It's Only Natural: Mother's Love. Mother's Milk:

Breastfeeding provides mothers and their babies with a healthy start. The CDC reports that close to 80% of all women in the United States start out breastfeeding, regardless of race, income, or status. Among African American women, the breastfeeding rate is close to 55%. While breastfeeding rates are improving across all groups, they still remain lower among African American women. This is particularly true of among those living in the South.

 

The gap shows that African American mothers may face barriers to breastfeeding and need additional support to start and continue breastfeeding. "It's Only Natural" was designed with this in mind. It provides materials that reflect the experience of African American moms.

 

"It's Only Natural" was developed to give new moms practical information about the importance and health benefits of breastfeeding - not just for babies, but for moms too! It offers emotional support, as well as tips and information on how women can make breastfeeding work in their own lives while getting the support they need. All of the material is uniquely crafted for African American women.

 

Every woman's journey to motherhood is different. But usually, the first decision you'll make as a mom is how to feed your child. "It's Only Natural helps African American women and their families to make the right decision for them.

 

May is National Asthma Awareness Month:

May is a peak season for asthma and allergy sufferers! It is also the perfect time for people with asthma and their friends, family, and coworkers to learn more about these chronic conditions.

 

With 26 million people in the US of different ages and backgrounds suffering from asthma, it ranks among the most common lifelong chronic diseases. Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs. It causes episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. Having your health care provider check your lungs, talk with you about your family medical history, and ask about your allergies can help you to figure out if you have asthma. If you do have asthma, ask your provider to help you create an asthma "action plan."

 

While there is no cure for asthma, it is possible to manage successfully. Common asthma "triggers" include:

  • (first-, second- and third-hand) tobacco smoke

  • smoke from burning wood or grass

  • household pets

  • dust mites

  • cockroaches

  • air pollution

  • mold

  • pollen

By limiting or avoiding exposures to your triggers, you can control your asthma and prevent attacks. To learn more about these and other asthma triggers, visit the CDC's "FAQs" page. Asthma can also be controlled by taking any medications prescribed by your doctor. These can include both quick-relief and long-term medications. Finally, protecting yourself against the flu can help you to avoid some of the complications that asthma sufferers are at greater risk for developing.

 

To learn more about asthma and what you can do to manage it, read the EPA's Asthma Awareness Month Kit, or visit Get Smart about Asthma. To get involved in National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, participate in a poster contest, or join a local support group.

 

Child Safety: Tips for Preventing Heatstroke in Cars:

Since 1998, over 550 U.S. children have died as a result of heatstroke (also known as "hyperthermia"). Many of these deaths happen when a busy caregiver forgets their child is in the car or truck. Other deaths take place when a child is playing in an unattended vehicle and becomes trapped. Deaths can also occur when a child is left unattended in a car or truck.

 

Heatstroke develops when the body cannot cool itself fast enough, and the body's temperature rises to dangerous levels. This can happen to a child even when it is 70 degrees outside and a window is down. That's because children's bodies aren't the same as adults. A child's body can heat up five times faster than an adult's.

 

Together, we can reduce the number of heatstroke deaths and "near-misses" by remembering these tips:

  • Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death. Never leave your child alone in a car, even for a minute. Always lock unattended vehicle doors and trunks.

  • Create reminders and habits (that give you and your child's caregiver a safety net). For example, place a purse, briefcase, or bag that you will need in the back seat.

  • Take action if you see an unattended child in a vehicle. Dial 911 and follow the instructions that emergency personnel provide. They are trained on how to figure out if a child is in danger.

For more information on how you can ACT to prevent heatstroke, click here.

 

Barren River District Health Department Recognized for Excellence:

The Barren River District Health Department (BRDHD) received two prestigious honors at Kentucky Public Health Association's 65th Annual Conference on March 28th, 2013.

 

The BRDHD's own Susan Brown won the Helen B. Fraser Award. This award honors an individual who has "made a unique and outstanding contribution to the growth and development" of maternal and child health in Kentucky.

 

The BRDHD also won the Commissioner's Award for Outstanding Performance for Leadership in Community Partner Development for its implementation of Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP).

 

MAPP is a community-driven, strategic planning process for improving health. Over 70 key partners representing ten counties in south central Kentucky met faithfully for 15 months to conduct a MAPP assessment. The Executive Summary of this work can be viewed here.

 

"Exercise with Kelsey!"

"Exercise with Kelsey!" is an exercise class for women involving cardio, strength training, and flexibility beginning April 22nd, 2013. Classes will take place on Mondays and Thursdays, from 9:00 to 10:00 am at The Foundry Christian Community Development Center. The Foundry is located at 531 W. 11th Ave., Bowling Green, KY 42101. The cost is $5 for the 6-week program. If you are interested in participating, or to register for the class, contact Kelsey Carter by email or phone at kelsey.carter@barrenriverhealth.org or 270-781-8029 ext. 160.

