Newborn screening saves lives. It's the best way to give your baby a healthy start.💙

🔗Learn more: dph.illinois.gov/topics-servi...

🤔What do my baby's results mean?
If results are abnormal, following up with your baby's doctor right away is important. Positive results don't always mean your baby has a condition, just that more tests are needed.

Doctors can start treatment right away to help your baby grow up healthy.

➡️Day 5-12: Results are in!
A final report is sent to the hospital or clinic where the sample was originally collected. Your baby's doctor will be able to answer any questions about the results.

➡️Day 3-4: Testing in progress!
Once it arrives at the lab, the sample is tested for over 60 different disorders, including cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, and PKU.

➡️Day 2: Special delivery!
The sample is quickly packed up and sent to one of IDPH's labs for testing.

➡️Day 0-1: You have a new baby!
Once your baby is about 24 hours old, the newborn screening process will start. The hospital will collect a sample of blood from your baby's heel and fill out the Newborn Screening Specimen Card.

It's three simple tests:
🩸Blood sample (heel stick)
👂Hearing screening
❤️Heart screening (pulse oximetry)

What happens to the blood sample?

Most babies look healthy at birth, but some serious conditions don't show symptoms right away. Newborn screening helps catch them early, before any harm is done.

But how does it actually work? Let's follow your baby's blood sample through the process!

happy national public health week to everyone, but especially to our 97 local health departments in Illinois 🫶 public health doesn't happen without you!

Happy #AutismAcceptanceMonth to:
🩵 Those navigating a world not always designed for their needs
🩵 Those who communicate differently
🩵 Those who were diagnosed early, late, or are still seeking answers
🩵 Every person with autism in Illinois and beyond. You belong here.

West Suburban Medical Center closing temporarily as it runs out of cash to pay employees The hospital's owner blamed the electronic medical record system for failing to bill for the hospital's work. The closure comes months after West Suburban's sister hospital, Weiss Memorial, shuttered ...

🔗 Read more about the hospital's changes:
chicago.suntimes.com/health/2026/...

West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park, Illinois suspended service of its Emergency Department today and plans to suspend all hospital services by the end of the week.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or go to a hospital nearby.

Millions of Americans have diabetes or prediabetes and don’t know it.

The CDC’s 1-minute risk test can help you find out your risk and take steps to protect your health.

Take it here:
www.cdc.gov/prediabetes/...

⏱ 60 seconds. That’s all we’re asking for today.

It could help you understand your risk for type 2 diabetes.

It’s #DiabetesAlertDay - take the quick test. ⬇️

If you find a tick:
➡️ Use fine-tipped tweezers
➡️ Pull straight up slowly
➡️ Clean the bite area with soap and water

If you develop a rash, fever, or flu-like symptoms, contact your healthcare provider.

After spending time outdoors:
🔎 Do a full tick check
🚿 Shower soon after coming inside
🐕 Check pets for ticks too
👕 Check clothing before bringing it indoors

Where you walk matters.
🌾 Stay in the center of trails
🍂 Avoid tall grass, brush, and leaf litter
🥾 Take extra precautions when hiking or mushroom hunting

Before heading outside:
✔ Use insect repellent with DEET or picaridin
✔ Wear light-colored clothing so ticks are easier to spot
✔ Tuck pants into socks in wooded or grassy areas
✔ Consider permethrin-treated clothing

Friendly seasonal health reminder: keep the tick pics to yourself.

Better yet, prevent them entirely. 👇

hi. it's your state health department again. if your St. Patrick's Day weekend plans include drinking, your ride home should already be planned.

And enable emergency alerts on your phone! We’re sharing the latest information from our partners to help keep communities safe. Please follow local officials and weather updates throughout the evening and be prepared to act quickly if warnings are issued.
Stay safe, Illinois. 💙

Take precautions now:
➡️ Stay up to date by monitoring local forecasts.
➡️ Review your safety plan and identify a safe place to go if a tornado warning is issued.
➡️ Consider adjusting late afternoon or evening travel plans if severe weather is expected in your area.

The risk level for parts of central and northern Illinois has increased to Level 4 out of 5, meaning conditions are favorable for significant severe storms.

⚠️ Severe weather is expected across much of the state tonight. Many counties could see very large hail, strong wind gusts, and possibly strong tornadoes. 👇

Early detection can save lives! Current guidelines = all people begin colorectal screening at age 45, but if you have other risk factors you may need to start earlier.
Learn more: dph.illinois.gov/topics-servi...

Want to lower your risk?
➡️ Avoid alcohol and cigarettes
➡️ Eat more fiber
➡️ Be physically active
➡️ Know your family health history

Look out for early signs, which can be subtle:
⚠️ Blood in stool
⚠️ Changes in bowel movements
⚠️ Weakness/fatigue
⚠️ Unexplained weight loss
⚠️ Continued abdominal pain/discomfort
If you notice any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor.

This is no longer a disease of "older age." 1/5 people diagnosed with colorectal cancer are under the age of 55. It's now the leading cause of cancer-related death among young adults, who are often diagnosed at advanced stages because of unrecognized symptoms/delayed screening.

Each year, about 150,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

But with early detection, it has a 90% survival rate.

Colorectal cancer has been in the news a lot lately. The deaths of James Van Der Beek and Catherine O'Hara have brought attention to the fourth most common cancer in the US among men and women combined.