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Tips And Tricks For Dealing With Lice This School Year

The school year has just begun, and pretty soon your kids may be coming home with more than homework. The CDC estimates that between 6 and 12 million children get lice a year! Knowing the common myths about lice and prevention and treatment methods can help you set your family up for an itch-less school year.

Three Myths About Lice

• Lice like dirty hair, so people with poor hygiene are more prone to them

Lice have no preference between hair that is dirty, oily or uncombed and hair that is well-managed. Regardless of the cleanliness of the hair, lice are attracted to the food source that the host head represents—no amount of washing will deter these creatures. 

• Lice spread diseases

There is no evidence that lice can spread diseases from person to person. While they are a nuisance and can cause intense itching, which can lead to infection, the lice themselves carry no diseases we can pick up and thus pose no immediate threat to the health of your family. Don’t fret for the furry members of your family. Lice can’t spread from people to pets or vice versa! 

• Lice jump or fly from head to head 

Lice have no wings and are thus constrained to the ground. And while they’re speedy crawlers, the insects have no ability to jump, meaning they can only get from person to person by crawling into objects or onto heads that are touching. If you think you’re seeing them jump from head to head, it’s your imagination!

What Are Lice?

Lice are tiny insects, about the size of a sesame seed, that feed off human blood and can be found in human hair, specifically behind someone’s ears or at the base of their neck. These fast-crawling insects lay up to 6 eggs, or nits, a day, and only feed off human blood, not the blood of your pets.

How Do People Get Lice?

People, especially children, are susceptible to lice when making direct contact with other people’s heads. Lice can crawl from one head to another in seconds. Lice can also be spread through the sharing of hats, brushes or pillows. 

School-age children are susceptible to head lice and can pick it up in class, though that’s not the only place they can attract these pests. Sleepovers, sporting events, playdates and more all are prime lice-spreading events.

Preventing Lice 

• Avoid sharing clothing such as scarves, hats, helmets and hair accessories and products like brushes. 
• Have kids place their jackets and coats in their backpacks instead of in communal coat bins or hanging them with their classmates’ items. 
• Wash and dry clothing, bed linens and any other items used by someone in your household with lice. Machines should be set to hot (130°F) and use the highest drying cycle possible. If you can’t wash certain items, dry clean them or place them in a sealable container for two weeks. 
• Vacuum your carpets and furniture, including kids’ car seats, and throw away the vacuum cleaner bag once finished 

Treatments That Work

Many experts recommend wet combing, the process of combing through hair soaked with water and conditioner or oil with specially designed teeth to remove lice and nits. The process, which can take 15 to 60 minutes depending on hair length, can remove all adult lice and prevent the further laying of eggs. It should be repeated every few days until no more lice or nits are found. 

There’s also the option of prescription treatment solutions, like Sklice, that suffocate the insects or target their nervous systems. Contact your primary care physician for more information about prescription treatment methods.

Treatments That Don’t Work

If you’re using at-home solutions that involve suffocating the lice, like applying mayonnaise, oil or petroleum jelly, you may not fully rid your family’s scalps of the pests. Most over-the-counter solutions no longer treat lice on their own. A recent study showed that 98% of head lice “had genetic mutations that would make them resistant” to the most common over-the-counter options. 

If you do opt for an over-the-counter lice-fighting product, be sure to follow the directions carefully and pay attention to whether or not a follow-up treatment is recommended. Because many products don’t kill nits, an additional treatment a few days later may be necessary to remove newly hatched lice. Some products may also recommend combining treatment with wet combing. 

Many people use shampoo shields, shampoos marketed as natural options to prevent lice. However, no evidence exists to prove these products do anything to prevent or remove lice infestations. 

Looking to treat a lice breakout in your home? Check out these local lice treatment centers.

Now that your kids are back in school, lice aren’t the only contagion you have to worry about. Make sure your family is scheduled for their annual visits with their primary care providers. In the market for a new doctor? Check out our website for more information on our clinics with family medicine: https://coryellhealth.org/services/family-medicine/.

Breast cancer rates are increasing yearly and women are asking, “What can I do to prevent breast cancer?”. It’s vital now more than ever that you’re on the watch for cancer, knowing the risk factors, symptoms and how to reduce your risk. While some risk factors can’t be changed, like a family history of breast cancer, you can make lifestyle modifications to help guard you against cancer. 

