Working with the community... for a healthier community.

Prepare Now to Fight Cold, Flu, and COVID Viruses Later

By Bill Kalman, Pharmacist/Owner Essential Wellness Pharmacy Cases of influenza are on the rise. Temperatures are falling. Fall allergies season is here. These can all lead to increased illness and time away from work or school. With children in school, colds and illnesses are passed more easily. Now is the time to boost your (and […]

Prepare Now for Winter Weather

By Jillian Stowe, Peoria City/County Health Department Winter Storms in Central Illinois Winter storms are extremely common in Central Illinois and have been one of the top winter hazards identified for our area. These storms create a higher risk for car accidents, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, and even heart attacks from overexertion. Other than […]

The Rise of Stress and the Fall Into Fatigue

By Andrea Schnowske, DC According to the American Institute of Stress, 55 percent of Americans report feeling stressed during the day and 63 percent of workers are ready to quit their job to avoid work-related stress. Stress is defined in many different ways, but how an individual accepts and adapts to stressors in their daily […]

5 Ways To Navigate Adult Friendships

By Jenn Bovee, LCSW, CRADC, CCHt, EMDR Trained, The Mental Wellness Center Navigating adult friendships can be difficult. They are often complex and don’t come with a “user guide.” We often describe adult relationships as being filled with complicated motives, hidden agendas, and mysterious metaphors that most of us are unable to decipher. If you’ve […]

Don’t Let a Health Crisis Force a Move

Submitted by Holly Hall, CDP, CMP, CPASRM, Executive Director, The Village at Mercy Creek Most people want to stay active, healthy and independent as they age. In an ideal world, everyone would be able to stay in their own home well into their 80s and 90s without experiencing a health crisis or decline in physical […]

How To Develop the Exercise Habit

Submitted by Drs. Bohn, Nielsen, and Castillo, The Vein Specialists, LLC Most people feel great after exercise, and not just because the “feel-good” hormone our bodies release during activity, kick in. It’s common knowledge that exercise provides a path to better health, from increasing your energy and enhancing your mood to reducing fat and cardiovascular […]

3T MRI—An Upgrade Worth Talking About

By Melissa Larson Ft. Jesse Imaging & Gale Keeran Center for Women is completely focused on providing the very best imaging options for the Bloomington/Normal and greater Central Illinois area. In December, our office will be elevating imaging once again with the addition of a 3T Wide Bore MRI suite. This new MRI machine, will […]

What Are Over-the-Counter (OTC) Hearing Aids?

By Heather Sandy, M.A., Audiologist In August 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued their finalized rule regarding Over-the-Counter (OTC) hearing aids, effectively creating a new category of hearing aids. This new FDA ruling is intended to increase access to OTC devices and put stricter criteria on devices already on the market or future […]

Back To Better Health

When severe nerve pain requires surgery, patients can return to their normal routines after minimally invasive procedures. It’s one of the most common health complaints—and one of the most debilitating. It’s estimated that 80 percent of the population will experience some sort of back pain in their life. When the back pain is associated with […]