February is not just a month for roses and chocolates; it's also Heart Health Month—a time to prioritize and nurture the very organ that keeps us ticking.

In this episode, host Kristin Bogdonas delves into the important topic of maintaining healthy habits throughout the year.

Building a winter wellness arsenal involves preparing yourself physically and mentally to navigate the challenges of the colder months. Here are 12 tips to help you create a comprehensive winter wellness plan:

In this episode of the Wellness Wake Up Call, hosted by Kristin Bogdonis, a nutrition and wellness educator for University of Illinois Extension, we dive into the importance of National Diabetes Month, which takes place in November. With an alarming 37 million Americans living with diabetes, it is crucial to raise awareness and understanding of this widespread disease. Shockingly, 20% of those affected are completely unaware of their condition. In the Quad Cities area alone, 13% of adults have diabetes, and an additional 11% have been informed that they have prediabetes or borderline diabetes.Bogdonis sheds light on the fact that prediabetes can go unnoticed for years, without showing any symptoms. To tackle this issue head-on, she advises individuals with a family history of diabetes, those aged 45 or older, individuals who are overweight, or those who have had gestational diabetes, to consult with their doctors and get their blood sugar tested. By determining elevated blood glucose levels, one can take the necessary steps to make lifestyle changes that can prevent or delay the progression of the disease. Shockingly, if left untreated, many people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within a decade.Apart from the risk of developing diabetes, both diabetes and prediabetes increase the likelihood of heart disease and stroke. Bogdonis emphasizes the importance of taking control of one's health through exercise and dietary modifications to prevent complications and…

In this episode, host Kristen Bogdonas, a nutrition and wellness educator, sheds light on atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema, in honor of eczema awareness month. Kristen shares her personal connection to the topic, as her son was recently diagnosed with the condition.Eczema is a persistent and uncontrollable itchiness that can deeply impact one's quality of life. It affects approximately one in 10 people at some point in their lives, with most individuals experiencing their first symptoms during childhood. Babies can even be diagnosed just a few weeks after birth. While eczema isn't contagious, there is a genetic predisposition to the condition, and disturbances in the skin microbiota can contribute to its development.This complex skin disease is characterized by flare-ups of severe symptoms, followed by periods of remission. Those with eczema are more likely to also have asthma, allergies, sleep disruptions, and secondary infections. The appearance of eczema can vary depending on skin tone, appearing as a red rash on fair skin or as pale, gray, ashy, or purple patches on darker skin.

September is here, and that means it's officially Healthy Aging Month. It's a time to celebrate growing older and wiser while taking steps to maintain our health and vitality. In today's episode, I'll share some practical tips to help you age gracefully.

You may have heard of the acronym FAST or F-A-S-T. It stands for Face, Arms, Speech, and Time. If you think someone may be having a stroke, ask these questions:Does one side of the face droop when smiling?Does one arm drift downward when both arms are raised?Does speech sound strange or slurred?If you see any of these signs, call 9-1-1 right away.

Just in time for September, national disaster preparedness month, Kristin Bagdonas shares her top tips for disaster readiness at home, whether it's natural or financial.

Good Morning, this is your Wellness Wake Up Call with Kristin Bogdonas, nutrition and wellness educator for University of Illinois Extension, serving Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, and Stark Counties. Joining us today is Flora Denton, dietetic intern for the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

What can we do to ensure we age successfully? I’ll outline six key elements of aging well, whether you’re 16 or 65.

Good morning, this is your Wellness Wake Up Call with Kristin Bogdonas, nutrition and wellness educator for University of Illinois Extension, serving Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, and Stark Counties.

Good morning, this is your Wellness Wake Up Call with Kristin Bogdonas, nutrition and wellness educator for University of Illinois Extension, serving Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, and Stark Counties.

Kristin: Good Morning, this is your Wellness Wake Up Call with Kristin Bogdonas, nutrition and wellness educator for University of Illinois Extension, serving Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, and Stark Counties.

Good Morning, this is your Wellness Wake Up Call with Kristin Bogdonas, nutrition and wellness educator for University of Illinois Extension, serving Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, and Stark Counties.

The spread and mitigation of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is an evolving concern for Illinois. University of Illinois Extension has a collection of resources to assist families and community leaders preparing for and coping with COVID-19. These resources continue to grow each day as educators across the state develop content for families, businesses and food producers.

Good Morning, this is your Wellness Wake Up Call with Kristin Bogdonas, nutrition and wellness educator for University of Illinois Extension, serving Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, and Stark Counties.

Good Morning, this is your Wellness Wake Up Call with Kristin Bogdonas, nutrition and wellness educator for University of Illinois Extension, serving Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, and Stark Counties.

October is Eat Better, Eat Together Month and the perfect time to make family meals a priority. Research has shown that eating more meals together has a positive effect on both the nutrition and emotional well-being of the entire family.

In honor of Healthy Aging Month, I have a trivia question for you.

What have you been drinking lately? Our health is influenced by our day-to-day food and beverage choices so why not make your drinks count? Did you know the majority of added sugar in the American diet comes from sugar-sweetened beverages? This is not limited to soda. It also includes fruit juice, energy drinks, sports drinks and specialty coffees.

Kristin talks about summer self-care routines that promote healthy habits in the 6 dimensions of wellness, including the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, occupational, and social dimensions. Self-care is a way of living each and every day that incorporates health promoting behaviors to keep you feeling motivated to accomplish your goals.

In honor of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, University of Illinois Extension health educator Kristin Bogdonas gives advice on maintaining a brain-healthy lifestyle.

May is Arthritis Awareness Month — a time to learn not just about the prevalence of arthritis, which affects about one in four adults in the U.S., but also about diet and exercise habits that can enhance the quality of life for those living with any one of the more than 100 types of arthritis. Joining host Kristin Bogdonas is Diane Reinhold, a registered dietician and health educator with the University of Illinois Extension.

In this month's episode of Wellness Wake Up Call, University of Illinois Extension health educator Kristin Bogdonas lays out some "red flags" to help you detect deceptive marketing behind bogus health products and services.

March is National Nutrition Month — the perfect time to observe your overall diet, also known as your eating pattern. It's the totality of foods and beverages consumed over a lifetime, and represents all of the dietary choices made day to day. In this month's episode of Wellness Wake Up Call, University of Illinois Extension health educator Kristin Bogdonas gives advice on how to build up a healthy eating pattern, which she stresses is far more beneficial than chasing the latest diet fad.

February is American Heart Month—a time to raise awareness of heart disease and strategies to prevent this leading cause of death in the U.S. So, in this month's episode of Wellness Wake Up Call, University of Illinois Extension health educator Kristin Bogdonas shares some "heart-smart" behaviors.

University of Illinois Extension health educator Kristin Bogdonas discusses how to make good on New Year's resolutions and maintain healthy habits well into the future.