Happy Holidays!

 Happy Holidays!

 

Eating Healthier for the Holidays-Links

Health Tip: Eat Healthier During the Holidays

URL of this page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_131406.html (* this news item will not be available after 02/14/2013)

From MedlinePlus (http://medlineplus.gov), 24 Hour Health Information.

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Landlord & Pet Resources

A Cinderella Christmas Story

Make Your Party Rock...Alcohol Free!

DURING THESE HOLIDAYS "MAKE UR PARTY ROCK" ALCOHOL FREE!
   
"Staying Fresh, Staying Sober" video created by The Miracle Center's youth as part of their campaign efforts to prevent and reduce Underage Drinking in the Hermosa Community. This video shows young people that in order to "Make Ur Party Rock" you do not need to have alcohol!  If you would like to join their effort please contact The Miracle Center at (773) 276-5933.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages and encourage others to do the same. We have made a lot of progress but still have a long way to go and need your help!

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.  It is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, and remains the second leading cause of death among women.  The good news is that death rates for this disease have been on the decline since 1990, partially due to better screening and detection techniques, increased awareness and improved treatment options.  For every women, especially those over 40 years of age – it is crucial to practice regular breast self -exams and schedule annual mammograms.  Breast cancer resources are available at:

• American Cancer Society,  cancer.org:  (800-227-2345)
• National Cancer Institute, cancer.gov: 800-4-cancer: (800-422-6237)
•  Susan G. Komen for the Cure, komen.org;:  877-GO-KOMEN (877-466-6636
• Breastcancer.org

The Healthy Hermosa Coalition is hosting a Breast Cancer Awareness Workshop on October 11, 2012.  For more information contact Herminia Vanna at 312-747-8812 or rsvp to attend the workshop and learn about resources in the Hermosa area. 

 

Farmer's Market

LA SIEMBRA FARMER’S MARKET

Saturday, Sept. 29th & Oct. 27th

10:00am – 2:00pm

New Life will be Hosting A Prominent Farmer’s Market

1660 N. California Ave., Chicago, IL 60647

Free Exercise Seminar

Join us Saturday, September 8th at 10:00 am for an information filled seminar. We will give you the tools & encouragement to start an exercise program for your health.

Abundant Health Ministry is on your T.E.A.M!

Come get...

• Tools
• Encouragement
• Accountability
• Motivation

1665 N. Mozart St.
Chicago, IL 60647

NLC.abundanthealth@gmail.com

HIV/AID Prevention Workshop

Taller de prevención del VIH

• Prevention Ed/ Educación sobre Prevención
• HIV Test/ Prueba de VIH
• Community Resources/ Recursos Comunitarios
• Recent Data/ Estadísticas Actuales

Donde/Where:  Primera Iglesia Congregacional

1305 N. Hamlin, Chicago, IL

Cuando/When: Saturday, September 22, 2012/ Sabado 22 de 

septiembre del 2012 - 10:00am - 1:00p.m.

Presenter/Presentador: Joann Montes, CORE Center

Auspiciado por: Primera Iglesia Congregacional de Chicago & Ruth 

M. Rothstein CORE Center

Don't miss it!

Fight the Bite

As Summer Starts, CDPH Reminds Chicagoans How to Fight the Bite!

First Sign of West Nile Virus Found in Mosquitos and City Prevention Measures Being Taken

Today, the City of Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is reminding Chicagoans to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites as summer starts.  

Each year CDPH leads a comprehensive West Nile Virus (WNV) prevention surveillance program to determine risk levels around the city and reduce the exposure to mosquitoes with West Nile Virus.  This year's first two WNV-positive mosquito samples were collected in Clearing and New City.   

"It is very important to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites and eliminate mosquito breeding sites on near your home.  This includes the using repellents containing DEET, reducing all standing water on your property, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants when outside and limiting outdoor, evening activities when mosquitoes are most active," said Dr. Bechara Choucair, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health.

The identification of positive mosquitoes within the City is coming a few weeks earlier than last year and could signal a longer and more intense viral transmission season.  In comparison, the first infected mosquitoes in 2011 were collected during the last week of July.   

In response, CDPH will increase its mosquito trapping and surveillance in the areas to find sources where mosquitoes may be breeding. If there continues to be a presence of WNV in the next week, the City of Chicago will spray in these areas to rapidly decrease the numbers of infected adult mosquitoes. The City uses a nontoxic chemical that is safe for the environment and people but harsh on mosquitoes.

