Celebrate American Heart Month: Join the #OurHearts Movement

Did you know that people who have close relationships at home, work, or in their community tend to be healthier and live longer? One reason, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), is that we’re more successful at meeting our health goals when we work on them with others. NHLBI launched the #OurHearts movement to inspire us to protect and strengthen our hearts with the support of others.

Here are some facts, how-to tips, and resources to inspire you to join with others, even if you can’t be physically together, to improve your heart health.

Heart disease is a leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Most middle-aged and young adults have one or more risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or being a smoker or overweight. Having multiple risk factors increases your risk for heart disease.

Why Connecting is Good for Your Heart

Feeling connected with others and having positive, close relationships benefit our overall health, including our blood pressure and weight. Having people in our lives who motivate and care for us helps, as do feelings of closeness and companionship.

Follow these heart-healthy lifestyle tips to protect your heart. It will be easier and more successful if you work on them with others, including by texting or phone calls if needed.

• Be more physically active.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Eat a nutritious diet.
• Quit smoking.
• Reduce stress.
• Get 7-8 hours of quality sleep.
• Track your heart health stats.

You don’t have to make big changes all at once. Small steps will get you where you want to go.

• Read the full article at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/education-and-awareness/heart-month/slides. 

Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Department is pleased to announce it’s partnership with YMCA Atlanta to bring heart health to our counties.

This free program aims to help its participants reduce and manage blood pressure through education about healthy eating habits and triggers that elevate blood pressure.

Participants will meet with a Health Heart Ambassador for brief 10-minute meetings, twice per week for 4-months.

Individuals need to meet the follow qualifications to take part:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be diagnosed with high blood pressure
• Not have experienced a recent cardiac event
• Not have atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmias
• Not be at risk for lymphedema

If you are interested in taking steps toward improving your heart health, email sabrinar@ymcaatlanta.org for more information.

The Health Department continues to seek out ways to make the prevention and management of chronic diseases accessible for all of our community members.

There will be an information session on Wednesday, March 2 from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. Interested individuals should email sabrinar@ymcaatlanta.org to receive the meeting link.

The Federal Government recently announced that free N95 masks would be distributed to pharmacies and community health centers. Currently, there are no federal plans to distribute these through health department locations.

Please check with local pharmacies or Federally Qualified Health Centers regarding their supply inventory.

We will provide updates on N95 mask availability and distribution as we receive more information.

Beginning Friday, January 21, a new LTS COVID-19 testing site will be operating in Snellville. This testing site will be located at Snellville Oaks Shopping Center and will operate Monday through Saturday.

• Location: Snellville Oaks Shopping Center, 2135 E Main Street, Snellville, GA 30078
• Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Patients register for testing on-site.

On Tuesday, January 25, Viral Solutions will be opening a COVID-19 testing site in Newton County. Church at Covington will be the location of this testing site and it will operate Monday through Friday.

• Location: Church at Covington, 11975 GA-142, Oxford, GA 30054
• Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sat 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.*
• Visit https://patientportal.advancedmd.com/146518/onlinescheduling/existing to register for testing.
• *Closed Friday and Saturday, Jan. 28 and 29 due to church campus activities.

New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Lawrenceville will also host a testing site.

• Location: 422 E. Crogan St., Lawrenceville, GA 30046
• Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Visit https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f094aaca72fa02-covid to register for testing.

Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Departments wish you and your family a happy holiday season!

Our locations will be closed on the following dates:

• Thursday, December 23
• Friday, December 24
• Monday, December 27
• Friday, December 31 – All locations closing at 12 p.m.
• Monday, January 3

We hope everyone in the community has a safe and enjoyable holiday season. Please remember to wear a mask, practice social distancing, wash your hands often and stay home if you are sick.

We will resume normal hours of operation beginning Tuesday, January 4.

Our Health Department has partnered with Gwinnett County to encourage the county to finish 2021 strong with a COVID-19 vaccination or booster. Individuals 12 and older vaccinated at our Sears location Dec. 10 – 12 will receive a $100 gift card (applicable to first, second, third and booster doses for those eligible*).

Appointments are full for the Health Department’s Sears location.**

*Boosters are currently only authorized for individuals 16 and older for Pfizer and 18 and older for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.
**Because appointments are full, we will not be able to serve walk-ins at this location. You must have an appointment to be seen and to receive a gift card.

We do not vaccinate children under 12 at our Sears location; however, three community partners will also be participating in the incentive event.

Visit FinishStrongTogether.com for more information.

Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Departments’ district office, health centers, COVID-19 testing sites and COVID-19 vaccination sites will all be closed Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26 in observance of Thanksgiving.

If you are in need of COVID-19 testing, please check these resources:

• http://COVIDCareGa.com
• https://dph.georgia.gov/castlight-location-finder

Our offices and locations will resume normal business hours Monday, November 29.

We wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving, and, remember to celebrate safely.

The holidays offer a perfect opportunity for enjoying loved ones, celebrating life, being grateful, and reflecting on what’s important. They are also a time to appreciate the gift of health. Support health and safety for yourself and others by following some timeless tips for staying healthy.

Know Your “Bugs”

Aside from being on guard against COVID-19, two common illnesses that often strike during the holidays are Influenza (the flu) and Norovirus. Another type of “bug” that can be found during the holiday season is Salmonella infections. The information below will give you a good start on keeping your holidays healthy by preventing these illnesses.

