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McHenry County Department of Health Update
Quit smoking classes begin March 12
The McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) and Centegra will offer quit smoking classes for adults in March. The seven-week class will be held on Wednesdays beginning March 12, from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m., at Centegra Health Bridge Fitness Center, 200 E. Congress Parkway, in Crystal Lake. A $25 course fee, payable at the first class, is refundable if all sessions are attended. Class members will also receive a free 3-day pass to Centegra's Health Bridge Fitness Center. To register, call 1-877-CENTEGRA or visit www.mcdh.info.
Classes will teach practical ways to end nicotine addiction through group support and behavior modification. It will also review nicotine replacement products that are currently on the market. Instruction is provided by MCDH staff that are trained in the American Lung Association's Freedom From Smoking® program. This program is considered the "gold standard" and has helped tens of thousands of smokers quit over the last 30 years. Evaluation studies have shown that individuals who participate in Freedom From Smoking®:
- experience immediate health benefits;
- learn to address the physical, mental, and social aspects of their addiction; and
- are six times more likely to be smokefree one year later than those who quit on their own.
MCDH reports between 70%-75% of class participants have quit smoking by the end of the program, when used in combination with smoking cessation medication. Quitting smoking can add up to measurable savings - $2,500 per year for those who smoke one pack a day, as well as the money saved on healthcare costs.
To speak with a counselor immediately, call the Illinois Tobacco Quitline at 1-866-QUIT-YES.
"Get Covered Illinois" Navigator Information
For more information, or to make an appointment with a Navigator to enroll for coverage, call MCDH at 815-334-4510 or online at www.mcdh.info. There are 15 sites throughout the County offering day and evening appointments, seven days a week.
The following Navigators are also available for questions:
- Pioneer Center for Human Services: 815-690-1459
- McHenry Community Health Center: 815-363-9900
- FamiliesETC: 815-308-0861 or 224-239-1088
- Family Health Partnership Clinic: 815-276-1843
- Centegra: 815-759-4988
- Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital: 630-402-1951 or 224-622-3144
"Get Covered Illinois", the official Health Insurance Marketplace, offers a new way for Illinois residents to find the health coverage they need. Individuals, families and business owners can also access information online at www.GetCoveredIllinois.gov or contact the State Call Center at 866-311-1119.
Cholesterol Screening Offered March 19
McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) will offer a cholesterol screening at Sage YMCA, 701 Manor Road in Crystal Lake, on Wednesday, March 19, from 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. Appointments are required at 815-334-4851. The cost is $35. The screening requires a 12-hour fast and includes total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, blood pressure and cardiovascular education.
Why is cholesterol important? High cholesterol has a lot to do with your chances of getting heart disease. Although it usually has no signs or symptoms, it can be treated. In fact, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes are all major risk factors for heart disease. Certain lifestyles such as being a smoker, being overweight and lack of exercise can also put people at a higher risk for developing heart disease. Everyone can take steps to lower their risk of heart disease and heart attack by addressing these risk factors.
By quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, you can keep blood cholesterols down. For more information on cardiovascular disease and its risk factors, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by clicking here. | 
