Health

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.

Beginning next week, the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Medical Clinic in Waukon will begin to offer extended hours every Monday through Thursday evening until 7 p.m. to offer better access for parents and students following the work and/or school day.

Patients are welcome to walk-in to the clinic between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. any Monday through Thursday evening, without an appointment, for acute, non-emergent needs such as the following: broken bones (other than hips or femurs), cough/cold, diarrhea, ear aches, fever, flu, minor burns, minor cuts, muscle strain, pink eye, rash/hives, removal of foreign body, sinus infection, skin infection, sore throat, urinary tract infection and vomiting.

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Thursday, January 4, from 12-5 p.m., at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Blood drives are held every month in Waukon. The LifeServe Blood Center of Iowa supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) with its blood and blood products.

The LifeServe Blood Center of Iowa is seeking donors to ensure a safe and plentiful blood supply in Iowa. Because there is no substitute for human blood, the need for donors is continuous. Many Iowans are encouraged to make donating blood on a regular basis their New Year’s resolution this year.

Over half of the United States population is eligible to donate blood, yet less than four percent donate on a regular basis.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, January 18 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.
 

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 2pm at Veterans Memorial Hospital.  The next Stroke Support Group meeting will be held on Thursday, January 4, at 2 p.m. in the ICN Conference Room.

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 we 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.

Smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer. According to the American Association for Cancer Research, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in the United States for both men and women. It is estimated 127,070 patients will die of the disease this year in the United States.

Respiratory Therapist, Connor Meyer, at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) encourages smokers to make quitting smoking a top priority in their list of New Year’s resolutions in 2024.  The American Cancer Society has steps a smoker can take to help find quit smoking programs, resources and support that can increase the chances of quitting successfully. To learn about available tools from the National Cancer Society, call 800-227-2345.

Connor also has smoking cessation materials available for the public to help them get started in their journey to quit smoking. For more information, contact the Respiratory Therapy Department at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.

The local Grief Support Group will be holding their monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital Tuesday, January 9 at 5 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 meets the second Tuesday of each month at VMH.
 

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) physicians and staff will be awaiting the arrival of the first baby born at the hospital in the New Year 2024. This fortunate child and his or her family will receive a large number of generous gifts compliments of area merchants.

According to a report published by Statista in Nov. 2022, the top three New Year’s resolutions made each year are living healthier (23%),  personal improvement or happiness (21%), and losing weight (20%).

In order to succeed, try to follow these seven strategies for success in the New Year.

1. Make sure you’re ready to change and that you address any obstacles that may get in your way. A good support system is a must.

2. Find what motivates you. No one can do it for you, you have to do it for yourself.

3. Enjoy healthier foods:
• Eat more fruits and veggies.
• Replace refined grains with whole grains, and processed foods with whole foods.
• Cut back on high fat and high sugar foods/beverages, along with salt.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic in Waukon will begin to offer extended hours every Monday through Thursday evening until 7 p.m. to offer better access for parents and students following the work and/or school day.

Patients are welcome to walk-in to the clinic between the hours of 4:30-6:30 p.m. any Monday through Thursday evening, without an appointment, for acute, non-emergent needs such as the following:  abdominal pain, broken bones (other than hips or femurs), cough/cold, diarrhea, ear aches, fever, flu, mental health concerns, minor burns, minor cuts, muscle strain, pink eye, rash/hives, removal of foreign body, sinus infection, skin infection, sore throat, urinary tract infection and vomiting.