The statistic is staggering. Nearly 80 million Americans are infected with some type of HPV, or human papillomavirus. That’s almost one-quarter of the country’s population.

What’s more, there are about 14 million new infections each year.

Here’s another statistic: Each year, HPV causes about 33,700 new cancers. And the HPV vaccine can prevent about 31,200, which is nearly 93 percent of them, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

HPV can evolve into cervical cancer in women as well as a variety of cancers in men.

The HPV vaccine, which is available at Monongalia County Health Department, is ideally is given to both girls and boys at around age 11 or 12, before they even become sexually active and have the opportunity catch HPV.

Getting the HPV vaccine is just one way to observe Cervical Health Awareness Month, which takes place in January.

In fact, the HPV vaccine helps prevent other types of cancers, including:

•    cancers of the vagina and vulva in women (in addition to cervical cancer);
•    cancers of the penis in men; and
•    cancers of the anus and back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils (oropharynx), in both women and men.

While the goal is to give the HPV vaccine to girls and boys at around ages 11 or 12, it can be administered up through the age of 46 to both women and men. Until last fall, the age limit was 26 but the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) broadened the range on Oct. 5, 2018.

The HPV vaccine is a great way to help children avoid these types of cancers when they become adults. Once a woman turns 21 at least through the age of 65, it’s also important for her to get screened for cervical cancer through the Pap test.

The Pap test looks for cellular changes in the cervix that could evolve into cancer. Woman with normal results generally should get the test every three years, although health care providers can offer a more specific schedule to suit each individual’s situation.

At the same time, the cells collected during the Pap test can be tested for HPV so that it can be monitored and treated.

In this day and age, there is no reason why any women should go without testing. To make things easier, MCHD Clinical Services is a participant in the West Virginia Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program.

The WVBCCSP provides clinical breast examinations, mammograms and Pap tests for eligible women, as well as diagnostic testing for women whose screening outcome is abnormal. The program helps woman who are uninsured or underinsured who meet income guidelines.

Because the early stages of cervical cancer often do not cause symptoms in women, these preventative measures are important to take. In the latter stages of the disease, a woman might experience bleeding or discharge that is not her period.

Other ways to lower the risk of cervical cancer is to avoid using tobacco products, use condoms during sex and limit the number of sexual partners.

Cervical cancer and others caused by HPV are very easy to prevent. Cervical cancer also can be detected early and often treated successfully. Follow these steps so you can be around to celebrate Cervical Health Awareness Month for years to come.

And to make an appointment for an HPV vaccine or a Pap test, call MCHD Clinical Services at 304-598-5119.

Money Magazine just named Morgantown the best place to live in West Virginia. WVU, not one but two highly-rated hospitals, the rail-trail, city parks, restaurants and lots of activities and entertainment help make our home very habitable.
 
Also, in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation County Health Rankings 2018 County Health Rankings for West Virginia, Monongalia County comes in No. 2—behind only Jefferson County in the Eastern Panhandle.

Clearly, in Monongalia County, we have a lot going for us.

Still, it could be better. West Virginia is Ground Zero for a nationwide opioid epidemic that took more than 70,000 lives in the U.S. in 2017, and Morgantown has its share of homelessness and drug users. During 2018, southern West Virginia saw an outbreak of Hepatitis A; now the number of cases in nearby Harrison County is close to 40. Monongalia County Health Department’s public health nurses went out into the community several times in 2018 to offer Hepatitis A vaccines to at-risk populations in a proactive measure to keep the outbreak from reaching us.

Another problem is that life expectancy in the United States has been declining since 2014, and a recent Associated Press story used West Virginia as an example of how these events often begin here 10 or 20 years earlier than in most other states.

According to the AP report, “West Virginia eclipses most other states in the percentage of people affected by diabetes, heart disease and obesity. It has had the nation’s highest rate of drug overdose deaths for years running. It also has the highest obesity rate and the highest rates of diabetes and high blood pressure. Adding to those woes is the highest suicide rate among states east of the Mississippi River.

“Earlier this fall, U.S. health officials released for the first time life expectancy predictions at a neighborhood level. An Associated Press analysis of the data found wide disparities in cities and towns. Among states, the AP found, Hawaii had the highest life expectancy. West Virginia was the second lowest, behind Mississippi.”

The story concentrated on southern West Virginia, which has been harder hit by these problems. As Dr. Lee B. Smith, executive director of Monongalia County Health Department and county officer notes from the County Health Rankings report, socioeconomic factors count for the large portion—40 percent—of circumstances that predict an individual’s health outcomes. That gives us an edge over the poorer counties in the southwest coalfields.

