BetterSafe: Baby Safety Month.............................................3

DayInDayOut: Staying Drug- Free .......................................5

Take Charge: Thyroid Disorders...........................................7

To Your Health: Calling Superheros.......................................9

Inspiration............................................................................11

DIGITALONEHEALTH AND BENEFITS

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September 2019

National Health Observances for September......................2

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National Health Observances

September | 2019

Baby Safety Month

Blood Cancer Awareness Month

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Cholesterol Education Month

Drug-free Pain Management Awareness Month

Prostate Health Month

Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month

Healthcare Environmental Services Week | 8-14

Youth Suicide Prevention Week | 8-14

Clean Hands Week | 15-21TMi

Prostate Cancer Awareness Week | 15-21

School Backpack Awareness Day | 18

Child Passenger Safety Week | 22-28

Women’s Health and Fitness Day | 25

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WELCOA’S ONL INE BULLET IN FOR YOUR FA MILY ’S SAFET Y

BETTERSAFE

Baby Safety Month:EASE YOUR MIND BY KNOWING THE BASICS

Congratulations! You are the proud parent of a new baby. Now what? The list of “rules” for keeping your baby healthy is endless. September is National Baby Safety Month, so let’s highlight the basics to ease your worried mind.

CAR SEAT SAFETY

Always start with a rear-facing car seat. This is the safest for infants up to at least 2 years old, and possibly up to 4 years old or until they reach the weight or height limit. This is specific to the kind of car seat you have. Once they reach the weight or height limit of a rear-facing car seat, they can transition to a forward-facing car seat and should remain there until they meet or exceed limitations, which is typically 5 years old or older. At this age or growth requirement, they can move into a booster seat. Children can then move on to sitting in the car with a seat belt only, but will need to be at least 4’ 9” and typically should be between the ages of 9 and 12. The lap belt should lay across their upper thighs (not their stomach) and the shoulder belt should be across their chest (not cutting into their neck). Your child might fit differently depending on the type of vehicle you drive, so always make sure they’re belted in correctly! If your child is 12 years or under, they should be seated in the back.

BABY-PROOFING

As your baby starts to cruise around a little more, you’ll quickly see how dangerous your home can be to a curious young human! Make sure all cleaning products are up high and/or locked. Same goes for medicine and vitamins, glass dishes, silverware, and cords (this includes window blind cords). Infants and young children will tug at anything. Tupperware should be the only thing in reach! It can be a

pain to clean up all the time, but children love exploring and discovering new things, so try to let them enjoy the process. Coffee tables become a hazard once your baby starts to develop the strength to stand and walk. Despite our best efforts, it can be difficult to prevent every injury, but taking precautionary steps to remove objects and other obstacles can be helpful. All dressers, book cases, and shelves should be secured to the wall. You may also want to secure your toilet lid and trash cans. Be aware of babies in the kitchen or around hot water. Burns are a common mishap that can send you and your baby straight to the ER! Put up a gate to block your stairs and keep your floors clean!

CHOKING

Everything that fits in their hand will go in their mouth. It’s as simple as that. While baby-proofing your home, its important to keep your floors as clean as possible. Be sure to supervise their meals, making sure everything is in small enough pieces for them to eat safely. Do not give babies nuts, popcorn, hard candy, or whole grapes.

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SLEEPING

Co-sleeping is always a tricky subject because people generally don’t like to follow the safety suggestions. Bottom line, you should try to avoid it at all costs. Your baby is safer in their own bed. One syndrome to be aware of is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). To avoid the dangers of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), your baby should be sleeping on their back, in their own bed, without loose blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals. Try swaddling them snugly in a thin blanket and let them be. The use of pacifiers have also shown to help prevent SIDS, as well as a smoke-free environment, and making sure the house is not too warm.

These are just the basics of keeping your baby as safe as possible. Awareness is the first step! Know the dangers and do what you can to prevent them. In the event of a mishap, stay calm and do what needs to be done. Call your doctor, lean on your loved ones, and know that you’re doing your best!

