Georgia Coastal Health District

In the United States, more than 25 million people are known to have asthma. About 7 million of these people are children. Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the lungs. It causes coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. In an asthma attack, muscles around the airways tighten and the airway lining swells, making it hard to breathe.

Who gets asthma?
Asthma affects people of all ages. In Georgia, about 12 percent of children aged 0-17 years have asthma and about 8 percent of adults do, too. In most cases, we don’t know what causes asthma, but we do know that if someone in your family has it, you’re more likely to have it, too.
How is asthma treated?
While asthma has no cure, it can be controlled. There are many things people can do to control their asthma:
Have an Asthma Action Plan:
With a health care provider, write an asthma action plan. The asthma action plan shows your daily treatment, such as what kind of medicines to take and when to take them. Your plan describes how to control asthma long term AND how to handle worsening asthma, or attacks. The plan explains when to call the doctor or go to the emergency room. If your child has asthma, make sure their school, day-care provider, babysitters, camps and other caregivers have a copy of their plan.
Take controller medications:
Doctors can prescribe medication that can help people have fewer and milder asthma attacks. It’s important to take these controller medications as your doctor prescribes them. If you are using quick-relief medications, such as an inhaler, more frequently or daily, you should talk to your health care provider about getting your asthma under control.
Manage your disease:
Learn more about your asthma triggers, symptoms and how to get relief. Talk with an asthma educator to learn about asthma self-management.
Avoid asthma triggers:
An asthma attack can happen when a person is exposed to certain triggers. Common asthma triggers include cigarette smoke, mold, dust mites, air pollution, exercise, pests, strong emotions, respiratory infections and strong odors. Learn more about how to prevent these asthma triggers and make your home, school or day-care facility an asthma-friendly environment.
Click HERE for asthma resources for kids and parents.
Information provided by the Georgia Department of Public Health.

As adults, getting vaccinated is one of the most important and easiest things we can do to protect our health–yet not enough of us do it. Vaccine-preventable diseases kill more American adults each year than HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, or traffic accidents.

A vaccination you may not know about protects against a common infection called pneumococcal disease. Pneumococcal disease can strike quickly and lead to death in just a few days. Each year, there are more than half a million cases annually, and thousands of Americans die from pneumococcal disease.
Some adults are more likely to get pneumococcal disease or have a more serious illness from it. That includes everyone age 65 and older and adults age 19-64 with heart, liver, or lung disease; diabetes; asthma; HIV/AIDS; and other conditions that affect the immune system; smokers; and alcoholics.
If you fall into one of these categories, you should be vaccinated, even if you consider yourself healthy. According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), too many adults nationwide are unprotected from this infection.
Vaccination is a critical part of staying healthy at any age. To receive the best protection against pneumococcal and other deadly diseases, it’s important for adults to contact their local health department or personal healthcare professional to talk about which vaccines are right for them.
Pneumococcal disease can be very serious and treatment may require hospitalization. Some patients may need weeks or months to recover before returning to normal activities. Getting vaccinated is the safest and most effective way to protect oneself. Even if vaccination does not prevent the infection, it can help reduce its severity, helping to keep you out of the hospital.
For more information on getting the pneumococcal or any other adult vaccinations, please contact your local health department.
Want to know more about pneumococcal disease?
Click here: NFID Pneumococcal Fact Sheet for Adults [PDF]
Want to know what vaccines you need and when?
NFID Adult Vaccination Tracker and Guide for Patients_2014 [PDF]
Photo courtesy of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

What is public health? It’s helping people quit tobacco. It’s inspecting restaurants for potential causes of foodborne illness. It’s the prevention and treatment of HIV. It’s watching for signs of disease outbreaks. It’s making sure that residents who are most vulnerable are evacuated before a hurricane. It’s educating mothers-to-be on the importance of breastfeeding. It’s protecting children against diseases that can be prevented. It’s all of that and much more. Public health touches every life at one time or another. National Public Health Week (NPHW), April 7 – 13, is a time to spread the news about the value of public health.