Positive mosquito samples have also been collected from several of the City's suburbs in recent weeks and two WNV positive birds were found in Chicago this year.  

West Nile Virus is a virus that is carried by some birds and mosquitoes contract it when they bite these birds. It is spread to humans when an infected mosquito bites humans. West Nile Virus cannot be spread from person to person like a cold; it is only through a bite from an infected mosquito.

 

CDPH is offering residents 5 helpful tips to Fight the Bite! 

• Apply Bug Spray! Bug spray is recommended for anybody over 2 months old. Make sure the product you choose has DEET, picardidin or oil of lemon eucalyptus, these are the active ingredients that keep those suckers away!
• Mosquitoes love to bite around sun set time, that's when wearing but spay is extra important.
• Don't Stand for Standing Water, pools of water are where mosquitoes lay their eggs, don't give them this opportunity. For Example, large puddles, or abandoned swimming pools or even baby pools can turn into playgrounds for mosquitoes. if you see standing water call 311 to report it.
• Protect you Home and make sure the window screens don't have holes, mosquitoes love to sneak in there.
• If you see a dead bird report it by calling 311. A trained professional will come out and remove the bird and have it tested for West Nile Virus.

For prevention tips and updates on West Nile Virus activity in Chicago, visit www.cityofchicago.org/health. For an expert national perspective on West Nile Virus, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the Internet at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm.

 
The City's WLV Surveillance Program

CDPH WNV surveillance program started in May. CDPH reduces the mosquito population by first placing briquettes into 91,657 catch basis in targeted areas in the City where evidence of West Nile Virus has been present in the past.  Then, 74 traps are set up around the city to conduct field surveillance.  These traps collect mosquitoes and CDPH tests for WNV 2 times a week. Traps are set up at undisclosed locations around the City in areas where evidence of West Nile Virus has been present.

About West Nile Virus in Humans                                                                                         

Human infections occur when people are bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus. On average, only about 2 in 10 people who are bitten by an infected mosquito will actually become ill. For those who do become ill, West Nile Virus infection can cause a relatively mild illness called West Nile Fever, characterized by fever, muscle aches, rash and headache. More severe West Nile illness is less common, but can include meningitis (inflammation of the membrane surrounding the brain) and encephalitis (inflammation and swelling of the brain itself). People of all ages are susceptible to West Nile infection, but people over age 50 are at greater risk of developing severe illness.

WNV Symptoms include:  Fever, headache, rash and swollen glands. The only way to know is to visit a doctor and have a blood test. If left untreated WNV can cause complications, so it is recommended to air on the side of caution and get checked out by a doctor if you notice any symptoms.

 

Summer Safety Tips

Today the City of Chicago Department of Public Health offered health tips to avoid injury and illness especially helpful over the next few days and into the 4th of July Weekend.

STAY COOL, STAY HYDRATED, STAY INDOORS

• Drink plenty of water, at least eight glasses a day to avoid dehydration and ensure that children stay well hydrated;
• Wear loose, light cotton clothing;
• Avoid or minimize physical exertion and direct exposure to the sun;
• Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat (also keeps you cooler) and sunglasses;
• Do not let anyone sit in a hot, parked car, not even for a few minutes;
• Visit one of the City's temporary cooling centers. Call 3-1-1 to find the closest one.
• Sign up for extreme weather alerts by visiting www.AlertChicago.com and clicking on the Notify Chicago.

FOOD SAFETY

• for cookouts and picnics, temperature is key to avoiding foodborne illness.
• Use a meat thermometer to make sure all meat and poultry are properly cooked - ground beef hamburgers to 160°F and hot dogs to 165°F
• Use a clean plate when taking food off the grill
• Keep hot food hot (140°F or above), and cold food cold (40°F or below)
• Refrigerate leftovers within two hours
• The symptoms of most types of food poisoning include severe cramps, fever, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and bloody diarrhea.  Symptoms can begin from 30 minutes to three or more days after eating contaminated food. If symptoms are severe or last longer than two days, contact a doctor or health care provider.

WATER SAFETY -

• whether at the beach, on the lake or in a swimming pool, take safety precautions.
• Supervise young children around water
• Avoid alcohol while supervising children and before or during swimming, boating, or waterskiing
• Always use life jackets and secure personal flotation devices - do not substitute air-filled or foam toys for safety gear
• Shower before enter a swimming pool and do not swim if you have diarrhea
• Be aware of the local weather conditions and forecast, especially watch for thunderstorms with lightening
• Know and obey the posted warnings that indicate beach conditions
• Pay attention to lifeguards or posted instructions.

