Health

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Leotia Flage by Mary Ann Burke, Wayne Fish, Mary Ann Hager, Randy and Lori Hover, Patsy Kerndt, Les and Ada Marie Kerndt, Dave and Laurie Martin, JoAnn Peake, Pat Pettingill, Al and Fern Rissman, Carolyn Thompson and Chuck and Lois Votsmier.

January is Blood Donor Month. Blood donations are needed everywhere, even right here in Iowa. The following are interesting blood facts on blood from LifeServe Blood Center which supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) with its blood products:

• Every three seconds someone needs blood.
• Blood makes up about eight percent of a person’s body weight.
• Blood is needed every minute of every day; summer, winter, spring and fall.
• Scheduled surgeries are often canceled around the county due to a lack of blood.
• Donating blood includes a health check for the donor (checking blood pressure, pulse, temperature and hemoglobin) prior to donating.
• There is absolutely no way to contract any disease from giving blood.
• Blood can be split into different components (red cells, platelets, plasma, and cryoprecipitate) and used to help different types of patients.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, January 19 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Large Conference Room on the lower level of the hospital.

Jill Fleming, one of the Veterans Memorial Hospital dietitians, will kick off 2023 with some helpful weight loss tips at this January 19 meeting.

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

Exercising is important to do all year-round. One should not feel that they need to stay indoors to exercise during cold weather. A good workout outdoors in the winter can be very exhilarating. Just follow the steps below for keeping it a safe outdoor winter workout:

• Warm up longer than usual before heading outdoors in cold weather.
• Keep skin dry. This in turn will keep the exerciser warmer.
• Dress accordingly using many layers. Be sure that the outer layer will break the wind. Add a fluffy layer, like fleece or wool, to trap heat in. And long underwear is good to keep the skin dry.
• Always wear a hat to prevent heat loss through the top of the head.
• Wear mittens instead of gloves to allow air to circulate better between the fingers, keeping the hands warmer.

Always be sure to exercise in a safe, well-lit area. Stay clear of any icy spots and proceed with care in snow. One never knows what may lie under those snow-covered spots.

The Alzheimer’s Association Iowa Chapter is offering a free, seven-week virtual education series to kick-off the new year. The programs are available to help families facing Alzheimer’s or dementia understand what to expect so they can be prepared to meet the changes ahead. The topics covered will range from the warning signs to behavior changes to expect, to financial and legal considerations and planning, to advances in Alzheimer’s research.

The series will begin Wednesday, January 18 at 12 p.m. via Zoom and continue each Wednesday through March 1.

Helping Services for Youth & Families’ Domestic Abuse Resource Center has implemented a Domestic Abuse survivor chat line, which can be reached at HelpingServices.org/chat. There is also the option to call a resource phone line 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 800-383-2988. Whether chatting or calling, a trained Advocate will respond 24 hours a day.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Gerald “Jerry” Schroedel by the Allamakee Community Players, Lori Bahr Stevenson, Bill and Sue Blagsvedt, Randy and Julie Bloxham, Jon and Cathy Buhl, Lenny and Kelly Bulman, Carl and Betty Christianson, Earl and Bev Haas, Russ and Barb Hagen, Mary Ann Hager, Dale Hart, Betty Howard, Michele and Cory Huinker, Jens and Jane Kallevang, Mary and Tim Kelly, John and Lorna Kerndt, Jim and Jill Kiesau, Ron and Sue Kiesau, Dale Kurth, Susan Larkin, Marilyn Larson, Nancy Leiran, Mary Kay Martin, Mr. and Mrs. David Monserud, Mr. and Mrs. Barry Mueller, Pat Pettingill, George Pickett, Sharon Pratt, Dave and Gail Prestemon, Gary Rumph, Dr. Dave and Joan Schwartz, Erick Sorum and LaVonne Martie, Coreen Troendle, Erin Troendle, George and Susan Troendle, John Troendle, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Arlen and Karlene Wonderlich, Kate Wooden and Rose Zoll.

Self-care through managing stress is often a common New Year’s resolution. Stress relief is one of the first of many benefits associated with massage. Stress is a part of everyday living, but when stress levels become constant, it becomes distress. Distress can cause symptoms such as headaches, elevated blood pressure, chest pain, problems sleeping, anxiety, and muscle tension.

The benefits of massage therapy include decreasing anxiety, enhancing sleep, increasing energy, improving circulation, improving concentration and reducing fatigue, among others. When getting a massage the heart rate tends to lower, blood pressure can go down, muscles relax, and the level of endorphins (the body’s feel-good chemicals) increases.

Serotonin and dopamine are also released, which results in a feeling of calm, making acute and short-term stress periods easier to overcome.

Urgent Care has returned with availability each weekend at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH). Urgent Care services are again available every Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Patients may enter through the main entrance of the hospital and ask for Urgent Care.

Urgent Care is designed for treating injuries or illnesses requiring immediate care, but not serious enough to require an emergency department visit. A registered nurse will assess each patient and decide if Urgent Care or the Emergency Room (ER) is the level of care they need.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, January 19 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Large Conference Room on the lower level of the hospital.

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