Missouri Flu Activity for 2017/2018

Missouri’s flu activity for 2017-2018 is showing widespread. The season currently is very similar to what was seen during the 2014-2015 flu season, both in the timing and amount of cases reported. A season total of almost 31,000 cases were reported to the Department of Health and Senior Services through the first week of 2018. During the same time period in the 2014-2015 flu season, 32,528 flu cases were reported statewide. 

While the current flu season is similar to the 2014-2015 season, it’s important to remember that flu is hard to predict, but you can help prevent the spread of the flu. The best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated every year.

How can I prevent the flu?

• Get a yearly flu vaccination.
• Avoid close contact with sick people.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces.
• Stay home while you’re sick and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

How does the flu spread?

Flu viruses are thought to spread mainly from person to person through droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. Flu viruses also may spread when people touch something with flu virus on it and then touch their mouth, eyes or nose. Many other viruses spread these ways too. People infected with flu may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5-7 days after becoming sick. That means you may be able to spread the flu to someone else before you know you are sick as well as while you are sick. Young children, those who are severely ill, and those who have severely weakened immune systems may be able to infect others for longer than 5-7 days.

How do I know if I have the flu?

The flu usually comes on suddenly. People who have the flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

What should I do if I have the flu?

Most people with flu have mild illness and do not need medical care or antiviral drugs. If you get sick with flu symptoms, drink plenty of water and other clear liquids to prevent dehydration; get plenty of rest; and treat symptoms such as fever with over-the-counter medicines. In addition, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care. You should stay home for at least 24 hours after fever is gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.

Remember that groups of people at high risk for flu-related complications include children age 5 and under, adults older than 65, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems or chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease. If you have symptoms of the flu and are in a high risk group, or have questions or concerns, contact your primary health care provider.

For more information or to find a flu vaccine location near you, visit health.mo.gov/flu.

About the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services: The department seeks to be the leader in promoting, protecting and partnering for health. More information about DHSS can be found at health.mo.gov.

Health Center to Offer Free Hepatitis C Testing by Appointment

Livingston County Health Center will be offering free Hepatitis C testing through the Missouri HepC Alliance beginning January 16th by appointment. 

The Missouri HepC Alliance is a community focused nonprofit organization with a mission to create awareness through providing education, testing and support for the detection, prevention and treatment of hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C attacks the liver but can remain without symptoms for decades. HCV is not vaccine preventable and is the most common blood borne infection in the United States (U.S.).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) an estimated 3-4 million persons in the U.S. have chronic Hepatitis C virus infection. Most people do not know they are infected because they don’t look or feel sick. Of those, it is estimated that 2.7 million are currently living with chronic HCV infection. HCV related Chronic Liver Disease (CLD) is the leading indication for liver transplant among adults in the United States.

HCV is most often spread by direct blood-to blood contact. HCV is usually spread when blood from a person infected with the Hepatitis C virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. The HCV can live in dried blood and on environmental surfaces for days. The virus can be spread easily to others through blood, even in amounts too small to see.

Chronic hepatitis C infection has become a critical, unrecognized health care problem. The HepC Alliance has found a positive rate as high as 19% among people with risk factors, within the State of Missouri population.

National statistics indicate the average age of a person with HCV is 45-65 years old, however the average we found in Missouri is 32.

This testing program is designed to reach those individuals who are not aware they are at risk for HCV. 

If you would like more information call the Health Center and speak with Sherry Weldon or Lori Murray or if you would like to be tested should call 646-5506 to set up an appointment.  

Upcoming Meditation Series

Livingston County Health Center is excited to announce an upcoming series of Meditation Classes led by Kasey Peyton.  Classes will be held every Wednesday for six weeks, beginning on Wednesday, January 10th at 12:15 p.m. in the Health Center classroom, located at 800 Adam Drive.

A regular meditation practice can reduce stress, improve focus, stabilize emotions, promote physical health, and increase compassion towards others and ourselves. 

This six-week course will introduce students to a different type of meditation each week with instruction on proper posture and breathing.  The first class is an introduction to meditation itself.   Information and helpful tips will be shared to encourage students to develop a home meditation practice of their own. 

