The Gwinnett Chamber is pleased to honor leading individuals and organizations who make an impact on the community with its annual Healthcare Awards on December 12. This program raises awareness and illustrates best practices to emulate, while enhancing the quality of care.  Continue reading →

Progress Has Been Made But There Is Still Work To Do! 

According to the Lung Cancer Awareness Month Coalition, rates of new lung cancer cases have fallen for both men and women over the years. However, though rates have fallen for lung cancer, the CDC reports more people in the United States die from lung cancer than any other type. And even though most cases of lung cancer are caused by smoking, there are two other silent causes of lung cancer, asbestos and radon.

Asbestos

Asbestos is known to cause a rare form of cancer that can affect the lungs, called mesothelioma. Earlier this year, CDC published in their Mortality and Morbidity report that mesothelioma death rates are rising.

Because of its fiber strength and heat resistance asbestos has been used in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire retardant. Asbestos has also been used in a wide range of manufactured goods, mostly in building materials (roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, paper products, and asbestos cement products), friction products (automobile clutch, brake, and transmission parts), heat-resistant fabrics, packaging, gaskets, and coatings.

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma results from exposure to asbestos, and according to the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists several places asbestos can still be found in existing structures and uses. Think walls in older homes, schools, and public buildings.

Asbestos fibers are so hazardous because they are invisible to the naked eye and can become easily airborne and inhaled. The shape of these minerals make it easy for them to lock onto the lungs and other areas of the respiratory system, causing irritation that can lead to serious health conditions.

Like many areas across the nation, Georgia industry and manufacturing utilized asbestos both in the structure of their buildings and the processes themselves. Work sites including mills, power plants, shipyards and other industry often used asbestos-containing materials or worked among them. Due to this fact, mesothelioma remains a leading occupational cancer in the United States.

How to get tested for Asbestos?

To find out if you’re at risk, click here to find licensed qualified asbestos testing and abatement services.

Georgia residents can click here to find Asbestos Contractors and Training Providers.

Renovating/Remodeling An Old Home?

You should hire a certified inspector to test your home for possible asbestos before any home renovations or remodeling. Remember these tips:

•   All asbestos professionals should document their completion of federal or state-approved training
•   You should check on their past performance with your local air quality board and even the Better Business Bureau
•   Make sure they will complete both a visual assessment and collect samples for analysis.

Radon

Unfortunately, asbestos isn’t the only environmental danger that can cause lung cancer. Radon is identified as the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.

Radon is a colorless, tasteless and odorless gas that can cause lung cancer. It occurs naturally when uranium breaks down to radium which, in turn, breaks down to form radon. Radon is released into the soil and easily enters your home through the foundation and well water. It can build up to dangerous levels inside houses, schools, and other buildings. The only way to know if you have radon is to test.

According to the UGA Extension website, radon kills nearly 21,000 people each year and more than 800 in Georgia.

How To Get Tested For Radon?

• If you are a Georgia resident, click here to order a test kit.
• If you are a non-Georgia resident visit the EPA

Helpful Links

More about mesothelioma cancer

Dangers of Radon

Information on keeping lungs healthy

Free Services For Mesothelioma Patients 

Mesothelioma Cancer

Diabetes has several forms:  Type 1 & Type 2. What’s the big difference? According to the ADA, Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. Only 5% of people with diabetes have this form of the disease. The body doesn’t produce insulin which regulates the sugar in your body. In Type 2, your body produces insulin but doesn’t use it properly resulting in insulin resistance. At this time, type 1 cannot be prevented. It’s recommended for individuals diagnosed with diabetes to work closely with your healthcare team to determine which insulin(s) are best for you.

 Find out if you have Prediabetes by taking this quiz

But that doesn’t mean you can’t take steps to prevent Type 2 or manage type 1 and 2 diabetes. Nearly 84 million adults in the United States are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Depending on your age, weight, and other factors, you may be at risk. The good news is that making healthy changes can greatly lower your risk and help manage diabetes. Always consult with your doctor first before starting any healthcare regimen.

Watch your weight

It’s easy to make excuses, that’s why you need to have a plan for how you are going to lose weight and options when you don’t follow the plan. Click here for a weight loss guide.

Eat healthy

Low-fat doesn’t have to be low on flavor. So try to cook in these ways: roast, broil, grill, steam or bake — instead of deep-frying or pan-frying. Try this Twice-Baked Spaghetti Squash Recipe.

Get more physical activity

Get at least 2.5 hours (150 minutes) of light aerobic activity every week. This could be as simple as going for a brisk 30-minute walk 5 days per week. Even 10 minutes at a time adds up. Small steps can lead to big changes.

• Work? Take a walk during lunch breaks.
• Don’t want/can’t walk in the neighborhood? Find a local gym.
• Can’t afford the gym or don’t feel like walking in the neighborhood/on lunch break? Walk in place at home. Sounds silly, but it’s effective.

Whether you are diagnosed with diabetes or not, following these lifestyle tips can ensure optimal health for your well-being.

