Your health: Some local dentists offering free services
Local dentists offer free services
Some local dentists are offering free dental services to people who do not have dental insurance and are struggling financially through the Dentist with a Heart program in February.
Exams, X-rays, cleanings, fillings and extractions will be offered through the program. Offices participating are located in Aurora, Batavia, Carol Stream, Elgin, Bartlett, Geneva, Algonquin, St. Charles and West Dundee.
You must have an appointment from a participating office. All patients under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
For details, a complete list of participating providers, times and services, visit www.dentistwithaheartonline.org.
Know a great school nurse?
From the moment the bell rings in the morning to the zip of the last backpack at the end of the day, school nurses are there to handle every bump, fever, sore throat and upset stomach.
They are the caregivers that look after children during the day, which is why Children's Advil, Children's Robitussin and Children's Dimetapp have launched a nationwide contest to find America's Greatest School Nurse.
Nominations are being accepted nationwide now through Feb. 23 from anyone who would like to honor an exemplary school nurse.
One nurse from each of the 50 states and Washington D.C. will be named a finalist and will win $500. From March 27-April 16, consumers will vote for one of the finalists to win a grand prize.
On May 5, one nurse will be named "America's Greatest School Nurse" and will win an ultimate summer vacation.
Contest Rules and the nomination form can be found at www.AmericasGreatestSchoolNurse.com.
The cost of smoking
Smoking isn't only costly to your health, but to your wallet.
The personal finance website WalletHub recently released a report called "The Real Cost of Smoking."
WalletHub's analysts calculated the potential monetary losses - including the lifetime and annual costs of a cigarette pack per day, health care expenditures, income losses and other costs - brought on by smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke.
They found that in Illinois, the out-of-pocket cost per smoker is $141,660; the financial-opportunity cost per smoker is $1,193,287; the health care cost per smoker is $188,453; the income loss per smoker is $234,902; the total cost over a lifetime per smoker is $1,770,563; and the total cost per year per smoker is $34,717.