September is National Preparedness Month

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The DuPage County Health Department reminds residents that this is a good time to prepare for unexpected events by assembling an emergency supply kit for their homes.

The Health Department works hand-in-hand with municipalities and other organizations throughout DuPage County to prepare for public health emergencies, including events that require the distribution of medications and other medical supplies to safeguard all county residents.

In the event of an emergency, these items are recommended for a home supply kit:

  • One gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
  • At least a three-day supply of non-perishable food and a can opener
  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a weather radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • First aid kit
  • Whistle to signal for help
  • A dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
  • Cell phone with chargers, electrical power converter or solar charger

Need A Goal To Work Towards ????

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walkingJoin the Wellness Center’s Heart Walk team and Train with us for a month for free with a minimum donation of $10.00   We meet every Saturday starting 8/31/13 through 9/21/13, from 9:00am-10:00am.

Saturday trainings include walking, resistance training, and stretching to help you walk with more.  We meet outside of Kids Korner. The training is outside.

This offer is available for anyone who is interested members and non-members. Invite your friends!

The American Heart Association’s Heart Walk is on September 28th. It is not mandatory to walk on this day to be part of our team. However, We must see your name on our team with the $10 donation in order to join in the Saturday morning fun!

Questions?  Just call 630-275-2670.

To sign up go to: http://www.advocatehealth.com/gsam/wellness

Health Local Is On The Air!

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HealthLocalThanks to District 44, funding from FORWARD,  and  the wonderful assistance of the guys at Illinois Center for Broadcasting, Health Local is on the air!!!!!

It is tagged on to the end of  SchoolScape, the District 44 cable show.  This way, the education interviews are all contained in the first half hour and all the “healthy stuff” is in the second half hour.  Nice!

 

 

You can catch Health Local weekly on:

Tuesdays at 4:30 on Comcast Channel 19,

and… on the Lombard Channel 6 on:

Wednesday at 11PM
Fridays at 7:30 PM
Saturdays at 11:30 AM and 8:30 PM
Sundays at 2:30 PM.

The first show features:
Generation H:  students from Park View School
Chef’s Corner: Julie Marie cooks Healthy Breaded Vegetables
Healthy Hints:
Interviews at the Glenbard Parent Series Health Fair
The Doctor is In:
Dr. Dungan from DuPage Medical explaining 5,4,3,2,1, GO!
Life Long Lessons:  Joan from Lexington Square
Workout Room:  Pilates at Health Track Sports and Wellness

Shows 2 and 3 are in edit right now.  Yeah!!!!!

September is National Cholesterol Education Month

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doctors2September is National Cholesterol Education Month and the DuPage County Health Department reminds residents that this is a good time to get your blood cholesterol checked and take steps to keep it at a healthy level.

High blood cholesterol affects nearly 100 million Americans. It is a serious condition that increases your risk for heart disease and your chance of having a heart attack. The higher your cholesterol level, especially the LDL (bad) cholesterol level, the greater the risk. You can have high cholesterol and not know it.

All people age 20 and older should have their cholesterol measured at least once every five years with a fasting lipoprotein profile, which measures total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol and triglycerides. See your healthcare provider for his or her recommendation for you. Read more

Advoid Ticks and Lyme Disease

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While enjoying the great outdoors this summer, the DuPage County Health Department advises residents to take precautions against ticks to prevent contracting the diseases they carry, including Lyme disease.
Ticks live in and near wooded areas, tall grass and brush.  If infected, ticks can transmit diseases including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia and other diseases.

A person who experiences a rash, or any unexplained illness, accompanied by a fever following a tick bite, should consult a medical professional.  It’s important for people to recognize the signs and symptoms of tick-borne diseases so treatment with appropriate antibiotics is not delayed.  If left untreated, some tick-borne diseases can cause serious illnesses and may be fatal. Read more

Sky Center Awarded Mark of Excellence!

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Sky Centers Martial Arts has always sought to deliver quality martial art instruction, while mark of excellence picture 2013making a difference in their community. That’s why receiving the Mark of Excellence Award from one of the most respected organizations in the industry for over 35 years, Century Martial Arts, is an honor martial art schools across the world hope for each year.

Sky Centers Martial Arts was proud to be one of the selected establishments chosen to receive this prestigious designation in recognition of the immense positive impact they have on their community. It is the highest honor bestowed by Century Martial Arts to a select group of businesses each year. The Mark of Excellence Award was earned by the extraordinary level of dedication Sky Centers exhibited to help students in this community achieve great personal growth, in life and in martial arts. “At Century our core belief is that martial arts has the ability to profoundly change lives,” said Century Martial Arts founder and CEO, L. Michael Dillard, “and that is exactly what George and Krista Sky are doing— changing lives for betterment of their community.” Read more

There may be a link between sleep and obesity

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The Daily Herald ran this informative article on August12, 2013:

According to a new study, a major weapon in the battle against obesity might be as simple as getting a good night’s sleep, says USA Today.

