Know Your Numbers: UDOH, Harmon’s Promote Blood Pressure Awareness

(SALT LAKE CITY) – Blood pressure is a main risk factor for heart disease and stroke, which are the first and third leading causes of death in Utah, respectively. In an effort to educate Utahns on the importance of knowing one’s blood pressure numbers, the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program (HDSPP) is teaming up with Harmon’s Grocery during American Heart Month.

Throughout February, HDSPP’s life-sized “Mr. Blood Pressure” cutouts will be displayed in various Harmon’s locations. Each Harmon’s store will also have blood pressure monitors available for public use, and dietitians will be on hand to offer helpful tips on how to live a healthier lifestyle. 

According to the American Heart Association, 3,500 people die in Utah each year from heart disease and stroke – accounting for more than 30 percent of all deaths. Small changes to a person’s daily routine, like exercising and eating less salt, can help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

“Since high blood pressure generally has no symptoms, the only way to diagnose it is to get tested,” said Tania Charette, HDSPP Media Coordinator. “With their emphasis on health and community outreach, Harmon’s is the perfect partner for getting this important message out to the public.”

For more information about HDSPP, visit http://www.hearthighway.org/.

Media Contact:

Tania Charette, MPH, CHES

HDSPP Media Coordinator

801-538-6423

More Smokers Than Ever Want Help Quitting

(Salt Lake City) – In January 2012, nearly 1,100 Utah tobacco users signed up for quitting help offered by the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) Tobacco Quit Line. This represents a 70% increase over the average number of enrollments received in the month of January in the past three years. Radio spots, TV ads, and referrals from family and friends contributed to the jump.

The most recent educational campaign features the animated character Kurtz. It shows the struggles Kurtz goes through when quitting smoking, how everybody wants Kurtz to quit (even the dog), and how quitting takes practice.

“When people who use tobacco see a helpful and friendly media message, they’re encouraged in their quit attempt and they get more confident,” said David Neville, UDOH Tobacco Prevention and Control Program. “The Quit Line helps smokers truly believe they can quit by offering the most effective resources based on the latest research,” Neville added. “And the quit staff’s only goal is to help people quit tobacco – at no cost and completely confidentially.”

Quitting coaches at the Utah Tobacco Quit Line are college graduates with additional training in motivational interviewing. They are trained to understand the psychology of a smoker, so they can better help people quit and stay quit. Many of the coaches are former smokers, too, so they understand how tough quitting tobacco can be.

Zo Finney used the Utah Tobacco Quit Line, along with nicotine patches, to quit smoking. “It was the hardest time of my life, but it’s been the most worthwhile effort I’ve ever put into my life,” said Finney. “The friendly staff at the Quit Line were focused on only one thing: helping me stop smoking. I just kept telling myself, ‘If I can stop smoking, I can do anything.’ Well I did, and I can.

“So now if I can help anyone else quit smoking, I will, because I know my life is healthier, and I look forward to each new day with confidence and optimism,” Finney added.

Regardless of insurance, all Utah residents are eligible to call the Utah Tobacco Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669), where they can receive free phone sessions with a quit counselor, free information kits, and in many cases free nicotine gum, patches, or lozenges to help them overcome nicotine addiction.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are more ex-smokers than current smokers, 80% of Utah smokers want to quit, and smokers are more likely to quit with help. In addition to the Quit Line, the UDOH provides UtahQuitNet.com, an online stop-smoking resource. UtahQuitNet.com includes free chat rooms, expert forums, and quitting tutorials. And, as always, it’s 100% free and 100% confidential.

Media Contact:

David Neville, Media Liaison

Office: 801-538-6917

Cell: 801-386-1316

Utah Kids Have Fewer Cavities, But Too Many Still Lack Early Dental Care

(Salt Lake City, UT) – During the fall of 2010, the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) Oral Health Program (OHP) conducted a survey to assess oral health status among Utah children in first through third grades. The survey collected information on factors such as access to dental care, tooth decay, urgent treatment needs, sealant placement, and fluoride exposure.  

