Month: September 2019

Preventing the Flu, One Shot at a Time

Preventing the Flu, One Shot at a Time

The season of autumn is known for its burst of reds, oranges and yellows, caramel apples, pumpkin patches, and spooky corn mazes. However, the autumnal temperatures tend to bring in something more daunting than a haunted house. The flu. That’s right, the flu brings in runny noses, sore throats, and aches.

Sallie Hamrick RN and Nurse Manager of Belington Medical Clinic.

Since the flu season is just right around the corner, Sallie Hamrick, nurse manager at the Belington Medical Clinic, provided some information on how and why it’s important to get vaccinated.

First, Hamrick describes a vaccine as material given to a person to protect them from the disease.

“Vaccines prevent both viral and bacterial infections that used to cause really serious complications and disease,” she said. “They can protect over 26 life-threatening diseases. In fact, vaccinations have saved 42,000 lives each year.”

Each year, the pesky flu makes its way into schools, workplaces, and communities causing the bug to be passed from one person to the next. Influenza is described by the Center for Disease Control as a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently, but millions of people get the flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands or tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes every year.

Because of the impact of the flu, the CDC recommends everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every season with rare exceptions. Once someone has been injected with the flu vaccine, the vaccine causes antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses that are in the vaccine.

Hamrick suggests that patients check with their providers for more information on the recommended scheduled vaccinations.

To prevent the spreading of the flu, wash your hands often and cover your nose and mouth when sneezing and/or coughing. Contact Barbour Community Health Association today to talk to your provider about getting your flu shot. 

5 STD Myths Busted

5 STD MYths Busted

For some, the college experience is more than just about education. The college years be a time of exploration, meeting new friends and finding oneself amongst the chaos that is sometimes higher education. As you pack up your childhood bedroom and move into a campus dormitory, prepare yourself for overpriced school books, a range of headaches during finals week and the benefits of practicing safe sex.
It might be surprising but 1 in 2 sexually active young adults will get a sexually transmitted infection (STI) before the age of 25. That’s why it’s so important that students educate themselves on how to safe should they engage in sexual activity. Keep reading as we debunk five myths pertaining to STIs:


Myth #1 – Birth Control Prevents STIS.
FACT: Many birth control prescriptions decrease your chance of getting pregnant, however, it does not prevent STI contraction as these infections are spread through physical contact and fluid exchange.
Condoms are effective at preventing HIV, gonorrhea and chlamydia infections, but don’t always work against genital warts or herpes.


Myth #2 – STIs are untreatable.
FACT: Many STIs are curable and most, including HIV, are treatable. The sooner you know that you have an STI, the sooner you can be treated for it and prevent it from spreading to another person.


Myth #3 – Only people who ‘hook up’ should get tested.
FACT: If you have had unprotected sex no matter the number of sexual partners, you are at risk for STIs. Because some STIs don’t have noticeable symptoms, it is recommended that individuals have an annual STI testing.


Myth #4 – The ‘pull out’ method prevents STIs and pregnancy.
FACT: This method is not effective at preventing STIs or pregnancy. Condoms and other contraceptives should be used to prevent the passing of sexual diseases to another and decrease chances of pregnancy.


Myth #5 – Symptoms will appear if you have an STI.
FACT: Folks can have an STI and not show any existing symptoms. Many STIs such as herpes or the human papilloma virus (HPV) can lie dormant for weeks or months before a flare-up. Chlamydia can develop slowly with little or even no symptoms. Though symptoms may not be noticeable, infections can still transmit to others and some individuals may suffer various complications including infertility if not treated in a timely manner.


Remember, be safe while you’re out enjoying college life! Should you have a concern about safe sex practices, pregnancy or any other sexual health-related question, stop by the AB Wellness to chat with a provider.

Options to Best Fit Your Preferences and Prevent Colon Cancer

Options to Best Fit Your Preferences and Prevent Colon CanceR

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths for both men and women combined in West Virginia. Early detection with screening is key in preventing and treating this disease as screening detects colon cancer in its early stages making it easier to treat and cure.

If you are age 50 to 75 or have a family history of colon cancer, you should speak with your healthcare provider about which screening option is best for you. There are several effective screening options to choose from that best fit your personal needs and preferences. But the best screening option is the one you select and complete!

Colonoscopy
The most well-known colon cancer screening option is a colonoscopy. A colonoscopy is a screening test that requires a patient be sedated while a doctor uses a special type of tube with a flashlight on the end to look at the entire colon to see if there are any growths such as polyps or cancer. If the doctor sees any growths, he will remove them during the procedure. There is no discomfort during this procedure, but it does require bowel preparation, occasionally a pre-visit appointment before the procedure appointment and someone else will need to drive the patient home after the procedure.

CT Colonography or Virtual Colonoscopy
CT colonography, or virtual colonoscopy, uses a CT scan to view the colon and rectum to find polyps or cancer. Although this screening does require bowel preparation, no sedation is needed; it is less invasive than a colonoscopy, and it takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.  If polyps or cancer are found, the patient will need to be follow up with a colonoscopy so that the polyps or cancer can be removed. This option is newer than other screening tests and may not be covered by all insurance.

FIT Test

FIT (Fecal Immunochemical Test) kits look for hidden blood in stool. Blood in stool is a sign of colon cancer. A sample of stool is placed on a card or in a tiny tube and returned to the clinic or a lab so that the test can be resulted. FIT kits do not require bowel preparation or medication or dietary restrictions. The test is completed in the privacy and convenience of the patient’s home requiring no time off work. This is an affordable option even without insurance. However, if the FIT test has a positive result, the patient will be required to complete a colonoscopy to see what is causing the hidden blood. You can pick up a FIT kit the next time you are at your healthcare provider’s office.

Cologuard

Cologuard (FIT-DNA) is another take-home screening test that looks for both hidden blood and abnormal DNA in stool. This is a newer screening test, but most major insurers are covering the cost. Cologuard does not require bowel preparation or medication or dietary restrictions. This test can be done in the privacy and convenience of a patient’s home requiring no time off work. If this test has a positive result, the patient will be required to complete a colonoscopy in order to see what is causing the positive result.

For more information on Colon Cancer or to schedule a screening contact your BCHA healthcare provider today!