Special H1N1 vaccination clinic for kids to be held at Henry Clay High School

The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department will host a special H1N1 vaccination clinic for children under the age of 18 with chronic health conditions 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (or until the vaccine runes out) Saturday, Oct. 31, at Henry Clay High School, 2100 Fontaine Road. The shots will be free.

Chronic conditions include, but are not limited to, Type 1 diabetes, neurological disorders and severe asthma requiring daily medication or the use of rescue inhalers more than twice a week. If a parent is unsure if a child should get the vaccine, they should contact their primary care physician for guidance. Any child with a fever Saturday or with egg allergies cannot get the shot.

Health officials stress that while a few thousand shots will be available that day, there will be limited supplies of the vaccine at the clinic and some people might be turned away. Additional clinics in November will target other priority groups identified by the CDC: pregnant women, people between the ages of 6 months through 24 years, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, people ages 25-64 with chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems and health care and emergency services personnel.

Those who live or work in Fayette County will be focused on during December clinics.

The clinics will be held based on availability of the vaccine and could be rescheduled or postponed if there are any delays on the vaccine’s shipment. The health department will post the latest updated information on the clinics on its Flu Hotline, 288-7529, and online at www.LexFluCrew.com.

All H1N1 shots provided by the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department will be free.

For additional information, become a fan of the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/LFCHD.

Lexington Residents Raised More Than $60,000 to Help Save Lives from Breast Cancer

Today, the American Cancer Society announced that more than $60,000 was raised at its inaugural Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event on Sunday, October 25, 2009 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Over 550 dedicated community members participated in this inspirational five-mile walk to honor and celebrate breast cancer survivors, educate people about this disease and raise funds and awareness to create a world with less breast cancer and more birthdays.

The money raised through Making Strides helps the American Cancer Society to save lives by helping people stay well by taking steps to prevent cancer or find it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking research; and by fighting back by encouraging lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight.

This year’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer flagship sponsor was Kroger and media sponsors were 96.9 KISS FM and ABC 36.

It is not too late to make a donation to Lexington’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event. For more information, contact Elizabeth Kelly at 859-260-8287 or email Elizabeth.Kelly@cancer.org. You can also visit http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/lexington.

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

Go Red For Women Heart Health Symposium & Luncheon is Nov. 6

Saint Joseph Health System is Central Kentucky Goes Red sponsor

When the American Heart Association presented the Go Red For Women Symposium and Luncheon last year, Central Kentuckians packed the room.
The matter at hand, women’s cardiovascular health, clearly had touched a nerve, and attendees wanted to learn more about heart disease and stroke, women’s perhaps surprisingly high risk, and what could be done about it. They came to the right place.
And they will again in 2009. This year’s Go Red For Women Heart Health Symposium & Luncheon, set for Friday, November 6 at Griffin Gate Marriott Resort & Spa, will offer breakout sessions, a lively keynote speaker, survivor stories and a top-of-the-line luncheon. Registration opens at 9 a.m., breakout sessions start at 9:30 and the luncheon begins at 11:30.
Go Red For Women is an American Heart Association movement to educate women about heart disease. Long thought to be a man’s concern, it is also a woman’s health risk and, in fact, it’s women’s top health threat. It is the No. 1 killer of women and men alike—and actually kills more women than men.
One reason this has been misunderstood is that women’s heart disease warning signs may be different from the well-publicized crushing chest pain that men report, although women also could experience that, too. But other warning signs might be pain in the back, neck, jaw or stomach; shortness of breath; and nausea, cold sweat or lightheadedness. These are alarms to call 9-1-1 immediately.
This message—learn, and act fast if you suspect something is wrong—is a central focus of the Go Red For Women Heart Health Symposium & Luncheon. But that’s only one facet of this diamond. The event’s breakout sessions are State-of-the-Heart Fitness for Women, with James “Eddie” Phipps of Saint Joseph Cardiac Rehabilitation; “Heart Disease” – One Hidden Diagnosis and Its Effect on Women, with Mubashir Qazi, M.D., FACC, FSCAI; and The “Unami” Factor – The Latest in Heart Healthy Cooking, with Whitney Brown, director of consumer affairs for the Kentucky Beef Council.
Then the luncheon shifts into high gear, with a great meal, the Macy’s fashion show featuring cardiovascular disease survivors telling their stories, and guest speaker Eliz Greene, whose program is titled, “The Busy Woman’s Guide to a Healthy Heart.”
The Go Red For Women Heart Health Symposium & Luncheon benefits the American Heart Association, which funds education, advocacy and research—including more than $3.5 million in active awards at UK—to fight heart disease and stroke.
Those who want to attend the event may purchase tables of 10 for $500 each, or individual tickets for $50. For more information or to secure seats, call (859) 278-1632.