Helpful Links

• American Diabetes Association
• Do you have prediabetes?
• ADA Weight Loss Plan
• Find A National Diabetes Prevention Program
• Register For Diabetes Class Gwinnett Medical Center

Red Ribbon Week is a time when people and communities unite to take a stand against drugs and promote a drug-free lifestyle. The campaign started when drug traffickers in Mexico City murdered DEA agent Kiki Camerena in 1985. The Red Ribbons are used as a symbol of intolerance towards the use of drugs.

Did you know? Children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs than those who don’t; yet, only a quarter of teens report having these conversations. Red Ribbon Week® (October 23-31), the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the nation, is your opportunity to get the ongoing conversation started.

This year’s theme is Your Future Is Key, So Stay Drug Free.® Visit www.redribbon.org to learn more about Red Ribbon Week® and get tips for talking to your kids about drugs. The life you save may be that of your own child or a dear friend.

Talking to Your Kids

1.) Choose a good time & place

Look for blocks of time to talk. After dinner, before bed, before school or on the way to or from school and extracurricular activities can work well.

• Take a walk or go for a drive together. With less eye contact, your teen won’t feel like he’s under a microscope.

2.) Approach your talk with openness, active listening & “I” statements

Keep an open mind and remain curious but calm. This way, your child is more likely to be receptive to what you have to say.

Ask open-ended questions. For a more engaging conversation, you’ll want to get more than just a “yes” or “no” response from your child.

Use active listening. Listen without interrupting (no matter what), then sum up what you’ve heard to allow him or her to confirm. Try these phrases:

“It seems like you’re feeling…”

“I hear you say you’re feeling…”

“Am I right that you’re feeling…”

Use “I” statements.  “I” statements let you express yourself without your teenager feeling judged, blamed or attacked.

“I feel like you can’t hear what I have to say when you’re so mad. Then I get frustrated. I need to talk about this later when we’re both able to listen.”

 

“Because I love you and I want to keep you safe, I worry about you going to the concert. I need to know that you will obey our rules about not drinking or using drugs.

3.) Understand your influence as a parent

Parents have a big influence on their kids life. Discuss the negative effects of drugs and alcohol. Clearly communicate that you do not want your teen using drugs. Talk about the short- and long-term effects drugs and alcohol can have to his or her mental and physical health, safety and ability to make good decisions. Explain to your child that experimenting with drugs or alcohol during this time is risky to their still-developing brain.

• Ask your child what might happen if he or she does use drugs or alcohol. This gets your teen to think about her future, what her boundaries are around substance use – and some possible negative consequences (she may be late to practice, do something stupid in front of her friends, have a hangover). It will also give you insight into what’s important to her.
• Take advantage of “teachable moments.” Use every day events in your life to point out things you’d like your child to know about. Point out alcohol and drug-related situations in celebrity headlines, or stories going on your own community that show the consequences of alcohol and drug use. If you and your child are at the park and see a group of kids drinking, use the moment to talk about the negative effects of alcohol. When watching TV together, ask if the shows and advertising make drug use look acceptable and routine? Or do they show its downside? How did that program make your child feel about drugs?
• If there is a history of addiction or alcoholism in your family, then your child has a much greater risk of developing a problem. Be aware of this elevated risk and discuss it with your child regularly, as you would with any disease.

4.) Offer empathy & support

Acknowledge that everyone struggles sometimes, but drugs and alcohol are not a useful or healthy way to cope with problems. Let your child know that he/she can trust you.Remind your child that you are there for support and guidance – and that it’s important to you that she/he is healthy, happy and makes safe choices.

5.) Keep in mind your teen’s brain is still developing

The human brain doesn’t fully develop until about age 25. This helps to explains a lot about the way your teen communicates. Forr example, because the prefrontal cortex isn’t mature, your child may have a terrible time interpreting facial expressions. (You may feel surprised, but he or she thinks you’re angry.) Add that to impulsivity (over-reactive amygdala) and limited emotional control (prefrontal cortex again), and you’ve got a recipe for major communication problems. Once you learn to recognize typical teen behavior, you can control your automatic reactions to it and communicate more clearly.

Identifying the behavior you see in your teen can help you manage our own impulses; we avoid giving our teens control. Start keeping a list of the things your teen does that make you feel frustrated, impatient, angry or threatened. (Include specific words, emotions, gestures and body language.) Writing things down will make it easier for you recognize the same scene later and say, “I’m not falling into this trap again.” Pay attention to yourself. What happens when your teen mouths off? Does your heart race? Do your cheeks burn? Does your neck get stiff? These are the warnings signs of a gut reaction. As soon as you feel the cues, take a deep breath (or three) or take a break to cool down. Before you do, though, set a time when you’ll both come back and continue talking.

Helpful Links

• Red Ribbon Week Campaign
• How to Talk With Your Teen
• Parents Drug-Guide

Brush

Research shows that brushing for two minutes is the single most important method for decreasing plaque and preventing cavities, gingivitis and other plaque-related diseases. Brushing for two minutes twice a day is crucial to maintaining healthy smiles.

