Consistency is one of the most important factors in successful weight loss—more important than being “perfect” or following a specific diet. Your body responds to patterns, not perfection. Weight loss happens when you create a [...]
Your body needs electrolytes to work properly. These are minerals like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium that help your heart beat, your muscles move, and your nerves send signals. When the amount of these minerals [...]
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) causes enlargement of the largest blood vessel of the lower body (abdominal aorta). Most people who have AAA do not have symptoms. Not knowing you have this enlargement can lead to [...]
Medicare covers a health assessment and disease prevention exam each 12 months that you have Medicare Part B. Medicare is for people who have disability, end stage kidney disease (dialysis or transplant), or age 65 [...]
We are seeing a resurgence of contagious diseases throughout the United States and the rest of the World. The United States’ Center for Disease Control, CDC, sends scientists and doctors out to respond to US [...]
Older adults often experience chronic health conditions that require medication treatment. Aging changes the way the body metabolizes medications. According to the American Geriatrics Society, some medications should be avoided as they may be harmful [...]
We all know that exercise is good for you—but in rare cases, pushing your body too hard can actually be dangerous. One condition that athletes should be aware of is rhabdomyolysis, often called “rhabdo.” Rhabdomyolysis [...]
School starts in just a couple of weeks. As you’re making your back-to-school list don’t forget to include a vision checkup for all students (including preschoolers). Vision is a key part of a child’s development—responsible [...]
What can you do to prevent skin cancer? Skin cancer is caused by sun exposure, especially to (ultraviolet) UVA and UVB light (UV Index). Other causes of skin cancer include chemicals, viruses, and skin problems. [...]
Hearing loss affects people at any age. The chance that someone develops a hearing problem increases with age. One to three out of every 1000 newborn babies have some type of hearing loss. Up to [...]
Your eyes help you interact with the world, so it is important to take care of them! How can you do this? Protect them! Wear a hat or sunglasses outside to block UV Rays. Wear [...]
What if you are too late?…. What if you panic and freeze? Knowledge is power! Choking is often SILENT and can be deadly. Choking can occur at any age. It could be from older siblings [...]
Constipation isn’t the most glamorous topic, but it’s something a lot of parents deal with—more often than you think. As a dietitian and child-care director, I see it all the time. The good news? Small [...]
Unintentional Injury is the leading cause of death in children age 1 – 18 in the United States, according to 2022 CDC (US Center for Disease Control) data. More than one third of unintentional injuries [...]
Parents can take many actions to protect their children's health and safety. Kids who grow up in safe and loving families tend to become healthy teens and adults. At a very young age, children develop [...]
When suddenly faced with an unexpected injury or illness, most people tend to want to do something about it right now! They will seek out some sort of medical care and generally expect some sort [...]
South Dakota’s Emergency Medical System (EMS) could not function without people who provide immediate care to injured or critically ill patients. Anyone arriving on the scene of an accident, which assists an injured person in [...]
May 19th through the 25th marks the 50th anniversary of emergency medical services (EMS) week. The theme for EMS 2025 is “Honoring Our Past, Forging Our Future.” EMS has gone through many reforms since their [...]
May is National Speech Therapy Month, a time to recognize the important work of speech-language pathologists and raise awareness about the challenges many people face with communication. Speech therapy helps children and adults improve how [...]
Food allergies happen when the body’s immune system reacts badly to certain foods. Normally the immune system helps protect the body from harmful things like bacteria and viruses. However, in people with food allergies, the [...]