Influenza (the flu)

Influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza viruses. It spreads between people and can cause mild to severe illness. In the United States, flu season normally occurs in the fall and winter, but individuals can be infected with influenza year round.

One of the best ways to protect against flu is to receive a flu shot.  And it is not too late to get one. Flu shots are available at our Health Department locations. Flu season has already begun in Georgia, and it typically peaks in February and can last as late as May.

How do you know if it’s the flu? What can you do to care for someone with the flu?  Click here for more information.

Norovirus

Norovirus is a gastrointestinal illness that generally causes vomiting and diarrhea. You may hear people refer to it as the “cruise ship illness” or “stomach flu,” but norovirus is not related to the influenza virus (flu), which is primarily a respiratory illness.

Hand washing is the best way to protect you and your family against most illnesses, including norovirus. Hand washing is preferred as alcohol-based hand cleaners are not effective against some germs, including norovirus.

Soiled clothing and linens should be washed as soon as possible with detergent in hot water and/or dried using a hot cycle. Many common cleaning agents are not effective against norovirus. Read the labels and follow manufacturer’s instructions for best results. Chlorine bleach solutions are an inexpensive and effective way to clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces.

Chlorine bleach concentrations and mixing instructions:

• For stainless steel, food/mouth contact items, toys
  • 1 tablespoon of bleach in 1-gallon water
• For non-porous surfaces, tile floors, counter-tops, sinks, toilets
  • 1/3-cup bleach in 1-gallon water
• For porous surfaces, wooden floors
  • 1 cup bleach plus 2/3-cup bleach in 1-gallon water

Click here for more information on Norovirus and what to do if you or someone you know has it.

Salmonella

Salmonella are bacteria that can make you sick and cause an infection or serious illness. Salmonella can be found in a variety of foods and can be hard to identify as contaminated foods usually look, taste, and smell normal. The bacteria can also be spread through contaminated water, the environment, other people, and animals.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list a multitude of foods that can be contaminated with Salmonella such as chicken, turkey, beef, pork, eggs, fruit, sprouts, other vegetables, nut butters, frozen pot pies, chicken nuggets, and stuffed chicken entrees. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021)

Symptoms of Salmonella include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps and can start between 6 hours and 6 days after infection. While many people recover without antibiotic treatment in 4 to 7 days, some people that experience severe diarrhea may need to be hospitalized or take antibiotics. Click here for more information on Salmonella and what to do if you or someone you know may have been infected.

To safely prepare your food and help prevent Salmonella infection, follow the Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill guidelines:

Stop the Spread

Wash Your Hands

Washing your hands is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs.

• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds.
• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

Food Safety

From finger foods to turkey and dressing, there is never a time of year when food is more of a focus than over the winter holidays. Some foodborne illnesses can be spread from person to person. Don’t handle or prepare food if you are sick. Reduce your chances of a foodborne illness by remembering these simple steps for food preparation: wash hands and surfaces often, avoid cross-contamination, cook foods to proper temperatures, and refrigerate promptly.

For more information about safe food preparation, visit:

• Food Safety for the Holidays
• Food Safety Tips for Your Holiday Turkey
• Let’s Talk Turkey: Tips for a Safe Thanksgiving
• Holiday Food Safety

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/communication/salmonella-food.html#four-steps

Rockdale residents 18 and older can receive a $50 gift card when getting a 2^nd dose COVID-19 vaccine or a booster dose at a special event on Saturday, Dec. 4.

Appointments are required to secure a gift card. Make yours here: www.gnrhealth.com/covid-19-vaccination-step-1

Residents will be required to show proof of residency in order to receive the gift card.

Please bring your vaccine card to the event so our staff can update it with your second dose or booster information.

On Thursday, October 21, CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., recommended that certain individuals who received Moderna or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine receive a booster shot. These boosters are in addition to previously approved booster doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Booster shot eligibility is as follows:

Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Recipients

For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their initial series:

• 65 years and older
• Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings
• Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions
• Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings

Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Recipients

Booster shots are also recommended for Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine recipients who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago.

Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received, and others may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots.

Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Departments will start administering booster shots to recipients of Moderna and Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, October 26. Not all vaccine types will be available at each vaccine location. Appointments are available but not required.

To find a location or to make an appointment, visit www.gnrhealth.com/covid-vaccine-scheduling/.

Celebrate Red Ribbon Week October 23 through October 31 by wearing red and spreading awareness of the fight against drug use.

What is Red Ribbon Week?

Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s largest and longest-running drug-use prevention campaign. It began in 1985 in response to the murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena.

Enrique “Kiki” Camarena was a special agent who worked for the Drug Enforcement Administration and was kidnapped by drug traffickers in Guadalajara, Mexico. On Feb. 7, 1985, when the 37-year-old Camarena left his office to meet his wife for lunch, five men appeared at the agent’s side and shoved him in a car. One month later, Camarena’s body was found. He had been tortured to death. Shortly after Camarena’s murder, community members began wearing red ribbons to honor the sacrifices made by Camarena and to show their commitment to leading drug-free lives.

Wear red during Red Ribbon Week, October 23-31, to show your support for the creation of a drug-free America and to honor Special Agent Kiki Camarena. To learn more about Red Ribbon Week, please visit www.redribbon.org.

Information gathered from www.redribbon.org/about