Dear Lake County Residents:

Now that 2016 is upon us, it’s time to take a good look at the resolutions you made for the New Year and figure out how you are going to meet your goals.  If you made resolutions to eat healthier, become more physically active, or quit smoking, we applaud you, because you are right in step with the Health Department’s mission to achieve the highest level of health for everyone in Lake County.  Here are some tips to help you meet your goals:

• Change Your Unhealthy Habits When it comes to eating, we have strong habits. Although many of our eating habits were established during childhood, it doesn't mean it's too late to change them.
• Practice Healthy Weight Loss.  It's natural for anyone trying to lose weight to want to lose it very quickly. But evidence shows that people who lose weight gradually and steadily are more successful at keeping weight off.
• Get Started with Physical Activity. If you've not been physically active in a while, you may be wondering how to get started again. Look for opportunities to reduce sedentary time and to increase active time.
  
• Get Help to Quit Smoking. You don’t need to quit smoking all by yourself. The Health Department’s Tobacco Free Lake County program offers one-on-one counseling and other resources to help you quit.  Call the Tobacco Free Lake County program at: (847) 377-8090.

Remember that healthy behaviors can go a long way toward avoiding illnesses related to chronic diseases. So, don't wait until tomorrow; start a new healthy habit today.

Sincerely,

Tony Beltran
Executive Director
Lake County Health Department/
Community Health Center

January has been designated National Radon Action Month by the Environmental Protection Agency. In connection with this observance, the Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center is encouraging residents to check the radon levels of their homes or apartments in January or during the winter months. Click here to learn more.   

A project of the Health Department and Community Health Center in partnership with the Waukegan Public Library, Enroll Lake County! aims to enroll or re-enroll at least 3,000 Lake County residents in health insurance plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace. The Marketplace is now open through January 31, 2016. Certified navigators are in place at various sites throughout the county to answer questions and help residents enroll or re-enroll in health insurance plans through the Marketplace or Medicaid. Appointments may be requested in English and Spanish by calling (847) 775-2582 or (847) 377-4999. Click here for more information about enrollment.

Winter is a great time of year for outdoor sports or sipping hot chocolate in front of a fire. But, winter can also be a time of illness and injury if people fail to take appropriate health and safety precautions.  Following are some tips from the Health Department on how to avoid some of winter’s woes. Click here for more.

Are you looking for a healthy smoothie recipe? Did you know this is the time of year to test your house or apartment for radon and where you can find a test kit? Can you identify the signs of hypothermia? Learn more in this month's "Healthy Lake County" video. It only takes about five minutes. Click here to watch.

What does the Health Department do for your community? Health Department staff provided presentations and displays about their programs for representatives of schools, townships, and villages during an event called Health Department 101 at the Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago. Click here to watch a quick video clip.   

If you are facing overwhelming depression or a feeling of being out of control, sometimes just talking to someone else can help. You can call the Crisis Care Program 24/7 and talk to a caring professional. You do not need to give your name. Information and referrals to other Health Department programs are also available to the caller. The number to call is (847) 377-8088. Click here for more information.

Have you ever wondered how Illinois compares health-wise with other states?

Strengths include:
Low rate of drug deaths
High immunization among adolescent females for HPV
Ready availability of primary care physicians

Challenges include:
High prevalence of excessive drinking
High levels of air pollution
High rate of preventable hospitalizations

Click here to see the state's overall health rankings.