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February is American Heart Month
This awareness month was established by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to educate the public about heart disease and stroke. A few facts about heart disease include: - Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States.1
- About 659,000 people in the United States die from heart disease each year—that’s 1 in every 4 deaths.2
- Heart disease costs the United States about $363 billion each year from 2016 to 2017.2 This includes the cost of health care services, medicines, and lost productivity due to death. Source: https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm
- Per the 2019 Orange County, NC Community Health Assessment, heart disease was the 2nd leading cause of death among all age groups.
Small changes can make a big difference. As we get busy and settle into our routine of work and family this year, remember to make time to care for your heart. Try the tips below. - Move More. Get at least 2½ hours of physical activity each week—that’s just 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.
- Make healthy eating a habit. Try making healthier versions of your favorite recipes. Look for ways to lower sodium and trans fat, and add more fruits and vegetables to your diet.
- Aim for a healthy weight. Being overweight is hard on your heart. It increases your risk of having heart disease, a stroke, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Choosing heart-healthy foods and getting regular exercise will help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
- Quit tobacco—for good. The chemicals in tobacco smoke harm your heart and blood vessels in many ways. Quitting is hard, but many people have succeeded, and you can too. For assistance with quitting, please contact Rita Krosner at smokefreeoc@orangecountync.gov or call (919) 245-2480 for one on one counseling and free smoking cessation tools.
- Reduce stress and improve sleep. Stress can contribute to high blood pressure and other heart risks. Not getting enough sleep or regularly getting poor quality sleep increases the risk of having high blood pressure, heart disease, and other medical conditions. Aim for 7–8 hours of sleep a night.
- Know your numbers. Meet your heart health goals by keeping track of how much you exercise, your blood pressure, your cholesterol numbers—all of which can impact your heart health—and tell your doctor how you’re doing.
- Stick to the ’script. Take your medications even if you feel fine. Sticking with your medication routine is important for managing and controlling conditions that could put your heart at risk.
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I lost my vaccine card. How do I get a new one?
You may either call 919-913-8088 or visit https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/covid-19-vaccine-portal-residents to get a new copy. PDF: Accessing Your COVID-19 Vaccine Record, English, Spanish If you lost your vaccine card, you may not be able to get an exact duplicate paper card, but there are still ways to show proof of vaccination. Printed or digital versions of your proof of vaccination serve as valid replacements for your misplaced vaccine card, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The NCDHHS said that the following options should, in most cases, serve as valid replacements for the physical paper card: - A digital photo of your CDC Vaccination Record card
- Printed and/or digital versions of your vaccine information from your provider’s record
- Printed versions of your vaccine information from the NC Immunization Registry
Note: If you were vaccinated at a national chain pharmacy, like Walgreens, CVS or Costco, you should contact that provider directly. If you received doses through an NC hospital network or at a health department event, you can use a portal to access your vaccine information.
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Are you ready to quit tobacco? A 4-week FreshStart Tobacco Cessation class will begin on Tuesday March 8, 2022 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. The class will help you to:
- Make a quit plan.
- Identify your support system.
- Get free patches, gum, and lozenges.
To register, call Rita Krosner at 919-245-2480 or email smokefreeoc@orangecountync.gov. You may also take advantage of one on one counseling, if you prefer. Make a plan to quit today!
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Upcoming Pop-Up Vaccine and Testing Events5 to 11 Pfizer Vaccine February 9th and March 2nd from 4:00 to 8:00 pm New Hope Elementary Flyer: English / Spanish Walk ins welcome! COVID-19 Testing
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COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Vaccines are free, and no ID is required! If you are coming for your second dose, or a booster please bring your vaccination card with the record of your previous doses. Visit our COVID-19 Vaccine page for the most up-to-date information: www.orangecountync.gov/getyourshot, or call (919) 913-8088 with any questions.
The Chapel Hill clinic is by appointment only. Ages 5 and up can be vaccinated! To make an appointment call (919) 913-8088 or visit https://takemyshot.nc.gov.
Southern Human Services Center 2501 Homestead Rd, Chapel Hill, NC Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm Please call (919) 913-8088 to schedule an appointment. ***Ages 5 and up. ***Moderna, J&J, and Pfizer vaccines are available.
The Hillsborough walk-in clinic at Bonnie B. Davis has been temporarily closed as of January 30th, 2022.
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North Carolina COVID-19 Cases The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) reports 2,442,891 COVID-19 cases, 20,904 deaths and 4,725 hospitalizations. 60% of North Carolina's population is up to date on their COVID-19 vaccination.
There are currently 23,398 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 120 deaths in Orange County. 78% of Orange County residents are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations.
For more information regarding live updates (NCDHHS updates the site every day around noon), please visit the NCDHHS website.
Orange County Health Department also has a COVID-19 dashboard webpage, with information on COVID-19 data in the county.
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