Wake up America! Did you know that nine out of 10 Americans most at risk for type 2 diabetes don’t know it? The American Diabetes Association Alert Day is revolved around informing the public about the seriousness of type 2 diabetes, especially when left untreated.

Diabetes has affected millions of people around the world. Although it is not a curable disease, it is very treatable. People diagnosed with diabetes can live very long and healthy lives if they get proper treatment and take care of themselves.

Diabetes is a disease in which blood glucose levels are above normal. This is due to the body’s inability to produce or respond to the hormone insulin, resulting in abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates and elevated levels of glucose in the blood and urine.  

Type 1 diabetes occurs when your body does not make insulin. This causes your immune system to attack and destroy the cells in your pancreas that make insulin. This type of diabetes usually occurs in children and young adults. However, it can occur at any age.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes and is often found among middle-aged and older people. But can be found in children or any age as well. This type of diabetes prevents your body from making or using insulin well.

There is also gestational diabetes, which develops in some pregnant women. This type of diabetes will often go away after the baby is born. Nonetheless, gestational diabetes increases your chances of having type 2 diabetes later in life.

If you have a minute to spare, you can find out if you run the risk of getting type 2 diabetes by taking an online test created by the American Diabetes Association. Once you answer a few questions about yourself, the results will be given to you on risk scale from 1-10.

However, even if your results show a low probability of getting type 2 diabetes, your risk of getting diagnosed may change over time. It’s encouraged to schedule regular check-ups with your doctor and take healthy steps toward preventing or delaying diabetes.
 
Now, if your results show you run a high risk of having type 2 diabetes, don’t fret! There are steps you can take in order to lower your risk:

•    Watch your weight
Staying at a healthy weight can help prevent and manage prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol.

•    Physical Activity
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends getting at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week, or a combination of the two. Strength training for all major muscle groups are recommended to do at least two times a week. Reducing the amount of time sitting or being still is important as well. Setting aside 30 minutes every day to walk or stretch around the house or office can be very helpful.

•    Small changes
Lifestyle changes don’t come easy. But they don’t need to be immediate and grand. Making gradual changes such as altering your diet, keeping a food log, setting goals for yourself and being willing to make a change can be effective in lowering your risk of diabetes.

Monongalia County Health Department offers a Diabetes Clinic run by registered nurse and nationally certified diabetes instructor Kendra L. Barker. The clinic runs on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and requires an appointment to attend. The clinic provides education on diabetes and how patients can manage their symptoms, as well as the initial testing required to determine if you have diabetes.

If you’ve had a family history of diabetes or have some spare time, take the online risk test and ease your worries. If your results concern you, come and get tested. Call MCHD Clinical Services at 304-598-5119 to make an appointment.

By Jocelin Leon

Are you eating the right amount or the right foods to provide your body with the amount of nutrients and vitamins it needs to function?

According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, typical American diets exceed the recommended intake levels of calories from solid fats and sugars, refined grains, sodium and saturated fat.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also offered these sobering statistics:
•    In 2015-16, the prevalence of obesity in the United States was 39.8 percent and affected about 93.3 million adults.

•    Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer that are some of the leading causes of preventable, premature death.

•    The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the United States was $147 billion in 2008 U.S. dollar. The medical cost for people who have obesity was an average of $1,429 higher than those of normal weight.

March is National Nutrition Month, and it’s the perfect opportunity to start looking into your diet and reevaluating daily food choices. The annual nutrition education and information campaign was started by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and, of course, is embraced by Monongalia County Health Department’s Women, Infants, and Children’s program.

The month revolves around spreading the importance of developing healthy eating and lifestyle habits, such as following ChooseMyPlate.gov to help guide people toward healthy foods and portions.

Here are some health tips for making healthier food choices:

•    Make smart swaps when cooking your favorite meals. Instead of using solid fats, use canola, olive or peanut oil instead. Use brown rice instead of white rice. Supplement white flour with whole wheat flour.

•    Half of your plate should consist of fruits or vegetables. Vary your vegetables and try to go for more whole fruits.

•    Try to drink water instead of fruit juices and carbonated drinks. The recommendation for adults is to drink at least 64 ounces of water a day. But some people might require more, especially if they exercise and sweat a lot, said Darla Retton, a nutritionist for MCHD WIC.

•    Maximize your intake of nutrient-packed foods such as whole grains, lean protein, fruits and vegetables and low-fat or fat-free dairy.

•    Make half your grains whole grains.

•    Include plant protein foods in your diet such as beans, peas, soy products, nuts and seeds.

•    Drink and eat less sodium, saturated fat and added sugars.

MCHD WIC helps those who qualify with nutrition counseling and food packages, as well as breastfeeding advice.

“Every month is National Nutrition Month at WIC,” Darla says. “We are nutrition. We provide healthy foods for families, building healthy futures one day at a time.”

WIC clients are pregnant, postpartum and/or breastfeeding women and their infants and children up to the age 5 who meet certain income guidelines.

“WIC teaches moms how to eat while pregnant or breastfeeding and what to feed their growing children,” Darla added.

