~ Health News ~
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Cardiac Risk/Cholesterol
Screening
Central District Health Department
(Syringa Room
- Conference Room off Main Hall)
(1 block East of Five Mile Road off
Emerald)
Cost: $22 – No
appointment necessary
The profile provides:
· Cholesterol screening
· Blood pressure check
· Health and nutrition information
PLEASE NOTE:
·
Participants must
not eat solid food or drink anything other than water for a full 12 hours
before the screening.
·
Do not drink
alcohol 48 hours prior to the test.
·
The screening
will take approximately 15 to 20 minutes for a blood pressure check and blood
draw.
Worksite
clinics can also be arranged. For more information visit the CDHD website
at:
cdhd.idaho.gov or call (208) 375-5211.
Infants Capable of
Learning While Asleep
Newborn infants are capable of a simple form
of learning while they’re asleep, according to a study by researchers funded by
the National Institutes of Health. The finding may one day lead to a test that
can identify infants at risk for developmental disorders that do not become
apparent until later in childhood.
The study was confined to newborns, so the
researchers do not know whether older children or adults are capable of
learning during sleep. Funding for the study was provided by the NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child
Health and Human Development. Additional funding was provided by the National
Institute of Mental Health.
Conducted by William Fifer, Ph.D. and his
colleagues at
Researchers used an electroencephalogram, a
machine that records the brain’s electrical activity and converts it into
patterns, to record the brain activity of each sleeping infant. A video camera
recorded each infant’s facial expressions. The researchers played a tone, while
a machine blew a faint puff of air at each sleeping infant’s eyelids. In
response to the air puff, the infants reflexively squeezed their closed lids
tighter.
The researchers repeated this nine times,
each time pairing the air puff with the tone. For the tenth time in the
sequence, however, the researchers played the tone without the air puff. This
sequence was repeated over and over again.
After roughly 20 minutes, most of the
infants (24 out of 26) would scrunch their faces in response to the tone that
was not accompanied by the air puff. Moreover, the electroencephalogram
detected changes in brain wave activity that occurred simultaneously with the
tone, which the researchers interpret as further evidence that the infants had
learned to associate the tone with the air puff.
Infants in the control group, who were
exposed to random, unpaired tones and air puffs, did not squeeze their eyelids
in response to isolated tones.
"The current experiment is the first to
demonstrate that newborn infants are capable of learning about relationships
between stimuli while asleep," the researchers wrote. "Learning was
only demonstrated in infants exposed to consistent pairings of the tone and air
puff."
The researchers added that it is not known
whether learning to make such associations during sleep is unique to infants or
could also occur in adults. It’s possible that the ability might diminish with
age.
They also noted that this type of learning is
controlled by the cerebellum, a part of the brain that is implicated in many
developmental disorders. This non-invasive measure of cerebellar
function in sleeping newborn infants might later provide a means to screen for
developmental conditions very early in life, Dr. Fifer said.
The NICHD sponsors research on development,
before and after birth; maternal, child, and family health; reproductive
biology and population issues; and medical rehabilitation. For more
information, visit the Institute's Web site at http://www.nichd.nih.gov/.
Enjoy the Water and Stay
Healthy
Area
Pool Operators Join Forces in Support of 2010 National Recreational Water
Illness (RWI) Prevention Week
The week before Memorial Day (May 24–30,
2010) is National Recreational Water Illness (RWI) Prevention Week. The Central
District Health Department (CDHD) and area pool operators want to raise
awareness about healthy swimming behaviors, including ways to prevent
recreational water illnesses (RWIs). RWIs are caused by germs spread by swallowing, breathing in
mists or aerosols of, or having contact with contaminated water in swimming
pools, water parks, hot tubs, interactive fountains, water play areas, lakes,
rivers and canals.
“We don’t want a repeat of 2007 when our
health district saw over 240 cases of Cryptosporidiosis,” said Tom Schmalz, who oversees CDHD’s pool
inspection program.
“Two of our splash parks now use only fresh water, instead of recirculating the water,” Michael Echeita,
Eagle Public Works Director said. “Still parents and their children can
help reduce RWIs by keeping germs out of the water
where they play.”
