Health

Americans are working harder than ever. Many toil ten hours or more a day, sometimes without breaks. Does this sound like you? Breaks, especially lunch breaks, are vital to being successful on the job and maintaining your health. Many people feel that they do not have time for a lunch break or that it is time that would be better spent working. In actuality, breaks help workers achieve higher rate of productivity.
Benjamin Ross, M.D., family physician at Mayo Clinic Health System - Franciscan Healthcare in Waukon, says, “Using your lunch break wisely will allow you to better focus on your afternoon work and enjoy physical and mental health benefits.”

Pictured here, in back, is Dawn Rae Blocker with Ashley and Brittany Liddiard, all of Waukon. Together, these neighbors have joined forces working together on making fleece blankets in an effort to give back to the community. Recently, they made and donated these fleece blankets for the first baby girl and first baby boy of 2016 born at Veterans Memorial Hospital following the first baby of the year. Submitted photo.

Veterans Memorial Hospital is encouraging individuals in the area communities to sign up to participate in Live Healthy Iowa for the next 10 weeks, beginning Monday, January 25, and running through April 1. Veterans Memorial Hospital will then be awarding all those in the 10-week challenge with a participation prize at their annual wellness fair held Wednesday, May 11.
Three years ago, the hospital discontinued the In-Step with VMH eight-week community wellness program and encouraged participation in the Live Healthy Iowa state-wide wellness program instead.

You did it! After years of trying, you finally established a workout routine. Everyone is happy: You love the way you look and feel, and your healthcare provider is pleased. But now it’s the middle of winter. The days are short and temperatures are dropping.
But don’t let winter freeze your workout routine. Erica Krause-Wagner, FNP, a nurse practitioner at the Gundersen Lansing Clinic has the following tips to help you stay active all year round:
The rower at the gym can give you an amazing workout. Even though you are seated, each stroke of the rowing machine gives you a full-body workout that can send your heart rate zooming. Concerned that a long solo row is boring? Try a rowing class and really see the results soar.

The staff at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon has achieved a 95% flu immunization rate again this year. Nearly every staff member has been vaccinated against the flu by either a flu shot or the flu mist, in an effort to keep themselves and the patients they serve safe from spreading the flu virus this winter.
Sheryl Darling-Mooney, R.N., Public Health Supervisor of Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care, has worked together with hospital staff to achieve this high vaccination rate, which is one of the highest in the state.
“We highly encourage all staff members to receive the flu immunization each year for the safety of everyone around them, including themselves,” states Mooney.  “We feel it is our social responsibility to not only give the best care to our patients, but to care for our patients in the safest, healthiest environment as well, and we feel we are achieving just that.”

Veterans Memorial Hospital is encouraging individuals in area communities to sign up to participate in Live Healthy Iowa for the next 10 weeks, beginning Monday, January 25 and running through April 1. Veterans Memorial Hospital will then be awarding all those in the 10-week challenge with a participation prize at their annual wellness fair Wednesday, May 11.
Live Healthy Iowa offers many wellness advantages for its members including a 10-week long program, a flexible team size, an on-line option with good technical support, plus professional support and encouragement including weekly wellness tips, exercise videos and a wide array of nutritious recipes.

The new year is a time to reflect on the changes you want to make. Whether you’re kicking a bad habit or trying to pick up a good one, getting the courage to make a healthy change this new year is the first step.
Let’s be honest, making significant changes is hard. Habits are easy to fall back into because they provide us with a sense of comfort. So, before you give up on this year’s resolutions, take some of these tips from Elizabeth Leschensky, nurse practitioner at Mayo Clinic Health System - Franciscan Healthcare in Waukon, into consideration for a successful year.

You've probably heard it before: washing your hands is one of the most important steps you can take to keep from getting sick or spreading germs to others. While it may seem like common sense, you might be surprised to learn that research found, on average, only 82 percent of adults were observed washing their hands after using a public restroom.
Just a quick rinse under water won't do. According to Jessica Everman, PA-C, physician assistant at the Gundersen Waukon Clinic, “To really get the germs off your hands, you should wet your hands with warm running water, and then lather them up with soap - front and back and between your fingers. Continue rubbing your hands for 20 seconds. (Sing "Happy Birthday" twice in your head - or out loud if you like. That's about 20 seconds). Rinse your hands and dry them off, preferably with a paper towel or hand dryer.”

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon will be holding its regular Weekend Clinic over the New Year holiday. The New Year Weekend Clinic will be held Friday, January 1, 2016, from 1 to 5 p.m. for all non-emergencies.
Weekend Clinics are held every Saturday and Sunday at Veterans Memorial Hospital, all year round, from 1 to 5 p.m. each day for non-emergencies. Non-emergencies are considered ailments that could be seen by a physician in a clinic and do not require an emergency room visit, such as minor injuries, sore throats and/or ear aches that cannot wait until regular clinic business hours. These Weekend Clinics save families the cost of regular emergency room fees on the weekends when the other local clinics are closed.
Anyone needing to utilize these special weekend clinics over the holiday is asked to enter the hospital through the main entrance and register with the receptionist. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information, call VMH at (563) 568-3411.

Flu Shots are still available at the Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care. 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 without 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. These immunization clinics are held from 1 to 6 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month, and from 1 to 4 p.m. all other Wednesdays.
Flu Shots are also available by appointment from a Community and Home Care Nurse, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Anyone interested is asked to call the Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care Office at (563) 568-5660 to schedule an appointment.