“Public health continues to grow and evolve but preventing disease and promoting healthy communities will always be our goal,” said Diane Z. Weems, M.D., Health Director for the Coastal Health District.
NPHW 2014 will have daily themes:
Monday, April 7: Be Healthy from the Start
Public health starts at home. From family nutrition and maternal health to safety precautions and disaster preparedness, the first step the community takes toward public health are in the comfort of their own home.
Tuesday, April 8: Don’t Panic
Public health professionals help communities withstand the impact of a natural or manmade disaster by planning ahead, acting as a source of information during the crisis and helping to mitigate the long- and short-term effects.
Wednesday, April 9: Get Out Ahead
Prevention is now a nationwide priority, and as the public health system evolves, there are more options than ever when it comes to preventive health measures.
Thursday, April 10: Eat Well
The system that keeps our nation’s food safe and healthy is complex. Public health professionals can help guide people through their choices.
Friday, April 11: Be the Healthiest Nation in One Generation
For the first time in decades, the current generation isn’t as healthy as the one that came before. Communities need to band together to take a stance against this disturbing trend to make sure that children and young adults have bright, healthy futures.
For more information on the services offered at health departments in Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, and McIntosh counties, click HERE.

Say YES to protecting your daughter against cervical cancer by making sure she gets the HPV vaccine. This is a safe and effective vaccine given in a series of 3 shots over about a six month period. If your daughter is age 11 years or older, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM) recommends you vaccinate now to protect her against cervical cancer. Already, 35 million doses of HPV vaccine have been distributed across the country–but that is not enough.

About 20 million people, most in their late teens and early 20s, are infected with HPV, the type of virus that causes cervical cancer. That’s why it’s important to protect preteen and teen girls early through vaccination.
“We have an entire generation of girls we could protect against cervical cancer,” says Dr. Anne Schuchat, Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “What most parents might not realize is that while cervical cancer might not be a household name, every year 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 4,000 die. If we can protect girls now, we could drastically reduce these numbers.”
You can use any visit, like an appointment for a camp or sports physicals, to ask your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or clinic about the shots your kids need. When you go in for your daughter’s first shot of HPV vaccine, don’t leave without making an appointment for the next shot. Ask the doctor’s office or pharmacy to send you a text, email, or phone reminder. Involve your daughters in a reminder system–they probably know how to set up an electronic reminder better than you do!
Many parents don’t realize that vaccines don’t end once your child starts school–preteens and teens still need vaccines. As they get older, girls and boys are at increased risk for some infections. Also, the protection provided by some childhood vaccines begins to wear off.
There are three vaccines recommended for preteens starting at age 11-12, including Tdap (the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine), HPV vaccine, and meningococcal vaccine. Preteens and teens should also get a flu vaccine, which is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older, every year. If you have an older kid like a teen, it’s not too late to get shots they’ve missed. HPV vaccine requires more than one dose. That’s where some parents get bogged down–it’s easy to get very busy with school, activities, work, and all of the juggling that parents of preteens and teens do every day.
There is assistance for families that may need help paying for vaccines. If you don’t have insurance, or if it does not cover vaccines, the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program may be able to help. This program provides vaccines at no cost to doctors who serve eligible children. Children younger than 19 years of age are eligible for VFC vaccines if they are Medicaid-eligible, American Indian or Alaska Native, or have no health insurance.
Like millions of moms and dads across the country, you can protect your daughters from cervical cancer.
For more information, visit the CDC web site just for you: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/teens

Every 10 minutes, someone in this country dies from colorectal cancer, a cancer that can be prevented. The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) wants all Georgians to know that colorectal cancer screening can mean the difference between life and death. Colon cancer is highly treatable if detected early, yet one in three Georgians between the ages of 50 and 75 is not being screened. Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers and most common causes of death from cancer in Georgia.

