Adult Health Services2022-01-27T12:17:56-06:00

Adult Health Services

Bridging the Gap: The CDC’s Bridge Access Program

The US and CDC has taken a giant leap forward in ensuring all individuals have access to the 2023-24 COVID-19 vaccine by launching the Bridge Access Program. The Bridge Access Program offers a lifeline to adults without health insurance and those whose insurance doesn't cover the total cost of COVID-19 vaccines.

The 2023 Seasonal Flu Booster, COVID-19, and RSV Vaccines

As autumn approaches, the need to stay vigilant against respiratory illnesses like COVID-19, Influenza, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) remains critical. Fortunately, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) have recently approved new vaccines to safeguard the U.S. population from these potentially deadly viral illnesses.

The Importance of Temporary Food Permits

The significance of food sanitation and safety cannot be overstated when local events offer good food and bring communities together. Whether it's a farmers' market, a festival, or a charity event, the food served holds the power to create memorable experiences.

Heat Safety: Protecting Yourself During Hot Summer Weather

Summer’s long days and sweltering heat pose potential health and safety risks. This is especially true for those who work outside or live in conditions where there is little relief from the sun and heat of the season. Heat safety is essential to make the most of the summer months while protecting ourselves and our families from heat-related illnesses.

Lightning Strikes: Safety Precautions You Need to Know

When we think about severe weather during the spring and summer months, we don’t always consider the dangers of lightning strikes. Thunderstorms produce 20-25 million lightning flashes that strike the ground in the U.S. each year. These lightning strikes kill at least 20 people annually, and hundreds more sustain injury.

The WIC Program: Helping Families as Food Costs Rise

WIC is a special supplemental nutrition program funded and administered by the USDA. The program provides nutritional health information and benefits for Women, Infants, and Children. Certified WIC staff are typically Registered Nurses or Dieticians who assist clients with other resources and services to meet their needs.

The High Cost of Loneliness

Some describe loneliness as a feeling of distress caused by a lack of meaningful, close relationships. In other words, loneliness can be defined as a lack of emotional connectedness. With this definition, it is important to acknowledge that one can be lonely in a crowd.

Five Simple Tips to Reduce Holiday Stress

Ironically, we think of the Christmas season as a time of joy and peace, but more often, holidays seem demanding and exhausting. Let's face it, after the last couple of years, we need and deserve an extra measure of kindness and grace from each other this holiday season. That said, most of us will experience some holiday stress, no matter how we try to avoid it. Fortunately, we can reduce some of the stress by choosing to respond to stressful situations, events, and circumstances in a way that protects (and possibly improves) our inner joy and peace.

Thanksgiving: Preparing Your Turkey and Trimmings Safely

If you are among the millions of Americans planning to prepare a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, it's essential to know how to do so safely. Otherwise, a turkey and its juices can be contaminated with germs that could make you, your family, and other guests sick. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers recommendations that can help you safely thaw, handle, and cook your Thanksgiving turkey. Additionally, they provide tips on how to take care of your leftovers safely.

Breast Cancer: Symptoms, Risk Reduction, and Early Detection

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer (other than skin cancer) among American women, with about 264,000 diagnosed each year. Current statistics indicate that approximately 42,000 of those diagnosed will not survive. Breast cancer isn't just a "female" disease. Each year, approximately 2,710 American men are diagnosed with breast cancer. Of those men, 20% are not likely to survive.

Daylight Savings Time Signals an Essential Home Safety Tip

Daylight savings time (DST) begins November 6, 2022, at 2:00 am. This day reminds us to reset our clocks (fall back 1 hour in the fall of the year). It also reminds us to replace the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in our homes. It's an important reminder because these detection devices are useless without working batteries.

Halloween Treats and Safety

Children are often too excited about their costumes and the treats they will collect to be mindful of their safety. Help keep your kids safe this Halloween with these tips concerning their “goodies.”

Do You Really Need Both a Flu Shot and a COVID-19 Booster?

This year will mark the third flu season with COVID-19 still circulating. Both viruses can cause health problems ranging from mild symptoms to illnesses requiring hospitalization and medical support measures. Likewise, both illnesses can also be deadly for the most susceptible individuals, such as those with chronic health conditions or compromised immune systems. Learn how you can stay healthy.

Why Do You Need an Annual Eye Exam?

Annual check-ups with your doctor and dentist are essential in taking care of your health. But what about going to an eye doctor? Eye exams at every age and through your changing life stages can help keep your eyes healthy and your vision strong.

