One would say keep your cold and flu germs to yourself, but that is not always possible. However, here are some tips below to try and do just that.
It is estimated that one billion colds are caught annually in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5 to 20 percent of the U.S. population catches the flu annually as well. The flu season in the U.S. typically ranges from November to April.
While it is a myth that cold temperatures cause colds, it is true that cold weather keeps people indoors, making exposure more likely.
Here are some tips to help you avoid colds and the flu:

• Clean and wipe down shared surfaces such as countertops, keyboards and phones with a disinfectant.
• Avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes, and wash hands thoroughly and often.
• Get a flu shot if possible (it is most important for children and the elderly).
• Eat healthy foods to strengthen your immune system.
• Exercise moderately to maintain a healthy immune system.
• Ask your doctor about vitamin supplements to help support your immune system.
• Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Try to avoid people who are sick, and know when to stay home if you become sick.

You should stay home if you have a fever because you are probably the most contagious at that time, or if you cannot control your sneezing and coughing.
When in doubt, call your physician. And don’t overtax your immune system by going to school or work if you’re really suffering. Common colds can become more serious bacterial infections such as sinusitis, and influenza can turn into pneumonia.

Flu-checklist.pdf  Cold and Flu.pdf

Community Reception: a new resource in Anchorage to be held on February 6, 2020, 6:00-7:30 PM at the BP Energy Center

Learn about this new nonprofit dedicated to helping Alaskans address and overcome eating disorders, and find out about potential training and collaboration opportunity.

RSVP: jloudon.alaskaedalliance@gmail.com

UAA Dental Days is being offered this year on March 26^th and 27^th at 3500 Seawolf Dr. Dental Clinic in Anchorage. Free parking is located in the UAA South Lot. This is an event dedicated to serving those in our community with no dental insurance and limited income to provide dental care.
If this pertains to you or your family, please complete the required forms and register  for the event at https://dentaldays2020.doattend.com

Please complete the required medical forms found here https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/dentalclinic

I am continuously receiving new data regarding the hazards of e-cigarettes and vaping. This method is still relatively new and if one stops to think about how many years it took research to determine that smoking tobacco caused lung cancer. I have seen very recent stories on Chicago Med and New Amsterdam portraying youth in vaping incidents with lung injury and even death due to the chemicals used to vape. I realize it’s television, but I believe there is a lot of truth there. Below is some statistics regarding this hazard.
According to the Centers for Disease Control’s National Youth Tobacco Survey, in 2019, 5 million U.S. middle and high school students used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days, including 27.5 % of high school students and 10.5% of middle school students. These recent data show increases from 2018 when more than 3.6 million U.S. middle and high school students used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days, including 20.8% of high school students and 4.9 % of middle school students (Tobacco Product Use Among Middle and High School Students — United States, 2011-2018. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), February 2019). Electronic cigarettes are particularly unsafe for youth, young adults, pregnant women, or adults who do not currently use tobacco products. National attention has recently focused on vaping-related lung injury. As of November 20, 2019, 2,290 cases of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use- associated lung injury (EVALI) have been reported to CDC from 49 states (all except Alaska), D.C., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Forty-seven related deaths have been confirmed in 25 states and D.C. Other injury-related consequences of electronic cigarettes include acute nicotine exposure among children and youth caused by swallowing, breathing or absorbing e-cigarette liquid as well as fires and explosions caused by defective e-cigarette batteries, some of which have resulted in serious injuries.
Clinicians, school staff, coaches, parents and policy makers can all play a role in preventing the use of e-cigarettes among youth and young adults.