Tag Archive for: #hendersonnews

Diabetes: Living With, Preventing Disease

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Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy and causes blood sugar levels to rise to abnormally high levels. As the seventh leading cause of death, diabetes is one of the most common – and dangerous – health issues in the U.S. In fact, more than 37 million Americans have diabetes, and one in five who do have it are unaware of their condition.

There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes. Cheryl Hester, a registered nurse at Maria Parham Health, said diabetes can be treated with medication and its risks reduced by making a few key lifestyle changes.

Children as young as 1 year old have been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a result of the body stopping production of insulin altogether.

Insulin is a hormone that helps your body turn food into energy and manages your blood sugar. Symptoms for Type 1 typically develop early and intensely, and this type is primarily diagnosed in children, teens and young adults. Those with Type 1 take insulin regularly to compensate for their body’s inability to produce it.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common iteration of the disease and usually occurs when your body has difficulty maintaining normal blood sugar levels as a result of an inability to use insulin properly.

Generally speaking, risk factors including unhealthy weight, age and a family history of Type 2 diabetes can contribute to a person being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

Women with a history of gestational diabetes also are at a greater risk for a Type 2 diagnosis, as are people from higher-risk ethnic groups such as African-American, Hispanic/Latinx, American Indian and Alaska Native (some Pacific Islanders and Asian-Americans are also at higher risk).

Gestational diabetes occurs only in females and results when pregnancy-related body changes affect the ability to make sufficient inulin. It typically goes away after birth, but it can increase the mother’s and the child’s risk for Type 2 diabetes later in life.

A related condition is prediabetes. Prediabetes presents when blood sugar levels are high but not high enough to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. More than one in three American adults – around 96 million – have prediabetes, and more than 80 percent don’t know it. Diabetes can also lead to other, more serious health issues, like heart and kidney disease, vision loss and stroke. The good news is that Type 2 and gestational diabetes can be prevented. Eating healthy foods, engaging in regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight can help.

How do you know if you have diabetes? There are classic symptoms, including frequent urination, increased hunger and thirst, unintended weight loss, blurry vision, fatigue, abnormally dry skin, numb or tingling hands or feet, slow-healing sores and more infections than usual.

But you may not have any of the above-mentioned symptoms and still have diabetes. Your primary care provider can conduct a simple blood sugar test to determine whether you have diabetes or prediabetes. Being equipped with the knowledge of your status can empower you and your provider to work together on a treatment plan and lifestyle changes to improve and protect your health if needed.

For more information on diabetes, visit www.cdc.gov/diabetes and www.diabetes.org.

Need to make an appointment with a provider for a talk about diabetes and blood sugar testing? Call 800.424.DOCS or visit https://www.mariaparham.com/

 

Weekend Holiday Events To Add To The Calendar

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Amid the holiday hustling and bustling, there are numerous opportunities to share fun – and free – activities with family and friends in the Henderson area between now and Christmas. The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce has compiled a list of events and programs happening over the next week or so that can be a welcome respite from crowded shopping areas and stressful schedules.

 

Friday, Dec. 16 – through Christmas 

  • Stop by the lobby between McGregor Hall and Perry Memorial Library to see the Christmas tree display, decorated by downtown businesses for the community to enjoy.
  • Find the photo backdrops and booths around downtown Henderson to snap a fun family photo – or selfie! – to create a new holiday memory.

 

Saturday, Dec. 17

  • 2 p.m. – informational meeting of the teen entrepreneur club. Register at http://bit.ly/VanceTeenEntrepreneur.com or call Wykia Macon at 252.438.8188.
  • 7:30 p.m. – Get an infusion of the holiday spirit at a free concert by Northeast Piedmont Chorale, McGregor Hall.
  • Concerts not your thing? Then head down to Movie Night@Sadie’s. $15 gets you a spaghetti dinner, popcorn, drinks and the movies “Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Bad Santa.” RSVP to 252.572.2542.