WIC nutritionists are aware that money is tight and that the food assistance and referrals are helpful. Families receive free supplemental foods to meet their immediate nutritional needs while learning how to choose healthy foods that provide the necessary nutrients for each person’s diet. In West Virginia, 265 grocery stores across are WIC-approved.  

And even though WIC focuses on pregnant and breastfeeding women and infants and children up to age 5, “Healthy eating is important no matter how old you are,” Darla says.

Think you may qualify for WIC? Call MCHD WIC at (304) 598-5181

Getting a good night’s sleep can make a world of difference in both your physical health and mental outlook. I should know. I went through a stage of insomnia last summer and I was miserable.

There are a few disorders that can keep someone from good sleep as well as some easily changeable lifestyle choices such as diet, exercise and whether the bedroom environment is relaxing—or not. The National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep Awareness Week, observed from March 10 to 16 this year, is a great time to review how much sleep we should be getting and how we can improve the duration and quality of our down time.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults need seven or more hours of sleep per night. One in three adults do not get enough sleep, and apparently, this is another list on which West Virginia falls on the wrong end. In 2014, between 38-44 percent of West Virginia adults reported consistently getting less than seven hours of sleep in a 24-hour period, which put us in the highest percentile along with Kentucky, Ohio, Maryland and other states.

And not getting enough sleep can help lead to a variety of medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, obesity and depression. That’s one reason why this topic is an important one to Monongalia County Health Department. Well-rested people are healthier.

So, let’s go over the tips on how to try and improve that statistic. First, develop a relaxing bedtime routine. The calmer and more relaxed you are when you slip between the sheets, the better.

It’s best if you go to bed at night and wake up in the morning at the same times every day, including weekends. That can be a challenge for people who rightfully want to sleep in after a long work week. Ironically, Sleep Awareness Week begins just as we’re losing an hour—maybe of sleep—as we spring forward for Daylight Savings Time this weekend. Still, a consistent sleep time is one of the main components to achieve a healthy sleep pattern.

If you don’t fall asleep in 20 minutes, get up. Lying in bed awake can be frustrating, and checking the clock frequently does not help.

Next, the calmer the bedroom is, the better. Bedrooms should be quiet and dark and kept at an optimal temperature. It’s better for the room to be on the cool side. Since my husband installed a smart thermostat, we have it set go down to 68 degrees Fahrenheit at bedtime and to start warming up just before we rise.

Removing electronic devices from the bedroom is definitely a tough one these days, whether it’s a tablet or smartphone that you use for reading or surfing the web or a TV so you can watch someone named Jimmy do a late-night show. But those devices can be stimulating, which is the opposite of how you want your brain to be as you try to unwind from your day. It is recommended to avoid screens for at least 30 minutes before going to bed.

Also, avoid eating large meals and drinking caffeinated beverages or alcohol too close too bedtime. When you belly is busy digesting, you are not going to get your best sleep. Caffeine is obviously a stimulant and that’s why it’s great for mornings. And even though alcohol might initially relax you, it can wake you up in the middle of the night too. You also might want to avoid drinking a lot of water before bedtime, for obvious reasons. Frequent trips to the bathroom are not conducive to good sleep.

Finally, while you don’t want to exercise a lot just before bed, getting plenty of activity during the day will help you feel tired at night.

If you follow at least most of this advice and still have trouble sleeping, you may want to talk to your doctor. Sleep is fundamental to our health and well-being, so figuring out how to have a good night will go a long way to making you feel good.

Someone sets up a diffuser at a kiosk at the mall. Gradually, shoppers begin feeling strange. A nearby hospital suddenly has an influx of patients complaining of a variety of symptoms. What was being sprayed into the air at the mall? And did it cause people to become ill?

While this sounds alarming, so far, it’s just a scenario, one of many presented during a training attended by Jamie Moore, manager of Monongalia County Health Department’s Threat Preparedness program. Moore also heads up the six-county Preparedness Action Coalition Team (PACT) threat prep region that includes Monongalia, Preston, Marion, Harrison, Doddridge and Taylor counties.

Moore just returned from attending a course called “Hospital Management for Chemical, Biological, Radiological/Nuclear and Explosives,” held at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Aberdeen, Md.

It was a week filled with lectures but also a variety of practical exercises, including a HAZMAT tent displaying treatment options for casualties of chemical and biological situations. There also was a show and tell in which the organizers “set up equipment so you can walk through and see how different treatments worked,” Moore said. Demonstrations on how to administer injection drugs were performed thanks to expired medication and mannequins.

The primary focus of the training was to illustrate how hospitals and other medical responders deal with CBRNE events—those that involve chemical, biological, radiological/nuclear or explosive situations—whether they happen by accident or are due to the actions of people.

“We learned a greater understanding with how to interact with a CBRNE event in conjunction with hospital operations,” Moore said.

Training like this is important for MCHD staff and allows Moore to bring back knowledge that can be used to help keep North Central West Virginians safe by building better response capability.

Noted Dr. Lee B. Smith, MCHD executive director and county health officer: “Threat Preparedness is not intuitive and is a topic that continues to increase in its expanse and complexity.

