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Health Matters: Precision nutrition turns food into medicine

ESCANABA — The study of nutrition isn’t much of a science. We have few specifics on the subject, there being far too many variables (for us) to make accurate predictions. Sadly, we have little information about the consequences of many substances Americans consume regularly (especially the artificial ones), little heed to the fact that, literally, “you are what you eat.” A common scenario is as follows. Someone goes for their annual checkup and is found to have elevated blood pressure. With little fanfare and no discussion, a prescription is written for a drug which this ...

Hospital seeks community input on health survey

ESCANABA – OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group is requesting help from the local community to determine and prioritize health needs. A survey is now available, and residents can participate by filling it out online or completing a paper copy. OSF HealthCare hospitals conduct community health needs assessments every three years and put together plans to meet the community needs that the assessments identify. After data is collected and each community’s health needs are prioritized by greatest need, administrative and caregiver teams at OSF HealthCare work ...

Health Matters: Dangers to foot health from Type 2 Diabetes

Life is full of hazards, be they emotional or be they physical. Depending on the location, a variety of complications can result from an injury, even one that is seemingly mild. Tweak a knee joint, or twist an ankle, and damage can occur to one of the vital structures composing these complex articulations. Being careful is wise but accidents still happen. Ankle sprains are one of the most common joints injured, occurring to the athlete and average citizen alike. Although estimates vary greatly, almost two thirds of sprains will have continued problems after the normal course of ...

Health Matters: Dangers to foot health from Type 2 Diabetes

ESCANABA — The internet has radically transformed society, and in ways that were not entirely predictable. Along with being able to purchase items from all over the world with a simple keystroke, information of all manner, on every topic imaginable, is similarly available. Unfortunately, the veracity of all this content is sometimes dubious. How is one to know? Information on health, medicine, and wellness, is of interest to many Americans. How they come by this knowledge will vary tremendously, and often is from unreliable sources. Sometimes important medical concepts are drawn from ...

Health Matters: Lymphedema Act of 2024

ESCANABA — It is not often that we are able to proclaim a significant advance in healthcare law. Too often, the headlines reveal only new obstacles to care and further reductions in the provision of medicine. But with the arrival of 2024, real progress has been made. The Lymphedema Act was passed, providing for clearly defined benefits in the treatment of this condition, with many options now available for effective care. At this point in the conversation, a discussion of the lymphatic system and what it does would be appropriate. This is the waste disposal system for our cells. ...

Health Matters: Many causes of chronic back pain

ESCANABA — The human body is a complex thing, making it prone to many pains and pathologies. Quite often these are due to our bipedal, upright status. Standing and walking on two legs, our entire body supported by just two feet, encourages all manner of painful conditions that develop slowly, over time. The major weight-bearing joints, especially lower spine, are susceptible to many degenerative changes, all resulting from alignment abnormalities. The region of the body most commonly generating chronic pain is the low back, with an estimated 2.07 million cases of low back pain ...