Immunizations Later in Life: A Guide

        As a child, immunizations make up a large part of early doctor visits. But as we age, the importance of immunizations doesn’t necessarily decrease. There are quite a few vaccinations that are recommended for adults, as well. 
The CDC has developed an easy to read chart that helps you to outline which vaccinations may be needed, and when the proper time to get them is. In today’s healthcare system, important things such as the topic of vaccinations or other preventive measures are often overlooked because the concentration is on the disease already at hand. The vaccines recommended for those over 60 include an annual flu vaccine, Td booster every 10 years, varicella, zoster (shingles), and pneumococcal (pneumonia). There are also four other vaccinations that are recommended for individuals that already have other health conditions. This chart can be accessed by going to the following website: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/adult/adult-schedule-easy-read.pdf. This website also offers other great resources such as a quiz that can tell you which vaccinations are needed in your particular situation and for what reasons; it then gives you a list that you can print off and take to your doctor. 
As an adult, vaccinations become more of your responsibility because you are the one who must initiate the doctors appointment to discuss vaccinations with your healthcare provider. The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases began a campaign titled adultvaccination.org to help promote the importance of these vaccinations. This organization also came up with a list of 10 reasons to be vaccinated. 
10 Reasons To Be Vaccinated

• Vaccine-preventable diseases haven’t gone away
• Vaccines will help keep you healthy.
• Vaccines are as important to your overall health as diet and exercise.
• Vaccination can mean the difference between life and death.
• Vaccines are safe.
• Vaccines won’t give you the disease they are designed to prevent.
• Young and healthy people can get very sick, too.
• Vaccine-preventable diseases are expensive.
• When you get sick, your children, grandchildren and parents are at risk, too.
• Your family and coworkers need you. 

For more information about these 10 reasons, please visit: http://www.adultvaccination.org/10-reasons-to-be-vaccinated. 
It has been found that vaccine-preventable diseases kill more US adults annually than either breast cancer, HIV/AIDS, or motor vehicle traffic accidents. These diseases are preventable, but yet many adults do not know this. Healthcare costs from treating these diseases are very high. The cost of treating just two vaccine-preventable diseases --- influenza and pneumonia --- in the US, is estimated to cost over $35 billion per year. Our efforts need to focus on educating the adult population on the importance of vaccinations and how to obtain them. Our country’s economy has been suffering for quite some time, by encouraging vaccinations the cost of treating diseases will fall significantly and has the potential to impact our overall economic state by decreasing healthcare costs. 
When it comes to promoting vaccinations for adults, education is the key. Adults must understand the importance of each vaccination and make an educated decision on which are right for them. Healthcare today must aim at preventing diseases, and not solely treating them. By making this change to preventive medicine people may have the potential to live healthier and longer lives. 
Imagine yourself at the age of 65 becoming infected with shingles. When asked if you received the herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine, you are clueless and did not know that there was such a thing. Apparently anyone who previously had chicken pox is at risk for contracting shingles. You develop post-herpatic neuralgia (PHN), which affects one in five people infected with shingles. You are no longer able to live the social life you did before. No more card games on Wednesday nights, no more being active with your grandchildren, and getting to church on Sunday is almost unbearable. Doctors say that this may last months or even years. You realize that all of this could have been prevented if you had just KNOWN about the vaccine. 
This scenario unfortunately is not uncommon. Each year many lives are affected by Shingles and other preventable diseases. 
By getting your recommended vaccinations you are giving yourself the potential to live a healthier, happier, and longer life. Take a shot at life....get immunized!

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d). Recommended Immunizations for        Adults. Retrieved September 20, 2012, from    http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/adult/adult- schedule-easy-      read.pdf.

National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. (n.d). Adult Vaccination. Retrieved    September 22, 2012, from www.adultvaccination.org

Stop Sugar Coating Childhood Obesity

A recent study done at the University of Kansas Medical Center found that people living in rural areas were 18% more likely to be obese than their urban counterparts.  In addition, the CDC found in 2011 that the state of Missouri was ranked in the top eight most obese states with 30.3% of the population being overweight.  Adair County has similarly high rates of obesity with 35.2% of the population being obese.  Sadly, the percentage of overweight and obese children is growing at alarming rates with the American Academy of Pediatrics estimating that one out of every three children is overweight or obese.  In order to crack down on pediatric obesity and improve overall health for children, parents must teach children good nutritional habits and encourage regular exercise. 

Preventing kids from becoming overweight means improving family lifestyles.  It is essential for parents to create a home where healthy choices are encouraged and available.   The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages children to eat breakfast every day, eat regular meals together as a family, eat a diet rich in calcium and fiber, and to prepare foods at home together.  Studies estimate that over half Americans grew up abiding by the “clean plate club” rules when parents required their children to eat everything on their plates.  This “clean plate club” style of eating has lead to significant overeating.  It is important to let kids stop eating when they feel they’ve had enough.  Children are less likely to overeat when they learn to notice and respond to feelings of fullness. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents to pay less attention to how “clean” your child’s plate is at the end of a meal and instead focus on what you serve in the first place. The quality over quantity approach to eating will allow children to develop healthier attitudes toward food.

