Planning for holiday meals should include more than a delicious menu and invited guests. McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) wants you to practice safe food handling as well.  Keeping hot things hot _ more than 135 degrees_ and cold things cold can reduce your risk of a food-borne illness.  Other safety tips include: Thaw frozen meats in the refrigerator (allow one day for each 5 pounds of weight plus an extra day or two).  Don’t buy a fresh turkey too soon as fresh poultry should be kept in the refrigerator no more than two days before cooking. Wash hands thoroughly with warm water …

  Centegra Health System joins the American Cancer Society to celebrate the 35th Great American Smokeout Friday and are encouraging smokers to make a plan to quit and take an important step toward a healthier life. Dr. Ashby Jordan, an independent specialist in pulmonary medicine on the medical staff at Centegra Health System, will present a free physician lecture from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., “Keeping Your Lungs Healthy” at Centegra Health Bridge Fitness Center- Crystal Lake. Jordan will discuss ways to improve lung health and the effects of primary and secondhand smoke on lung capacity.  “We know…

The Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium (NIPHC) has created Illinois Pandemic Flu, a new website that enables health communicators to find up-to-the-minute information about seasonal and pandemic influenza. “With the current flu season upon us, we are pleased to introduce Illinois Pandemic Flu to health communicators who will rely on this website as an important resource," NIPHC President Maureen McHugh, Executive Director of the DuPage County Health Department, said.  “Those who communicate with the public on important topics such as the flu will find this site an all-in-one …

David Tomlinson is a 35-year-old husband and father of five from Crystal Lake. He is a vice president at the largest employer in McHenry County. He also is diabetic. Over the past few years since being diagnosed with diabetes, Tomlinson has learned how to minimize the risks involved with the disease and how to monitor what he calls the minor nuisances of being a diabetic. He hopes to help others make proactive health choices and will share his daily lifestyle struggles with diabetes during a panel discussion at the fourth annual Centegra Health System Diabetes Fair from 8:30 a.m. to noon …

The National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO) has partnered with the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest to promote October 24 as Food Day, a nation-wide campaign to change the way Americans eat and think about food, the McHenry County Health Department said. This event seeks to bring together all aspects of food from sustainable agriculture, to nutrition and health, to access and affordability.  Some of the campaign’s goals: Reduce obesity and diet-related disease by promoting safe, healthy foods support sustainable family farms and cut subsidies to …

Acknowledging breast cancer awareness month and the importance of early detection, Centegra Health System’s nationally recognized breast program continues to sponsor Mammo Monday events throughout McHenry County during the month of October. Centegra also is offering and sponsoring other activities to help raise awareness during Breast Cancer Awareness Month: A Mammo Monday is being held from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 17 at Centegra Health Center Huntley. The American Cancer Society recommends annual mammograms for women 40 and older to maintain breast health and as a proven way to detect…

McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) encourages an annual flu shot for everyone 6 months and older as the best protection against influenza. A flu walk-in flu clinic has been scheduled for mercury-free shots for adults and children 9 years and older from 4-7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 29 at the Huntley Area Library, 11000 Ruth Road in Huntley.  Cash or checks only ($30); Medicaid and Medicare Part B are accepted.  Flu is a serious and contagious illness – even healthy people can get it.  As the flu season is long and unpredictable, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) …

Thousands of nursing women and their babies across the United States will gather in their own communities to take part in the Big Latch On, America’s first synchronized nursing event in multiple locations. The local Big Latch On will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6 at Centegra Hospital-Woodstock in conference rooms A&B. The first record for a single location was from Berkeley, Calif. in 2002 where 1,130 mothers breastfed simultaneously. The international record for one location is 3,738 mothers in the Philippines in 2006. Since then, there have been several coordinated …

At the rate she’s going, Debbie Bielinski will soon be dripping pearls rather than sweat. For the past two years, Bielinski has worked out with a fitness trainer at Centegra Health Bridge Fitness Center in Crystal Lake with the goal of losing weight and improving her health. Since Centegra began its Pearls for Wellness program March 1, Bielinski has collected more than 44 pearls for her efforts to become healthier. “When I heard about the pearl program I was excited about it,” Bielinski said. “I thought it was fantastic. Every pearl is going to represent an hour of working out and an hour of …

