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Health and Wellness Archive

Health and Wellness Files

Impact of Leading Causes of Death

Modified on 23 August 2010

Impact of Leading Causes of Death: An analysis of deaths from leading causes suggests that the DuPage population, on average, is less susceptible to premature death from these leading causes. However, there are disparities for racial and ethnic minorities, and some of these disparities are greater in DuPage than for the rest of Illinois. Although more information is needed to determine the specific causes of these disparities, strategies that focus on access to medical care and healthy lifestyle choices are recommended.

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Infant Mortality

Modified on 21 August 2010

Infant Mortality: Infant mortality in DuPage is historically below that of the state and nation although statewide and national figures are catching up. Birth outcomes for the Black population in DuPage are of particular concern because infant mortality rates for this group exceed state and national figures. Interestingly, Hispanics achieve relatively high birth outcomes with lower measured levels of prenatal care, sonot all of the disparities in infant mortality can be explained by the measures we usually associate with infant mortality. However, experts do agree that the path to a healthy birth and first year of life starts with a healthy mother and includes good nutrition, regular medical checkups, avoidance of substances that can harm the child, and knowledgeable parents.

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Access to Healthcare

Modified on 04 August 2010

Access to Health Care: DuPage is doing better than most areas in terms of providing access to care for its general population and by creating a system to provide healthcare access to vulnerable populations. A Community Health Plan, which is part of the DuPage County Health Department’s five-year plan, emphasizes: (a) building system capacity and providing access to a medical home; (b) assuring access to low-cost prescription medications; and (c) improving the health status of the uninsured. The federal Affordable Care Act will have a significant impact on this local system, so it is important for that system to make adjustments in the coming years.

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Nutrition and Obesity

Modified on 09 August 2010

Nutrition and Obesity: Obesity is a national health concern because is a major underlying risk factor for a number of health concerns including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and other conditions. It also appears that it is affecting the people of DuPage with nearly the same frequency as anywhere else. Obesity is more prevalent in minority and low-income populations, which are the growing populations in DuPage. The DuPage County Health Department has identified obesity as a priority and is promoting a tree-part strategy to address the issue. This strategy includes: (a) surveillance and better knowledge about the issue; (b) understanding the risk factors in the environment; and (c) promoting communitywide actions to reduce the prevalence of obesity.

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Mental Illness

Modified on 07 August 2010

Mental Illness: The data indicate that trends regarding the incidence of mental illness in DuPage are similar to the rest of the country. However, our growth in certain demographics (for example, aging and low-income populations) suggest the need for strategies that will meet the needs of these groups. Local planning documents emphasize three approaches, which are: (a) developing a community-wide collaboration to work on these issues and including a wide range of community leaders; (b) developing new resources; and (c) including a focus on the needs of seniors, particularly older seniors over 75.

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Substance Abuse

Modified on 22 August 2010

Substance Abuse: It appears that the incidence rate of substance abuse in DuPage is no lower than in other areas. In fact, the higher incomes in DuPage may actually be related to higher incidence rates. Substance abuse has far-reaching impacts on the abuser as well as those around him/her. It will affect physical health, and it often co-occurs with mental illness. Social relationships with family and others are affected, it can reduce the ability to lead a productive life, and it is often associated with criminal behavior. The 2015 Community Health Plan of the DuPage County Health Department’s 2015 IPLAN process identified substance abuse (along with mental illness as a combined issue) as one of its four priorities over the next five years.

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