Health
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
It is predicted that in 2019 to 2020, there will be a rise in pertussis.
Pertussis begins with a cough and runny nose lasting for one to two weeks, followed by weeks of “coughing fits.”
Most people with pertussis do not have a fever. Anyone with these symptoms should see their health care provider.
Anyone can get pertussis. However, young children and the elderly are at the greatest risk of complications. The best way to protect yourself against pertussis is to be vaccinated.
The childhood vaccine against pertussis is called “DTaP” and the pertussis booster vaccine for adolescents and adults is called “Tdap”. Both vaccines also protect against tetanus and diphtheria.
Vaccine recommendations:
· It is recommended that children get 5 doses of DTaP vaccine at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months, and 4 to 6 years.
· For adolescents, a booster dose of Tdap is recommended at 11 to 12 years of age.
· Adults are recommended to receive a Tdap every 10 years.
· Pregnant women are recommended to get a Tdap booster during each pregnancy, no matter when they received their last dose. When a mother gets the booster during the 27 to 36 weeks of pregnancy, the baby is protected until they are old enough to get their first dose of DTaP.
The best place to get vaccinated is at your primary health care provider or clinic.
To find vaccine locations in Lake County use https://vaccinefinder.org or contact Lake County Health Services Department, Public Health Division at 707-263-1090.
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- Written by: Adventist Health
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – February is Heart Month, and as part of its celebrations Adventist Heart & Vascular Institute is pleased to offer a free patient education seminar in Clearlake on Thursday, Feb. 21, on the topic of peripheral vascular disease.
The seminar will take place at the Clearlake Senior Community Center, 3245 Bowers Ave. in Clearlake.
It begins with refreshments and small bites at 5:30 p.m. with the presentation at 6 p.m.
Peripheral vascular disease, or PVD, occurs when you do not get enough blood from your heart due to blocked arteries.
Symptoms may include pain and cramping in your legs when you walk, leg ulcers that take a long time to heal and varicose veins.
PVD can be a precursor to serious heart complications or stroke.
At the seminar, attendees will learn about new advances in treatment options, from lifestyle changes to medications and minimally invasive interventions, and a free screening offered in Clearlake called Dare to C.A.R.E. that can help you understand your risk and if treatment is right for you.
The seminar will be presented by internationally renowned physician Dr. John Laird, an interventional cardiologist and vascular medicine specialist.
Dr. Laird earned his medical degree from Albany Medical College. He completed a residency at Madigan Army Medical Center followed by a fellowship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Dr. Laird is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology.
“As we are all too aware, cardiovascular disease is one of the most pervasive problems facing our patients today,” says Dr. Laird, who is also medical director for the Adventist Heart & Vascular Institute. “Early intervention, prevention and education are key to improving the heart and vascular health of our local community.”
The Adventist Heart & Vascular Institute spans six counties, four hospitals and multiple clinic locations, including five clinics right here in Lake County.
The multispecialty team provides comprehensive cardiac care, bringing together some of the most talented cardiac health professionals and cutting-edge technology on the West Coast.
The free seminar is open to all. Register by calling 877-596-0644.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
This bill would expand access to mental health services for seniors by allowing Medicare coverage to include marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors.
“Far too many of our seniors don’t have adequate access to mental health care at a time in their lives when they are at greater risk for mental illnesses. Left unaddressed, this access gap can exacerbate other health problems and increase health costs. This is an unacceptable outcome for our nation’s older Americans,” said Thompson. “That’s why I’ve once again introduced the Mental Health Access Improvement Access to ensure seniors can see a wide range of qualified mental health professionals through their Medicare. This bill is an important piece of ensuring we are providing for the health of our nation’s seniors.”
“I’m proud to join my colleague Rep. Thompson to re-introduce this important bipartisan legislation to improve access to mental healthcare. This measure will not only increase access to care for older Americans in communities nationwide, but it will help alleviate the strain on our nation’s mental health and addiction workforce,” said Katko. “I’ll continue to fight at home in Central New York and in Washington to ensure individuals and families receive the care they need.”
Under current regulations, psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers and psychiatric nurses are currently recognized to offer covered mental health services under Medicare.
This does not include mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists who have the same training and education but are not able to be reimbursed by Medicare and thus more expensive for seniors.
This bill closes that gap by adding those providers to the list of those accessible to Medicare beneficiaries.
