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Today is the Great American
Smokeout as recognized by the American Cancer Society to encourage tobacco users to make a plan to quit, at least for this one day.
If you use tobacco, there are compelling reasons for you to quit. The rewards of quitting are tremendous, and they begin immediately. You’ll experience the benefits of not using tobacco within 20 minutes of quitting, and as your tobacco-free days accumulate, the benefits accumulate as well. Quitting tobacco will improve your health, finances, self-esteem and everyday life – immediately and over the long term – in ways you may never have imagined.
The Maine Tobacco HelpLine answers
your questions and offers friendly support to people thinking about quitting or
ready to quit smoking, or those who want to help a friend or family member
quit. You are 2-3 times more likely to quit with the HelpLine than when you try
to quit on your own.
For help and resources, contact the Maine
Tobacco HelpLine at 1-800-207-1230 or visit
http://thequitlink.com/tools-to-quit/the-maine-tobacco-hotline/
Last year, Maine CDC developed a video that shows how to test private, residential well water using a comprehensive test kit. (Video available at https://youtu.be/aUE7PcGRKxc)
A new video shows how to understand the well water test results and is available at https://youtu.be/2vBfrFQo1vw
For more information about well water and testing, visit http://wellwater.maine.gov
The Maine Opiate
Collaborative has been established recognizing that a broad, multi-dimensional
approach is necessary to address the public health crisis caused by opiate
abuse. Education, prevention, treatment, recovery and law enforcement
must all be significant parts of any solution. This Collaborative brings
together people from each of these fields with the goals of identifying and
addressing the causes of opiate abuse and proposing solutions.
For more information, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao-me/maine-opiate-collaborative
Simmons College
School of Nursing and Health Sciences has developed an interactive breast
cancer awareness quiz. Learn about your risk and find out how informed
you are about controllable factors (such as weight and exercise) as well as factors beyond your control.
Take the quiz here: https://onlinenursing.simmons.edu/blog-bca/bca-quiz.html
National Diabetes Month is observed every November to draw attention to diabetes and its effects on millions of Americans.
You have the power to help prevent and control diabetes. If you already have diabetes, work to lower your risk of serious complications. If you don't have diabetes, learn if you are at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle and behavior changes related to eating and physical activity can decrease a person’s chance of developing type 2 diabetes.
For more information:
Both influenza A and B strains are currently circulating
nationally. The 2015-2016 vaccine is likely to offer good protection.
Weekly updates on flu cases are available online:
Maine CDC reminds everyone to take everyday preventive measures
against the flu:
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Cough and sneeze into your elbow or into a tissue. Throw the
tissue away.
- Stay home when you feel sick.
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Get vaccinated. To find a flu vaccine in your area, search http://flushot.healthmap.org/ or
contact your health care provider or pharmacy.
If you have the flu:
- Stay home if you are sick, until you are fever-free
for a full 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medicine.
- Cough and sneeze into your elbow or into a
tissue. Throw the tissue away.
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Contact your PCP if you have signs of the flu to
discuss possible treatment with antivirals. Although most people can stay home
to recover without seeing a health care provider, it is possible for healthy people
to develop severe illness from the flu. Anyone with the flu should seek medical
attention for:
o
Dehydration
o
Trouble breathing
o
Getting better, then suddenly getting a lot
worse
o
Any major change in condition
For more information, go to www.maineflu.gov
or http://www.cdc.gov/flu/
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