What Is Gout? Part 1 of a Series
Information provided by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Gout is a painful condition that occurs when the bodily waste product uric acid is deposited as needle-like crystals in the joints and/or soft tissues. In the joints, these uric acid crystals cause inflammatory arthritis, which in turn leads to intermittent swelling, […]
What Is Safe Families for Children?
By Jessica Kober “Surrounding families in crisis with caring, compassionate community” Safe Families for Children is a movement of thousands of churches and tens of thousands of volunteers across the country who are passionate about helping and caring for at-risk children and their parents. Designed to extend and strengthen the community safety net for at-risk […]
The Sunny Side of Vitamin D
By Angie Lollock, Nutritionist, Peoria City/County Health Department Worldwide, every three seconds a bone will break. That is a startling statistic according to the International Osteoporosis Foundation that estimates one in three women and one in five men over 50 will experience osteoporotic bone fractures at some point in their lives. What is osteoporosis? Osteoporosis […]
Conquering the Top Five Reasons People Fail at Fitness

Everyone can agree that regular exercise is important, so why do so many people struggle to stick with their fitness goals? If you’ve encountered barriers holding you back from committing to a fitness routine, you’re not alone. The health experts at the Mayo Clinic offer simple ideas for overcoming the five most common hurdles to […]
Is It Time to Consider a Shoulder Replacement?

Submitted by Orthopaedic Specialists You’re all ready for your busy weekend — numerous errands, a round of golf, a birthday party, and dinner with friends. Now if only you could get rid of that nagging shoulder pain, the days would go so much better… Treatment options If this is happening to you, you’re not alone. […]
How is Gout Treated? – Part 3 of a Series

With proper treatment, most people who have gout are able to control their symptoms and live productive lives. Gout can be treated with one or a combination of therapies. The goals of treatment are to ease the pain associated with acute attacks, to prevent future attacks, and to avoid the formation of tophi and kidney […]
Six Common Ways to Maximize Value and Minimize Expenses

By Dana VanGilder, SOS Property Transition Services Are you thinking about moving from your three-bedroom home of 20 or more years to a condo? Are your parents planning to move to a retirement community soon and your chest tightens every time you visit at the overwhelming prospect of sorting through all their belongings? Maybe you […]
Healthy Probiotic Fruit Candies

My daughter is approaching school age, and consequently she is more frequently encountering kids who don’t have food sensitivities and who don’t eat the way that we do. From Lunchables, to bottles of rainbow-colored sugar water, to packages of 20-ingredient cookies and pastries, a lot of today’s kids eat little more than highly processed, artificially […]
Nomophobia: When a Modern Smartphone Affliction Leads to Addiction

Everyday technology consumes everyone’s lives as the phone, computer, tablet, and other high-tech devices have become not just an object, but also a close companion. And for those who are extremely connected to their devices, going without them, even for only a few minutes, can be an anxiety-filled experience. A majority of American adults (56 […]
Home Helpers of Scott County Just the Help You Needed

By Benjamin Goodin You wouldn’t think twice about wearing your glasses, knowing that distances can look blurry without them. Similarly, you wouldn’t leave your hearing aid sitting on the nightstand if you were expecting company over for lunch. Many seniors are very independent, and with the appropriate devices or a few tricks, they can still […]