As for the rest of the factors, health behaviors—whether your drink, smoke, exercise, etc.—come in at 30 percent. Access to clinical care accounts for 20 percent, while your physical environment makes up the final 10 percent.

As we celebrate MCHD’s 90th anniversary this year, we also happen to be reaching out to the community with a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) survey.

This is an opportunity to tell us what you think are the biggest health-related problems in Monongalia County and what we can do to address them. If you could, please take 10 minutes to help us help you by taking the survey.

The survey will ask you to rank quality-of-life statements so we can gauge what residents think about the current state of Monongalia County as well as what is important to them.

MCHD will be busy in 2019. In addition to celebrating our 90th anniversary and performing our regular day-to-day activities providing immunizations, clinical exams, food worker and threat prep training, dental care and more to the community, we’ll also continue to be hard at work at the accreditation process that we began in 2017.

The process, through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), is a relatively new goal for health departments. Not only will the CHNA allow us to better serve our clients, but it also will help us with this accreditation process.

So please celebrate the new year by taking 10 minutes to help us make Monongalia County one of the best places to live in the entire country.

Building a new home? The Environmental Protection Agency has some suggestions on how to protect it from unsafe levels of radon. That's especially important in Monongalia County, where 1 in 5 homes have high levels of radon, compared to the national average of 1 in 15.

But even if you are living in an older home, there are still steps you can take to protect your family from radon. The first one is to have your home tested. The EPA encourages all homeowners to test their houses for radon.

Environmental Health staff members at the Monongalia County Health Department are nationally board-certified to conduct radon testing. A staff member will come to your home and leave a continuous monitoring device for 48 hours, and then return to collect it and read the results.

If the test shows radon levels to be 4.0 pCi/L, or picocuries per liter, or higher, mitigation can be done that will make your home safer. The average cost of mitigation is $1,500.

While every home should be tested for radon at least every two years—and more often after a renovation, mitigation or certain other occurrences—residents of Morgantown and surrounding areas should really heed this advice.

Why is radon bad? It is the second-leading cause of lung cancer after smoking cigarettes. About 21,000 deaths occur each year from radon-induced lung cancer. And smokers who have a high radon content in their homes are even in more danger.

Radon can be a problem year-round, but once the cold rolls around during the winter, houses tend to be more closed-up with less ventilation, which can make a high radon situation even worse. It's no coincidence that January is National Radon Action Month, which is a great time to highlight the dangers of radon as well as the simple measures to detect and protect homes against this gas.

The EPA released the National Radon Action Plan in November 2015. The plan represents a collaborative effort among 11 organizations dedicated to eliminating avoidable radon-induced lung cancer in the United States. Led by the American Lung Association, the plan requires cooperation to incorporate radon testing and mitigation in the purchasing, financing, constructing and renovating of homes and other buildings.

The goal is to reduce radon risk in 5 million homes and save 3,200 lives by 2020—which, of course, is just around the corner now. eopa ra

Do your part to help achieve that goal and keep your family safe at the same time. You can set up a test by calling MCHD Environmental Health at 304-598-5131 or you can request a test online.

And if you want to read more about radon, the EPA’s website is a wellspring of information, providing sites on radon in general as well as the National Radon Action Plan.

Do the research. Make the call. And rest easy in 2019 in what should be the cozy fortress that is your home.

 The weather for the next couple of holiday weeks looks mild—for the beginning of winter anyway.

That’s a good thing, because whoever said “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow” didn’t have to drive a long way to reach their celebration destination. 

But winter still commenced last Friday with the solstice. And the holidays prompt people to hit the road more than they might otherwise; while some will be entertaining friends and families in their homes.

That’s why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as Monongalia County Health Department’s Threat Preparedness program are passing along these tips for safe winter travel, as well as how to get your home ready for the cold.

For your car:

• Service the radiator and maintain antifreeze level; check tire tread or, if necessary, replace tires

with all-weather or snow tires.

•  Keep gas tank full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines.
•  Use a wintertime formula in your windshield washer fluid.
• Prepare a winter emergency kit to keep in your car in case you become stranded. The kit should include:
•  cell phone, portable charger and extra batteries;
•  blankets;
•  food and water;
•  booster cables, flares, tire pump, and a bag of sand or cat litter for traction;
•  compass and maps;
•  flashlight, battery-powered radio and extra batteries;
•  first aid kit.

