October 6, 2020
As the flu season begins and the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the community faces the possibility of a 'twindemic'. Both are respiratory illnesses that are contagious, but because they are caused by different viruses, it is possible to have both at the same time. They share some symptoms, so telling them apart based on symptoms alone is difficult. Testing might be required to confirm a diagnosis. COVID-19 is still very new, and researchers learn more about it every week. According to the CDC, this is the best information available to compare flu and COVID-19: What are the symptoms? The... Continue Reading
September 30, 2020
A global pandemic causes changes in behavior: Concerns for health and safety give people pause when deciding to leave their homes to go places that will have many people. Especially if there are additional concerns that some of those people will actually be sick with COVID-19. But the need for regular, routine healthcare—especially for those managing chronic conditions who might be at greater risk for complications from COVID-19—does not change. So Augusta Health is taking extraordinary measures to be sure that its facilities are the safe space for all who need healthcare. It all starts with... Continue Reading
September 24, 2020
When it comes to recognizing and treating Stroke, FAST has always been important. For years, health educators and stroke experts have used the acronym FAST (Face-Arms-Speech-Time) to help people identify stroke symptoms and those having a stroke. Recently, though, the acronym has been tweaked to BE FAST. B alance loss and E yesight are the two additional symptoms that have been added to acronym. And it's not just change for changes sake: there's much research behind the addition. "Research studies were done, retrospectively, on patients who had experienced a stroke," says Amy Markham, MSN, RN... Continue Reading
September 22, 2020
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many have been overwhelmed and experienced feelings of anxiety, fear, loneliness and sadness. People feel stress related to the disease and stress related to the economic impact of the pandemic. The pandemic has progressed at a time that suicide rates were already rising in the United States. According to an article published in JAMA Psychiatry in April, 2020, the data for 2018 show the highest age-adjusted suicide rate in the United States since 1941. Local data also reveals a concern about suicide. The 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment coordinated by... Continue Reading
September 15, 2020
Because they work to slow the transmission of COVID-19. Perhaps because the first advice was that it wasn't necessary to wear a mask. Perhaps because, culturally, Americans don't generally wear masks at other times, such as flu season. Perhaps because some just don't understand the benefit. Regardless of the reason, many people around the country and around our community do not wear masks, or face coverings, when they should. The question many have is, "Why do I need to wear a mask?" The Infection Prevention staff at Augusta Health is happy to provide answers. "I think there may have been... Continue Reading
September 10, 2020
When we think of aging, changes in appearance are usually the first thing that comes to mind. Beyond wrinkles and graying hair, the entire body goes through remarkable evolutions as we get older. While modern culture inundates us with anti-aging products and strategies for remaining youthful, aging doesn’t have to be a negative experience. Let’s take a look at how the body ages and what you can do to slow the process! The Inner Workings of Aging Aging is a result of certain biological changes within the body. These biological changes can be categorized into nine processes: Telomere shortening... Continue Reading
September 9, 2020
This fall, two viruses will be circulating at this same time: seasonal influenza and COVID-19. Some are calling it the 'twindemic'. The situation makes it more important than ever for people to get the flu shot this year. "It's important to get the flu shot every year," says William Doherty, MD, FACHE, Chief Medical Officer at Augusta Health, "but this year, I think it's even more important. There will be two different viruses spreading at the same time. One, which is seasonal flu, we know a lot about. The other, COVID-19, is still new and unpredictable in many ways. We're learning more about... Continue Reading
September 8, 2020
The 2020 school year is different than ever before. Along with many changes in the school year, more than likely, your child’s learning environment includes a virtual learning component. Unlike leisure screen time, virtual learning requires a level of focus that many kids (and parents!) may not be used to. To help ease the transition from the classroom to the virtual classroom, we’ve comprised a list of tips to help kids focus and learn during this challenging time. Set Reasonable Expectations Whether you’re homeschooling your child or your child is participating in a school-based virtual... Continue Reading
August 31, 2020
Learning to live with COVID-19 is an ongoing adjustment. Just as folks begin to feel all is under control, a new surge happens to remind us that the disease is still here in our community and still infecting neighbors, friends and family. For example, in July—after the Fourth of July holiday—the number of positive cases diagnosed at Augusta Health was double what it had been in June. So as we approach the Labor Day holiday weekend, it's helpful to remember these guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Augusta Health. If you are the host of a gathering or cookout: Ask guests... Continue Reading
August 24, 2020
Children can be silent worriers. They might say they are OK when asked, but most parents instinctively know when something is just not right. As the COVID-19 pandemic spread throughout the world, the news cycles and everyone's conversations, children observed and listened and maybe started to worry—about themselves, perhaps, but also about grandparents and family and friends who might get sick. As the school year starts again—a school year that will, no matter how attended—will look and feel different than school years past, the worry might kick into overdrive. So now is a great time, as... Continue Reading