Health department launches special flu website

To help provide the most updated information about the flu, including H1N1, the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department has launched a special website, www.LexFluCrew.com.

“The people of Lexington have several questions about the flu this fall, and we are using LexFluCrew.com to provide answers and calm any fears,” said Kevin Hall, LFCHD spokesman. “Along with our Facebook and Twitter accounts and our Flu Hotline, the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department is reaching people in new and exciting ways.”

The LexFluCrew.com site will be used to provide information on vaccination clinics, volunteer opportunities and more, as well as answer frequently asked questions.

“We’re excited about offering this service to Lexington residents and look forward to continuing our educational efforts about the flu,” Hall said.

For additional information, become a fan of the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/LFCHD. The Flu Hotline can be reached at 288-7529.

Health department schedules H1N1 vaccine clinics for public

Lexington residents wishing to fight the flu this fall will get their first shot at the H1N1 vaccine through a series of weekend clinics hosted by the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department starting Saturday, Nov. 7.

The clinics will target the priority groups identified by the CDC: pregnant women, people between the ages of 6 months through 24 years, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, people ages 25-64 with chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems and health care and emergency services personnel.

The clinics will be held based on availability of the vaccine and could be rescheduled or postponed if there are any delays on the vaccine’s shipment. The health department will post the latest updated information on the clinics on its Flu Hotline, 288-7529, and online at www.LexFluCrew.com.

The H1N1 vaccine clinic schedule is:

• 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 7
o Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, 1600 Man O’ War Blvd.
o Bryan Station High School, 201 Eastin Road

• 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 21
o Tates Creek Middle School, 1105 Centre Parkway
o Jessie Clark Middle School, 3341 Clays Mill Road

• 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 5
o Henry Clay High School, 2100 Fontaine Road
o Bryan Station High School, 201 Eastin Road

• 1-5 p.m. Dec. 6
o Henry Clay High School, 2100 Fontaine Road
o Bryan Station High School, 201 Eastin Road

• 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Dec. 12
o Beaumont Middle School, 2080 Georgian Way
o Lexington Traditional Magnet, 350 N. Limestone

• 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 19
o Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, 1600 Man O’ War Blvd.
o Tates Creek High School, 1111 Centre Parkway

LFCHD will also be hosting a large-scale drive-thru clinic 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 14 in the parking lot at Lexmark.

All H1N1 shots provided by the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department will be free.

For additional information, become a fan of the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/LFCHD.

Get update to lead healthy lifestyle

Everyone love to have a healthy lifestyle. If you’re reading Health & Wellness Magazine, chances are you’re already engaging in a healthy lifestyle. But a healthy lifestyle also includes being an active and informed member of your health care team. If you or someone you love is sick, find out as much as you can before you even set foot in the doctor’s office or hospital. Generally, the time you get to spend with a health care provider is very limited so take that time to ask questions, and if you don’t understand, ask again. No matter how insignificant your questions may seem, they could mean the difference in a diagnosis or even the prevention of an error in your care.

Health & Wellness Magazine would like to do its part in helping you become an informed consumer. And we’re accomplishing that goal by bringing you information. For example, did you know that besides non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer found in women? That’s a pretty timely fact considering October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Get involved by reading, asking and engaging. After all, taking part in your own health care is all about information. And so is Health & Wellness Magazine. If you’d like to hear about a specific topic or event in the Bluegrass, please let me know. You can reach Kris Martin, Editor of Health & Wellness Magazine at whosyouraudience@yahoo.com

Hip Replacement through the Anterior Approach

Hip replacement using the anterior approach is being practiced in a few operating rooms around the country. Patients heal faster with fewer restrictions and complications, but it's still not offered as an option in most U.S. hospitals. Dr. Jonathan Yerasimides is an orthopedic surgeon in Louisville who specializes in hip and pelvis surgery and has performed over 1,100 hip replacements since completing his residency at the University of Louisville in 2005. To know more about hip replacement, contact Dr. Jonathan Yerasimides, Norton Medical Plaza at Old Brownsboro Crossing, 4950 Norton Healthcare Boulevard, Suite 303, Louisville, KY 40241 - (502) 394-6341.