RISK FACTORS FOR SIDS

» Males die from SIDS more often than females.

» Babies are at highest risk from 2-4 months old.

» Premature babies with low birthweight.

» Babies who live in a household where peoplesmoke.

» Family history.

» Young mothers (<20 years old) who smoke, usedrugs/alcohol, and/or had poor prenatal care.

» Babies with a respiratory infection.

» Babies born with a brain defect.

Talk with your doctor if you have

any concerns about your health.

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Staying Drug-FreeBATTLING ADDICTION

Addiction is a chronic and complex disease. Although people make the choice to first use a substance, their brain changes when the substance begins to be abused. Sadly, it can take far more than strong will power and good intentions to stop using once they’ve started, despite the negative consequences that come with addiction.

Drugs of abuse release large amounts of dopamine, which is known as the “feel-good hormone.” This is associated with the “high” people experience and it begins the misuse and abuse cycle. Abusers are constantly looking for that feeling and as their bodies get used to the drug, they will start to build a tolerance which leads to an even higher dose of the drug to achieve their “high.”

Other brain chemical systems are changed from long-term drug use and can affect the following:

» Ability to learn

» Stress levels

» Decision-making

» Memory

» Behavior

» Judgement

What can we do to help prevent drug use from ever starting?

The prefrontal cortex is a part of our brain that helps with decision-making, weighing the good and the bad

based on possible consequences. This part of our brain is still developing during adolescence, which is why teens are considered high-risk for experimenting with drugs. As drugs affect the continued growth of their brain, studies have shown that rates of addiction are higher the earlier experimentation begins. Therefore, our number one goal should be to target young children and teens before drug-use begins. There are many evidence-based prevention programs available.

FAMILY-FOCUSED PREVENTION PROGRAMS

This focuses on the relationship and communication between children and parents, assessing risk factors, and improving parenting skills.

COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL PREVENTION PROGRAMS

Reinforce that drug use is not normal! A survey has shown that 92% of Americans do not use drugs. Help

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children understand that they can “fit in” by actually not participating in drug use. Drugs do not need to be an inevitable part of growing up.

As parents, what can we do?

» Educate yourself! Know what drugs are being usedand what to look for.

» Be a good example for your children.

» Have family dinners. It has been shown that kidswho eat dinner regularly with their family are 2.5times less likely to experiment with drugs.

» Monitor their activity, including internet use.

» Communicate! Be open with them about your beliefsagainst drug use and come up with a plan to helpthem overcome peer pressure.

How can we help those who have already started using drugs?

» Be supportive! If your loved one is ready toovercome their addiction, leave it to the professionalsbut remain supportive of their efforts. Keep inmind that addiction is considered a disease, just likecancer or diabetes. There will be a lot of ups anddowns as they go through the recovery process.

» There are several options and steps for treatment:

• Medical detoxification. Safely helping someonethrough the withdrawal symptoms that occurwhen stopping drug use.

• Counseling. Individually and as a group.

• Medication. Multiple options available thatcan be discussed with their counselor and/orhealthcare provider.

» Treat other conditions. Drug abuse impacts allaspects of a person! Mental illness and drug abuseoften go hand-in-hand. It is often unclear whichone came first, but it’s important to evaluate co-occurring issues, such as depression or anxiety.

» Behavioral therapy focuses on buildingmotivation and problem-solving skills, waysto resist drug use, finds new activities to focuson, etc. It also helps rebuild relationships thatmay have suffered due to drug use.

We must always remember that beating a drug addiction is a life-long journey. Our loved ones will likely have multiple “triggers” that make them crave the drug again, even years after recovery. It is important to always support them and encourage them to remain in recovery support programs.

Open and honest communication with our kids can prevent them from using drugs. If you personally are experiencing a loved one dealing with addiction, continue to show your support because it is possible to beat this disease!

WHAT DETERMINES THE APPROPRIATE

TREATMENT NEEDED?

» The substance used.

» Frequency and amount used.

» Whether or not multiple drugs are involved.

» Previous attempts at treatment.

