Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Know Your Risk for Type 2 Diabetes

(Salt Lake City) – Right now, an estimated 45,000 Utahns have a potentially deadly disease―diabetes―and don’t even know it. The Utah Department of Health (UDOH), in honor of Diabetes Alert Day, wants to help those people know the signs and symptoms.

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that causes blood sugar to rise above normal levels. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and amputations. More than 120,000 Utahns have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Some warning signs of diabetes are excessive thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, or sores that are slow to heal. The disease is more common in African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, American Indians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders. Persons who are overweight, physically inactive, aged 45 or older, or have a family history of diabetes are at higher risk for the disease. Women who have had gestational diabetes, or have had a baby weighing nine or more pounds at birth, are also at greater risk.

One of the strongest risk factors for type 2 diabetes is pre-diabetes, a condition that occurs when blood sugar levels are elevated but not high enough to reach the clinical threshold for a diabetes diagnosis. Experts believe as many as one out of three Utahns have pre-diabetes. And unless they start taking care of the problem now, they’ll likely develop full-blown diabetes within 10 years.

However, according to Nathan Peterson, Manager, UDOH Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, there is good news.

“Preventing diabetes doesn’t require drastic lifestyle changes,” says Peterson. “Small steps like getting a little more physical activity every day or losing even a few pounds can have a big impact on lowering your chance of developing diabetes.” 

Even if you don’t have symptoms and want to know if you’re at risk, Peterson suggests all adults take the diabetes risk test at www.YourDiabetesInfo.org/alertday2012.
  

In addition, The National Diabetes Education Program invites people at risk for diabetes to visit their Just One Step website for information about easy ways to dramatically improve their health. 

For more information about diabetes prevention and control, visit http://health.utah.gov/diabetes/.

Media Contact:
Christine Weiss
(o) 801- 538-9458 (m) 801-471-8073
Nathan Peterson
(o) 801-538-9291(m) 801-641-5009




Monday, March 19, 2012

Uninsured Adults Urged to Apply for Health Coverage

What:   Utah’s Primary Care Network (PCN) will open enrollment today,  March 19 through Friday, March 30. PCN is a primary preventive health coverage plan for uninsured adults.

Benefits include physician services, prescriptions, dental services, eye exams, emergency room visits, birth control, and general preventive services.

Why:     Since December 2011, PCN has been closed for enrollment and has not accepted new applications. Beginning today through March 30, all uninsured Utah adults may apply online, by mail, or in person to receive primary health care.

Who:     Adults who meet the following requirements may apply:
                - Age 19 through 64
                - U.S. citizens or legal residents
                - Not covered by other health insurance
                - Meet income guidelines (e.g., a family of 4 with a maximum  income of $34,575 per year)
                - Not qualified for Medicaid
                - Have no access to student health insurance, Medicare or Veterans  benefits

For more information, contact:
Kolbi Young
PR and Marketing
801-538-6847 / 801-231-6350

When: Today, March 19 through Friday, March 30 at 5:00 p.m.

Where:  Apply online at www.health.utah.gov/pcn  or call the PCN hotline at 1-888-222-2542.


-End-

For more information, contact: Kolbi Young PR and Marketing 801-538-6847 / 801-231-6350 kolbiyoung@utah.gov Uninsured Adults Urged to Apply for Health Coverage Primary Care Network opens enrollment today What: Utah’s Primary Care Network (PCN) will open enrollment today, March 19 through Friday, March 30. PCN is a primary preventive health coverage plan for uninsured adults. Benefits include physician services, prescriptions, dental services, eye exams, emergency room visits, birth control, and general preventive services. Why: Since December 2011, PCN has been closed for enrollment and has not accepted new applications. Beginning today through March 30, all uninsured Utah adults may apply online, by mail, or in person to receive primary health care. Who: Adults who meet the following requirements may apply: - Age 19 through 64 - U.S. citizens or legal residents - Not covered by other health insurance - Meet income guidelines (e.g., a family of 4 with a maximum income of $34,575 per year) - Not qualified for Medicaid - Have no access to student health insurance, Medicare or Veterans benefits When: Today, March 19 through Friday, March 30 at 5:00 p.m. Where: Apply online at www.health.utah.gov/pcn or call the PCN hot

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

New Tobacco Exhibit/Campaign to Launch at Maverik Center


(SALT LAKE CITY) – As patrons enter the restrooms behind section 124 at the Maverik Center in West Valley City, they’ll be greeted by a red velvet rope with a sign that reads, “The TRUTH: Perspectives on Deadly Tobacco.” It’s the entrance to a new Utah Department of Health (UDOH) exhibit that paints a vivid portrait of tobacco’s painful consequences.

For example, one stall is completely black inside, with a plaque that describes the effect of tobacco smoke on the lungs. Another display is at a soap dispenser, which appears to be covered in tar.  A nearby sign details what’s really behind the yellow tar stains that often develop on the fingers and nails of smokers.

“We were looking for a unique way to tell Utahns just how tobacco makes you sick,” said Janae Duncan, UDOH Tobacco Prevention and Control Program. “People don’t expect to see messages like this in a bathroom, and we hope they’ll resonate as reasons to never start tobacco or to quit it for good.”

