World Pneumonia Day is November 12

This coming Tuesday, November 12, is World Pneumonia Day. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs, which can be a mild or serious illness. According to Centers for Disease Control, pneumonia affects more than a million people worldwide every year and more than 41,000 people died from pneumonia in the United States in 2022. Pneumonia can be caused by many different types of germs, including but not limited to bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Some ways to protect yourself from pneumonia are:

• Make sure you're up to date on your immunizations.
• Practice good health habits: wash your hands regularly, eat a healthy diet, get enough rest, exercise regularly, and don't smoke.
• If possible, avoid people who are sick.
• Know the symptoms: fever, wheezing, cough, chills, rapid breathing, chest pains, loss of appetite and malaise, or a general feeling of weakness.

The CDC recently recommended a pneumococcal vaccine for adults over the age of 50. Find out where to get your immunizations on the CDPH website.

Pilsen Ribbon Cutting Rescheduled

While CDPH's Pilsen South Ashland Health Hub is open, the official ribbon cutting ceremony has been moved from November 1 to Wednesday, November 20, at 11:00am.

24th Ward Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez, 33rd Ward Alderman Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez and CDPH First Deputy Commissioner Fikirte Wagaw will attend the ceremony, along with other City officials.

The Health Hub officially opened to Pilsen residents on Monday, October 28, and offers no-cost mental health services for adults and youth, alongside with an expanded range of health care services tailored to better meet the needs of the Pilsen community. Other services available include no-cost vaccinations for uninsured, underinsured, Medicaid, or CHIP-insured children aged 0-18, as well as free flu and COVID-19 vaccines for uninsured or underinsured adults.

For more information on the Pilsen South Ashland Health Hub, visit the CDPH website.

CDPH Offices and Clinics Closed for Veterans Day

Chicago Department of Public Health honors veterans of the United States Armed Forces, living and deceased, on this Veterans Day, November 11. All CDPH offices and clinics are closed for the federal holiday and resume regular hours on November 12.

Veterans Day began in 1919 when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first honoring of Armistice Day, in acknowledgement of the anniversary of the ceasefire of World War I. Later, it was expanded as a day to honor all veterans, and “Armistice” was replaced by “Veterans” in 1954.

For information on hours, services, and locations of the City's medical clinics, visit the CDPH website.

Healthy Chicago Podcast

In the newest episode of the Spanish-Language Healthy Chicago podcast, Dr. Willaim Jorland, anesthesiologist and medical journalist, joins Dr. Geraldine Luna to discuss how cultural factors impact Latino patients' perception of anesthesia and their response to treatment. The discussion also covers how language barriers, understanding medical procedures, and managing anesthesia-related stress can influence post-operative recovery.

Dr. Jorland shares his experience working with immigrant communities, highlighting how traumatic experiences during their journey to the U.S. can affect their approach to medical procedures.

Tune in to the newest episodes of Healthy Chicago on the CDPH website and all major platforms:

YouTube / Spotify / Apple

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