Prematurity and SIDS Awareness

December 2019premature birth facts

On this final month of 2019, ITCA WIC would like to bring awareness to premature births and SIDS.

A full term pregnancy is 40 weeks and prematurity is a term for any baby born before 37 weeks gestation. While not all premature babies experience complications, being born too early can cause short-term and long-term health problems. Generally, the earlier a baby is born, the higher the risk of complications. If you deliver a preterm baby, your baby will likely need a longer hospital stay in a special nursery unit at the hospital. Although the exact cause of preterm birth is often unknown, there are some things that can be done to help prevent it. Please see the following for some more information:

Premature Babies Infographic
Preemie vs Full-Term Infographic
Premature Weeks Infographic
Premature Factors Infographic

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby less than a year old. There are many possible causes and risk factors that play a role in SIDS. There is no treatment for SIDS but you can help your baby sleep safely by staying informed. Check out the following resources to help stay informed:

5 Ways to Prevent SIDS Infographic
SIDS by Baby’s Age Infographic

Health Education Month

October 2019

Infographic

October is not only a month for ghosts and ghouls but also health education. Health encompasses a broad range of categories including physical, mental, emotional, social health, and more! Most people only think of physical health when the word “healthy” comes up. But healthy habits in all of these sections of health are necessary for overall wellbeing. Daily exercise, healthy eating, and rest are three major factors that play a role in our overall health. This month, try to take time to make healthy food choices, get out and exercise, and get your 8 hours of sleep. Check out these resources for some other tips.

Your Prescription for a Healthy Heart Infographic
Women’s Mental Health Infographic
Benefits of Exercise on Mental Health Infographic
Pay Attention to Your Mental Health Infographic

Food Safety Education Month

 

Photo

September is National Food Safety Education Month. Learn some important food safety tips here! Take steps to help prevent food borne illness, and show others how to keep food safe. Did you know that some groups of people are more likely to get sick from food than others? These groups are:

  • Children younger than 5
  • Adults aged 65 and older
  • People with health problems or who take medicines that lower the body’s ability to fight germs and sickness
  • Pregnant women

According to the CDC, every year about 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from eating contaminated food.

To help protect yourself and your family, the CDC recommends these four steps:

  • Clean: Wash your hands, utensils, and surfaces often when you cook.
  • Separate: Raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs can spread germs. Separate them from cooked food and fresh produce.
  • Cook: Use a food thermometer to make sure foods are cooked to an internal temperature that kills germs.
  • Chill: Refrigerate perishable foods external icon and leftovers within two hours. Chill within one hour if it’s above 90°F.

To learn more, check out these resources:

Food Safety Inforgraphic
Food Poisoning Infographic
Signs of Food Poisoning Infographic
Food Safety Rules Infographic
Steps to Safe Fruits & Vegetables Infographic
Safety Tips for Common Foods Infographic
https://www.cdc.gov/features/food-safety-smarts/index.html

 

National Breastfeeding Month

August 2019logo_english (1)

Every year, ITCA WIC local agencies highlight the importance of promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding by celebrating World Breastfeeding Week and National Breastfeeding Month during the month of August. This year’s theme Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding celebrates how we can work together to advocate for breastfeeding policy changes, improve workplace support and empower both parents so they can reach their breastfeeding goals.

 

ITCA WIC plays an important role in the promotion and support of breastfeeding on many of the reservations throughout Arizona. Breastfeeding is a team effort and when fathers, partners, families, hospitals, workplaces and communities support nursing moms, breastfeeding improves.

World Breastfeeding Week Infographic

For more information regarding World Breastfeeding Week, check out the following resources: 

WABA – World Breastfeeding Week

WHO – Breastfeeding

Limit Sugar Drinks

July 2019

As temperatures rise, so does our thirst. But be aware of what you’re guzzling down. Sugar sweetened beverages come in many forms; soda, fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, sweetened waters, and coffee and tea beverages with added sugars. Sugary drinks increase the risk of: obesity, diabetes, heart disease, fatty liver disease, and cavities so it matters how much we are putting into our bodies. Experts recommend that kids have less than 6 teaspoons of added sugars daily. Check out the infographic below for how much sugar is in some of your child’s drinks. This summer, let’s work to increase water consumption and decrease consumption of sugar sweetened beverages!

