For more information on Immunizations in New York State visit the following:

NYS Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule

NYS Adult Immunization Schedule 

I didn’t realize I needed certain immunizations until I started a new job. Do you know which shots you need? Does your doctor remind you to get the flu vaccination?

Sources: Adults Need Immunizations Too ; CDC Features: Pertussis (Whooping Cough) – What you need to know; Protecting Against Influenza (Flu): Advice for Caregivers of Children Less Than 6 Months Old

Picture source: Alignmap Blog

Exercising regularly, along with having low body fat and avoiding large amounts of alcoholic or caffeinated drinks can reduce you chances of having Endometriosis. Endo what? Well, if you have never heard of Endometriosis before, it is a common health problem that affects more than 5 million women in the U.S. Endometriosis causes the lining of the Uterus or womb, the Endometrium, to grow outside of the uterus. This growth can be very painful and can make it more difficult for you to get pregnant.

Common places for Endometriosis to occur include:

• Ovaries
• Fallopian Tubes
• Tissues that hold the Uterus in place
• Outer surface of the Uterus
• Lining of the Pelvic Cavity

If you have, or had Endometriosis, you may be experiencing feelings of fear, anger or uncertainty, but remember you’re not alone. 

I have a family member who had surgery last year for Endometriosis. Surgery is the one treatment that can boost your chances for getting pregnant. Now, she and her husband are on the road to recovery and hopefully the road to parenthood (I’m keeping my fingers crossed). Have you or someone close to you had Endometriosis? As par of National Endometriosis Awareness Month, would you like to share your story to serve as inspiration for others? Please post your story or opinion in our comment section. 

If you would like more information about this disease, visit one of the websites below or talk to your doctor.

Sources:

National Women’s Health Center

Endometriosos Research Center

The CNN report provides some good information for cat lovers too. If you’re pregnant and have a cat, you may want to have someone else clean the cat litter. I’m sure you would be heart broken to have to surrender that duty. You may be wondering what cat litter has to do with pregnancy. Not only does it stink, cat feces could actually cause a disease called Toxoplasmosis. Toxo what?? The name may be complicated, but the message is simple: A parasite in cat feces can cause birth defects. This is a common infection, so it’s up to you to take steps to protect your baby. Below is a list of recommendations from the March of Dimes.  

There are simple steps you can take to avoid toxoplasmosis infection:

• Don’t eat raw or undercooked meat, especially lamb or pork. 
• Wash your hands immediately with soap and water after handling raw meat. 
• Clean cutting boards, work surfaces and utensils with hot, soapy water after contact with raw meat or unwashed fruit or vegetables. 
• Peel or thoroughly wash all raw fruits and vegetables before eating. 
• Don’t empty or clean the cat’s litter box. Let someone else do this. 
• Don’t feed the cat raw or undercooked meat. 
• Keep the cat indoors.
• Don’t get a new cat while you’re pregnant.  
• Wear gloves while gardening.
• Avoid children’s sandboxes. Cats may use them as litter boxes.

Sources for this entry:

“Preparing Rover for Junior’s Arrival” (CNN)

 ”Toxoplasmosis” (March of Dimes) 

There are two areas of health that I feel are often neglected, oral health and ocular (eye)  health. So many diseases can get into the body through these venues. If detected early, optometrists and dentists can save your body from experiencing a full-blown attack of certain diseases and they may even save your life. Did you know that optometrists can detect high-blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and some cancers? Pretty amazing! See they are more than just the people that give you your prescription for glasses. Did you know that poor oral health, especially periodontal disease (chronic inflammation of the gums) may lead to heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and much more. Pregnant women need to be taking good care of their oral health because periodontal disease can lead to preterm labor.

Eating healthy and brushing your teeth are important for good oral health. Regular professional cleanings are very important too. If you haven’t had a recent teeth cleaning, are an adult with natural teeth, and would like a free cleaning, call Bobbi at 315-788-9834. Make sure you mention that you are interested in a FREE CLEANING by a DENTAL HYGIENE STUDENT. You can also make an appointment at childrens-clinic.org. Again, you have to mention the above bolded statement.

Need low-cost or free health insurance to cover your eye exams? Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus and Medicaid cover eye health too. If you live in the tri-county area, contact us at 315-788-8533 to see if you qualify for one of these health insurance programs.