The themes of RWI Prevention Week 2010 are
pool inspections and the Triple A’s of Healthy Swimming. Pool inspection data
can help pool programs identify common problems and determine priorities for
keeping
their facilities healthy. Having the right disinfectant and pH levels in
recreational water is essential to stopping the spread of germs that cause RWIs. Although pool inspectors check to make sure these
levels are
right, they can’t be at every pool every day. In fact, Environmental
Health Specialists from CDHD only inspect publicly-owned pools. So private
pools, like those at hotels and motels, in subdivisions and condo developments
and private health clubs, have added responsibilities in making sure swimmers
have a healthy swimming experience every time. "Roaring Springs has taken
a leadership role in the waterpark industry
in
battling water borne illness, says Patrick Morandi,
Managing Partner at Roaring Springs. "We've installed the latest
technology, including ultraviolet light for the cleanest possible water in our Kiddie Pool." Regardless of where people swim or enjoy
water features, like splash parks, patrons are encouraged to follow the Triple
A’s of Healthy Swimming: Awareness, Action, and Advocacy.
Awareness:
·
Visit CDC’s
Healthy Swimming website at www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming
·
Visit CDHD’s Swimming Pool resource page: http://cdhd.idaho.gov/EH/pools/resources.htm
·
Learn how to
protect yourself and others from RWIs and follow the
Six Steps for Healthy Swimming (listed below)
Action
·
Check pool water
yourself using a pool and spa test kit purchased at your local pool supply
store
·
Ask the pool
operator about chlorine and pH levels and how often they test
Advocacy:
·
Encourage pool
operators to take steps shown to kill the germs that cause RWIs
·
Educate other swimmers
about RWIs to promote healthy swimming
“While the City of Meridian has taken
technological steps to reduce the possibility of exposure to germs like Crypto,
it’s still important for parents to keep sick children out of the water,” says Steve
Siddoway, Director of Meridian Parks and
Recreation. “Recreational water illnesses are not something you should
share with friends and neighbors.”
Recreational Water Illnesses
(RWIs)
The
best way to prevent RWIs is to keep germs out of the
pool in the first place. Follow these six steps for a safe and healthy swimming
experience:
Three Steps for
all Swimmers
·
Don’t swim when
you have diarrhea.
·
Don’t swallow
pool water.
·
Practice good
hygiene. Shower with soap before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet
or changing diapers. Germs on your body end up in the water.
Three Steps for Parents of Young Children
·
Take your kids on
bathroom breaks or check diapers often.
·
Change diapers in
a bathroom or a diaper-changing area and not at poolside.
·
Wash your children
thoroughly (especially the rear end) with soap and water before they go
swimming.
“The City of Boise has concentrated on
educating those using its many pool and water recreation sites,” says George
Scott Aquatics Coordinator for Boise Parks and Recreation. “RWI
prevention starts with good hygiene, like taking a shower before you swim.”
CDHD has educational materials available for
all pool operators to display and distribute to their patrons. Pool
operators may call the Environmental Health area at CDHD at 327-7499 for more
information.
The general public can get more information about healthy
swimming by visiting these websites:
·
CDC’s Healthy
Swimming website at www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming.
·
Visit CDHD’s Swimming Pool resource page: http://cdhd.idaho.gov/EH/pools/resources.htm
Food Safety Awareness in the
Childcare Setting Training for Childcare Providers & the Public
The
Central District Health Department is offering a two-hour class entitled “Food
Safety Awareness in the Childcare Setting” for residents of Ada, Elmore, Boise
and Valley counties on Thursday May 27th from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at
the CDHD office, 707 N Armstrong Place, Boise. The largest cause of food borne
illness is the mishandling of food. In order to keep children and
families safe from food-associated illness, class participants will learn the
most effective methods of reducing contamination. Topics will include
proper hand washing and best practices in cooking, cooling, reheating and
storing food. While the class is designed with child care providers in
mind, it is open to the public.
Pre-registration for Food Safety Awareness in the
Childcare Setting is required and the cost is $15. Call 327-7499 for more
information and to register for the class. Information is also available
on the CDHD website: www.cdhd.idaho.gov.
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Good Oral Health is Key to
Quality of Life
When your mouth is healthy, you can eat the
foods you need for good nutrition and can feel better about smiling, talking,
and laughing. However, periodontal (gum) disease — an infection of the gums and
tissues that hold teeth in place — can harm oral health and is a leading cause
of tooth loss among older adults. Because it’s an important topic for seniors,
a section on gum disease has just been added to NIHSeniorHealth.gov. It’s the
premier health and wellness website for older adults developed by the National
Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Library of Medicine (NLM), both part
of the National Institutes of Health.
