Ticks are not just creepy, crawly blood sucking bugs. Ticks carry diseases such as Lyme disease. That's why it's important to learn how to avoid getting bitten and prevent them from coming in and around your house.
Ticks are usually found in humid wooded and grassy areas. If you were in tall grass or the woods be sure to inspect your body (and your pets) once you get indoors. If you find a tick, the Tick Management Handbook (page 32) recommends using tweezers to remove and then use a disinfectant or topical antibiotic.
Did you know that some ticks can sense you by your shadow?
To Avoid Ticks
Try not to brush up against shrubbery and stay in the center of a trail
Permethrin can be used to protect shoes, clothes and gear
Bug spray containing Deet can help repel ticks
Remove leaf litter and mow the lawn in your yard
Create a 3 foot barrier between your yard and wooded areas
Ask your veterinarian about tick prevention products for your pets
National Donate Life Month is a "month to celebrate those who have received transplants, to recognize those who continue towait, to honor donors and donor families and to thank registered donors for giving hope" (donatelife.net).
Did you know? Someone is added to the organ transplant waiting list every 10 minutes? Additionally, about 22 people die each day in need of a donated organ.
Approximately 54% of U.S. adults are registered organ, eye and tissue donors. Are you one of them?
Register Here to Help Save a Life (or more!):RegisterMe.org
Ohioans are sneezing all over the place! In 2015, "Seven Ohio cities — more than any other state — made the list of the 35 worst for sneezing and wheezing in the country, according to the study conducted by the Natural Resources Defense Council" (The News-Messenger, May 13, 2015). According to mother nature network, grab your allergy meds and hang on because 2017 is going to be a doozy. Accuweather says allergy season has come earlier and will last longer this year.
While currently Mold, Dust, Grass and Ragweed allergens are fairly low in Ohio, Trees allergy levels are high! Check out The Weather Channel's Allergy Tracker to see the pollen levels in your areas. You can also visit pollen.com to get your Current Allergy Report.
According to pollen.com the three most allergenic trees in Ohio at the moment are:
Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the United States and the second leading cause of death from cancer. Colorectal cancer affects all racial and ethnic groups and is most often found in people ages 50 and older.
The best way to prevent colorectal cancer is to get screened regularly starting at age 50. There are often no signs or symptoms of colorectal cancer – that’s why it’s so important to get screened.
To increase awareness about the importance of colorectal cancer screening, OACHC is proudly participating in Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
People over age 50 have the highest risk of colorectal cancer. You may also be at higher risk if you are African American, smoke, or have a family history of colorectal cancer.
Everyone can take these healthy steps to help prevent colorectal cancer:
I benefited from Medicaid expansion. When I was an undergrad student I was paying roughly $150/month for a student plan that didn’t cover much. I was also paying $150/month for my prescription medicine (about $200 during months when I could afford to refill my rescue inhaler) which I ended up taking sporadically (every other day, every three days, etc. until I eventually stopped taking it altogether) in order to save money. Furthermore, I was mostly going to the Urgent Care or ER, as opposed to a primary care provider (PCP), since I knew I’d qualify for financial assistance. I then ended up having surgery to remove my gallbladder which set me back quite a bit, although, luckily, I qualified for some financial assistance through the hospital.
Not long after that is when the expansion took effect and I was found eligible. I was then able to set up regular appointments with a PCP and start back on my prescriptions. It was also the first time in, I think, 3-4 years that I was able to afford to see dentist and get new prescription glasses. While I didn’t have to use it for anymore surgeries, it was just nice knowing that, if something like that were to happen again, I wouldn’t have to worry about it getting covered.
Then, early last year, I became employed through a Community Health Center and switched to my employer’s plan and now I assist people with Medicaid and Marketplace applications.
