Hey Guys — Don’t Forget Your Screenings
Summer is a busy time of year for men, no question about that. With warm weather and bright sunshine, this is the perfect time to get some work done around the house or spend some time outside with friends and family — whether you’re on the links, at the lake, or just relaxing on a backyard patio. Between all the chores and recreation of summertime, losing track of your regularly scheduled healthcare screenings can be too easy.
Recognize Strokes • Save Lives
A stroke can be a terrifying experience for both patients and their loved ones. This debilitating condition can strike suddenly, and if not treated in time, can have life-changing consequences.
Prioritize Your Mental Well-Being
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Often, people think of the hospital as a place to visit strictly for ailments and conditions of the body, like illnesses and injuries. However, if left untreated, mental health issues can be debilitating and even fatal. For patients in rural areas, this phenomenon is exacerbated by several conditions.
Regain Your Independence with Occupational Therapy
Many patients recovering from surgery or an injury may have trouble returning to their usual routines. Tasks that were once performed regularly may now take some extra effort, no matter how basic or rigorous they may be. On the other end, children struggling to meet developmental milestones may find the same tasks challenging and frustrating.
Ear, Nose, & Throat Physicians— Not Just for Kids
Chronic sinus issues can be much more than a mild annoyance. For people struggling with any recurring illnesses or conditions related to the ear, nose, and throat (ENT), finding relief can be life-altering. Unfortunately, specialized ENT clinics may be hard to access — particularly in rural communities. Furthermore, because of the numerous sinus-related issues that affect children, ENT clinics are often viewed as an extension of pediatric care.
Don’t Wait — Schedule a Colorectal Cancer Screening
Minor issues may not seem like a big deal now, but they can turn into serious, life-threatening conditions later. Your body doesn’t always alert you when a small problem arises, so scheduling regular screenings and tests is the only way to catch treatable conditions before they spiral out of control.
Improve Your Health with a High Fiber Diet
Taking positive steps toward a healthier lifestyle means incorporating healthier foods into your diet. Everyone knows certain foods can positively impact your physical wellbeing, but did you know some foods can improve your health in such a way that reduces your risk of serious diseases like cancer? Specifically, foods that are high in fiber can improve your digestion and lower your chances of colorectal cancer. This Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, learn more about a high-fiber diet and how it can lead to a healthier, happier, and longer life.
Secure Peace of Mind with Cancer Screenings
Public health has been a top-of-mind concern for everyone the last couple years, and rightfully so. But while the public turned its collective focus on COVID-19, more routine actions like checkups and health screenings were pushed to the back burner. Unfortunately, this can allow small complications to grow into more serious problems with potentially life-threatening consequences.
Care for Your Heart — Schedule a Screening
Knowing you’re in good health with complete certainty is always better than just guessing. Too often, patients live their lives unaware of potential problems until it’s far too late. In those situations, all loved ones can do is wonder, “What if?”
Improve Your Wellness with Dietary Services
What we put into our bodies has a profound effect on our physical wellbeing. Many patients underestimate how dietary health can impact our mental and emotional wellness. Physical and mental wellness are so intertwined, managing your dietary health and making smarter food choices can dramatically improve your overall wellbeing.
Prevent Slip and Fall Accidents This Winter
The natural beauty of winter is hard to deny. The way the sunlight reflects off a sheet of fresh snow on a chilly winter morning is quite literally a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy season. Despite the serenity that comes with the new snow, winter weather isn’t without its hazards, as any Midwesterner will tell you. As freezing temperatures bring snowy, icy conditions, just walking around can become dangerous. This winter, be mindful of slippery surfaces and learn how you can stay safe.
How to Cope with Grief During the Holidays
The holiday season is a time of joy and celebration for many. But for others, the holidays can be a time of grief, pain, and sadness. Be it the memories of departed loved ones or the reminders of estrangement and strained relationships, the holidays can be anything but merry for those struggling with feelings of grief and loneliness.
Stay Clean & Healthy on National Handwashing Week
If the last couple of years have taught us anything, it’s the importance of handwashing in regard to public health. Pandemic aside, handwashing should always be a high priority, especially this time of year when the cold and flu spread is rampant. Think of all the surfaces you touch throughout the day — not just at home, but at work or school, at the grocery store, or at the coffee shop or restaurant. How many doorknobs, countertops, and keypads have you touched? How many other people have touched those same surfaces? Did you know you’re bringing their germs along with you?
‘Tis the Season for Flu Vaccinations
The mercury may drop, but another trend is soon on the rise. In November, healthcare providers around the country will notice a rise in influenza cases, peaking in winter before steadying and dropping toward the beginning of spring. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), 10-20% of the population is infected by flu viruses each year, with children infected more often than adults.
Let’s Make Women’s Health a Priority Everyday.
Don’t put the pink away quite yet. While every October is commemorated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the truth is women’s health should be a priority every day of the year.