Centegra Health System will soon expand its Sleep Services Department to include six new beds at Centegra Sleep Disorders Clinic-Algonquin. The expansion comes as a partnership with the former Alternative Sleep Disorders Center-Ltd. For the millions of Americans who suffer from undiagnosed sleep disorders, daily living can be a struggle. They may nod off during work or at school, or risk serious accidents while driving. Sleep disorders can contribute to relationship strain, problems on the job and can coincide with serious health conditions. The integration is a demonstration of the continued…

With the thermometer expected to rise into the 90s and the humidity climbing to uncomfortably high levels Friday, the Kane County Health Department again is urging residents to take precautions as these conditions can lead to heat illness. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Kane County that will be in effect this afternoon until midnight. With temperatures in the 90s and high humidity, heat index values could reach the upper 90s or higher this afternoon. “You’ll want to be extra careful when going outside on Friday. If you must work outside, be sure to take breaks in …

Summer is a great time to enjoy the outdoors. The beautiful weather and long summer days bring people out to enjoy the parks, pools and beaches and provide a great opportunity to get fit and stay healthy. The summer sun brightens up everyone’s day, but it does come with some risks. So, everyone should take care to protect themselves before they go outdoors. UV rays from the sun are the primary cause of skin cancer. Exposure to the sun’s UV radiation causes 65 percent of melanomas and 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Spending too much time in …

Summer is just around the corner; after a long winter and spring, sun and sand are in sight. As the weather warms up, many of us will put our shoes in the closet and pull out our favorite sandals and flip flops or even go barefoot.   While this can be fun and stylish, there may be some consequences if you are not careful. Sandals cause the foot to be unstable when walking and can lead to various troublesome conditions, including heel pain.  Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain.  Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the band of tissue (the plantar fascia) that extends from the …

May is stroke awareness month and Centegra Health System is committed to decreasing the death and disability rates in the McHenry County area. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and more than 143,500 people die each year from stroke in the United States. Every three to four minutes, someone dies of stroke. In addition, stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability in the United States. A stroke is also called a brain attack and occurs when a clot blocks the blood supply to the brain (ischemic…

One in four American adults live with a diagnosable, treatable mental health condition. Getting help is essential to living well. Centegra Health System is proud to recognize Mental Health Month and offer behavioral health education, services and support to help our community members reach their full potential. Living life well encompasses every aspect of physical and emotional health. When life becomes complicated and demanding, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. “This is the time to reach out for help,” said Dr. Sheila Senn, director of behavioral health services at Centegra Health System. “…

Life Smart for Women offered by McHenry Health Dept. National Women’s Health Week, May 8 to 14,  empowers women to make their health a top priority and this year’s theme, “It’s Your Time,” reinforces that goal. McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) is offering a free eight-week interactive educational program designed for women, age 18 and older, to foster healthy choices for a better quality of life. Classes will be lead by MCDH’s Lila Keller, BSN, RN and will be held at the Woodstock Recreation Center (Multi-Purpose Room A), 820 Lake Avenue, from May 12-June 30, 7-8:30pm. Pre-…

McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) is still taking appointments for its cardiovascular screening on Saturday, April 16, from 7:30am - 11:30am, at its Crystal Lake, 100 N. Virginia St. The screening requires a 12-hour fast and includes total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, blood pressure, cardiovascular education and heart age assessment. Appointments are necessary at 815-334-4536. The cost is $35.00.    You can do a lot to influence your risk of heart disease and it's never too late to start promoting a healthy heart. Learning the risk …

McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) joins the American Public Health Association (APHA) in celebrating National Public Health Week, April 4-10. This year’s theme “Safety is no Accident: Live Injury-free.” MCDH is partnering with local organizations to highlight safety issues at home, at work, at play and in the community. Injury is the most expensive medical problem in the United States. In a single year, $80 billion will be spent on medical care; another $326 billion on lost productivity; and an untold amount on social support for the individuals and families caring for the severely …

Community members are welcome to hear physicians speak about the prevention and treatment of heart disease, common athletic injuries, treatments for arthritic hands and caring for loved ones with dementia or Alzheimer’s during a series of free wellness lectures in April. Space is limited and light refreshments will be served during the lectures. Register by calling 877-CENTEGRA (877-236-8347).Preventing heart disease Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in greater McHenry County. Learn prevention and treatment methods as well as the unique symptoms for women and men when …