blood drive November 25th, 2012, in the St. Francis PAC.

Blood Drive

St.Francis

is sponsoring an American Red Cross Blood Drive

November 25^th. 2012, From 8:00-2:00 pm in the

St. Francis PAC

Sign up at www.givelife.org and enter sponsor code stfranciscc to schedule an appointment  or   call 734-769-2550

When you donate blood through the American Red Cross in the next few weeks, you can help save the lives of up to three people. See Madeline's story.  Your donation, too, can help offset the slump in blood collections that typically occurs around this time of year.

Blood donations can taper off during the fall and winter when people are busy with planning festivities, community and family activities, parties or travel. Regardless of the season, more than 39,000 pints of blood are needed every day across the nation to help patients beat serious diseases or survive accidents or trauma.

The time to give is now. Please take the time to give someone the greatest gift: the gift of life.

 St. Francis is sponsoring an American Red Cross blood drive scheduled on November 25^th, 2012, from 8:00 to 2:00 pm, in the St. Francis PAC.  Please make and keep your appointment to donate blood, and encourage others to give at the drive, too. You can sign up at www.givelife.org and enter sponsor code stfranciscc to schedule an appointment.

Thank you for all you do, from your St. Francis Healthcare Ministry and The American Red Cross.

High Blood Pressure!! - FREE blood pressure screenings

The St. Francis  Health  Ministry is offering FREE  blood pressure screenings after masses November 11, 2012.   Know your numbers and change your life! You can prevent heart disease, stroke, kidney disease  and numerous other medical conditions by controlling your blood pressure.  

 

Smart Goals for Hypertension

Talk to your health care provider about the lifestyle changes that are appropriate for you

1. Follow the DASH Diet "Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension"

The DASH diet has been proved to reduce blood pressure, which can help you live a longer and healthier life. Follow these tips from the DASH diet to lower your blood pressure:

· Eat fewer processed foods (such as snack items, lunch meats, canned soup)

· Eat foods high in calcium, potassium, and magnesium (such as fruits, vegetables, and dairy)

· Eat foods with less sodium (salt)

· Eat 8-10 servings of fruits and vegetables and 3 servings of low-fat dairy products each day.

· Eat foods low in fat

 2. Get Moving!

Do 30-45 minutes of exercise each day. Walk, bike, swim, or

Other exercise for thirty minutes each day. You can do it!

3. Reduce salt

· Do not add salt to food at the table

· Reduce or get rid of salt used in cooking

· Limit processed and fast food

· Read package labels for amount of salt (sodium) in food

 

 

Health Ministry article - The Flu

Health Ministry News of the month

The Flu

The St. Francis Health Ministry would like to thank The Michigan Visiting Nurses for vaccinating over 100 people at our flu clinic on October 2, 2012!! Thank you so much for participating and getting your flu vaccine! There is still time to receive your flu vaccine and multiple locations are offering it on a walk in basis. Please see the list below: The best time to receive your flu vaccine is from now through first week in December, when the peak flu season hits.

·                                 Oct. 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Ann Arbor YMCA, 400 W. Washington, Ann Arbor

·                                 Oct. 15, 9 a.m.-noon, Fowlerville Senior Center, 203 North Collins, Fowlerville

·                                 Oct. 17, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Wiard's Orchards and Country Fair, 5565 Merritt Road, Ypsilanti

·                                 Oct. 18, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Wiard's Orchards and Country Fair, 5565 Merritt Road, Ypsilanti

·                                 Oct. 19, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-5 p.m., Dexter Senior Center, 7720 Ann Arbor St., Dexter

·                                 Oct. 20, 12:30-2:30 p.m., Jewish Community Center, 2935 Birch Hollow Dr., Ann Arbor

·                                 Oct. 20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Medicine Shoppe - Adrian, 905 N. Main St., Adrian

·                                 Oct. 20, 9 a.m.-noon, Unadilla Senior Center, 126 Webb, Gregory

·                                 Oct. 21, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Medicine Shoppe - New Boston, 19162 Huron River Drive, New Boston

·                                 Oct. 23, 9 a.m.-noon, Northfield Township Senior Center, 9101 Main St., Whitmore Lake

·                                 Oct. 27, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Medicine Shoppe - Adrian, 905 N. Main St., Adrian

·                                 Oct. 27, 9 a.m.-noon, Ypsilanti Township Senior Center, 2025 E. Clark Road, Ypsilanti

·                                 Oct. 30, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Zion Lutheran Church, 1501 W. Liberty, Ann Arbor

·                                 Oct. 31, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., MVN, 2850 S. Industrial Dr., Suite 75, Ann Arbor

·                                 Nov. 8, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Zion Lutheran Church, 1501 W. Liberty, Ann Arbor

·                                 Nov. 14, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., MVN, 2850 S. Industrial Dr., Suite 75, Ann Arbor

·                                 Nov. 28, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., MVN, 2850 S. Industrial Dr., Suite 75, Ann Arbor

The Flu Vaccine

                     

Your options

·                             Get a flu vaccine

·                             Don't get a flu vaccine.

Key points to remember

·                             Most people get better from the flu without problems, but the flu can be deadly. It can lead to serious health problems such as pneumonia, or it can make an existing disease worse. Every year, thousands of people end up in the hospital with other health problems from the flu.

·                             A flu vaccine may not always keep you from getting the seasonal or H1N1 flu, but it can make the symptoms milder and lower the risk of other health problems from the flu.

·                             A few people should not get a flu vaccine without talking to their doctor first. These include people who are allergic to eggs, those who have had a serious reaction to the vaccine in the past, and some people who are ill. The flu shot is not recommended for children younger than 6 months. The nasal spray vaccine is not recommended for people younger than 2 or older than 49.

·                             The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone age 6 months or older should get a flu vaccine. But it's most important to get one if you're at high risk for other health problems from the flu. Those at high risk include young children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with chronic diseases or weak immune systems.

·                             If you care for someone who is at high risk, it's a good idea to get a flu vaccine. This can lower the chance that you could spread the flu to the person you care for.

·                             Flu viruses change quickly, so you need to get a flu vaccine every year.

·                             You can't get the flu from a flu vaccine.