High Blood Pressure Education Month
May is High Blood Pressure Education Month
May is High Blood Pressure Education Month. High blood pressure—or hypertension—is a major risk factor for heart disease.
May is Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month
Huntington’s disease is a rare, inherited disease that causes the progressive breakdown (degeneration) of nerve cells in the brain. Huntington’s disease has a wide impact on a person’s functional abilities and usually results in movement, thinking (cognitive) and psychiatric disorders.
Huntington’s disease symptoms can develop at any time, but they often first appear when people are in their 30s or 40s. If the condition develops before age 20, it’s called juvenile Huntington’s disease. When Huntington’s develops early, symptoms are somewhat different and the disease may progress faster.
Medications are available to help manage the symptoms of Huntington’s disease. But treatments can’t prevent the physical, mental and behavioral decline associated with the condition.
Symptoms
Huntington’s disease usually causes movement, cognitive and psychiatric disorders with a wide spectrum of signs and symptoms. Which symptoms appear first varies greatly from person to person. Some symptoms appear more dominant or have a greater effect on functional ability, but that can change throughout the course of the disease.
Movement disorders
The movement disorders associated with Huntington’s disease can include both involuntary movement problems and impairments in voluntary movements, such as:
-Involuntary jerking or writhing movements (chorea)
-Muscle problems, such as rigidity or muscle contracture (dystonia)
-Slow or unusual eye movements
-Impaired gait, posture and balance
-Difficulty with speech or swallowing
Impairments in voluntary movements — rather than involuntary movements — may have a greater impact on a person’s ability to work, perform daily activities, communicate and remain independent.
Cognitive disorders
Cognitive impairments often associated with Huntington’s disease include:
-Difficulty organizing, prioritizing or focusing on tasks
-Lack of flexibility or the tendency to get stuck on a thought, behavior or action (perseveration)
-Lack of impulse control that can result in outbursts, acting without thinking and sexual promiscuity
-Lack of awareness of one’s own behaviors and abilities
-Slowness in processing thoughts or ”finding” words
-Difficulty in learning new information
Psychiatric disorders
The most common psychiatric disorder associated with Huntington’s disease is depression. This isn’t simply a reaction to receiving a diagnosis of Huntington’s disease. Instead, depression appears to occur because of injury to the brain and subsequent changes in brain function. Signs and symptoms may include:
-Feelings of irritability, sadness or apathy
-Social withdrawal
-Insomnia
-Fatigue and loss of energy
-Frequent thoughts of death, dying or suicide
Other common psychiatric disorders include:
-Obsessive-compulsive disorder, a condition marked by recurrent, intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors
-Mania, which can cause elevated mood, overactivity, impulsive behavior and inflated self-esteem
-Bipolar disorder, a condition with alternating episodes of depression and mania
In addition to the above disorders, weight loss is common in people with Huntington’s disease, especially as the disease progresses.
Symptoms of juvenile Huntington’s disease
The start and progression of Huntington’s disease in younger people may be slightly different from that in adults. Problems that often present early in the course of the disease include:
-Behavioral changes
-Difficulty paying attention
-Rapid, significant drop in overall school performance
-Behavioral problems
Physical changes
-Contracted and rigid muscles that affect gait (especially in young children)
-Tremors or slight involuntary movements
-Frequent falls or clumsiness
-Seizures
When to see a doctor
See your health care provider if you notice changes in your movements, emotional state or mental ability. The signs and symptoms of Huntington’s disease can be caused by a number of different conditions. Therefore, it’s important to get a prompt, thorough diagnosis.
Stroke Awareness
What Is a Stroke?
A stroke, also known as transient ischemic attack or cerebrovascular accident, happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked. This prevents the brain from getting oxygen and nutrients from the blood. Without oxygen and nutrients, brain cells begin to die within minutes. Sudden bleeding in the brain can also cause a stroke if it damages brain cells.
A stroke is a medical emergency. A stroke can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death. Signs of a stroke can range from mild weakness to paralysis or numbness on one side of the face or body. Other signs include a sudden and severe headache, sudden weakness, trouble seeing, and trouble speaking or understanding speech.
If you think you or someone else is having a stroke, call 9-1-1 right away. Do not drive to the hospital or let someone else drive you. Call an ambulance so that medical personnel can begin life-saving treatment on the way to the emergency room. During a stroke, every minute counts.
