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SICK & WELL
HEALTH CARE
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PROMOTING
HEALTHY LIVING
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PREVENTING
DISEASE
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ABOUT US
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Chronic Conditions Management
Asthma
Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs. The cause of asthma is unknown. It causes repeated spells
of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. You will not have
symptoms of asthma all the time. It only happens when something is bothering your lungs. Below is a list
(from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) of “triggers” in indoor air that may set off an asthma attack.
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Environmental Tobacco Smoke, also known as Secondhand Smoke: Parents, friends
and relatives of children with asthma should try to stop smoking. Until they can successfully quit, they
should smoke only outdoors, not in the home or in the family car. They should not allow others to smoke
in the home and should make sure the child’s school or daycare is smoke-free.
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Dust Mites: Mattress covers and pillow case covers stop dust mites living in fluffy bedding from
being inhaled. Down-filled pillows, quilts, or comforters should not be used by people with asthma. Stuffed
animals and clutter should be removed from bedrooms.
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Cockroach Allergens: Cockroaches can be any place where food is eaten and crumbs are left behind.
Clean up, take out or seal up as much food and water as you can and vacuum or sweep these areas at least
every 2-3 days. You can also use roach traps or gels to get rid of cockroaches in your home.
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Pets: The simplest solution is to find another home for the pet. But for those who have pets, the pet
should not be allowed in the bedroom where the person with asthma sleeps. Pets should be kept outside as
much as possible and bathed weekly. Keeping the pet’s fur trimmed short will not help. Frequent vacuuming
will. If the room has a hard surface floor, it should be damp mopped weekly.
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Mold: Keep humidity levels between 35% and 50%. During hot or humid times, it may require using
an air conditioner and/or dehumidifier. Fixing water leaks and cleaning up any mold in the home can also help.
Wilkes County Health Department provides in-home education for people with asthma. Education on removing
environmental triggers or becoming more aware of what causes attacks are reviewed. Referrals for this program are
made through Central Piedmont Access II.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition caused when the body can’t use insulin in the blood to get blood sugar into the cells of the body.
If insulin can not get into body cells, the body does not have energy to work with. Sugars and fats in the blood are trapped
there circulating around the body. This is what the diabetes screen blood sugar test measures. This situation can lead to
other chronic conditions unless people with diabetes manage their blood sugar. For those with diabetes, Wilkes County
Health Department offers chronic condition management through education and more intensive management. The education
includes information on:
- What is diabetes?
- Self-monitoring of blood glucose
- Acute complications
- Chronic complications
- Sick day rules
- Exercise
- Dietary measures
More intense management is offered for patients having difficulty getting their insulin and blood glucose levels controlled. They
need more intense medical management that often cannot be provided during a routine office visit with their regular healthcare providers.
Wilkes County Health Department works with our medical community to provide this service. A nurse practitioner, who is also a
certified diabetes educator with clinical expertise, is available for weekly, biweekly or monthly visits to monitor glucose logs and make
medication adjustments. The nurse practitioner also works with the patient on using carbohydrate counting and insulin to carbohydrate
ratios for a proper diet. There is a $25 charge per visit, although reduced rates may be available based on household income and family
size. Referrals must be made from the patient’s regular healthcare provider.
Congestive Heart Failure
Wilkes County Health Department provides in-home education for people with congestive heart failure. Education on living with congestive
heart failure and looking for initial signs of newly-developing problems, such as weighing in every day, are reviewed. Referrals for this program
are made through Central Piedmont Access II.
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