Clifford Baptist- Get Healthy News

Get Healthy News

"Yet God raised Jesus to life! God's spirit now lives in you, and he will raise you to life by his spirit." Romans 8 v.11

Community Service Announcement

Parents and Teens are invited to Dating Violence Prevention and Intervention Program to be held Tuesday, Jan 26th 6:30 - 8:30 Amherst County Public Library (hosted by YWCA Domestic Violence Prevention Center)

Speakers: Beth Hunt, Lynchburg Police Officer

Investigator Chancey Wilder, Operation Blue Ridge Thunder

Cary Payne, Prosecutor for Amherst Co. Juvenile and Domestic Court.

What Pregnant Women Should Know About H1N1 (formerly called swine flu) Virus

What if I get this new virus and I am pregnant?

We don’t know if this virus will cause pregnant women to have a greater chance of getting sick or have serious problems. We also do not know how this virus will affect the baby.

We do know that pregnant women are more likely to get sick than others and have more serious problems with seasonal flu. These problems may include early labor or severe pneumonia. We don’t know if this virus will do the same, but it should be taken very seriously.

What can I do to protect myself, my baby and my family?

Take these everyday steps to help prevent the spread of germs and protect your health:

· Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or sneeze into your sleeve. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

· Wash your hands often with soap and warm water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based gel hand cleaners are also good to use.

· Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

· Try to avoid close contact with sick people. (If you are pregnant and you live or have close contact with someone who has H1N1 flu, talk to your doctor about medicines to prevent flu.)

· Have a plan to care for sick family members.

· Stock up on household, health, and emergency supplies, such as water, Tylenol®, non-perishable foods.

Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs

Washing with soap and water: use warm water and wash for 15 to 20 seconds. If using alcohol-based gel hand cleaner: don’t add water.

What are the symptoms of H1N1?

Symptoms are like seasonal flu and include the following:

· Fever

· Cough

· Sore throat

· Body aches

· Headaches

· Chills and fatigue

· Sometimes, diarrhea and vomiting

What should I do if I get sick?

· If there is H1N1 flu in your community pay extra attention to your body and how you are feeling.

· If you get sick with flu-like symptoms, stay home, limit contact with others, and call your doctor. Your doctor will decide if testing or treatment is needed. Tests may include a nasal swab which is best to do within the first 4-5 days of getting sick. Like regular flu, H1N1 flu may make other medical problems worse.

· If you are alone at any time, have someone check in with you often if you are feeling ill. This is always a good idea.

· If you have close contact with someone who has H1N1 flu or is being treated for exposure to H1N1 flu, contact your doctor to discuss whether you need treatment to reduce your chances of getting the flu.

How is H1N1 flu treated?

· Treat any fever right away. Tylenol® (acetaminophen) is the best treatment of fever in pregnancy.

· Drink plenty of fluids to replace those you lose when you are sick.

· Your doctor will decide if you need antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu® (oseltamivir) or Relenza® (zanamivir). Antiviral drugs are prescription pills, liquids or inhalers that fight against the flu by keeping the germs from growing in your body. These medicines can make you feel better faster and make your symptoms milder.

· These medicines work best when started soon after symptoms begin (within two [2] days), but they may also be given to very sick or high risk people (like pregnant women) even after 48 hours. Antiviral treatment is taken for 5 days.

· Tamiflu® and Relenza® are also used to prevent H1N1 flu and are taken for 10 days.

· There is little information about the effect of antiviral drugs in pregnant women or their babies, but no serious side effects have been reported. If you do think you have had a side effect to antiviral drugs, call your doctor right away.

When should I get emergency medical care?

If you have any of these signs, seek emergency medical care right away:

· Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

· Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

· Sudden dizziness

· Confusion

· Severe or persistent vomiting

· Decreased or no movement of your baby

· A high fever that is not responding to Tylenol®

How should I feed my baby?

Flu can be very serious in young babies. Babies who are breastfed do not get as sick and are sick less often from the flu, than do babies who are not breastfed.

Breastfeeding protects babies. Breast milk passes on antibodies from the mother to a baby. Antibodies help fight off infection.

Is it ok to breastfeed my baby if I am sick?

· A mother’s milk is made to fight diseases in her baby. This is really important in young babies when their immune system is still growing.

