The Definition of ‘Wellness’
By Mindi Matthews, MBA, CHWC Director of Health and Wellness Wellness can be defined in various ways, making it hard to fully understand the needs and desires of individuals who want to make short- and long-term behavior changes. Employers also have different definitions based on their goals and objectives. However, within the last few years, […]
Body Knowledge: Helping Employees Meet Health and Wellness Goals
By Brittany Nelson, MS, RD Wellness Dietitian Traditionally, employers have shown their employees they care about them by providing health insurance, workplace safety improvements and added health and wellness benefits. Today, employers show support for their employees’ health and well-being by offering health and wellness services. Though these services can range from biometric screenings to […]
Understanding Antibiotic Resistance
By Kristina Kakasuleff, PharmD Riverview Outpatient Pharmacist Antibiotic resistance is one of the world’s leading public health problems. Antibiotic resistance occurs when an antibiotic loses its ability to control or kill bacterial growth. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 30 percent of antibiotics prescribed outside of hospitals are unnecessary. […]
Setting Yourself Up for an Active 2017
By Brittany Nelson, MS, RD, CHWC At the end of the year, it’s time to reflect on the fitness and health goals you set last January. Can you remember your motivation in January 2016 to obtain a gym membership and begin exercising every day? Not having accountability, support or mini goals in place makes obtaining […]
Beat the Winter Blues with Exercise
By Ryan Lawson, exercise specialist It seems to happen a lot this time of year—the winter season has an effect on your physical and mental outlook. Luckily, exercise is a great solution to those pesky winter blues. While it’s not always easy to stay as active as we want during the winter months, with a […]
6 Ways to Stay Active During the Holiday Season
By Ryan Lawson, exercise specialist Staying active during the busy holiday season can be a challenge to say the least. With that being said, it’s possible and very beneficial to stay active throughout the day. Here are some tips: Plan in advance. Look for ways to stay active when you travel, either by finding a […]
Don’t Flush! Here’s How You Should Get Rid of Unused Medications
By Amy Sheller, PharmD We’ve all heard of spring-cleaning, but what about a December purge to get the new year off to a great start? Cleaning out your medicine cabinet every now and then is important to keep unused or expired prescription medications out of the wrong hands. Narcotic pain medications can be stolen by […]
Diabetes 101: the Biology of the Disease
By Brittany Wonnell, MS, RD – Wellness Dietitian Diabetes, or diabetes mellitus, is a metabolic disease that occurs when an individual has elevated blood glucose (or sugar). This could be due to inadequate insulin production or the body’s cells being unable to respond properly to insulin, or both. There are different symptoms associated with the […]
Carbohydrates: Friend not Foe
By Katie Boscia, MS, RD, IBCLC, CDE Everyone can benefit from a carbohydrate-conscious diet, not just people living with diabetes. When people are first diagnosed with diabetes, they sometimes cut carbohydrates, or carbs, completely from their diet. This is unfortunately not the way to go. Any extreme diet restriction that’s not medically necessary can deprive […]
Healthy Exercise Habits for People with Diabetes
By Ryan Lawson, Exercise Specialist Exercise has been shown to be an excellent way to regulate and/or help manage diabetes. There are two types of exercise recommended to help control diabetes: aerobic exercise and strength training. Aerobic exercise is defined as any sustained exercise such as jogging, rowing, swimming or cycling that stimulates and strengthens the […]