Health

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.
 

Vaccination now can still provide protection for the remainder of the flu season, which can last as late as May. Flu Shots are still available at the Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care Public Health Office. Flu shots are recommended for all those who have not yet received the vaccine, and will be effective throughout the rest of the flu season.

Flu shots are available with an appointment each Wednesday afternoon during the weekly immunization clinic in the Community and Home Care Department located on the upper level of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Appointments can be made by calling 563-568-5660.

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) has announced Urgent Care clinics will be returning during weekends, beginning Saturday, January 7. Urgent Care will be offered from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.

Urgent Care is designed for treating injuries or illnesses requiring immediate care, but not serious enough to require an emergency department visit. Patients may enter through the main entrance of the hospital and ask for Urgent Care. A registered nurse will assess each patient and decide if Urgent Care or ER is the level of care needed.

Vaccination now can still provide protection for the remainder of the flu season, which can last as late as May. Flu Shots are still available at the Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care Public Health Office. Flu shots are recommended for all those who have not yet received the vaccine and will be effective throughout the rest of the flu season.

Flu shots are available with an appointment each Wednesday afternoon during the weekly immunization clinic in the Community and Home Care Department located on the upper level of Veterans Memorial Hospital, Waukon. Appointments can be made by calling them at 563-568-5660.

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Marian Smedsrud by Gladwin and Darlene Anderson, Kay Carter, Carl and Betty Christianson, Don and DiAnne Haler, JoAnn Peake, Danny and Sue Schlitter and Pat Pettingill; in memory of Donald McCormick by Mary Ann Hager, Ron and Nancy Adam, and Dan and Traci Byrnes; in memory of Betty Hahn by Dr. David and Suzanne Hahn; in memory of Helen Knuppe by Chuck and Lois Votsmier and Betty Troendle and in memory of Karen Bresnahan by Marilyn Anderson and Grau Funeral Home.

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) has announced Urgent Care clinics will be returning during the weekends, beginning Saturday, January 7.  Urgent Care will be offered from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.

Urgent Care is designed for treating injuries or illnesses requiring immediate care, but not serious enough to require an emergency department visit. Patients may enter through the main entrance of the hospital and ask for Urgent Care. A registered nurse will assess each patient and decide if Urgent Care or ER is the level of care needed.

Veterans Memorial Hospital physicians and staff will be awaiting the arrival of the first baby born at the hospital in the New Year 2023. This fortunate child and his or her family will receive a large number of generous gifts compliments of area merchants.

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Thursday, January 5, 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 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.