June 18, 2019
Ah, the warmth of the sun on your face. The glow of a tan from summers spent at the beach or on the water. The simple pleasure of soaking up some rays. Many of us love spending time outdoors in the sunshine. While some exposure to sunlight is important for our health and feelings of wellbeing, too much sun causes skin damage, premature aging, and can lead to a variety of skin cancers. Skin cancer is by far the most common cancer. Skin cancers range from easily treated or removed small red, dry patches, to more serious melanoma, which can travel throughout the body and be fatal. Repeated... Continue Reading
May 16, 2019
Receiving health advice can be tricky. It can be difficult to track what is good for you and what is bad for you as the scientific community constantly finds new ways that everything from red wine to chocolate to cholesterol affects your body. And there are few things out there that have more conflicting evidence than the sun. We know for certain that the sun is the leading cause of skin cancer. But evidence is building that by avoiding the sun as much as possible, we may be losing out on vital health benefits. Today, we’re going to explore some of the ways that you can incorporate those... Continue Reading
May 14, 2019
About 1 out of 3 US adults – around 75 million people – have high blood pressure. Only about another half of those people have the condition under control. More and more young people are receiving a diagnosis of high blood pressure. In 2013, high blood pressure was a primary or contributing cause of death for over 360,000 Americans . These are some sobering facts and part of the reason that the medical journal The Lancet described the condition as “the largest epidemic ever known to mankind.” In recognition of National High Blood Pressure Awareness Month, we are going to examine some of the... Continue Reading
May 9, 2019
May is National Arthritis Awareness Month. Arthritis is a condition that impacts more than 50 million Americans every year. But even still, misconceptions and myths remain. Today, we wanted to highlight 23 facts about arthritis that may surprise you. Arthritis is a blanket term. There are more than 100 types of arthritis. There is no cure for arthritis . About 1 in 4 adults in the US have some form of the condition. That’s about 54 million people. Sixty percent of US adults with arthritis are of working age (18 to 64). The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis , which causes pain... Continue Reading
May 7, 2019
May is the month when we can finally begin to count on the great outdoors for some comfortable temperatures. It's also the month when most students begin their summer breaks and many families take their vacations. As our schedules begin to take advantage of the longer days, it can be overwhelming to think of May as National Fitness Month. "How can I take on ONE more thing this summer?" Well don't worry, you don't have to do it alone. Here are tips to help the entire family get healthier this summer. Engage in Group Activities One of the benefits of exercising with your family is that it can... Continue Reading
April 30, 2019
Everyone is always so excited for the arrival of Spring, that is, until the pollen comes along with it. That’s because nearly 50 million people suffer from allergies in the United States, it’s the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the country, and costs $18 million annually . That’s an incredible amount of money to spend for what is essentially an overreaction on the part of the body’s immune system. Let’s explore how your hay fever and the immune system are intertwined, and whether or not you can do anything about it. What is the Body’s Immune System? The immune system is responsible... Continue Reading
April 11, 2019
When Wayne Smith of Stuarts Draft retired, he knew he would spend much of his new-found free time getting 'out and about'. He enjoys golfing and biking and being outdoors. But when he discovered that he still had a quite a bit of spare time, he decided to add volunteering to his schedule. As it turned out, volunteering at Augusta Health also provided Smith the opportunity to get 'out and about'. Every Monday morning, from 8 am until noon, Smith is the volunteer Shuttle Driver at Augusta Health. He spends the hours circling the campus in the Shuttle, moving from entrance to entrance, from... Continue Reading
December 13, 2018
It's that time of year to gather friends and family around the holiday table! With celebrations, visits, and lots on your "to-do" list, let us take the worry out of finding healthy meal options. Here are five of our favorite delicious and nutritious recipes that everyone will love! Low Fat Eggnog Total 20 min Prep 20 min Yield 6 servings Level Easy Ingredients 2 cups nonfat milk 2 large strips orange and/or lemon zest 1 vanilla bean 2 large eggs plus 1 egg yolk 1/3 cup sugar 1 teaspoon cornstarch Freshly grated nutmeg, for garnish Directions Combine 1 1/2 cups milk and the citrus zest in a... Continue Reading
December 11, 2018
A thinner waistline, kicking your smoking habit, or taking up that hobby you've always wanted – when the clock strikes midnight to ring in 2019, millions of Americans will make promises to improve their lives. We may have lofty ideals of the changes we'd like to make for the New Year, but actually keeping those resolutions is more difficult. In fact, Forbes estimates that only 8% of people stay true to their New Year's Resolutions. Want to join the ranks of those with stellar willpower and determination? We'll show you how! Start Small to Achieve Big The most common way to derail your success... Continue Reading
December 6, 2018
Health is the gift that keeps on giving! Simplify your holiday shopping list with these healthy holiday gift ideas. Feel good about giving presents that have a positive impact. Happy shopping! Tastes Great Hydration Need a taste boost to fulfill a daily water intake goal? Try a fruit infuser water bottle! These water bottles come with a cylinder fruit holder. Put your favorite fresh fruit inside and let it infuse your bland water with delicious flavor. Prices vary but start around $10.00. What a bargain! Keep the Kids Moving! Winter weather can put a damper on outdoor activities for kids. Don... Continue Reading
