Princess Health and Flu remains widespread in Kentucky; vaccinations still advisable. Princessiccia

Princess Health and Flu remains widespread in Kentucky; vaccinations still advisable. Princessiccia

epidemic immunizations influenza public health respiratory illness vaccinations

Gusty 07:16 Add Comment

This year's round of influenza hit Kentucky later than usual, and that probably means this year's flu season could run past May, its usual end, the state Department of Public Health said in an alert April 6.

The flu is �widespread� in Kentucky for the ninth straight week, the health department said. "That means there�s increased flu-like activity or flu outbreaks in at least half of the regions of the state," Darla Carter reports for The Courier-Journal.

The department still recommends a flu vaccination, if you haven't had one for the current season, �particularly children 6 months and older and those people at high risk for complications related to the flu, to check with doctors� offices, local health departments, pharmacies or other providers about getting the vaccine,� said Dr. Kraig Humbaugh, senior deputy commissioner.

The agency recommends other precautions:

• Avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you have the flu, limit your contact with other people.
• Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone. Your fever should be gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing drug.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then put the tissue in the trash.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If they are not available, use an alcohol-based rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that might be contaminated with flu and other germs.

Princess Health and UK research project will create strategies to improve respiratory health for those living in Appalachian Kentucky.Princessiccia

Princess Health and UK research project will create strategies to improve respiratory health for those living in Appalachian Kentucky.Princessiccia

air pollution Appalachia asthma chronic disease environment public health research respiratory illness University of Kentucky

Gusty 10:48 Add Comment

Public health researchers at the University of Kentucky will undertake a five-year long research project called "Community-Engaged Research and Action to Reduce Respiratory Disease in Appalachia," Sarah Noble writes in a UK press release.

Funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the project will involve creating strategies to improve respiratory and environmental public health. Kentuckians living in Appalachian counties have the state's highest rates of serious respiratory illness.

"Adults in Appalachian Kentucky are 50 percent more likely to develop asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease than the overall U.S. population," Noble writes. "As many as one in five adults in the region have received a diagnosis of asthma, and rates of COPD are nearly two-and-a-half fold the incidence of the disease in other parts of the country.

Although studies show associations between respiratory health problems and environmental contaminants, data doesn't yet include individual-level assessments or behavioral risk factors common in the area�such as smoking, poor diet and insufficient physical activity. The "Community Response to Environmental Exposures in Eastern Kentucky" project will fill those gaps.

The CREEEK project will include three steps. A community-based assessment will "identify the relationships between indoor air pollutants, behavioral and social determinants and the effects these factors have on risk of respiratory disease," Noble writes. That information "will be shared with local stakeholders in an effort to increase understanding of the environmental exposures present in the region," then the project will put in place "an environmental public health action strategy and will evaluate that strategy's ability to impact short-and long-term outcomes for respiratory health."

Princess Health and Princess Health andThis is Asthma Awareness Month, more important in Kentucky than in most states; we have one of the nation's highest rates.Princessiccia

Princess Health and Princess Health andThis is Asthma Awareness Month, more important in Kentucky than in most states; we have one of the nation's highest rates.Princessiccia

asthma children's health respiratory illness schools smoking tobacco

Gusty 15:52 Add Comment

In May the Kentucky Department for Public Health is observing Asthma Awareness Month by cultivating awareness about the disease's impact and working with the Kentucky Asthma Partnership to reach both health care providers and schools to assist people with asthma.

Asthma sometimes creates disability, reduces quality of life and diminishes work productivity.  "While there is no cure for asthma, the burden of the disease can be lessened with proper management. With the right tools and resources, the numbers of missed schools days and work days, emergency room visits and hospitalizations can be greatly reduced," Public Health Commissioner Stephanie Mayfield, M.D., said in a news release from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

Kentucky has one of the nation's highest rates of asthma: one in 10 children and one in 11 adults. The disease costs Kentucky $399 million every year in direct medical costs, estimates the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Asthma also causes loss of money through work absenteeism and is one of the top reasons children miss school.

This month the state health department will collaborate with the Kentucky Asthma Partnership to encourage providers, schools and communities to both assist people with asthma and create an asthma action plan. "Educational tools will be made available, including Creating Asthma Friendly Schools, the EPR-3 Asthma guidelines and Asthma 1-2-3 Training. In addition, the American Lung Association of the Midland States will be sponsoring the Fight for Air Walk June 7 at Iroquois Park in Louisville," according to the press release.

According to health department staff, people need to know what to do in response to asthma attacks. "An asthma action plan helps patients identify when asthma is out of control and what steps need to be taken to respond to asthma attacks," said Pam Spradling, manager of the state asthma program. "Parents and caregivers can help schools identify children with asthma, make sure medications are available to the child and that an asthma action plan is on file," Spradling said. "Schools and workplaces can help reduce the risk of exposure to indoor asthma triggers year round by improving air quality and reducing exposure to second hand smoke."

To learn more, go to the Kentucky Asthma Program's website or the CDC's National Asthma Control Program website.

Princess Health and Princess Health andKy. leads U.S. in emphysema (COPD), but study shows fewer COPD hospitalizations in Ky. places with smoke-free laws.Princessiccia

Princess Health and Princess Health andKy. leads U.S. in emphysema (COPD), but study shows fewer COPD hospitalizations in Ky. places with smoke-free laws.Princessiccia

Click COPD emphysema research respiratory illness smoking smoking bans smoking ordinances tobacco tobacco prevention

Gusty 13:04 1 Comment

Click on image for larger version

People who live in smoke-free communities are less likely to be hospitalized for emphysema, according to a study by the University of Kentucky's College of Nursing and College of Public Health and recently published in the American Journal of Public Health.