Maverik Center visitors will also find two columns in the arena designed to look like giant cigarettes being stamped out. “They’re 12 feet tall and right on the concourse, so they’re sure to grab people’s attention and get them talking, which is exactly what we want,” Duncan said.

Alll the displays also provide information on free and confidential quit resources like the Utah Tobacco Quit Line (1-800-QUIT-NOW) and www.UtahQuitNet.com.

“Maverik Center is excited to partner with the Utah Department of Health to display this creative messaging, which is certain to penetrate the minds of our patrons as to the dangers of tobacco,” said Andrew Carroll, Maverik Center Chief Marketing Officer. 

For the exhibit opening, UDOH is giving away tickets to the Grizzlies’ final two home games of the season. Utahns who have quit or tried to quit tobacco, and who share their story on Tobacco Free Utah’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/tobaccofreeUT, will receive five free tickets for their efforts.

Media Contact:
Janae Duncan
Tobacco Prevention and Control Program
(801) 538-9273

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Utah Youth Smoking Rates Decline


(Salt Lake City) – A new U.S. Surgeon General’s report says 3.6 million middle and high school students smoke, and urges states to discourage youth smoking through high- impact interventions, including tobacco tax hikes, smoking bans, and mass media campaigns

“Basically, the report says that the efforts Utah lawmakers and anti-tobacco advocates have made over the years are working, and should be a model for the nation,” said Utah Department of Health (UDOH) executive director Dr. David Patton.

The Utah Legislature approved a $1 per pack tax hike in 2010, and in recent years has also passed comprehensive tobacco control laws and funded effective programs statewide to keep tobacco products out of the hands of Utah youth. The measures have helped bring the teen smoking rate to 5.9%, down from the 1999 rate of nearly 12%. Nationally, 19.5% of teens smoke cigarettes.

“Studies show that when cigarettes get more expensive, teens stop buying them,” said Amy Sands, UDOH Tobacco Prevention and Control Program manager. “We can thank lawmakers, as well as the efforts of our local health departments, educators, and parents for protecting the current and future health of our young people.”

Over the last decade, illegal tobacco sales to underage youth during compliance checks  declined by 64%. At 5.7%, the rate of non-compliance is at its lowest recorded level. The 2010 tax hike also brought per capita sales of cigarettes down from 26.7 packs to 22.3 packs in 2011, the largest one-year decline since 1997.
While strides have been made in fighting tobacco addiction, more remains to be done:

     More than 200,000 youth and adults in Utah continue to smoke.
     The tobacco industry spends $60 million annually in Utah recruiting replacement smokers for the 1,150 who die from tobacco addiction.
     For every tobacco-related death, at least two youths or young adults become new regular smokers, and nearly 90 percent of these “replacement smokers” try their first cigarette by age 18. 
     Cigarette smoking immediately and permanently harms the health of kids and young adults.  Smoking quickly causes nicotine addiction, cardiovascular damage, and slows lung growth.
“We have every intention to continue our vigilance in protecting our children and addressing this leading cause of preventable death in Utah,” says Sands. “Working together to implement the findings of this report we can further benefit the youth and young adults of Utah.”

For more information or help quitting tobacco visit http://www.tobaccofreeutah.org/.

To see the Surgeon General’s report go to http://www.cdc.gov/Features/YouthTobaccoUse/.

Media Contact:
Karlee Adams
Health Program Specialist
(o) 801-538-6992
(m) 801-389-3709
 

Monday, March 5, 2012

UDOH, Partners Remind Utahns to Get Colon Screening Test

Salt Lake City – Colon cancer is the second-leading cancer killer of men and women in both the United States and Utah. In recognition of March as Colon Cancer Awareness Month, the Utah Cancer Action Network (UCAN) and the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) are encouraging all Utahns 50 or over to get a colonoscopy.
The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 780 new cases of colon cancer in Utah in 2012. Fortunately, screening tests can find precancerous polyps that can be removed before they turn into cancer.
A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that colon cancer screening is key because finding and removing precancerous polyps seems to cut the death rate of colorectal cancer in half.
“There are no early warning signs of colon cancer, which is why screening is so important,” said Sylinda Lee, media coordinator, UDOH. “If everyone 50 or over had regular screening tests, at least 60% of deaths from colon cancer could be prevented,” she added.
“The goal of UCAN is to educate Utahns about how to prevent cancer, encourage them to get screened, and ultimately prevent cancer deaths,” said Lynette Hansen, chair of UCAN.  “Colon cancer screening should not just be important to men and women over 50, it should be important to anyone who loves or cares about someone over 50,” added Hansen.  “Tell them you love them; tell them to get a colonoscopy.” 
In an effort to raise awareness of colon cancer and the importance of getting screened, activities will take place throughout March, including the second annual “Buns Up” 5K Walk/Run hosted by Mountain West Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (MWSGNA).
For more information on colon cancer, or for the Buns Up 5K, visit http://www.ucan.cc/  or http://www.bunsup5k.org/.
Media Contact:
Sylinda Lee
Media Coordinator
(o) 801-538-6829
(m) 435-760-0685