The Pottawatomie County Health Department, in collaboration with the Shawnee Public Schools, will host an H1N1 vaccine clinic on Thursday, Nov. 19 at Will Rogers Elementary School. The clinic is scheduled from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Attention Medicare Beneficiaries: Is a check up scheduled for the 2010 Medicare Part D prescription drug plan? If not, now is the time. Open enrollment for Medicare Part D is Nov. 15 through Dec. 31.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that is characterized by widespread pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons.
Someone could experience fatigue and multiple tender points or places on the body where slight pressure causes pain.
The symptoms may begin after a physical or emotional trauma, but in many cases there seems to be no triggering event. It occurs in about two percent of the population in the United States.

I think most would agree that what you put into your body has a major impact on how you feel, perform and your overall health? Our daily diets must provide us with all the essential nutrients for optimal health and body functioning. More than two-thirds of Americans do not get adequate amounts of many essential nutrients.

The Pottawatomie County Health Department in collaboration with the Okfuskee, Seminole and Hughes County Health Departments, Local Emergency Planning Committees and the Shawnee Public Schools will sponsore a special H1N1 vaccine clinic on Saturday at the Shawnee High School Performing Arts and Athletic Center. The clinic is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Wouldn’t you agree that during the next three or four months most Americans will evaluate their physical status and at least think about improving their health?

It’s been said knowledge is power.
The McBride Foundation will host a series of educational seminars focused on arthritis and related diseases.
The series will take place in four quadrants of the Oklahoma City metro area. It is free to the public and will give people the power they need to make the right joint care decisions.

Eat a carrot or a candy bar. Eat a sweet potato or drink a sweetened soda.
These are choices parents and children have to make every day to ensure a healthy lifestyle. Three Shawnee elementary schools have helped educate parents and students about making healthier choices, and for that they were honored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Health has been an issue lately on the minds of people and Jefferson Elementary will try to ease parents’ minds Thursday.
The school will hold its Great Kid Expo and Health Fair, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the school, 800 N. Louisa.

I’m sure everyone will agree that a good health and fitness program begins with proper nutrition. 
It has been my experience that to control your weight and maximize the lean muscle on your body, nutrition accounts for 60 percent of the results, followed by resistance training, exercise, and physical activity making up the remaining 40 percent. 
“You are what you eat” definitely applies in today’s world of health and fitness.  

The early arrival of the H1N1 virus has many people a bit concerned, especially when they or their loved ones have underlying health conditions, are experiencing flu symptoms and are unsure when they should seek medical attention.
The usual flu symptoms involve a cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, body aches, chills, fatigue and occasionally, diarrhea, vomiting and fever. And the Center for Disease Control Web site reports that most people who contract 2009 H1N1 or seasonal flu will have mild illness that does not require medical care or antiviral drugs.

Although the traditional seasonal flu period typically does not begin for a few more weeks, the number of illnesses — and deaths — caused by the H1N1 virus this year have created a stir and led many parents and other individuals to panic.
However, panic is not the ideal reaction to the virus’s spread, Tina Johnson, administrative director of the Pottawatomie County Health Department, said.

Shawnee resident Makaila Rolette, 10, was among those who received seasonal flu vaccination Wednesday at Pottawatomie County Health Department. Makaila’s 2-year-old sister, who previously had brain surgery, was also receiving her vaccination Wednesday, while their mother, who is pregnant, received hers earlier in the week.

As the rain fell and the wind blew outside Wednesday, 3-year-old Isis Whitewater swung her legs while seated in a plastic chair at the Pottawatomie County Health Department.

Her mother, Autumn, told her why they were visiting prior to their arrival, “to get a shot … in my nose,” Isis said, giggling and touching her nose.

Americans have a tendency to consume the majority of their calories after 5:00 p.m.- through bed time.  Of course this is unhealthy and a major reason for unattractive weight gain.
I have found a great way to combat this vulnerable time of our evening. 
The trick starts with drinking water, keeping your energy and metabolism moving at a high rate, and staying lightly satisfied throughout the entire day by not missing any meals.
Eating breakfast, lunch, dinner everyday, along with healthy 90-150 calorie snacks like apples, meal replacement bars, or shakes between meals are a must.

Winter is around the corner, which means that seniors and people eligible for Medicare living in and around the Shawnee area should begin thinking about how they will prepare themselves against winter illnesses, including one of the most deadly — and preventable — influenza.

For great fitness results it’s all about your nutritional choices!
I encourage you to take a serious, proactive, healthy, and aggressive approach when selecting the foods you allow yourself and family to consume. The content and quantity of our food choices and nutritional intake is very important in the quest for lean body mass and optimal health.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Unity Health Center will host several events to help educate the community about breast cancer, including methods of self examination and risk factor awareness.
The first of these events, “Mammograms and Self Exams,” will be held from 6 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 1.

Blood pressure checks are a common reason for doctor visits. If you have high blood pressure, you may need to check your pressure every day, not just every time you see your doctor.
Daily at-home measurements can help you track the effectiveness of your treatments.
Because blood pressure can change from day-to-day, daily testing can give you a more accurate idea of your typical pressure.

Adequate muscular strength and endurance is extremely beneficial for everyone. 
One way to achieve this important goal is by overloading the muscular system, or in fitness terms, through resistance or “weight training.”