American Heart Association Infographic
Limit Sugary Drinks Infographic
Healthy Drink Replacements for Sugar Drinks Infographic
Body Water Infograhic

High Blood Pressure Awareness Month

June 2019

This month, ITCA WIC would like to bring some light to an important matter; your heart. High blood pressure affects one in three Americans and yet many people with the condition do not know they have it. This is because high blood pressure often has no symptoms and why it is referred to as the silent killer. When left untreated, the damage that high blood pressure does to your body is a big contributor to heart attacks, strokes, and heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death among American Indians. The best way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked regularly; doctors suggest getting checked once every few months. Diabetes increases the chances of high blood pressure. Check out the links below for other factors that can increase your risk for high blood pressure and ways to help prevent it.

HBP rainbow chart English PDF UCM_499220

Healthy Blood Pressue for Healthy Hearts Fact Sheet
Tips to Reduce Salt and Sodium
Making the Right Move
High Blood Pressure Infographic

 

Flyer: “Raising Healthy Native Youth”

Includes the Healthy Native Youth Specialist’s contact information

HNY flyer 2019

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

May 2019

This is a time to highlight the importance of staying active through sports and other fitness activities. Research says 60 minutes per day of physical activity for kids (and adults 30 minutes per day) is important for our health. A sedentary lifestyle has been identified as a primary risk factor for obesity and other chronic diseases. Unfortunately, obesity among American Indian children and adolescents is increasing. Watching television and videos, and playing video games have become increasingly popular, and may act as substitutes for moderate and vigorous physical activities in adolescents.  During this month of awareness, we encourage everyone to power-off mobile devices and video games and instead, become more physically active while at home and at school or work.

Here are some ideas for how to promote physical activity:

  • Hold a community fitness fair or family fitness night, where families participate in fitness demonstrations and learn about community resources (e.g. parks, trails, and fitness facilities) related to physical activity.
  • Conduct a walk-a-thon, where students raise money to walk a certain number of laps or miles. Use the funds raised to purchase equipment for PE, recess or classroom physical activity breaks.
  • Create a fitness circuit course with various fitness stations.
  • Plan a school-wide field day.
  • Challenge classrooms to be active for at least 10 minutes per day by participating in daily classroom physical activity breaks.
  • Host open gym for students to experience new sports and fitness activities.
  • Encourage families to participate at home by taking a walk after dinner or going for a bike ride.
  • Encourage families to make small changes. Remind them that activity for just 5 or 10 minutes at a time adds up throughout the day!

For younger kids, try:

  • Dancing
  • Playing tag
  • Hide and seek
  • Hula Hoop
  • Jump Rope

What will you do this month to be more physically active?

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month Infographic

National Nutrition Month

National Nutrition Month is an annual campaign that we celebrate to help raise awareness of the importance of our health and the control we have over it. Unhealthy eating and physical inactivity are the leading causes of death in the United States. In the last thirty years, obesity rates have doubled in adults, tripled in children, and quadrupled in adolescents. Let us take this month to commit to making some healthy changes to our diet and lifestyle in an effort to reverse these statistics. Pick one change you would like to make this month and encourage friends and family to do the same. It may just help you and your loved ones live longer!

National Nutrition Month Infographic

WIC is open!

gov shutdown

Closely Spaced Pregnancies

We know you love your little bundle of joy. How could you not, look how cute they are! But with almost 50% of pregnancies in the U.S. being unplanned, we understand that many people may have wanted that bundle of joy a little later in life.  Luckily, families have more control over child spacing than ever before.

Most studies show that 18-24 months between pregnancies is ideal for multiple reasons including the health of the mother and the baby.  Check out some of the other reasons here:

Closely Spaced Pregnancies Infographic

Test your knowledge on pregnancy spacing:

True or False:

  1. You cannot get pregnant while breastfeeding.
  2. It is not recommended to continue taking your prenatal vitamin while breastfeeding.
  3. Over 50% of ITCA WIC moms spaced out their pregnancies by at least 18 months.
  4. One reason to space out pregnancies is to reduce the risk for birth defects.

