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HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL Peppy Hospital TOPS chapter hosting free open house Special to the Journal Perry Hospital’s Take Off Pounds Sensibly club will host an informative, fun open house Oct. 19 from 5-6 p.m. in the Medical Library at Perry Hospital. This event will show case TOPS’ commonsense approach to weight loss through information, moti vation and legendary sup port. Women, men, teens and preteens committed to attaining and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are invited to attend this free event. Take action against the flu: Facts you need to know Special to the Journal This Fall and Winter, many children and adults in Georgia will experience flu-like symptoms, and some will deal with a severe strain of the flu. Each year, 10 to 20 per cent of Americans become ill, approximately 114,000 are hospitalized, and more than 36,000 die from influ enza and related complica tions. “Influenza (flu) is a viral infection that can cause a severe illness with seri ous life-threatening com plications in children as well as adults,” says Dr. M. Ogunsakin, Infectious Disease specialist and mem Breathe easy; The ways to take control of asthma Special to the Journal One of the most fright ening experiences for any parent is when a child has difficulty breathing. The American Lung Association estimates that 6.1 million children under the age of 18 suffer from asthma. Studies show that children today are dying of asthma at twice the rate they did in 1980. While asthma cannot be cured, it can be controlled. Recognizing the early symp toms of an asthma attack and taking prompt action before symptoms worsen is vital to avoiding a health emergency. According to Dr. Steve Wade, pediatrician and member of the medical staffs of Houston Medical Center and Perry Hospital, the first step in managing childhood asthma is forming a three way partnership between the child, the parents and the physician. “Every person with asth ma should develop an action plan with his or her doctor. This action plan should outline step-by-step treat ment instructions and emer gency protocol,” he says. “It should list all medications, including quick-relief and long-term control medicines, their doses and when to take them. Having such a plan can help children as well as their parents and other caregivers know what to do in case of an asthma attack.” During an asthma attack, breathing is restricted by three physical changes that occur in the lungs, usually as a reaction to an allergen, a substance that can cause an allergic reaction., The most critical factor is the inflammation, or swell ing, of the lining of the air passages in the lungs. In addition, the cells lining Asthma symptoms Asthma symptoms can progress to an urgent situation quickly. Warning signs include: ■ Coughing that won't stop H Very rapid breathing or difficulty breathing; the abdomen “sucks in” and nostrils widen when trying to inhale ■ Severe wheezing ■ Chest pain or pressure ■ Difficulty talking ■ Heelings of anxiety or panic ■ Poor or pale skin color ■ Tightened neck and chest muscles ■ Decreased awareness or, in a child, drowsiness ■ Blue Ups or fingernails ■ A peak airflow of less than 50 percent Health authorities, includ ing the American Dietitic Association, the American Heart Association, and the American Medical Association agree that trendy diets and “magic” weight loss pills do not work. TOPS’ philosophy is that the best way to lose and maintain a healthy weight is through education, encour agement and consistent sup port from others. A study conducted by the National Weight Control Registry found that people who lost weight and attended ber of the medical staffs of Houston Medical Center and Perry Hospital. In addition to flu shots, Houston Healthcare urges adults and children to take the following steps to help prevent the flu: ■ Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your dis tance from others to protect them from getting sick too. ■ Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness. ■ Wash hands often, espe cially after you have been out in public or touched the passages produce more mucus than usual, and the muscles of the airways tight en. Together, these changes make it difficult to breathe. There are many medica tions available today to treat asthma. The two most common types are anti-inflamma tories, which are used to reduce swelling in the lin ing of the air passages, and bronchodilators, which are used to relax the muscles in the air passages. Although each of these types of drugs can be used to both prevent and treat asth ma attacks, anti-inflamma tories are most often used to prevent attacks while bron chodilators are used to treat attacks in progress. Wade adds that because asthma is a chronic condi tion, controlling it requires an ongoing care plan. “To be successful, children must strictly follow their care plan both at home and at school,” he continues. “That means never miss ing a dose of medicine, stay ing far away from triggers and recognizing the signs of impending attack.” Asthma triggers can vary with the seasons, or come and go as a child grows up. Wade recommends parents teach their children at an early age how to identify their triggers so he or she can self-manage their asth ma. Common asthmatic trig gers include: ■ Colds and flu are the number-one triggers in chil dren, causing up to 85 per cent of all asthma attacks. Children should be taught the importance of washing their hands, avoiding other children with colds and using paper cups for liquids. The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends annual flu shots for asth- TAKE Off POUNDS SENSIBLY regular weight loss support group meetings for one year maintained their full weight loss. Study participants who did not attend support group meetings regained almost half of their weight. “People who participate in support groups say the expe- things that other people have touched, like a gro cery cart, a gas pump, public telephone or even a maga zine in the doctor’s office. Children should wash their hands after sharing toys or books with other friends or classmates. ■ Cover your cough. