February 2019 March 2019

IN THIS ISSUE:

Heart Health .................. 1

Nurses News .................. 2

Family Health Hotline ... 3

Brushing Calendar ......... 4

Fun & Games ................. 5

Healthy Teeth ................ 6

1

Keep Your Heart Happy & Healthy Did you know that your heart is actually a big muscle? Your heart is located a little

to the left of the middle of your chest, and it's about the size of your fist. There are

lots of muscles all over your body, such as in your arms, in your legs, in your back,

even in your behind! But the heart muscle is special because of what it does. The

heart sends blood all around your body, and that blood provides your body with

the oxygen and nutrients it needs to live.

Your heart is sort of like a pump, or two pumps in one. The right side of your heart receives blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs and the left side of the

heart does the exact opposite- it receives blood from the lungs and pumps it out to the body.

When you go for a checkup, your doctor uses a device called a stethoscope to

carefully listen to your heart. A healthy heart makes a lub-dub sound with each

beat. This sound comes from the valves shutting on the blood inside the heart.

The first sound, the lub, happens when the mitral and tricuspid valves close. The next sound, the dub, happens when the aortic and pulmonary valves close after

the blood has been squeezed out of the heart. Next time you go to the doctor, ask if you can listen to the lub-dub, too!

Most kids are born with a healthy heart and it's important to keep yours in good

shape. Here are some things that you can do to help keep your heart happy and

healthy:

• Remember that your heart is a muscle. If you want it to be strong, you need

to exercise it. How do you do it? By being active in a way that gets you huffing and

puffing, like jumping rope, dancing, or playing basketball. Try to be active every

day for at least 30 minutes! An hour would be even better for your heart!

• Eat a variety of healthy foods and avoid foods high in unhealthy fats, such as

saturated fats and trans fats (reading food labels can help you figure out if your

favorite snacks contain these unhealthy ingredients).

• Try to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day.

Avoid sugary soft drinks and fruit drinks. Your heart deserves to be loved for all the work it does. It started pumping blood before you were born and will continue pumping throughout your whole life.

For more info visit: https://kidshealth.org/

Visit our website at: https://co.garfield.wa.us/public-health

National Poison Prevention

Week: March 17th-23rd

Making your home safe is critical

to avoiding poisoning because

more than 90 percent of

poisonings occur in the home.

If you or someone you know may

have been poisoned, call the

toll-free Poison Help line right

away at 1-800-222-1222, which

connects you to your local poison

center. If the person is not

breathing, call 911.

Remember- Do not panic. Not all

medicines, chemicals, or

household products are

poisonous. Not all contact with

poison results in poisoning.

Follow the advice you receive

from your poison center.

Go to: https://

www.poisonhelp.hrsa.gov/ for

more information on poison

prevention!

Garfield County Health District

121 S. 10th Street

Pomeroy, WA 99347

(509) 843-3412

We offer WIC!

2

American Health Month

National Children’s Dental

Health Month

1st: National Wear Red Day

2nd: Groundhog Day

4th: World Cancer Day

6th: 2pm Early Release

14th: Valentine’s Day

15th: No School

18th: President’s Day (no school)

National Nutrition Month

6th: 2pm Early Release

15th: 12:30pm Early Release

17th: Saint Patrick’s Day

18th-24th: National Poison

Prevention Week

27th-28th: Conferences-

12:30pm Early Release

29th: 12:30pm Early Release

Nurses News

Good eating habits should start early.

Not very surprising, right? What research does tell us is that some feeding practices during the first year of life can carry through childhood and could affect long term health.

Why should parents avoid giving their children sugar-sweetened beverages the first year?

• Sugar-sweetened drinks are empty calories strongly associated with future obesity.

• They are strongly associated with cavities once teeth come in.

• They accustom children to sweet taste, which discourages drinking water.

How crucial is introducing fruits and vegetables the first year of life to help establish healthy eating hab-its?

This and other studies show the later fruit and vegetables introduced, the less eaten later in life. The problem with these results is that the homes that have a longer span of breast feeding and earlier introduction of fresh vegetables and fruits are also the homes that are more financially stable and can afford to have these healthier but more perishable foods available all the time. At the same time, the earlier one introduces fresh, healthy foods, the more likely a child is to get a taste for these foods and to eat them later in life.

Learning to eat healthfully at a young age can adapt your palate to preferring healthy foods.

Psychology Today states that even if healthy food is available, college-age students will revert to eating junk foods available from their childhood when they are feeling stressed. Beginning healthy habits as a child could mean those junk food cravings are less likely to hit.

Childhood obesity increases the risks of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes, both serious illnesses that can lead to death if not treated properly. Furthermore, children that are overweight are more likely to be bullied, which can lead to both physical and mental distress. Adopting healthy eating habits early in life aids decreases the risks of weight gain.

5

T I M E !

Fun Facts: Saint Patrick’s Day

• It was named the "Friendliest Day of the Year" by the Guinness Book of World Records.

• Legend has it that St. Patrick stood on a hill in Ireland and banished all the snakes from the island.

• The fountain in front of the White House is sometimes dyed green in honor of the day.

• Other names for the holiday include the Feast of St. Patrick, St. Paddy's Day, and St. Patty's Day.

• In 1991 March was proclaimed Irish-American Heritage Month in the United States.

• Around 150,000 people participate in the New York City parade.

• The streets of downtown Rolla, Missouri are painted green for the day.

• According to the 2003 census, there are 34 million Irish-Americans. Nineteen presidents of the United States claim to have some Irish heritage.

Peanut Butter Fruit Dip Total Time: 10 minutes Servings: 6

Ingredients:

1 five ounce container vanilla Greek yogurt 2 tablespoons peanut butter 2 tablespoons honey 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon 2 tablespoons chia seeds (optional)

Directions:

Mix yogurt, peanut butter, honey, and cinnamon in a bowl until well blended; fold in chia seeds.

Knock, knock!

Who’s there?

Orange.

Orange who?

Orange you even going to

open the door?!

6

Garfield County Health District

121 South 10th Street

PO Box 130

Pomeroy, WA 99347

(509) 843-3412

How You Can Keep Your Teeth Healthy Here are some tips you can use to keep your pearly whites healthy as can be:

• Brush twice a day, in the morning and in the evening before bed.

• Brush ALL of your teeth, not just the front ones. It’s important to take care of each and every tooth to help prevent cavities and gum disease!

• Take your time, brush your teeth for 2—3 minutes. Listen to a favorite song to make the time go by faster.

• Change your toothbrush every three months. It’s important to change your toothbrush to prevent bacteria build up.

• Use mouthwash to get rid of extra bacteria and help keep breath fresh.

• Learn to floss your teeth, flossing is very important in keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Ask an adult or your dentist for help if you need it!

• Brush your tongue softly to keep breath smelling nice and fresh!

It's also important to visit the dentist twice a year. Besides checking for signs of cavities or gum disease, the dentist

will help keep your teeth extra clean and can help you learn the best way to brush and floss.

It's not just brushing and flossing that keep your teeth healthy, you also need to be careful about what you eat and

drink. Remember, the plaque on your teeth is just waiting for that sugar to arrive. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables

and drink water instead of soda, and don't forget to smile!

For more information, visit: https://kidshealth.org/