What is the Difference in Internal Medicine and Family Medicine?
For some patients, choosing a primary care provider may ultimately come down to a choice between a doctor providing internal medicine or family medicine. At first glance, both internists and family doctors appear to provide the same healthcare services. So, how does a patient decide between the two? Make an educated decision on your healthcare. Learn the difference between internal medicine and family medicine to determine which provider is right for you.
Warning Signs of Breast Cancer
Early detection is key to preventing many diseases — including many forms of cancer. While cancer often has devastating and fatal consequences, recognizing the warning signs early on can mean the difference between life and death. Breast cancer is no exception. Though a breast cancer diagnosis can be understandably scary, spotting the early signs can result in a more positive outcome. Learn more about breast cancer, the symptoms and signs, and what you can do to minimize the risk.
Recognize the Warning Signs of Suicide
In the aftermath of suicide, many people often ask the same questions: “Why did this happen? What could we have done?” The truth is no easy answer exists for either. The decisions that drive someone to take their own life can vary from person to person. The reasons are almost always complicated and difficult to understand for those left behind.
Get Screened for Prostate Cancer
If something was seriously wrong with your health, wouldn’t you like to know before it became a bigger problem? While we can’t peer into the future, modern medicine can provide patients with minor issues before they become more serious — including prostate cancer.
The Benefits of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is one of the most emotional and natural connections between a mother and an infant. In fact, studies from the National Institutes of Health have linked breastfeeding with numerous positive psychological impacts on babies as they grow older, including improved cognitive performance and heightened socio-affective responding; for mothers, breastfeeding can lead to reduced physiological and subjective stress, as well as heightened maternal sensitivity and care.
Immunizations — Not Just for Kids!
As summer winds down, many parents are busy scheduling their kids’ immunizations to ensure they’re all caught up on their vaccine schedules as they head back to school. What many parents neglect, however, is their own immunizations. Prioritizing kids’ health is understandable, after all, but it shouldn’t come at the price of neglecting one’s own health.
Safe Grilling Tips for This Summer
Nothing beats firing up the grill and throwing down on some hot dogs, burgers, or barbecue to enjoy with a cold beverage in the hot summer sun. Whether you prefer charcoal or propane and propane accessories, grilling on an open flame is yet another way for us to enjoy the sunshine and warm weather.
Summer Safety Tips for Kids
School’s out and the weather is warm — time to head outside and play! Summer is an important time of year for children to socialize in the sunshine, whether it’s riding bikes, swimming, or playing a game of backyard baseball.
Men: Schedule Important Health Screenings This Summer
Are you staying on schedule with your screenings this summer? From household chores to family trips, keeping tabs on your health can often fall by the wayside. That goes for regular screenings and checkups, which can provide a valuable warning to potential health issues.
Keep Your Kids Happy with Healthy Summer Snacks
Anyone with children can tell you, keeping them fed and happy can sometimes be a challenge. Kids seemingly go from full to starving in the blink of an eye, and as caretakers, we don’t always have time to whip up a Jamie Oliver-approved culinary masterpiece for them. Sometimes it’s more convenient to feed our kids something quick and easy like potato chips or processed meats.
Choosing the Right Healthcare Option
With so many options to receive fast, immediate care, choosing the right provider when you need it can seem confusing. You may often find yourself wondering, “Should I go to urgent care for this? Do I need immediate care? Or should I schedule an appointment?”
Stay Safe & Healthy This Spring
We’re all eager to head outdoors. After a long, cold winter, the warm weather and sense of renewal are alluring enough to draw us out of our homes and celebrate the great outdoors.
Helpful Tips to Manage Stress
While stress is a part of life for everyone, how it’s processed varies from person to person. Different causes have different effects, and depending on the person, those effects can be severe enough to interfere with day-to-day life. Understanding what stress is and what causes it is an important step in learning how to cope with it.
Important Facts: Alcohol Awareness Month
How do you know when you have a drinking problem? Having one drink every once in a while isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but the unfortunate truth is alcohol can be more addictive and destructive for some people.
Schedule Your Colorectal Cancer Screening
Isn’t knowing for sure better than assuming? As we age, certain screenings become an important part of our routine and give us a better understanding of our physical health. Among those is colorectal screenings. Tests like colonoscopies can not only provide a clear image of a patient’s health but can also detect and treat cancer in its earliest stages before it can become a more serious problem.
What to Know About Our New Infusion Center
Patients now have a more convenient way to receive the crucial, specialized infusion treatments they need. Culbertson Memorial Hospital is proud to open its brand-new Infusion Center, a dedicated space providing local, comfortable care from familiar faces. Serving as the highlight of Phase 1 of the hospital’s renovation project, the Infusion Center builds on an already expansive list of outpatient services available in Rushville.