The results indicate that Utah children have healthier teeth today when compared to five years ago.  Overall dental decay fell from 55% in 2005 to 51% in 2010 for children ages 6 to 8. Untreated decay has decreased as well, from 21% in 2005 to 17% in 2010, which is substantially better than the federal Healthy People 2010 goal of 21%.  However, dental sealants (thin, plastic coatings applied to the surfaces of the back teeth to prevent decay) remain underused in Utah. The study found just 36% of 8-year-olds had sealants, compared to 45% in 2005.

Among 6- to 9-year-old children who received a dental screening, more than half (52%) had prior tooth decay, while close to one-fifth (17%) had current untreated cavities.  Just over a quarter (26%) of children had sealants present on a least one permanent molar.  Of those screened, 2% had extensive tooth decay, infection, and/or pain.

“This means these children needed urgent dental care,” says State Dental Director Dr. Steven J. Steed. “If we take that two percent sample and apply it across the state, we believe there are more than 2,600 first, second and third graders who need to see a dentist today.”

Poverty and lack of dental insurance have repeatedly been shown to affect oral health status.  More than one-fifth (22%) of parents surveyed in 2010 reported their child had no dental insurance, and 13% said there was a time during the past year when their child needed dental care but was unable to get it.  The reasons most frequently cited for not getting care were “could not afford it” and “no insurance”. 

Children with private dental insurance were also less likely than the uninsured to have filled or unfilled cavities or to have lost a tooth due to decay (45% vs. 55%).  Untreated decay was twice as prevalent (27% vs. 13%) among children without dental insurance. And Hispanic and non-white children were more likely to have unmet needs compared to the overall population surveyed.

“There is a common belief among immigrants in the myth that it is inevitable to lose most of your teeth at an early age,” said Mauricio Agramont, Midvale Community Program Manager. “This is a direct result of a lack of access to basic oral health information and preventive care,” he said. “The gap in knowledge that Latino immigrants bring with them to this country is passed on to their children, creating a vicious cycle of poor dental health.”

Community water fluoridation has been considered the cornerstone of dental decay prevention and the most economical way to deliver the benefit of fluoride to all residents of a community. The UDOH study found that children who received long-term optimal levels of fluoride, either from fluoridated water or supplements, had 42% fewer decayed and filled tooth surfaces compared to children who had no fluoride exposure. 

Although dental decay is preventable, it remains the most common chronic childhood disease.  The OHP promotes dental education and decay prevention methods such as checkups, sealants, and fluoride (varnish, rinses, water, and supplements) for all youth. For more information or a copy of the complete report, contact the OHP at 801-538-9177 or visit the web site at

http://health.utah.gov/oralhealth/pdf/oralHealthReport_2011.pdf

Avoid Brain Injuries: Don’t Forget Your Helmet

(Salt Lake City, UT) – With the state’s recent snowfall, the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) wants to remind the public to stay safe as they enjoy the winter outdoors. In 2009, 440 Utahns – or more than eight people every week – were hospitalized or died from a sports or recreation-related traumatic brain injury (TBI). Ten percent of these TBIs were due to snow sports like skiing and snowboarding, sledding, ice skating, and snowmobiling.

Recent data show the top five causes of sports and recreation-related TBIs in Utah are:

   

   1.  Bicycle crashes (34.3%)  

   2.  Off-highway vehicle/all-terrain vehicle (OHV/ATV) (24.5%), which also includes dirt bikes, dune buggies, snowmobiles, etc.

   3.  Horse/rodeo/large animal (13.0%)

   4.  Snow sports (8%) like skiing, snowboarding, sledding, and ice skating

   5.  Skateboard/in-line skates/scooter (6.8%)

When looked at more closely, the data reveal that snowboarding accounts for half (50%) of all TBIs caused by snow sports, followed by skiing (28.9%), sledding (18.4%), and ice skating (2.6%). Snowmobile crashes account for only 5.9% of all TBIs caused by OHV/ATV crashes.

Three simple steps can help keep you and your family safe this winter.

