There will be a meeting of the Lake Cumberland District Board of Health on June 26, 2018, at the Russell County Health Department at 7:00 pm EST/6:00 pm CST. This meeting is open to the public and complies with all open meeting laws consistent with KRS 61.805 to 61.850.
When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors! Sources: National Weather Service (www.weather.gov) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov) Lightning kills over 50 people in the U.S. each year. But deaths are only part of the lightning story. Only about 10% of those struck are killed; 90% survive. However, many of the survivors suffer devastating life-long injuries. These injuries are primarily neurological, with a wide range of symptoms, and are very difficult to diagnose. Lightning also causes over $5 billion of economic loss each year in the U.S. from fires and other property destruction. Lightning strike frequencies are highest in the Southeast, […]
Celebrate National Men’s Health Month Take action to be healthy and safe and encourage men and boys in your life to make their health a priority. Get Good Sleep Adults need between 7-9 hours of sleep. Insufficient sleep is associated with a number of chronic diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression. Also, poor sleep is responsible for motor vehicle and machinery-related accidents. Toss out the Tobacco It’s never too late to quit. Quitting smoking has immediate and long-term benefits. It improves your health and lowers your risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related […]
May is National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month The teen birth rate has been steadily falling for years, but it still remains the highest teen pregnancy rate in the industrialized countries. About eighty-five percent of these pregnancies are unplanned, which in any population can increase the risk for problems. The biggest risk for teen mothers is delaying prenatal care or worse, about seven percent received no care at all. The Rates of Teen Pregnancy There were just under a quarter million pregnancies in women ages fifteen to nineteen in 2014, the most recent year for which we have data. This is a […]
The United States commemorates National Hepatitis Awareness Month each May. Viral hepatitis still persists as a major public health threat despite availability of preventive measures such as vaccines and therapies, including a curative treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. New cases of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HCV infections are on the rise, largely among persons who inject drugs, with some attributed to the current U.S. opioid epidemic. Most children born after 1998 have been immunized against HBV, however, at risk adults (HBV can be transmitted sexually or via contaminated injection equipment) need to consider this vaccine which is widely […]
With the long anticipated arrival of warmer weather in Kentucky, officials with the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) are reminding people to take precautions against tick bites, which can transmit serious and potentially deadly illnesses. “Spring and early summer are peak times for tick bites, which coincide with people venturing outdoors in the warmer weather,” said Jeffrey D. Howard, Jr., acting DPH commissioner. “It’s important that people take preventive measures against tick bites and also look out for ticks after visiting affected areas. We encourage everyone to remember these four steps of Protect, Check, Remove and Watch to protect themselves and others from […]
Tobacco: A Winnable Battle Tobacco use is the number one cause of preventable death in the United States and around the world. Tobacco killed one hundred million people worldwide in the 20th century — and if current trends continue, it will kill one billion people in the 21st century. Every year, tobacco kills more than 480,000 Americans and six million people worldwide. A Winnable Battle We know how to win the fight against tobacco. Science and experience have identified proven, cost-effective strategies that prevent kids from smoking, help smokers quit and protect everyone from secondhand smoke. These strategies include: Higher […]
May is Hepatitis Awareness Month and May 19th is Designated Hepatitis Testing Day Are you at risk? Take the Hepatitis Risk Assessment. Hepatitis or inflammation of the liver can be caused by viruses, medication, toxins, excessive alcohol intake but most commonly by viruses named Hepatitis A, B or C. Hepatitis A and B can be prevented by vaccination but there is no vaccine available to prevent Hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease which results from infection with the Hepatitis C virus. It is transmitted through contaminated blood, as when sharing needles or through blood transfusion prior to 1992 (since […]
“We take pride in the fact that the public has rated nursing as the most honest and ethical profession for the past 16 years. Our commitment to protecting, promoting, and improving health care for all is well recognized, and we serve the public in a wide range of roles and work settings. Therefore, it is only fitting that we take one week each year to celebrate our profession and the vital roles nurses play in health care. National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. It features a host of events across […]