Four things you can do to fight the flu

It’s flu season in the U.S., and because today’s focus for National Public Health Week is all about communicable diseases, we thought it would be a good time to have a frank talk about influenza.

Because the flu is so common, we sometimes underestimate how serious it can be. If you’ve ever said to yourself, “It’s just the flu,” as you force yourself to go to work or school even when you’re sick with body aches, coughing, sneezing and a high fever, you know what we’re talking about.

The truth is that seasonal flu is kind of a big deal. Every year, the flu sends hundreds of thousands of people to the hospital. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believes that anywhere from 3,000 to 52,000 people die every year in the U.S. from flu-related sicknesses. Many of those deaths are young babies and older adults.

That’s the bad news. But here’s the good news: There’s a lot you can do to stop the spread of flu.

1. Get your seasonal flu shot. CDC now recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older get a flu shot every year. It’s the best way to protect yourself from the flu, and you’ll also be protecting the people around you.

2. Wash your hands. The virus that causes flu can get into your body when you touch an infected surface and then touch your face. Hand-washing is the second best way to protect yourself from influenza (and many other infectious diseases!). APHA’s Get Ready campaign has free hand-washing fact sheets for people of all ages.
   
   
3. If you do get sick with the flu, stay home. The flu is highly contagious. You’re not being a hero if you show up to work or class sick — you’re putting other people at risk. The best thing to do is to go home and stay there until at least 24 hours after your fever goes away — that’s when you stop being contagious.
   
   
4. Become a flu detective. APHA has teamed up with other organizations to start a tool called Flu Near You. Anyone in the U.S. over the age of 13 can sign up and fill out a quick weekly survey that asks, “How are you feeling?” By answering the survey, you can help us get a better picture of flu-like sickness in the U.S. — and  you can see if there is flu in your area, too!

There you have it: Four simple things you can do to fight the flu. We hope this helps you to stay free of infectious disease this National Public Health Week and beyond!

A public health approach to preventing injuries and violence: Q&A with Linda Degutis

Injury and violence prevention is a real and growing public health problem and one of the priorities included in the National Prevention Strategy, a major focus of this year’s National Public Health Week. In recognition of National Public Health Week, Linda Degutis, DrPH, MSN, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control will join other public health leaders in a panel discussion today on the impact of alcohol use on injuries and violence. As the Injury Center celebrates its 20th anniversary, Degutis, a former APHA president, reflects on the significant advances that have been made in the field of injury and violence prevention and her vision for meeting some of the challenges that lie ahead.

Q: What is the scope of injury and violence? Where does it rank in the context of other public health problems?


Past CDC director Dr. William Foege said, “Throughout history, the two major causes of early death have been infectious disease and injury.” Today, more people ages 1–44 die from injuries than from any other cause, including cancer, HIV or the flu. The toll of injury and violence is unacceptable. Those of us in the injury prevention and research field know that this is a public health issue we are making great strides in, but there are challenges ahead that we must work to address together. Here are a few examples:

•We could have saved 3,688 more lives in 2009 if everyone had buckled up.

•School-based programs to prevent violence have cut violent behavior among high school students by 29 percent.

•Sobriety checkpoints have been shown to cut alcohol-related crashes and deaths by about 20 percent. CDC’s Division of Unintentional injury Prevention advises they are working on a new data point, but it is too early to provide. Tai chi and other exercise programs for older adults have been shown to reduce falls by as much as half among participants.

To read the full article, visit APHA's Public Health Newswire: http://www.publichealthnewswire.org/?p=2992

Nature prescriptions help kids and families get outdoors for better health

Today’s National Public Health Week guest blog is by Leyla Erk McCurdy, senior director, health and environment, at the National Environmental Education Foundation.

Physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyle have contributed greatly to many health problems affecting children as well as adults today. Chronic conditions such as childhood obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, attention-deficit disorder and vitamin D deficiency have all increased in recent decades.



U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin recognized the National Environmental Education Foundation’s Children and Nature Initiative for its role in getting children active outdoors. Here, she’s pictured with members of the foundation’s staff and board at Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C., a nature site for the initiative.

Being outside and active has sometimes taken a back seat to television, video games, the computer, and a demanding schoolwork and extracurricular schedule. On the other hand, research shows that these chronic conditions can be prevented or improved by spending more time outdoors. 

Adam Benzing, from Howard University’s Medical Reserve Corps, talks to youth about nature and their health at Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C.



