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Features

Planning a healthy new year

A national New Year's message from the Departments of
Agriculture, Education, and Health and Human Services

[DEC. 31, 2002]  On behalf of all of the families of the dedicated employees at the Departments of Agriculture, Education, and Health and Human Services, we want to take this opportunity to wish you and all Americans a happy and healthy new year. We especially want to invite you, along with our nation's children, youths, families, educators, health practitioners and faith-based leaders, to make healthy New Year’s resolutions along with us.

The beginning of a new year is a traditional time when we make promises anew to ourselves, our families and especially our children. Preparing to return to school and work from a busy winter break, we often pledge to do something a bit healthier -- spend more time with our children and families, read more for ourselves and to our children, finish homework on time, eat more sensibly, exercise more, get more rest, procrastinate less, be in touch with family and friends more often.

As we reflect upon 2002, many of us think about what went right over the year, especially for our children, and in what areas we want to improve. In looking forward to 2003, New Year's Day will be a time to enjoy festivities, football, food and family fun. It is also a time when we want to challenge ourselves to keep New Year’s resolutions that will help make our lives and our children's futures brighter -- resolutions that will help our children to learn, to grow and to develop their full potential.

In June, President Bush unveiled his Healthier U.S. initiative (www.healthierus.gov), a common-sense approach to healthy living, designed to raise awareness about the steps individuals can take to improve their overall health and wellness, including healthy eating. The initiative has identified four keys to a healthier America:

• Be physically active each day.
• Eat a nutritious, balanced diet.
• Get preventive health screenings.

• Practice healthy behaviors and decision-making.

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A good deal of the work we perform at our three departments focuses on achieving the president's goals. We do research to learn more about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, educate families and children on what we have identified as healthy behaviors, and help meet the nutritional needs of our citizens -- particularly our young people, who will be tomorrow's leaders.

We are a nation of abundance and opportunity; we have advantages no other nation or generation has enjoyed. A healthy lifestyle can improve our readiness to learn, increase our energy to perform day-to-day tasks, promote well-being, and prevent disease and disability. All of us can take simple, effective steps to improve our health:

• Take the steps instead of the elevator.
• Bring a piece of fruit along for a snack instead of stopping for something loaded with calories and little nutritional value.
• Get out and play with your children.
• Read to your children and enjoy a healthy snack.
• Eat only half of your dinner and save the rest for tomorrow's lunch.
• Check with your doctor for guidance on preventive screenings and health promotion.

• Remember to always buckle in, buckle on and buckle up.

As we look to the new year, we want to encourage our children and young people -- in fact all Americans -- to join us in promoting a healthier lifestyle. We encourage opportunities to engage in healthful eating, exercise and playing together with our children. Let us enjoy the fruits of our harvest, albeit in moderation.

We wish you a happy and healthy 2003.

[News release]

Health Matters

A monthly feature from  Logan County Health Department

How to quit smoking

[DEC. 2, 2002]  As the New Year approaches, we all begin to make resolutions for a healthy and happy New Year. If you smoke, you may be contemplating giving up cigarettes as your New Year's resolution. There is nothing easy about giving up cigarettes. But as hard as quitting may be, the results are well worth it. In the first year after stopping smoking, the risk of heart disease and lung disease drops sharply. Quitting will also save you money. With the average cost of a pack of cigarettes reaching $4.25, a pack-a-day smoker can save $1,400 a year by not smoking cigarettes.

Take time to think about other benefits of being an ex-smoker. This is an important first step in kicking the smoking habit — figuring out for yourself what you have to gain. And don't just switch to smokeless tobacco — the dangers and the addiction are just as damaging as with cigarettes.

Once you decide to stop smoking, a few preparations are in order. Set a target date for quitting. Don't choose a time when you know you will be under a lot of stress. To help you stick to your quit date, write the date on your calendar, find another friend or family member to give you special support in your efforts to quit or another smoker to quit with you, and make a list of how you'll reward yourself for becoming an ex-smoker.

On the evening before your quit day, throw away all cigarettes, matches and lighters and give away your ashtrays. Plan some special activities for the next day to keep you busy. Ask family members and friends not to smoke in front of you. Your goal is to get through that first important day smoke-free.

To quit successfully, you need to know your personal smoking "triggers." These are the situations and feelings that typically bring on the urge to light up. Especially during the first weeks after quitting, try to avoid as many triggers as you can.

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Replace "triggers" with new activities that you don't associate with smoking. For example, if you always had a cigarette with a cup of coffee, switch to tea for awhile.

Keep busy. Get involved in projects that require you to use your hands. When you feel the need to put something in your mouth, have low-calorie snacks on hand.

Know what to expect. You may experience some temporary withdrawal symptoms. It is important to know that these are signs that your body is recovering from smoking and symptoms will end.

Call the Illinois Tobacco Quitline 1 (866) QUIT-YES — 1 (866) 784-8937 — for help.

If you "slip," don't worry. It doesn't mean that you've become a smoker again. Most smokers "slip" three to five times before they quit for good. Get back on the nonsmoker track: (1) Don't get discouraged. Keep thinking of yourself as a nonsmoker because you are one. (2) Learn from experience. What was the trigger that made you light up? (3) Take charge. Make a list of things you will do the next time you are in that particular situation. Reread your list of all the reasons you want to quit.

You're on your way!

[Logan County Health Department]

Red Cross

West Nile Virus

West Nile virus links

LDN articles

• Local authorities watching WNV

Federal websites

• CDC WNV home page

State websites

• State WNV website

• Protect your home against mosquitoes
• State surveillance site
• Logan County surveillance site

Honors & Awards

Announcements

The Rural Health Partnership has announced the schedule for its mobile health unit for 2002.

For more information on the mobile health unit schedule and services, contact Dayle Eldredge at (217) 732-2161, Ext. 409.

Community resource list

This family resource list to save and use is provided by the Healthy Communities Partnership and the Healthy Families Task Force, 732-2161, Ext. 409.         

(updated 2-15-02)

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