Health

by Jill Fleming, MS, RD/LD

March is National Nutrition Month. Yes, eating healthy is very important, but it is only part of the equation.  Healthy lifestyles include getting plenty of sleep, keeping stress low, eating healthy and exercising your body most days of the week. The cooler weather in Iowa during early spring months sometimes makes it difficult to get outside to exercise, but have you considered one of the several ways you could exercise indoors?

“Sitting is the new smoking” is a popular expression.  According to a January study in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, sedentary time is associated with a higher risk for certain diseases and mortality. If you spend the majority of your day sitting, you will want to make a point to stand up at least once per hour and maybe do a few simple exercises. In addition to decreasing your risk for disease, standing burns 30% more calories than sitting, so it may help with weight loss too.

The American Diabetes Association recognizes the fourth Tuesday in March as “Diabetes Alert Day”. The purpose of this designated day is to make the public more aware of the risk factors of developing Type 2 Diabetes.

Unfortunately, there are millions of Americans that are undiagnosed with this disease. When one has elevated blood sugars for a long duration of time, which is common in undiagnosed or uncontrolled diabetes, the likelihood of irreversible complications are increased.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have designed a simple diabetes risk test that can help you identify your risk of developing diabetes. View the diabetes risk test at https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/pdf/Prediabetes-Risk-Test-Final.pdf.

The next local blood drive will still he held Monday, April 6 from Noon to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Individuals can make a difference by making a life-saving blood donation at this next Waukon Community Blood Drive.

Donating blood is safe, simple and it saves lives.  Blood donors have a unique opportunity to contribute to their community by making a life-saving blood donation.  Everyone who registers to donate blood goes through four simple steps during the donation process: registration, donor history and mini-physical, blood donation and snacks.

New blood donors who are not familiar with the blood donation process are encouraged to ask questions before, during and after their blood donation. Below are a few tips for ensuring a successful donation:

The annual “Family Wellness Fair,” which was scheduled for May 6 at Veterans Memorial Hospital, will be canceled this year. This is due to the current COVID-19 virus situation.

Any local agencies or vendors who were planning to attend this year’s fair will be contacted again next year for the 2021 event.

For any additional information or questions, contact Erin Berns, Public Relations Director at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon at 563-568-3411.
 

by Jill Fleming, RD/LD, Dietitian, Veterans Memorial Hospital

During influenza season, and especially now with the COVID-19 virus emerging so strongly, the following steps are highly recommended by dietitian Jill Fleming of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon for staying healthy:

• Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables
• Stay hydrated with water                                                                                            
• Limit intake of sugar, sweets and soda
• Supplement with vitamin D (2,000-5,000 iu/day)
• Swab inside of nostrils with sesame seed oil (non-toasted)
• Wash hands often and keep hands away from your face.
 

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Brent Johnson by Pat and Kathy McMillan, Dave and Sandy Lyons, Craig and Barb Lensing, James Moritz, Jim and Jill Kiesau, Ardie Kuhse, Wendy Bucheit, Jim and Helen Johnson, Ann Fossum, Jerry and Linda Siegrist and Ernie and Donnalee Osland.

Memorials were also received in memory of Richard Marti by Dan and Traci Byrnes, Patsy Kerndt and Annabelle Marti, and in memory of Marion Clifford “Ole” Olson by Leslie and Donna Lauritsen.

Memorials and donations are appreciated by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation and a way to honor a friend or loved one. The Foundation is a 501C3 organization. All donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. Memorials and donations can be sent to the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA  52172.
 

In light of increasing concerns around the spread and transmission of COVID-19, Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation (NEICAC) wants to ensure the safety of employees, riders and the general public. Effective as of March 18, all Region 1 EARL Public Transit services, with the exception of those that are essential, were suspended. This includes the entire service area of Region 1 (Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties). Those essential services that will continue will only include rider dialysis appointments. Further updates can be found at www.neicac.org.

Colorectal cancer can be easily detected, yet it remains the third-leading cause of cancer in the United States.  According to the American Cancer Society, one in 24 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime. Unfortunately, only about one in three persons in the U.S. gets the recommended screening.
If found early, treatment for colorectal cancer is possible. Because of effective screening efforts, there are now more than one million survivors of colorectal cancer in the U.S.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care and the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) remind residents that the three primary ways to prevent illness and its spread, including the virus that causes COVID-19, are simple and easy:

· Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow/upper arm.
· Clean hands frequently with soap and water; if soap and water is not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
· Contain the spread of germs by staying home when ill.

Some residents have noted availability of alcohol-based hand sanitizers is limited in some places. “This should not be a reason for undue concern,” said Lisa Moose, Allamakee County Public Health Director. “Hand sanitizers are convenient and effective, but we want everyone to remember that good ol’ soap and water is still the best way to prevent illness.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following steps for effective hand-washing:

Due to increasing influenza and flu-like symptoms in the region, Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon has implemented visitation restrictions. The following restrictions are in place until further notice:

- Visitors are now limited to immediate family members only.
- Visitors must be older than 18 years of age.
- People experiencing influenza-like symptoms or colds should not visit any patients.

Veterans Memorial Hospital administration says these restrictions are being put in place due to influenza, and not due to the coronavirus causing COVID-19. For additional information, call Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon at 563-568-3411.