More Health & Safety Information

Nebraska and Smoking

More than 2,700 Nebraskans die each year of smoking-related illnesses. That means men and women not living long enough to find out they will become grandparents. That means children growing up without parents. That means tobacco users and their families suffering through emphysema, strokes, cancer, and a host of other deadly or disabilitating illnesses.

Beyond that, tobacco harms Nebraskans lives in untold ways. Many asthmatics avoid areas that allow smoking because of fear of asthma attacks. Infants die of SIDS caused by tobacco smoke. Employees must work through pregnancies at worksites that allow smoking, even despite the additional harm smoke is causing to their babies. Men and women develop mouth cancers from using spit tobacco. Boyfriends and girlfriends break up--or maybe never even date--because of tobacco use. Card clubs end because of the deadly affect of tobacco smoke. Grandchildren’s’ visits may be limited to avoid exposure to tobacco smoke.

Cigarette makers say that they do not market to youth, a contention that critics dispute. For whatever reason, youth smoking is on the rise and is the highest its been since 1980. Current legislation calls for action to limit access that youth have to tobacco. The campaign aims to educate retail store owners and clerks not to sell tobacco to minors

Want to QUIT?

Quitting smoking is the smartest change you can make for your health and your heart. It might be the hardest, too, but millions have quit already and you can be next. The Great American Smokeout is Thursday, November 18th. Set that date to make changes in your life. Here are some tips:

• Set a quit date --about a month from now.

• Notice when you smoke, why you smoke, how often you smoke, where you smoke.

• Talk to friends who have quit. Ask them how they did it. Most people quit several times, but the net time could be the last time. Become a happy former smoker.

• Make some plans for the money you’ll save as a non-smoker. Quitting a pack a day can give you over $800 extra next year.

• Have some low-calorie snacks to munch on when the urge hits--unsalted sunflower seeds, sugarless mints, carrot sticks, gum or popcorn.

• On your chosen quit date, clean up your life. Throw out the ashtrays and cigarettes. Enjoy the fresh air!

Contact Respiratory Therapy/Beatrice Community Hospital 228-3344 if you need some help getting started. Classes are offered periodically. Gage County PATCH says....Good luck with your step to a healthier you!

Snack Facts - different snacks for different folks

Think back over the last week. How many times did you have a snack? Was it just a munchie or did it qualify as a mini-meal? What foods did you choose? How much you eat depends on who you are and how active you are. Small children, for example, often can’t eat enough food at regular meals to supply all their energy needs. Little snacks, like a piece of fruit or some crackers, help keep them going. Growing teenagers and very active adults, on the other hand, often go for bigger snack. A bowl of hearty soup or a sub might fit the bill. You might be somewhere in the middle. Try plain popcorn instead of buttered popcorn or raisin instead of a candy bar or bran flakes with skim milk instead of sugared cereal and whole milk.

Snacks high in calories, fat, sugar, and salt may satisfy a hunger at first but add on the calories. Sports nutrition tips suggest eating the right kinds of snacks or light meals before exercising. For peak performance, choose a variety of low-fat, high carbohydrate foods. Good choices for a pre-event meal include--cereal with skim milk and banana; graham crackers and skim milk; low-fat yogurt and juice.

SEAT BELTS and accidents - Gage County, NE

Several accidents in Gage County and surrounding areas over the past year could have avoided more serious injury and death if seatbelts had been used. Safety belts double the chances of surviving a crash without serious injury. An increasing number of youth ages 20 and younger are not using safety seatbelts as they drive in the United States. Nationally and in Nebraska, motor vehicle crashes are the number one unintentional injury-related killer of children ages 14 and under. When safety seats are correctly installed and used, the risk of child death is reduced by 71 percent for infants and 54% for toddlers. Be sure you are using the seats safely. If you are not sure, contact your local car dealer to help demonstrate or contact PATCH for further details. When driving, be sure you and all passengers are wearing seatbelts. While it can be a nuisance at times, it just may save your life someday. BUCKLE BEAR says "wear your seatbelts, use safety seats properly, drive at appropriate speeds for the road and weather conditions, pay attention to the road and the other drivers, don’t drink and drive, and keep our streets and highways safe for everyone."