A study by researchers at UC Berkeley revealed why just one sleepless night can make us crave calorie-dense junk food like hamburgers, potato chips and sweets. While previous studies have linked unhealthy foods and sleep deprivation, the UC Berkeley study may reveal the source of the connection.

Researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging to study the brains of 23 healthy young adults after a normal night’s sleep, and again after a sleepless night.

Read more

Healthy Lesson Plan for Going Back To School

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sickvhild2DuPage County children will soon be heading back to school and the DuPage County Health Department wants to offers some tips that will make this school year healthy and happy for all children.

According to the Health Department, the following guidelines can help parents prevent the spread of illnesses in classrooms:

  • Make sure your children are up to date on their immunizations and sports physicals, and receive an annual flu shot.
  • Make sure your children have plenty of rest and a nutritious diet to help them fight germs.
  • Make sure your children are dressed properly if they are involved in outdoor activities at recess or gym.
  • Notify the school if your child has been diagnosed with an infectious condition such as strep throat, chickenpox, scarlet fever, or pertussis.
  • Teach your children the proper way to wash their hands. Make sure they use soap and water, rub their hands for at least 20 seconds, and thoroughly rinse and dry their hands.
  • Teach children the importance of covering their coughs and sneezes.
  • Keep your child home if he or she is ill. One sick child can spread germs to all his or her classmates.
  • Keep your child home if he or she has a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher, has nausea or vomiting, has a sore throat with fever, has a persistent cough (dry or productive), has diarrhea (three or more episodes in 24 hours), has a rash, or has symptoms that prevent him or her from participating in school such as fatigue or lack of appetite, headaches, body aches, earache or sore throat.

 

contest

Enter The Your Healthy Life Made Easy!™ Greater Lombard Area Weight Loss Transformation Contest

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Residents of Lombard, Villa Park, Glendale Heights, Glen Ellyn, Downers Grove and Oakbrook Terrace who are 18 years or older now have a great opportunity to change their lives by getting healthy and losing weight with the Your Healthy Life Made Easy!™ Greater Lombard Area Weight Loss Transformation Contest.

The Grand Prize Winner will be coached personally by Lombard neighbor and Healthy Lombard Partner Wellcoaches® and ACE® Certified Health and Wellness Coach and Weight Loss Coach Melanie Jordan for six months for FREE!

And EVERYONE who enters the Your Healthy Life Made Easy!™ Greater Lombard Area Weight Loss Transformation Contest will receive 1 free month in the Your Healthy Life Made Easy!™ Do It Yourself Healthy Weight Loss Program at the Deluxe Level (which includes email coaching)-so everyone is going to be a winner and get some help with healthy weight loss!

Entries are being accepted by Coach Melanie from August 15th to September 15th, 2013 at http://www.yourhealthylifemadeeasy.com/weightlosscontest.html where full contest details and rules are listed, and the winner will be announced on the Healthy Lombard site and at Melanie’s blog at YourHealthyLifeMadeEasy.com on September 22nd, 2013.

This contest is Coach Melanie’s way of giving back to the community and helping others who have struggled with their weight like she did in the past before she lost and kept off 48 pounds and went from a size 14 to 6.  So get your entry in and please share this post with someone in the area whose life you’d like to help change.

ProActive Kids - Fall Session Starts Sept 16

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The next session of ProActive Kids will take place September 16 - November 8.

Enroll your child today!

PAK will be offered at the following locations:

  • Downers Grove at Advocate Good Samaritan Health and Wellness Center funded by Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital.
  • Niles/Park Ridge (New!) at Gemini Jr High funded By Advocate Children’s Hospital
  • Oak Lawn at Advocate Christ Hospital funded by Advocate Chidlren’s Hospital (site is full for fall)
  • St Charles at St. Charles Park District funded by Cadence Health
  • Woodridge/Naperville - Edward Health and Fitness funded by Edward Hospital

ProActiveKids Program At A Glance

What it is:
Designed in collaboration with physicians, psychologists, nutritionists, personal trainers, coaches and educational leaders, the ProActive Kids is a FREE comprehensive 8 week program that will introduce children ages 8 -14, and their families, to healthier lifestyle options. Children must be in the 85th percentile and above in BMI to qualify for the program. The program offers a fun and rewarding experience that consists of:

  • Physical Fitness education and Workouts - 3 workouts a week! Read more