Immunization Awareness Month

**Your Health Matters**

 10 Reasons To Get Vaccinated

There are many important reasons to get vaccinated. Talk to your doctor to make sure you are up-to-date on the vaccines that are right for you.Did you know that adults need vaccines too? If you didn’t, you are not alone. Many adults in the U.S. are not aware of vaccines recommended for them – and that means they are not taking advantage of the best protection available against a number of serious diseases.

There are many reasons to get vaccinated, here are just a few.

1. You may be at risk for serious diseases that could be prevented by vaccines. Many of these diseases (like influenza, pertussis, and shingles) are common in the US, and many can be spread easily.
2. You may be at increased risk for complications from certain diseases if you have a chronic health condition or weakened immune system. Adults with chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease and those with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop complications from certain vaccine-preventable diseases. These complications can include long-term illness, hospitalization, and even death.
3. You can reduce the chance that you’ll pass on a serious disease to your loved ones.Most vaccine-preventable disease can be contagious, like influenza, meningitis, and whooping cough. Receiving your recommended vaccines can reduce the risk that you get sick and spread disease on to others.
4. You can help protect those who can’t get vaccinated. People with certain medical conditions (like pregnant women or people undergoing cancer treatment) may not be able to get certain vaccines, but are very vulnerable to illness. Vaccines can help prevent the spread of contagious diseases to them. For example, newborns who are too young to get vaccinated for whooping cough are also most at risk of severe illness from the disease. In cases where the source is known, 4 out of 5 babies caught the disease from someone in the home – a parent, sister or brother, grandparent, or babysitter.
5. You don’t have time to get sick. You have too much responsibility to risk getting sick, including people counting on you at work and at home. Vaccines can help you stay healthy so you don’t waste time being sick.
6. You don’t want to miss what’s important to you. Spending time with family and friends or taking time out for your hobbies may not be possible if you get sick. Vaccines can help you stay healthy and enjoy the things you like to do.
7. You don’t want to pay the price of getting sick. Adults who get a vaccine-preventable disease face the financial costs of medical visits and treatment, in addition to other costs like taking time off work, hiring babysitters, and traveling to and from healthcare professionals.
8. You like to travel – or have to travel for work. Travel can present exciting opportunities, but it can also put you at risk for certain diseases. Make sure you only bring back great memories, not illness! If you are going to travel internationally, you might need additional vaccines. See the vaccinations and travel checklist.
9. You want the peace of mind that comes with protecting your health. People sometimes wait to get vaccines until they hear of outbreaks of disease like pertussis or influenza in their community. The time to be vaccinated is before disease arrives. It’s important to stay up-to-date on your immunizations because no one can predict when disease will appear.
10. You don’t want to feel crummy if you can prevent it! No one wants to feel sick. There are more than a dozen diseases that you can protect against simply by getting vaccinated! Adult vaccines are available at doctor’s offices, health departments, pharmacies, and even workplaces.

Take the next steps to protect your health and get vaccinated:

• Take our vaccination quiz to find out which vaccines are recommended for you and discuss your results with your healthcare professional during your next appointment.
• Find a vaccine provider near you.
• Share your reason for getting vaccinated!

Don’t wait. Vaccinate!

Read the entire article and more information available at CVC.gov

Juvenile Arthritis Month

**Your Health Matters**

 

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

What is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis?

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a joint condition that affects teens and children who are 15 years of age or younger. It’s sometimes called juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis causes the lining of the joints to swell and release fluid inside the joint. Joints become swollen, stiff, painful and warm to the touch.

Symptoms

What are the symptoms of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis?

Symptoms can vary greatly from child to child. Your child may complain of joint pain or may limp. His or her joints may be very swollen or feel hot. Your child may have stiffness in the morning or have problems moving. You may notice that he or she avoids normal activities. Your child’s symptoms may come and go, and may be mild or intense. Symptoms can last for a short time or for years.

There are three main types of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Your child’s symptoms will depend on what type he or she has.