Understanding High Blood Pressure — and Lowering It
A blood pressure reading is one of the medical procedures we come to expect from our healthcare providers. But how seriously do you take these readings? Sometimes people may hear the numbers with little understanding of what they mean or even what to do about them.
Recipes for a Healthy Heart
What does your diet look like? The benefits of a healthy diet can’t be overstated — from GI health to liver disease to diabetes, eating a well-balanced diet brings numerous benefits for a wide range of conditions.
When to Visit the ED (Not for a COVID Test)
Sometimes when we need fast, immediate care, the Emergency Department at your local hospital may seem like the best option. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it’s the perfect place to go when you need care right away, right?
Commit to Your Health This New Year
For many, the New Year brings a sense of renewal and an opportunity to begin with a clean slate. After all, there’s no better time to set new goals for yourself in the hopes of bettering your mind, body, and spirit.
Recognizing & Treating Teen Depression
Feelings of anxiety or sadness are a normal part of growing up. However, when those feelings become persistent or more extreme and interfere with a child’s day-to-day life, they can be a sign of something more serious.
How to Have a Happy & Healthy Holiday Season
The holiday season means time to gather with friends and family to celebrate in fellowship with one another. However, for some, the holiday season can bring feelings of stress, anxiety, and dread.
What to Know About Laboratory Testing
Modern life often gets in the way of scheduling the regular health services we need. Admittedly, driving out of town for something as minor as a simple blood draw is an inconvenience when balancing work and family.
An Introduction to Care Giving
If you’re a new care giver, chances are you feel as though your world has been turned upside-down. Taking on that responsibility can leave anyone feeling lost, helpless, and alone in the face of a remarkable challenge.
Is Surgery Right for Me?
When something isn’t functioning how it should, human nature is to find the quickest way to remedy that problem. The same goes for our bodies — often when dealing with medical conditions, we look for fast, easy, and convenient solutions so we can get back to our normal lives as quickly as possible.
Breast Cancer Risks & Prevention
Are you aware of your risks? Breast cancer affects hundreds of thousands of Americans every year, but early detection and treatment can greatly reduce your risk of a life-threatening situation. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, get the facts and learn what you can do to ensure many more years.
How to Achieve Good Colon Health
Maintaining good physical health means paying attention to all parts of your body — even the ones you don’t typically think about. Unfortunately, too many people neglect their colon health, leading to serious consequences later in life.
Get Back on Track with Cardiac Rehab
After you’ve suffered a cardiac event, getting back to your previously active lifestyle may be challenging. This is completely understandable — for some, their bodies may not be ready to jump right back into their usual routine, while others may feel anxious about potentially putting their health at risk.
Common Misconceptions Surrounding COVID-19 and the Vaccines
As a healthcare provider in the local community, I wanted to address common misconceptions, concerns, and questions from patients regarding vaccine hesitancy. Misinformation often spreads faster than evidence-based data and can be harmful. To our patients who are unsure about this vaccine, we first want to say your questions and hesitation are OK and need to be addressed, but we want to make sure they are being addressed correctly.
Causes & Treatment for Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence may be uncomfortable or embarrassing to talk about, it’s a serious issue deserving medical attention. The Urology Care Foundation reports this condition affects millions of Americans every day — from a quarter to one-third of the population.
Cervical Cancer: Screen, Detect, Prevent
If you could go back and prevent an illness or ailment before it became a much bigger problem, you would, right? While we can’t go back in time, all of us are armed with the power of knowledge that gives us the foresight to detect early signs of trouble.
How to Manage Your Endocrine Health
For such a specialized field, endocrinology covers a wide range of diseases and disorders that affect different parts of the body. Nevertheless, understanding what endocrinology is and how patients can treat these disorders can drastically improve their quality of life.
How to Lower Your Risk of Cancer
Nobody likes to think about the possibility of receiving a cancer diagnosis. Just the mere mention of the word “cancer” can strike fear and anxiety in one’s mind.
What to Expect from Pediatric Speech Therapy
All parents love to celebrate the milestones children reach as they grow. First smiles, first steps, first words… They’re all moments that are cheered by entire families.
Practice Safe Riding during Bike Safety Month
For many, rising temperatures bring a desire to hit the open road on two wheels. Biking is an excellent way to get out and enjoy some fresh air during the warm months but doing so safely ensures a more enjoyable experience for you and others on the road. Following just a few precautions can drastically increase your chances of staying safe this season. This Bike Safety Month, be mindful of these tips that can help save your life — and others’.
When You Should See a Podiatrist
When it comes to mobility, issues involving the feet and ankles can be the most debilitating conditions patients can face.
Improving Mental Health for Seniors
As we age, we come to expect and even accept a growing number of physical limitations. The plain and simple truth is we just won’t be as energetic or limber as we once were — it’s just part of getting older.
