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By Kristie Smith, RN
Allergies seem to be running rampant. People that have never had allergies before are finding that they have developed them in the past few years. Why is this?
Most allergies are triggered by irritants in our environment. To cut down on these irritants, many people try to cut down on household dust and pet dander. But we may just be trading one irritant for another. Many people with allergies are not allergic to just one thing. We are finding more and more people allergic to the chemicals in household cleaners. Not only can these cleaners be triggers, they can also be toxic to small children and pets.
If you are suffering from allergies, or just want to be more environment-friendly, here are some nontoxic cleaners for household cleaning. Not only are these cleaners better for our environment; they’re also CHEAP!
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| Published Jan 14, 2008 - 02:47 PM |  |
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Each year millions of Americans travel abroad for vacation, business, or to visit friends and family. Unfortunately, about half of these international travelers get sick or injured during their trip.
The good news is that most travel-related sickness and injury can be prevented if you follow these tips:
1. Be Informed: Learn about travel health risks and what to do to avoid them before your trip. 2. Be ready: Get any vaccinations or medicines that you will need before your trip. 3. Be smart while you travel: Make sure you follow travel safety tips while you are on your trip. 4. Wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand gel. 5. Drink only boiled or bottled water or carbonated drinks from sources you trust. 6. Eat only fully cooked food or fruits and vegetables you have peeled. 7. Avoid poultry farms, bird markets and other places where live poultry is raised or kept. 8. If visiting an area where there is risk for malaria, take malaria prevention medication before, during and after your trip, as directed. 9. If you might be bitten by insects (like mosquitoes or ticks) use insect repellent with 30-50% DEET.
| Published Mar 15, 2007 - 01:28 PM | |
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Stress doesn’t stop when the sun goes down! Stress often creeps into the night, keeping people awake when they should be peacefully sleeping. Other “sleep stealers” include: indigestion, emotional upsets, caffeine or alcohol late in the day, pain or illness, certain medications, and exercising too close to bedtime.
Stress often creeps into the night, keeping people awake when they should be peacefully sleeping. Other “sleep stealers” include: indigestion, emotional upsets, caffeine or alcohol late in the day, pain or illness, certain medications, and exercising too close to bedtime.
Rest assured poor sleep doesn’t have to be a way of life, you can regain more refreshing slumber with these tips: Establish a regular bedtime routine, give yourself some time to unwind and follow the same sequence of steps every night.
In the late afternoon and evening, avoid foods and drinks that contain caffeine. Keep in mind that alcohol can disrupt sleep. Don’t eat dinner within two or three hours of bedtime. Exercise regularly, but do so at least three hours before going to bed. Make your bedroom as comfortable, dark and quiet as you can.
We all have unique sleep needs and as we grow older, our sleep patterns tend to change with us. In general, here’s how much sleep people need at various ages: Infants 0 to 2 months -- 10 ˝ to 18 hours, including naps. 2 to 12 months – 14 to 15 hours, including naps. Toddlers/Children – 12 to 18 months -- 13 to 15 hours, including naps. 18 months to 3 years – 12 to 14 hours, including naps. 3 to 5 years – 11 to 13 hours, including naps. 5 to 12 years – 9 to 11 hours. Adolescents -- 8 ˝ to 9 ˝ hours. Adults – 7 to 9 hours.
Let your doctor know if pain, illness or medication seems to be disrupting your sleep. And if you have a sleep problem that lasts longer than a week, check in with your doctor. Medication or other treatment may help.
| Published Mar 15, 2007 - 01:16 PM | |
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READY IN 3
Are you ready for an emergency? Emergencies happen everyday. Some are small-scale emergencies and some are large-scale emergencies. The question you should ask yourself is "am I ready for an emergency if it happened today?" With the threat of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes during the spring, now is the time to be prepared. Many people have an idea of what they might do in an emergency, but to have their plans written out and supplies on hand is not typical. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has developed a plan called "Ready in 3" to help Missourians be prepared for emergencies. The three steps to being prepared for an emergency are: 1) Create a plan for you, your family and your business, 2) Prepare a kit for home, car and work, and 3) Listen for information about what to do and where to go during an actual emergency. Emergency preparation is a means of doing as much as you can before the actual emergency happens. No one wants to think about accidents or disasters, but being prepared can help protect your family.