The National Environmental Education Foundation’s Children and Nature Initiative is working with health care providers to educate families on the benefits of staying active and connecting with nature. The initiative trains health care providers to become nature champions and gives them the technical support, tools and resources they need to be effective in prescribing outdoor activity in their communities. The foundation also connects them with a particular forest, park, wildlife refuge, nature center or other public land near their neighborhood in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Audubon Society.

James R. Roberts, a pediatrician at Medical University of South Carolina and chair of the Children & Nature Initiative Advisory Committee, said the initiative is vital because “with competing priorities and numerous entertainment options available to kids today, they are spending less time outside. A nature prescription gives kids something to take home and reminds them to turn off their electronic gadgets and get outdoors to play when they can.”



Dr. Robert Zarr, a nature champion of the Children and Nature Initiative, and Unity Health Care’s We Can! participants explore the trails at Rock Creek Park.



You can learn more about the Children and Nature Initiative by visiting neefusa.org/health.

A close look at the nation’s health disparities

Today’s National Public Health Week guest blog is by Janet Wright, MD, executive director of the Million Hearts (http://millionhearts.hhs.gov/index.html) initiative.

Continuing our discussion about the Million Hearts™ initiative from February, we wanted to focus on racial and ethnic health disparities and improving blood pressure control.  In recent years, the United States has made important progress in improving health and reducing disparities, but we recognize that disparities persist.  

Reducing disparities in heart disease and stroke among racial and ethnic minorities, particularly African-Americans,  is the right thing to do for our citizens and is essential if we are  to meet the goal of the Million Hearts initiative—to  prevent one million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of the difference in black-white mortality; African Americans have the highest death rate for heart disease and stroke;  and these deaths occur at younger ages.

Key components of Million Hearts include community prevention— reducing the number of people who need treatment—and clinical prevention— optimizing care for those who do. Community prevention means improving access, outreach, and communication related to the ABCS (Aspirin for those who need it, Blood pressure control, Cholesterol management,  and Smoking cessation), decreasing smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke, improving nutrition (lowering  sodium and artificial trans fat intake), increasing physical activity, and offering community support for blood pressure control. CDC’s Community Transformation Grants are an important part of ensuring that those who need these community supports will get them. On the clinical side, Million Heats is focusing on the ABCS through a uniform and simple set of measures that are aligned with incentives, fully deploying HIT to report and improve ABCS performance, and promoting innovative care delivery models that use teams and performance-based reimbursement to improve adherence and cardiovascular health. 

We are excited about our plans to focus on blood pressure control starting in May—which is National High Blood Pressure Awareness Month, National Stroke Awareness Month, and National Older Americans Month. We are working with healthcare practitioners, pharmacists, voluntary organizations, and health systems to host events where people can get their blood pressure checked and receive referrals for any necessary follow-up.  These events will emphasize strategies  for taking medications routinely and effectively. We will make sure APHA members know how they can get involved in May.

Million Hearts is supported by multiple federal agencies and key private organizations. Collectively, these partnerships leverage and advance investments in cardiovascular disease prevention. I hope you will join us in achieving this important national goal—particularly addressing  these racial and ethnic disparities in cardiovascular disease.  Protect yourself and your loved ones by understanding your risks and taking action. Take the Million Hearts pledge today at www.millionhearts.hhs.gov.

Janet Wright, M.D.

Executive Director, Million Hearts™

Community design impacts physical activity among kids

Today’s guest blog is by Genevieve Dunton, PhD, MPH, assistant professor at the University of Southern California and chair of the APHA Physical Activity Special Primary Interest Group. 



Smart growth is an urban planning strategy that promotes compact housing development, walkable neighborhoods, close proximity of housing to shops and restaurants, and ample parks and recreation areas. These community design features have the potential to promote physical activity and reduce the risk for obesity.  

In a recent study published in Health & Place, we examined whether children living in a community designed according to smart growth urban planning principles are more physically active than children living in conventional suburbs.


Children living in the smart growth community engaged in more physical activity within a few blocks from home, at places they walked to and with friends, compared with children living in conventional suburbs.


We studied the behavior of 121 children, ages 9 to 13, who lived in San Bernardino County, Calif. Approximately half of the children recently moved into a community designed according to smart growth urban planning principles; the other half lived in nearby conventional communities. Children responded to electronic surveys via mobile phones at random times, asking children to report whether they were engaging in physical activity; and if they were, where and with whom, as well as how they perceived their settings.