"The new periodontal disease section on
NIHSeniorHealth.gov is an excellent source of easy-to-understand information
that will help older people learn about periodontal disease and how they can
prevent it," said Lawrence A. Tabak, D.D.S.,
Ph.D., director of NIH's National Institute of Dental
and Craniofacial Research. "Periodontal disease does not have to be a part
of aging. Proper dental hygiene and regular dental visits can help people
reduce their chance of developing periodontal disease as they age."
The information on gum disease can be found
on the NIHSeniorHealth website at
www.nihseniorhealth.gov/periodontaldisease/toc.html
and also includes helpful illustrations on brushing and flossing techniques for
people with less dexterity due to arthritis or other conditions.
Older Americans are increasingly turning to
the Internet for health information. In fact, more than 70 percent of online
seniors look for health and medical information when they go on the Web. NIHSeniorHealth (www.nihseniorhealth.gov),
which is based on the latest research on cognition and aging, features short,
easy-to-read segments of information that can be accessed in a number of
formats, including various large-print type sizes, open-captioned videos and an
audio version. Additional topics coming soon to the site include collecting
your family health history, alcohol use among older adults and long-term care.
The NIDCR is the federal government's lead
agency for scientific research on oral, dental and craniofacial health and
disease. For more information, visit the Web site at www.nidcr.nih.gov.
The NLM is the world's largest library of the
health sciences and collects, organizes and makes available biomedical science
information to scientists, health professionals and the public. For more
information, visit the Web site at www.nlm.nih.gov.
The NIA leads the federal effort supporting
and conducting research on aging and the medical, social and behavioral issues
of older people. For more information on research and aging, go to www.nia.nih.gov.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) —
The Nation's Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and
is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the
primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and
translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and
cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its
programs, visit www.nih.gov.
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Study Confirms New Treatment for
Diabetic Macular Edema
Researchers have found that eye injections
of a medication, in combination with laser treatment, result in better vision
than laser treatment alone for diabetes-associated swelling of the retina.
In diabetic macular edema, leaky blood vessels in the eye cause
swelling—shown within the ring of yellow molecules—that can ultimately lead to
vision loss. Image courtesy of NEI.
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common
cause of vision loss in working-age Americans. This condition damages the small
blood vessels in the eye's light-sensitive retinal tissue. If these damaged
blood vessels begin to leak near the center of the retina, known as the macula,
the surrounding area swells and causes a condition called macular edema. The
macula provides detailed central vision needed for activities such as reading,
driving and distinguishing faces. Macular edema can lead to vision loss if left
untreated.
Laser treatment of the retina has been the
standard care for diabetic macular edema since a 1985 study supported by NIH’s National Eye Institute (NEI) proved its
effectiveness. Some small studies have since found benefits in medications that
block a chemical signal called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which
stimulates blood vessel growth. Repeated eye injections of anti-VEGF
medications, such as ranibizumab (Lucentis),
may prevent blood vessels from leaking fluid and causing macular edema.
The new study involved 52 clinical sites
within the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network (DRCR.net), which is
supported by NEI and NIH’s National Institute of
Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The study included a total
of 854 eyes of 691 people. Participants, who were on average in their early
60s, were diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and macular edema. They were
randomly assigned to 4 study groups: sham injections plus prompt laser
treatment within a week; ranibizumab injections plus
prompt laser treatment; ranibizumab plus deferred
laser treatment after 6 months or more; or injections of a corticosteroid
medication known as triamcinolone (Trivaris) plus prompt laser treatment.
Ranibizumab
injections could be given as often as every 4 weeks, and triamcinolone
injections or laser treatments up to every 16 weeks. Treatment was continued
until vision or retinal thickness returned to normal, or if additional
treatment didn’t improve vision or retinal swelling. The results appeared
online on
The
researchers found that nearly half the eyes receiving ranibizumab
injections, with either prompt or deferred laser treatment, experienced
substantial visual improvement after a year. In contrast, only about 30% of
eyes that received laser treatment alone or triamcinolone
plus laser showed significant improvement.
Participants in all 3 injection groups had a
greater decrease in retinal thickness after a year than those
receiving laser treatment alone. However, triamcinolone
injections brought greater complication rates, including high eye pressure and
cataracts that required treatment.
