What Are Venous Valves, and Why Are They so Important?

Submitted by Drs. Bohn, Nielsen, Castillo, Wright, and Ward, The Vein Specialists, LLC The valves in your veins ensure the veins function properly — here’s how they work. You may know that your veins transport blood to the heart, but you might not know as much about the structure of these blood vessels. For example, did […]
What Does a Loose Tooth Have to Do With Retirement?

By Krista McBeath, McBeath Financial Group Sometimes in life, there are nagging situations that are painful to resolve. The longer you wait, the worse it gets. My daughter is learning this concept at the tender age of five years old — and we feel the pain as much as she does. She has a loose […]
The Best and Worst Candy for Teeth

By Thomas Hall, DMD and Sara Rauen Dardis, DDS, Pediatric Smiles of Bloomington The primary reason for tooth decay is gobbling up too much sugar. Bacteria in the mouth uses sugar to grow, multiply, and produce acids. The acids then begin to eat away at the tooth’s enamel (the hard, outer surface) and — voila! […]
Lifelong Learning Why You Should Teach an Old Dog New Tricks!

By Karen Coughlin, Marketing Services Director at Luther Oaks Lifelong learning is a broad term that refers to learning from birth to adulthood. Now a common term, lifelong learning was once believed to be a waste of time — “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” — as aging adults were thought to not […]
The Hero Discount on LASIK at Eye Surgical Associates Part 1

By Alexander Germanis The weather has been sweltering for months. “Humid” does not even begin to describe the conditions. On some days, it feels like walking around while being smothered in a wet wool blanket. In other words, it’s a typical Central Illinois summer. On yet another one of these typical Illinois summer days, Patrolman […]
Cancer Treatment and the Effects on Skin

Submitted by Doug Leone, MD, and Adrienne Schupbach, MD, Dermatology and Mohs Surgery Institute The effects that cancer treatment can have on a person’s skin can be overlooked, however, there is a growing trend in treating cancer that focuses on curing both the disease and helping patients maintain their self-esteem and quality of life. By […]
The Growing Problem of Isolation Submitted by Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community

Everyone wants to stay in their own home as they grow older. “Keeping mom at home” has become a standard by which adult children are measured; if you move her out, you are a bad, selfish son or daughter. Many older adults are staying in their own homes alone; about 28 percent, according to the […]
Ten Bone-Chilling Facts About Osteoporosis

Submitted by Elizabeth Madlem, APN, The Bone Health Clinic at Millennium Pain Center No bones about it, osteoporosis — bone loss — is a serious disease, though fortunately, testing and treatments are available so you can protect yourself and those you care about. The facts and stats To help you handle the condition, there are […]
Heartland Foot & Ankle Associates: Just Another Family

There is an ideal vision of the American community — one that has struggled to maintain a fingerhold in the collective subconscious of the nation with each passing generation. This vision is one of pies cooling on windowsills, of cars and homes being left unlocked, and one where we love our jobs and coworkers almost […]
Board Certification — What It Means and Why You Should Care

Submitted by Twin City Plastic Surgery The majority of people seeking a physician, no matter the reason, assume that the man or woman they select is qualified to practice medicine. What exactly does that mean? In order to practice medicine in the United States, physicians must be licensed in the state in which they work. […]