SUN AND HEAT SAFETY-

• protect yourself against sunburn and heat illness.
• Apply sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes before going outside
• Increase your fluids - drink more liquid than your thirst indicates; avoid alcohol
• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loosing-fitting clothing
• Heat exhaustion symptoms - heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea, clammy skin, pale or flushed complexion, and fast and shallow breathing
• Heat exhaustion treatment - move the person to a cooler place; remove or loosen tight clothing; and apply cool, wet cloths; give cool water to slowly drink
• Heat stroke symptoms - hot, dry skin, hallucinations, chills, throbbing headache, high body temperature, confusion/dizziness and slurred speech
• Heat stroke treatment - call 911; quickly cool the person in a cool bath or wrap wet sheets around them; if the victim refuses water, is vomiting or shows a decreased level of consciousness, do not give anything to eat or drink

MOSQUITO AND TICK SAFETY -

• camping, hiking or in your own backyard, guard against insect illnesses.
• Apply bug spray or repellent for anybody over 2 months old.
• Mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus and ticks can transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichiosis and other serious infections
• Avoid being outside during prime mosquito-biting hours, dusk to dawn, and apply insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535, according to label instructions 
• Avoid tick-infested areas, such as the woods and high grasses, and use repellent containing 20 percent DEET or treat clothing with the repellent, permethrin
• Remove ticks attached to the body using a pair of tweezers and call your health care provider if you develop a rash, fever or body aches during the 1 to 3 weeks following a bite
• Check with a veterinarian about preventing tick-borne diseases in pets as they can carry ticks into the home
• Don't stand for standing water, pools of water are where mosquito lay their eggs. For example, large puddles, baby pools, bird baths.
• Call 311 to report standing water, or dead birds. 

For more information on summer safety, cooling centers, and other heat related information call 311, or find other health information on www.cityofchicago.org/health

To Kill a Mockingbird--Performance

The Miracle Center invites you to a live performance of "To Kill A Mockingbird." For this educational student production, many teens in our arts program have assembled with some adult guest performers under the direction of our new Artistic Director, Diane Fisher-Simmons. The show's script, based on the Pulitzer prize winning book by Harper Lee, still reminds us today that racism and judgment without "walking around in someone else's skin" is as wrong today as it was in 1935, Maycomb, Alabama - which is the show's setting. Don't miss this childhood journey which leads us to a court room battle where standing for what is right, win or lose, still matters.

When: Friday, June 29th @ 7:30 pm

Saturday, June 30th @ 7:30 pm

Where: 3740 W. Belden

Chicago, IL 60647

Ticket Prices: $7.00 (Youth)

$10.00 (Adults 18 & over)

To purchase your tickets visit us at http://www.themiraclecenter.org/ or contact us at 773.276.5933 for more information.

Free Computer Classes

Sign-up for FREE Computer Classes


Thanks to a grant from the State of Illinois, ICNC is offering on-site computer classes at no charge. Space is limited, so sign up today.See ICNC's website for a complete description of classes.

Upcoming classes include:

Digital Media Tuesday-April 3: 12pm-4pm

Back to Basics Thursday-April 5: 11am-3pm

PowerPoint 1 & 2 Tuesday-April 10: 11am-4pm

Word 1 & 2 Thursday-April 12: 11am-4pm

Access 1 & 2 Tuesday-April 17: 11am-4pm

Digital Marketing 101 Thursday-April 19: 12pm-4pm

Excel Level 1 Tuesday-April 24: 1pm-4pm

Excel Level 2 Thursday-April 26: 1pm-4pm

For more info call 312-421-3941

A message from Alcohol Justice The Industry Watchdog

Alcohol consumption affects the health and well being of people in the United States in many negative ways: drunk driving, violent crime, spousal and child abuse, and diseases such as liver cirrhosis and cancer.


Though these problems often result from underage drinking, binge drinking, and alcoholism, even moderate alcohol consumption can contribute to health problems, especially various forms of cancer.

If consumers knew the nutritional value of the alcohol they are about to consume, they might make better choices and help reduce the risks of consumption.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the authority and is about to finalize a new rule on national nutrition labeling standards for restaurant menus that should include alcohol. At the moment it does not.

Let's tell President Obama that considering all the health and societal harms associated with alcohol consumption, it's time to direct his administration to include alcohol in the final restaurant labeling rule to best inform consumers so they can make healthier choices.