Risk factors 

Understanding what risk factors you have is key to cancer prevention and efficient treatment. If you have a family history of breast cancer, you can begin self-monitoring and screening at an earlier age. While this won’t prevent cancer, it will enable you to find and begin treatment of the disease faster, giving you the best chance of successful treatment. 

What are some of the most common risk factors of breast cancer? 

• Being female
• Being over 55 (aging)
• Family history of breast cancer
• Inherited mutated BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes
• Drinking alcohol
• Obesity
• Having never been pregnant

Having one or more of these doesn’t necessarily mean cancer is in the cards for you. However, those who fall into the categories listed above are at a greater risk for cancer than those who don’t. Knowing you’re at risk and why can empower you to take steps to monitor your body more closely for any changes and allow you to seek medical attention when you find them.

How to Monitor for Breast Cancer

Monitoring for breast cancer includes getting routine screenings from your health care providers and performing frequent self-exams. Coryell Health recommends you begin scheduling annual screenings once you turn 40. 

Medical professionals strongly encourage women to conduct regular self-examinations to check for changes in their breasts. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Examine breasts in the mirror and check for changes in shape, size and color.
2. Perform a physical examination of your breasts using three fingers moving in circular motions towards the nipple.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer

What exactly are you looking for when monitoring for breast cancer? Any sudden changes in your breast shape or new lumps should be cause for a follow-up with your health care provider, as well as changes to your nipple or new texture variations. Don’t be alarmed, as shifts in your breast can be caused by several other factors unrelated to cancer, but do consult your doctor right away. 

Reducing Your Risk

You can never fully reduce or remove your chance of cancer, but there are steps you can take to lower your risks.

Some women are at a higher risk of breast cancer due to family history or inherited mutated genes. Doctors might suggest these women undergo a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy, or the removal of both breasts. This procedure occurs before a breast cancer diagnosis and has been proven to reduce the risk of cancer by 90 to 95% in those with high risk.

Treating and reducing your risk of cancer successfully starts with you. If it’s been a while since you or a loved one has had their regularly scheduled breast examination, now’s the time. Our health care professionals are ready to provide you with a mammogram with no referral necessary. We offer the latest technology, including 3D mammograms, which studies show locate one more patient with cancer for every 1,000 women screened. Give us a call today at 254-248-6238 to schedule your 20-minute mammogram appointment or visit our website to learn more about 3D mammograms.

 Keep These Things in Mind

Studies show that the human brain can store virtually limitless amounts of information and memories. Your brain is powerful, and keeping your mind sharp is important to retain its strength and capacity long-term. When it comes to memory care, you’ve probably heard the terms Dementia and Alzheimers mentioned before. But, do you know what they really mean? 

Dementia is a broad term for a group of symptoms that affect memory, thinking, behavior and emotion. It isn’t a specific disease. It is an outcome of several different diseases and conditions. People who experience dementia gradually lose cognitive functioning over time, interfering with their everyday life. 

More than 55 million people have dementia worldwide, with a new case arising every three seconds. It’s important to notice signs and symptoms as early as possible, including: 

• Memory loss, typically noticed by a loved one
• Hard time communicating or finding words; repeating questions
• Getting lost while driving
• Lessened reasoning or problem-solving skills
• Can’t handle complex tasks, planning or organizing
• Lessened coordination and weaker motor functions
• Confusion and disorientation
• Personality changes

If you suspect a loved one has dementia, speak with a licensed physician immediately. They can perform cognitive and neurological tests, brain scans, psychiatric evaluations, genetic tests and blood tests to provide an official diagnosis.

Alzheimer’s Disease occurs when patients have plaques and tangles—i.e., clumps of different proteins—in their brains that damage healthy neurons and the fibers connecting them. While it is the most common cause of dementia, it is not a synonym for dementia. Not all causes are known, but experts believe that the disease is at least partially genetic. With that said, current research does indicate that there may be much more to the condition than genetic factors, including environmental stressors. Scientists are continuing to study Alzheimer’s Disease with the hope that new treatments can be explored in the near future.  