• Oligoarticular (Pauciarticular) or “few joints.” This is the most common type of rheumatoid arthritis. This type affects 4 or fewer joints, usually the knee, leg, wrist or jaw. The joints become painful, stiff and red. This type can also affect the eyes, causing the iris (the colored part of the eye) to become inflamed. This is called iritis. Sometimes, vision can be damaged, especially if the iritis is not treated properly. Girls younger than 7 years of age are most likely to have oligoarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis with eye problems. Boys older than 8 years of age who have this type of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis often also have spine and hip problems. In about half of cases, oligoarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis goes away completely over time.
• Polyarticular or “many joints.” This type of juvenile rheumatoid affects 5 or more joints. It usually affects small joints, like those in fingers and hands. Symptoms often appear in the same joints on both sides of the body. Other symptoms include low-grade fever, feeling tired, poor appetite, and tiny, rash-like bumps on the lower torso and upper arms and legs. Anemia (low iron in the blood) is common in children who have this type of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. In a few cases, polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis may also cause internal organs to swell. This type happens more often in girls than in boys, and is more likely than oligoarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis to cause long-lasting joint damage. Polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis goes away on its own in slightly fewer than half of children.
• Systemic or Still’s disease. This type of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis can affect several areas of the body, including joints and internal organs. It is the least common form of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The earliest symptoms are rash (flat, pink spots), chills and high fever. Fevers usually spike (often reaching 103°F) in the afternoon or evening and disappear by the next day. Joint problems may begin early or may not appear until later. Other common symptoms include anemia and swelling of the lymph nodes, spleen and liver. Systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis can affect the heart and lungs, causing swelling and chest pain. This type of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is most likely to cause long-term joint damage. About half of kids who have this type recover completely, while the rest experience joint pain and stiffness for many years.

In serious cases, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis can stunt growth. Eye swelling can be serious, and lead to vision problems. If your child has signs or symptoms of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, be sure to take him or her to the doctor.

Diagnosis & Tests

What will happen at my child’s doctor appointment?

No single test can identify juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and it can be hard to diagnose. Your child’s doctor will likely ask about your child’s symptoms and medical history. He or she will also examine your child, and may do an X-ray or blood test. Your child’s doctor may also want to get a sample of the fluid in the lining of your child’s joints. In some cases, the doctor will want to follow your child’s symptoms for a few months. The patterns of your child’s symptoms can help identify which type of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis he or she has.

Read the entire article available at FamilyDoctor.org

Theme of the Month – Growth

Keys to Spiritual Growth

A. The Priority of Spiritual Growth

I believe that there is no more important study in the Word of God for the believer than the theme of spiritual growth. There are important Scriptures that will help us to put that theme in perspective:

1. 2 PETER 3:18 — “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.” That is the summation of what Peter had to say in his second epistle.

B. The Perspectives on Spiritual Growth

I would like to share with you some concepts that will help us begin our study.

1. THE MISCONCEPTIONS

First of all, spiritual growth has nothing to do with…

a. Our Position in Christ

A person does not grow into becoming a Christian; conversion is an instantaneous miracle. The new birth is a sudden occurrence in the life of a believer. The moment he exercises faith in Christ, he is placed into the body of Christ. It is not a process; it is a marvelous, instantaneous miracle. There may be a process of exposing someone to the gospel; but the actual point of salvation occurs in a miraculous moment. The new believer passes from death into life, “from the power of darkness…into the kingdom of His dear Son” (Col. 1:13b). Spiritual growth is not a question of your position in Christ because you were placed in Christ the moment you put your faith in Him.

C. The Purpose of Spiritual Growth

1. THE MASTER KEY

The master key to understanding and experiencing spiritual growth is found in 2 Peter 3:18: “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.” Growing in grace is equated with giving glory to God. The master key to the process of spiritual growth is understanding what it means to glorify Him.

D. The Process of Spiritual Maturity

As we glorify God, we begin to grow.

