Cara M. Christ

/Cara Christ

About Cara Christ

Cara M. Christ, MD, Director Arizona Department of Health Services

Clinicians now have an easy, accessible ADHS website

By | January 19th, 2017|General|

One of public health’s major partnerships is with practicing clinicians. In any threat to the public’s health – be it environmental, nuclear, infectious, chronic or substance-related – clinicians work with health departments to recognize and respond appropriately. Now it is easier than ever for them to find public health resources and guidelines in Arizona. On [...]

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Vital Records Data Helps Public Health Improve the Overall Health of Arizona

By | January 18th, 2017|Licensing|

One of the most popular features on our website and social media is the annual list of the top 100 baby names in Arizona. The list is created from our Bureau of Vital Records, which registers and issues birth certificates for all the babies born each year. While the list is a fun use of [...]

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Low Flu Vaccination in Pregnant Women; A Vulnerable Population Not Protected

By | January 17th, 2017|Preparedness|

A report card that contains 41 percent is never good. But so goes the disappointing findings from a recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) that found that during the 2013-2014 flu season, only 41 percent of pregnant women received the seasonal flu vaccine. Previous report cards would have shown 35 percent of pregnant women in [...]

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Promoting Strong Mental Health in the New Year

By | January 13th, 2017|Behavioral Health|

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being and is an essential component to our overall health. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Having a strong mental health outlook can benefit your life in more ways [...]

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Prevent infection: Four achievable New Year’s resolutions

By | January 11th, 2017|Preparedness|

It's that time again when New Year's resolutions are made, and sometimes broken. This year consider setting some achievable resolutions this year that can protect you from getting an infection. One: Wash your hands. You probably already do this after using the restroom, but are you washing before eating every meal? For at least 20 [...]

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Aedes Mosquitoes Can Survive the Winter

By | January 10th, 2017|Preparedness|

Even though Arizona temperatures are cooling down, it's still important to protect yourself against mosquitoes. Arizona is home to about 50 mosquito species including Aedes aegypti, a mosquito that can carry and spread diseases like the Zika virus. This mosquito is well-adapted to the Arizona climate. Their eggs can survive outdoors in the cold, dry [...]

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RSV Cases on the Rise in Arizona

By | January 9th, 2017|Preparedness|

While influenza isn't spiking yet, we are seeing an early respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season in Arizona this year. RSV causes a respiratory illness that mainly affects infants and young children, and it generally circulates during the winter. Symptoms are similar to other respiratory illness including cough, runny nose, and fever. Arizona has seen more [...]

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Don’t Let the Flu Get You

By | January 6th, 2017|Preparedness|

It’s a busy time of year when kids are out of school, some businesses are closing up shop for the holidays, and people are taking some quality time to spend with friends and family. The last thing you need right now is a case of the flu. The tiredness, achiness, fever, and congestion [...]

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