People should start getting screened for colorectal cancer at age 50, but anyone with a family history or other high risk factors may need to be tested earlier. Men and women are both at risk for colorectal cancer, but African American and Asian men in Georgia are at a higher risk.
“Screening for colorectal cancer may keep you, or a loved one, from dying from a cancer that is preventable,” said Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., commissioner, Georgia Department of Public Health. “What’s the best test for colon cancer? It’s the one you are willing to have done.”
There are several screening tests for colorectal cancer. A colonoscopy can detect cancer early and it can find precancerous polyps so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. From the time the first abnormal cells start to grow into polyps, it usually takes about 10 to 15 years for them to develop into cancer. If the thought of a colonoscopy is frightening, an FOBT/FIT is a simple at-home test that can detect cancer early by identifying blood in the stool, a possible sign of cancer. Patients should speak to their health care provider about the best colorectal cancer test for them, but studies show that people who are able to choose the test they prefer are more likely to get the test done.
Everyone over the age of 50 should be screened for colorectal cancer – it is the best protection against colon cancer. You can also lower your risk of developing colorectal cancer by managing the risk factors that you can control, like diet and physical activity.
The best advice is:
• Increase the intensity and amount of physical activity
• Limit intake of red and processed meats
• Get the recommended levels of calcium and vitamin D
• Eat more vegetables and fruits
• Avoid obesity and weight gain around the mid-section
• Avoid excess alcohol
For more information about colorectal cancer and screening, talk to your doctor or health care provider or log on to dph.georgia.gov/learn-more-about-colorectal-cancer.

It’s the number one killer of men and women in the United States. It costs billions of dollars each year in terms of healthcare. In a lot of cases, it is totally preventable. So what is it and are you at risk?
“It” is cardiovascular disease and includes heart disease stroke and high blood pressure.

Do you know someone who has had a heart attack or stroke? Your father, mother, husband, wife, friend, or colleague? You’re not alone. Heart disease and stroke are the first and fourth leading causes of death in the United States, which means heart disease causes 1 of every 3 deaths in the country. Americans suffer more than 2 million heart attacks and strokes each year, and everyday 2,200 people die from cardiovascular disease. And heart disease and stroke are among the leading causes of disability in our country–keeping more than 3 million people from enjoying the quality of life they’d like. Million Hearts™, which launched in September 2011, was created to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years. This public-private national initiative is bringing together a wide range of heart disease and stroke prevention programs, policies, and activities to raise awareness about what can be done to prevent heart disease and stroke in our nation.
We are all at risk. People of all ages, genders, races, and ethnicities can have a heart attack or stroke. However, certain groups–African Americans, people between the ages of 40 and 60, and women–are at higher risk. But many of the people who are at high risk for heart attack or stroke don’t know it. Each of us can take steps to achieve the goal of preventing 1 million heart attacks and strokes in the next five years.
To find out if you’re at increased risk, check out the Million Hearts website and tools.
Be one in a Million Hearts™ by taking the pledge to:
• Prevent heart disease and stroke in your family by understanding the risks
• Get up and get active by exercising for 30 minutes on most days of the week
• Know your ABCS: Appropriate Aspirin Therapy, Blood Pressure Control, Cholesterol Management, and Smoking Cessation
• Stay strong by eating a heart-healthy diet that is high in fresh fruits and vegetables and low in sodium, saturated and trans fats, and cholesterol
• Take control of your heart health by following your doctor’s instructions for medications and treatment
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are the co-leaders of Million Hearts™ within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. They work alongside other federal agencies including the National Institutes of Health, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Food and Drug Administration.
Will you be one in a Million Hearts™? Visit http://millionhearts.hhs.gov to take the pledge to save a heart today. A Million Hearts™ begins with you!

The toll-free appointment call center (1-855-262-7670) for the Coastal Health District’s Women, Infants, and Children’s supplemental nutrition program is currently not working. The local call center number for Glynn and McIntosh counties (912-289-1810) is also out of order at this time. The call center is used for women who have questions about WIC services or need to schedule or reschedule WIC appointments. WIC appointments can still be made by calling individual health departments at the following numbers:

Bryan County
Pembroke: 912-653-4331 Richmond Hill: 912-756-2611
Camden County
St. Marys: 912-882-8515 Woodbine: 912-576-3040
Chatham County
Eisenhower location: 912-356-2344 Drayton St. location: 912-651-2015 DFCS: 912-651-2190
Effingham County
912-754-6484
Glynn County
912-264-3961
Liberty County and Fort Stewart WIC clinic
912-876-2173
Long County
912-545-2107
McIntosh County
912-832-5473
Coastal Health District staff is working to resolve the call center issues and apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The WIC program serves infants and children ages 1 to 5, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers (up to one year), and postpartum women (up to six months).