When you travel:

• Avoid traveling when the weather service has issued advisories.
• If you must travel, inform a friend or relative of your proposed route and expected time of arrival.                                                          

Follow these safety rules if you become stranded in your car:

• Make your car visible to rescuers. Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna, raise

        the hood of the car if it is not snowing and turn on the inside overhead lights when
        your engine is running.

• Move anything you need from the trunk into the passenger area. Stay with your

       car unless safety is no more than 100 yards away.

• Keep your body warm. Wrap your entire body, including your head, in extra

       clothing, blankets or newspapers. Huddle with other people if you can.

• Stay awake and stay moving. You will be less vulnerable to cold-related health

        problems. As you sit, keep moving your arms and legs to improve circulation and
        stay warmer.

• Run the motor and heater for about 10 minutes per hour, opening one window

       slightly to let in air. Make sure that snow is not blocking the exhaust pipe—this
       will reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

For emergencies:

• Be prepared for weather-related emergencies, including power outages.
• Stock food that needs no cooking or refrigeration and water stored in clean containers.
• Ensure that your cell phone is fully charged.
• When planning travel, be aware of current and forecast weather conditions.

Keep an up-to-date emergency kit, including:

• Battery-operated devices, such as a flashlight, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather radio and lamps;
• extra batteries;
• first-aid kit and extra medicine;
• baby items; and
• cat litter or sand for icy walkways.

Protect your family from carbon monoxide.

• Keep grills, camp stoves and generators out of the house, basement and garage.
• Locate generators at least 20 feet from the house.
• Leave your home immediately if the CO detector sounds and call 911.

The CDC offers more information on its website at this link.

Everybody wants to have fun during the holidays, and by implementing these tips, you are ensuring that everything will go more smoothly.

Like it or not, toys are an important part of this season. Parents love to channel their inner Santa Clauses to help ensure that their children have a great time opening up presents left under the tree.

But with that joy comes the responsibility to make sure the toys you select are safe and age appropriate. Not only does this reduce the risk of injury, it will also help ensure that the toy engages the child. It’s not surprising that December is Safe Toys and Gifts Month.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has compiled this list of recommendations to help ensure that everyone has a happy and healthy holiday—and year.

•    Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Toys that are too advanced will frustrate your child and may pose safety hazards for younger children.

•    When choosing gifts for babies and toddlers, consider toys that will build developmental skills. Toys that can be manipulated, such as shape sorters, stacking blocks, and baby-safe puzzles, are great for developing fine motor, cognitive, and perceptual skills. For more tips on choosing toys for babies, see these toy selection tips on HealthyChildren.org.

•    If you are considering a digital device for a child or teen, such as a tablet, smartphone or game system, think about the purpose of the device and the rules you want to set around its use. For more information, see these tips on mindful technology use, and healthy digital media use for young children.

•    Be cautious about toys containing button batteries or magnets. Children can have serious stomach, throat and intestinal problems—including death—after swallowing button batteries or magnets. In addition to toys, button batteries may be in musical greeting cards, remote controls, hearing aids and other small electronics. Small, powerful magnets may be part of building toy sets. Keep button batteries and magnets away from young children and call your health care provider immediately if your child swallows one.

•    To prevent burns and electrical shocks, do not give children under age 10 a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated.

•    If you are buying a gift for a young child, look for toys without small pieces. Young children can choke on small parts contained in toys or games. Government regulations specify that toys for children under age 3 cannot have parts less than 1 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 1/4 inches long. For more, see How to Buy Safe Toys.

•    Children can choke or suffocate on broken or uninflated balloons. Do not allow children under age 8 to play with them.

•    Remove tags, strings, and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children. Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches long, because they could be a strangulation hazard for babies.

•    When your child receives a gift, be sure to read the label and instructions. Warning labels give important information about how to use a toy and what ages it is for. Be sure to show your child how to use the toy.

•    Parents should store toys in a designated location, such as on an open shelf or in a bin and keep older kids' toys away from young children. If you use a toy box, choose one with no lid or a lightweight, non-locking lid and ventilation holes. See Toy Box Safety for more tips.

Also, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reminds us that antique toys and collectibles can contain lead, which is harmful if ingested. Your best bet is to not give young children these types of items, although they can be tested for lead content.

With some thought when purchasing the gifts and supervision when introducing the toy to your child, you can help ensure that your family has a safe and happy holiday.