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Nutrition Tip - New Year, New Recipes
Give your favorite recipes a healthy makeover without affecting the taste by using healthy substitutions. A Health Department registered dietitian provides tips on healthy substitutions. You can also check out a healthier version of a creamy asparagus soup recipe.
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Rotary Donates Teddy Bears to Veterans
Highland Park Rotary member Evelyn Levin, right, and M.J. Hodgins, program coordinator for the Lake-McHenry Veterans and Family Services program, check out some of the 500 stuffed bears donated in late December by the service organization for veterans and their families. |
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Lake County Health Focus
The winter edition of the LCTV cable show "Lake County Health Focus" features:
--Tips to control your waistline
--Pet safety in wintry weather
--Quitting tobacco for good
--World AIDS Day
--Preventing heart disease
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Dear Lake County Residents:
While influenza activity in the United States is low at this time, it is expected to increase in the coming weeks. Most flu cases are
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Irene T. Pierce, MSN
Executive Director.
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reported from late fall to early spring each year. Since we are now in flu season, it is very important to practice good health habits to stop the spread of germs. Here are some likely places to come in contact with respiratory viruses (such as cold and flu bugs).
The bottom line is: people can be exposed to respiratory viruses practically anywhere. The best thing is to proactively practice prevention techniques to avoid illness. Here are tips to protect yourself and others:
- Get a flu shot on an annual basis. This is the most important step in protecting against flu viruses. Vaccinating the entire family helps prevent the spread of disease between family members.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. If no tissue is available, sneeze into your sleeve or the crook of your elbow.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand-rub.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- If you are sick with a flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
- While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
The Lake County Health Department continues to offer flu vaccinations. For more information, visit: http://www.lakecountyil.gov/Health/want/Pages/Flu.aspx, or call the Health Department at: (847) 377-8470.
Sincerely,
Irene Pierce, MSN
Executive Director
Lake County Health Department/
Community Health Center
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Ask an expert: What are some of the best ways to prevent cavities in my child?
 Brush with the proper technique twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste, or use wet gauze/wash cloth to wipe your baby's teeth.
Change the toothbrush every two to three months or sooner if bristles look worn or are going sideways.
Floss daily.
Eat nutritious and balanced meals while limiting snacking. Eating frequently and not brushing causes more cavities. For instance, eating 10 pounds of sugar at one time will probably cause fewer cavities than eating a pound of sugar 10 times a day.
Drink more regular, tap filtered water than regular or diet soda. It is cheaper and better for your teeth.
Do not put a baby to sleep with a bottle containing milk, juice or a flavored drink.
Prevent frequent consumption of sticky candies or chocolates.
Dental exams start at age 1. Take your child to the dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups. Ask your dentist about use of supplemental fluoride, which stengthens teeth, and use of dental sealants to protect the back teeth.
Thanks to Dr. Anshuman R. Soni, senior dentist with Primary Care Services at the Health Department, for providing recommendations to consider for protecting chidlren's teeth. If you have a health question for an expert, send an email to cgordon@lakecountyil.gov and we will try to publish the answer in the next e-newsletter.
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Whooping Cough Update
By the end of 2011, Lake County had surpassed the
annual record number of pertussis (whooping cough) cases with an estimated 172 cases reported to the Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center. There were 164 confirmed cases reported in Lake County in 2004.
The best way to prevent pertussis is to get vaccinated. There are vaccines for children, pre-teens, teens and adults. Talk with your healthcare provider about being vaccinated against pertussis.
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National Honors Awarded
The Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium and the Lake County Health Department each received national honors in December as recipients of awards of excellence from the National Public Health Information Coalition. The Lake County Health Department received a silver award for in-house special audio visual projects for the summer 2011 Lake County Health Focus program. The program, recorded four times a year, features activities of the Health Department as well as useful information for residents on a variety of health topics. Lake County TV tapes the show for availability through the Health Department website as well as through LCTV (local cable TV).
The Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium (which includes the Lake County Health Department) received a bronze award for a website designed to assist health educators throughout the state with pandemic flu communications. The website, which can be accessed at: www.ilpanflu.org, was developed by a private firm under the direction of the consortium's communications leaders in Lake, McHenry, Kane, Winnebago and DuPage counties.
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Lake County Health Update 