Doddridge County Health Department, Marion County Health Department and Grafton-Taylor County Health Department representing at WV Capitol

Doddridge County Health Department, Marion County Health Department and Grafton-Taylor County Health Department at WV Legislative Public Health Day at WV Capitol on February 8, 2023.

Pictured above:

1st picture: Boyd Vanhorn-Grafton-Taylor Health Dept. Administrator

2nd picture: Mike Caputo-Marion County Senator and Lloyd White-Marion County Health Dept. Administrator

3rd picture: (top row) Stephanie Kissner-Doddridge County Health Dept. Public Health Nurse, Mike Caputo-Marion County Senator        (bottom row) Heather Amos-Doddridge County Health Dept. Administrator, Lloyd White-Marion County Health Dept. Administrator

National Patient Recognition Week February 1-7, 2023

 

Thank you to our patients; we are honored to care for you! Our world revolves around you- today, and everyday!!

 

 

 

 

February 3, 2023 Patient Appreciation Day!

February 3 is Patient Appreciation Day! We want to say thank you for choosing Doddridge County Health Department.

 

Thank you to our patients; we are honored to care for you! Our world revolves around you- today, and everyday!

 

International Boost Self Esteem Month

International Boost Self Esteem Month:
Our self-esteem is something that is always changing throughout our lives. A healthy self-esteem can improve your mental health. If someone is suffering from existing severe mental health struggles like anxiety and depression, a boost in their self-esteem can possibly increase their feelings of worth and help manage feelings of emptiness and sadness.
It is good to pay attention to your “self-talk.” Sometimes we are very critical of ourselves and others. Once you are aware of negative self-talk, you can you can challenge those thoughts when they arise.
One thing to help boost your self-esteem is to accept your flaws. We have to remember to separate the flaws that are unchangeable from ones we can work on. Accepting a flaw doesn’t mean that you like your flaw, it just means you have chosen to not let something you cannot change control you.
Another way to boost your self-esteem is to celebrate your personal strengths and practice gratitude. You could incorporate 5 minutes into your daily life to reflect on your personal strengths. These strengths could range from not only who you are physically but also your relationships, your personality, and your abilities. This can be how you are a caretaker of people and/or animals, how people come to you because you will make them laugh, or how you show people in your life that you love them.
Practicing self-care is another excellent way to boost your self-esteem. Self-care is a difficult practice and we find reasons why we don’t do it or as often as we should. Self-care requires you to focus on yourself and your needs which includes having sufficient sleep, proper mind and body nourishment, and doing what provides you with a sense of peace and well-being.

February is AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month

A.M.D. stands for Age-related Macular Degeneration. It is an illness that is the leading cause of low vision in Americans older than 50 years of age. The part of the eye affected by this disease is the macula, a pigmented, oval-shaped part of the retina. About 5 mm in diameter, it is responsible for the central vision required for driving, reading, and fine detail. Containing a high number of photoreceptor cells that detect light, it is also responsible for high-resolution vision. A.M.D. is a progressive disease that causes retinal cells to slowly die, though it causes no physical pain.
Medical experts have been able to identify some risk factors that might lead to the onset of A.M.D., including high blood pressure, high levels of blood cholesterol, obesity, and smoking. Other risk factors that a person has no control over are age, heredity, race, and gender. Symptoms of the disease include blurry vision, blind spots, straight lines appearing wavy, doorways seeming crooked, and objects appearing farther away or smaller. When any of these symptoms present themselves, the concerned individual is advised to immediately visit an ophthalmologist.
Though there is no cure for the disease, A.M.D. never causes blindness so it is possible for a patient to live normally with the disease by adapting to the quality of vision they have.
On the other hand, low vision is a visual impairment that cannot be corrected by surgery, glasses, contact lenses, or even pharmaceuticals. Its symptoms are blurry vision, tunnel vision, or blind spots. Low vision does not lead to complete blindness and in fact, can be improved with the use of visual aids. A.M.D. is one of the common causes of low vision, alongside diabetes and glaucoma. Though anyone can be affected by low vision, individuals 45 years and older face more risk.
HOW TO OBSERVE AMD/LOW VISION AWARENESS MONTH
Protect your vision
A.M.D. and low vision can be prevented by important lifestyle habits. Do all you can to protect your vision, starting now.
Spread the information
Spread awareness about these illnesses by starting an online campaign or talking to others about it. The more people know about it, the lesser chance the disease has to gain a foothold.
Exercise consideration for this affected
When you notice a person struggling with either A.M.D. or low vision, be kind enough to make the situation more comfortable for them. Turn off a few lights, ask them if they need help getting to their destination, and render whatever form of help you can.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month
Good oral hygiene helps keep your mouth healthy, prevents gum disease, and cavities. Children can practice and maintain good oral health by:
–Brushing their teeth for two minutes, twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, when they wake up and before bed. Print a calendar for kids to check off each time they brush their teeth from Mouth Healthy. Find games and videos to help kids stay engaged during brushing here.
–Flossing their teeth one time per day, usually at bedtime. Watch this video from Colgate to learn how to floss.
Replacing their toothbrush every 3-4 months, or more often if the bristles are worn down. Always replace your toothbrush if you have been sick.
–Eating healthy foods and limiting sugary drinks. Try adding in more water from the tap that contains fluoridation to help prevent cavities.
–Visiting their dentist regularly for routine preventive care and treatment.
Starting to practice dental hygiene early with children leads to healthier smiles and building healthy habits in the future. Find activities for kids to stay engaged throughout this month.
We hope that throughout the month, you can participate in the annual celebration along with your dentist, dental hygienist, children, friends, and other community members to help keep children cavity-free and smiling for years to come.

