February is American Heart Month
Do something for yourself during American Heart Month to help avoid becoming a heart disease statistic. About every 25 seconds, someone in America will have a coronary event – don’t let it be you.
Adult Immunization Information
The North Shore Health Department has received special grant funding for 2010 that provides certain vaccines at a reduced cost for adults aged 19 or older. For $15.00 each, the following vaccines are available: Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis), HPV (human papillomavirus), MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), Varicella (chicken pox), Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. These vaccines are available by appointment (call 414-371-2980) or at all three monthly immunization clinics listed on the Health Department website www.browndeerwi.org/brown-deer-services.cfm.
Lyme Disease Still a Threat
There were 1,487 confirmed cases of Lyme disease in Wisconsin last year and state health officials urge everyone to take precautions against tick bites. People are more likely to be exposed to ticks between May and August when more time is spent outdoors.
Sun Safety Week, June 1-7
Summer really will arrive some day and everyone will be spending more time outdoors and in the sun! While this might be good for improving one's mood, it is not necessarily good for overall health. Exposure to the sun is a significant risk factor for skin cancer and skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S. More than one million Americans develop skin cancer every year and one person dies from the disease every hour. One in five people will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.
Type 2 Diabetes Can Be Prevented
March 24 is DIabetes Alert Day and everyone should take notice. More than 57 million Americans have pre-diabetes. This is a condition where blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not yet diabetes. Add in the number who have already been diagnosed with diabetes and the number is staggering. Consequences of this chronic disease can be devastating not only in potential premature death but also in quality of life prior to death. People with diabetes suffer higher rates of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, kidney disease, blindness, as well as many other types of complications.