“In addition, public health is being asked to participate at higher levels than ever before and our six counties now function as threat prep region. I look at these educational opportunities as investments in the future of MCHD and as a means of placing us in a leadership role moving forward.”

A variety of issues came up during the training, such as the major chemicals used via chemical warfare. These include nerve agents, such as sarin, tabun and soman; vesicants, which cause blistering; cyanide, which is highly toxic; and pulmonary, which disrupt normal breathing.

Keeping current on the latest chemicals that can be used against humans is important, Moore noted. “The current treatments for nerve agent exposure won’t work on the next generation nerve agents,” he said. “They are designed to resist the counteragents currently being used.”

Of course, not all exposures to dangerous CBENE agents are on purpose. In today’s world, people can be endangered because of an accidental leak or spill at a chemical or nuclear plant, or through products such as bulk pesticides or radioactive waste being transported by train or truck that could be involved in a crash.

“The response is not that different if it was caused accidentally or if it was a military attack or a terrorist attack,” Moore said.

Trainees also considered topics such as how to deal with the “worried well”—those people who express concern about exposure after an event but have no symptoms, as well as pet d-con.

The latter one is because often when situations happen and people gather for decontamination, they bring their pets with them. “People leave their pets, so they need to be d-conned as well,” Moore said. “So, you have teams that just deal with pets.”

The process of decontaminating animals already has been a factor, such as when a military dog encounters a chemical while on duty.

CBERNE events and how to react to them is not a pleasant topic, but it’s one that area first responders and health officials need to study and practice. Now that Moore has returned from training, he can begin sharing what he learned with local responders as well as other members of the six-county PACT region.

“These are facts in our community, and it doesn’t matter if something happens because of evil or accidents or if it’s inadvertent,” Moore said. “They are things we need to know about and be able to respond to.”

As Dr. Smith noted, “Jamie Moore has graciously stepped up in a leadership role as the regional threat preparedness manager and it is our obligation to provide him with the proper tools and education to function at the highest levels in that position.

“It is unfortunate that in today’s world we have to think about terrorism and its many facets. However, forewarned is forearmed and we are fortunate to have such trainings made available from the military and subject matter experts.”

Are you living in a realm with potentially dangerous, odorless, colorless gas that forms from the breakdown of uranium in the soil? A radioactive gas that is undetectable to the human senses that may be seeping up from the earth and into the crevices of your floors and walls?
If so, you may have just crossed over into … The Radon Zone.

OK, so it sounds a little melodramatic, but that’s what happens when you try to tailor information about radon in the style of Rod Serling.

That’s what Monongalia County Health Department has done with its new video, which can be viewed above, and also by going to our Facebook page, #WVMCHD, our web page, monchd.org, or our YouTube channel. And if you have cable TV, it’s also playing on Channel 15, Morgantown’s governmental public access channel.

The idea came from the fact that Monongalia County is in “the red zone” when it comes to this odorless gas that seeps up from the breakdown of rocks in the soil. It then can seep into homes and other buildings and accumulate.

Nationally, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, 1 in 15 homes have high levels of radon.

But in Monongalia County, that figure is 1 in 5.

Making a video in the style of the old 1960s “Twilight Zone” series was a way to get the message across.

It was also great to have “Rod Serling”—local actor Michael Vozniak, a Fairmont native and WVU grad student and teaching assistant—inform audiences about radon while channeling the icon and intense chain-smoking screenwriter, TV producer and narrator of the show.

The fact that Serling was a chain smoker was a convenient coincidence. Exposure to too much radon is the No. 2 leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, next to smoking. In a given year, about 21,000 Americans die from lung cancer caused by high levels of radon. Serling, who could often be seen with a cigarette in his hand with smoke billowing next to him, died of the disease at the age of 50.

Because we’re the health department, we did not ask Michael to actually use cigarettes in “The Radon Zone.” Those are smoke-free cocoa bean sticks playing the role of Serling’s ever-present cig.

The video also gives the viewers a chance to see what it’s like to get a radon test. Joe Lawson, an MCHD Environmental Health sanitarian as well as a certified radon measurement specialist, crosses the colossal cosmos, or at least parts of North Central West Virginia, to detect this noxious yet noble gas, as Serling notes in the video.

That means that Joe will come to your home and set up a continuous radon monitor that will run for 48 hours. Two days later, he returns to collect the device, which generates a report that is mailed or emailed to the customer.

If the reading is 4 picocuries per liter or higher, then the homeowner should consider mitigation techniques that will lower the radon levels in their home. A certified radon contractor can do the job and the average cost is $1,500.

The cost for a test by MCHD Environmental Health is $125. How often should you get one? Every few years. Radon can be elusive, with one house measuring a high level while the one next door is OK. One year, your house can be fine. A few years later, the radon level can be higher.

So, submitted for your approval: Radon, an invisible, odorless gas, might be skulking and lying in wait in your home. But we can detect it, and it can be mitigated. A case to be filed under Rn—for radon.

For more information or to make an appointment for a test, call MCHD Environmental Health at 304-598-5131 or go online.