Healthy active children are more likely to become healthy active adults.  Now more than ever life has become more sedentary not only for adults but for children as well. Kids are spending significant more time in front of television and computer screens and playing electronic, handheld games instead of actively playing outside.  The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) currently recommends limiting the time kids over 2 years of age spend in front of a screen to no more than 1-2 hours. The AAP also discourages any screen time for children younger than 2 years.  Parents must encourage children actively play outside.

            The more parents are involved encouraging healthy eating habits and physical activity, the less frequent pediatric obesity will be.  Parents are the first line of defense in preventing obesity for children.  Let us set good examples, encourage nutritious food choices, and exercise regularly not only to improve our own lives, but also to improve the lives of our children.

Citations:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved September 10, 2012, from http://www.cdc.gov

Healthy Active Living for Families. (n.d.). Healthy Children. Retrieved September 13, 2012, from www.healthychildren.org

KidsHealth - the Web's most visited site about children's health. (n.d.). KidsHealth - the Web's most visited site about children's health. Retrieved September 27, 2012, from http://www.kidshealth.org

Let's Move!. (n.d.). Let's Move!. Retrieved September 27, 2012, from http://www.letsmove.gov

Delta Kappa Gamma

                                                 
                                

                               What is DKG?

• The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International is a professional honorary society of women educators.
• DKG aims to promote professional and personal growth of its members and excellence in education.
• The vision of our society is “Leading women educators, impacting education worldwide.”
• We have membership of over 100,000 women from 18 different countries including the US.
• We have various chapters all across Missouri. Our local chapter here in Kirksville is the Delta chapter.

                                  Why Join?                                   

•   Membership to DKG is a prestigious honor.
•   Membership is by invitation only.
•  Members are empowered with new knowledge and professional development opportunities.
•  Membership benefits include leadership training, scholarships, grants, insurance offerings, group discounts& networking opportunities.

Who can Join?

Women educators who

•        are employed in an educational position or a self-employed educator.
•        are retired educators from an educational position.
•        live in one of the 17 countries where DKG is established.

For more information about DKG, go to www.dkg.org or https://sites.google.com/a/truman.edu/delta-kappa-gamma-delta-chapter/home

           

                        

Latch On! Breastfeeding has Benefits for Both

In America, we are raising the first generation that is expected to have a shorter lifespan than their parents. With the imploding health of our nation, it's time to get people thinking about what can be done to fix it, and breastfeeding is one thing that can make a big difference. In places like Belgium, The Netherlands and Finland, where more than half of all children are breastfed for multiple years, the life expectancy is still increasing. Thousands of antiviral, antibacterial and anti-parasitic antibodies protect against things like E. coli, pneumonia, step throat, salmonella, influenza, rotavirus, rubella, West Nile virus, allergies, asthma, mumps, measles, diabetes, meningitis and many cancers. Nursing children get sick less often, and heal quicker.

Breastfeeding is a source of comfort, support and security. The accessible nature of their mother's attention due to the breastfeeding relationship, combined with the hormonal benefits of consistent physical contact translates to an independence and security that can stay with the child as it grows. Benefits to mother include emotional well-being due to the milk-making hormones, as well as less stress and less incidence of postpartum depression. The length of time a woman breastfeeds is linked to lowered risks of many cancers, diabetes and arthritis.

For women who plan to breastfeed, experiences and support during the first hours and days after birth influence their later ability to continue breastfeeding. Because nearly all U.S. births occur in hospitals, policies that determine hospital practices can influence the feeding behaviors of more than 11,000 infants born each. For women who intend to breastfeed, the hospital experience is critical. Mothers, you are responsible for your own hospital experience. Set out a plan yourself and deny visitors for the first 24 hours, allowing you and your baby to bond and start breastfeeding successfully. 

Source: http://womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/ 

Don't Sugar Coat it... Diabetes is an Epidemic.

Diabetes is a disease that has become an epidemic within recent years in the United States. The country has also faced drastically increasing rates of obesity, especially in the last 30 years. There is a distinct correlation between obesity and diabetes; poor eating and lack of exercise are two of the leading causes of the disease. This paper is designed to explain the importance of effective diabetes management, with the primary treatment center being Trinity Hospital of Augusta, Georgia

Checking Blood Sugar

            The most important tool for a diabetic is checking blood sugar. It’s a simple and relatively painless procedure that helps doctors and patients understand their progress and determine how they are feeling.  A finger prick for a drop of blood is all it takes. Readings between 70 and 130 are typically are what the doctors define as target range.

When patients have appointments with physicians, they will usually have lab work done and receive results of their average blood sugar for the past 60 -90 days. This is called a Hemoglobin A1c test. Hemoglobin A1c tests are blood tests are done mostly in hospitals, in which blood is drawn from the arm and taken to the lab. Generally, doctors want their diabetic patients around 6.5% or lower.