 

SportsTalk: Holiday Tournament Shaping Up At Kerr Vance

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Mike Joyner, Athletic Director at Kerr Vance Academy, is coming to the end of his first year on the job. Joyner, who was a guest on SportsTalk Thursday, expressed gratitude to those who have helped make his transition from bigger schools to KVA a success. “We have great support, lots of tradition and a great booster club,” Joyner said. After 27 years the smaller school size works well for Joyner. “Everyone knows everyone on a first name basis,” Joyner added.

Joyner and KVA are in preparation for the annual holiday tournament at the school, which kicks off Friday morning at 10:30 and will continue on Saturday.  The school will use both gyms for the tournament, which will feature Brunswick Academy, Thales Academy, Oxford Prep, Oak Forest and, of course, Kerr Vance Academy.  The tournament will start with JV games followed by women’s games and then the men’s games.  Championship games will take place on Saturday with the women’s game at 1:30pm and the men’s game at 3pm. All games are at Kerr Vance Academy.

 

The Local Skinny! NCDHHS Launches COVID 19 Telemedicine Program

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You feel bad, so you take the test. And, 15 minutes later, you get the results you were NOT hoping for: you just tested positive for COVID-19.

Now what?

The first step could be as simple as making a phone call.

People who test positive for COVID-19, particularly those who are uninsured or don’t have a primary care doctor, will have better access to treatments thanks to a time-limited telemedicine program launched by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services in partnership with StarMed Healthcare.

After a positive test, early treatment is key to avoiding severe illness and hospitalizations, and treatment may even reduce complications from post-COVID conditions, also called long COVID.

“More than 1 million people in North Carolina don’t have health insurance, which has made accessing care for COVID-19, as with other diseases, very challenging,” said NCDHHS Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. “This program provides a temporary bridge to care for many in rural and historically marginalized communities, but we still need long term investments to close the coverage gap.”

Free telemedicine appointments to screen for COVID-19 treatment eligibility will be available, while funding allows, to North Carolinians who have tested positive for COVID-19 with an at-home test or other method.

To set up an appointment visit https://starmed.care/nc or call 704.941.6000, seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. If the telemedicine provider determines a patient is eligible for oral antiviral treatment, such as Paxlovid, they can send a prescription to the patient’s chosen pharmacy or through a mail-order pharmacy.

“Authorized COVID-19 treatments like Paxlovid can prevent hospitalizations and save lives if started within five days of symptoms,” said NCDHHS Assistant Secretary for Public Health and State Public Health Officer Dr. Susan Kansagra. “Everyone, especially people at high risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, should have a plan to contact a health care provider right away if they test positive. This telemedicine program offers another option for quick access to lifesaving treatments.”

This telemedicine screening service is available regardless of insurance status and IDs are not required. If you have insurance, StarMed Healthcare will bill your health plan and NCDHHS will pay for any additional balance. If you do not have insurance, you will not be charged for your appointment. Oral antiviral pills are available at no-cost to the patient.

Telemedicine appointments through StarMed’s registration form are available in English and Spanish and six additional languages will be made available by the end of the week. Consultations are available in more than 200 other languages through an on-demand interpretation service. American Sign Language interpretation is also available. The telemedicine program will last from mid-December until funding runs out, which is estimated to be about mid-March.

COVID-19 trends are again rising according to the NCDHHS COVID dashboard. Flu and RSV have already stretched hospital capacity this year. One way to help is to get vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. Everyone 6 months of age and older should stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. Find a vaccine location near you at MySpot.nc.gov. Everyone 6 months or older should also get a flu vaccine annually. Visit MySpot.nc.gov/flu to find locations and more information.

NCDHHS strongly encourages everyone to stay prepared by knowing what to do and where to go if you get sick with COVID-19.

  • Keep at-home tests on hand and take one if you have symptoms or if you have come in close contact with someone with COVID-19, even if you are up to date on your vaccines. Get tested at least five days after you last had close contact. For more information and to find tests, including free at-home tests, visit MySpot.nc.gov/FindTests (Spanish).
  • If you test positive, stay away from others and follow the CDC’s isolation guidelines. Seek medical care immediately if you have trouble breathing or experience other warning signs. COVID-19 treatments are available and can lower your risk of hospitalization or death. For more information, visit MySpot.nc.gov/FindTreatment (Spanish) or set up a telemedicine appointment online or by calling 704.941.6000.