How to Prevent Injuries from Outdoor Activity
Ahh, the sun’s out, the air is warm… Time to get to work. Where to begin — picking up the loose branches knocked down by the harsh winter or starting to run again?
How to Manage Your Asthma in the Spring
For many, springtime signals a long-awaited period of relief after being stuck indoors during the frigid winter months… a time to finally get outside and get a breath of fresh air. But as the world around us springs back to life and flowers begin to bloom, for many people just being outside can be irritating with allergens floating through the air.
How to Prepare for Surgery
Surgery may be a point of stress for many patients, but the fact is surgical procedures are often a necessary process in getting patients on the path to recovery.
What to Know About Gastrointestinal Health
Ever feel bloated, nauseous or gassy far more than you feel normal? Dealing with abdominal cramps frequently? Making way too many trips to the bathroom? It could be a sign of something serious.
What Women Need to Know About Heart Health
Are you focused on your heart health? If not, you should be.
Get Active to Improve Your Heart Health
February is Heart Health Month! How well are you taking care of your ticker?
Allergies, Cold, Flu or COVID? Learn the Facts
In years past, a case of the sniffles was hardly reason to get excited. These days, however, it can send any ordinary person scrambling to Google to determine if they have a cold, the flu, or something more serious.
What You Need to Know About the COVID-19 Vaccines
In December, the FDA greenlighted the first COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, bringing a sense of hope to a nation that’s been gripped by the coronavirus pandemic since spring of 2020. Be that as it may, questions still remain regarding the newly approved vaccines, from perceptions on how they were quickly developed to their effectiveness and safety.
Make Healthy Choices Your New Year’s Resolution
As the clock finally wound down in 2020, what goals did you set for yourself for the new year? Whether your goals include improving your physical health or your mental wellbeing, there’s no better time to start than when you have a fresh, clean slate for a new year.
Keep the Joy in the Holiday Season.
With the COVID-19 pandemic in resurgence across the country, this year’s holiday season will look different than in years past. The stark reality is, with thousands of new COVID-19 cases being diagnosed daily, traveling and gathering in large groups to celebrate the holidays is not recommended.
Cleans Hands, Healthy Community.
Practicing hand hygiene is a simple yet effective way to prevent the spread of germs. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to infect thousands of people each day, it’s become even more important to keep your hands clean to prevent the spread of germs. Plus, there’s no better time to brush up on your handwashing skills because the week of December 1 – 7 is National Handwashing Awareness Week!
The First Step? Taking Care of You.
Becoming a great caregiver starts with your own health & wellbeing. Whether you’re a professional caregiver or simply caring for loved ones, caregiving helps bring a little bit of hope into the lives of their patients—even though it requires a lot of emotional resilience and strength. To provide the best possible care, it’s important to take care of you too.
Enjoying Your Holiday Season as a Diabetic
The CDC cites that “Over 34.2 million US adults have diabetes and 1 in 5 of them don’t know they have it.” Learning about your family’s history and talking to your doctor about any changes in your health is key to receiving the necessary treatment for chronic illnesses like diabetes.
How Early Detection & Imaging Saves Lives: Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer found in U.S. women and understanding possible symptoms, warning signs, and scheduling routine imaging appointments make all the difference.
Body & Mind: Taking care of you.
Life is hard and COVID-19 has made it more difficult to navigate even the most basic tasks of day-to-day living. Leading a healthy life looks different for most, but your plan should always include a focus on three main areas: clean diet, moderate exercise, and mental health treatment.
Body, Mind & Soul. Nurturing Your Child’s Mental & Emotional Health
Health and wellness looks different for each person—especially across various demographics like age, gender, and family history. For our children, it’s important to teach them how to properly express any concerns and questions about their changing bodies—mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Prostate Cancer Awareness
Early detection is key to potentially stopping the spread of prostate cancer and finding a treatment plan that fits. Listening to your body and understanding your normal can also help detect issues early to prevent long-term or life-threatening results.
Wellness Becomes a Part of You.
Culbertson helps you stay on top of your health. When it comes to self-care, routine wellness appointments are key to becoming the healthiest version of you. Culbertson Memorial Hospital providers offer routine wellness appointments for all the members of your family.
Culbertson Care: From Head to Toe
Providing top-notch care to our community means introducing new providers that help us extend our medical services, while keeping you close to home. Culbertson Memorial Hospital is proud to now offer Neurology Services at our Outpatient Specialty Clinic.
Protecting Our Children - Inside & Out
We all know that it takes a strong team of family, friends, teachers, and medical professionals to keep kids happy, healthy, and growing. To stay on the right track, it’s recommended that children go to all milestone medical appointments and receive the appropriate immunizations as recommended for their age.
Alzheimer’s Disease & Its Effects on Your Loved Ones
The most common cause of dementia, Alzheimer’s accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases. Although similar and often confused for one another, Alzheimer’s and dementia are different diseases with varying effects on those affected patients.