 

KET Special Video "Well Fed: Nourishing Our Children for a Lifetime:"

In a society filled with super-sized fast food meals and prepackaged foods, it can be difficult for families to eat healthfully. Restaurant food that was once reserved for special occasions is now routine. Some Kentucky children have never eaten a fresh blueberry, strawberry, or banana. KET's Well Fed: Nourishing Our Children for a Lifetime explores the subjects of childhood nutrition, its impacts on health outcomes and obesity rates, and state efforts to make it easy for families to eat well. Learn more about the program here.

 

Show Your Love Campaign:

Show Your Love is a national campaign designed to improve the health of women and babies by promoting preconception health and healthcare. The campaign's main goal is to increase the number of women who plan their pregnancies and engage in healthy behaviors before becoming pregnant. For those women who don't want to start a family in the near future or at all, the campaign encourages them to choose healthy behaviors so that they can be their best and achieve the goals and dreams they have set for themselves.

 

Show Your Love. Your Baby will thank you for it. www.cdc.gov/showyourlove

 

** Effective immediately all BRDHD staff's email addresses are FirstName.LastName
@barrenriverhealth.org
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Tickborne Illness in Kentucky:

Ticks prefer to live in woods, tall grass, weeds, and brush. Ticks are seldom a problem in well-maintained lawns, although the edges of a property can be a source of infestation. While it is a good idea to take preventive measures against ticks year-round, the warmer months (April through September) are when ticks are most active. Here are a few good ways to prevent tick bites:

  • Avoid wooded and bushy areas, uncut fields, brush, and other areas likely to have ticks.

  • Walk in the center of trails.

  • Use insect repellants that contain 20% or more DEET on exposed skin.

  • Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming inside (preferably within 2 hours).

  • Check for ticks upon returning from areas where they might be present. Parents should check children for ticks. Check pets and gear for ticks too. This includes clothing, coats, and day packs.

  • Tumble clothes in a dryer on high heat for 1 hour to kill any remaining ticks.

  • Keep grass and shrubs in your yard trimmed and clear of overgrown vegetation. This includes the edges of your property.

To remove any ticks that you find, use the method described here.

 

In Kentucky, the most common diseases that are spread by ticks are Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) and ehrlichiosis. Lyme disease is uncommon in Kentucky. Although the University of Kentucky states that 51 cases of Lyme disease were reported from 1985-09, they say that many of these cases involved previous travel or residence in other states where Lyme disease occurs.

 

Of the different kinds of ticks that can be found in Kentucky, the two most common are the American dog tick and the Lone star tick. Neither of these ticks has been shown to transmit Lyme disease, but they do carry RMSF. The most common symptoms of tick-related illnesses, including RMSF and ehrlichiosis, are:

  • Fever/chills

  • Headache

  • Fatigue

  • Body aches

  • Rash

The rash seen with RMSF varies greatly from person to person. Most often, the rash begins 2-5 days after the onset of fever. It typically appears as small, flat, pink, non-itchy spots on the wrists, forearms, and ankles. It then spreads to the trunk of the body. The red to purple rash seem with RMSF usually does not appear until 6 days after symptoms begin.

 

Ehrlichiosis also causes a rash in some people. The appearance of this rash varies, and may appear after the onset of fever.

 

Although tickborne diseases are easily treated with antibiotics, they can be difficult for doctors to diagnose. Early recognition and treatment are therefore important to reducing the risk of serious complications. See your doctor immediately if you have been bitten by a tick and experience any of the symptoms described above.

 

Barren River District Health Department Releases Strategic Plan for 2013-15:

The Barren River District Health Department (BRDHD) has released its Strategic Plan for 2013-15. The primary goal of the plan is to ensure that - whatever the nation, state, or local community asks of the BRDHD over time - the agency has the communication skills, concern for accuracy, organizational awareness, service orientation, leadership, and teamwork needed for effective performance. To view the agency's Strategic Plan, click here.

 

What's a Watch?

What is a tornado watch, and how is it different from a tornado warning? What should I do when a tornado watch is issued? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) answers your questions in this video:

 

 

May is National Preeclampsia Awareness Month:

The goal of National Preeclampsia Awareness Month is to educate women, their families, and their health care providers about the dangers of preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs during pregnancy or the period following childbirth.

 

Approximately 300,000 US women are diagnosed with preeclampsia every year. An estimated 25% suffer from serious consequences as a result - including the death of the mother or her baby. Worldwide, preeclampsia and other related disorders are a leading cause of death for moms and babies.