Those that attended the first Meditation Series held last fall are welcome to attend this series as well.  There will be some of the same meditation styles, as well as a few new ones.  Class starts a little later at 12:15 to allow those coming from work a little more time to get to the health center for class.  Classes run for 30-45 minutes, although students can leave when they need to.

Kasey Peyton is a certified yoga and meditation instructor and a 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance.  In a culture and age of fast-paced, outward focus, Kasey enjoys bringing people back to themselves through the inner work of yoga and meditation.  She is rewarded by the serene look of transformation on her students’ faces at the end of every class.

The Health Center requested Kasey to teach meditation to educate county residents about alternative methods of preventive self-care. 

For more information about the upcoming classes, please call 660-646-5506.

Show Me Health - Diabetes Month - Living with Diabetes

You may have heard people say they have “a touch of diabetes” or that their “sugar is a little high.” These words suggest that diabetes is not a serious disease. That is not correct. Diabetes is serious, but you can learn to manage it.  Diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States. It can cause blindness, nerve damage, kidney disease, and other health problems if it’s not controlled.  One in 10 Americans have diabetes — that’s more than 30 million people. And another 84 million adults in the United States are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin or cannot respond appropriately to insulin. Insulin is a hormone that the body needs to absorb and use glucose (sugar) as fuel for the body’s cells. Without a properly functioning insulin signaling system, blood glucose levels become elevated and other problems can occur, leading to the development of serious, disabling complications.

Many forms of diabetes exist. The 3 common types of diabetes are:

• Type 2 diabetes, which results from a combination of resistance to the action of insulin and insufficient insulin production
• Type 1 diabetes, which results when the body loses its ability to produce insulin
• Gestational diabetes, a common complication of pregnancy. Gestational diabetes can lead to complications in mother and child and substantially increases the likelihood of cesarean section delivery. Gestational diabetes is also a risk factor for the mother and, later in life, the child's subsequent development of type 2 diabetes after the affected pregnancy.

People who are at high risk for type 2 diabetes or the complications of diabetes can lower their risk by more than half if they make healthy changes.  This can be accomplished by making healthy food choices, staying at a healthy weight, moving more every day, and taking their medicine even when they feel good. It’s a lot to do.

As this year’s Diabetes Month Theme says: It’s not easy, but it’s worth it!  This theme highlights the importance of managing diabetes to prevent diabetes-related health problems such as heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, vision loss, and amputation.  The theme also serves as a reminder to people who may be struggling with the demands of managing diabetes that they are not alone. 

Taking care of yourself and your diabetes can help you feel good today and in the future. When your blood sugar (glucose) is close to normal, you are likely to:

·        have more energy

·        be less tired and thirsty

·        need to pass urine less often

·        heal better

·        have fewer skin or bladder infections

You will also have less chance of having health problems caused by diabetes such as:

·        heart attack or stroke

·        eye problems that can lead to trouble seeing or going blind

·        pain, tingling, or numbness in your hands and feet, also called nerve damage

·        kidney problems that can cause your kidneys to stop working

·        teeth and gum problems

Living with diabetes can be challenging to manage every day. You are the most important member of your diabetes care team, but you don’t have to manage your diabetes alone. Seek support from health care professionals, your family, friends, and community to manage your diabetes.  

At LCHC, we are committed to provide support and education to the people of our county who are living with diabetes. Our goal is to help in understanding that with proper care or perseverance, people living with diabetes can live normal, fulfilling lives. 
Feel free to contact our Diabetes Educator Anita Perry at 646-5506 with any questions or concerns you may have.

Health Center Announces Upcoming Flu Shot Clinics

Livingston County Health Center has announced two upcoming opportunities for county residents to receive their vaccination for influenza for the 2017-2018 flu season.

On Friday, November 3rd, Health Center nurses will be holding a walk-in clinic at their office, located at 800 Adam Drive, for residents 19 and older from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

On Tuesday, November 21st, another walk-in flu clinic will be held at the health center, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Those with private insurance or Medicare should bring their card to the clinic. 

More opportunities to get vaccinated will be announced until vaccine supply runs out. 

Smart Connections Class Series

Livingston County Health Center would like to announce a Smart Connections® class series at the Livingston County Health Center, located at 800 Adam Drive.

