Halloween Saftey Tips for Your Children

Keeping your child safe should always be a priority. Making sure that safety is first is the key to having a fun Halloween.  Here are a few tips that you and your child can follow in ensure a safe Halloween experience.  If your child is asking you to go trick-or-treating without an adult this year you may want to…

1. Consider the maturity level of your child, are they responsible enough to follow your rules?

2. If your child is going without an adult have them carry a cell phone.

3. Take your child to an up-scale neighborhood that they are familar with, and one that has a neighborhood watch program.

4. Have a set time of return for your child.  Give them a time limit for how long they can be out.

5. There are always alternatives to going from house to house for candy. Some churches hold events, shopping malls and recreational centers.

6. No matter what your child’s age is, make sure that they have on something that is reflective and can be seen by drivers.

7. Make sure they understand not to enter a stranger’s house.

8. Be sure to check all candy once you get home.

9. Try not to eat all of the candy in one night so that you,they won’t get a stomach ache.

10. Remember to brush your teeth before bed!

Breast Cancer Awareness

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – A diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and low in sweets and processed meats, may help lower the risk of breast cancer in some African-American women.

In a study of more than 50,000 African-American women, researchers found that thinner and younger women who ate a generally “prudent” diet were less likely to develop breast cancer than their counterparts who maintained a more Western-style diet.

There was no evidence that healthier eating lowered the risk among overweight women, or those past menopause. However, the prudent diet was linked to a generally lower risk of estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer — an aggressive type of tumor that accounts for about one-third of breast cancers.  To read the rest of this article please click here. 

http://www.nbcam.org/

Check out our library’s catalog to find out more information on Breast Cancer

 

Stefen  sfennell@co.durham.nc.us

Vitamin D Combats the Flu

Research has been conducted to show that vitamin D deficiency is common in the winter, and activated vitamin D, 1,25(OH)₂D, a steroid hormone, has profound effects on human immunity. Vitamin D deficiency predisposes children to respiratory infections. Ultraviolet radiation (either from artificial sources or from sunlight) reduces the incidence of viral respiratory infections, as does cod liver oil (which contains vitamin D). An interventional study showed that vitamin D reduces the incidence of respiratory infections in children.

 http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=529704

To learn more about the benefits of vitamins click to check out a book at our library.

Stepfen    sfennell@durham.co.nc.us

STRESS

Did you know that stress can kill you?  Stress can cause so many other illness to occur in your body.  You first need to recognize the stress symptoms  which include mental, social, and physical manifestations.  Added to these are exhaustion, loss of or increased appetite, headaches, crying, sleeplessness, and oversleeping.  Escape through alcohol, drugs, or other compulsive behavior are often indications. 

Things that can be done to manage stress.

1. First see if there really is something you can change or control in the situation.
2. Set realistic goals and reduce the number of events going on in your life.
3. Exercise
4. Remove yourself from the stressful situation
5. Don’t overwhelm yourself
6. Don’t sweat small stuff
7. Learn what relaxes you most
8. Get enough sleep
9. Avoid self-medication or escape
10. Try looking at the situation from a different point of view

Check out the materials here at the library on stress.http://catalog.durhamcountylibrary.org/ipac20/ipac.jsp?aspect=basic_search&menu=search&aspect=basic_search&npp=25&ipp=20&profile=bal&ri=&term=Stress&index=.GW#focus

 

Stefen  sfennell@co.durham.nc.us

Fall Prevention: 6 ways to reduce your falling risk

The odds of falling each year after age 65 in the United States are about one in three. Fortunately, most of these falls aren’t serious. Still, falls are the leading cause of injury and injury-related death among older adults. You’re more likely to fall as you get older because of common, age-related physical changes and medical conditions — and the medications you take to treat such conditions.

 

Donnie Johnson

dojohnson@durhamcountync.gov

Shrimp as a health food

According to the World’s Healthiest Foods 

Shrimp are anything but small in their nutrient density. Their food ranking system qualified shrimp as an excellent source of selenium and unusually low-fat, low-calorie protein–a four ounce serving of shrimp supplies 23.7 grams of protein (that’s 47.4% of the daily value for protein) for a mere 112 calories and less than a gram of fat. Shrimp also emerged as a very good source of vitamin D and vitamin B12.

