Health

by Connor Meyer
Respiratory Therapist
Veterans Memorial Hospital

Anyone who struggles to get a good night’s sleep, may have an underlying reason.  Common causes include stress, irregular sleep schedule, anxiety and depression, physical ailments, neurological problems, and sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that is caused by brief, repeated episodes of interrupted or shallow breathing during sleep. These episodes can last from a few seconds to several minutes.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea include snoring (most common), headaches, daytime sleepiness, frequent wake-ups at night, night sweats, waking up out of breath, and restlessness.

March is National Nutrition Month and March 12 is National Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day. A registered dietitian nutritionist is a food and nutrition expert who can translate the science of nutrition into practical solutions for healthy living. Registered dietitian nutritionists have a degree in either nutrition, dietetics, public health or a related field from well-respected, accredited colleges or universities. They have completed an internship, passed examinations, and use their nutrition expertise daily to help individuals make unique, positive lifestyle changes.

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists work throughout the community in hospitals, such as Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH), in schools, public health clinics, nursing homes, fitness centers, food management positions, food industry, universities, in research or in private practice.

Measles cases are on the rise and are highly contagious. Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), it is so contagious that if one person has it, nine out of 10 people of all ages around him or her will also become infected if they are not protected.

The best way to prevent measles is to get the measles - mumps - rubella shot (called MMR). The MMR vaccine is very safe and effective. Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective.

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) was recently made aware that a few people in the community have received a phone call, asking for their personal health insurance information.

Veterans Memorial Hospital warns everyone to never give their health insurance information out over the phone. Medicare will never call a patient to update or get insurance information, so never give that information out over the phone. Even if the caller knows the right name and address, it does not mean it is a credible call, they may have just gotten that information out of a phone book.

Be careful with all callers. Always contact Veterans Memorial Hospital with questions at 563-568-3411.

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Sarah Welsh by Gladwin and Darlene Anderson, Don and Cathy Baxter, Brad and Erin Berns, Mary Ann Burke, Randy Burke, Dan and Traci Byrnes, Carl and Betty Christianson, Don and DiAnne Haler, Clint and Dacia Johnson, Jim and Jill Kiesau, Fred and Lisa Mathews, Robert and Jeanine Mathis, Pat Pettingill, Dave and Gail Prestemon, Diane Regan, Meg Schaller, Dean Schellhammer, Linda Siegrist, Matthew and Ciara Snitker, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Terry and Laurie Welch, Frank and Jean Ann Weymiller and Kevin and Teri Welsh.

Memorials were also received in memory of Erma Williams by Gary Williams, in memory of Wesley and Evelyn Winters by Raymond Winters, in memory of the Wood Family by Rod and Sandy Ronan, and in memory of Lora Zieman by James Zieman.

For the third year, Bandmates, Brothers and Friends (BBF) will reunite in Waukon for another night of outstanding musical entertainment to benefit the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation. The event will again be held Friday evening of Mother’s Day Weekend, May 9, from 6-11 p.m. at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. This year, they welcome the regionally known JayR Brink Band to close out the musical line-up that night.

This year will mark the 47th year since many of BBF’s original band members had first played in a band together. These musicians come from four past area bands including Rising Sun, Horizon, Jackson Junction and Deep River. Many of the returning musicians are from Waukon including brothers Bill Withers, Jim Withers and John Withers, along with Gary Hesla, Bob Bechtel, Dave Dougherty, Brad Prestemon, Todd Pickett and Joel Anderson.  They will be joined by Keel Clemmens and Jamey Lideen, longtime band members over the decades.

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Speech - Language Pathologist Steven Mazzafield offers a Stroke Support Group for individuals who have experienced a stroke, as well as caregivers and family members affected by stroke.

Monthly meetings are held the first Thursday of every month at 2 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hospital. The next Stroke Support Group meeting will be held Thursday, March 6, at 2 p.m.

The Stroke Support Group provides opportunities to share tips, tricks, or trials among participants, offer support for caregivers, and provide an opportunity for socialization.

While strokes can happen at any age, risk of stroke is greatest as people get older with the majority of strokes occurring after the age of 70. Risk factors for stroke include obesity, sedentary lifestyle, binge drinking, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

The local Grief Support Group will be holding its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon Tuesday, March 11, at 4 p.m. in the Meditation Healing Center, located just inside the main entrance of the hospital. This informal meeting is open to anyone suffering from any type of loss, whether it be death, divorce, illness or some other grief.

Feel free to attend and bring a friend. This grief support group meets the second Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon.
 

by Brandy Strub, Registered Dietitian, Veterans Memorial Hospital

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, March 20, at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Large Conference Room, located on the lower level of the hospital.

This diabetes class is open to everyone who has diabetes or has a friend or loved one with diabetes.  For more information about the Diabetes Support Group, call Angie Mettille, RN, Certified Diabetes Educator at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.