"This comparative-effectiveness study
demonstrated that a new treatment can protect and, in many cases, improve the
vision of people with diabetic macular edema," says NEI Director Dr. Paul
A. Sieving.
DRCR.net researchers will continue to
monitor the study participants for at least 3 years to gather more data about
the safety and effectiveness of the treatments.
Related Links:
Diabetic Eye Disease: What You Should Know:
http://www.nei.nih.gov/diabetes/content/english/know2.asp
Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network:
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CDHD Offers Fluoride Varnish at Dental
Clinic
WHAT: Fluoride Varnish Clinics
Eligibility:
· Medicaid-eligible children 6 months to 5 years
· Uninsured children
· Every six months
Cost: Free for Medicaid-eligible children, Sliding
fee scale for all others
WHERE: Central District Health
Department: Mountain Home office, 520 E 8th N Street
WHEN: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, Friday May 21, 2010
Call for an appointment 587-4407
WHO: Central District Health Department
Fluoride Varnish Clinic.
For more information visit the CDHD website at www.cdhd.idaho.gov or call 587-4407.
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No Travel Vaccinations at
CDHD
If you’re making travel plans that include
going to foreign countries, you may need special immunizations. Unfortunately, the Central District Health
Department (CDHD) doesn’t offer travel immunizations any more. In a cost-saving measure CDHD stopped
offering travel vaccinations in March of 2009.
Still, people still call the CDHD offices in Boise, Mountain Home and
McCall because the health department is where they got their shots before they
traveled the last time.
Travel immunizations are available through
specialty clinics at the two major medical centers in Boise; Saint Alphonsus and St. Luke’s.
To make an appointment at Saint Alphonsus Travel
Medicine call 367-3627. To make an
appointment at St. Luke’s Travel Medicine call 706-7200.
CDHD also stopped offering adult
vaccinations in March of 2009. A
referral page has been set up on the CDHD website: http://cdhd.idaho.gov/IMM/adults/referral.htm.
For any other vaccine-related questions
please contact the Immunizations Department at CDHD 327-7450.
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Health
Information Technology Use Among Men and Women Aged 18-64: Early Release of
Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, January-June 2009
by Robin A. Cohen, Ph.D., and Barbara Stussman,
B.A., Division of Health Interview Statistics
The
dynamic involvement of consumers in managing their own health care includes
activities such as the use of computers (hardware and software) to access,
retrieve, store, or share health care information. This may include using the
Internet to look up health information, using e-mail or text messaging to
communicate with health care providers or pharmacies, and having an electronic
health record. As the percentage of adults in the U.S. who use the Internet
continues to grow, the Internet may become increasingly important as a source
of health information for consumers. Although use of the Internet has the
potential to improve consumer health by facilitating communication between
providers and patients, and among providers, previous research (1) has found
that many consumers are concerned about security and confidentiality issues
related to scheduling medical appointments or accessing personal health records
online.
Health
information technology (HIT) is the application of information
processing-through computer hardware and software-to the storage, retrieval,
sharing, and use of health care information, data, and knowledge for
communication and decision making (2). Research on HIT use has shown that 74%
of adults in the U.S. use the Internet, and 61% have used the Internet to
search for health or medical information (3). Additionally, 49% of adults have
accessed a website that provides information about a specific medical condition
or problem. Adults between the ages of 18 and 49 are more likely than older
adults to use HIT.
The
National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) was the first nationally representative
household survey to collect data on the use of HIT. In 2009, NHIS included five
questions on HIT. This Health E-Stat provides preliminary estimates of HIT use
among men and women aged 18-64, using NHIS data collected from January through
June 2009.
From
January through June 2009, 51% of adults aged 18-64 had used the Internet to
look up health information during the past 12 months (Figure 1).
Over 3%
of adults aged 18-64 had used an online chat group to learn about health topics
in the past 12 months.
Among
adults aged 18-64, women were more likely than men to look up health
information on the Internet (58.0% versus 43.4%) and were also more likely to
use online chat groups to learn about health topics (4.1% versus 2.5%).
From
January through June 2009, almost 5% of adults aged 18-64 had communicated with
a health care provider by e-mail in the past 12 months (Figure 2).