Many people are confused about the fat and cholesterol content of shrimp. Shrimp is very low in total fat, yet it has a high cholesterol content (about 200 milligrams in 3.5 ounces, or 12 large boiled shrimp). Some people have avoided eating shrimp precisely because of its high cholesterol content. However, based on research involving shrimp and blood cholesterol levels, avoidance of shrimp for this reason does not seem justified.

To learn more about the benefits of shrimp and how to cook them please click here to the library’s catalog.

stefen  sfennell@co.durham.nc.us

Necrotizing Fasciitis (Flesh-Eating Bacteria)

Symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis may develop quickly, often as soon as 24 hours after a minor skin injury. The rapid onset of symptoms is one of the most important clues that you may need immediate medical care. Another common feature of this disease is pain that is greater than you would expect from the wound or injury. A common entry point for the bacteria is through a wound such as a burn, cut, scrape, or insect bite. Within 24 hours after the bacteria have entered the wound, swelling, heat, redness, and tenderness spread quickly from the original wound site. Within 24 to 48 hours after spreading, the redness may darken to purple and then to blue. Blisters containing yellow fluid may also form. Within 4 to 5 days after the initial infection, gangrene develops. Within 7 to 10 days, dead skin separates from healthy skin as the infection continues to spread into other tissue. Certain strains of bacteria (such as streptococci) can be more aggressive, shortening the entire process to 2 to 4 days.

 

The most common early symptoms include:

• Sudden, severe pain in the affected area.
• Fever, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and other flu-like symptoms.
• Redness, heat, swelling, or fluid-filled blisters in the skin over the affected area. If the infection is deep in the tissue, these signs of inflammation may not develop right away.

Later symptoms may include:

• Signs of shock (including confusion, fainting, or dizziness), which are often worse when you get up from sitting or lying down. These symptoms are caused by a drop in blood pressure.
• Scaling, peeling, or discolored skin over the affected area, which are signs of tissue death, or gangrene.

 

Donnie Johnson

dojohnson@durhamcountync.gov

Can Colon Cleansing be Dangerous?

 There are a lot of products in the media making the claim that by using colon cleansers you can prevent diseases and melt away fat.   Well I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want to get rid of fat and prevent their chance of getting colon cancer.  It sounds really good to me.  There are arguments, that no matter how good it sounds to have a clean colon that it really doesn’t do any good. 

I don’t know for sure, I am not a professional in this matter, but before you go out and spend money on products that make the claim to clean you colon, melt away fat and prevent diseases, do your homework.  Take time to do the research and find out what you are about to put into your body before you order something from the internet or go out shopping.  Find out the pros and cons of cleansing, don’t trade old problems for new ones.  Click here to link to an article from the Mayo Clinic.

Wishing you the best of health.

Stefen  sfennell@co.durham.nc.us

Child Abuse

How do you recognize when a child is being abused?  There are different signs that children who are being abused exhibted. 

According to the babycenter.com, some parents mistakenly overlook signs of abouse becasue they don’t want to face what is happening.  This is a difficult matter to deal with not only for the child but the parents as well.   Some of the signs to watch for are:

Physically abused- Crying and putting up a fight when it is time to go to daycare or school.  Unexplained bruises, abrasions, burns, or injuries.

Emotionally abused- Behavioral problems or changes such as shunning a parent’s affection or becoming excessively clingy.

Sexually abused- Having pain, itching or difficulty walking or sitting.

These are just a few signs of abuse that a child may display, for more information on this topic look at the link to the library’s catalog and request a book.  You can also click here to link to  babycenter.com.

 

Stefen  sfennell@co.durham.nc.us

SWINE FLU

This information has been take from the Centers for Disease Control Website.

CDC continues to take aggressive action to respond to an expanding outbreak caused by novel H1N1 flu.

CDC’s response goals are to:

1. Reduce transmission and illness severity, and
2. Provide information to help health care providers, public health officials and the public address the challenges posed by this emergency.

What You Can Do to Stay Healthy

• Stay informed. This website will be updated regularly as information becomes available.
• Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
• Take everyday actions to stay healthy.
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
  • Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
• Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
• Develop a family emergency plan as a precaution. This should include storing a supply of food, medicines, facemasks, alcohol-based hand rubs and other essential supplies.
• Call 1-800-CDC-INFO for more information

Click here to go directly to the Centers for Disease Control Website.

 

Stefen sfennell@co.durham.nc.us