Health Promotion and Wellness Division

Phone: (309) 679-6131

A Healthier America

Click on above image to watch A Healthier America video

Learn about Your Disease Risk of developing five of the most important diseases in the United States and get personalized tips for preventing them.

Send a Health E-card to your friends and family from the CDC.

See Health Messages for articles on a variety of topics.

Our services to the public include:

Health Promotion Programs

Community and School-age Health Education Programs — 309-679-6131
The Health Promotion office offers free school and community programs to all age groups and organizations. Topics include, but are not limited to, hygiene, dental health, nutrition, STD's, HIV, stress, tobacco, heart health, and depression. The office also attends health fairs to promote the importance of health topics.

Tobacco Cessation and Education Programs — 309-679-6131
Smoking is the single most important preventable cause of illness and death in the United States. More than 20,000 people in Illinois die each year as a result of cigarette smoking. Nationally, smoking is responsible for one of every five deaths. In fact, cigarette smoking kills more Americans than AIDS, alcohol, car accidents, murders, suicides, drugs, and fires combined.

Smoke-Free Illinois Act Information
Illinois Tobacco Quitline Nicotine Patch Program

Peoria Asthma Coalition ? 309-679-6690

www.illinoisasthma.org/peoria

When you have asthma, your airways narrow and swell, produce extra mucus, and breathing becomes difficult. The most common asthma signs and symptoms are coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. For some people, asthma symptoms are a minor nuisance. For others, they are a major problem that interferes with daily activities. If you have severe asthma, you may be at risk of a life-threatening asthma attack. Asthma cannot be cured, but its symptoms can be controlled. Treatments include taking steps to avoid your particular asthma triggers, using long-term control medications to prevent flare-ups, and using a quick relief inhaler to control symptoms once they start. Because asthma changes over time, you will need to work with your doctor to track your signs and symptoms and adjust treatment as needed.

Educational presentations and information are available.

The Winning with Asthma Video
A 30-minute educational program to help coaches and those involved in youth sports understand how to help athletes properly manage their asthma during athletic events. It also teaches proper medication management, ways to prevent exercise-induced asthma, steps to take when athletes are experiencing asthma attacks, information on asthma triggers (including what they are and what can be done to avoid them) and guidelines specific for cold-weather sports.

Those who complete the program receive additional asthma information and a coach's clipboard with "What to do during an Asthma Attack" printed on the back.

Prostate Cancer Education and Screening Program — 309-679-6131
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in American men. Approximately one out of every six American men will develop prostate cancer in his lifetime. The prostate, a gland found only in men, is about the size of a walnut and is located just below the bladder in front of the rectum. Most of the time prostate cancer grows slowly, however prostate cancer can sometimes grow and spread quickly. Different people have different symptoms for prostate cancer. Men with early stage prostate cancer usually do not have symptoms at all. Symptoms of more advanced prostate cancer can include: urinary problems, blood in the urine, and pain in the lower back, hips, or pelvis that doesn't go away. If you have any symptoms that worry you, be sure to see your doctor right away. Keep in mind that these symptoms may be caused by conditions other than prostate cancer.

There are two tests that are commonly used to screen for prostate cancer. Prostate Specific Antigen test (PSA) is a blood test that measures the PSA level (a substance made by the prostate) in the blood. A Digital rectal exam (DRE) is physical exam done by a doctor to feel the prostate allowing the examiner to estimate the size of the prostate and feel for any lumps or other abnormalities.

Osteoporosis Education and Screening — 309-679-6131
Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue leading to bone fragility and an increased risk of fractures, especially to the hip, spine, and wrist although any bone can be affected. Women are four times more likely than men to develop osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is often called a "silent disease" because bone loss occurs without symptoms. People may not know that they have osteoporosis until their bones become so weak that a sudden strain, bump, or fall causes a fracture or collapsed vertebrae which results in severe back pain, loss of height, or spinal deformities.

Some people are more likely to develop osteoporosis than others. Risk factors include: being female, being Caucasian or Asian, having a personal history of fracture after age 50, being thin and/or having a small frame, advanced age, family history of osteoporosis, estrogen deficiency as a result of menopause, anorexia nervosa, low lifetime calcium intake, Vitamin D deficiency, inactive lifestyle, and tobacco use.

Though many elderly people have osteoporosis, it is not a normal part of aging and can be prevented. Building strong bones at a young age lessens the effect of the natural bone loss that occurs after menopause. Maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active can help decrease one?s risk for developing osteoporosis. Weight-bearing and resistance exercises build bone and muscle strength and help prevent bone loss, as well as improve coordination to prevent falls.

The most important thing to know about osteoporosis is that it is never too early, or too late, to start prevention. The best way to find out if you have osteoporosis or are at risk of having it is to get a bone mineral density (BMD) test. The health department offers free osteoporosis awareness presentations to the public.