At the hospital, a stroke team will assess your condition and treat your stroke with medicine, surgery, or another procedure. Your recovery will depend on how severe your stroke was and how quickly you got treatment. A rehabilitation plan may help you do the same things you used to do before your stroke.
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of a stroke often develop quickly. However, they can develop over hours or even days, such as when a transient ischemic attack (TIA) turns into a stroke.
The type of symptoms depends on the type of stroke and the area of the brain that is affected.
Signs of a TIA or stroke may include:
-Sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body
-Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech
-Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
-Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination
-Sudden severe headache with no known cause
The FAST test can help you remember what to do if you think someone may be having a stroke:
F—Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A—Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S—Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
T—Time: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 right away. Early treatment is essential.
If you think you or someone else is having a TIA or stroke, don’t drive to the hospital or let someone else drive you. Call an ambulance so that medical personnel can begin life-saving treatment on the way to the emergency room. During a stroke, every minute counts.
Complications
A stroke can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death. When you have a stroke, your doctor may rate how severe it is. A more severe stroke means more brain tissue was damaged. When there has been significant damage, your doctor may call it a massive stroke. This can mean more severe complications.
After having a stroke, you may develop complications such as:
-Dangerous blood clots. Being unable to move around for a long time can raise your risk of developing blood clots in the deep veins of the legs. In some cases, blood clots can break loose and travel to the lungs. Your stroke care team may try to prevent these complications with medicine or a device that puts pressure on your calves to keep your blood flowing.
-Difficulty speaking. If a stroke affects the muscles you use to speak, you may have trouble communicating as easily as before.
-Loss of bladder or bowel control. Some strokes affect the muscles used to urinate and have bowel movements. You may need a urinary catheter (a tube placed into the bladder) until you can urinate on your own. Use of these catheters can lead to urinary tract infections. You may also lose control of your bowels or be constipated.
-Loss of bone density or strength. This usually happens on one side of the body. Physical activity as part of rehabilitation can help prevent this loss. Your care team may also evaluate you for osteoporosis.
-Loss of vision, hearing, or touch. Your ability to feel pain or temperature may be affected after a stroke, or you may have trouble seeing or hearing as well as before. Some of these changes could affect your ability to cook, read, change your clothes, or do other tasks.
-Muscle weakness or inability to move. A stroke can make your muscles become weak and stiff or cause them to spasm. This can be painful or make it hard to stand or walk around on your own. You may also have problems with balance or controlling your muscles. This puts you at risk of falling.
-Problems swallowing and pneumonia. If a stroke affects the muscles used for swallowing, you may have a hard time eating or drinking. You may also be at risk of inhaling food or drink into your lungs. If this happens, you may develop pneumonia.
-Problems with language, thinking, or memory. Stroke may affect your ability to focus on a task or make decisions quickly. It also raises the risk of dementia.
-Seizures. This is more common in the weeks after a stroke and is less likely as time goes on. If you have seizures, your stroke team may give you medicine.
-Swelling in the brain. After a stroke, fluid may build up between the brain and the skull or in the cavities of the brain, causing swelling. Doctors may drain fluid from the brain or cut away part of the skull to relieve the pressure on your brain.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will diagnose a stroke based on your symptoms, your medical history, a physical exam, and test results. Your doctor will want to find out the type of stroke you’ve had, its cause, the part of the brain that is affected, and whether you have bleeding in the brain. If your doctor thinks you’ve had a transient ischemic attack (TIA), he or she will look for its cause to help prevent a future stroke.
Diagnostic tests
Your doctor will order tests to help rule out other health problems with similar signs or symptoms.
Your doctor will order an imaging test to look at the blood vessels in your brain. This will help determine what type of stroke you have and where exactly it happened. The quicker these tests can be done, the better your doctor can treat you. Tests to diagnose stroke include the following:
-Computed tomography (CT) uses X-rays to take clear, detailed pictures of your brain. It is often done right after a stroke is suspected. A brain CT scan can show if there is bleeding in the brain or damage to the brain cells from a stroke.
-Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnets and radio waves to create pictures of your brain. An MRI may be used instead of—or in addition to—a CT scan to diagnose a stroke. This test can detect changes in brain tissue and damage to brain cells.
-Other imaging tests to look for narrowed blood vessels in the neck or an aneurysm or tangled blood vessels in the brain.
Your doctor may also order the following blood or heart tests.