» Co-existing medical or behavioral needs.

» The need for employment.

» The need for legal counseling.

» The need for medical detoxification.

Talk with your doctor if you have

any concerns about your health.

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Thyroid DisordersWhat Is the Thyroid?The thyroid is a gland in our neck, right below the Adam’s apple. It regulates our metabolism, weight, blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature. The thyroid produces hormones, called T3 and T4, telling the body how much energy to use to maintain efficiency. When the production of these hormones is altered, we’ve got some form of thyroid disease, which can show up in a number of ways.

Thyroid Disease

HYPOTHYROIDISM

Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland isn’t producing enough of the hormones we discussed. This usually develops slowly, over many years, and initially shows up as fatigue and weight gain. If left untreated, it can lead to joint pain, obesity, heart disease, and infertility.

Other signs and symptoms in adults:

» Puffy face» Muscle aches and

weakness» Constipation» Sensitivity to cold» Dry skin» Hoarse voice

» Thinning hair» Low heart rate» High cholesterol» Impaired memory» Depression» Enlarged thyroid gland,

also called Goiter

Teens/children can experience the same signs/symptoms as adults but additionally may have:

» Poor growth» Poor dental

development

» Poor mentaldevelopment

» Delayed puberty

Hypothyroidism is rare but possible in infants, and if left untreated can lead to severe physical and mental disabilities.

Signs and symptoms they may experience:

» Large, protrudingtongue

» Poor feeding» Umbilical hernia (at

their belly button)» Jaundice (yellowing of

the skin and eyes)

» Difficulty breathing» Delayed growth» Excessive sleepiness» Poor muscle tone

Causes of Hypothyroidism

» Thyroiditis is an inflammation of the thyroid glandthat can lower hormone production.

» Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorderwhere the body attacks itself.

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takechargeW E L C O A ’ S S E L F - C A R E B U L L E T I N

Talk with your doctor if you have

any concerns about your health.

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H E A LT H B U L L E T I N S

» Medications.» Surgery called thyroidectomy, where part or all

of the thyroid gland is removed. This is usuallydone if someone has cancer of the thyroid orhyperthyroidism.

» Radiation of the head or neck.

HYPERTHYROIDISM

Hyperthyroidism, in contrast, occurs when the thyroid gland is producing too much of the T4 hormone. This increases your metabolism and leads to unintentional weight loss and a rapid or irregular heart beat. Once diagnosed and treated, people respond well.

Other Signs and Symptoms

» Heart palpitations, orpounding

» Sweating» Sensitivity to heat» Nervousness or anxiety» Thinning skin» Fine, brittle hair» Fatigue» Muscle weakness» Difficulty sleeping

» More frequent bowelmovements

» Enlarged thyroidgland. Again, this iscalled Goiter.

» Graves’ophthalmopathy:Muscles and tissuesbehind your eyes swell,causing your eyes toprotrude.

Causes of Hyperthyroidism

» Thyroiditis, similarly to hypothyroidism, but it canincrease production of the hormones released, asopposed to decrease them.

» Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder, and isthe most common type of hyperthyroidism.

» Medications.» Thyroid nodules are non-cancerous lumps that

form, enlarging the thyroid and increasingproduction of hormones.

Infants can be born with Graves’ disease if the mother has hyperthyroidism. The hormones cross the placenta and stimulate the babies’ thyroid gland to produce more hormones.

THYROID CANCER

Thyroid cancer occurs when the cells of the thyroid mutate and multiply quickly. Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common type. Overall, thyroid cancer is rare and can be cured with medication or surgery.

Signs and symptoms

» Hoarse voice» Swollen lymph nodes» Lump on your neck

» Pain in yourneck/throat

» Difficulty swallowing

Diagnosis

All of these disorders can be diagnosed based on symptoms and a blood test. The blood test can measure the level of the thyroid hormones that are present and determine if the thyroid gland is functioning normally. Once treatment is started, you should have blood drawn regularly to track the progress and once stable, check levels yearly.

