July 6, 2020
Pregnancy isn’t easy. For some, even becoming pregnant is only possible after a whirlwind of tests, treatments, and careful planning. After that, most women go through many more tests, doctor visits, and classes on the subject. The point here is that pregnancy on its own can already feel as if it is a closely monitored and manipulated task on its own—something that adds stress onto mothers and their families. So to add on yet another precaution during this period seems like making an already daunting process nearly unmanageable. But increased awareness of gestational awareness isn’t... Continue Reading
July 2, 2020
Your bones are fascinating structures that give your body their shape and protect your organs. Anyone that has broken a bone knows how essential they are for everyday functioning. However, after age 30, your body begins losing bone mass faster than it grows new bone mass, which can ultimately lead to conditions like osteoporosis. While bone loss is typically a gradual process, it’s important to start planning for good bone health early! Luckily, there are many easy ways to start taking good care of your bones. Let’s take a look at five of them and learn more about the risk factors that impact... Continue Reading
June 26, 2020
If you’re one of the 16 million adults in America that suffers from chronic back pain, chances are your posture is part of the problem. Posture refers to the way your skeleton and muscles hold your body up. Good posture achieves what’s called a “neutral spine.” That means all three natural curves of the spine, including the cervical or neck curve, the thoracic curve of your middle spine, and the lumbar curve of your lower spine, are in alignment. Maintaining a neutral spine is a challenge for most of us, though. Here are the common mistakes that lead to bad posture and what you can do to... Continue Reading
June 19, 2020
This month is Men's Health Month. We've already covered some of the biggest risks to men's health —today we're going to give some tips on how you can reduce some of those risks. Here are some simple steps that you can take to minimize the chances that you might develop some serious issues later on. Get Moving Every Day Living an active lifestyle is more than just committing getting up and getting to the gym for 30 minutes a day—especially if you find yourself being sedentary the rest of the day. The Journal of American Medical Associations recommended adults get around 300 minutes of moderate... Continue Reading
June 17, 2020
Headaches can range from minor inconveniences to debilitating occurrences. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that at least 50% of people will experience a headache at least once a year. Thirty-percent of people will experience a more severe headache called a migraine. What can be done to prevent headaches? Keep reading to discover ways to overcome common headache triggers. Diagnosing a Headache A headache can manifest itself as pain in the headache, neck, and/or face. Headaches are caused by tissues around the skull, brain, spinal cord, eyes, ears, and face becoming irritated and... Continue Reading
June 15, 2020
According to a survey conducted by the Cleveland Clinic, men simply don't talk about their health. In casual conversation with other male friends, only 7% of respondents claimed to talk about their health. According to the same survey, 43% of men would wait until they are "afraid they have a serious condition" before even going to a doctor. This hesitancy—born from machismo or other cultural norms—is unfortunate because of the danger it creates. Many of the greatest risks to a man's health are not the kinds of conditions that emerge overnight. The five risks we are going to examine for Men's... Continue Reading
June 12, 2020
Your skin is an amazing organ that protects you from the elements, helps regulate body temperature, and serves as a barrier for harmful bacteria and viruses. Like other parts of the body, the skin can suffer if not cared for properly. More specifically, exposure to natural UV light like the sun or artificial UV light like in tanning beds can harm the skin. In some instances, UV exposure can lead to skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. In fact, 1 in 5 people will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer... Continue Reading
June 10, 2020
The full force of summer is quickly approaching, which means temperatures will be heating up significantly. While it’s great to enjoy the benefits of longer days and being outdoors, the heat that summer brings can also be harmful, even deadly. Heat related illnesses claim over 600 lives on average each year. The good news is that heat related illnesses and deaths are preventable if you follow proper safety guidelines.Remember, infants, young children, people over the age of 65, and people with physical illnesses like heart disease are at increased risk of suffering from heat related illnesses... Continue Reading
June 8, 2020
On Monday, June 8, Augusta Health moved to Phase III, the final phase of its plan to safely re-open and resume elective services. Phase III adds elective surgeries that require a post-surgical inpatient stay. All these surgeries require COVID-19 testing 72 hours before the procedure and quarantine following the test until the procedure. "We've continued to monitor our dashboard daily, and are confident in our ability to move into Phase III," says Shawn Craddock, DNP, RN, CNOR, NE-BC, Administrative Director of Surgical Services, who is leading the Task Force on the resuming of outpatient... Continue Reading
June 8, 2020
According to a 2019 Cleveland Clinic study, 72% of men surveyed said they would rather do a household chore like cleaning the bathroom than go to the doctor. The survey also revealed that 1 in 5 men aren’t completely honest with their doctor about their health concerns. A high aversion to going to the doctor, coupled with a lack of complete transparency, can put a man’s health at risk. Prompting a loved one to go to the doctor can help. In fact, 20% of men said they go to the doctor because of a loved one’s encouragement. Being proactive is also important when taking ownership of one’s health... Continue Reading