Staying Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines and Boosters

Our risk of illness due to Covid-19 continues. Healthcare professionals are working to limit the spread of the virus to the point that it will become a simple matter of routine prevention. Vaccines and updated boosters are one method of reducing our own risk of illness, which in turn will hopefully reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to others.

Why Should You Build an Emergency Kit?

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) recommends that everyone create and periodically update their family emergency plans and establish a family communications plan. They also recommend building an emergency kit to support all family members during and after a disaster. According to IEMA Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau, “It could be a matter of life or death because if you need to evacuate within minutes, you will need that kit packed and ready to go.”

How Do We Monitor Vaccines for Safety?

All vaccines approved in the United States are continually monitored for side effects and adverse events reported after vaccination. Although several agencies are involved in this effort, the primary system for receiving and reviewing vaccine reports is the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).

Staying Safe in Sunny Weather

Many of us look forward to bright and sunny weather because of the numerous recreational activities we enjoy. Regardless of the season, too much exposure to the sun can prove hazardous to your health. This sun damage is caused by invisible ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. It is caused by damage to nerve cells (neurons) in the brain and is a progressive disease. The neurons damaged first are those in parts of the brain responsible for memory, language, and thinking. As a result, the first symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease tend to be mild memory loss, impaired language skills, and difficulty thinking clearly.

Vector-borne Diseases in Central Illinois

Some vector-borne diseases will produce few noticeable symptoms in an infected person, and the illness may go undetected. However, the same diseases can also cause significant discomfort and illness, Including life-long disabilities or even death. The following is basic information on West Nile virus and Lyme disease, both of which are carried by vectors common in Central Illinois.

Summer Food Safety: Facts and Best Practices

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one in six Americans (48 million people) become sick from food poisoning each year. These incidents send 128,000 Americans to the hospital, and an estimated 3,000 die annually from foodborne illnesses. Food safety is especially important as we approach Memorial Day weekend. This weekend traditionally marks the beginning of summer activities, many of which will involve preparing and serving food for family and friends.

May is National Stroke Awareness Month

A stroke occurs when something blocks the blood supply to a part of the brain. It also occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures. When either occurs, parts of the brain can become damaged or die. A stroke can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or death. Learn how to identify a possible stroke and what to do.

Health Alert: Human Vector-Borne Diseases

West Nile virus (WNV), Lyme disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), are the most commonly reported human vector-borne diseases (VBDs) in Illinois. As summer approaches and more people are inclined to engage in outdoor activities, tick and mosquito vectors are also becoming more active, increasing the risk of disease transmission to humans.

Adults and the Importance of Immunizations

Immunizations (vaccines) help protect you from diseases caused by bacteria or viruses. What’s more, your immunity to these illnesses also protects others around you. As adults, most of us live busy lives with many responsibilities. The last thing you want to do is risk getting sick with a preventable infection.

Herd Immunity and Vaccinations

Herd immunity occurs when a significant portion of a population becomes immune to an infectious disease, limiting disease spread. When there are limits on the spread of the disease, even those not already immune have a reduced risk of exposure. Reducing the risk of disease spread is especially critical in protecting individuals who can’t be vaccinated. These would include newborns, those with compromised immune systems, and those who cannot tolerate the vaccine.

Vaccines and Our Opportunity to Control Infectious Diseases

Smallpox was a severely infectious disease caused by the variola virus. It undoubtedly caused millions of deaths and is believed to have existed since the days of ancient Egypt over 3,000 years ago. It was contagious, spreading from one person to another. People who had smallpox typically presented with a fever and a distinctive, distinct skin rash.

Four Myths About Sexually Transmitted Diseases

STD Awareness Week is April 10-16. Like so many medical concerns, there are myths and inaccurate information concerning sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Regrettably, such misinformation is widespread and can prove harmful to public health. Let's talk about these common myths and learn the truth.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in the Home: Part 2

Natural and LP gas has a specific odor that alerts you of their presence. This feature is not true of carbon monoxide (CO). CO is a poisonous, flammable gas with no odor and color, making CO especially hazardous. We can breathe in CO with no sense of odor or irritation to our nose or throats. When we inhale CO, our blood cells attach to CO molecules instead of oxygen molecules. This process starves our organs of the oxygen needed for continued survival, resulting in illness and death. Children and the elderly, as well as individuals with heart or respiratory conditions, are especially vulnerable to the effects of CO.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in the Home: Part 1

The Center for Disease Control reports that over 400 Americans die from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning every year, typically in their home or car. Many of these deaths occur during the winter months. These are the months when people heat their homes while minimizing outside ventilation. Although CO levels may not prove high enough to be fatal, they can still result in serious illnesses. CO poisonings account for nearly 50,000 visits to hospital emergency departments each year.