Blood tests. Your doctor may test the blood and platelet count and glucose (sugar) levels in your blood to make sure they are stable and to see if a certain medicine can treat your stroke. Your doctor may also do blood tests to see how well your blood is clotting and to look for muscle damage.
Electrocardiogram (EKG). An EKG can help detect heart problems that may have led to a stroke. For example, this test can help diagnose atrial fibrillation or a previous heart attack.
Lumbar puncture (also called a spinal tap), if the imaging scan does not detect any bleeding in the brain but your doctor still thinks you may have had a hemorrhagic stroke. The doctor will use a needle to collect fluid from around your spine. The fluid will be tested for substances from broken-down blood cells.
Medical history and physical exam
Your doctor will ask you or a family member about your risk factors for stroke. Tell your doctor if you or someone in your family has had a stroke. Your doctor will also ask about your signs and symptoms and when they began.
During the physical exam, your doctor will check you for:
-Confusion
-Coordination and balance
-Mental alertness
-Numbness or weakness in your face, arms, and legs
-Trouble speaking or seeing clearly
The exam will help your doctor determine how severe your stroke was and plan your treatment.
Your doctor will look for signs of carotid artery disease, a common cause of ischemic stroke. He or she will listen to your carotid arteries with a stethoscope. A whooshing sound called a bruit may suggest changed or reduced blood flow due to plaque buildup in the carotid arteries.
May~ Cystic Fibrosis Awareness
What Is Cystic Fibrosis?
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic condition that affects a protein in the body. People who have cystic fibrosis have a faulty protein that affects the body’s cells, tissues, and the glands that make mucus and sweat.
Mucus is normally slippery and protects the linings of the airways, digestive tract, and other organs and tissues. People who have cystic fibrosis make thick, sticky mucus that can build up and lead to blockages, damage, or infections in the affected organs. Inflammation also causes damage to organs such as the lungs and pancreas.
Some people who have cystic fibrosis have few or no symptoms, while others experience severe symptoms or life-threatening complications. Symptoms of cystic fibrosis depend on which organs are affected and the severity of the condition. The most serious and common complications of cystic fibrosis are problems with the lungs, also known as pulmonary or respiratory problems, which may include serious lung infections. People who have cystic fibrosis often also have problems maintaining good nutrition, because they have a hard time absorbing the nutrients from food. This is a problem that can delay growth.
Your doctor may recommend treatments to improve lung function and prevent or manage complications. Early treatment can improve your quality of life and help you live longer.
Symptoms
Symptoms of cystic fibrosis depend on which organs are affected and the severity of the condition. Most people who have cystic fibrosis have noticeable symptoms. Some people have few or no symptoms, while others experience severe symptoms or life-threatening complications. Symptoms may also change over time.
Cystic fibrosis most commonly affects the lungs. Some people who have cystic fibrosis may have wheezing and a cough that may produce mucus or blood.
Other symptoms depend on the organs affected and may include:
-Blockage of the intestine in a baby soon after birth
-Clubbing of fingers and toes due to less oxygen getting to the hands and feet
-Fever, which may include night sweats
-Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as severe abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea, or constipation
-jaundice, or yellow skin, for an abnormally long time after birth
-Low body mass index (BMI) or being underweight
-Muscle and joint pain
-Delayed growth or puberty
-Salty skin and saltier than normal sweat
-Sinus infections
When to call the doctor
Cystic fibrosis may have serious complications. Call your doctor right away if you believe you have any of the following:
-Pulmonary exacerbation involves a worsening of lung symptoms, such as more coughing or wheezing, chest congestion, and a change in mucus color. You may also have weight loss, a poor appetite, or fever.
-Coughing or spitting up of blood may be a sign that an artery has broken and is bleeding into the airway.
-Sudden shortness of breath or chest pain may be a sign of a pneumothorax, or collapsed lung.
Diagnosis
Your doctor may diagnose cystic fibrosis based on your symptoms and results from certain screening tests, such as genetic and sweat tests.
Screening for cystic fibrosis
Genetic testing may be performed to look for carriers, as well as to screen relatives of people who have cystic fibrosis. Genetic testing may also be used as prenatal screening tool to look for a mutated CFTR gene. All newborns in the United States are now screened for cystic fibrosis. Since universal screening for cystic fibrosis began relatively recently, there are still young people and adults who have not been screened.
