When discussing summer safety, people don’t normally think of food, but they should. Summer is prime time for foodborne illnesses since bacteria can multiply rapidly under the right conditions, said Daniel Sutton, MD, a family doctor with ThedaCare Physicians-Waupaca.
The next time you bring in your child for her well visit, don’t be surprised if the doctor mentions checking her cholesterol. While cholesterol checks are normally associated with adults, the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends tweens, teens and young adults between the ages of 11 and 21 get tested, too. The leading reason for the change is the rising rate of obesity among young Americans and the associated health problems.
Educators agree that children of all ages need to keep reading during the summer months. Students can experience significant learning loss, or what is called brain drain, when they do not participate in educational activities. “They could end up scoring lower on standardized tests and lose months of educational skills,” said Brown.
Too often summer snacking is centered around popsicles, potato chips, and cured meats. The key to changing your family’s snacking routine is to change the way you access food in the summer. After all, this is the only time in Wisconsin when our options for sourcing food grow exponentially—think farmers’ markets, roadside stands, pick-your-own berry patches, and community supported agriculture (CSA) subscriptions, not to mention your own garden.
Babies spend a lot of time sleeping, but unfortunately where they sleep can pose a danger to their health. Babies should always sleep in a crib on their back, with nothing else in the crib. Sleeping in an old crib or one filled with blankets, for example, can lead to a baby being injured or suffocating. Parents and caregivers can take several steps, however, to ensure their baby sleeps in a safe environment:
“The mood benefits are addictive. That’s what hooks a lot of people,” said Michael Kagen, MD, of ThedaCare Physicians-Internal Medicine in Appleton. He’s referring to a person’s plan to be more active, which very quickly results in an improved mood and an overall energy boost.
Many of us set new fitness and lifestyle goals based on our fear of disease or disability. Frightening pictures of clogged arteries or stories about fatty liver disease can motivate us to jump on the treadmill and opt for quinoa over white rice. This fear, also known as negative conditioning, also has a way of dissipating. You ask yourself, “What are my chances of actually contracting this malady? Why am I panicking about something that might never happen? What if all this time invested in exercise and Mediterranean-style cooking is not really worth it?”
Chronic stress is when our bodies do not return to their more relaxed state. Our hearts keep racing, our muscles stay tense, and we breathe quickly, not deeply. A number of essential body functions stay suppressed, like our digestive systems, reproductive organs, and our immunity to infections. Headaches, sleeplessness, depressed mood, anger, and irritability can all be caused by stress, and they can lead to more serious diseases like obesity, depression, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
After what seems to have been an endless winter, spring has finally arrived and more runners will move from the treadmill to the pavement. Running outside is different than running inside and it’s not just because you’re no longer in a controlled environment running a pre-programmed route.
The best chance for survival is when the cardiac arrest is witnessed, CPR is started immediately, and there is access to advanced life saving treatment in a short time.
A vegan diet not only means not eating meat but any food that comes from animals in any way. This includes milk products, eggs, honey and gelatin, which comes from bones and other animal tissue.
In healthcare, you may hear people talking about an important document called the Power of Attorney for Healthcare (POAHC). This is referred to as an advanced directive that gives healthcare providers direction and guidance to provide the care that an individual desires. The POAHC is filled out by an individual (referred to as the principal) while they are able to make decisions for themselves so they will have input into directing their care if and when they become unable to make decisions.
A few factors go into being ready to babysit. There is no magic age. It may depend on the child’s maturity and willingness to accept the responsibility of caring for another child.
For media inquiries, please call Cassandra Wallace, Public and Media Relations Consultant at 920.442.0328 or the ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah switchboard at 920.729.3100 and ask for the marketing person on call.