Emotions and Health

Our beliefs and views of the world determine our emotions, feelings, and behavior. Epicetus (Ep-ic-te'-tus), a Greek philosopher who lived 2,000 years ago (about 55-135 AD), announced, "People are disturbed not by things, but by the views which they take of them."

Anxiety, anger, depression, and other unpleasant emotions cause mental and physical distress and can interfere with our contentment, health, relationships, and goals in life.

The challenge is to learn to manage your anxiety, anger, depression and other emotions so that you are more contented and successful in attaining your goals.

For more information, contact a counselor at Blue Valley Mental Health Center or research self help options at the Beatrice Public Library.

Keep Moving!

Lack of physical activity is a major health problem that can lead to disease and disability. Whether you’re 20, 40, 60, or 80, you can feel better, improve or maintain your health, and increase your longevity by staying physically active.

Here are the facts!

• Exercise can help older people feel better and enjoy life more, even those who think they’re too old, out of shape or frail.

• Lack of physical activity and poor diet together are the second largest underlying cause of death in the United States.

• Regular exercise can improve some disease and disabilities, improve mood, and relieve depression.

• Staying physically active on a regular, permanent basis can help prevent or delay certain diseases.

Get at least 30 minutes of activity that makes you breathe harder, on most or all days of the week--it builds stamina.

• Keep using your muscles. People lose 20-40% of their muscle and strength as they age.

• Improve your balance.

• Stretch ... It keeps you limber.

Here’s how to start...if you are inactive, increase daily activities...take the stairs, hid the remote control, make extra trips around the house and yard, stretch while standing in line, walk whenever you can. Each week, try to increase your physical activity. Contact PATCH for a brochure or call your local YMCA.

Walk at the library track, use the outdoor pathways, join the YMCA, walk the mall, walk and talk with a friend, exercise at home with a video and your own equipment, join an aerobic or aquacize class....move it, do it, enjoy it, feel better now and live longer. PATCH encourages everyone in Gage County to KEEP MOVING!!!!!. For handouts on physical activity or the check out a video on how to exercise, contact the PATCH office, 223-3103.

Disordered Eating

Eating disorders are touching many families today. Those with an eating disorder live every hour with their struggle to remain thin. PATCH and Blue Valley Mental Health sponsored last spring a two-part workshop Eating Disorders: When Thinness Becomes an Obsession. Information from that workshop is available to Gage County residents. Eating disorders involve obsessions with food and weight. Most victims can’t stop their self-destructive behavior without professional intervention. Left untreated, the disorder can become chronic and can result in severe health damage, even death. Information is available on recognizing symptoms of an eating disorder, support techniques, and how to deal with a person with an eating disorder. Contact 223-3103 for handouts. Nutrition related audiovisuals are available to view at no cost other than postage from Dairy Council of Central States, Omaha at 1-800-279-2643. A resource list is available through the PATCH office.

Talking with your kids about Family Fights

Helping Your Family To:

Follow the rules; no yelling, name-calling or violence. 

I-statements work best: "I feel ________ because _________."

Give the other person a say too, (without interrupting).

Hear his or her point of view - really think about it!

Take a few minutes to brain-storm solutions together.

Figure out a plan you can agree on.  

Act on your plan. Put it to work for you.

Imagine peace at home - let it begin with you.

Respect differences - they're the spice of life!                                                                                                                 

HUMOR

Give yourself the best gift of all. Start with your attitude of finding funny things throughout the day. Set a goal of fifteen laughs a day. Children laugh about 400 times a day so adults have a ways to go to catch up. Smiles count because they can start the internal chemistry change in the body.

RESOURCES

Blue Valley Mental Health * 228-3386 or 223-5544

Beatrice Community Hospital * 228-3344

Family Resource Center * 223-6040

Nutritional Services * 223-7387

Physical Therapy * 223-7391

Respiratory Therapy * 223-7326

YMCA * 223-5266

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