Click here to log in and send your message:

The Economic Cost of Excessive Alcohol Consumption

In the United States annually, excessive alcohol consumption accounts for an average of 79,000 deaths and 2.3 million years of potential life lost, making it the third-leading preventable cause of death in the country. This serious public health problem carries a heavy economic burden and causes a number of adverse health and social consequences, including premature death, increases in disease and injury, property damage from fire and motor vehicle crashes, alcohol-related crime, and lost productivity.


In 1998, researchers estimated that excessive alcohol consumption cost the United States $184.6 billion each year. According to a recent study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, the cost of excessive alcohol consumption grew to 223.5 billion in 2006, with binge drinking accounting for over 75% of the total economic cost of excessive drinking.

What did they do?

Researchers Ellen E. Bouchery, Henrick J. Harwood, Jeffery J. Sacks, Carol J. Simon, and Robert D. Brewer followed the United States Public Health Service Guidelines to calculate the economic cost of excessive alcohol consumption in 2006. This method approximates the amount of direct and indirect national costs for health care, crime, mortality, morbidity-related productivity, and other expenses that can be associated with a specific behavior or health problem. Since this method does not include costs related to pain and suffering, researchers believe the estimates may be significantly lower than they would be if these intangible costs were taken into consideration.

To estimate the economic costs of a selection of impacts and consequences related to excessive alcohol consumption, researchers gathered information from a variety of effective and consistent national databases. Data included the costs of health care, productivity losses, property damage due to crimes, motor vehicle crashes and fire dam- age, the criminal justice system, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)-related special education, and numerous other consequences.

After identifying the total costs, they explored what percentage of these costs could be attributed to particular alcohol consumption behaviors, such as binge drinking, underage drinking, and drinking while pregnant. In addition, they identified the most costly alcohol-attributable crimes, calculated the average economic cost for each alcohol drink consumed, and determined who in society bears the most cost as it relates to excessive drinking.


What did they find?


In 2006, the estimated total economic cost of excessive alcohol consumption in the United States amounted to $223.5 billion or $1.90 per drink, which equals about $746 for each man, woman, and child on a per capita basis. Of the $223.5 billion, $161.3 billion (72.3%) represent costs from lost productivity. Of this $161.3 billion, the two greatest losses came from impaired productivity at work (45.9%) and lost productivity due to the 83,180 alcohol-related deaths (40.3%).

Within the $24.6 billion (11.0%) estimate due to increased healthcare costs, the largest expenditures came from specialty treatment for alcohol abuse and dependence (43.4%) and hospitalizations from excessive drinking medical conditions (20.8%). The biggest cost from other effects comes from criminal justice system costs, totaling $21 billion, due to crimes that are not considered mainly alcohol-attributable, such as assault versus drinking and driving. The cost of motor vehicle crashes also accounted for a significant percentage of the total cost related to other effects ($14 billion in total).

Of the total economic costs of excessive drinking, binge drinking amounts to $170.7 billion (76.4%), underage drinking equals $27.0 billion (12.1%), drinking while pregnant represents $5.2 billion, or 2.3% (mostly related to FAS), and the costs of crime come to $73.3 billion (9.2%). The federal, state, and local government bear these economic costs ($94.2 billion) along with excessive drinkers and their families ($92.9 billion), with the government bearing most of the costs for healthcare expenditures and excessive drinkers and their families covering productivity losses.


What Coalitions Can Do

• Implement effective interventions In order to reduce excessive alcohol consumption, coalitions need to ensure they are combining policies with interventions targeting individual behaviors. Coalitions should implement a comprehensive set of interventions addressing the seven behavior change strategies, such as increasing alcohol excise taxes, limiting alcohol outlet density, enforcing the minimum legal drinking age, screening and counseling for alcohol misuse, and sobriety checkpoints for alcohol-impaired driving.

• Target specific drinking patterns and risk groups According to the research, binge drinking accounted for almost three- quarters of the economic costs. Coalitions should continuously keep a current pulse on their local data and what it tells them about the specific groups in their community engaging in excessive drinking and the associated behaviors and costs to the community. With this information, as well as information on root causes and local conditions associated with the behaviors, coalitions can develop an effective and efficient strategic plan of action.

•  Demonstrate to policymakers the economic costs to the community To gain support from policymakers for environmental policies that fit your local conditions, coalitions will need to demonstrate the economic burden of excessive alcohol drinking on their community. Coalitions should adapt the data presented in this article to their own community. For instance, one can easily figure the total economic cost by multiplying the population of a community by the $746 of excessive alcohol consumption per capita basis for every man, woman, and child.

