Happy Holiday Season!
This is the latest Live Well Allegheny e-update. It is full of information that will help in making Allegheny County healthy for all. This can also be shared with your own networks.
We have 350+ partners united in our efforts to make Allegheny County healthy for all!
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A Letter From Our Director
Greetings from the Director’s Office,
On behalf of everyone at the Health Department, I wish you a peaceful and joyous holiday season and a happy new year!
Please be safe and be kind,
Dr. Debra Bogen
Director, Allegheny County Health Department
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Welcome to Our New Live Well Allegheny Partner!
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Welcome to our new Live Well Allegheny Partner!
To become a Live Well Partner each organization pledges to further the Live Well Allegheny mission of promoting health and wellness in their organization.
Hill Dance Academy Theatre‘s mission is to provide professional-level training in Black dance traditions, history, culture, and aesthetics that engages and empowers students to pursue careers in Black dance. They support the Live Well mission by including fitness and nutrition education for all students. For more information, visit their website.
Live Well Allegheny Story
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Baldwin Township, Emsworth, Etna Update Smoke-Free Policies
In recent years, the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and other vaping devices has risen dramatically. While the health hazards of combustible tobacco smoke are well known, the vapor from these tobacco heating devices is of great concern, as well. Contents of “vape juices” include heavy metals, such as nickel, chromium, cadmium, lead, and diacetyl, the chemical that causes bronchial obliterans, more commonly known as popcorn lung.
Allegheny County has been proactive in their smoke-free policies to include electronic cigarettes. In 2017, the county ratified amendments enacted by the Board of Health surrounding electronic cigarettes and vaping products. The regulation prohibits the use of e-cigarettes and vaping products in indoor public places where cigarettes are already prohibited. Find more information on Allegheny County’s policies on e-cigarettes and vaping products.
Live Well Allegheny Communities were asked to update their smoke-free policies to include vaping and e-cigarettes. Three municipalities have already passed new policies: Baldwin Township and Emsworth and Etna boroughs.
“We are happy to demonstrate the township’s commitment to the health and wellbeing of its staff and residents by adopting a tobacco-free policy in support of Young Lungs at Play,” said Baldwin Township Manager Nina Belcasro.
Emsworth Borough officials passed the updated tobacco-free policy to include electronic cigarettes and vaping. In their resolution they are hoping to change the social norms about tobacco use and vaping. By promoting a vape-free environment this can positively impact the lifestyle choices of youth who visit the borough.
And in Etna, borough officials announced an update to their Young Lungs at Play policy to include vaping: “Protecting the health of our children is a priority for our community. With two new parks opened in the last year and the inclusion of our school bus stops, we are making an effort to meet that priority,” said Etna Borough Manager Mary Ellen Ramage.
To learn more about updating your tobacco-free policy or adopting a new tobacco-free policy as part of your Live Well Allegheny pledge, contact Victoria Baker at victoria.baker@alleghenycounty.us.
Live Well, Be Well
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Safe Toys and Gifts Month
In December we celebrate Safe Toys and Gifts Month. When it comes to toys and gifts, it is critical to consider the safety and age range of the toys. It is especially important to check the safety of toys given to infants and children under the age of three. Find more safety guidelines.
Health Department Updates
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2022 Live Well Allegheny Learning Collaborative Feedback Survey
We would appreciate the feedback from our 2022 Live Well Learning Collaborative. If you participated in any of the events, please complete this survey.
If you or your organization would like to be a speaker for the 2023 speaker series, please email Victoria Baker at victoria.baker@alleghenycounty.us
Chronic Disease Spotlight
According to the CDC, six in 10 adults in the U.S. have a chronic disease and four in 10 adults have two or more chronic diseases. Each month this section will highlight a common chronic disease and provide educational resources.
Stroke
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts (or ruptures). When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so brain cells die.
Stroke Rates in Allegheny County
In Allegheny County, the median stroke rate is 3.3 percent of adults who have ever been told by a health care provider that they have experienced a stroke. However, in some communities that rate rises to 6.6 percent.
Risk Factors for Stroke
Medical conditions that increase your risk:
- Previous stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Sickle cell disease
Lifestyle factors that increase your risk:
- Eating a diet high in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol
- Not getting enough physical activity
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Tobacco Use
Signs of Stroke
If any of the following signs appear suddenly, call 911.
- Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech
- Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Trouble walking, dizziness, or problems with balance
- Severe headache with no known cause