While a diagnosis of one of these thyroid disorders is a lifelong condition, once treated, people do really well and are able to live a normal, healthy life. Keep your loved ones close for support and have good coping skills in your toolbox, such as regular exercise, meditation, or other activities that you enjoy.

Treatment for Hypothyroidism:

» Medication

Treatment for Hyperthyroidism:

» Medication

» Surgery, which is called a thyroidectomy, where either a part of or the entire thyroid gland is removed.

» Eye surgery can be done for those who suffer from Graves’ ophthalmopathy.

Treatment for Thyroid Cancer:

» Chemotherapy

» Radiation therapy

» Medication

» Surgery, which can be either thyroidectomy, or thyroid lobectomy, where oneof the lobes is removed; or removal of enlarged lymph nodes in the neck.

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Calling All SuperheroesCANCERS OF THE BLOOD AND HOW YOU CAN HELPAccording to the National Foundation for Cancer Research, approximately 172,910 people will be diagnosed with a type of blood cancer each year with 47% of them being lymphoma, 36% leukemia, and 18% myeloma. These are the three main types of blood cancers, which account for 10% of new cancers diagnosed within the United States each year.

LYMPHOMA

The lymphatic system removes excess fluid from our body and produces lymphocytes, which are white blood cells that fight infection. Abnormal lymphocytes, due to a genetic mutation, become cancerous lymphoma cells and they continue to multiply and invade the lymphatic system. They collect in your lymph nodes and other tissues which affect your immune system. There are many sub-types of lymphoma, with Non-Hodgkin’s and Hodgkin’s being the most common.

Symptoms include:

» Fatigue» Fever» Night sweats» Weight loss» Shortness of breath» Swelling of the lymph nodes in your neck, armpits,

or groin

LEUKEMIA

Leukemia is cancer in the bone marrow and lymphatic system and is also caused by cell mutation, affecting either lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell that fights infection) or myeloid cells (which produce red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelet-producing cells). There are many types of leukemia. Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) affects both children and adults, but is the most common type of leukemia in children. Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) also affects all ages but is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is the most common type of chronic leukemia in adults. Acute leukemia involves immature blood cells and can progress very quickly. Chronic leukemia involves mature blood cells that can function properly for a long time and replicates slowly.

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Symptoms include:

» Fatigue and weakness» Fever or chills» Night sweats» Weight loss» Swollen lymph nodes, enlarged liver or spleen» Frequent or severe infections» Bleeding or bruising easily» Bone pain or tenderness» Petechiae (red spots on your skin)

MYELOMA

Myeloma, with the most common type being Multiple Myeloma. It is a cancer of the plasma cells found in the bone marrow. Plasma cells produce antibodies that help us fight infection and when cancerous, they produce abnormal proteins that cause complications and leave our immune system unable to do its job. You don’t need treatment for this unless you’re experiencing signs and symptoms, or it is progressing.

Symptoms include:

» Fatigue, including numbness or weakness in yourlegs

» Weight loss and loss of appetite» Excessive thirst» Nausea» Constipation» Frequent infections» Confusion» Bone pain, especially in your spine or chest

TREATMENT

Treatment depends on the type and severity of the blood cancer, but includes chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy medications, and/or a bone marrow transplant. And specifically in myeloma, corticosteroids have been proven to work. In addition to treatment

Talk with your doctor if you have

any concerns about your health.

to help fight the cancer, it is important to look into options that can help ease the side effects of cancer and stress and anxiety that come with such a critical diagnosis. Massage, acupuncture, relaxation techniques or meditation, music or art therapy, exercise, pain medication are all options.

Friends and family are important and can help relieve some anxiety that is likely to be experienced. Support groups are also available and very helpful. Continue to receive education about the diagnosis, in order to feel more in control so you can take necessary steps to move forward. Survival rates have significantly improved and continue to increase! Encourage loved ones to become a tissue donor! The process is simple to sign up. A quick cheek swab will be taken and saved in the registry. If they ever come up as a match for someone with blood cancer, they can take a blood test to see if their tissue matches the patient and can choose to donate bone marrow or stem cells!

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