Talking Health with the Clinton County Health Department

Let’s be honest — living with a chronic condition can feel like juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle. Some days, you’re cruising; other days, you’re just trying not to fall off. But here’s the thing: life with a chronic illness isn’t just about symptoms and doctor visits — it’s about finding creative ways to live fully, laugh often, and celebrate the small wins (like actually remembering to take your meds on time). Now ‘chronic’ may mean long-lasting, but longer doesn’t have to mean worse. With the right mix of medical care, self-awareness, and flexibility, living with a chronic illness can become less about “just getting by” and more about finding what works for you. It’s about learning to adapt — balancing treatments, routines, and flare-ups while still enjoying life’s good stuff: laughter, connection, and the occasional lazy day in pajamas. In this month’s blog, we are talking to Tammy Collins, a local peer leader for the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program . Ta...

 The month of February has become synonymous with images of hearts, love and that little guy in the diaper. But it’s also known for a different kind of heart, the anatomical one. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. According to the New York State Community Health Indicator Reports Dashboard , Clinton County has several cardiovascular disease indicators of high concern when the rates are compared to other counties in the state. Things like premature death (aged 35-64) mortality rates for cardiovascular disease, diseases of the heart, coronary heart disease and congestive heart failure are on the naughty list. It’s time to get smart about your heart. That means knowing what causes heart disease and what your individual risk factors are. To help navigate through all the medical jargon and recommendations, we have enlisted the help of AJay Keyser. AJay is a Family Nurse Practitioner who works wit...