COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic

Updated 3/22/2021 per new state vaccine guidelines.

Now Offering Drive-Thru COVID-19 Vaccines

Open Health is now offering COVID-19 vaccines in a convenient drive-thru clinic. Schedule an appointment with our nursing staff by calling us at (225) 655-6422.

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Information about Vaccine Drive-Thru Clinic

Do you qualify to receive the vaccine? You must meet one of these requirements:

• Pregnant women of any age

• Adults 18+

Do I have to be a patient of Open Health to get the COVID-19 vaccine?

No. Anyone can get the vaccine as long as they meet the requirements listed above.

Do I need an appointment to get a COVID-19 vaccine thru our drive-thru clinic?

Yes! Appointments are required. Please call us at (225) 655-6422 to schedule your COVID-19 vaccination. 

What should I bring to my vaccination appointment?

• Photo ID

• Insurance card

• Personnel working in the qualifying fields listed above must bring a paystub or badge to their vaccine appointment.

Contact us:

If you have questions, please call us at (225) 655-6422.

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Information about the covid-19 vaccine

COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you from getting COVID-19. You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days.

How many vaccine shots do I need:

Open Health will give you two shots, 28 days apart. We will schedule your second shot when we make your appointment for your first vaccine shot.

Throughout the rest of your body

• Fever

• Chills

• Tiredness

• Headaches

On the arm where you got the shot

• Pain

• Swelling

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Have more questions about the covid-19 vaccine?

Visit the CDC to learn more about the COVID-19 Vaccine. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html

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We will update this site as additional information becomes available. 3/22/2021

National Children’s Dental Health Month

National Children’s Dental Health Month

According to the CDC, Tooth decay (cavity) is one of the most common chronic diseases of early childhood even though it is preventable.

Cavities occur when a buildup of dental plaque “eats” at tooth enamel causing a hole in the tooth to form. Plaque is a sticky substance that covers the teeth, and it is formed when bacteria in the moth combines with food and saliva.

Tips to decrease risk of cavities include:

·        Brushing twice a day for at least 2 minutes to prevent a buildup of plaque. Children under the age of 6 should be supervised by an adult to maximize efficiency.

·        Parents should refrain from putting infants approximately 6 months of age and older to bed with bottles filled with milk, formula or juice. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, most children who are seven or eight months of age no longer need to feed during the night. If your child must have a bottle to sleep, slowly dilute the milk or juice with water over a few weeks until your child is only drinking water.

·        Parents should encourage a diet for their children that is low in sugar and refined carbohydrates and increase fresh veggies, fruit and protein intake.

·        Schedule regular Dental Checkups. Dental exams are scheduled every 6 months. At each visit, the dentist will look for any signs of regular tooth decay, remove dental plaque and apply fluoride which can reverse and stop early decay in children.

·        Having your dentist apply Dental Sealants. Dental Sealants are plastic coatings that are usually placed on the chewing (top) surface of the permanent back teeth to help protect them from decay.

Poor oral health, including cavities and infections, can have a lifelong impact on a child. If you have any questions or concerns about cavity prevention, please contact our Dental Providers at Open Health Care Clinic.

Tamma Gray, DDS

Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.  In recognition of this, let’s take a few minutes to talk about cervical cancer, and the ways to prevent it. Did you know that at one time cervical cancer was one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in the United States?  However, in the last 40 years, these numbers have been cut in half due to vaccines and cancer screenings.   

Scientists discovered that HPV, or Human Papilloma Virus infections that last a long time greatly increase the risk of cancer.  HPV is an infection passed through sexual activity.  Your risk for HPV is increased when you have more than one partner, but anyone who has ever had sex (even once!) is at risk for HPV.   There are a lot of different types of the HPV virus.  Some cause genital warts and some cause cancer.  Fortunately, there is a vaccine that can protect us against several of the HPV strains that are most likely to cause cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anal, and penile cancer.  According to American Cancer Society (ACS), the HPV vaccine protects against the types of HPV that cause 90% of cervical cancers.  Ninety percent - now, that’s worth talking about!! 

  Ask your healthcare provider about being immunized today.  The HPV vaccine was originally given only to teens; however, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised that even more people should get vaccinated.  The CDC now says that anyone age 26 or younger should get the vaccine.  Folks ages 27 - 45 should talk to their health care provider to learn if the HPV vaccine could benefit them as well.   Getting regular pap smears can also greatly decrease your risk for invasive cervical cancer.  Cervical cancer is one of the slowest-growing cancers, and routine screening can help to see worrisome changes in the cervix before these changes become cancer.  Other things that increase your risk for cervical cancer include cigarette smoking, a depressed immune system (which can be caused by living with HIV, certain medications or other conditions), and a high number of childbirths.   

 Lindsay Haislip, FNP-C

For folks born as female, it is recommended that you complete a pap smear every 3 years if you are under 30 years old.  Once you turn 30, this screening can be extended to every 5 years, based on your risk and HPV test results.  If your provider tells you to repeat this testing sooner, it’s very important to follow up.   The ACS estimated that 260 people in Louisiana would develop cervical cancer in 2020.  Every single one of these cases could be prevented with timely screening and vaccinations.  Talk to a healthcare provider today about the best way to protect your sexual health! 