Due to the possibility of dangerous winter weather, the Effingham County Health Department (802 Hwy. 119 South in Springfield), the Pembroke location (only) of the Bryan County Health Department (430 Ledford Street), the Long County Health Department (584 N. Macon Street in Ludowici), and the Liberty County Health Department (1113 E. Oglethorpe Hwy. in Hinesville) will delay opening until 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 13. Coastal Health District officials will re-evaluate the time of the delayed openings at those two health departments should conditions deteriorate.

No one enjoys thinking about large-scale disasters and unexpected events, but the reality is that disasters can and do occur in Georgia. The good new is you have the ability to help your family make it safely through situations such as natural disasters, pandemic outbreaks and terrorist attacks by preparing today.

Planning ahead will reduce anxiety during a large-scale emergency and will ensure that you have what you need for at least 72 hours until help arrives. GEMA’s Ready Georgia campaign offers resources to help you and your family prepare. You can even receive a customized Ready kit checklist and communications plan by creating a personal profile at www.ready.gov.

It’s critical that all Georgians have a Ready kit that includes items such as water, nonperishable food, a flashlight with extra batteries, extra clothing and a NOAA Weather Radio. It’s also important to develop a disaster preparedness plan with specific information about how to contact loved ones and reconnect if you are separated during a disaster situation.

To find out more about emergency preparedness in Georgia, visit the Ready Georgia website at www.ready.gov, and don’t be scared, be prepared!

Are You Ready? 10 Tips for Emergency Preparedness
This year has already seen deadly tornadoes wreak havoc on parts of Georgia; tornadoes and other severe storms often develop quickly, leaving little time to prepare. That’s why it’s so important to put emergency preparedness at the top of your to-do list. It doesn’t take as much effort as you might think. Here are 10 tips from Ready Georgia to help you prepare, plan and stay informed.
1) Purchase a NOAA weather radio. A NOAA weather radio can be as much of a lifesaver as a smoke alarm, but 67 percent of Georgia households don’t have one. These radios can alert you to severe weather 24 hours a day, giving you time to take shelter and stay safe.
2) Prepare your Ready kit. Your kit should include supplies for you and your family to survive at least three days without any aid – including non-perishable food, water, a first aid kit, a flashlight and extra batteries.
3) Create an emergency communications plan. Your family may be separated during an emergency and phones may not be in service, so it’s vital that your family knows how to reconnect. The Ready Georgia website includes a tool to help you create a customized plan.
4) Download the free Ready Georgia mobile app to help you be ready and stay informed on developing threats.
5) Make copies of all important documents and store them in a water-proof container. These should be kept in your Ready kit as well.
6) Make sure you include items for your pets in your Ready kit, and identity an evacuation shelter that is pet-friendly.
7) Familiarize yourself with the emergency protocol at your child’s school and your place of work. Knowing how to react when disaster strikes can help cut down on stress and help you reunite with loved ones.
8) Identify a safe place in your home to seek shelter when a severe storm strikes. If you do not have a basement, take shelter on the first floor of your home in the most interior room with no windows. Keep in mind this may be a closet or bathroom.
9) Periodically remove dead tree branches and other similar debris that could be picked up by strong winds and cause damage.
10) Learn the 30/30 rule: Go indoors if, after seeing lightning, you cannot count to 30 before hearing thunder. You should also stay indoors for 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder.
Taking these 10 easy steps now will make a world of difference for you and your family if disaster ever strikes your area. Make time to get prepared, it could be a life-saving decision.
Want to know more about Ready Georgia?
FAQs_2013 [PDF]

About a third of high school seniors across the country report using an illicit drug sometime in the past year, and more than ten percent report non-medical use of a narcotic painkiller.
While drugs can put a teenager’s health and life in jeopardy, many teens are not aware of the risks. Even for those teens who do not abuse drugs, many have friends or family who do, and they are often looking for ways to help them.

Take the National Drug IQ Quiz by clicking HERE
Why are bath salts harmful? What is “spice”? What are the long-term consequences of abusing prescription drugs?
Get the FACTS about drugs.