· Do not stop breastfeeding if you are ill. Breastfeed early and often. Limit formula feeds if you can. This will help protect your baby from infection.

· Be careful not to cough or sneeze in the baby’s face, wash your hands often with soap and water.

· Your doctor might ask you to wear a mask to keep from spreading this new virus to your baby.

· If you are too sick to breastfeed, pump and have someone give the expressed milk to your baby.

Is it OK to take medicine to treat or prevent H1N1 flu while breastfeeding?

Yes. Mothers who are breastfeeding can continue to nurse their babies while being treated for the flu.

Information provided by the Center for Disease Control on May 3, 2009

For additional information, go to www. cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/pregnantor call 1-800-232-4636 24 hours/every day

Water

Drink for Your Health

Ways water helps you look younger and feel energized:

Reduces daytime fatigue

Improves memory

Nourishes skin

Essential for digestion, nutrient absorption and chemical reactions

Helps remove toxins from your body

Aids circulation

Regulates your body's cooling system

May prevent kidney stones and urinary tract infections

Improves muscle tone

Helps lubricate joints

How much water do you need?

Fluid intake:

Men need an average of 13 cups/ day

Women need an average of 9 cups/day

(Fluid can come from food and/or beverages, but watch the sugar and calories!)

You may need more water if:

•Exercise: if you’re sweating, drink more

•Environment: drink more in hot and humid weather

•Illness or health conditions: vomiting and diarrhea cause loss of fluids. (Some conditions require limiting fluids.)

•Pregnant or breast-feeding: need increased fluids

Swine Flu - Get informed. - Be Prepared
What you can do to stay healthy:
Limit the spread of germs and prevent infections:
Teach your children to wash hands frequently with soap and water, and model the behavior.
Teach your children to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues, and model the behavior.
Teach your children to stay away from others if they are sick and stay home from work and school if sick.

Create a family emergency health plan and include information like blood type, allergies, past and current medications and current medication dosages, personal emergency contacts,

Get involved with your community as it works to prepare for an influenza pandemic

With all that is going on with economic concerns in our country, it seems like a good time to acknowledge that we all experience stress. Please encourage and care for each other during times of stress.

What is stress?

• Any change that you must adapt to.

•Stress may be good or bad.

•It is your response to stress that determines the impact of changes on your life.

Coping with stress:

•Be aware of your emotional and physical reactions.

•Recognize what you cn change.

•Utilize healthy coping skills.

•Avoid unhealthy coping: alcohol or drug use, procrastination, overeating, avoidance, etc.

•Practice healthy coping skills every day, to make it a habit

Coping techniques

•Prioritize your time

•Keep a stress journal

•Get adequate rest each night

•Decrease caffeine intake

•Evaluate wants vs. needs

•Develop a support network

•Be kind to yourself

CONGREGATIONAL HEALTH MINISTRY

Influenza, commonly called "the flu," is a serious disease caused by the influenza virus that affects the respiratory tract. It is highly contagious (the virus can be transmitted even before flu-like symptoms appear) and generally spreads from person-to-person when an infected person coughs or sneezes. A person usually becomes sick in 1-3 days of exposure. Typical flu symptoms include fever, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, muscle aches, and extreme fatigue. Although people of any age can get the flu, annual vaccination is recommended for the following groups:

1. Persons at high risk for complications from the flu, including:

• Children aged 6–59 months of age,

• Pregnant women,

• People 50 years of age and older,

• People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions, and

• People who live in nursing homes and other long term care facilities.

2. People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:

• Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu (see above)

• Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)

• Health care workers.

3. Anyone who wants to decrease their risk of influenza.

Vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza, and its potentially severe complications. The drive-thru influenza vaccine clinic will be held rain or shine.

Fire Safety

Our Homes, Our Families, Our Safety

Some things to check at home:

• All smoke alarms are working.

• All electrical cords are in good condition.

• The furnace is checked once a year.

• The clothes dryer has a clean vent and filter.

• Curtains are away from stove and heaters.

• All family members know the escape plan.

Some things to check at church:

• All exits are clearly marked and free ofobstruction.

• Emergency escape plans are posted in thebuilding.

• There is a functioning warning system.

• No storage in the furnace area.

• Kitchen stoves are clean and well-maintained.

• Draperies, upholstery and fabrics are flameretardant.

STROKE IS A BRAIN ATTACK!

