Wear red on Feb. 7: Support women’s heart health

The Henry and Stark County Health Departments in conjunction with the American Heart Association, announced that Friday, Feb.7 has been designated as National Wear Red Day. This important health observance is noted to help focus attention on women and heart disease.

“Women often do not take their risk of heart disease seriously or personally. However, Heart Disease is the number 1 killer of women, killing more than all forms of cancer combined.” said RaeAnn Tucker, director of health promotion with the Henry and Stark County Health Departments. “Many of these deaths can be prevented, but most women don’t notice the symptoms until it’s too late. That’s why it’s been called the silent killer.”

Help increase awareness of women’s heart health on Feb. 7, by wearing red, speaking up and uniting with millions of women to help save lives across America.

The Health Department and First Choice Healthcare offers the following heart health facts:

• Heart disease is the number one killer of American women aged 20 and over, killing
  approximately one woman every minute.
• One in every 3 women dies of heart disease. One in every 30 dies of breast cancer.
• 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease.
• Americans can lower their risk of heart disease by as much as 82 percent by just leading a
  healthy life.

Risk factors are habits or conditions that increase the chance of developing a disease. Many of the risk factors for heart disease can be prevented or controlled. Having more than one risk factor is especially serious. Women should talk to a health professional about their individual risks and how to lower them.

Risk factors for heart disease include: smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, high blood cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity, age and family history of heart disease.

For more information on heart health and the services of the First Choice Healthcare Clinics call the location nearest you in Kewanee 309-852-5272, Colona 309-792-4011, or Toulon 309-852-3115

Heart of the matter: Raising awareness of tobacco’s risks

The Henry and Stark County Health Departments note that February is proclaimed American Heart Month. Tobacco use is an important risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease.

Cardiovascular diseases kill more people than any other cause of death worldwide. Therefore, Heart Month is an important time to remind area residents about the Health Departments’ Illinois Tobacco-Free Communities Grant activities.

In both Henry and Stark County their staff works continually to enforce, educate and encourage compliance with the Smoke-Free Illinois Act (SFIA). The SFIA protects residents, workers, and visitors from the harmful effects of exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke and e-cigarette vapor by prohibiting smoking of all forms of combustible tobacco, including cigarettes, cigars, and hookah, and e-cigarettes, vapes, and any other electronic smoking device, in public places and places of employment.

The Smoke-free Illinois Act prohibits smoking in virtually all public places and workplaces, including offices, theaters, museums, libraries, educational institutions, schools, commercial establishments, enclosed shopping centers and retail stores, restaurants, bars, private clubs and gaming facilities.

The Smoke Free Illinois Act requires that all business owners:

● Do not permit smoking, vapes & e-cigarettes within 15 feet of entrances, exits, windows, that open and ventilation intakes.
● Post “No Smoking” signs at each entrance.
● Remove ashtrays from areas where smoking is prohibited.
Failure to comply with the Smoke Free Illinois Act can result in fines.

The Health Department in coordination with the State of Illinois has taken these important steps to protect its residents, workers and visitors from the harmful and hazardous effects of smoking and secondhand smoke.

Cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 480,000 deaths per year in the United States, including more than 41,000 deaths resulting from secondhand smoke exposure. This is about one in five deaths annually, or 1,300 deaths every day.

For more information about the Health Department’s Illinois Tobacco-Free activities, or for “No Smoking” signs or window clings for your business; call 309-852-0197 Extension 249 or download a sign by visiting their website at www.henrystarkhealth.com.