JANUARY

• Birth defects prevention

• Folic acid

.......Many studies have shown that women who get 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) daily before conception and during early pregnancy reduce the risk that their baby will be born with a serious neural tube defect (a birth defect involving incomplete development of the brain and spinal cord) by up to 70%.

Folic acid, sometimes called folate, is a B vitamin (B9) found mostly in leafy green vegetables like kale and spinach, orange juice, and enriched grains.

• Thyroid

• Cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is nearly 100 percent preventable, yet according to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 13,000 new cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed in 2002 and about 4,100 women will die of the disease. The good news is that cervical cancer is preventable and curable if it is detected early.

The United States Congress designated January as Cervical Health Awareness Month. During January, you may wish to highlight issues related to cervical cancer, HPV disease and the importance of early detection.

• Mental wellness

• National Drugs Facts

• Stalking awareness

......Stalking cases are unique because they can involve ongoing behavior that can last for years. Often, several police agencies are involved in coordinating the investigation. Victims are among the most emotionally traumatized because of the ongoing and threatening nature of the crime.

The anonymity of the internet has spawned a new breed of stalker that can easily harass and threaten his victims with the push of a button as opposed to an actual physical confrontation. Cyber stalker activities include sending threatening/harassing/annoying emails, establishing threatening websites, identity theft, posting victim’s name, address, phone #’s on bulletin boards, initiating computer viruses, sending damaging forged emails that appear to be from the victim to co-workers, employers and neighbors and gathering personal information from social media websites. For additional support and information, call the stalking information line at 619-515-8900, and visit: The DistricAttorney Stalking Unit

• Radon

Exposure to radon is associated with several types of cancer and is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is an invisible, odorless gas naturally released by some soil and rocks. Radon enters a home through cracks in walls, basement floors, and other openings. It also may contaminate the water supply, especially in private wells.

• Glaucoma awareness

Glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible vision loss in the United States, is a disease that affectsthree million Americans, half of whom do not know they have it because of its lack of early symptoms. Advances in glaucoma treatment are only beneficial when the disease is detected early. Glaucoma Awareness Month Emphasizes Treatments that Reduce Side Effects, Help Save Vision.

Glaucoma occurs when nourishing fluid that normally flows in and out of the eye drains too slowly. As the fluid builds up, the pressure inside the eye progressively increases. This leads to optic nerve damage and reduced peripheral (side) vision.

Glaucoma Awareness Month is sponsored by the NEHEP Partnership. The National Eye Institute (NEI) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is the Federal government's lead agency for vision research. For more information and materials available please visit:http://www.nei.nih.gov

FEBRUARY

• American Heart Month

• Dental health

Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.
Each February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children's

Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. NCDHM messages and materials have reached millions of people in communities across the country.

For more information and materials available please direct all questions to the American Dental Association ncdhm@ada.org or (800) 621-8099

• Low vision

• Physical active

• Eating disorders

• Newborn infections

Spring will bring back the West Nile virus season again.Are you prepared to Fight the Bite?

# WestNileVirus Symptoms in Cats? Purina® Cat Chow®

More Twitts? Follow Us

......@SaludHEALTHinfo

School supplies are not all what a child needs to succeed in school?

.......Health and Dental Check-Ups are Needed for School. California law requires all children entering first grade to have a health check-up. Check-ups, even when a child is not sick, allow the doctor to find and treat many health problems before they become serious and affect a child’s ability to succeed in school. Check-ups are also ....Continued

WIC Promotes education for eat well, stay healthy and be active!