 

Signs and symptoms that a woman might have preeclampsia include:

  • high blood pressure

  • protein in the urine

  • swelling

  • sudden weight gain

  • nausea or vomiting

  • abdominal, shoulder, and/or lower back pain

  • headache

  • changes in vision

Many of the symptoms of preeclampsia aren't very noticeable. Some women might not experience any symptoms at all. This is why receiving good prenatal care and knowing the signs of preeclampsia are so important to early diagnosis and management.

 

The Preeclampsia Foundation is a non-profit that hopes to raise awareness about the condition. It offers information, support, and resources for providers.

 

To find out more about what you can do to help make a difference, visit the Preeclampsia Foundation website, Facebook page, Twitter feed, or even join families in 44 cities that will be doing The Promise Walk for Preeclampsia.

 

Public Health Is ROI:

The American Public Health Association (APHA) recently announced the launch of a new video that answers the question, "Is public health a return on investment?" The video shows how public health surrounds us, and has an impact on all aspects of our lives. It also demonstrates why we need to prioritize public health funding. Watch the video here to learn how public health saves both money and lives, and share it with others to help spread the message.

 

Help Improve Bicycling in the Bowling Green Area:

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, together with the Bowling Green-Warren County Planning Commission and researchers from Western Kentucky University's Department of Geography & Geology, are working to better understand how to plan for the needs of cyclists in the community.

 

You can help! Download the CycleTracks application for iPhone- or Android-capable smart phones, and use it to record your bicycle trips. The CycleTracks application uses your phone's internal GPS to record trip routes and times. At the end of each trip, data (including the trip purpose, route, date, and time) are collected for analysis. All personal data is optional and confidential.

 

CycleTracks would love for you to record each and every bicycle trip you take. The more you record, the more they will be able to accommodate you in the future. Feel free to record as many or as few trips as you want, however.

 

For more information, visit the CycleTracks website.

 

New Reports Available from the Barren River Community Health Planning Council:

The Barren River Community Health Planning Council's (BRCHPC's) "Community Health Assessment Report," "Executive Summary," and "Community Health Plan for 2013-15" are all available here. The BRCHPC is a group of business, educational, community, and healthcare leaders that was organized in August of 2011 to facilitate an evidence-based community health assessment process called MAPP, which stands for "Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships."

  

Barren River Community Health Planning Council Releases Community Health Improvement Plan:

The Barren River Community Health Planning Council (BRCHPC) have released their Community Health Improvement Plan. This plan outlines strategies and encourages partnerships to improve the quality of life in all ten counties of the Barren River Area Development District (BRADD).

 

The BRCHPC consists of school administrators, business leaders, health care professionals, elected public officials, and community resource groups, representing each of our ten counties. These members have worked to identify health issues that adversely impact our communities, and to develop strategies to overcome these obstacles. The BRCHPC has also looked at community programs that have been successful with the hope that these successes will be replicated in other communities.

 

Read the press release here. Learn more about the Barren River Community Health Planning Council and its Community Health Improvement Plan here.

 

Late Night Appointments for Edmonson, Logan, and Warren Counties:

Effective January 7th, 2013, we will begin offering late night appointments in Edmonson, Logan, and Warren Counties. Ask a health department staff member to learn more!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Shingles Vaccine is available at the Logan County Health Department

call 270-726-8341 for an appointment or for more information.

View our entire events calendar here!


Ask the Specialist: Diabetes and Foot Care
TriStar Greenview Regional Hospital
5/23/2013


Diabetes Support Group - Logan County
Simpson County Health Department
5/28/2013


Healthy Baby Workshop - Warren County
Warren County Health Department
5/29/2013


The ABC's of Diabetes
Hart County Health Department
5/29/2013


Cooper-Clayton Smoking Cessation Class
TJ Samson Community Hospital
6/3/2013


The ABC's of Diabetes
Hart County Health Department
6/5/2013


Diabetes Basics Class - Warren County
Warren County Health Department
6/6/2013


Diabetes Support Group - Simpson County
Simpson County Health Department
6/11/2013


Diabetes Basics Class - Warren County
Warren County Health Department
6/12/2013


The ABC's of Diabetes
Hart County Health Department
6/12/2013


Diabetes Support Group - Barren County
Simpson County Health Department
6/18/2013


Diabetes Support Group - Logan County
Simpson County Health Department
6/25/2013


Grocery Store Tour - Simpson County
Piggly Wiggly - 402 N. Main St.
6/26/2013


Unity in Sports International Soccer Tournament
WKU Intramural Complex
6/29/2013


Cooper-Clayton Smoking Cessation Class
TJ Samson Community Hospital
9/9/2013