Keeping Summer Fun Safe
As the days get longer, we start heading outside for more entertainment and leisure activities under the warmth of the summer sun! To protect your skin, it’s common knowledge to apply sunscreen to your exposed areas. For older children and adults, it seems simple, but pediatric skin problems occur more frequently than one may think. That means we need to be extra careful with sunscreen application—especially with our kiddos!
Exercise. It’s More Than Physical.
Everyone knows that routine physical activity will help you look and feel your absolute best, but those benefits aren’t just skin deep. Regular exercise can also help with a variety of other health benefits. Let’s explore 5 ways that exercise benefits more than just the physical.
Better Communication, Happier Life
In the chaos of day-to-day, it’s easy for us to take life’s most basic things for granted. For most of us, we don’t need to worry about our ability to safely swallow food or easily communicate with our peers, but many people do require some additional help to complete these basic skills. Jenna Patterson, Speech Therapist at Culbertson Memorial Hospital provides us with some helpful insight to the profession and how you or a loved one may benefit from Speech Therapy.
Keeping Seniors Healthy & Happy
It takes a group effort to keep a community safe—and that applies to health and wellness too! Some of our favorite family members and neighbors can sometimes be the most susceptible to failing health or adverse conditions. Fortunately, some health situations can be alleviated by routine physical activity.
Helping You Breathe Better
May is Asthma Awareness Month. Living with asthma can be scary at times. Without proper long-term treatment, symptoms can turn uncomfortable and dangerous if left unmonitored and uncontrolled. A key to treating asthma and its symptoms is understanding your personal triggers and how you plan to treat them.
Now’s the Time. Advanced Care Planning.
National Healthcare Decision Day is April 16, 2020. Planning ahead makes life’s hardest moments easier to handle in the future. National Healthcare Decision Day is just one resource you can use to help you or your loved ones start to properly plan in advance of any health issues.
Celebrating Diversity in Healthcare
April is National Minority Health Month and the world has become more interdependent as technology makes it easier to interact with people on the opposite side of the world. We learn more about our bodies and how they work every day—we even discover how our genetic differences affect our bodies uniquely, too.
Do you practice good nutrition?
Nutrition is the study of how our body uses the nutrients absorbed from the foods we eat. Nutritionists pull from the studies of molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics to properly determine how certain nutrient intake affects the body. Understanding how your body processes food can be helpful to achieving short- and long-term healthcare goals.
Regular Screenings Save Lives
Preventing colorectal cancer starts with regular screenings from a trusted provider. In fact, this cancer can sometimes appear asymptomatic until it progresses into a more intensive state. Fortunately, there’s several screening options you and your provider can discuss when it’s time to get screened.
5 Tips on Staying Active at Home or Work
Motivating yourself to consistently use (and pay) for the gym is sometimes more of a battle than actually working out. After a long day, it’s hard to find the energy to drive to a crowded fitness club to jump on a machine, so we’ve compiled a list of things to do at home (or work) that will keep you active!
Give Your Heart A Little Love – American Heart Month
It can happen at any age. In fact, heart disease—and the conditions that lead to it—are starting to occur in younger adults more frequently. Since we already have sweethearts on our minds, it’s the perfect time to discuss risks and ways to prevent cardiovascular disease.
Your Step Between Hospital & Home – Swing Bed Program
You need something that’s a step in between, a program with some care and rehabilitation services that allows you to slowly regain your own independence. The Swing Bed Program at Culbertson Memorial Hospital serves patients with conditions such as hip or knee replacements, stroke, pneumonia, post-surgical procedures and extended IV therapy.
Guided by Advanced Technology – Ultrasound-guided Biopsies
Ultrasound-guided biopsies are performed right here at Culbertson Memorial Hospital. The most common form of image-guided biopsy, the ultrasound option offers convenience and real-time dynamic observation.
6 Helpful Tips to Staying Healthy this Holiday Season
The holidays tend to sneak up on us, but if we listen to our bodies and implement little tips and tricks into our daily lives, we don’t have to let unwanted viruses or bacteria keep us from the joyful festivities!
Clean Hands, Healthy Body
Practicing hand hygiene is a simple yet effective way to prevent infections. Cleaning your hands can prevent the spread of germs, including those resistant to antibiotics, which are becoming difficult, if not impossible, to treat. Plus, there’s no better time to brush up on your handwashing skills because the week of December 1 – 7 is National Handwashing Awareness Week!
The Great American Smokeout: Take a Stand for Your Heart Health
Your health matters, yet certain habits and behaviors could negatively impact your health goals. If you’re a smoker, consider joining The Great American Smokeout presented by the American Cancer Society. It takes time, adequate planning, and a community of supporters to help choose your long-term health over short term habits, so join the fight today for a better life tomorrow.