Information booklets are available at the Daviess County Health Department for anyone interested. Presentations are also available for school groups, organizations, church groups, etc. Please call the Health Department at 660-663-2414.
| Published Mar 12, 2007 - 04:00 PM | |
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There is a really neat website for girls only. The site “girlshealth.gov” is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Office on Women’s Health. From the sound of who the sponsor is, you might think “How Boring”. But it is actually a very informative, up-to-date, on the level site for girls to get the info they need and to have a voice. Topics change every month and have info for parents and educators too.
Some of the recent topics have been: Body – mind – fitness – relationships – nutrition – safety – illness and disability – bullying – your future – news and more – drugs, alcohol and smoking – free stuff! There is also a “Speak Up” and “In the Spotlight” area where girls can voice their opinions, thought, ideas and hear what other girls have to say.
This website has so much information about so much more than just what most girls consider health. The site has a fun look to it and promotes self-esteem and prevention to many problems that affect our young women.
It is also a great website for parents to get info that they could use when helping their young women deal with the many milestones and problems that our youth encounter. For the women, there is another website sponsored by the department of health. The website is: “womenshealth.gov”. Check it out too!
| Published Sep 22, 2006 - 11:57 AM | |
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On Tuesday, May 9th ABC television aired a made-for-TV movie titled “Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America.” The movie followed an outbreak of the H5N1 avian flu virus from its origins in a Hong Kong market through its mutation into a pandemic virus that becomes easily transmittable from human to human and spreads rapidly around the world.
The Daviess County Health Dept. would like to take this opportunity to remind the citizens of Daviess County that this movie is a work of fiction designed to entertain and not a factual accounting of a real world event. Also, while the H5N1 virus has not yet appeared in the U.S., and there is no influenza pandemic in the world at this time, it is important for everyone to be informed about this potential public health threat and some of the steps individuals can take to protect themselves and their families in the event of a pandemic.
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| Published May 10, 2006 - 08:22 AM | |
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There are 1440 minutes in every day... Schedule 30 of them for physical activity.
Adults need recess too! With a little creativity and planning, even the person with the busiest schedule can make room for physical activity. For many folks, before or after work or meals is often an available time to cycle, walk, or play. Think about your weekly or daily schedule and look for or make opportunities to be more active. Every little bit helps. Consider the following suggestions:
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| Published May 09, 2006 - 10:08 AM | |
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If a person starts drinking alcohol at a young age, before age 21, that can lead to even more problems down the road, both literally and figuratively.
In fact, the earlier a person starts drinking, the higher the risk of car accidents and unin-
tentional injuries as adolescents and young adults. Drinking before the age of 21 also increases the risk of alcohol dependence later in life, even without a family history of alcoholism. Fortunately, there are some simple ways to help delay your teen’s drinking age.
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| Published May 09, 2006 - 10:06 AM | |
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If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame, he learns to be guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world.
Dorothy Law Nolte
| Published Feb 17, 2006 - 10:37 AM | |
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Researchers are learning that regular physical activity in general can help keep your body, including your brain, healthy as you age. Exercise increases the level of brain chemicals that encourage nerve cells to grow. And dancing that requires you to remember dance steps and sequences boosts brain power by improving memory skills.
A 2003 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that ballroom dancing at least twice a week made people less likely to develop dementia. Research also has shown that some people with Alzheimer's disease are able to recall forgotten memories when they dance to music they used to know.
Whether it's ballet or ballroom, clogging or jazz, dance is great for helping people of all ages and physical abilities get and stay in shape. There's even chair dancing for people with physical limitations. A 150-pound adult can burn about 150 calories doing 30 minutes of moderate social dancing.
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| Published Feb 17, 2006 - 10:36 AM | |
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Have your car(s) winterized before the winter storm season. Keeping your car(s) in good condition will decrease your chance of being stranded in cold weather.
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| Published Dec 21, 2005 - 12:53 PM | comments? |
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