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from get ting sick. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. ■ Teach your children to cover their nose and mouth with a tissue whenever they cough or sneeze. Throw away used tissue. matic children. ■ Pollen, dust mites, ani mal dander, molds, certain foods, aspirin or other medi cations are common asthma triggers. For younger children, par ents can use simple show and-tell techniques, such as cutting pictures from a mag azine, to point out examples of what to avoid such as cats and dogs, milk and dairy products, grass clippings It is an honor felt far beyond the hospital doors, an honor centered in our community and lives of the people we serve. Houston Healthcare is extremely proud to receive the Georgia Hospital Association's Community Leadership Award. Because this prestigious award recognizes healthcare that goes out beyond our walls— exemplary health education, wellness, and disease prevention—Houston Healthcare is confirmed in our mission: improving the health of our community. From a prenatal outreach program for healthy births, to Senior Care for lifelong fitness, to a nationally recognized diabetes management program, Houston Healthcare is working hard for your wellness. We thank all of our staff, physicians, volunteers and community partners for their compassion and commitment. 4 nr , Houston Healthcare HEALTH rience gives them a forum to exchange valuable informa tion while providing an emo tional connection when they might feel isolated from oth ers,” says Michelle Lee, Perry Hospital’s TOPS Chapter Leader and Community Education Nurse for Houston Healthcare. “TOPS meetings provide an opportunity to share information ranging from reasonable menu pluns and the benefits of exercise to tips on strengthening social relationships and self-accep tance.” ■ Make sure your children don’t share drinking glasses or eating utensils. The flu virus can be passed from person to person begin ning a day before the person feels sick. The virus is spread when someone with the disease coughs or sneezes and spreads the virus. A person can also get the flu by touching a surface, such as a doorknob, that has the flu virus on it and then touching the nose, mouth or eyes. Adults may be contagious from one day before devel oping symptoms to up to seven days after getting sick. Children can be contagious and leaves. ■ Airborne irritants such as tobacco smoke, air fresh eners, aerosol sprays, paint fumes, hairspray and per fume also cause asthma attacks. Keep these items to a minimum in the home. Parents who smoke should also make very effort to quit for their child’s sake. ■ Overdoing it, also known as just being a child, commonly leads to asthma IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY w ' ' TOPS Club, Inc. has been dedicated to providing long term weight loss support for nearly 60 years. Last year, TOPS members world wide lost a total of 970,824 pounds, or more than 485 tons, by making healthy food choices, exercising and attending weekly meet ings. Perry Hospital’s TOPS Chapter members lost a total of 66 pounds last year. Perry Hospital’s TOPS Club has been providing support in the Perry community for two years. Weekly meetings are held Thursday evenings from for longer than seven days. If you or your child is already sick with a sore throat, cough and fever, how can you tell if it is the flu or just a common cold or virus? You may have the flu if you have the following symptoms: ■ Became sick very quick ly ■ A high fever (102 degrees or higher) ■ Stuffy nose ■ Headache ■ Muscle aches ■ Feels very tired and achy ■ Does not feel like eat ing ■ Chills attacks. Parents should work closely with their child so he or she can recognize limits while playing soccer or some other intense sport. Houston Healthcare is hosting a free educational seminar on the basics of asthma, including how to manage it in a school setting, Oct. 17 from 6-8 p.m. at the Houston Health Pavilion EduCare Auditorium. “When Your Student Has FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2006 ♦ 5 to 6 p.m. in the Medical Library at Perry Hospital. Perry Hospital's TOPS members will provide low fat, low-calorie refreshments for those attending the open house. For more information on the open house and the Perry Hospital TOPS chapter, please contact Michelle Lee at 988-1813 or Tara Poole at 988-1827. For more information about TOPS, visit www.tops. org or call 1-800-932-8677. ■ Dry cough ■ Gastro-intestinal symp toms such as nausea, vomit ing and diarrhea are much more common among chil dren than adults. ■ Usually children with the flu do not have a sore throat ■ Sinus problems and ear infections may develop These symptoms typically last about seven days. If you or your child has a fever or other flu-like symptoms, it is important to stay home, rest and drink plenty of fluids. If you suspect you or your child has the flu, contact your family doctor or pedi atrician’s office as soon as possible. Asthma” is open to teachers, coaches, bus drivers, school administrators, day care providers, school nurses and other personnel who work with children on a daily basis. Guest speakers are Wade and Darlene Rumph, respiratory therapist with Houston Healthcare. Refreshments will be served. Seating is limited and pre-registration is required by calling 478-923-9771. 5A