McLaren Northern Michigan

Tips for a Healthy School Year    The start of the school year is here. In order to keep your child healthy, it is important to get them prepared for the school year. Here are some health tips to keep in mind for this back-to-school season. Proper Handwashing Teach or remind your child how to perform proper handwashing. It is the single best way to stop the spread of the viruses that are responsible for illness. The trick to this is to have proper techniques. Hand sanitizer needs to be rubbed ...

Gear Up for Back to School Sports    Getting a routine physical exam is an important back-to-school preparation, no matter which grade your child is about to enter. It is often combined with a sports physical, required if your child will be participating in extracurricular activities this school year, even if school sports look differently than years prior. For student athletes, early detection of critical underlying health conditions, including cardiomyopathy, a heart condition that causes th...

Healthy Lunch Options for Back to School    School is back in session, signaling a return to the cafeteria line or packing of a sack lunch. With designated lunch periods, nutrition and dietitian experts at McLaren Northern Michigan note it's important to ensure students get everything they need at lunch to last them the rest of the school day (and through any after-school activities). Nutrition experts state a lunch should contain at least one fruit and vegetable. An easy way to achieve a heal...

Colon Cancer is Treatable, Beatable and Curable. Early Detection is Key   Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the US and the third leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women. Colorectal cancer initiates in either the colon or the rectum, often in early forms of growths called polyps.    Risk Factors Risk factors for colorectal cancers include: lifestyle behaviors such as not being physically active, smoking, drinking alcohol and a diet with lots of red or p...

Bariatric Surgery Changed This Patient’s Life in Unimaginable Ways   Over the past 30 years, obesity has become the most prevalent disease in the world, and more people suffer from the health effects of obesity than from any other disease. This was the case for Alayna Wesener, who struggled with her weight her entire life. “At 30, I felt my entire future was ruined. I felt like I was going to die young. I needed a seatbelt extender on an airplane, I could barely tie my shoes, I couldn’t cross my le...

Chronic stress can have damaging effects on your body. Whether it’s from everyday deadlines, financial struggles, or the COVID-19 pandemic, stress shows up often in life. And your body reacts to it: your heart rate increases, your blood vessels narrow—and over time, these little blows can add up and do damage to your health, particularly your heart. With chronic stress, you’re more likely to have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and poor sleep. Even other parts of your body – from ...

A diet rich in plant-based foods can help prevent a variety of illnesses including heart disease and stroke.   The Mediterranean diet consists of whole grains, vegetables, legumes, fruits, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices. Olive oil is the main source of added fat. Seafood, fish, dairy and poultry are included in moderation while red meat and sweets are only eaten occasionally. Red wine is also associated with the Mediterranean diet, but while alcohol in moderation can lower heart disease risk, it has...

Smoking cigarettes can permanently damage your heart and blood vessels leading to cardiovascular disease.   We all know smoking is harmful. But did you know your body begins to repair itself just 20 minutes after your last tobacco use? The following timeline describes the benefits you will acquire minutes to years after your last puff.   20 minutes after your last tobacco use Blood pressure decreases Pulse rate drops Body temperature of hands and feet increases   8 hours after your last t...

Maintaining a healthy weight throughout life can help prevent serious health problems.   To stay at a healthy weight you must balance healthy eating with physical activity. However, the truth is that over two-thirds of adults struggle with being overweight or obese. The good news for most is that weight loss of even a few pounds can have a positive impact on health and brings you closer to achieving a healthy weight.   Why a Healthy Weight Is Important When body weight is in a healthy zone, me...

Maintaining a healthy weight throughout life can help prevent serious health problems.   To stay at a healthy weight you must balance healthy eating with physical activity. However, the truth is that over two-thirds of adults struggle with being overweight or obese. The good news for most is that weight loss of even a few pounds can have a positive impact on health and brings you closer to achieving a healthy weight.   Why a Healthy Weight Is Important When body weight is in a healthy zone, me...