by Mary Rains
Mille Lacs Health System
5.11.17
Newsroom
by Dawn Huffman
Mille Lacs Health System
5.11.17
May is National Stroke Awareness month. According to the National Stroke Association, a stroke can happen to anyone at any age and at any time. It is not just about being older. Strokes in children, teens, and young adults are increasing at an alarming rate in the U.S., with a 44% spike in the number of young Americans (under 45 years) hospitalized due to stroke over the last decade. Sadly, 73% of young Americans are not familiar with stroke symptoms and the need for urgent medical attention.
Did You Know?
4.24.17
Syphilis used to be a sexually transmitted disease that got quite a bit of attention for its highly contagious and serious effects on the body. With the advent of penicillin and education about the disease, syphilis rates decreased significantly. Despite that success, however, there is now a resurgence of the disease, and the Mille Lacs area is no stranger to it. The cause for the rise in cases is due to many factors, such as 21st century dating apps like Tinder and Grindr, as well as the need for fast money. The resurgence of syphilis, thought to have been mostly eradicated in the U.S., is now posing a major threat to public health. Minnesota has seen double-digit increases in cases of syphilis and gonorrhea, with a record high in 2016.
5.2.17
May 5 is World Hand Hygiene Day and the CDC says this about clean hands:
4.25.17
National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week was April 24-30. We honor the contributions our Lab Dept. brings to care here at MLHS. These “Diagnosis Detectives” are important members of the healthcare team. Visit their dept. page here to see what they offer http://www.mlhealth.org/health-services/laboratory
4.7.17
When thinking about your overall health and well-being, having strong bones is an important component of staying well. While it may be known that having weak bones puts a person at a greater risk for injury from falls, it also can increase the chance of other types of complications.
Osteoporosis is a disease involving weak bones. However, the term osteopenia is not commonly known. Osteopenia and osteoporosis are related diseases. Both are characterized by varying degrees of bone loss, as measured by a bone mineral density test, which is a marker for how strong a bone is.
Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become weak and brittle – so brittle that a fall or even mild stresses such as bending over or coughing can cause a fracture.
“How can simple, sustainable actions you do have an impact on your day?” asks Liz Anema, Yoga teacher, studio director, and instructor at The Marsh in Minnetonka, MN. “Breathing correctly and especially while feeling stressed, being mindful about the moment you are in right now, taking small breaks throughout the day to stretch or move, these are all ways you can positively affect your day.”
Bill Nelson, CEO of Mille Lacs Health System in Onamia, Minnesota, has been elected to the board of the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) representing Region 3.
The Minnesota Hospital Association positions itself as the state’s most influential, trusted, and respected leader in health care policy and advocacy, and a valuable resource for member hospitals regarding information and knowledge. It values quality, affordable health care, trust and integrity, leadership through knowledge-based solutions, collaboration, and organizational accountability.
The MHA strives to enhance the ability of member hospitals to achieve their missions and goals.
by Kari Collett, RDN, LDN, CLT
Mille Lacs Health System
Does the seasonal virus going around have you down for the count? Are you missing days of work or school because you can’t shake your illness? We all want to know what we can do to get back to feeling good again in a relatively short period of time.
First, rest. None of us wants to lie in bed all day, but sometimes that’s exactly what’s needed. Your body is spending significant amounts of energy trying to help you recover. Doing things around the house, exercising, or other work tasks forces your body to divert energy away from healing. This will cause you to be sick longer.