarette smokers have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. do for your health. If you smoke, quitting is the best thing you can By eating a healthy diet that includes plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and exercising regularly for at least 30 minutes each day, you can do wonders for your heart. Determine whether or not your weight is within a healthy range, don t smoke and limit how much alcohol you drink. You should also talk with your health care provider about your heart care. Talk to him or her about monitoring your blood pressure, testing your cholesterol levels and regularly monitoring your blood sugar levels if you have diabetes. With a healthy heart...the beat goes on. Sources: Heart.org, cdc.gov, holidaysoftheyear.com

5 Page 5 Services Provided by the Health Department Immunizations: Adults and children, Tuesdays:1:30-4:30 and Thursdays: 9:00-11:30 and 1:30-5:30. Walk-ins are welcome. To schedule an appointment call Insurance Billing: Yes, the Dawson County Health Department does bill insurance for children s immunizations. WIC (Women, Infants and Children): Tuesdays 1:00-5:00 and Thursdays 8:00-12:00. Appointments may be made by calling Family Planning: Walk in hours are Mondays 1:00-5:00, Tuesdays 8:00-12:00, Wednesdays 1:00-5:00, Thursdays 1:00-5:00 and Fridays 10:00-12:00 & 1:00-3:00. Services are based on a sliding fee scale. To schedule an appointment call Blood Pressure Clinics: Thursdays from 9:00-11:30 no charge. Cholesterol Clinics: 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month 9:00-11:30. Cost $15 requires 12 hour fast. Home Health Services: In home services including skilled nursing. Certified Nurse Assistant, Homemaker and Meals on Wheels. Call for more information or to make a referral. Public Health Home Visiting: Home visiting program for pregnant women, infants and children. Services help to build parental resilience, social connections, knowledge of parenting and child development, concrete supports in times of need and social and emotional competence of children. Tobacco Prevention: Preventing tobacco use among youth and promote quitting among adult users. Free signs for CIAA compliance. Public Health Emergency Preparedness: Planning and coordination of community resources to prepare for public health emergencies. National Children's Dental Health Month Each February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Parents and children are encouraged to brush their teeth for two minutes, two times per day, and read for 20 minutes as a way of building good oral health and literacy habits. Proper dental care is very important to a child and an adult s health. If you would like to be on the mailing list for this monthly publication or submit an article for the next month, please Laureen Murphree at murphreel@dawsoncountymontana.com We are on the Web!

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