Category: Health Center Chatter

by Lynette Kramer, MD September is Healthy Aging(R) Month. A time to focus on your health and take precautions to help face the challenges that come with aging. You may be asking yourself what exactly is “healthy aging”? Simply stated, it is making lifestyle improvements to keep yourself physically and More…

We’ve all heard of a heart attack. The easiest way to understand a stroke is to think of it as a “brain attack.” A stroke happens when vital blood flow and oxygen are cut off in the brain. The signs of a stroke come on fast and can include numbness More…

More than 15,000 Nebraskans are living with Parkinson’s disease, which is caused by a lack of chemical produced in the brain. Parkinson’s can make movements shaky, slow and tight and can also cause trouble with balance and walking. We do not know what causes Parkinson’s disease, and there is no More…

Around Valentine’s Day, images of hearts are everywhere, so it only seems appropriate to consider heart health.  February is American Heart Month and a great time to start thinking about an exercise program to keep your heart healthy. At the Boone County Health Center (BCHC) we offer the Healthy Strides More…

Healthy people don’t often think about going to the doctor, but the truth is yearly health exam aren’t just for kids anymore. Research shows that a visit to your Primary Care Provider (PCP) each year can keep you healthier in the long term and even save you money. When you More…

Clostridium difficile (C. diff) was once a health problem faced by older adults and people in the hospital, but now it has become a concern for the young as well. C. diff is a bacterial infection that causes swelling of the large bowel. It can lead to watery diarrhea, fever, More…

Experts are still learning about the impact stress can have on the body. The holidays can be wonderful, but they can also add extra duties and worry to our already busy schedules. Here are five ideas to help you simplify for the holidays: Plan down time. Your calendar will fill More…

Nebraskans are tough. We work hard and power through problems. These are great traits and ones I hope to instill in my own kids. However, when it comes to health, toughing it out isn’t always the best choice. The earlier we catch an illness, the better we can treat it. More…

Mental health is a critical part of overall wellness, and the need for mental health care has grown tremendously in the last several years. Sadly, experts such as psychiatrists and psychologists who offer this care are in short supply, especially in rural areas. Advances in technology have supplied a unique More…

You know the importance of monthly breast exams, but did you know it’s important to check your skin for cancer on a regular basis too? Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. One in five Americans will have skin cancer at some point in their life. More…