What is the outlook on Georgia as far as diabetes is concerned? The number of adults with diabetes in Richmond County, GA alone is at 11.6%. When compared to the National average, Georgia is right with it, which is BAD because rates are only on the increase. The data in the table below is from 2007-2009. The table also indicates higher rates for diabetes in African American individuals. Richmond County, GA and many other counties in the state have a majority population of African Americans. This means the need for successful diabetes education and management is even greater in these areas!

U.S. Adults, by Age  Diabetes 2007-2009
20–44 years	2.6%
45–64 years	11.7%
>=65	18.9%
U.S. Adults Aged >=20 Years, by Race and Ethnicityb,c
American Indian and Alaska Native	16.1%
Asian American	8.4%
Hispanic	11.8%
Non-Hispanic black	12.6%
Non-Hispanic white	7.1%

 

 

           

 

While viewing the leading causes of death for Georgia for 1994-2002, it is seen that diabetes is not listed frequently. This is a misconception, however. The effects of diabetes are what are causing the biggest health problems in individuals with the disease. The lack of exercise and absence of a nutritional and balanced diet contribute to weight gain, all pointing to heart disease, stroke, cancers, amputations, problems with blood circulation, etc. By enrolling in the Living with Diabetes program at Trinity Hospital in Augusta, one will cover the all concerns and complications of diabetes as well as how to maintain a healthy life. The success is credited to the topics the program covers. These topics are; Diabetes Disease Process, Nutritional Management, Meal Planning, Monitoring Blood Glucose, Physical Activity, Foot Care, Acute Complications, Medication or Insulin, Chronic Complications, Psychosocial Concerns, and Personal Goal Setting.

American Diabetes Association. (2012). For parents and kids. Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/?loc=DropDownLWD-treatment

American Diabetes Association. (2012). Treatment and care. Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/?loc=DropDownLWD-treatment

CDC. (2012, August). Diabetes report card 2012: National and state profile of diabetes and its complications. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/reportcard.htm

Don't Regret a Cigarette

 Don't Regret a Cigarette

Adair counties history with tobacco use has shown that it is essential to start making drastic changes in how we promote tobacco use.  I will admit that Cigarettes have made a strong transition in a healthy direction since they became popular in the 1950’s.  They were once seen as “cool” and “not dangerous” and are now perceived as “toxic” and “harmful”; yet we still have an average of twenty percent of our high school students smoking cigarettes.  Many of these individuals began smoking by the age of thirteen. 

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey for 2011 concluded results of:

 The 2011 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicates that among U.S. high school students:

Cigarette Use

•                      45% ever tried cigarette smoking. (1)

•                      18% smoked cigarettes on at least 1 day during the 30 days before the survey.

•                      6% smoked cigarettes on 20 or more days during the 30 days before the survey.

•                      5% smoked cigarettes on school property during the 30 days before the survey.

•                      50% did not try to quit smoking cigarettes.

Teenagers are the age group we need to begin targeting to convince not to smoke or in some cases, to quit smoking.  The age of trying a cigarette has become younger over the years and if we as health educators do not begin targeting younger teenagers than this problem will become worse. Another issue that Adair county, and the United States as a whole needs to address is selling cigarettes to minors.  The table below is results of the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System of 2009.  The data is the percent of High school students who claimed they bought their cigarettes at a store or gas station on a regular basis. 

 TABLE 32. Percentage of high school students who usually obtained their own cigarettes by buying them in a store or gas station.  It is organized by sex, race/ethnicity, and grade — United States, Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Category	Females %	Males %
White¶	8.8	19.0
Black¶	—**	24.8
Hispanic	11.5	15.0
9	3.5	11.0
10	9.8	16.8
11	12.0	18.8
12	14.9	32.7
Total	9.6	18.3

We know the potential harmful results that come from smoking cigarettes which are: lung, esophagus, larynx, and oral cancer.  Not only does smoking have long term effects but tobacco use increases the risk of sudden death.  This effect would result from a condition where the heart is unable to beat properly and does not supply enough blood to the organs of the body.  It is estimated that tobacco use kills one out of five individuals every year in America.  Not only this but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claim, “tobacco use is the highest cause of death that could be prevented in the United States”.   The CDC also researched and estimated that, “adults who smoke decrease their life expectancy by fourteen years as compared to a nonsmoker”.   If we focus on targeting young teenagers with the education of how harmful cigarettes are, then there is a bigger chance these individuals will be more prone to saying “no” to tobacco in the future. 

We as Adair county citizens owe it to our county to start improving our health of Adair County.  These young teenagers will be the future of Adair County.  If we begin implementing posters, advertisements, news castings that target younger individuals and show them how smoking is not only toxic, but not “cool”, then we will be more effective in preventing them from smoking in the future.

Citations:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, YRBSS analysis. (2011). youth risk behavior surveillance system. Retrieved from Centers for disease Control and Prevention website: http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/yrbs/index.htm

Preferred family healthcare "we are a good family to know". (2012). Retrieved from http://pfh.org/

Smoking and tobacco use. In (2012). National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Atlanta, Georgia: USA.Gov. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_smoking/