Answer Key:

  1. False
  2. False
  3. True
  4. True

Whole Grains Month

September 2018

September is whole grains month and ITCA WIC encourages all of you to make at least half your grains whole! Consuming whole grains has many proven benefits such as reduced risks of cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. The consumption of them can lower cholesterol and blood pressure as well as improve digestion.

The Whole Grains Council has provided the following ways to slowly increase your intake of whole grains:

  • Buy three different loaves of whole-grain bread and taste all of them to see which one you like best.
  • Serve bulgur or brown rice instead of potatoes with dinner one night this month.
  • Look for the Whole Grain Stamp every time you shop.
  • Try a new breakfast cereal with whole grains as the first ingredient.
  • Buy some whole-wheat pasta and try it.
  • Make my favorite whole grain recipe for a friend.
  • On the weekend, try cooking a pot of steel-cut oatmeal.
  • Make pizza for the kids with whole wheat pita as the crust.
  • Serve hamburgers with whole wheat buns this week.

Whole Grains Infographic

Happy Whole Grains Month!

Consumer Alerts

Emergency Preparedness

Food Safety Information

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Things you Need to know

WATCH OUT FOR Spoofing SCAMS!!!

What is a Spoofing Scam?

A Spoofing scam is when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity. Spoofing is often used as part of an attempt to trick someone into giving away valuable personal information so it can be used in fraudulent activity or sold illegally, but also can be used legitimately, for example, to display the toll-free number for a business.

Information About Scams!!!

Recently, we have heard of a number of scams where individuals posing as Social Security employees call and ask for personal information like your name, Social Security number and bank account information. The caller alleges that we need this information so we can issue you additional funds or rebates or they allege that because of a computer glitch your personal information has been lost. If you receive any phone call with the number 800-772-1213 on your caller-ID screen, beware. While that number is the SSA’s national customer service line, the call is likely to be a technological trick that thieves are using to try to obtain your Social Security Number (SSN) or other personal information.

Another scam used an email that was designed to look like it came from Social Security. It provided information about the annual cost-of-living-adjustment and directed readers to a website designed to look like Social Security’s site so people could “update their information” — valuable information to identity thieves and criminals.

In an effort to combat such scams, we want to make one thing perfectly clear: Social Security will not send you an email asking you to give us your personal information, such as your Social Security number, date of birth, or other private information. If someone saying they are from Social Security does email you requesting information, don’t respond to the message. Instead, contact your local Social Security office or call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to see whether we really need any information from you.

Whatever you do, don’t fall victim to a scam. Don’t give out your personal information.

Social Security and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) take these scams very seriously. We do everything we can to stop the perpetrators and educate the public. To report suspicious activity, please call the OIG Hotline at 1-800-269-0271. (If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call the OIG TTY number at 1-866-501-2101.) A Public Fraud Reporting form is also available online at OIG’s website: https://www.socialsecurity.gov/fraudreport/oig/public_fraud_reporting/form.htm.

You will always receive prior notification from us by mail or telephone before a personal visit is made. When in doubt, contact us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and we can verify the identity of the Social Security employee who has contacted you.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation offers a great deal of information on Scams and Safety.  Their website is http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety.

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Medicare Cost Sharing 

Important information recently comes to light

 

New Medicare Card Rolling out in April of 2018 

“THE NEW MEDICARE CARD HAS A NEW“MEDICARE NUMBER”

In 2015, Congress passed the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act.   This law requires the removal of the social security numbers from all Medicare cards by April 2019.  This new initiative is referred to as the Social Security Number Removal Initiative (SSNRI.) A new randomly generated Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) will replace the social security number.  When the initiative gets underway all Medicare beneficiaries will be assigned a new MBI and be sent a new Medicare card.

The primary goal of the initiative is to decrease Medicare beneficiaries’ vulnerability to identity theft by removing the social security number from their Medicare cards and replacing it with a new Medicare MBI which does not contain any other personal information.

Key information 

Starting April 2018, CMS will begin mailing new Medicare cards that include a new Medicare Number. The mailings will be staggered throughout the year,with completion expected by April 2019. The 2018 Medicare &You handbook will have information for you as well.

