Disease Prevention Articles

In the News All Things COVID-19 – Part III

(Masking continued…)

The CDC’s website details the following mask recommendations (which is fluid depending on your local government regulations):

• Everyone 2 years or older who is not fully vaccinated should wear a mask in indoor public places.
• In general, you do not need to wear a mask in outdoor settings. In areas with high numbers of COVID-19 cases, consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings and for activities with close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated.
• Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Travelers are not required to wear a mask in outdoor areas of a conveyance (like on open deck areas of a ferry or the uncovered top deck of a bus).

Besides masking and using the proper hygiene, getting a COVID-19 vaccine and booster is also the best way to help slow the spread of this illness. Everyone over the age of 5 is now eligible to receive a free COVID-19 vaccine.

There are currently three different COVID-19 vaccines available – Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson – the CDC says that ANY of the vaccines are more effective than NO vaccine. The dosage is altered for children aged 5 to 11, and boosters are currently available to most adults (depending on your location).

With more than 67 million cases to date in the United States, we can only hope that we are soon approaching the end of the pandemic. By using your best judgement when it comes to illness, isolating when necessary, using proper hygiene, wearing a mask, and getting your vaccine, we can help combat COVID-19 together and get back to a normal life sooner rather than later.

In the News All Things COVID-19 – Part II

(Symptoms continued…)

persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, and/or pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the more severe symptoms listed above, please seek medical care immediately.

Looking over the signs and symptoms, many people wonder, “How do I know if it’s the cold/flu or COVID/Omicron?” Both the flu and Omicron are highly contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses.

According to the CDC, “COVID-19 seems to spread more easily than flu and causes more serious illnesses in some people. It can also take longer before people show symptoms and people can be contagious for longer. Because some of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone, and testing may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis.”

Testing is the most accurate way to determine if you have COVID-19, and there are many ways to test, different types of tests and different regulations regarding testing and their results. So, the best way to figure out who should test, when you should test and what you should do after testing is to check your local government’s website for the appropriate response.

One of the best ways to avoid Omicron and other COVID-19 variants is to use proper hygiene. It seems obvious, sure, but it is still the number one way to avoid illness.

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being in a public place, coughing or sneezing, using the restroom and before handing food – whether you are making something to eat or eating. The CDC says, that “If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry. And avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.”

Masking, whether you are vaccinated or not, is also another major way to help stop the spread of COVID-19. (cont’d.)

In the News All Things COVID-19

Editor’s Note: Information within this three-part article titled “All Things COVID-19” has been obtained in part by research done through the Centers for Disease Control’s website (www.cdc.gov). Should you be concerned that you have signs or symptoms of COVID-19 or any of its variants, please seek medical attention.

We are quickly approaching the two-year anniversary of the first known cases of COVID-19 in the United States and the beginning of this worldwide pandemic. We have learned so much over the past two years about COVID-19 and all its subsequent variants, but as conditions are constantly changing, we also must adapt to those changes regarding hygiene, masking, symptoms, vaccines, and so much more. In this three-part article and with the help of research conducted on the CDC’s website, we will talk about many different aspects of COVID-19 and its variants.

Symptoms – According to the CDC, people with COVD-19 (any variant) have experienced a wide-variety of symptoms – from mild cold and cough type symptoms to more severe life-threatening symptoms. These symptoms include, but are not limited to:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

While many of these symptoms are simply inconvenient, there are many symptoms that are more severe like trouble breathing, (cont’d.)

• Or stay
• Colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone

Healthy Living: Osteoporosis Warning Signs

Osteoporosis is one of the most common ailments of adults over the age of 50 and it is a problem that people do not want to live with.  Weak bones lead to fractures and many other scary problems that could leave you disabled. 

Before turning into full-blown osteoporosis, osteopenia – the process of thinning bones - precedes the ailment.  There are some warning signs to look for to determine if your bones are in fact thinning.

Here are some warning signs for osteoporosis: 

• Warning Sign #1 - You have had more than one fracture in the past two years or a fracture that seemed severe considering the circumstances.
• Warning Sign #2 – You are naturally a small or thin person.
• Warning Sign #3 – You have an autoimmune condition that causes you to take prednisone or another corticosteroid.
• Warning Sign #4 – You are a smoker and have been throughout your adult life.
• Warning Sign #5 – You drink more than two alcoholic beverages a day.
• Warning Sign #6 – You do not drink milk, or you have a lactose intolerance that prevents you from drinking milk.
• Warning Sign #7 – You have an eating disorder.
• Warning Sign #8 – You are an Asian or Caucasian female over the age of 50.Warning Sign #9 – You have a family member who had osteoporosis before the age of 50 or before menopause.