Through the pandemic, StarMed Healthcare operated 750 test sites across 29 North Carolina counties, administering more than 900,000 tests and more than 500,000 vaccines.

En español:

Gracias a un programa de telemedicina de duración limitada, el cual ha lanzado el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte (NCDHHS) en asociación con el servicio de StarMed Healthcare, quienes den positivo con COVID-19, particularmente si no tienen seguro médico, o no tienen médico de cabecera, ahora tendrán mejor acceso a tratamientos. Luego de dar positivo en la prueba, recibir tratamiento temprano es un factor clave para evitar una enfermedad grave y hospitalización, y el tratamiento incluso pudiera reducir las complicaciones de afecciones posteriores al COVID, también conocidas como el COVID prolongado.

“En Carolina del Norte, más de un millón de personas no tienen seguro médico, lo que ha hecho que sea dificil para muchos tener acceso a atención para el COVID, al igual que para otras enfermedades”, dijo el secretario del NCDHHS, Kody H. Kinsley. “Este programa proporciona apoyo temporal para dar atención a muchas personas dentro de comunidades rurales e históricamente marginadas. Sin embargo, aún necesitamos hacer inversiones a largo plazo para lograr cerrar esta brecha de cobertura de seguro médico”.

Las citas gratuitas de telemedicina para revisar la elegibilidad para recibir tratamientos contra el COVID-19 estarán disponibles, mientras haya los fondos necesarios, para los habitantes de Carolina del Norte que hayan dado positivo con COVID-19, ya sea por una prueba hecha en casa o por otro método. Para hacer una cita, visite https://starmed.care/es/nc/ o llame al 704.941.6000. Puede llamar los siete días de la semana entre las 9 a.m. a 7 p.m. Si el proveedor de telemedicina determina que un paciente es elegible para obtener tratamiento antiviral oral, como Paxlovid, puede enviar una receta a la farmacia que el paciente elija o bien, obtener el producto a través de una farmacia de servicio por correo.

“Los tratamientos para el COVID-19 autorizados como Paxlovid pueden prevenir hospitalizaciones y salvar vidas si se toman dentro de los cinco días después de que empiecen los síntomas”, dijo la Dra. Susan Kansagra, subsecretaria de salud pública y oficial de salud del estado del NCDHHS. “Todos, especialmente las personas en alto riesgo de enfermarse gravemente a causa del COVID-19, deben tener un plan para comunicarse con un proveedor de atención médica de inmediato si dan positivo. Este programa de telemedicina ofrece otra opción para acceder rápidamente a tratamientos que salvan vidas”.

Este servicio de evaluación a través de telemedicina está disponible independientemente del seguro médico y no requiere presentar una identificación. Si usted tiene seguro médico, StarMed Healthcare facturará a su seguro y NCDHHS pagará cualquier costo adicional. Si no tiene seguro médico, no se le cobrará la consulta: las pastillas antivirales están disponibles gratuitamente para el paciente.

Las citas de telemedicina hechas a través del formulario de registro de StarMed están disponibles en inglés y en español, y seis idiomas adicionales estarán disponibles al final de la semana. Las consultas están disponibles en más de 200 idiomas a través de un servicio de interpretación, si se solicita. También está disponible el servicio de interpretación en lenguaje de señas americano. El programa de telemedicina funcionará desde mediados de diciembre hasta que se agoten los fondos, lo que se calcula ocurrirá a mediados de marzo.

De acuerdo a datos del tablero informativo de COVID de NCDHHS, las tendencias de COVID se están elevando nuevamente. Este año, la gripe (influenza) y el virus sincitial respiratorio ya han sobrepasado la capacidad de atención hospitalaria. Una forma de ayudar ante esta situación es vacunarse y recibir la dosis de refuerzo contra el COVID-19. Cualquier persona mayor de 6 meses de edad debe estar al día con sus vacunas y dosis de refuerzo contra el COVID-19. Encuentre un centro de vacunación cercano visitando Vacunate.nc.gov. Cualquier persona mayor de 6 meses de edad también debería vacunarse anualmente contra la gripe. Para encontrar centros de vacunación y más información, visite Vacunate.nc.gov/gripe.

