Section: Health

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Zinc: A Vital Nutrient That's Found in Common Foods

October 3, 2007

NutritionData.com reports today in a story called “Too much perfume? Could be a zinc deficiency.” that in fact, zinc is critical for a healthy immune response and neurological function.

Nutrtionist Monica Reinagel notes that, “Good food sources of zinc include meat, dairy products, shell-fish, nuts, and beans, while the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) is around 10mg per day.

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Roll Up Your Sleeves to Donate, Crotonites, Blood Supplies are Critically Low

July 24, 2007

While the New York Blood Center reports that its blood supply is critically low, a donor drive will be held on Thursday, July 26, 2007, from 2:30 PM to 8:00 PM at the Croton Free Library.

Some of the reasons that have contributed to the shortage are seasonal, with school recess, summer vacations and uncomfortably hot weather having a serious impact on the number of blood drives scheduled and the number of donors who turnout at each drive. Regardless, local hospitals continue to demand approximately 400 units of blood products to meet patient needs each day.

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Westchester County Issues Heat and Air Quality Advisory to Residents

July 9, 2007

With temperatures forecast to reach the nineties Monday and Tuesday, the Westchester County Health Department is issuing a heat advisory. Residents are advised to avoid strenuous activity, drink plenty of non-alcoholic non-caffeinated fluids, and take precautions against suffering heat-related illness. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has also issued an air quality advisory for Monday. Ozone and particulate matter levels are forecast to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category in the New York Metropolitan area and on Long Island. The New York State Department of Transportation has designated Monday to be an Air Quality Action Day—a day on which residents are advised to reduce activities that contribute to air pollution, such as driving and using gas-powered equipment.

Heat stroke is a serious and life-threatening condition that claims many lives nationwide each year. Symptoms include hot, dry skin; shallow breathing; a rapid, weak pulse; and confusion. Anyone suffering from heat stroke needs to receive emergency medical treatment immediately.

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Overweight Children Abound in Westchester County

June 7, 2007

According to a newly released report by the Westchester County Department of Health, 34 percent of kindergarten, second grade and fourth grade children in surveyed Westchester schools are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight, compared with a national average of 32.2 percent.

“The prevalence of overweight among children has dramatically increased over the past few decades,” said Dr. Joshua Lipsman, Commissioner of Health for Westchester County. “It is troubling to see a higher prevalence in Westchester than in the country as a whole. Childhood obesity is highly correlated to obesity in adulthood, as well as to health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.”

The study confirms what Westchester County Executive Andy Spano has been saying since 2003 when the county began its Fit Kids program to fight childhood obesity. A year later, concerned about the growing number of overweight adults and children, Spano initiated the Be Fit Westchester program to encourage people of all ages to eat smarter and become more physically active. In his State of the County Address in March, Spano announced that the health department had commissioned this study to determine the extent of the problem in Westchester.

“The findings of this study are not a surprise to me,’’ said Spano. “We have been saying all along that this is a growing problem, but before this study local statistics on childhood obesity did not exist. “While we knew that Westchester was not immune to this national epidemic, we now have hard data that confirms this and will help us as we move forward in initiating new programs to fight obesity.”

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Happy "National Wear Red Day" Croton!

February 2, 2007

As part of “American Heart Month,” the American Heart Association is challenging one million women to stop heart disease by participating in National Wear Red Day today, February 2, 2007.

The awareness campaign, designed to stop heart disease in women, called “Go Red For Women” is the American Heart Association’s nationwide movement that celebrates the energy, passion and power that women have to band together and wipe out heart disease. For more information and to find how to “Love Your Heart,” visit www.goredforwomen.org.

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Turkey Cooking Tips for a Safe Thanksgiving

November 20, 2006

Speaking of turkeys, the Westchester County Department of Health is reminding residents to protect themselves and their loved-ones from foodborne-illness this Thanksgiving by following a few turkey preparation precautions (for recipes, see Epicurious.com).

“The USDA has estimated that 13 percent of turkeys contain salmonella, which is a bacterium that can cause serious illness, particularly in those with weak immune systems,” said Joshua Lipsman, M.D., J.D., M.P.H., Commissioner of Health for Westchester County. “These bacteria must be destroyed by thorough cooking before eating the turkey.”

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Westchester County Health Department's Heat Stress Warning Extended for Today

August 3, 2006

With the current heat wave expected to continue throughout today, the Westchester County Department of Health is reminding residents that heat stress can occur when temperatures exceed 90 degrees and is providing tips on how to stay safe in the heat. In addition to concerns about the rising temperatures, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has also issued another ozone alert today for the New York City Metro area, which includes Westchester County.

To help residents cope with the soaring temperatures, the Health Department offers a 24-hour “Stay Cool” Information Line, 914-813-5620, which provides tips on how to stay cool in the summer heat and identifies air-conditioned locations such as libraries, shopping malls, movie theaters and senior centers throughout the county where residents can go to beat the heat. A listing of some air-conditioned community locations is available on the Health Department’s website, www.westchestergov.com/health. In addition, some communities have opened or are planning on opening cooling centers for their residents. Residents can log onto www.westchestergov.com to view an updated list of community cooling centers or they can contact their local city, village or town hall for information about cooling centers in their own community.

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Heat and Ozone Advisory Continues Through Tuesday

July 18, 2006

With high temperatures expected again today, the Westchester County Department of Health is reminding residents that heat stress can occur when temperatures exceed 90 degrees and is providing tips on how to cope with the heat. In addition to concerns about the rising temperatures, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has also issued another ozone alert today for the New York City Metro area, which includes Westchester County.

To help residents cope with the soaring temperatures, the Health Department offers a 24-hour “Stay Cool” Information Line, (914) 813-5620, which provides tips on how to stay cool in the summer heat and identifies places in the community where residents can go to beat the heat. Residents can stay informed about current ozone conditions by calling the New York State DEC Ozone Hotline at 1-800-535-1345. Advisories are also posted on the DEC website, www.dec.state.ny.us.

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County Issues 2nd Air Quality Alert in as Many Days

June 19, 2006

The Westchester County Department of Health today announced that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an air quality advisory for Monday, June 19, 2006 for the Metropolitan New York City region, which includes Westchester County. The pollutant of concern is fine particles.

“People with breathing and heart problems, as well as children and the elderly, may be particularly sensitive to fine particles in the air and may wish to limit strenuous outdoor activity when levels of particulate matter are elevated,” said Dr. Joshua Lipsman, Commissioner of Health for Westchester County.

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Westchester County Issues Air Quality Alert for Sunday

June 17, 2006

The Westchester County Department of Health yesterday announced that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an air quality advisory for Sunday, June 18, 2006 for the Metropolitan New York City region, which includes Westchester County. The pollutant of concern is ozone.

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