Princess Health and Floyd County woman is Kentucky's smoke-free advocate of year.Princessiccia

Princess Health and Floyd County woman is Kentucky's smoke-free advocate of year.Princessiccia

awards cigarettes county health departments local government smoking smoking ban smoking ordinances tobacco tobacco prevention

Gusty 08:01 Add Comment

For her work spreading the word about second-hand smoke and founding the coalition that ultimately helped Prestonsburg pass a smoke-free ordinance in 2009, Floyd County's Jean V. Rosenberg was named 2012 advocate of the year at the annual Smoke-Free Policy Conference hosted by the University of Kentucky's Kentucky Center for Smoke-Free Policy. She stands with center Director Dr. Ellen Hahn, left, and Dr. Melissa Walton-Shirley, right, the Glasgow cardiologist who won in 2011.

Rosenberg started her work in 2005 when she began working for the Floyd County Health Department as a program specialist to increase awareness about the dangers of second-hand smoke, reports Ann Blackford reports in a university press release. During that time, she founded the Breathe Easy Floyd County Coalition, which educated people about second-hand smoke and supported local smoke-free initiatives.

On Nov. 1, 2009, the City of Prestonsburg implemented a 100 percent smoke-free ordinance in all workplaces and enclosed public places, with Rosenberg at the helm to propel the effort forward. (Read more)

Princess Health and Measles is still around; rate in 2011 was highest in 15 years.Princessiccia

Princess Health and Measles is still around; rate in 2011 was highest in 15 years.Princessiccia

infections measles public health vaccinations

Gusty 15:39 Add Comment

Measles virus (Photo by Scott Camazine/CDC/Getty Images)

In 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared measles had been eliminated in the United States. But last year, the nation had the most cases of the infectious disease since 1997.

A report released last week shows there were 222 cases of measles and 17 measles outbreaks in 2011. In a typical year, there are usually just 50 to 60 cases. This year, there have already been 25 cases.

"Of the 222 reported cases, 50 percent were associated with the 17 outbreaks and 90 percent were associated with importations from foreign countries � 26 percent from U.S. residents traveling abroad and 10 percent from foreign visitors," reports Alexandra Sifferlin for Time magazine.

Each case is treated with intense investigation because of the highly contagious nature of the virus. "You can catch measles just by being in a room where someone with measles has been, even if they left," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diesease. "It's serious; one out of three people who got it last year had to be hospitalized." No one died, however.

Of the 196 U.S. residents who contracted the virus last year, 166 had not been or did not know if they had been vaccinated. More than 80 percent of them were eligible for vaccine.

"Many people think diseases like measles are gone and that they do not need to vaccinate themselves or their children," Sifferlin reports. "But the CDC warns measles is still prevalent worldwide. Globally, about 20 million people get measles each year." (Read more)

Princess Health and Beshear OKs prescription bill, telling pill mills, 'Get out of this state'.Princessiccia

Princess Health and Beshear OKs prescription bill, telling pill mills, 'Get out of this state'.Princessiccia

doctor shopping doctors drugs legislation legislature physicians pill mills prescription drug abuse prescription drugs

Gusty 15:37 Add Comment

Saying it couldn't get to his desk quickly enough, Gov. Steve Beshear signed a bill aimed at curbing prescription drug abuse in celebration today, warning so-called pill mills to "Get out of this state, because we're coming after you."

House Bill 1 requires doctors and pharmacists who prescribe or dispense Schedule II and III drugs, such as oxycodone and morphine, to use the Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting system and requires pain clinics to be owned by at least one physician. Clinics already in operation that have not had trouble with the law but are not owned by doctors will be grandfathered in under the law.

Though there was a strong push for it by law enforcement, the bill will not move KASPER over to the attorney general's office but will stay under the control of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the doctor-controlled Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure.

House Speaker Greg Stumbo, who sponsored the bill, called the legislation "a major step forward in the ongoing battle to put the brakes on prescription drug abuse."

Though KASPER will not move to  Attorney General Jack Conway's office, as Conway wanted, he endorsed the effort. "It helps keep entrepreneurs out of the pill mill business and requires doctors, with reasonable exceptions, to use the KASPER system," he said. "I encourage those who are fearful of increased oversight to end the hyperbole and begin a constructive process with the legislature and executive branch to implement this bill." (Read more)

Princess Health andCongrats to all of the H+P athletes who raced this weekend!.Princessiccia

Princess Health andCongrats to all of the H+P athletes who raced this weekend!.Princessiccia

Gusty 11:54 Add Comment

Yonge Street 10km Results  (Canada Running Series)



- Dale, who just started running this year took NINE MINUTES off his PB running 43:43



- Kevin Grotheer achieved a personal best in the 10km running 37:39



- Mike Hamilton and Alexine Papp both ran their first 10km!



Endurrace 5km (Waterloo Running Series)



- Greg Dyce ran a PB in the 5km (17:47) and winning his age category!



- Your awesome co-coach, Gillian Willard, placed 3rd OVERALL for women, and ran a PB 21 minute 5k!