 Lindsay Haislip, FNP-C

Resources:  

https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/statistics/index.htm 

https://gis.cdc.gov/Cancer/USCS/DataViz.html 

https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2020/cancer-facts-and-figures-2020.pdf 

https://www.immunize.org/askexperts/experts_hpv.asp 

Get to Know Your Thyroid

Get to Know Your Thyroid

Warren Fraser, MD

January is Thyroid Awareness Month! To learn more about the thyroid, a small gland of the endocrine system, we interviewed our Endocrinologist, Dr. Warren Fraser.

Where is your thyroid & what does it do?

The thyroid, located at the bottom of your neck, is a butterfly-shaped gland that controls your metabolism helping your body turn food into energy. Your thyroid may only take up a small portion of your body, but it plays many roles in keeping you healthy. The thyroid produces two hormones (T-3 and T-4), which affects your heart rate, breathing patterns, and how much weight you can gain or lose. The thyroid can affect other bodily functions such as your body temperature and cholesterol levels.

What are common problems people have with their thyroid? What are the causes and symptoms of these problems?

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid is when your thyroid produces fewer hormones than a normal thyroid gland should. Your body needs a certain number of thyroid hormones so your body can produce the energy it needs to function. If your thyroid is producing fewer amounts of hormones compared to the average person, then it can cause you to have less energy than usual.

Symptoms

• Overly tired

• Fatigue

• Weight gain

• Feeling cold

• Dry skin

Causes

• Hashimoto’s disease is one of the main causes of Hypothyroidism. Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disorder, a condition where your immune system attacks your body, and can cause swelling or inflammation of the thyroid gland.

• Thyroiditis can also be caused by other conditions such as a viral infection.

 Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid is when your thyroid makes too many hormones. An overactive thyroid produces too much of a hormone called thyroxine (T-4). When your thyroid gland produces too many thyroxine hormones, your metabolism can speed up and cause you to lose weight and experience other unusual symptoms.

Symptoms

• Mood swings

• Shakiness

• Fatigue

• Feeling warm or hot

• Weight loss

• Fast heartbeat

Causes

• Graves’ disease causes your immune system to function incorrectly and is one of the main causes of Hyperthyroidism, especially for women under 40-years-old.

• Lumps of tissue placed in your thyroid, called nodules, can produce too many hormones, and may cause the thyroid to become overactive.

• Thyroiditis, an infection that causes your immune system to function incorrectly, can affect your thyroid by causing it to swell and release more hormones than usual.

Thyroid Cancer

• There are four different types of thyroid cancer, papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic. Typically, all thyroid cancers that are found in the early stages can be successfully treated. Tests that examine your thyroid, neck, and blood are used to find and diagnose thyroid cancer.

Symptoms

• A lump or swelling on the side of the neck (most common symptom)

• Trouble breathing

• Trouble swallowing food or drinks

• Hoarse voice

Causes

• There are no clear causes of thyroid cancer, but some likely causes are: radiation around the neck area, especially at a young age or inherited from a family member. 

What should you do if you are experiencing symptoms related to thyroid problems?

If you are feeling thyroid health-related symptoms like the ones listed above, you should talk to your provider. Untreated symptoms, especially over long periods of time, can cause serious health problems.

How can you keep your thyroid healthy?

Your thyroid is an important part of your body, so we should always keep its well-being in mind. Keeping your thyroid healthy may not just help your thyroid but also your all-around physical health. Eating a well-balanced diet does your body good. Stay away from processed foods with preservatives or sugar and fat replacements. These types of foods can cause inflammation or problems with your immune system. Remember to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and don’t forget your proteins!

Salmon and anchovies are a good source of lean protein, as well as almonds and other nuts. Fish and other seafood are also good sources of iodine. Iodine is essential to include in your diet because your body does not produce it naturally. However, it is still needed for your thyroid to produce hormones.

 Always remember to take care of your thyroid, and your thyroid will take care of you!

Watch out for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Watch out for seasonal affective DISORDER (SAD)

This is the season when days are shortest, with only 10 hours of sunlight. Have you noticed an unwelcome change in your mood, not related to the things that typically create distress in your life? It might be Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression that is triggered by reduced exposure to sunlight.

Depression can interfere with quality of life in many subversive ways: it can cause you to feel lethargic, down for most of the day, discouraged, with defeatist thinking, or loss of interest in things that you usually enjoy. SAD, its chilly weather cousin, can also lead to oversleeping, craving of carbs, and unexplained fatigue. 

There are several causes of SAD; your biological clock may be disrupted by reduced exposure to sunlight. It may also be caused by a drop in Serotonin, a brain chemical that regulates mood, due to lack of exposure to the sun.  Low levels of Vitamin D, the “sunshine vitamin,” is also suspected of contributing to this drop. Our internal circadian rhythm of sleep and wakefulness changes so gradually, in response to the shifting balance of light and darkness as the seasons change, that it is easy to overlook incremental changes in our mood. January is a good time to become mindful of any lull we may feel in our energy and emotional availability. 

Good news: several remedies for SAD are readily available.  If you can, adjust your schedule to include as much outdoor time as possible.  Vitamin D supplements are often helpful. Several common antidepressant meds work by increasing your level of Serotonin. Make a deliberate choice for a self-nurturing activity you may have neglected, even if you’re not in the mood. Consider chocolate. For people who already experience depression, SAD is an unwelcome addition, and counseling can help. 

Best of all, spring is coming.

Lynn Schlossberger LPC

For more information on Seasonal Affective Disorder, visit: http://bit.ly/ohcc_SAD