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· CALENDAR
WIC Checks: 5, 13
WIC Recerts: 1, 4, 8, 12, 18, 19, 29
Immunizations: 11, 15
Family Planning: 20, 21, 28
Willow Clinic: 6
Mt. Vw Clinic: 27
Cholesterol Screenings: 5, 12
Holiday’s: Christmas 22nd & 25th-CLOSED
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A Cold or the Flu?
Each year millions of Americans come down with a cold, influenza (flu) and other respiratory illnesses. The symptoms of these illnesses are very similar. So how do you know if you have a cold or the flu?
A cold is usually a mild illness that often starts with tiredness, sneezing, coughing and a runny nose. It may cause a low-grade fever of one or two degrees higher than normal. Other symptoms may include muscle aches, a scratchy or sore throat, watery eyes and a headache.
Influenza, or the flu, usually starts suddenly and hits hard. It may cause tiredness, weakness, fever, dry cough, runny nose, chills, muscle aches, severe headache, eye pain and a sore throat. It generally takes longer to recover from the flu than it does to recover from a cold.
To help determine if you are fighting a cold or the flu, answer these questions:
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Cold |
Flu |
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Did your illness come on . . . |
slowly |
suddenly |
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Do you have a . . . |
no (or mild) fever |
high fever |
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Is your exhaustion level . . . |
mild |
severe |
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Is your cough . . . |
severe or hacking |
dry |
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Is your throat . . . |
sore |
fine |
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Is your head . . . |
fine |
aching |
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Is your appetite . . . |
normal |
decreased |
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Are your muscles . . . |
fine |
aching |
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Do you have . . . |
no chills |
chills |
Disease symptoms may vary from person to person, so contact your health care provider for a specific diagnosis.
If you do have a cold or the flu, there are steps you can take to recover more quickly.
· Stay home. Rest and don’t spread the illness to others.
· Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids. Hot liquids may relieve congestion and sore throat pain.
· Avoid smoking or secondhand smoke, which can make cold symptoms worse.
· Use throat sprays, lozenges or gargle with warm salt water a few times each day to relieve a sore throat.
· Use saline (salt water) nose drops to loosen mucus and moisten the tender skin in your nose.
· Take appropriate medication. No medicine can cure a cold or the flu. Your health care provider may prescribe an antiviral medication, which must be taken within 1 to 2 days of the time your first symptoms appear. This medication may reduce the severity of your illness.
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HPV &
HPV Vaccine
On June 8th, 2006 the Food and Drug Administration licensed the first vaccine developed to prevent cervical cancer and other diseases in females caused by certain types of genital human papillomavirus (HPV).
HPV infection is the most common STD in the US, with approximately 20 million people currently infected. Each year, an additional 6.2 million people become newly infected in the US. As many as half of infected males and females with HPV are adolescents and young adults, 15-24 years of age.
HPV is of public health importance because persistent infections with certain oncogenic types can lead to cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in women worldwide.
The vaccine is a 3 shot series. Call the health dept for prices and to schedule an appointment.
Here is a recipe to keep you warm on cold nights!
Tortilla Soup
by Michelle Knight, Nutritionist
1 tsp butter or olive oil
1 med chopped onion
1 jalapeno pepper
2 cloves garlic
4 boneless chic breasts
salt and pepper
1-3 limes
3.5 cups chic stock
1 can tom soup
1 can rotell
1tsp cumin
1tsp chili powder
Sauté chic on both sides, add onions, garlic, and pepper and cook until tender. Cut chic into bite size pieces and add remaining ingredients. Cook 1 hour. Put tortilla chips and Monterey Jack cheese in bowl and cover with soup. Garnish with cilantro, sour cream, or avocados. |
You can also take simple steps to avoid colds and the flu.
· Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
· Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose.
· Avoid people who are ill.
· Eat healthy foods.
· Exercise regularly.
· Get plenty of rest.
For more information on colds and flu, contact your local public health department.
Dec 3rd-9th is National Hand Washing Week
Hand washing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of communicable diseases and germs and to stay healthy during the cold and flu season. Soap and water are the best, but if you can’t use them it is ok to use a hand sanitizer. Remember these things when washing your hands:
ü Use warm water and soap
ü Scrub vigorously for at least 20 seconds creating lots of bubbles
ü Scrub in-between fingers and the back of your hands
ü Rinse with warm water
ü Dry your hands with a clean paper towel and then turn off the faucet with your paper towel
The holidays can be a wonderful time for family and friends to get together and enjoy food, gifts, decorations, traditions and ceremonies. But underneath all the glitz and glamour lie potentially serious dangers.
Christmas trees and candles increase the risk of fires. Tinsel, lights and decorations can pose choking hazards for children. To ensure your holiday celebration doesn’t turn into tragedy, follow these safety tips when decorating your home.
Trees
When purchasing an artificial tree, look for a label that reads “Fire Resistant.”
If you are purchasing a live tree, make sure it is fresh. It should be green and the needles should be flexible and difficult to pull from the tree. Cut a few inches off the trunk of the tree to expose fresh wood and allow it to soak up water more easily. Place it away from any heat source in your home, out of the normal traffic flow and not in a doorway. Keep the stand filled with water to protect the tree from drying out. Safely dispose of the tree when it begins dropping needles. Dried out trees are highly flammable and should not be left in a house or a garage, or placed against the house.
Lights
Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity and electrocute a person who touches it. Check all the lights before hanging them on your tree. Make sure they are not frayed, broken or loose. Turn all lights off before going to bed or leaving your home.
Before hanging lights outdoors, check the label to be sure they are certified for outdoor use. Fasten lights in place by stringing them through hooks or insulated staples, not nails or tacks. Plug all outdoor electric decorations into circuits with ground fault circuit interrupters to avoid potential shocks.
Decorations
Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to decorate your tree. Choose tinsel or icicles made of plastic or unleaded metals. Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders and place candles where they will not be knocked down. Follow container label directions carefully to avoid lung irritation if you are using artificial snow sprays.
Holiday decorations are magical to a child. Colored lights, glowing candles, shiny ornaments and sparkling tinsel invite little fingers to touch and little mouths to taste. Try to look at your decorations through a child’s eyes. Avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable, keep decorations out of children’s reach and avoid using decorations that look like candy or food.
By following the safety steps outlined above, you can ensure this holiday season is one to remember – for all the right reasons. For more information on holiday safety, contact your local public health department.
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The Miracle is this-the more we share, the more we have. Leonard Nimoy
Merry Christmas from the staff of the
Howell County Health Department
Chris Gilliam, Bertie Judd, Shelly Uphaus, Kathy Parker, Dawn Hicks, Justin Frazier, Phyllis Akers, Sharon Owens, Keri Miner, Carmen Bentley, Mary Moore, Michelle Knight, Micah Hawkins, Carma Wheeler, Kathy Doss, Cheri Carda, Helen McDonald, Michelle Moffis, Marsha Crutchfield, Laurie Clarkston, Carol Macy and Elizabeth Polston. |