Carrier screening to detect CFTR mutations
Genetic testing can tell you if you carry a mutation of the CFTR gene. This is called carrier testing. People who have inherited a mutation of the CFTR gene from one parent are cystic fibrosis carriers. People who have inherited a mutation of the CFTR gene from both parents will have cystic fibrosis. Learn more about how cystic fibrosis is inherited. Genetic testing looks at your DNA from a blood or saliva sample, or cells from the inside of your cheek.
The standard test to check for possible cystic fibrosis carriers looks for 23 of the most common disease-causing gene mutations. If you have a positive test, there is a 99% chance you are a carrier. However, if you have a negative test, there is still a small chance that you could carry a CFTR mutation that did not show up on the test.
Siblings of a person who has cystic fibrosis may want to be tested for cystic fibrosis whether or not they have symptoms. Other relatives, such as first cousins and half-siblings, may be tested if they have symptoms, or if the family is concerned that the individual may have cystic fibrosis.
After a positive screening test, the diagnosis should be confirmed with further testing.
Prenatal screening
Couples who are planning to have children may want to be tested to see if they are cystic fibrosis carriers. Genetic testing, such as the carrier screening described above, may be done before or during pregnancy. Often, the mother is tested first. However, if you are already pregnant, you and your partner may choose to be tested at the same time. If the father has a family history of cystic fibrosis, he may be tested first. Similar to standard genetic testing, prenatal screening uses a sample of blood, saliva, or cells from the inside of your cheek to check your DNA.
If one partner is a carrier for a cystic fibrosis gene mutation, then the next step is to test the partner if this has not been done. If both parents are cystic fibrosis carriers, then prenatal diagnostic testing may be performed to see whether your unborn baby has cystic fibrosis or is a carrier.
Newborn screening
When a child has cystic fibrosis, it is very important to diagnose it early to help prevent complications. Newborn screening for cystic fibrosis is performed during a baby’s first 2 to 3 days of life. A few drops of blood from a heel prick are placed on a special card and analyzed in labs.
The type of newborn screening that is performed varies from state to state. Every state and the District of Columbia begins with a blood test to check for levels of a chemical made by the pancreas called immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT). In people who have cystic fibrosis, IRT tends to be high. However, most babies with high levels of IRT do not have cystic fibrosis. IRT may also be high if the baby is premature, had a stressful delivery, or is a carrier of cystic fibrosis.
Some states test only IRT for cystic fibrosis newborn screening. Other states test IRT and also perform DNA testing. In states that test both IRT and DNA, if IRT is high, then the hospital will test the baby’s DNA for some of the gene mutations that cause cystic fibrosis.
After a positive screening test, the diagnosis should be confirmed with further testing.
Sweat test
A sweat test checks for high levels of chloride in your sweat. The sweat test is the standard test for diagnosing cystic fibrosis. It may be used if you have symptoms that may indicate cystic fibrosis or to confirm a positive diagnosis from a screening of your newborn baby. A normal sweat chloride test alone does not mean you do not have cystic fibrosis. Lower levels of chloride may indicate the need for further testing to diagnose or rule out cystic fibrosis.
For more information: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/cystic-fibrosis
National Infant Immunization Week, April 24-30, 2023
National Infant Immunization Week is a yearly observance highlighting the importance of protecting children two years and younger from vaccine-preventable diseases. CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that children stay on track with their well-child appointments and routine vaccines. On-time vaccination is critical to provide protection against potentially life-threatening diseases.
