Happy October!

The mornings are colder and the leaves are changing. That means winter is just around the corner. We assume that the colder weather brings flu season. Influenza (the flu) has already entered Iowa. Right now is the perfect time to get your flu vaccine. Our Immunization Clinic is open Monday - Friday from 10:00 AM - Noon and 12:30 - 4:00 PM. We also have a Saturday morning clinic this Saturday, October 19 from 9:00 - Noon.

The Health Department would like to congratulate Brian Hanft, Environmental Health Service Manager for receiving the 2013 Iowa Public Health Hero Award. Through the annual award program, the University of Iowa College of Public Health celebrates the exceptional efforts of Iowa's public health practitioners and recognizes individuals from across a range of career paths who have worked to promote a healthier state.  Congrats Brian, we are so proud of all your hard work!

The Health Department also received an award from the American Cancer Society for participating in the cancer prevention study. The goal for Mason City was to have 250 people volunteer and we had 286! The study was open to anyone. Participants had to complete a survey and body assessments. Partners of the study included: Mercy Medical Center - North Iowa, Mason City Family YMCA, Three Eagles Communications and the Health Department. Way to go, Mason City!

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Best wishes,  

Nola Aigner

Public Information Officer

Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health 

Lungs? Are we always good to them or do we take our lungs for granted? Your lungs are a part of a group of organs and tissues that work together to help you breathe. This is called your respiratory system and its main job is to move fresh air into and get waste gases out of the body. Taking care of yourself is one of the easiest ways to keep your lungs healthy. Lifestyle choices such as exercising, eating a balanced diet and reducing stress will help improve your breathing.

Yet, there are ways to keep your lungs safe and healthy. Your lungs are different than most of the organs in your body. They are made up of fragile tissues that are directly connected to the outside including the environment. Anything you breathe in can affect your lungs. Germs, smoke or other harmful substances that can cause damage to your airways and harm how your lungs function.

One of the best ways you can protect your lungs is by not smoking.  Cigarette smoking is one of the major causes of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and lung cancer. The smoke from cigarettes restricts your airways and makes it hard to breathe.  Smoking cigarettes can cause chronic inflammation and swelling in the lung which can lead to chronic bronchitis.  Over time, the smoke destroys the tissues in the lungs which may trigger changes and grow into cancer.

We don't really think about it but outdoor air pollution, secondhand smoke and chemicals in the home and workplace can cause or enhance lung disease.  Here are a couple of ways to make your car and home free of pollutants:

• Test your home for radon.
• Avoid exercising on days with heavy outdoor air pollution.
• Make your home and car smoke-free.

Having a good cold or a respiratory infection can also have a serious effect on your lungs.

• Make sure to wash your hands with soap and warm water. Alcohol-based cleaners are a good substitute if you cannot wash your hands.
• Good oral hygiene can protect you from the germs in your mouth leading to infections.
• Get vaccinated against the flu every year.
• If you get sick, stay home from work or school. Do not get the people around you sick too.

Regular check-ups are also an important part of disease prevention, especially with your lungs. Lung disease sometimes goes un-detached until its serious. Your health care provider will check your lungs to make sure they sound healthy.

Your lungs are a vital organ in your body. Keep them healthy not only for Healthy Lung Month, but always!

*Information provided by the American Lung Association

Pinktober Puzzlement  

Every year in October I get a chance to reflect on the previous year in our breast cancer prevention programs and draft my observations in a message to share with you. I tend to read a lot of studies on treatments and recommendations and I watch the statistics on breast cancer rates.  I coordinate the Care for Yourself program and the Komen funded North Iowa Breast Health Resource Program at the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health. The Care for Yourself program provides assistance for mammograms and pap smears to women who are uninsured or underinsured. The North Iowa Breast Health Resource is a multi-county program which provides breast screening and diagnostic services to uninsured and underinsured women when the Care for Yourself program is depleted for the year. It also covers some of the expenses for breast biopsies that the Care for Yourself program does not pay. 

To describe the program year in one sentence, it would be, "it was a tough year." The two programs combined provided services for 176 women in our communities. A total of 6 of them were diagnosed with breast cancer this year. In a typical year, the programs may see one or two women diagnosed with breast cancer. The women enrolling in the programs are between the ages of 40 and 65. Two of the women diagnosed with breast cancer were in their 40's. Unfortunately one of these women died from breast cancer. She was in her 40's as was a program participant who died the year before.

I shared that because it relates to the other challenge that made the last year a little tough. There has been a lot of confusion around the recommendations for breast cancer screening, specifically mammograms. The US Preventive Services Task Force came out with guidelines in 2009 that recommended against routine mammograms for women in their 40's. In the smaller print in the study summary, it states that women in their 40's should consult with their health care provider to make the decision whether to have a mammogram. This study spawned a firestorm of controversy and rightfully so. This left women in their 40's confused as to what to do. It created questions about the safety of annual mammograms and the possibility of biopsies on non-cancerous lesions. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Cancer Society continue to recommend annual mammograms for women in their 40's. A recent Harvard study supported annual screenings for women in their 40's. The research showed that the majority of women who die from breast cancer have not had regular screenings and half of those are under 50 years of age. The Harvard study noted that breast cancers in the younger women tend to be more aggressive where those in the older women tended to grow slower. 

Make healthy lifestyle choices. Maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, limit alcohol intake and don't smoke.

If you or someone you know is a woman over the age of 40 who does not have health insurance that covers mammograms, please call my office at 421-9315 or visit our website at www.cghealth.com. Have a happy, healthy "Pinktober"!

  

Thank you for choosing the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health!

 Our Mission Statement:   

The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health works to

optimize the health of all people in Cerro Gordo County.