Tip: Remember to replace your toothbrush every three to four months. Microbes on old toothbrush can cause cold and flu viruses, the herpes virus that causes cold sores, and bacteria that can cause periodontal infections.

Trick: Play a song for your young one and have them brush till the song is over.

Floss/Interdental Cleaners

Flossing is an essential part of the tooth-cleaning process because it removes plaque from between teeth and at the gumline, where periodontal disease often begins.

While floss is a flexible strand, other interdental cleaners specifically made for this purpose include dental picks, pre-threaded flossers, tiny brushes that reach between the teeth, water flossers, or wooden plaque removers.

Tip: The ADA recommends brushing twice a day and cleaning between teeth with floss (or another interdental cleaner) once a day.

Trick: Try Text2Floss to make flossing more fun for you and your kids.

Rinse

When it comes to oral health, teeth make up 20% of the mouth. While it’s important to brush and floss, it is also important to clean areas that aren’t always reached by toothbrush and floss. The saliva, tongue, and oral mucosa can serve as placeholders for bacteria. Which is why, using an antiseptic mouth wash can affect the entire mouth which can be missed by tooth brushing and/or flossing. This doesn’t mean that you should rinse your mouth instead of tooth brushing or flossing, but incorporate it into your oral hygiene routine!

Tip: Kids under 6 should not use mouth wash, unless directed by a dentist.

Trick: Out of mouth rinse? Try making a Salt Water Mouth Rinse instead.

Chew

Chewing gum in various forms has been around since ancient times when it was derived from tree saps. Nowadays, the base used for most gum products is a blend of synthetic materials (elastomers, resins and waxes in various proportions). And it can actually protect your teeth if its sugar free. This is how it works – chewing increases salivary flow in the mouth which neutralizes and washes away bacteria producing acids which are harmful to your teeth. The American Dental Association recognizes chewing gum as beneficial for your teeth.

Tip: Look for chewing gum that carries the ADA seal to make sure that the gum meets the ADA standards for safety and effectiveness.

Trick: Don’t carry a toothbrush or floss with you? Keep gum on you and chew between meals to wash away food and other debris.

Helpful Links

Toothbrushing Behavior Change

Make Tooth Brushing Fun

Proper Brushing

Proper Flossing

Floss/Interdental Cleaners

Benefits of Mouth Rinsing

Key Points of Mouth Rinses

Saltwater Mouth Rinse

Chewing Gum Is Healthy

The Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Departments (GNR) are pleased to announce the groundbreaking of their new District Administrative Building located at 2570 Riverside Parkway in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

The new building will be a little over 31,000 square feet and will house district staff offices, meeting and conference rooms, and warehouse space.

Construction is scheduled to begin this month with an anticipated completion date of June 2018.

Pictured in the photo (L to R): Jim Giffin (GNR), Margaret Bowen (Forum Development Services), Dr. Lloyd Hofer (District Health Director, GNR), Joy Monroe (Gwinnett Co. Board of Health), Louise Radloff (Gwinnett Co. Board of Health), Mike Mason (Gwinnett Co. Board of Health), Dr. Earl Grubbs (Gwinnett Co. Board of Health), and David Will (Royal-Will Law Firms).

Things to Know

• Adult mosquitoes don’t generally survive high winds during a hurricane. However, the mosquito eggs laid in the soil by floodwater mosquitoes during previous floods will hatch. This results in very large populations of floodwater mosquitoes.
• Most of these mosquitoes are considered nuisance mosquitoes.In general, nuisance mosquitoes do not spread viruses that make people sick. The types of mosquitoes that can spread viruses may increase 2 weeks to 2 months after a hurricane, especially in areas that did not flood but received more rainfall than usual.
• Because people spend more time outside cleaning up after a hurricane or flood, they are more likely to be bitten by nuisance mosquitoes. A

How to Protect Yourself & Family

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
• Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone.
  • See EPA’s search tool here.
  • Always follow the product label instructions.
  • Reapply insect repellent as directed.
  • Do not spray repellent on the skin under clothing.
  • If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.
  • Prevent mosquito bites

Steps to Control Mosquitoes Inside and Outside Your Home

• After a hurricane or flood, the health department or mosquito control district will often take steps to reduce the mosquito population.
• Residents can take steps to help control mosquitoes in and around their homes to prevent mosquito bites.
  • Keep mosquitoes outside

Helpful Links

CDC: Mosquitos & Hurricanes

Floodwater mosquitoes

For those who have recently opened or are planning to open a Compassionate Shelter / Good Samaritan Shelter, please contact Public Health.

We’d like to track those opening in our area and ensure you’re in contact with our Environmental Health and Epidemiologists.  Evacuee safety is everyone’s primary concern.

Click here to submit your information.

The Gwinnett, Newton & Rockdale County Health Departments would like to remind all citizens that if you or someone in your home has electricity-dependent medical needs, please contact your electricity provider IMMEDIATELY.