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During 2016, it is estimated that
more than 1,300 Maine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 170 women
will die from the disease. As National Breast Cancer Awareness month continues,
Maine CDC reminds women that regular screening mammograms are critical in
diagnosing and beginning treatment of the disease.
New American Cancer Society Breast
Cancer Screening Guidelines recommend that women at average risk start regular
annual screening with mammography at age 45 and move to screening every two
years at age 55. The United States
Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening every two years for women
age 50-74. Women with a mother or sister who have breast cancer may warrant
testing earlier. Not all breast cancer
can be felt as a lump on breast exam, which is why a regular mammogram is so
important. A screening mammogram can detect breast cancer early, even before
symptoms arise.
Maine CDC can provide information
about cancer screening tests and has some resources available for free cancer
screenings. Women must be age 40 or older and meet financial and other program
criteria. Interested women are encouraged to call 1-800-350-5180 or
1-207-287-8068;
TTY users call Maine Relay 711.
More details can also be found at: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/population-health/bcp/
 In
2014, Maine was awarded a two-year Sodium Reduction in Communities Grant overseeing the work occurring at Bangor Region Public Health and
Portland Public Health. Holly Richards, Cardiovascular Health
Coordinator for Maine CDC, shared lessons learned from the Sodium Reduction in
Communities Program project evaluation at the Maine Public Health Association
annual conference on Tuesday. The session discussed how hospitals, local health
departments and food distribution centers improved the nutrition of popular
foods to meet national standards and the impact of the changes on sourcing,
sales and distribution.
A native of Maine, Holly graduated from the University of Maine at
Farmington in 2000 with a B.S. in Community Health Education and minor in
Nutrition and graduated from the University of New England in 2008 with a
Master’s in Public Health. She is CHES certified and a member of the
Gamma Chi Chapter of the Delta Omega Society, an honorary Public Health Society.
Holly
joined Maine CDC in 2004 as the Public Health Educator for the Maine
Comprehensive Cancer Control Program. In 2008, she was promoted to Cardiovascular Coordinator for the Maine Cardiovascular
Health (CVH) Program where she
works with health systems on interventions to improve the effective delivery
and use of clinical and other preventive services through quality improvement
processes and clinical-community linkages, ensuring that communities support
and clinics refer patients to programs that improve management of chronic conditions. One project the CVH
team is currently working on seeks to increase the number of hypertensive
patients who are taking their blood pressure medication(s) as prescribed and
raise general awareness about the importance of blood pressure control.
High blood pressure can be fatal, so it’s important to know
your blood pressure reading and what you can do to keep things under control.
Five simple steps to control your blood pressure:
- Know your numbers. Most people
diagnosed with high blood pressure want to stay below 140/90, but your health care
provider can tell you your personal target blood pressure.
- Work with your health care
provider to make a plan to lower your blood pressure.
- Make a few lifestyle changes, such
as losing weight, eating healthier, reducing sodium, increasing physical
activity and/or limiting alcohol.
- Talk to you doctor about a
self-measured blood pressure monitor so you can check your blood pressure at
home.
- If you have to take medication,
take it exactly the way your doctor says.
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In September, Maine CDC began implementing changes to
Maine’s law that requires lead hazard inspections in the homes of children with
lead poisoning. The amendments changed the State’s definition of lead poisoning
to a blood lead level of five micrograms per deciliter (5 ug/dL) or higher for
children younger than age six, which is also U.S. CDC’s definition of
an elevated blood lead level.
With the changes, Maine CDC expects to inspect about 500 rental
units for lead hazards each year—a five-fold increase in the number of units
over previous years. These inspections, along with a primary prevention strategy
underway in Maine communities with the highest burdens of lead poisoning, make
up Maine CDC’s efforts to eradicate childhood lead poisoning.
What can you do to prevent lead poisoning?
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Public Health
Professionals: Learn about lead poisoning in your community on the Maine Tracking Network.
Work with municipalities to address lead hazards in rental properties through
code enforcement or outreach to property owners. Promote screening and home
lead dust testing among parents.
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Providers: Make
sure your practice is following Maine
CDC’s screening and confirmation testing guidelines – Maine CDC initiates
an inspection of a child’s home environment for venous blood lead test results of 5 ug/dL or higher.
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Property Owners:
Regularly maintain painted surfaces in properties built before 1978 – find
out more.
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Parents: Talk
to your child’s doctor about a blood lead test and find out if you have lead
dust in your home with a free kit from the Maine CDC – order online at maine.gov/healthyhomes.
FYI: October 23-29 is National Lead Poisoning Prevention
Week – see our webpage
for resources you can use to promote lead poisoning prevention.
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