Healthy Concerns Blog

Yavapai County lost a child to the flu this week — its first in nearly 3 years.  I know that most people reading this blog will ask if the child received their flu shot? Unfortunately, I don’t know. I would like to say that a flu shot would have prevented this unfortunate event, but the truth is that, they may have had their annual flu...

With holidays upon us my advice for those on a diet is this, QUIT.  The idea of losing weight during the Christmas season, where cookies and cake abound, verges on insane.  Instead, just try to maintain your current weight.  You can start back up on January 1 but for now MAINTAIN, MAINTAIN, MAINTAIN! If you attempt to lose weight when everyone...

It is only the beginning of September and with nearly 2000 human cases and 87 deaths reported; this year’s outbreak of West Nile Virus is the worst in the U.S. history of the disease.  Technically, there were higher numbers by the end of 2003, but if we continue on at this pace we will surpass even those numbers. If you don’t know what or...

No, not that kind of shots; your child’s immunization shots! If you are like most parents you may have been dreaming about your kids going back to school since the day they got out.  What you haven’t been thinking about are their required school shots.  If your child is either entering kindergarten or the 6th grade (and 11 years old by start...

William Penn wrote that in 1693 and we at the Health Department still believe this to be true.  Earlier this month a study came out that shows we are doing a pretty good job serving you, but we want to do even better.  The 2012 County Health Rankings and Roadmap, produced by the University of Wisconsin, Population Health Institute, in...

Maybe it is because March 24 was World TB day, but for some reason the Health Department has been getting calls from people who see someone working with what appears to be a positive TB skin test or a raised red area on the forearm, and call us with their concerns. Concerned for themselves, as well as the other guests, they contact the Health...

The theme for this April’s National County Government Month, is “Healthy Counties, Healthy Families.” In support of this event, Yavapai County Community Health Services (YCCHS) and the Yavapai Regional Council of First Things First (FTF), have joined forces to promote the use of the “Child Immunizations – Education...

If you are 50+ years of age and had chickenpox as a child, the chances are VERY good you will get to experience the effects of the grown-up, much more painful version, called shingles. It is reported to be one of the most painful things you will experience as an adult and in some cases causes long-term nerve damage and could potentially lead to...