To review the original source, please refer to:

Bouchery, E.E., Harwood, H.J., Sacks, J.J., Simon, C.J., & Brewer, R.D. (2011). Economic costs of excessive alcohol consumption in the U.S., 2006. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 41:516-524.

CADCA's National Coalition Institute, 625 Slaters Lane, #300, Alexandria, VA 22314, 1-800-54-CADCA , www.cadca.org

CADCA's National Coalition Institute mission is to increase the effectiveness of community anti-drug coalitions throughout the nation.

Research into Action may be copied without permission. Please cite CADCA's National Coalition Institute as the source.

February is Heart Month

The mission of the Healthy Hermosa coalition is to not only make Hermosa one of the healthiest communities in Chicago. The coalition is also committed to raising awareness and access to health care. For February we will focus on Health Heart for women


Did you know?

An estimated one in four women die from heart disease in the U.S. according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.

That’s more deaths from heart disease than the next four causes of death combines, says the AHA.

Women should be on the lookout for uncomfortable pressures, squeezing, fullness or pain the center of their chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or comes and goes. Also, be on the lookout for pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort, are also signs of a heart attach, along with breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or light headedness.

To find out more about symptoms or what can be done to prevent heart disease visit the American Heart Association’s website.

Chicago Go Red for Women Community Expo

Friday, February 24

8:30 am - 1:30pm

UIC Forum

725 W. Rooseveltl, Chicago, IL

Call 312-476-6679 for more information

FREE HEART HEALTH SCREENINGS AND WORKSHOPS

IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH

Programs for single women and high school students...Become everyday heroes

1. If you're a single woman who longs for a career saving lives, have you considered becoming an EMT? If so, a tuition-free training course is starting this March. This isn't a lonely on-line class. You'll receive coaching, tutoring and much needed support from your study group members.


2. If you're a sophomore who longs for a career fighting fires or thieves, have you considered joining the Chicago Police and Firefighter Training Academy (CPFTA)? This 2-year program provides training for juniors and seniors interested in careers in public safety, law enforcement, criminal justice, and fire science.

Presentations on CPFTA:
Feb. 2nd & Feb. 9th from 6:00-7:30pm
Advanced Arts @ Gallery 37 Center
Room 503
66 E. Randolph Street

To A Healthy You!

 

Soda and most juices are some of the worst beverages that you could be drinking for your health. Most sodas and juices contain a high amount of simple sugars. The USDA recommendation of sugar –consumption for a 2,000-calorie diet is a daily allotment of 10 teaspoons of added sugars. Most people get that in one 12.oz.cola (9 ½ tsp. of sugar) or 12 oz. of orange juice (9tsp. of sugar). These sugary beverages cause us to take in excess calories, which in turn cause our bodies to store more fat. More fat stored leads to weight gain, obesity and serious health problems such as diabetes, certain cancers and heart disease, to name a few. Who would think that sugary drinks can cause such harm? I have good news to share, we can all make smart changes that are Free or low cost.

 

Here are a few changes that you and your family can make.

 

1. Drink plenty of water.

•  Nothing quenches thirst better than water. 
• Water is naturally sugar -free and calorie- free. 
• You can add a slice of orange, lemon, or cucumber for almost no calories and lots of flavor. 
• We are blessed in this nation to have safe drinking water. 
• Don’t take this blessing for granted.(other countries are not as fortunate, many die from polluted water
• Sources). 

 

2. Switch from juice to whole fruit.

 

• Most kids (and adults) get too much juice and too little fruit. 
• Fruit juice isn’t as healthful as most people think. It’s loaded with calories. 
• Compare the calories of a 12oz.Cola to your favorite 12oz.juice (you will be Surprised to find out which has more calories). 
• More importantly, Whole fruit has fewer calories, and unlike juice, it has fiber. FiberHelps keep you healthy. It also helps you feel full. 1 medium sized apple has 60 calories and 3 grams. of Fiber. 1 cup (8oz.) of apple juice has 110 calories, NO Fiber and doesn’t fill you up. 
• Don’t waste money on punch and fruit –flavored drinks. These are just flavored sugar water.

REMEMBER: one small change will make a big difference. If the only change you make is drinking one less 20 ounce soda per day for a year, you will eliminate 91,250 calories--- which is the number of calories in 26 pounds of body fat.

 

Brought to you by St. Sylvester's Parish Nurse.