A bipartisan companion bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and John Barrasso (R-WY).
Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Most of the infected people have been children under 10 years old, and there is a correlation with greater numbers of cases occurring in areas with lower than average vaccination rates.
Of the confirmed cases, 42 of 49 were unimmunized, 6 are unverified, and 1 case had 1 dose of MMR vaccine. There has also been one confirmed measles case in Multnomah County, Oregon, and one case in King County, Washington in the Seattle area.
While this is considered a “public health emergency” in the affected areas around Portland, no cases have been seen in Northern California yet.
The Lake County Public Health Department is concerned about the health of the community and are interested in getting information out that may be useful in preventing measles or in identifying it soon after it appears.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 90 percent of unvaccinated people exposed to the measles virus come down with the disease. It is widespread in many parts of the world, including Europe, Africa and Asia.
It begins with a fever (which can go as high as 104) that lasts for a couple of days, followed by a cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis (pink eye), and a rash. The rash typically appears first on the face, in the mouth, along the hairline, and behind the ears and then affects the rest of the body. Infected people are usually contagious from about 4 days before their rash starts to 4 days afterwards.
The virus lives in the nose and throat mucus of an infected person. It can spread to others through coughing and sneezing. Surprisingly, measles virus can live for up to two hours in an airspace where the infected person coughed or sneezed. If other people breathe the contaminated air or touch the infected surface, then touch their eyes, noses, or mouths, they can become infected.
This disease can be fatal. As many as one out of every 20 children infected with measles gets pneumonia, the most common cause of death from measles in young children.
One in every 1,000 children with measles develops swelling of the brain that can cause deafness or an intellectual disability. Pregnant women with measles might give birth early or have a low-weight baby.
The last large outbreak of measles in California was associated with Disneyland and occurred from December 2014 through April 2015, when at least 131 California residents were infected.
Immunization is thought to be 97-percent effective, and most children are adequately vaccinated by the time they enter Kindergarten. Child care facilities and schools with low vaccination rates are at increased risk for outbreaks of this vaccine-preventable disease. It is not too late to get vaccinated now; it may even help up to 72 hours after exposure.
You can lookup vaccination rates at the schools in your area to see if your child is more likely to get the illness.
– Pre-schools: http://www.shotsforschool.org/child-care/how-doing/;
– Kindergarten: http://www.shotsforschool.org/k-12/;
– Seventh grade: http://www.shotsforschool.org/7th-grade/.
There is no effective treatment. The best thing to do is to keep your child at home if they become ill with a suspicious rash. Getting them out in public makes it much more likely to spread. Getting medical help if they are getting quite ill, especially with pneumonia or severe headache is important.
FAQs:
What about the vaccine?
There is a vaccine (that comes in a shot) that keeps people from getting measles. It is called the MMR vaccine. It protects against three different infections: measles, mumps, and rubella. The CDC states that one dose of MMR vaccine is about 93 percent effective at preventing measles; two doses are about 97 percent effective. Contact your medical provider if you or your child haven’t been vaccinated and you want to be.
Should I call the doctor or nurse if I think my child or I have measles?
Yes. If you or your child has a fever and rash, call the doctor or nurse. He or she can ask questions and tell you what to do next. Don't go to the doctor's office without calling first. Measles spreads easily, so you could give it to other people at the doctor's office.
What if I was near someone with measles?
If you or your child has not had the MMR vaccine, call the doctor or nurse. It might still be possible to avoid getting sick. If you get it soon enough, the vaccine can stop measles or make it less serious. People who cannot get the vaccine can take a medicine that can help keep them from getting sick.
Is there a test for measles?
Yes. The doctor or nurse can do blood tests to check for measles. But these tests might not be needed. A doctor or nurse can often tell if a person has measles by doing an exam and learning about the symptoms.
How is measles treated?
For most people, there is no specific treatment. If you or your child have it, you can:
Rest, drink plenty of fluids, take acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol) to help with fever and aches.
Do not give aspirin or medicines that contain aspirin to children younger than 18. In children, aspirin can cause a serious problem called Reye syndrome.
Doctors give vitamin A to some children with measles. If your child needs treatment in the hospital, or has another health condition besides measles, the doctor might give vitamin A.
Contact the Lake County Health Department with questions at 707-263-1090, visit the California Department of Public Health Web site or the Center for Disease Control site.
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