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CDC Sodium Press Release
Sodium Fact Sheet
| Children's Dental Health Month |
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 IDPH Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
Program Helps Launch New HHS Initiative: Make the Call.
Don't Miss a Beat. A woman suffers a heart attack every minute in
the United States. Yet only half of women indicated they would call 9-1-1 if they thought they were having a heart attack
and many women did not recognize several key symptoms, according to a 2009 American Heart Association survey. THis combination
has led to dangerous consequences. The HHS Office of Women's Health (OWH) is introducing an effort to increase awareness and
recognition of the seven most common heart attack symptoms among women and encourage the use of the 9-1-1 emergency response
system when these symptoms occur. The Make the Call. Don't Miss
a Beat. campaign aims to educate, engage and empower women and their families on the seven symptoms of a heart attack
that most commonly present themselves in women. These include: chest pain, discomfort, pressure or squeezing; shortness of
breath; nausea; light-headedness or sudden dizziness; unusual upper body pain, or discomfort in one or both arms, back, shoulder,
neck, jaw, or upper part of the stomach, unusual fatigue; breaking out in a cold sweat. Make the Call is a comprehensive public service advertising campaign including: TV,
radio, print, and outdoor materials; campaign website; strong social and news media effort; and partner-and community-based
outreach. Interested in helping spread the word? You can support
the campaign by sharing the information, highlighting the issue in communications and at relevant events, ordering campaign
materials for distribution, and encouraging a dialogue on this important topic. To learn more and join the conversation, visit
the website--www.womenshealth.gov/heartattack--and corresponding Facebook and Twitter pages.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDecember 28, 2011 Contact: Don McCormick (515) 281-6692 Health care providers recommend Quitline Iowa Referrals
nearly 70 percent higher than last year Health care provider referrals to Quitline Iowa—a
free service for helping Iowans beat their addiction to nicotine—are higher than they have ever been. In recent months,
there has been a 68.4 percent increase in recommendations over the same time period last year. “Physicians, nurse practitioners, dentists, and nurses are in a unique position to help
patients who are ready to quit tobacco use,” said Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director, Dr. Mariannette
Miller-Meeks. “I am happy to see so many health care providers opening up this dialog with their patients and offering
assistance through 1-800-QUIT-NOW.” According
IDPH, 3,062 referrals were faxed to Quitline Iowa from July to November in 2011, compared with 1,818 during the same 5-month
period last year. When a fax referral arrives, Quitline Iowa staff follow up with the patient to ask whether they are ready
to take advantage free services, which include counseling and text messaging options. “Most of the people I speak to have never heard of Quitline Iowa so they’re thrilled
to find out about the free services,” said Katie Todd, an advanced registered nurse practitioner at Knoxville Hospital
and Clinics. “Those on Medicaid appreciate the free medication and everyone can benefit from speaking with a counselor.
When you’re trying to quit smoking, it’s helpful to have someone provide you with ideas on how to cope with the
difficult process of giving up tobacco.” When Iowans
call Quitline Iowa (1-800-QUIT-NOW), counselors help them understand the underlying reasons for smoking and how to break the
cycle of addiction that makes it so difficult to quit. Together, these insights can more than double one’s chances of
successfully quitting tobacco use. Quitline Iowa is
available for free to all Iowa adults who want to quit tobacco use. For more information, call 1-800-784-8669 (1-800-QUIT-NOW)
or visit www.quitlineiowa.org. ###
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDecember 22, 2011
Contact: Don McCormick (515) 281-6692
Sick?
Don’t prepare food for others!Recent norovirus outbreaks prompt health officials to urge caution
An alarming number of outbreaks of stomach illness across the state should be a reminder to Iowans participating
in gatherings where food is served. With more than a week remaining for holiday and year-end celebrations, the Iowa Department
of Public Health (IDPH) is asking sick Iowans to think twice before preparing food for others.
“If you’re healthy and you’ve been healthy for the last few days, go ahead and
mix up a batch of cookies or slice up a fruit tray,” said IDPH Medical Director Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. “But if
you’ve had any sort of stomach illness, do not prepare food of any kind for others. In particular, symptoms such as
vomiting and diarrhea should be your ticket out of the kitchen until 48 hours have passed since your recovery.”
In the last 10 days, IDPH has been investigating reports of eight medium to large outbreaks of probable norovirus
in five counties. Norovirus is a common cause of viral gastroenteritis (also called "the stomach bug") and most
of these outbreaks are associated with sick people preparing food for others.
Three groups got ill after eating
at a restaurant where several food handlers had also been ill. Outbreaks were also associated with events like holiday parties
and holiday potlucks, where foods were likely prepared and served by recently ill people.
“We’re also getting lots
anecdotal reports of probable norovirus outbreaks in other areas of the state,” Quinlisk added. “This virus can
be a real holiday spoiler, making your friends and loved ones sick for several days. So, if you are or have been sick, you’ll
just have to wait for the next opportunity to make your signature fudge—you’re off kitchen duty until 48 hours
after your symptoms have stopped!”
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