February is American Heart Month

Facts About Heart Disease

Every year, one in four people will die from heart disease. Heart disease can strike anyone, but certain individuals may be more at risk than others. Some of the most common risk factors for heart disease include:

  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Poor diet
  • Inactive lifestyle
  • Cigarette smoking
  • Excessive alcohol consumption

Heart disease is still the main source of death in the United States. In fact, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the world. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many of these deaths would have been preventable with proper preventative care.

Many people believe that cardiovascular diseases (CVD) inevitably comes with old age, there are many things that seniors can do to strengthen their heart and circulatory system.

Knowing The Symptoms Of Heart Disease

While there are several different forms of heart disease, they share common symptoms and warning signs. It’s important to learn these symptoms to receive a prompt diagnosis and medical treatment. Symptoms of an emergency may include:

  • Chest pain, discomfort or an uncomfortable pressure in the chest
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pain in the upper body, arms, back, neck, jaw or upper stomach
  • Feeling nauseous or vomiting
  • Sweating; or cold sweats
  • Weakness, light-headedness, feeling faint or dizzzy
  • Feeling very full or having indigestion
  • Fatigue or exhaustion
  • An irregular heartbeat, palpitations, or increased heart rate

How You Can Help To Prevent Heart Disease

Risk factors often develop as you age; things such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol increase your chances of having a stroke or developing heart disease. Whether your senior loved ones live at home, in an assisted living community or at a nursing home, you can make healthy changes to lower the risk of developing heart disease. Likewise, controlling and preventing risk factors are that much more important if you already suffer from heart disease.

Luckily, there are many ways to keep your heart in great shape, even as you age. Although statistics show that heart disease risks increase with age, with correct, healthy lifestyle habits and a heart-healthy diet, you can help protect your senior loved ones.

 

February is National Cancer Awareness Month

Just being aware is not enough. We need to TAKE ACTION!

While there is no certain way to prevent cancer, there are certain risk factors that increase the likelihood. You can TAKE ACTION to lower those risks through healthy lifestyle choices, getting recommended cancer screenings, and vaccinating against certain viruses.

Factors that are known to increase the risk of cancer:

  • Cigarette smoking and tobacco use
  • Infections
  • Radiation
  • Immunosuppressive medicines

Factors that may affect the risk of cancer:

  • Diet
  • Alcohol
  • Physical activity
  • Obesity
  • Environmental risk factors

6 TAKE ACTION Tips for Reducing your Risk

1. Maintain a Healthy Weight and Active Lifestyle

  • Eat a plant based diet and decrease your intake of higher calorie food.
  • Limit processed meats and alcohol.
  • Include at least 30 minutes of physical activity in your daily routine.Even better, strive for at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes a week of vigorous aerobic physical activity.

2. Avoid smoking and tobacco products

  • All forms of tobacco products have many chemicals that damage DNA and cause cancer.
  • No forms are safe including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco/snuff, hookas/waterpipes, and even secondhand smoke.
  • If you need help quitting tobacco, ask your doctor about products and strategies available to support you. MWHC has a tobacco cessation support group.

3. Sun protection

  • Stay out of the sun between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
  • Generously use sunscreen, cover exposed areas with hats or loose clothing, and utilize the shady areas when outdoors.
  • Avoid tanning beds and sun lamps.

4. Get Immunized

  • Certain viruses can cause cancer. There are vaccines that have been proven to be effective to reduce your risk.
  • The Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine can significantly decrease the risk of several cancers including cervical, throat, tongue, anal, and other genital cancers.
  • The Hepatitis B vaccine decreases the risk for liver cancer.

5. Get Screened

  • Regular screenings help detect cancers early and maximize your chance for successful treatment.
  • Please check out the American Cancer Society’s cancer screening guidelines by age

6. Know your family history

  • 5-10% of all cancers are inherited.
  • Understanding your family history can help guide your discussion with your physician of when you need to start cancer screening and whether to consider genetic counseling.

The National Cancer Institute and others continue to study new ways to prevent cancer. At this time, vitamin and dietary supplements have not been shown to prevent cancer.

Challenge yourself to do at least one of these TAKE ACTION steps each month, and then add another the next month, and then another and so forth until you are doing them all!

Sources:

  • American Cancer Society
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Mayo Clinic
  • National Cancer Institute
  • National Comprehensive Cancer Network

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

In the United States:
The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 14, 100 new cases of invasive cervical cancer will have been diagnosed in 2022.
The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 4,280 women will have died from cervical cancer in 2022. While cervical cancer was once one of the most common causes of cancer deaths for U.S. women, this is no longer true. The number of deaths from cervical cancer has significantly declined with the increased use of the Pap test.
In West Virginia:
According to the State Cancer Profiles from the National Cancer Institute, an average of 90 women per year were diagnosed with cervical cancer between 2015-2019.
According to the 2015-2019 State Cancer Profiles, West Virginia has the seventh highest incidence rate of cervical cancer in the nation.
According to the State Cancer Profiles from the National Cancer Institute, an average of 33 women per year died of cervical cancer between 2016-2020.
According to the State Cancer Profiles, West Virginia had the sixth-highest death rate of cervical cancer in the nation between 2016-2020.