February "Spirit of Women" Seminar - Lowering Blood Pressure and Cholesterol

Please join us for our monthly Spirit of Women presentation in February:

“A Little DASH Will Do You”
DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is a dietary plan developed by the National Institute of Health to aid in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels without the need for medication.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Noon
Franciscan Hammond Clinic
7905 Calumet Ave., Munster
3rd Floor Conference Room
Presented by: Joann Franczek, Registered Dietitian

For more information or to register, please call (800) 931-3322.

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Watch for dates for our March seminar: “Avoid a Brainwreck (Concussions)."

For more information about these events call (800) 931-3322.

To sign up for Spirit of Women, visit our webpage or fill out our online form on Facebook!

Franciscan Hammond Clinic Health Fair - Nov. 5

Franciscan Hammond Clinic will host a health fair from 8 a.m. to noon on Nov. 5 at its specialty center location, 7905 Calumet Ave., in Munster, Indiana.

The free program will offer chair massages and health screenings, including blood pressure, blood sugar, lipids, bone density, foot, body mass and oxygen levels, to the public. Flu shots will be available.  

Informational booths, giveaways and refreshments will be provided.  Free raffles include a bicycle for children and Juvederm treatment for adults.

For more information, call (219) 836-5800, or visit: www.franciscanhammondclinic.org.

Caring for Your Kidneys

Your kidneys: one of many organs that provides more than meets the eye. While you may not spend much time thinking about your kidneys and their functions, they spend lots of time working for you!

The kidneys are bean-shaped organs located near the middle of the back, just below your rib cage. They are roughly the size of a fist and one is located on each side of your spine. Do you know how much your kidneys work? Each day, your kidneys process about 200 quarts of blood, sifting out nearly 2 quarts of waste products and extra water for excretion and recovering nearly 198 quarts.

How does the filtration work?

Kidney function is performed through a complicated chemical exchange that allows the organ to filter waste materials and water out of your blood and into your urinary system. Your kidneys have roughly 1 million nephrons; a nephron consists of a filtering unit of tiny blood vessels called a glomerulus attached to a tubule. In this tubule, chemicals and water are either added to or removed from this filtered fluid according to your body's needs. The final product: the urine that you excrete.

Why are my kidneys important?

While the major known function of the kidneys is to remove excess waste and fluid, it serves another purpose: the kidneys are critical in regulating the body's levels of salt, potassium and acid content. Furthermore, your kidneys produce a hormone that stimulates red blood cell production! Other hormones that come from the kidneys regulate blood pressure and control calcium metabolism.

While kidneys sustain life in a number of ways, they are susceptible to damage and disease like any other organ. For more information on kidney disease, click here.

For more information on kidneys or any other medical topic, visit our complete online health library.

Days of Health - Get Screened!

You and your family are invited to Franciscan St. Margaret Health's Days of Health screening days. Learn more about Franciscan St. Margaret's services and take advantage of a wealth of health information, screenings, giveaways and refreshments.

Thursday, September 22, 2011
5 - 7:30 p.m.
Franciscan St. Margaret Health - Hammond
Renal Dialysis Building
5454 Hohman Ave., Hammond

Thursday, September 29, 2011
5 - 7:30 p.m.
Franciscan St. Margaret Health - Dyer
Outpatient Center
24 Joliet St. (US Route 30), Dyer

Screenings Available

You must register for the following screenings by calling the Health Resource Center at (800) 931-3322:

• Bone Density Screening for Osteoporosis
• Foot Screening (free)
• Peripheral Vascular Disease (free)
• Prostate Screening ($8)

Registration is not necessary for the following FREE screenings:

• Balance Test and Posture Screening (Dyer only)
• Blood Pressure
• Blood Glucose Screening for Diabetes
• Body Fat Analysis
• Heart Risk Assessments
• Oxygen Saturation
• Sleep Disorder Screening (Dyer only)
• Stroke Screening (Dyer only)

Unless otherwise noted, screenings are free. Other screening fees may be paid by cash or check.

For more information, contact the Health Resource Center at (800) 931-3322.

WorkingWell Offers Heart Health Screening for Women

Heart disease, often thought of as a man's problem, is the number one killer of women. In fact, more women die of heart disease than the next four causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer.

WorkingWell wants women to get smart about their heart health today!

Risk Factors
Many heart disease risk factors can be controlled by making changes in your lifestyle and, in some cases, by taking medications. Risk factors include:

• Existing coronary heart disease (heart attack, bypass surgery, heart stents)
• Stroke or carotid artery disease
• Blocked arteries in your legs
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm
• Chronic kidney disease
• Diabetes
• Cigarette smoking
• Poor diet
• Lack of regular exercise
• Overweight
• Family history of heart or vascular disease
• High blood pressure
• Abnormal cholesterol levels

The Women's Cardiovascular Health Screening program at WorkingWell makes it easier than ever to know your risk. Screenings include:

• Lipid Profile blood draw**
• FBS (fasting blood sugar blood draw)**
• Blood Pressure Check
• BMI (Body Mass Index measurement

Cost is $25 (fee must be paid in cash or credit at time of screening). For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 866-552-WELL (9355).
**Requires fasting 8-10 hours prior to lab draw.