Children living in smart growth communities engaged in more physical activity near their homes than children who live in traditional suburban communities, possibly because smart growth communities may provide children better access to parks, playing fields and community centers that do not require parents to drive. Furthermore, children in smart growth communities may be active more often with friends because more children live within walking distance.Zoning and land use policies that promote compact housing development, walkable neighborhoods, close proximity of housing to shops and restaurants, and access to parks and recreation areas have the potential to increase children’s physical activity and reduce their risk for obesity.


For more information, visit Smart Growth Online, Active Living Research, APHA’s Physical Activity SPIG and Designing Healthy Communities book and DVD set.

Don't Forget Your Emotional and Mental Well-Being!

 Today's guest blog is by Jaclyn Blachman-Forshay. Jaclyn Blachman-Forshay, BS, is currently pursuing a master’s in public health with a focus in epidemiology from the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.  She received a bachelor’s in social work from New York University.  Her research interests include HIV prevention among vulnerable populations and understanding the psychological impact of trauma.

Health means much more than caring for one’s physical self; mental and emotional well-being are also necessary to feel good. As part of National Public Health Week (NPHW), the American Public Health Association reminds you to focus on your whole self and to actively practice psychological self-care.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define mental and emotional well-being as having a positive outlook on an individual’s life. This includes making and maintaining healthy relationships, regularly feeling emotions such as happiness, and having forward-thinking goals.

Well-being is important for people of all ages: children and adults benefit from supportive families, social ties and extra-curricular activities.
We have all heard of taking a “mental health day” to de-stress, but ideally we can implement daily activities that promote overall well-being. Examples of such activities include:

• Exercise: Exercise has psychological benefits in addition to physical benefits. Regular exercise can decrease feelings of depression and improve sleep.
•  Volunteer: Giving your time to others can be a meaningful way to give back, and many volunteers state that they receive many benefits from the experience of volunteering. Take one of your passions, such as working with animals or children, and connect with an organization that needs your help.
•  Vacation: Vacationing doesn’t require a plane trip to a beach. Instead, schedule personal relaxation days in your hometown. Enjoy sleeping in, cooking a meal and watching a movie. Having “mental health days” planned in advance will give you something to look forward to and prevent burn out from being overworked.

Lastly, sometimes we need extra support to feeling mentally and emotionally well. Many benefit from reaching out to a psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker. Get involved with NPHW by committing to your personal mental and emotional well-being and raising awareness about the public health importance of well-being in your community!

Seasonal affective disorder: How to beat the winter blues

This week marked the start of spring, which means longer sun-filled days, increasing temperatures and in many places, blooming flowers. But for half a million people living with seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, spring also brings relief from feelings of the “winter blues.”

Seasonal affective disorder consists of recurring episodes of depression that often begin in the fall and continue through winter, with symptoms subsiding in the spring and summer months. The disorder can cause depression in the spring or early summer, but that’s less common. Symptoms of the disorder can include:

•   increased appetite and weight gain;
• increased sleep and daytime sleepiness;
•  less energy and ability to concentrate in the afternoon;
•  loss of interest in work or other activities;
• slow, sluggish, lethargic movement;
• social withdrawal; and
• unhappiness and irritability.

People who live in areas of reduced sunlight are at greater risk, and the disorder may begin in the teen years or early adulthood. Luckily, there are ways to treat seasonal affective disorder and to begin feeling better:

• Get outside. Getting outside during daylight hours provides exposure to natural light, even if it is cloudy. 
• Exercise. Take a walk, jog or bike ride.
• Keep active socially. Spend time with others to avoid feeling down.
•  Use light therapy. Special lights are made to mimic the rays of the sun and when used appropriately, may trick your body into thinking it is sunnier outside.
•  Talk to your doctor.  Make an appointment to see if adding antidepressants may help reduce or eliminate symptoms of seasonal affective disorder.

With National Public Health Week just around the corner, now is a good time to focus on taking action on mental health issues such as seasonal affective disorder. On Friday, April 6, National Public Health Week (http://nphw.org/tools-and-tips/themes/mental-and-emotional-well-being) will highlight mental and emotional well-being and the importance of detecting and treating mental health problems.

For more information on seasonal affective disorder, visit websites for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Mental Health America or PubMed Health. For a fact sheet on mental and emotional well-being, visit the National Public Health Week website.