Healthy Lifestyles

Health Promotion 

At the Florida Department of Health in Union County (DOH-Union), we collaborate with a variety of agencies and organizations to offer physical activity and nutrition promotion to people in the community.

Following are several examples of recent program partnerships benefiting those who live in Union.

Health Fairs 

DOH-Union participates in a number of health fairs each year to provide information on public health services provided by the department.

To request the health department's participation in an upcoming health fair or event, or for more information about these and other physical activity and nutrition promotion efforts in Union County, please call 386-496-3211.

Healthy Choices 

Being overweight not only puts physical stress on our bones which can cause joint problems, it can lead to many other issues. Obesity can lead to loss of energy, depression, heart disease, chronic respiratory illness, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, just to name a few.

The Florida Department of Health in Union County (DOH-Union) has put together a variety of research tools, materials, and internet links to help parents and children find the answers they need to make healthier food choices and be more active.

Diabetes Prevention 

Having prediabetes means your blood glucose (sugar) level is higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. This raises your risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

Without weight loss or moderate physical activity, many people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within three years. Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition that can lead to health issues such as heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, or loss of toes, feet, or legs.

Florida Department of Health in Union County (DOH-Union) regularly holds prediabetes classes for residents at the health department in Milton, located at 495 E Main Street.

Heart Health Plus 

Heart Health Plus aims at increasing health to help prevent chronic disease. This initiative addresses multiple risk factors for heart disease including tobacco use, diabetes, and hypertension.

Utilizing various evidenced based strategies, the Florida Department of Health in Union County is partnering with communities, county health departments (CHDs), federally qualified health care centers and other partners to carry out these interventions.

The overall goal of this initiative is to improve the cardiovascular health of Floridians and contribute to preventing one million heart attacks and strokes.

Tobacco Prevention 

Students Working Against Tobacco

SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco) is made up of middle school and high school students from across the state of Florida who have decided to take a stand against an industry that kills more than 420,000 Americans and more than 4,000,000 people world wide every year.

The purpose of SWAT is to provide a means by which the young people of Florida may develop a coordinated, unified assault against the manipulation of Big Tobacco.

SWAT also provides young people with the chance to be advocates and to get involved within their state, regions and communities. SWAT allows youth to gain "real-life" experiences through planning, executing, and evaluating tobacco prevention activities.

SWAT will also attempt to provide meaningful workshops and training sessions that will allow youth to be more effective in any endeavor that they choose to undertake.