1. THE RESPONSE TO GOD’S GLORY

a. Change

1) The Perspective

Second Corinthians 3:18 is a monumental text in the New Testament. Paul says, “But we all [believers are], with unveiled face….” In the Old Testament, the veil of the law covered believers. But the New Testament removed that veil. As a result, no longer are things hidden from us; no longer do we have to search, as the prophets did, to understand what they wrote. Verse 18 continues to say that we are “…beholding as in a glass [focusing into a clear glass] the glory of the Lord….” As we understand the New Testament and its great truths, we focus on the glory of the Lord. Then verse 18 says that we “are changed into the same image from [one level of] glory to [the next level of] glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

E. The Progression of Spiritual Growth

First John 2:12-14 is an essential text because it lists the three basic levels of spiritual growth. Our Lord speaks of those levels from an agricultural analogy: the seed, the corn, and the full ear of corn (Mk. 4:28). John approaches the same subject from the analogy of physical human growth. In verse 12 he says, “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.” John sums up all believers under one term–little children, or offspring. The Greek word used in verse 12 for children simply refers to anybody born from somebody else. It has nothing to do with age. That word could refer to someone who is eighty-five years old. It has nothing to do with infancy.

Special Thank You to our friends Grace To You.  Excepts taken from Back to Basics: The ABC’s of Christian Living – John MacArthur’s Bible Studies. Read in its entirety HERE.

HIV and Aids Awareness

**Your Health Matters**

How can I get HIV?

HIV can only be passed from person to person through body fluids, such as blood, semen and vaginal fluid. Children born to infected mothers can also become infected during pregnancy. The most common ways HIV is passed are:

• By having unprotected anal, vaginal or oral sex with an infected person.
• By sharing needles and syringes for injecting drugs with an infected person.

More than half of women who have HIV got the infection from sexual partners. A woman can be infected by contact with a man or contact with another woman. When a woman has sex with an infected man, she has a high risk of getting HIV if a condom is not used properly.

Who is at risk for HIV infection?

In the early days of the AIDS epidemic, HIV infection appeared to be confined to certain groups, including intravenous drug users, men who have sex with other men and persons who have hemophilia (a blood-clotting disease that requires treatment with frequent blood transfusions). People who have hemophilia got HIV from receiving blood transfusions with donated blood that contained HIV. Blood donations are now tested for HIV, and HIV-infected blood donations are destroyed.

These days, HIV infection is much more widespread. Here is a list of people who are at high risk of HIV infection:

• Men who have sex with other men.
• Anyone who has multiple sex partners.
• Anyone who has sex with a prostitute.
• Anyone who shares needles using illegal injected drugs.
• Anyone who exchanges sex for drugs or money.
• Anyone who has a sexually transmitted disease.
• Anyone who has had or currently has a sexual partner with any of the above risk factors.

How do babies get HIV from their mothers?

Babies can get HIV infection from their mothers during pregnancy, during the birth process and during breastfeeding.

It is now possible to prevent many cases of HIV in children by giving medicines to the pregnant mother and to her newborn baby. This protection cannot be offered if a pregnant woman does not know she is infected. Many people who have HIV infection feel perfectly healthy at first. The only way to know if you are infected is to have an HIV test. If you are pregnant, ask your doctor for an HIV test as part of your prenatal care. Better yet, if you are thinking about getting pregnant, talk to your doctor about HIV tests for you and your partner.

What contact is safe?

HIV can’t live very long outside the body, so you can’t get it through casual contact. You can’t get the virus by touching, shaking hands, hugging, swimming in a public pool, giving blood, or using hot tubs, public toilets, telephones, doorknobs or water fountains. You also can’t get it from food, mosquitoes or other insects.

More information available at FamilyDoctor.org

Mental Health Awareness Month

**Your Health Matters**

Keeping Your Emotional Health

What is good emotional health?

People who are emotionally healthy are in control of their thoughts, feelings and behaviors. They feel good about themselves and have good relationships. They can keep problems in perspective.

Even people who have good emotional health can sometimes have emotional problems or mental illness. Mental illness often has a physical cause, such as a chemical imbalance in the brain. Stress and problems with family, work or school can sometimes trigger mental illness or make it worse. However, people who are emotionally healthy have learned ways to cope with stress and problems. They know when to seek help from their doctor or a counselor.

What about anger?

People are sometimes not aware of what causes their anger, how much anger they are holding inside or how to express anger appropriately. You may be angry about certain events, your own actions or other people’s actions. Many little things can build up to make you feel that life is unfair.