How to Protect Your Mind

Memory loss is generally caused by damage to or loss of nerve cells and their connections in the brain due to the deposit of certain proteins. While it isn’t curable, there are action steps you can take now to minimize its effects if it happens to you. Practice healthy habits that boost your brain health and limit the production of those certain proteins, such as: 

• Get enough sleep
• Exercise
• Eat healthy food
• Avoid smoking
• Learn new hobbies to stay mentally alert

We host an ongoing Dementia Family Support Group on the second Wednesday of every month. If you have questions or want to attend, call Shelia Roedler, LMSW, at (254) 404-2531.

Coryell Health understands how important it is to keep your loved ones safe and cared for in the face of memory loss. Our enclosed memory care wing at RehabLiving at the Meadows, including structured programs for residents, has proven to be comforting to those dealing with the confusion and frustration that often accompanies dementia. Visit this page to learn more.

Acne is the most common skin condition people experience. In fact, The American Academy of Dermatology estimates that 80% of people ages 11 to 30 years old have it in some form. In honor of Acne Positivity Day coming up on September 1, Coryell Health is here to equip you with the basic information and tools you need when you or your children deal with acne. 

Acne is a skin condition that occurs when hair follicles are blocked by oil and dead skin cells. It can cause whiteheads, blackheads, or pimples, most commonly on the face, forehead, chest, upper back and shoulders. Depending on its severity, it can scar the skin. While it most often affects teenagers, people of all ages can deal with acne in some form. 

Several factors contribute to acne. Some of the most common include: 

• Genetics—depending on your family history, you may be more prone to oily skin and, thus, acne
• Hormones—one category of hormones that are known to cause acne, androgens, peaks during teenage years; additionally, women around their menstrual cycle can be more susceptible 
• Diet—foods affect every person differently, be sure to always listen to your body and pay attention to its reactions to certain foods
• Stress—managing your stress is essential because it will show physically, sometimes in the form of acne, which could cause even more stress
• Age—primarily affects teenagers and young adults, but it can affect anyone
• External Factors—with back-to-school season and fall sports ramping up, certain clothing and headgear may cause flare-ups

Consistently take good care of your skin. When using over-the-counter medicines and creams, look for benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid as ingredients. Additionally, pay a visit to your primary care doctor. They can offer advice on the best course of action and potentially prescribe products to treat your acne. If necessary, and only under extreme circumstances, they will refer you to a specialist. Always remember that while you should make sure to take care of your skin and treat acne as directed by your doctor, certain factors can make it impossible to get rid of it entirely. If you’re listening to your doctor, you’re doing the best you can for your skin.

Schedule a visit with one of Coryell’s family medicine practitioners by calling (245) 865-2166.

Heat Stroke Awareness Month at Coryell Health

What to do if I or someone nearby is experiencing heat stroke? 

• Seek immediate help by calling 911 and give first aid until paramedics arrive
• In the meantime, try to cool down
• Move into the shade or indoors
• Remove excess clothing
• Fan air over the patient while wetting their skin with water
• Use cold water, ice packs, fans, or wet towels on the head and neck area to relieve symptoms

Your health and safety are important to Coryell. If you have more questions about heat stroke or other health concerns, call (254) 865-8251 to schedule an appointment with one of our trusted physicians.

Your Best Defense Against Disease

• For infants and children
• For daycare facilities
• For students grades K-12
• For college entry
• For international travel

Do vaccines make you sick?

No, they do not. While some people can experience mild side effects (i.e., soreness at the injection site or low-grade fever), those should not be confused for sickness. The WHO notes that serious side effects from vaccination rarely occur – most adverse effects are rare enough that they can’t be directly tied to immunization.

Do vaccines contain toxic ingredients? 

Standard vaccinations are not toxic. While some vaccines contain ingredients that aren’t naturally found in your body, they’re only there in trace amounts. The usual dosage of any vaccine approved by the CDC is not considered toxic. 

Listen, we get it. Shots aren’t fun for anyone. But, they’re worth it in the long run for the health and safety of you and your loved ones. Make sure you stay on track with your and your child’s wellness visits. Your healthcare provider will let you know if you need a specific vaccine and be able to answer any further questions or concerns you may have. Schedule a wellness visit with one of our family medicine practitioners by calling (245) 865-2166.