A stroke occurs when a clot or a torn blood vessel in the brain stops blood from reaching a part of the brain.

Stroke symptoms: fast

•F FACE Ask the person to smile. Does one

    side of the face droop or appear crooked?

•A ARM Can the person lift both arms in

   the air? Only lifting one could be a sign

   of a stroke.

•S SPEECH Are the person’s words slurred,

    or is he or she unable to speak?

•T TIME Call 911 immediately if any of

these symptoms are present. Don’t wait.

What to do:

•Recognizing the symptoms of a stroke is the first step in successful treatment.

•Calling 911 is next. Make sure you, your children, your grandchildren and everyone you know can recognize stroke symptoms.

•If you have just one of these symptoms, you might be having a stroke.

•Call 911 immediately.

•The longer you wait, the more damage you are doing to your brain.

Stroke Is An Emergency:

Call 911 Immediately!

Stroke prevention

•Know your blood pressure

•If you smoke, stop

•Find out if you have atrial fibrillation

•If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation

•Know your cholesterol

•If you are diabetic, stay in control

•Eat a low sodium (salt) diet

•EXERCISE!!

http://www.stroke.org

Colon Cancer

Just the facts: PREVENTABLE, TREATABLE AND CURABLE

Second leading cause of cancer death among both men and women

When detected early, colorectal cancer is one of the most treatable

Colonoscopy is the recommended screening procedure

Colonscopy is an outpatient procedure, done under "conscious sedation,"

last about 15-20 minutes.

Routine screening should begin at age 50, or earlier if risk factors and

family history exist.

More info: www.gastrocentralva.com

GET HEALTHY News:

Health Hints from the Wellness Letter of UCLA Berkley

Choose cloudy apple juice if you want more antioxidants.

To kill germs in your kitchen sponges, microwave them on high for two minutes.

Don't assume that packages with fruit in their name or pictures of fruit contain real fruit.

Make sure your shoes are big enough. Feet grow longer and wider with each passing decade.

Signs of Shingles:

Shingles is caused by the same virus that produces chicken pox in children. This virus lies dormant in the nerve roots of the central nervous system long after the chicken pox resolves. The symptoms vary but the typical sequence is a sensitivity to light, headache, flu-like symptoms and a stinging, burning or pain sensation. The pain is generally only on one side of the body. Skin becomes exceedingly sensitive and blister like spots appear. If you recognize the symptoms, medications can lessen the course and reduce the severity!

Taken from USA weekend Health Smart by Tedd Mitchell MD.

Fall Risk:

Certain factors increase a person's risk of falling. One creeping up on all of us is age-In 2003 more than 1.8 million seniors age 65 or older were treated in ER's for falls. Anything we can do to lessen our odds of becoming a statistic is a good thing. One way is to improve our balance. Exercise and body strengthening can lower our risk of fall and injury.

Ask your doctor about simple balancing exercises and aquatic therapy!!!

On the Lighter Side - Ways to Cope with Stress

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

1. Put miniature marshmallows in your ears,hum off-key loudly.

2. Stick a post-it that says, "Out to Lunch" on your forehead.

3. Pay your electric bill in pennies.

4. Read the dictionary upside down and look for secret messages.

5. Write a short story using alphabet soup.

6. Bill your doctor for time spent in his waiting room.

Reprinted with permission from Young Thoughts, Volume 7, Issue IX, September, 2006

Handwashing

Flu season is fast approaching and the single best way to prevent the spread of the flu, after getting a flu shot, is handwashing!

There are four basic principles to prevent the spread of germs:

1. Wash your hands when they are dirty and before eating.

2. DO NOT cough into your hands.

3. DO NOT sneeze into your hands.

4. Above all, DO NOT put your fingers into your eyes, nose, or mouth.

These principles are simple, easy to follow and endorsed by the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

An ounce of prevention keeps the Germs Away. Many infectious diseases can be prevented by following seven simple steps.

Pandemic Influenza - Get informed. Be Prepared

Faith Community Disaster Preparedness Tool Kit

SENIORNAVIGATOR E-QUICKTIP: Sept 2006

Visit the website from the Senior Navigatorl. It's a good piece, describing the importance of understanding the relationship of spirituality and health, especially as we age. It is good to see what we know becoming mainstream information.

Visit

www.seniornavigator.org