If you find yourself becoming increasingly irritable or taking unhealthy risks (such as drinking too much or abusing drugs), you may have a problem dealing with anger. It’s very important to talk with your doctor or a counselor about getting help.

Tips on dealing with your emotions

• Learn to express your feelings in appropriate ways. It’s important to let people close to you know when something is bothering you. Keeping feelings of sadness or anger inside takes extra energy. It can also cause problems in your relationships and at work or school.
• Think before you act. Emotions can be powerful. But before you get carried away by your emotions and say or do something you might regret, give yourself time to think.
• Strive for balance in your life. Make time for things you enjoy. Focus on positive things in your life.
• Take care of your physical health. Your physical health can affect your emotional health. Take care of your body by exercising regularly, eating healthy meals and getting enough sleep. Don’t abuse drugs or alcohol.

What can I do to avoid problems?

First, try to be more aware of your emotions and reactions. To help you do a better job of managing your emotional health, learn to identify and address the reasons for sadness, frustration and anger in your life. The box to the right gives some other helpful tips.

How does stress affect my emotions?

Your body responds to stress by making stress hormones. These hormones help your body respond to situations of extreme need, such as when you are in danger. But when your body makes too many of these hormones for a long period of time, the hormones wear down your body — and your emotions. People who are under stress a lot are often emotional, anxious, irritable and even depressed.

If possible, try to change the situation that is causing your stress. Relaxation methods, such as deep breathing and meditation, and exercise are also useful ways to cope with stress.

Can emotional problems be treated?

Yes. Counseling, support groups and medicines can help people who have emotional problems or mental illness. If you have an ongoing emotional problem, talk to your family doctor. He or she can help you find the right type of treatment.

Other Organizations

• Mental Health America
• National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
• American Psychiatric Association
• American Psychological Association
• National Institute of Mental Health

More information available at FamilyDoctor.org

Theme of the Month – Forgiveness

 It’s Time to Let It Go

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, FORGIVING each other, just as Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:30-32

Ever been wronged, deeply hurt, betrayed, humiliated, or abused? Of course you have, you’re human. Have you ever wronged someone, hurt someone, betrayed-humiliated or abused someone? Likelihood is you have, because you’re human.

How we deal with the matter of offense whether we’re the recipient or offender has everything to do with how God deals with us. The choice is ours to either live with bitterness and regret or to struggle past our human emotion and unlock the peace and wellness that total forgiveness lets us experience. What many people don’t get is that forgiveness benefits us by releasing the strain, negative energy and blocked blessings that we otherwise live with. It takes a lot of energy to stay angry and nurse an offense.

Is forgiving a hard thing to do? Of course it is. But God doesn’t tell us to do anything that is beyond our capacity to do. Forgiving isn’t overlooking, minimizing, denying, excusing, justifying, approving or even forgetting what was done. It’s OK to call an offense exactly what is it. But what forgiving does require is letting go, not repaying “evil for evil” and working toward extending mercy and grace. Refuse to let yourself rehearse the event over and over mentally. Is it hard? Of course it can be-it’s a process that you may have to revisit every day-for days on end- until total forgiveness and emotional freedom are yours!
Difficult yes but impossible-no! Your blessings depend on it and the Lord is your strength.

Laurain Hendricks, President and Founder-CCWIM

Autism Awareness Month

**Your Health Matters**

What is autism?

Autism is a brain disorder that affects the development of normal social and communication skills. People who have autism have trouble communicating and interacting with other people, starting at an early age.

Signs of autism can vary from person to person. They can also be worse in some people than in others. Some of the more common signs are listed in the Symptoms section. People can be said to have “low-functioning autism” or “high-functioning autism,” depending upon the severity of their symptoms and the results of an IQ (intelligence) test. High-functioning autism describes autism with less severe symptoms, while low-functioning autism describes autism with more severe symptoms.

If my child has autism, does it mean that he or she is mentally retarded?

Many children who have autism are also mentally retarded, but others are not. It can be hard to test autistic children because they do not respond to questions in the same way other children do. An autism expert can give your child special tests that will tell you more about his or her condition.

Some autistic children have special skills, such as the ability to do complex math problems in their heads. However, abilities like these are very rare.