It’s More Than Memory Loss: Alzheimer’s Awareness Month
A well-known disease, Alzheimer’s affects millions of people of all ages with varying severity. Though not preventable, Alzheimer’s is caused by a combination of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. It’s important to stay aware of the symptoms and risk factors to protect you and your loved ones.
Understanding the Benefits of Physical Therapy
Maybe the most recognizable type of therapy, physical therapy helps patients prevent and manage their conditions to achieve short- and long-term health goals. In fact, physical therapy could help more conditions than expected. Some people may find a healthy body could still benefit from routine appointments with a physical therapist.
Early Detection Saves Lives: Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer found in U.S. women, and understanding possible symptoms and warning signs could make all the difference.
Stay Ahead of the Game: Schedule Your Prostate Cancer Screening
Heads up, fellas! September represents Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Did you know a simple blood test & examination could be the difference between staying in the game or being benched mid-season?
Help Change the Conversation on Suicide
Though a difficult subject, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline tackles the stigmas and stereotypes surrounding suicide. With the help of 150 local crisis response centers, healthcare professionals, friends and family, we can change the conversation from suicide to suicide prevention. You can be the difference!
Tips for Making Lunches and Snacks Healthy for Kids
Starting healthy eating habits early can help turn simple choices into a lifestyle. While breakfast and dinners are often family meals, snacks and lunches for children are typically more personalized. And guess what? Making snack time just as nutritional can be easy!
Deep Vein Thrombosis, A Little-Known Danger
It can strike after surgery, flying, a broken leg or even as a result of sitting in one position for too long – “it” is Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), a clot that forms in the leg and blocks blood flow back to the heart. While a common medical emergency, it’s not as well-known as strokes, heart attacks or other more familiar emergencies.
Let’s Work on Lowering Your Risk for Diabetes
According to the CDC, diabetes is “the condition in which the body does not properly process food for use as energy.” Our bodies are built to break down our food into glucose (sugar) to use for energy. Your pancreas produces insulin, the hormone that helps gets glucose into the cells. Diabetics either don’t produce enough or can’t use the provided insulin, which could lead to some serious issues. There are also several types of diabetes that affect different demographics.
Keeping Kids Healthier
It takes a village to raise a child. And the amount of health risks only increase as your kid becomes more independent and active. We may not be able to prevent those future playground or sports accidents, but we can work to prevent childhood obesity from putting a child’s health at risk.
Mental Health & Its Effect on Seniors
Mental health can be just as important as physical health. In fact, certain mental health conditions, if left untreated, could even slow the healing of physical ailments and conditions too. So, it’s crucial to stay informed and know the symptoms of someone living with a mental health condition—especially our older generations.
Keep Your Kiddos Safe All Summer Long
Summertime is here! The sun is shining, the temperatures are rising, and your list of summer plans may include a few household favorites like swimming, amusement parks, or soaking up the rays. Remember! With great fun, comes great responsibility. To make sure your children enjoy summer as safe as possible remember the following tips with all your favorite outdoor activities this season!
PTSD: It Affects More Than You Think
It’s bigger than just affecting active or veteran service men and women. In fact, anyone of all ages and walks of life could be affected by this well-recognized but highly misunderstood mental health disorder. The only way to increase support services for PTSD is to clear up the misunderstandings associated with it.
Raise One to Men’s Health Month
It’s important to stay on top of your health. Everyone should be aware of certain diseases and illnesses that could come into play as they age or partake in risky lifestyle decisions. But, men are more prone to certain healthcare issues compared to their female counterparts. The month of June looks to help solve the problem of men’s healthcare.
Understanding Minority Health
It’s no secret that human beings all share similar experiences, yet have different cultures, languages, foods, and social norms. The world has become more interdependent as technology makes it easier to interact with people on the opposite side of the world. With technology increasing in all fields (to include the medical field), we learn more about our bodies and how they work every day—we even learn about how our special differences affect our bodies differently, too.
Alcohol Awareness Month
Each passing month marks a new chance to start healthy habits and kick out harmful ones! For some people, the knowledge that their condition comes with a full month of comradery from peers, families, and friends makes all the difference!
Speech Therapy: It’s More Than You Think
You’re easily familiar with the terms physical therapy and occupational therapy and likely can put together a solid definition for both if asked. But, a lesser-known, yet equally important type of therapy is Speech Therapy.
Support By People That Get It
There’s nothing like being surrounded people that just get it—sharing similar stories, providing helpful advice, and actively listening as you express your concerns. Everyone goes through hardship, but it’s how you choose to push through it that matters. And sometimes the healthiest way to handle life’s curve balls is with the support of your peers in a Senior Life Solutions program.
A Simple Registration Saves Lives
You read it all the time: “register here for an exclusive coupon” or “sign-up now to receive a gift card.” The constant ads that crowd your email about the latest consumer goods get tiring. In these instances, registration seems like an invasion of your privacy—but what if registering could save a life…or three?
