Where we live impacts our communities’ health. We can make our communities healthier, stronger, and safer.
We’re excited to announce the 2024 National Public Health Week theme is “Protecting, Connecting and Thriving: We Are All Public Health.”
Your local health department’s mission is to promote and protect the health of all who live, work, learn and play throughout the Lake Cumberland area.
Public health professionals try to prevent problems from happening or recurring by implementing educational programs, recommending policies, promoting healthy lifestyles, assuring a safe environment, and detecting and controlling infectious diseases. In contrast, clinical professionals like doctors and nurses, focus primarily on treating individuals after they become sick or injured.
This year’s theme, Protecting, Connecting, and Thriving: We Are All Public Health, focuses on ways our communities flourish when they have their needs met.
As we celebrate the 29th National Public Health Week April 1-7, we want everyone to focus not just on what we can do as individuals, but what we can do as communities to protect and prioritize public health.
In the spirit of Public Health Week, it is important to note that Kentucky is one of the unhealthiest states in our nation.
A few healthy lifestyle choices could change this. First, eating normally proportioned helpings of nutritious foods including at least five fruits and vegetables a day can lower weight and reduce heart disease and diabetes.
Second, exercising about 30 minutes per day can lower blood pressure.
Third, avoiding tobacco products can reduce several types of cancer.
Finally, ensuring you get your needed preventive screenings can detect diseases early and greatly increase your chances for positive health outcomes, while receiving your recommended vaccinations can prevent acquiring disease in the first place. Visit our website at www.LCDHD.org for more information.
s/Jeff Neagle, Communications Specialist Lake Cumberland District Health Department