What you will need to prepare for are:

  • Make sure your mailing address is up to date. If your address needs to be corrected,contact;
  • Social Security at www.ssa.gov/myaccount  t or 1-­‐800-­‐772-­‐1213.TTY user scan call 1-­800-­‐325-­‐0778.
  • Beware of anyone who contacts you about your new Medicare card. Social Security and Medicare will never ask you to give us personal or private information to get your new Medicare number and card.
  • Understand that mailing everyone a new card will take some time. Your card might arrive at a different time than your friend’s or neighbor’s.
  • Once you get your new card,destroy your old card and start using your new card right away
  • Protect yourself by making sure no one can get your personal information from your old Medicare card
  • Your new Medicare card will have a “Unique number” or “number that’s unique to you”

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is readying a fraud prevention project that
removes Social Security Numbers from Medicare cards to help combat identity theft and safe guard taxpayer dollars.

  • Providers and people with Medicare will both be able to use secure look-­‐up options that will support quick access to Medicare numbers when they need them.
  • The new Medicare numbers won’t change Medicare benefits .People with Medicare may start using their new Medicare cards as soon as they get them.

The primary goal of the initiative is to decrease Medicare beneficiaries’ vulnerability to identity theft by removing the social security number from their Medicare cards and replacing it with a new Medicare MBI which does not contain any other personal information.

New Medicare Card

 

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2019 Open Enrollment Medicare coverage  for Part D is in the fall of 2018, from October 15 to December 7.

During this annual enrollment period (AEP) individuals can make changes to various aspects of your coverage.

  • You can switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or vice versa.
  • You can also switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, or from one Medicare Part D (prescription drug) plan to another.
  • And if you didn’t enroll in a Medicare Part D plan when you were first eligible, you can do so during the general open enrollment, although a late enrollment penalty may apply.

If you want to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you must meet some basic criteria.

*If you are an American Indian /Alaskan Native and utilize Indian Health Services, You will need to know that Medicare Advantages plans are not accepted by your local IHS facility.

Auto-renewal is available

  • If you’re already enrolled in a Medicare Part D prescription plan or a Medicare Advantage Plan and you don’t want to make changes to your coverage for 2019, you don’t need to do anything during open enrollment, assuming your current plan will still be available in 2019.
  • If your plan is being discontinued and isn’t eligible for renewal, you would have received a non-renewal notice from your carrier prior to open enrollment. If you didn’t, it means you can keep your plan without doing anything during open enrollment.

Benefits and Premium changes for 2019

  • Be aware that your benefits and premium could be changing for 2019. So even if you’re confident that you want to keep your current coverage for the coming year, it’s important to make sure you understand any changes that may apply, and that you’ve double checked to make sure that your current plan is still the best available option. The available plans and what they cover changes from one year to the next, so even if the plan you have now was the best option when you shopped last year, it’s important to verify that again before you lock yourself in for another year.

* Medicare General Enrollment for Part A & Part B  is in January 1 – March 31 of every year 

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Public Benefit Outreach Flyer

National Breastfeeding Month

August 2018

Every year, ITCA WIC local agencies highlight the importance of promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding by celebrating World Breastfeeding Week and National Breastfeeding Month during the month of August.  This year’s theme of Breastfeeding: Foundation of Life celebrates how breastfeeding prevents hunger and malnutrition and ensures food security for babies, especially in times of crises.

Nutrition, Food Security, and Poverty Reduction:

  • Breastfeeding is a natural and low-cost way of feeding babies and children. It is affordable for everyone and does not burden household budgets compared to formula feeding.  Breastfeeding can contribute to poverty reduction.
  • Breastmilk is FREE.  Not breastfeeding results in financial losses of about $302 billion each year. Families worldwide spend about $54 billion every year on formula.
  • Exclusive breastfeeding and continued breastfeeding for two years and beyond provide high quality nutrients and adequate energy that can help prevent hunger, undernutrition and obesity. Breastfeeding means food security for infants.