Occupational and Physical Therapy aren’t the same?
Do you know the difference?
Think fast—Are you spring break body ready?
It’s mid-March and you’re looking forward to the blossoming warmth of Spring. As the weather heats up and the artic layers of clothing slowly shed off, you might be googling the latest “get fit quick” crash diet popularized by your favorite (maybe not so favorite?) social media celebrity. But we already have the secret to an amazing warm-weather body: you already have it!
Maybe that 5th cup of coffee is a sign of a bigger problem?
Let’s face it, most of us will commonly hit an afternoon slump where coffee or some tasty caffeinated beverage helps get us over the hump. And, there are times in our lives where we constantly feel tired due to working late nights, caring for a newborn, cramming for finals or a multitude of other activities. BUT, if you are noticing more times than not, your overwhelming feeling of tiredness is not going away, or you have abnormal sleep patterns or consistently lack sleep, you might be dealing with a sleep disorder.
Prevent Colorectal Cancer with Timely Screenings
Did you know colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death in women and 3rd for men? However, when caught in its very early stages, can have up to a 90% 5-year survival rate, according to the American Cancer Society. “This is a largely preventable or curable cancer with early detection and removal of precancerous polyps. Unlike breast, lung or prostate cancer, we can prevent many colon cancers,” said Dr. John Bozdech of Quincy Medical Group.
Swing Beds: The Next Stop in Recovery Before Home
Maybe you’re on the road to recovery but not quite there yet. You no longer need full hospital care, but you aren’t ready to return home, either. You need something that’s a step in between, a place with some care and with rehabilitation services. Maybe you need to swing on over to Culbertson’s Swing Bed Program. The Swing Bed Program serves patients with conditions such as hip or knee replacements, stroke, pneumonia, post-surgical procedures, and extended IV therapy.
Keeping Your Heart Healthy
Are you at risk of heart disease? It’s the leading cause of death for both men and women, accounting for one in every four deaths, and is now striking younger people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So even if you think you’re too young to worry about heart disease, the reality is that increasing rates of obesity and high blood pressure in younger people means you do need to pay attention to things like diet, exercise, sleep and stress levels — whatever your age.
January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
The National Cervical Cancer Coalition says nearly 13,000 U.S. women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year. However, the disease is preventable with proper medical care.
Fall Prevention
Many older adults fear falling, according to The National Institute on Aging. And with good reason: Falls can lead to broken bones and other serious injuries. But don’t let fear make you a prisoner in your own home.
The Importance of Proper Car Seat Installation
You know how important it is that children be protected in car seats. But just having a car seat isn’t enough: It’s vital that you install the seat correctly.
When Do You Need to See a Doctor for a Prescription Refill?
Many wonder why a physician requires an office visit when they need their prescription renewed – especially if they have been taking the drug for a while with no problems – but there are times when an office visit is required for the patient’s safety.
Healthy Holiday Desserts
The holidays are often a time of excessive eating and drinking. But the holidays don’t have to derail your healthy habits. You can eat your favorite holiday cookies, cakes and pies without gaining weight – just indulge sensibly. Here are a couple of healthy desserts that feel like a spurge but are actually healthy.
Stay “Happy” During the Holidays
The holidays can be the most wonderful time of the year. But for some people, they can be a time of sadness and longing as old memories return… reminders of good times past and loved ones who are no longer with them. And the feelings of loneliness can be overwhelming. Those adjusting to life after a recent move can face even more challenges. But there’s no reason to feel alone – help is available.
Breathe Easier and Get Relief from Lung Disease Right Here
Suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder or (COPD), can feel like there’s an elephant right on your chest. COPD – a collective term for progressive lung disease including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, refractory (non-reversible) asthma and some forms of bronchiectasis – can also put a huge weight on families.
Watch for Unwanted Guests – Head Lice
If you have children in the house, especially young ones, it’s time to watch for head lice. Although these pests are fairly harmless, parents never like finding them on their children.
Give Diabetes a Holiday by Putting Prevention at the Top of Your List
At many holiday celebration, sweet treats and big eats traditionally come into play – a contributing factor for diabetes and a minefield for those already dealing with the disease. Healthy eating is one of the most important prevention steps in lowering your risk for diabetes, a challenge any time of the year that’s made even more difficult during the holidays.
Is it a Cold or the Flu?
Your throat is scratchy. You feel tired. You can’t stop coughing. Do you have a case of the common cold, or could it be the flu? Both the cold and the flu are respiratory illnesses. Though the cold and flu can feel very similar at first, colds tend to be minor and not a major disruption to your life. However, flu symptoms tend to be more severe, and the flu can become dangerous in some cases.