The study found that people who live in communities with comprehensive smoke-free workplace laws are 22 percent less likely to be hospitalized for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or emphysema. Living in a community with an established law also resulted in a 21 percent lower likelihood of experiencing hospitalization due to emphysema.

Kentucky has the nation's highest rate of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 9.3 percent of the population, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tobacco use is the primary cause of emphysema, but air pollution and genetics can also play a role.

The study matched 2003 and 2001 data on hospital discharges with communities that were part of the Smoke-free Ordinance database from the Kentucky Center for Smoke-free Policy, Ann Blackford reports for UKnow.

Dr. Ellen Hahn (Herald-Leader photo by Matt Goins)

�Smoke-free public policies, particularly when they cover all workplaces with no exceptions and have been in place for at least one year, may provide protection against exacerbation of COPD that lead to hospitalizations, with potential to save lives and decrease health care costs,� said Nursing Professor Ellen J. Hahn, director of the center and lead author of the study. �Given that such a high percentage of Kentuckians live in at-risk rural areas and lack the protective factor of income or smoke-free laws, the state faces a higher risk of COPD."

Lexington was the first Kentucky city to pass a smoking ban. "Lexington's smoking ordinance, which bans smoking in most indoor public spaces, doesn't specify that smokers be caught in the act. But that has become the default standard since the ban went into effect 10 years ago," Mary Meehan reports for the Lexington Herald-Leader. "As the smoking ban in Lexington has aged, the challenges have lessened. In many cases, Hahn said, the ban has been self-enforcing. Patrons at restaurants complain to management about smokers, or bar employees take it upon themselves to keep people from lighting up. Gradually, she said, smoking just isn't accepted or expected anymore. Non-smoking in most places has become the 'new normal.' There are now only a handful of businesses that receive citations. Most are small bars and strip clubs."

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2014/04/26/3214347/10-years-after-it-became-law-fayette.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2014/04/26/3214347/10-years-after-it-became-law-fayette.html#storylink=cpy

Princess Health and Princess Health andHere are spring-cleaning tips to help allergy sufferers.Princessiccia

Princess Health and Princess Health andHere are spring-cleaning tips to help allergy sufferers.Princessiccia

allergies household health respiratory illness

Gusty 19:36 Add Comment

Spring cleaning often stirs up dust and pet dander, and can leave a strong scent of cleaning supplies in the air. All can cause those with allergies to reach for a tissue and dread the task. But stirring up a little dust and dander is worth a few extra sneezes, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology says in a news release, because a thorough spring cleaning will ultimately help you avoid allergy symptoms.

�Thoroughly cleaning your home can help eliminate allergens and keep new ones from easily entering,� James Sublett, president-elect of the ACAAI, said in Newswise, a research-reporting service.  �Allergy season can last all year for those sensitive to indoor allergens, but it can worsen in the spring months when pollen becomes an issue. It�s important to remove allergens from the home so you can lead a healthy and active lifestyle.�

The ACAAI  offers tips to remove allergens from your home as well as ways to prevent more from entering.

The best way to prevent allergens from building up in your home is to stay on top of certain chores, such as vacuuming regularly to get rid of dust mites using a cyclonic vacuum or HEPA filter, changing air filters every three months using filters with a MERV rating of 11 or 12, and washing bedding and stuffed animals weekly.

It is also important to resist the urge to open the windows as the weather gets warmer, because this lets unwanted pollen into the house.Those with allergies also have to be careful to avoid air fresheners and candles because chemicals in these items can spur asthma attacks.

A top allergen target in spring cleaning is mold, paying special attention to mold-prone areas like bathrooms, basements and tiled areas, says the release. Make sure bathroom fans are functioning and usable, and always make sure not to leave any standing water in these areas. Use detergent and water to remove any visible mold, and to prevent further mold from growing, keep the humidity in your house below 60 percent.

Because pets spend so much more time indoors over the winter, chances are there is an increased amount of fur, saliva and dander in your house. Remove these allergens by vacuuming frequently and washing upholstery, including your pet's bed, the release says. Also, don't allow your pet in your bedroom.

Those with allergies should avoid being outdoors in noonday and afternoon, because pollen counts are highest then. Wear gloves and a N95 pollen mask when mowing or gardening, and make sure to wash your hands, hair and clothing when finished. Also, make sure to take your medication before going outside.

Princess Health and Tonsillectomies not necessary much of the time; among $158 billion spent each year on unnecessary health care.Princessiccia

Princess Health and Tonsillectomies not necessary much of the time; among $158 billion spent each year on unnecessary health care.Princessiccia

children's health doctors health costs physicians respiratory illness surgery

Gusty 19:07 Add Comment

Photo by Matthew Staver, Bloomberg

Tonsillectomies are the most common procedure for children requiring anesthesia. "The only problem is there's no evidence they work for most" kids, reports Sarah Cliff of The Washington Post.

"The procedure does show some benefits for those with really serious symptoms � very sore throats, fevers and other symptoms at least seven times in the past year � but no improvement for those whose indications are milder," Cliff reports.

Yet, more and more of the procedures are being performed. Between 1996 and 2006, the number of tonsillectomies increased by 74 percent.

"It's a silent epidemic of unnecessary care," said David Goodman of the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care. "In most instances, it's done for patients with much less recurrent symptoms than should be indicated. I think a lot of this is unbeknownst to providers."

Unnecessary health care costs about $158 billion every year, Cliff reports, and the sum is partly to blame on demanding patients, to whom doctors acquiesce. Because doctors are paid based on volume, there is also an incentive to provide more care, even if it's not necessary.

Goodman said the medical education system is one main culprit. "Medical schools and graduate schools are failing us deeply," he said. "We need to move some of these ideas about the evidence being uncertain into the beginning of education. There's been such little work on that." (Read more)