National Breastfeeding Month Infographic

For more information regarding World Breastfeeding Week, check out the following resources:

WABA – World Breastfeeding Week
WHO – Breastfeeding

 

Portion Control

June 2018

Tips on managing your portions at home and when eating out.

just the infographic

ICIN Resources

ICIN Resources

Resources listed here are for Tribal Law Enforcement and Tribal Communities for information and reporting purposes:

ICIN Links

State of Arizona Links:

Law Enforcement:

Certification:

Intelligence and Criminal Justice:

Federal Links:

Law Enforcement Organizations:

Age Appropriate Nutritional Foods

April 2018

Tips on age appropriate foods for infants and children 18 months and younger.

Age Approrpriate Food Inforgraphic

National Nutrition Month

March 2018

“Go Further with Food”

A Public Service Message from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Whether you’re starting the day off right with a healthy breakfast or fueling before a workout, the foods you choose can make a real difference. March is National Nutrition Month, the time to return to the basics of healthful eating. This year, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics encourages everyone to “Go Further with Food.” Planning meals and snacks in advance will add nutrients, save you money and help reduce food waste. Here are some tips:

  • Create a meal prep plan that includes a variety of your favorite, healthful foods.
  • Buy only the amount of food that your family can eat or freeze within a few days and plan ways to use leftovers later in the week.
  • Be mindful of portion sizes – just eat and drink the amount that’s right for you.

In order to find a personalized plan that works best for you and your family, consult a registered dietitian nutritionist. Learn how to go further with food and find a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist in your area by visiting eatright.org  and following hashtag National Nutrition Month.

National Nutrition Month Handouts and Tips for Families and Communities

NNM Photo

American Heart Month

February 2018

February is American Heart month and the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona and the American Heart Association want to help everyone live longer, healthier lives by getting the word out on heart health. With cardiovascular disease accounting for nearly 801,000 deaths in the US, American Heart Month is an attempt to remind Americans to focus on their health. Check out the infographic below for more information:

American Heart Month Infographic

You can also help raise awareness, particularly on February 2nd, which is National Wear Red Day. Why wear red? It’s because February 2nd is a day that has been dedicated to helping raise awareness of the high risk of stroke and other cardiac events in women. By wearing red, you are helping spread the word that 80 percent of cardiac and stroke events may be prevented with education and action. Take control of your own health and encourage other women to do the same by knowing their numbers: Total Cholesterol, HDL (good) Cholesterol, Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar and Body Mass Index (BMI). Knowing these numbers can help women and their healthcare provider determine their risk for developing cardiovascular diseases. Wear red, share your photos on social media, spread the word!

Dental Awareness

October 2017

Taking good care of your teeth is not just about having a nice smile and pleasant breath.  A healthy mouth may help you ward off medical conditions.

Tooth decay is a significant health problem for American Indians.  In 2014, more than 2.4 million American Indians lived in counties with dental care shortage areas, and half of all American Indian children lived in a shortage area. In fact, preschool-aged American Indian children had four times more cases of untreated tooth decay than white children—43 percent compared with 11 percent. Studies show that it appears the prevalence of dental disease among American Indians is increasing. Read on to learn more about how poor dental health can affect your overall health.

Poorly Controlled Diabetes: If you have diabetes, you’re already at increased risk of developing gum disease. But chronic gum disease may, in fact, make diabetes more difficult to control. An infection may cause insulin resistance, which affects blood sugar control.

Cardiovascular Disease: Oral inflammation due to bacteria called gingivitis may play a role in clogged arteries and blood clots. It appears that bacteria in the mouth may cause inflammation throughout the body, including the arteries. This inflammation may cause buildup of plaques in the arteries, possibly increasing your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Preterm Birth: Severe gum disease may increase the risk of preterm delivery and giving birth to a low birth weight baby. Research estimates  that as many as 18 percent of preterm, low birth weight babies born in the U.S. each year may be attributed to oral infections. They suspect oral bacteria release toxins, which reach the placenta through the mother’s bloodstream and interfere with the growth and development of the fetus.

Nutrition: Sensitivity in the mouth or pain while eating caused by dental problems can affect the foods we chose to eat. This can result in elimination of entire food groups which can greatly affect our health. Be sure to talk to your dentist about any pain or sensitivity in your mouth during your routine checkups.

Start taking care of your oral health early on in life because you’re making an investment in your overall health, not just for now, but for the future, too. See the information below to find steps to care for your mouth in all stages of life.