During the first 6 months of 2009, 6% of adults
aged 18-64 requested a refill of a prescription on the Internet, and almost 3%
had made an appointment with a health care provider in the past 12 months using
the Internet.
Among
adults aged 18¬64, women were more likely than men to request a prescription
refill on the Internet (6.6% versus 5.3%), make an appointment using the
Internet (3.5% versus 1.8%), and communicate with a health care provider over
e-mail (5.6% versus 4.2 %).
Survey
Description - NHIS is a nationally representative survey of the civilian
noninstitutionalized household population of the United States conducted
throughout the year from January through December by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. NHIS collects
information on health and health care for all eligible members of the sampled
households through in-person interviews. Additional information, including
information on the use of HIT, is self-reported by one randomly sampled adult
(the “sample adult”) within a family, except in rare cases when the selected
adult is physically or mentally incapable of responding.
Data
Analysis - Analyses were based on data collected from 7,192 sample adults aged
18-64 from January through June 2009. Estimates were calculated by using the
NHIS survey weights, which are calibrated to census totals for sex, age, and
race/ethnicity of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. Weights
for 2009 NHIS data were derived from 2000-census-based population estimates.
The estimates in this report are being released prior to final data editing and
final weighting, to provide access to the most recent NHIS information on HIT.
The resulting estimates are generally within 0.1-0.3 percentage points of those
based on the editing procedures used for the final data files. Item nonresponse
on the HIT items was approximately 1%. Estimates were calculated using SUDAAN
software (4), to account for the complex sample design of NHIS, and were
weighted to reflect the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population.
Estimates shown have less than or equal to 30% relative standard error.
Estimates were compared using two-tailed significance tests at the 0.05 level.
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Fit & Fall Proof
Classes to Be Offered At
Overland Court Senior
Living
Good news for seniors! There are more “Fit and Fall Proof” classes being offered than ever
before. The popular classes sponsored by
the Central District Health Department (CDHD) will now be offered at Overland
Court Senior Living,
Fit
and Fall Proof classes teach seniors simple exercises that increase
strength, balance and endurance, and can help prevent debilitating injuries
caused by accidental falls and tripping sometimes associated with age.
Overland Court Senior Living
322-2900
Starts Monday April 26th
Classes
every Monday & Wednesday at
There is no charge to attend the
classes. For more information contact Lindsay
Byars at 327-8591.
A complete schedule of Fit & Fall Proof classes is available on the CDHD website: http://cdhd.idaho.gov/CHEC/services/fallproof.htm.
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Fit & Fall Proof
Classes
Coming to
The
Fit and Fall Proof classes teach seniors
simple exercises that increase strength, balance and endurance, and can help
prevent debilitating injuries caused by accidental falls and tripping sometimes
associated with age.
345-4460
Starts Monday May 3rd
Classes every Monday & Wednesday at
There is no charge to attend the
classes. For more information contact Lindsay
Byars at 327-8591.
A complete schedule of Fit & Fall Proof classes is available on the
CDHD website: http://cdhd.idaho.gov/CHEC/services/fallproof.htm.
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Meridian Locations for Fit
& Fall Proof™ Classes
Fit
& Fall Proof ™classes are a proven method of preventing debilitating falls
that can rob seniors of their ability to live independently. There are
two Fit & Fall Proof™ class locations in
Spring Creek Manor
175 E Calderwood Drive
327-8547 or CDHD 327-8591
Mon & Thurs at 10:00 a.m.
Boise First Community Center
3852 N Eagle Road
CDHD 327-8591
Tues & Thurs at 9:30 & 10:30 a.m.
There is no charge to attend the
classes. For more information contact Lindsay Byars
at 327-8591. A complete schedule of Fit & Fall Proof™ classes is
available on the CDHD website: http://cdhd.idaho.gov/CHEC/services/fallproof.htm.
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Glenns Ferry, ID
Fit & Fall Proof™
Classes
Help Seniors Prevent Falls
Fit & Fall Proof™ classes are a proven
method of preventing debilitating falls that can rob seniors of their ability
to live independently. The
Three
Glenns Ferry, ID
366-2051
Classes: every Monday
& Thursday at
There is no charge to attend the
classes. For more information contact Lindsay
Byars at 327-8591. A complete schedule of Fit &
Fall Proof™ classes is available on the CDHD website: http://cdhd.idaho.gov/CHEC/services/fallproof.htm.