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Whooping Cough
The Panhandle Health District would like to inform citizens that the district has seen an increase in the number of reported cases of Pertussis (Whooping Cough) in Bonner County. Within the last two months, six confirmed cases of Pertussis have been reported with multiple close contacts associated with each case.
Pertussis is an illness that is caused by a bacterium, which lives in the mouth, nose, and throat of an infected person. Pertussis is highly contagious! It is spread by droplets from coughing or sneezing. Pertussis has a typical incubation period of 6-21 days before symptoms start to show. Symptoms may include:
Early symptoms include: runny nose, scratchy throat, mild cough, no fever, or a very low-grade fever may exist.
Later symptoms include: a cough that increases in intensity and duration. A paroxysmal cough may develop. These paroxysms may be accompanied by post-tussive vomiting and/or apnea. It may cause a person to make the classic “whooping” sound while trying to catch their breath.
Now is a good time to review your immunization records to confirm you are up to date on all recommended vaccinations. Children should complete the primary series for pertussis by age 5 with a booster at age 12. A tetanus/pertussis booster is recommended every 10 years for adults. Please ask us if you have any questions. You can come any day to get needed vaccinations.
Timing is everything: Young people, don’t wait to get heart health screenings!
Knowledge is power, as the saying goes, and that’s absolutely true about heart health. You probably know that getting regular exercise, eating a nourishing diet with lots of whole plant foods, not smoking, and keeping your stress levels in check all benefit your ticker. And hopefully you translate that knowledge into daily action, since that’s what matters. (Just reading heart-healthy recipes doesn’t count!)
Screenings for heart-disease risk factors are also essential, and recent research suggests there’s widespread misunderstanding about when to begin these tests.
In a survey of women, the majority said they believed that heart-health screenings should begin at age 41. That’s more than two decades too late! For both women and men, blood pressure and cholesterol screenings should begin at age 20, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). These tests are especially important because dangerous blood pressure and cholesterol levels often have no symptoms.
You might feel invincible in your 20s and 30s, but don’t neglect these and other important screenings.
See below for the latest recommendations from the AHA, and schedule an appointment with your doctor if you’re overdue.
- Blood pressure: Starting at age 20, have your blood pressure checked at least once every two years or at each regular checkup.
- Fasting lipid (cholesterol) profile: Starting at age 20, get your HDL, LDL and triglyceride levels checked every four to six years, more often if you have either a family history of heart disease and stroke, or a personal history of diabetes, hypertension or obesity.
- Weight/body mass index: Starting at age 20, you should discuss your weight and body-mass index with your physician at your annual visit.
- Waist circumference: Starting at age 20 if you have a BMI of 25 kg/m2 or higher; repeat as needed.
- Blood glucose: Starting at age 45, have your blood glucose checked at least every three years.