- Don had a great race, breaking 23 mins for the 5k!



- Ryan had a huge PB running a 23:36 5km



- Nicole Shrigley had an amazing race placing 2nd in her age group!



- Ed ran an amazing race despite a series of injuries that have been holding him back (see the album below to see how tired he was)!



- Candice got FIRST PLACE in her AG!



- Despite very little training, an ankle injury before AND during the race, Maria Llano rocked the 5k and represented H+P with her team shirt!

CLICK HERE for pictures of the team!

Princess Health and Nearly half of Kentuckians keep guns in their home, and 9 percent keep a gun loaded and unlocked.Princessiccia

Princess Health and Nearly half of Kentuckians keep guns in their home, and 9 percent keep a gun loaded and unlocked.Princessiccia

children gun safety poll safety

Gusty 10:43 Add Comment

Forty-five percent of Kentucky adults keep a gun or other firearm in their home, and one-fifth of those (9 percent of the population) keep them loaded but unlocked, the 2011 Kentucky Health Issues Poll has found. Children are present in almost half of homes that have firearms.

"Whether or not you keep guns in your home, if you have children, this should be a reminder to talk to them about gun safety," said Susan Zepeda, CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, which released the poll results. In 2008, 576 Kentuckians died from injury by firearms, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranking the state 16th in firearm deaths that year.

The poll found that men, people with higher incomes and people who live in the Appalachian part of the state are more likely to keep firearms around the home. People who live in large urban areas had fewer of the weapons � 39 percent in the Lexington area, 37 percent in Northern Kentucky and 32 in the Louisville area, compared to 57 percent in Eastern Kentucky.

The poll was funded by The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, as well as the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. A random sample of more than 1,600 Kentuckians responded to the survey, which was conducted Sept. 27 to Oct. 27, 2011 by the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati. A random sample of adults across Kentucky were interviewed, including 1,313 landline interviews and 308 cell-phone interviews. (Read more)

Princess Health and Mayor will propose smoking ban in Hopkinsville, largest Kentucky city without one.Princessiccia

Princess Health and Mayor will propose smoking ban in Hopkinsville, largest Kentucky city without one.Princessiccia

cigarettes local government smoking ban smoking ordinances tobacco

Gusty 10:31 Add Comment

The largest Kentucky city that has not banned smoking in public places may change that.

Hopkinsville Mayor Dan Kemp's proposal "fundamentally resembles Lexington's ban," reports Nick Tabor for the Kentucky New Era. The law would apply to bars and restaurants but not private clubs; retail tobacco stores and tobacco warehouses; and rented rooms in hotels, hospitals and nursing homes. "The best thing would be to have no exemptions," Kemp said, adding that he recognizes the need for compromise. 

An online survey by the Christian County Health Department two years ago indicated strong support for a ban. A recent, scientific survey of 500 Kentuckians shows 59 percent support a statewide ban, the American Cancer Society found. Kemp said he has "received a mostly positive response from local businesses," Tabor reports.

As for a smoking ban imposing on a person's right to light up, Kemp said, "I just think it's such an overriding health concern that that trumps the individual rights argument." Kemp hopes the council will vote on the proposal June 5. If they ratify it, the ban could take effect July 1. (Read more)

Princess Health and April 28 is National Drug Take-Back Day; three Kentuckians die each day from prescription drug abuse.Princessiccia

Princess Health and April 28 is National Drug Take-Back Day; three Kentuckians die each day from prescription drug abuse.Princessiccia

Gusty 05:55 Add Comment

April 28 is National Drug Take-Back Day, with Kentuckians encouraged to dispose of the expired, unused and unwanted drugs in their medicine cabinet at locations set up by law enforcement across the state. The national effort comes on the heels of Kentucky legislators passing a bill Friday evening aimed at curbing prescription drug abuse.

Dozens of sites will be set up across the state and will accept medication from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To find a disposal location nearby, click here.

"Prescription drug abuse is the most urgent substance abuse issue facing Kentucky � one that kills nearly three Kentuckians every day � and we know that number is woefully underreported," Gov. Steve Beshear said in a statement. "We can't stress enough that medications, once they are no longer needed for their prescribed purposes, should be disposed of properly to reduce their risk of being diverted and abused."

A national survey found that 70 percent of people aged 12 and over who took prescription drugs for non-prescribed reasons got the drugs from a friend or relative. That includes raiding their medicine cabinets.

Disposing of the drugs properly is also important since some medications, if just flushed or thrown in the garbage, can leach into the water table and contaminate the water supply.

Since take-back days started being hosted by law enforcement, 500 tons of medication at more than 5,300 sites have been disposed of nationwide, though a recent poll found 2 out of 3 Kentuckians still dispose of their medication improperly.

House Bill 1, which passed Friday, left the state's prescription drug-monitoring system under the control of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the doctor-controlled Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure rather than move it to the attorney general's office. It will require doctors and pharmacists who prescribe or dispense Schedule II and III drugs, such as oxycodone and morphine, to use the Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting System. Only about 25 percent of Kentucky physicians now use KASPER.