October Is Mental Health Awareness Month
Millions of Americans are living with a mental health condition. Mental illnesses affect everyone directly or indirectly through family, friends and coworkers. Despite mental illnesses’ reach and prevalence, stigma and misunderstanding are also widespread.
Are you aware of your risk?
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the perfect time to remind, both women and men, early detection saves lives. When breast cancer is detected early, and is in the localized stage, the 5-year survival rate is 100%. Early detection includes monthly breast self-exams and yearly clinical breast exams and mammograms.
Childhood Obesity – Nothing to Kid About
Obesity in children is a very real and increasing problem. Lack of planned activity and structure, along with increased accessibility to sugared drinks and snack foods contribute. Quite simply, they’re eating too much and doing too little.
Irregular heartbeat?
Have you ever had a quivering or irregular heartbeat that you just weren’t sure about? It could be AFib (atrial fibrillation) which can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure or other heart related complications. In addition to heart palpitations, other symptoms might include shortness of breath and fatigue.
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Did you know that other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men? The American Cancer Society’s estimates that in 2018, the United States will see:
Yes, adults need immunizations, too!
Was the last time you had a vaccine the last time you enrolled in school? If so, it’s time to talk to your health care provider about your vaccination status.
The Magic of Imaging
Ever wondered how the exerts in our Radiology Department can give you such detailed, accurate results from an X-ray, CT scan and other imaging tests? Culbertson Imaging Manager Christy Sims gave us a behind-the-scenes look at the imaging process to help you understand what happens when you come in for a test — and what comes next.
Enjoy the outdoors, not the Emergency Room!
You wouldn’t venture out into a blizzard without taking precautions, and you shouldn’t venture out into extremely hot and humid weather without doing so, either.
There’s a Test for That!
Because medical laboratory testing plays such a crucial role in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of disease in patients; prompt, accurate lab results can make a marked difference in treatments and outcomes.
Are Your Children Ready for School?
For children heading back to school, a proper checkup is important to evaluate any issues your growing child may have. Regular physicals are a chance for healthcare providers to discuss important health issues with children and their parents or guardians. These exams can make sure your child is healthy and physically prepared to participate in school activities or sports.
Up at Night?
Is Mr. Sandman ignoring you? Many people have trouble sleeping from time to time, but if the problem is lingering night after night, you may have a sleep disorder. Sleep disorders are conditions that affect how well and how much you sleep.
Make a Splash with Good Water Safety
There’s nothing like a dip to beat summer’s heat. Good water safety practices ensure a good time for all at the water’s edge. Whether pool, beach or even a hot tub, a good offense is the best defense. Learning how to swim is the best way to keep you and your family safe.
Heading Off Heat Stroke
When the weather heats up, things can get really fun outside, but it’s important to be aware there’s a very real risk, too. Heat stroke claims lives every year, and it’s preventable. When physical activity in hot weather and prolonged exposure to high temperatures cause the body temperature to reach 104°F, heat stroke occurs. Medications, health issues and age can all increase risk – the very young and old are especially vulnerable.
A Shot of Sunscreen
Look around... find five people. One of them has or will have skin cancer in his/her life. Make sure it’s not you or your kids – be smart and you can still have fun in the sun. Make sunscreen a must when you step outside, much like seatbelts in cars. Aim for an SPF of 15 or higher, and look for what’s called broad-spectrum sunscreen – one that protects from ultraviolet radiation rays (both UVA and UVB). This should be clearly marked on the label.
Bike Safety
Use your head; wear a helmet. Bike accidents account for most sports-related emergencies for kids ages 5 to 14. Many can be prevented with a helmet. Having one that fits properly is just as important as wearing it.
Building a First Aid Toolbox for Summer
It’s nearly summer! Time for fun at the beach, the playground and the ball field… and unfortunately, also time for bug bites, cuts, scrapes and sunburn. To make sure your children enjoy summer as safely as possible, stock your first aid toolbox so you’re ready for anything summer can dish out. Keep it in your car so it’s always available and consider stocking separate kits for each family vehicle. If you haven’t checked your kit recently, be sure you have plenty of the most-used items, like adhesive bandages, and that none of the medications have expired. Replace and replenish as necessary.
Get a New Lease on Life with Lifeline
The Lifeline service at Culbertson Memorial Hospital takes “phone a friend” to new levels and puts help at your fingertips 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. “It has nothing to do with getting older and everything to do with putting your mind at ease,” says Program Coordinator Donna Walters. “It doesn’t matter your age. We even have a 9-year-old who can use it if he needs to get help for his Mom.”
Could it be allergies?
If your child seems to have the never-ending sniffles all spring, you might begin to wonder if the real problem could be seasonal allergies. Warmer weather tends to signal the end of the most intensive cold season, but if your child has a cold that seems to go on and on, the problem may be more than a cold. As many as 40 percent of children have hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis. If one or both parents have allergies, their children are more likely to develop them as well, according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.