NCDHHS motiva a todas las personas a mantenerse preparados, sabiendo qué hacer y dónde ir en caso de enfermedad a causa del COVID-19.

  • Tenga a la mano pruebas caseras y hágase una en caso de presentar síntomas o bien, si ha estado en contacto cercano con alguien que tenga COVID-19, incluso si usted está al día con sus vacunas. Hágase la prueba unos cinco días después de dicho contacto cercano. Para obtener más información y encontrar sitios de pruebas, incluyendo pruebas gratuitas en casa, visite Vacunate.nc.gov/Pruebas.
  • Si su resultado es positivo, manténgase alejado de los demás y siga las guías de aislamiento emitidas por los CDC. Si tiene dificultad para respirar o presenta otras señales de advertencia, busque atención médica de inmediato. Los tratamientos para el COVID-19 están disponibles y pueden reducir riesgos de hospitalización o muerte. Visite Vacunate.nc.gov/BuscarTratamiento para obtener más información o para hacer una cita de telemedicina en línea o llame al 704.941.6000.

Durante el curso de la pandemia, StarMed Healthcare operó 750 localidades de realización de pruebas en 29 condados de Carolina del Norte, y realizó más de 900,000 pruebas y aplicó más de 500,000 vacunas.

 

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Cooperative Extension with Jamon Glover: Wandering Pt.2

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Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

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Home And Garden Show

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On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

 

  • Check garden tools if they need replacing add them to your Christmas list
  • Make a final check of gas-powered equipment to be certain gas tanks are empty.
  • Inventory your seed supply. Order newly released varieties now before they sell out
  • Move trees and shrubs if needed.
  • Check moisture of holiday plants, especially Christmas trees
  • Clean up brushy areas of your landscape. Ticks and chiggers are inactive, but be mindful of poison ivy vines.
  • Review your garden journal about what was successful and even what didn’t do well so you can plan for next year.
  • Continue planting trees and shrubs.
  • Clean your greenhouse, high tunnel, or cold frame.

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TownTalk: Keeping Pets Safe Over The Holidays

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The advice could be coming from your family doctor about how to manage the upcoming holiday season: Limit treats, avoid fatty foods, get regular exercise and stay calm when there’s a houseful of company.

Humans would do well to follow these suggestions, but this advice actually comes from Bridget Waters, DVM. She’s talking about caring for our dogs and cats as we prepare for the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s holiday.

Our pets may get anxious when guests arrive for a holiday gathering, Waters said in a recent TownTalk conversation. Waters operates Dabney Drive Animal Hospital in Henderson.

There are some chews that have natural calming agents – like the tryptophan in turkeys that makes us all want to nap after our Thanksgiving meal, she said. Some pets, however, get so anxious they may need a prescription medication.

And although humans may feel compelled to feed pets foods from the table, Waters said it’s not always a good idea.

“Don’t feed them the foods we eat over the holidays,” she said, because some of them may be too rich or too high in fat content. It’s not a great idea for humans to over-indulge, and that holds true for our pets as well.

She suggested that pet owners have pet-friendly treats on hand for those who can’t resist slipping that furry friend an extra morsel. In addition to grapes and raisins – both no-no’s for dogs, Waters listed as “not dog-friendly” onions, garlic, currants and chocolate,

As cold weather sets in, it’s important to remember to keep things like anti-freeze and ice melt granules out of the way, too. While sprinkling ice melt on driveways and sidewalks can help human navigation, when a dog or cat walks on it, it may stay on their paws and cause a problem.

It’s a good idea to wipe the animal’s paws when they come back inside. “Clear the paw pads of anything they might pick up outside,” she said.

Don’t let your pets be couch – or carpet – potatoes in the wintertime, which could bring on weight gain.

“Get them out for a little 5- or 10-minute walk instead of letting them lie around,” she said.

 

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