What are the 3 Most Common Toxic Substances in Your House?

The Illinois Poison Center logs over 74,000 calls on poisoning exposures each year. Poison centers across the nation manage over 2.1 million cases each year. It may surprise you that 90% of these incidents occur in the home. Furthermore, some of the most common exposures involve toxic substances we all use or come in contact with relatively often.

National Poison Prevention Week: March 20-26, 2022

National Poison Prevention Week is observed the third week of March every year. Congress established the observance in 1961 to highlight the risks of being poisoned by household products. Although we’ve made substantial progress since the early 1970s, over 2 million poisonings are reported in the U.S. every year. What may surprise you is that over 90% of these occur in the home, and those affected most often are children under the age of 12.

Info for Adults: Vaccines—Know what you need

Learn which vaccines you need as an adult. Talk to your healthcare professional about which vaccines are right for you! Immunization is one of the safest and most effective ways to protect your health. Vaccine side effects are usually mild and go away on their own. Severe side effects are very rare.

WIC Farmer’s Market Program

The Moultrie County Health Department is pleased to announce the arrival of WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) in Moultrie County!

The WIC FMNP was established by Congress in 1992, to provide fresh, unprepared, locally grown fruits and vegetables to WIC participants, and to expand the awareness, use of, and sales at farmers’ markets. Pregnant & Breastfeeding women and children one year and older who are certified to receive WIC program benefits or who are on a waiting list for WIC certification are eligible to participate in the WIC FMNP. A variety of fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs may be purchased with FMNP coupons.

Farmers Market Coupons will be distributed by the MCHD beginning July 1st, 2018, to all eligible WIC participants. Come to the Moultrie County Health Department and get your WIC- FMNP coupons to enjoy the fresh produce of Moultrie County all summer long! No appointment needed.

Health Education

The Moultrie County Health Department welcomes the opportunity to educate individuals as well as the public at large on pertinent health topics. Topics have been presented at health fairs, schools, community organizations, public events, and at the Moultrie County Health Department. Topics covered range from healthy pregnancy and breastfeeding, tobacco prevention and cessation, adult health, food safety, and environmental health.

The Moultrie County Health Department works routinely with the Illinois Department of Public Health, community members, and organizations to identify and address priority health concerns in Moultrie County.

Tobacco-Free Communities Effort

The Moultrie County Health Department encourages everyone to lead a tobacco-free life and reduce the harmful effects of tobacco, smokeless tobacco, and second-hand smoke. The Illinois Tobacco Quitline provides assistance to all individuals with tobacco use cessation.

Smoke-Free Illinois was initiated in 2008 by the State of Illinois and requires all public places to be free of second-hand smoke inside the building and within 15 feet of all entrances and exits.

Adult Health Screenings

The Moultrie County Health Department Adult Health Services program provides a variety of services to adults in clinic sites throughout Moultrie County. These services include blood pressure monitoring, cholesterol and glucose screenings, as well as individual education and referral services for a variety of health concerns.

Communicable Disease Control

The Moultrie County Health Department works closely with the Illinois Department of Public Health, clients, and their physicians to facilitate reporting, investigation, education, referrals, and follow-up for individuals diagnosed or concerned with exposure to a communicable disease. The Moultrie County Health Department also assists schools, area doctors, and other public entities with disease investigation, case contact, and follow-up to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. All services are confidential.

Vision and Hearing Testing

Vision And Hearing Screening services provided through the Moultrie County Health Department are available to all pre-school & school-age children in Moultrie County.

Interpretation of results and referrals to medical providers are made for clients as appropriate. Moultrie County Health Department staff are certified by the Illinois Department of Public Health in Vision and Hearing Screening.

Immunizations

The Moultrie County Health Department provides all required immunizations to children through the age of 18 years as required by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the CDC. The Moultrie County Health Department also provides adult vaccines, including Influenza and Pneumonia Vaccines. Immunization clinics are offered at the Moultrie County Health Department three times per month. Individual appointments may be made if a client cannot be accommodated during routine clinics.

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