Doddridge County Health Department-Nurse 2 Position available
 | WEST VIRGINIA Division of Personnel 1900 Kanawha Blvd. East, Building 3 Suite 500 Charleston, WV 25305 |
| invites applications for the position of: Nurse 2 – Doddridge County Health Dept. – Doddridge Co. An Equal Opportunity Employer | |
| SALARY: | $2,999.50 – $5,549.08 Monthly $35,994.00 – $66,589.00 Annually |
|---|---|
| DEPARTMENT: | HD09-Doddridge County Health Department |
| OPENING DATE: | 04/04/23 |
| CLOSING DATE: | 04/19/23 11:59 PM |
| LOCATION OF VACANCY: | DODDRIDGE |
| NATURE OF WORK: | |
***SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT – DODDRIDGE COUNTY*** This announcement is for an immediate hiring need with Doddridge County Health Department located in Doddridge County. When applying online, be sure to mark this county and any other county you would be willing to work in, so your name can be placed on the proper register. See below for special application instructions and a description of the position. HOW TO APPLY: CLICK HERE to Apply Online. You will be redirected to our Nurse 2 “continuous” listing where you will be able to submit your application by clicking the APPLY link at the top right of that page. THE POSITION: Doddridge County health department. Duties of a public health nurse include but are not limited to the following: the nurse provides immunizations to citizens of all ages, supervises other nursing staff and office staff as needed. Does testing and counseling of people who may have any communicable and or sexually transmitted disease. Teaching can be done on results of laboratory testing and how to prevent the spread of theses diseases as well as giving medications to treat the disease as needed. Will do active surveillance and identification as well as treatment and follow up of these cases of communicable disease and contact tracing of any communicable disease if needed. Teaching on how to prevent communicable disease is essential as well as how to treat and prevent the spread in cases that are identified. Does counseling and risk assessment to see if clients need tested for Tuberculosis. If positive then the nurse would prepare the medications as ordered by the physician. Prepares various reports to be sent in support with all state programs, Inventory of Immunization, STD, Family Planning, Breast and Cervical Screening, and general health/lab monthly. Enters reportable diseases into WVEDS program as well as entering Immunizations into the WVSIIS site. Will organize and work directly with Threat preparedness staff in developing Strategic National Stockpile response plans, recruitment and credentials of volunteers, training of SNS procedures. Performs any duties assigned by administrator or Board of Health. Continues to learn more nursing theory through self development such as reading, seminars and practice. As a condition of employment, an inquiry into job-related information will be completed which may include, but not limited to, criminal records, abuse registry records, driving records, employment history, and education and training. Failing to cooperate with this process, providing false or incomplete information, and/or discovery of disqualifying information may result in denial of or dismissal from employment or denial of transfer irrespective of when discovered. | |
| EXAMPLES OF WORK: | |
| MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: | |
Training: Successful completion of an Associate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited college or university or a diploma nursing program; plus one year of full-time or equivalent part-time paid experience as a registered professional nurse. OR Baccalaureate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited four year college or university. Special Requirement: Current West Virginia license or temporary permit to practice as a registered professional nurse. ***DETAILS OF RELATED EXPERIENCE MUST BE SHOWN IN THE WORK EXPERIENCE SECTION OF YOUR ONLINE APPLICATION*** | |
| OTHER INFORMATION: | |
Special hiring rates:
| |
| APPLICATIONS MAY BE FILED ONLINE AT: http://www.personnel.wv.gov 1900 Kanawha Blvd. East | Position #9606SP NURSE 2 – DODDRIDGE COUNTY HEALTH DEPT. – DODDRIDGE CO. AS |
Are you or someone you know interested in volunteering?
Are you or someone you know interested in becoming a Volunteer?
Volunteers are a vital part of the planning process for community survival in a time of crisis. There is no age limit to be a volunteer! We will be holding a Volunteer Meeting/Training on June 22, 2023, at Doddridge County Park
(upstairs-Main Building) 4pm-6pm
For more information or to sign up please call: 304-873-1531 ext. 104
You may also stop by Doddridge County Health Department to fill out an application
Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 12, 2023
Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 12, 2023. As you prepare to set your clocks forward one hour, remember to check the batteries in your carbon monoxide (CO) detector and smoke detectors.
Do you know about Norovirus?
Norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. Norovirus is sometimes called the stomach flu or stomach bug. However, norovirus illness is not related to the flu, which is caused by influenza virus.
People of all ages can get sick with norovirus, which spreads very easily and quickly. You can get norovirus by accidentally getting tiny particles of feces (poop) or vomit in your mouth from a person with norovirus. It only takes a few norovirus particles to make you and other people sick.
There’s no vaccine to prevent norovirus infection and no drug to treat it. Wash your hands often and follow some simple prevention tips below to stay healthy.
Prevention Tips:
~Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, not just hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer does not work well against norovirus. You can use hand sanitizers in addition to hand washing, but hand sanitizer is not a substitute for washing your hands with warm water and soap
~When preparing food, carefully rinse fruits and vegetables and thoroughly cook shellfish, such as oysters, to 145°F or higher.
~Do not prepare food or provide care for others when you are sick with norovirus and for at least after you feel better.
~Immediately clean and disinfect surfaces that have diarrhea or vomit on them. Use disposable gloves to wipe up vomit or diarrhea with paper towels. Next, use a bleach-based or other approved cleaner on the surface. Then clean the surface again with hot water and soap. Finish by cleaning laundry that may have vomit or poop, taking out the trash, and washing your hands.
