When Should Teen Girls See a Gynecologist?
Submitted by Brittany King, APN, WHNP, Advanced Women’s Healthcare Many parents find themselves struggling with the question of, “when is the right time for their daughter to see a gynecologist?” The belief systems of our grandparents era was that the “right time” would coincide with sexual activity. However, in modern times, health care providers and […]
Changes to Social Security Claiming Strategies
By Krista McBeath, McBeath Financial Group The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 included a section titled “Closure of Unintended Loopholes” that ends two Social Security claiming strategies that have become increasingly popular over the last several years. These two strategies, known as “file and suspend” and “restricted application” for a spousal benefit, have often been […]
Preparing Your Advance Directive
Submitted by The Community Cancer Center Imagine the unthinkable. You suddenly find yourself in a health crisis where you are unable to speak due to an illness or a tragic accident. Who will speak for you? Does your family know your wishes? Most of us spend considerable time planning for things like vacations or retirement, […]
Too Many Blood Cells
By Julia Janzen, BS, LPN, CRC Polycythemia Vera (PV) is a disorder of the bone marrow known as a “myeloproliferative neoplasm” (MPN). MPN’s are a group of blood cancers that share several common denominators, including the early production of blood cells. Having an MPN means that an alteration in DNA has occurred, which causes a […]
Complications Can Result from Untreated Varicose Veins
Submitted by Drs. Bohn, Nielsen, Castillo, Benson, and Wright, The Vein Specialists, LLC Ignoring varicose vein disease can lead to serious complications for patients. Over time, venous reflux can result in increasing symptoms, such as leg aching, pain, and swelling, because of the progressive valve failure inside the veins. Resulting skin changes, such as stasis […]
Suicide and Depression
Submitted by Anjum Bashir, MD, Decatur Psychiatry Suicide is a major public health concern that no one wants to talk about. Suicide takes more lives than automobile accidents and more than twice as many people die by suicide each year than by homicide. It is the second leading cause of death for young people ages […]
Happy with the Skin You Are In
By Karen Tucker When women are constantly bombarded with messages and news about the latest anti-aging treatments and methods, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. How can you maintain a skincare routine when the rules seem to be ever-changing? It might be simpler than you think. By separating the hype from reality, you can come up […]
Anxiety Disorders in Children
By Wilma McLaughlin, LCPC, Agape Counseling Anxiety and anxiety disorders in children are one of the main reasons parents seek counseling for their children. Phobias (such as school or social phobia), separation anxiety, obsessive compulsive behavior, generalized anxiety, and posttraumatic stress are all anxiety related disorders. Anxiety is best understood in terms of being a […]
How Do We Keep Our Brains Healthy?
By Mary J. Dyck, PhD, RN, LNHA As we get older, we become more concerned about things that we lose — the car keys, a word, our purse, a name. Then, we become concerned that it might be Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is one form of dementia and is the most common type. While some […]
Rocks in My Ears!
By Poonam McAllister, Vestibular Physical Therapist, Central Illinois Institute of Balance Yes, there is such a thing as “rocks” in your ears! You may have even heard people talk about having rocks in their ears that literally made their world spin. The inner ear is the farthest part of the ear. It is housed deep […]