Smart Connections® is a free program from Trauma Smart® for caregivers to connect, network and enhance skills in a relaxed and engaging atmosphere. Anyone who deals with kids can add tools to address challenging behaviors as well as to increase connection with your child.

Mary Taylor, RN and Maternal Child Health Coordinator at the Health Center will be the instructor. Classes will be held through the school year, 5:30-6:30 p.m. in Classroom at the Livingston County Health Center.   Classes include: “Managing the Ups & Downs”; “Reading the Signs”; “Creating Comfort”; “Encouraging Growth”; “Feelings Detective”; “Expressing Feelings”; “Blowing Worries Away”; “Build a Calm Down Spot”; “Encouraging Learning” and “Identifying the Superhero in Your Child.”

The first class will be held next Wednesday, October 18^th at 5:30 p.m. in the Health Center Classroom.  Visit www.livcohealthcenter.com for more dates through March of 2018.

Classes are interactive, featuring educational information and an activity to craft things that can help a child calm themselves down when they’re in hard and scary situations.  

Teaching behaviors at home will reinforce the in school program, which hopes to make it easier for kids and school staff to deal with issues that come up in the classroom.

Smart Connections® complements the Trauma Smart program implemented in Chillicothe R-II grades Kindergarten through 5th grade.  The project was initiated by the Livingston County Health Center, Chillicothe R-II School District and the Crittenton Children’s Center.

There is no charge to attend classes.  Parents and Caregivers who are interested in attending should visit our website: www.livcohealthcenter.com to access the online registration.  Those who don’t have Internet access can call the Health Center at 646-5506.

For more information about the program, contact Mary Taylor, RN at 646-5506. 

Smart Connections - Show Me Health

Trauma Smart is a program created by Crittenton Children’s Center to provide support to children who have experienced trauma as well as caregivers and teachers who love and take care of them. 

Un-resolved trauma in childhood can have life-long effects and is linked to adult aggression, substance abuse, eating disorders, depression, and suicide.  Trauma Smart helps resolve the effects of trauma so children can live confident, productive lives. 

Trauma can be one event or a series of events that frighten, confuse or hurt a child.  What is hard and scary for one child, may not be hard and scary for another.  Some examples of trauma are; death of a loved one, painful or extended medical procedures, separation from family, physical or sexual abuse, violent crime, incarcerations or arrest of a loved one, house fire or car accident, hurricane, tornado or flood.

Children may show these signs if they are suffering the effects of trauma.  Children may have a change in sleep pattern, nightmares or night terrors.  You may see frequent crying, anxiety, nervousness, more quiet than normal or a change in eating habits.  Other signs are frequent temper tantrums, aggressive behavior, acting younger than their age or trouble separating from caregivers. 

In the event of a traumatic event, parents and caregivers should remain calm, soothe and comfort your child.  Then parents can encourage their children to express their emotions while maintaining a consistent routine and preparing children ahead of time for any changes to routine.

Smart Connections, the parent education piece to Trauma Smart, teaches parents the skills to connect with their children.  Starting October 18^th, Mary Taylor from the Livingston County Health Center will offer Smart Connections at the Livingston County Health Center.

On October 18, parents and caregivers can learn how to Manage the Ups and Downs by learning how to take care of themselves so they can better care for their children.

The next session on November 1, will teach parents how to Read the Signs and strengthen connections with your children.

On November 15, you learn how to Create Comfort by implementing routines and rituals with your children.

At the November 29 class, parents will find out about Encouraging Growth by learning about praise and how it affects behaviors.

After the first of the year on January 10, learn how to become a Feelings Detective and help your child identify his/her feelings, energy and moods.

At the January 24 session, parents and caregivers learn ways to teach children to Express Feelings and the effects of grief and loss.

On February 7, Blow Worries Away and help the child regulate their energy level, mood or feelings.  Also learn the calm down steps and how to implement these steps.

Build a Calm Down Spot is the topic for February 21, where participants will and learn the importance of having a safe place for every child.

Encouraging Learning and ways to help a child problem solve will be the topic on March 7^th.

The final class of the series on March 21 parents will learn how to “Identify the Superhero in Your Child”, by identifying their unique, positive, coherent ad future selves.

If you would to attend please call the Health Center at 646-5506 to sign up. Every parent and caregiver is welcome.