  •  Wear a helmet when riding a snowmobile, skiing, snowboarding, or sledding. A full two-thirds (66.7%) of those who suffered a TBI in 2009 during these activities were not wearing a helmet.

  •  Complete the Utah State Parks and Recreation Know Before You Go! snowmobile education course. Utah law requires youth ages eight to 16 (or until they get their state-issued driver license) to complete this course before operating a snowmobile. The course costs $30 and is available online at http://stateparks.utah.gov/ohv/education-snowmobile.

  •  Check current avalanche danger and weather conditions before going into Utah’s backcountry. Find it online at http://utahavalanchecenter.org.

Traumatic brain injuries can have dramatic impacts on a person’s ability to lead an active, fulfilling life. Help is available for Utahns who have suffered a TBI and their families by contacting the Brain Injury Association of Utah (BIAU) at 801-716-4993 or by visiting http://biau.org/.

For additional data on sports and recreation-related TBIs, visit http://health.utah.gov/vipp/traumaticBrainInjury/TBIData.html.

 

Media Contact:

Jenny Johnson

Violence & Injury Prevention Program

(o) 801-538-9416 (m) 801-298-1569

Ron Roskos

Brain Injury Association of Utah

(m) 801-979-2799

Helping Babies Start Life With a Healthy Heart

(Salt Lake City, UT) – The image of a beating heart is the image of life. But many babies in Utah and across the nation are born with a congenital heart defect. These include problems with how the heart, its walls, or valves have been formed and are among the most common of all birth defects. In Utah, more than 300 babies are born with heart problems every year.

“This is an important public health concern, and our goal is to make everyone aware of possible prevention measures and early warning signs, said Amy Nance, Program Manager, Utah Department of Health (UDOH) Utah Birth Defect Network (UBDN).

As a group, birth defects are the leading cause of infant mortality in the U.S., and heart defects are the number one killer. January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month, and the UBDN is joining Intermountain Healing Hearts (IHH), a Wasatch Front support group that helps families dealing with the realities of a child born with heart problems.

IHH President Brytten Pettit is the mother of a child born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. She says she’s benefitted from the group and the Utah medical community.

“Today I have a happy, thriving, independent 3-year-old, and we are grateful for every day we spend together. It's no longer about counting the years, it's about making the years count!" said Brytten.

There is hope for children with congenital heart defects. Early detection and treatment can help them live longer and better. Survival has been improving in the last several decades.

There is also hope for prevention. The causes of many heart defects remain a mystery, but the UBDN, University of Utah (U of U), other groups around the country, and hundreds of Utah families are involved in studies to identify preventable causes as part of the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The heart forms in the early weeks of pregnancy, often before a woman realizes she is pregnant,” said Lorenzo Botto, M.D., a geneticist and professor of Pediatrics at the U of U “Diet, lifestyle choices, the environment, health conditions, and medications can all play a role in preventing or causing congenital heart defects,” Botto added.

Studies have shown there are several things women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant can do:

• See a physician prior to pregnancy, especially if there are: health conditions that require medications; metabolic conditions like diabetes, obesity, phenylketonuria (PKU); or a family history of congenital heart defects.
• Diabetic or obese women should make sure their blood sugar is under control and work toward a healthy weight through a nutritious food plan prior to conception.
• Take a folic acid supplement and check with their health care provider to confirm they are getting adequate amounts of all the essential nutrients.
• Avoid all alcohol and illegal/recreational drugs.
• Avoid exposure to smoke, chemicals, and toxins both at work and at home.
• Get regular medical check-ups and learn about their family history and potential genetic risks. 

“Small steps like visiting a health care provider before pregnancy and taking a multivitamin every day can go a long way,” said Nance.

The UBDN works with health care professionals and public health agencies around Utah to encourage prevention and awareness of congenital heart defects among women of childbearing age in the Utah. To learn more, call 866-818-7096 or visit www.health.utah.gov/birthdefect.

Media Contact:

Amy Nance

Program Manager

(801) 883-4661