Category: 52 Weeks to Health

National Preparedness Month Throughout September, the Lake Cumberland District Health Department and numerous partner agencies will support emergency preparedness efforts and encourage citizens to take action to become better prepared for disasters and emergency situations. Make a Plan In many cases, disasters don’t come with much warning. Having a plan helps us avoid panic and spring into action sooner. Discuss the questions below with your family to start your emergency plan: How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings? What is my shelter plan? What is my evacuation route? What is my family/household communication plan? Do I need to update my emergency preparedness kit? Check with the Centers […]

How Can You Prevent Rabies in Animals? There are several things you can do to protect your pet from rabies. First, visit your veterinarian with your pet on a regular basis and keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date for all cats, ferrets, and dogs. Second, maintain control of your pets by keeping cats and ferrets indoors and keeping dogs under direct supervision. Third, spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or vaccinated regularly. Finally, call animal control to remove all stray animals from your neighborhood since these animals may […]

Our Children – Keep Them at a Healthy Weight One in 5 children in the United States has obesity.. Childhood obesity puts kids at risk for having other chronic health conditions and diseases such as asthma, sleep apnea, bone and joint problems, and type 2 diabetes.  They also have more risk factors for heart disease like high blood pressure and high cholesterol than their normal weight peers. Children with obesity can be bullied and teased more than their normal weight peers. They are also more likely to suffer from social isolation, depression, and lower self-esteem. Children with obesity are also […]

Foodborne Illness Peaks in Summer – What can you do to prevent it? Year after year we hear and read the same advice: “Handle food carefully in the summer because foodborne illness, also known as “food poisoning,” is more prevalent in warmer weather.” But does foodborne illness really increase during the summer months? If so, how can it be prevented? Yes, foodborne illnesses increase during the summer, and the reason why is twofold: bacteria multiply faster in warmer temperatures, and preparing food outdoors makes safe food handling more difficult. Natural Causes Bacteria can be found everywhere. They are present throughout […]

According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, almost 1 in 5 Americans experience mental health concerns each year, while more than 100 die by suicide every day. Suicide ranks as the 10th leading cause of death in the US.  Now with the COVID-19 crisis, precautions  introduced such as social distancing and self-isolation, coupled with the fear of medical emergencies and growing anxiety about the prolonged nature of the crisis, could amplify the number of people suffering from mental health concerns across the US. It is estimated that over 40% of the population has seen a decrease in their mental wellness […]

The Benefits of Breastfeeding Breastfeeding, also known as nursing, is the feeding of babies and young children with milk from a woman’s breast. Health professionals recommend that breastfeeding begin within the first hour of a baby’s life and continue as often and as much as the baby wants. During the first few weeks of life babies may nurse roughly every two to three hours. The duration of a feeding is usually ten to fifteen minutes on each breast. Older children feed less often. Mothers may pump milk so that it can be used later when breastfeeding is not possible. Breastfeeding […]

National Immunization Month Immunizations are public health’s great success story with the disappearance of many infectious diseases. Shots may hurt a little, but the diseases they can prevent are a lot worse – some are even life-threatening. Immunization shots, or vaccinations, are essential. They protect against infections like measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis A and B, polio, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough). Immunizations are also important for adults, especially those against pneumonia, influenza and shingles. Your immune system helps your body fight germs by producing antibodies to combat them. Once it does, the immune system “remembers” the germ and can fight it again. Vaccines […]

Healthy Eating on the Run: A Month of Tips You probably eat out a lot—most Americans do. People are looking for fast, easy and good-tasting foods to fit a busy lifestyle. Whether it’s carry-out, food court, office cafeteria or sit-down restaurant, there are smart choices everywhere. Here are 30 tips to help you eat healthy when eating out. Think ahead and plan where you will eat. Consider what meal options are available. Look for restaurants or carry-out with a wide range of menu items. Take time to look over the menu and make careful selections. Some restaurant menus may have […]

Getting preventive care is one of the most important steps you can take to manage your health. That’s because when a condition is diagnosed early, it is usually easier to treat. And regular checkups can help you and your doctor identify lifestyle changes you can make to avoid certain conditions. Use the following link to see what preventive screenings are recommended for your age and gender: Preventive Screenings and Immunizations. While this is not a comprehensive list, these screenings are among the most important. Also listed are needed immunizations. The primary benefit of immunizations are to prevent disease. Immunization is […]

Taking Steps Toward Personal Wellness Often the hardest part of getting started on the journey toward a healthier lifestyle is taking that first step.  A good “first step” can be by simply completing a Health Risk Assessment (HRA).  A HRA is a questionnaire with questions that help determine your current health and your health risks.  There are questions regarding your and your family history of illnesses and medical conditions which can identify health risks for you.  There are questions about your health habits and lifestyle, which can identify areas that you may need to work on to improve. The Lake […]