Dental Awareness Infographic

Healthy Mouth –  http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/

Fruit and Veggies – More Matters Month

September 2017

This month aims to bring your attention to eating more fruits and vegetables, whatever that may mean to you. You could add one more to your plate, try a fruit or veggie that is new to you, learn about fruits and vegetables, teach your kids, or try a new recipe.

Why is it so important to eat fruits and vegetables? The American Indian population has among the highest rates of obesity and diabetes in the United States. Studies have shown that among overweight adults, higher intakes of green leafy or dark yellow vegetables were significantly associated with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. More than 90% of both adults and children do not eat the amount of fruits and vegetables recommended by the latest dietary guidelines. Dietitians recommend filling half your plate with fruits and vegetables.  Check out this link for tips to help meet this goal:

http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/quick-guide-to-getting-more-fruits-and-vegetables

FV More Matters_September

National Breastfeeding Month

August 2017

Every year, ITCA WIC local agencies highlight the importance of promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding by celebrating National Breastfeeding Month.  This year’s theme of Sustaining Breastfeeding Together celebrates working together for the common good, so that mothers are supported and protected in their breastfeeding efforts.   It continues to focus on sustainable development to better the planet for the generations to come.  Breastfeeding can have a beneficial effect on many different aspects of sustainability that may not be apparent.

Environment and Climate Change:

  • Breastfeeding uses less energy compared to making formula. It reduces the need for water, firewood and gas in the home.
  • Breastfeeding is earth friendly compared to formula feeding with zero packing, pollution and waste! Making formula involves dairy farming that stresses natural resources and adds to carbon emissions and climate change.
  • Breastfeeding creates less waste compared to formula feeding. Formula production and distribution lead to waste that pollutes the seas and affects marine life.

Nutrition, Food Security, and Poverty Reduction:

  • Breastfeeding is a natural and low-cost way of feeding babies and children. It is affordable for everyone and does not burden household budgets compared to formula feeding.  Breastfeeding can contribute to poverty reduction.
  • Breastmilk is FREE.  Not breastfeeding results in financial losses of about $302 billion each year. Families worldwide spend about $54 billion every year on formula.
  • Exclusive breastfeeding and continued breastfeeding for two years and beyond provide high quality nutrients and adequate energy that can help prevent hunger, undernutrition and obesity. Breastfeeding means food security for infants.

Survival, Health, and Well-being:

  • Breastfeeding improves the health, development and survival of infants and children.  It helps to improve health and wellbeing of mothers, both in the short and long term.
  • Breastfeeding reduces a woman’s risk of breast and cervical cancer. In fact, 20,000 deaths due to breast cancer could be averted if mothers breastfed.
  • Breastfeeding is essential for readiness to learn. Breastfeeding promotes brain development and helps with learning.

Breastfeeding promotion in the community and workplace can help improve all these aspects, but it requires collaboration and effort.  The more it is talked about, the more effective these messages will become.  WIC works to promote a positive attitude towards breastfeeding.  Let’s work to promote breastfeeding to help the lives of mothers, children, our planet and future generations to come.

For more information regarding World Breastfeeding Week, check out the following resources:

National Breastfeeding Month Infographic

WABA – World Breastfeeding Week – http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/

World Health Organization (WHO) – http://www.who.int/topics/breastfeeding/en/

 

Hydration Tips

July 2017

Summer is here and so is the heat! During these hot days be sure to stay hydrated by following some of these tips.

Hydration_July_revised

High Blood Pressure Awareness Month

May 2017

May is National High Blood Pressure Education Month and ITCA WIC would like to share some information with you. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, increases the risk of certain diseases and stroke. Heart disease and stroke are the first and seventh major causes of death amongst American Indians and Alaska Natives respectively and yet many people with high blood pressure don’t even know they have it due to a lack of signs and symptoms. High Blood Pressure Education Month encourages people to get their blood pressure checked regularly and to look at various lifestyle factors which may be contributing to high blood pressure. Check out the following resources to find out what you can do to control your blood pressure.

High Blood Pressure Education_Infographic_May
5 Surprising Facts About High Blood Pressure 
Warning Signs of Heart Attack, Stroke & Cardiac Arrest
Definition, Causes, Treatment and Prevention of High Blood Pressure