Health
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Obesity, a common condition indicated by a body mass index (BMI) over 30, plagues Lake County in increasing percentages.
While California’s adult obesity rate is 24.7 percent, Lake County’s obesity rate is 37.5 percent for women and 33.3 percent for men, according to the State of Obesity, a project of the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
More than half the state is overweight or obese, at 60.1 percent of adults falling into an unhealthy BMI range.
The effects of obesity include an increased risk for coronary heart disease, heart failure, heart attack, high blood pressure, type II diabetes, certain types of cancers, joint pain, gallstones and hypoventilation syndrome (increased carbon dioxide and decreased oxygen in the blood).
While making good dietary choices is an important part of maintaining a healthy weight, research suggests that exercise is an effective combatant of the risks associated with obesity.
Regular exercise can help control weight, improve mood and cognitive function, boost energy and promote better sleep, according to the Mayo Clinic. Weight lifting is a particularly effective tool to fight against poor health.
Regular weight-bearing exercise can improve muscle tone, increase overall metabolic rate, improve circulation, heart and lung function and increase concentration.
Lifting weights also fights osteoporosis, lowers the risk of diabetes and high blood sugar, can reduce back pain, and improve core strength and balance.
Sutter Lakeside Hospital is partnering with City Fitness to sponsor a limited number of free gym memberships for Lake County residents who qualify based on financial need.
City Fitness offers free weights and weight machines as well as group fitness classes, including cycling, cardio kickboxing and Zumba.
“Exercise is a cornerstone in building the foundation of physical and mental health,” said Siri Nelson, Chief Administrative Officer, Sutter Lakeside Hospital. “We strongly believe in partnering with our community to enhance the well-being of Lake County residents. We’re excited to continue collaborating with City Fitness to offer those in need the opportunity to improve their health.”
Applications are available at Sutter Lakeside Hospital Rehabilitation Services located at 5196 Hill Road East in Lakeport and at City Fitness on 871 Bevins St. in Lakeport.
The application deadline for scholarships is Monday, Dec. 22. Recipients will be notified by Dec. 31.
For more information, please contact Valerie Ungewitter at 707-262-5090.
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- Written by: Morgen Wells
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – World AIDS Day 2015 is Dec. 1, a day to bring awareness to the fight against AIDS.
Did you know the following facts?
– HIV can affect anyone.
– It is recommended that all teens and adults in the United States get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care. Depending on risk, your provider may recommend being tested periodically.
– As many as one in eight people in the U.S. living with HIV is unaware of his or her infection.
– More than one million people are living with HIV in the United States.
A powerful force in reducing HIV and AIDS in Lake and Mendocino Counties is MCHC Health Centers, the only local health organization providing ongoing medical treatment to HIV-infected patients.
Unlike the early days of the AIDS epidemic, effective treatment, care and support services now exist for those infected with HIV, so people can live long, productive lives after they are diagnosed with the infection. And because so much more is known about how HIV is transmitted, people can effectively prevent the spread of HIV.
MCHC Health Centers has been offering HIV care for more than 20 years, funded by a federal Ryan White grant since 1995. In fact, some of the MCHC doctors and nurses who currently care for patients helped start the program at MCHC and were pioneers in the movement.
Patients can receive HIV care at all three MCHC Health Centers sites: Hillside in Ukiah, Little Lake in Willits and Lakeview in Lakeport.
One of the keys to effective care is medical case management, a benchmark of the MCHC Health Centers program. HIV primary care services include comprehensive medical and specialty care, as well as oral (dental) care and behavioral health services. Substance abuse services are also available, both onsite and through referrals to other local programs.
Since its inception, the HIV program has more than tripled the number of patients regularly cared for—more than 200 patients received treatment for HIV in 2014.
MCHC Health Centers is currently working to expand visibility about the program in an effort to increase linkage to care with other local providers and organizations, while reducing the fear and stigma.
Of the people receiving HIV care with us, 95 percent are on anti-retroviral therapy (ART), and 92 percent of our HIV-infected patients are virally suppressed, meaning the virus is no longer detectable in their blood they are unlikely to spread the infection to others.
Ninety-four percent of our HIV-infected patients are fully engaged in care and return at least every six months to be monitored and cared for.
For more information, or to schedule an appointment with an HIV specialist in Lakeport call 707-262-3205; in Ukiah or Willits call 707-472-4627.
MCHC Health Centers offers medical, dental, and behavioral health services to people in Lake and Mendocino Counties.
All MCHC Health Centers sites accept Medi-Cal, Medicare, Covered California insurance, and more.
MCHC Health Centers is a local nonprofit organization providing access to health care for all. Learn more at www.mchcinc.org .
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- Written by: Editor
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