Are there more cases of autism now than there used to be?

More children are being diagnosed with autism. However, it’s not clear if this really means that more children have autism. It may mean that parents, teachers and doctors are better at recognizing the signs of autism.

If I have one child with autism, am I more likely to have another one?

Brothers and sisters of children who have autism have about a 5% chance of developing autism themselves. There also seems to be a higher risk (10% to 40%) of another disability, such as a learning disability, in siblings of children who have autism.

If you’re thinking about having more children, talk with your doctor about whether it would help you to talk with a genetic counselor.

What is Asperger’s syndrome (AS)?

Asperger’s syndrome (AS) is a condition very similar to high-functioning autism. Typically, people who have AS have a normal IQ and some may exhibit an exceptional skill or interest in a particular area. While verbal language development is considered normal, people who have AS can have trouble using this language correctly in social situations. They may also have difficulty communicating in nonverbal ways, such as making eye contact, understanding facial expressions and using body gestures. General social skills such as developing relationships and adjusting to new situations can also be affected. Even so, people who have AS can often learn how to deal with their difficulties through behavior and communication therapy.

More information available at FamilyDoctor.org

Theme of the Month – Faith

Living in the Faith zone, Not the Safe Zone is a phrase used by John Maxwell in his bestselling book, Running With The Giants. As he reviews Moses’ life, Maxwell makes these observations through imagined dialogue Moses would have with us if we were to encounter him today. The topic is FAITH. “Each person’s life story is written in risks-the ones taken and the ones avoided.” Moses stepped out on faith at the moment of his burning bush experience with God. But it was his commitment to fulfill God’s call on his life that shaped every single remaining day he lived. In practical terms – what words of wisdom does Moses’ story have for us?

1. Moving out in faith means overcoming the experiences of our past.
2. Moving out in faith means overcoming the comfort of our present.
3. Moving out in faith means overcoming the insecurity of our future.

We are not naturally inclined to leave the “safe places” of our lives, but growth only begins when we do. “Safe places” rob us of the richer experiences with God. We cling to our “Egypt” (not enough) or venture only as far as our “wilderness” (just enough) but never make it to the “promised land” (more than enough) God wants to bless us with. – FAITH

My prayer for us: Father, give us what we need to: hear you clearly, let go, move out, look ahead and conquer the land, in Jesus’ name and for your glory. Amen.

Laurain Hendricks, President and Founder-CCWIM

Beautiful Feet – Dea. Debra A. Curtis

Sister Debra Ann Curtis is a servant who wears many hats within her congregation. Affectionately known as “Deacon Deb”, Debra was one of the first women ordained (2009) to the office of Deacon at Shalom Church-City of Peace under the leadership of founder and pastor, Dr. Freddy J. Clark.

There Debra serves as leader of the intercessory prayer ministry, now for over 12 years. In addition to this she faithfully fulfills the tasks of her office by consistently doing hospital visitations, ministering to bereaved families, praying for and with congregants, praying with various ministry leaders and being “on call” for special assignments of her pastor. Yet with all of this, Deacon Curtis also cares for an elderly parent.

She has served in prison ministry, Bereavement ministry and partners with counselors to assist in serving the needs of Gods people in various ways. Deacon Deb is the wife of Kevin Curtis, and mother of two adult children. Her secular expertise is in the field of communications and Human resource management, previously with AT & T. Her motto is “People who need people are the most blessed people in the world” realizing just how much we need each other.

 

Theme of the Month – Courage

The dictionary definition of Courage is the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.

Each day life hands us a series of challenges. How we face those challenges is what allows us to go on. Some of us give in and allow life to beat us down. Others of us rely on our higher spirit and keep moving.

Father,
I pray for courage as I begin this day, for I understand there is work to be done, burdens to be carried, feelings to be shared and joys to be celebrated.
Grant me the courage to be silent that I may hear Thy voice; to persevere, that I may share Thy victory; and to remember, lest I forget the way by which Thou has led me.
And when this day is done, O Lord, may I have the courage to see Thy guiding hand in the friendships that have been made, in the hurts that have been healed, and in the strength that has been given.
Amen.

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