Home /
Articles
Author: Samantha Borghammer
Healthful Bites Can Be on Any Budget
Having a budget can add a challenge to grocery shopping. If you track how much your household spends on food, you may notice how quickly the costs add up. No matter your budget, big or small, there is no need to sacrifice nutrition for a good price. Using a few simple strategies, eating healthful and tasty meals does not have to cost a fortune.
Author: Samantha Borghammer
Health Literacy Tips
How often do you scroll through a website or social media and click on a post written about health or wellness? With the internet at our fingertips health information is only a click away. Reading online can make staying up-to-date and healthy easier, but how do we know if we can trust what we read? Just because it is on the internet does not mean it is true. No matter what I am reading, I always ask myself these three questions to help me find out if I can trust what the post says.
Author: Brandi Bohlman
School gardens foster healthier students
“I can think of no better form of personal involvement in the cure of the environment than that of gardening. A person who is growing a garden, if he is growing it organically, is improving a piece of the world. He is producing something to eat, which makes him somewhat independent of the grocery business, but he is also enlarging, for himself, the meaning of food and the pleasure of eating.” - Wendell Berry With gardening season in full swing, we are reminded to be conscious and mindful of where our food comes from, be it the farmers market, the grocery store or our own backyards. Food less traveled is more nutrient dense and flavorful than produce sold at grocery stores, which on average travels as much as 1,500 miles.
Author: Erica Gollhardt
Reduce Alzheimer’s risk with a diet for your mind
Per the Alzheimer’s Association, 5.4 million individuals in the United States live with Alzheimer’s and it is currently the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. In most Alzheimer’s cases, the disease may be a result of many factors interacting with one another, including age, genetics, environment, lifestyle and other medical conditions.
Author: Lauren Smith
Fuel your summer activities the natural way
In just a few days, an exciting notification will pop up on my home screen, officially declaring that we can wave goodbye to a long winter and celebrate the fact that our friend, Summer Solstice, has made its grand entrance. In other words, the countdown that I have programmed into my phone for another start to a Sheboygan summer is in its home stretch.
Author: Jake Lambrecht
Healthy food can be ‘fast food’ | Healthy 2020
This sounds sacrilegious coming from a local, organic, whole food-type of person, but it dawned on me that maybe fast food is not such a bad idea in concept. The concept being that certain meals are meant to be prepared and eaten quickly. I don’t believe our culture ever was or will be at a point that every meal we eat will be slow, calm, and “mindful.”
Author: Brianna Heusterberg
County working to address mental health in schools
It is no secret that today’s students are dealing with an increasing number of barriers to their future successes. Per the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the average classroom has at least five students who are affected by serious mental health needs, one that struggles with abuse, and 10 living in poverty.
Author: Carly Lenz and Jamie Piontkowski
County benefits from community activities
We are very lucky in Sheboygan County to have educational, recreational and family opportunities available through many groups like community education and recreation programs, nonprofit groups, hospitals, fitness facilities and more. Often these different groups end up joining forces to offer some amazing program options for enhancing health and wellbeing for everyone from babies to seniors.
Author: Kate Baer
Month’s theme is mental, physical health
May is Mental Health Month was started 69 years ago by the national organization Mental Health America to raise awareness about mental health conditions and the importance of good mental health for everyone.
Author: Christine Nitsch
Recognize employee’s health and fitness on May 16
If you love your job and love what you do, you’re going to be happier. It makes sense, doesn’t it? But how can employers motivate the unmotivated, and keep the motivated going in the right direction? With good individual health awareness and a workplace that cares about employee health, many companies are seeing positive changes happening.
Author: Trisha Erpelding
Celebrate Mental Health Month in Sheboygan
Since 1949, the national office of Mental Health America (MHA) and its affiliates across the country, including MHA in Sheboygan County, have led the observance of “May is Mental Health Month” by reaching millions of people through media, local events and screenings. This year, MHA in Sheboygan County is happy to announce several events promoting mental health that are taking place right here in our own community.
Author: Libby Holte
Medication Take Back Day is April 28
Healthy Sheboygan County 2020, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will hold a Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 28, at five locations throughout Sheboygan County.
Author: Annette Selk
Have you talked about advance care planning?
On Monday, April 16, we celebrate National Healthcare Decision Day as a part of the National Healthcare Decision Week during Monday, April 16, through Sunday, April 22. Since its beginnings in 2008, this national campaign aims to inspire, educate and empower the public and healthcare providers about the importance of advance care planning. The need for this day is clear when we consider that best estimates have only 35 percent of the adult population in the US with advance directives in place.
Author: Penny Maletzke
Is your child safely seated in your car?
As parents and caregivers, we always want the best for our children, the best food, clothes, schools, neighborhoods and for them to be safe. Despite our best intentions to keep our children safe, as many as 80 percent of child safety seats are improperly installed.
Author: Jake Lambrecht
Tips for gardening for the “vegetable-challenged”
There is a practical side to having a vegetable garden. You hope to be able to eat what you grow. It is certainly disappointing to have a flower garden that flops, but likely, you weren’t planning on eating your flowers. When a vegetable garden doesn’t work, it is another level of sadness. Your plants may have died AND you didn’t even get to harvest from them.
Author: Cath Tease
Kick Butts Day wants to keep kids tobacco free
The tobacco industry shows clear patterns of designing flavored tobacco products to target youth with more than 20 appealing flavors such as cherry, unicorn puke, chocolate and popcorn.
Author: Amanda Miller
Start eating well this National Nutrition Month
March is National Nutrition Month, so what better time than now to start becoming healthier and happier through healthy eating and physical activity?
Author: Annette Selk
Sheboygan County ADRC works to reduce senior falls
The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Sheboygan County has been concerned about the statistics that are being reported on falls among our seniors in Sheboygan County.
Author: Lauren Smith
Food bank asks for thoughtful donations
Imagine this scene: it’s the morning of the last day of the office food drive. You are running late, but you want to make a difference in our community. You make a quick dash to your kitchen pantry and push aside last weekend’s grocery shopping haul. You grab the dusty can of green beans soaked in salt. You juggle around a few more items and find a smooshed box of angel hair pasta.
Author: Trisha Erpelding
Postpartum depression affects many new moms
About four million babies are born each year in the United States. Many of the mothers of these newborns will go through the “baby blues,” a period of hormonal shifts and mood swings for a few days or even a few weeks as they adjust to their new baby and perhaps, new parenthood. For some women, these “baby blues” may persist for a longer period.
Author: Jake Lambrecht
Seed-ordering tips every gardener should know
While I do believe that good gardening practices will matter more than what type of seed you purchase, there are a few guidelines every gardener should know. This advice mainly refers to annual garden seeds (vegetable, herbs, fruits, etc.). Most seed companies will send you free catalogs at your request.
Author: Cindy VanderWeele
Adults often unaware of recommended vaccines
You want to pass on family traditions, like a favorite cookie recipe, but no one wants to pass on a serious illness. Take charge of your health and help protect those around you by asking about vaccines at your next health care provider’s visit. Vaccinating our children is commonplace. But few adults know they need vaccines other than flu vaccine.
Author: Donna Habeck
How to know if you have cold or flu
Winter is officially upon us. Unfortunately, along with it come influenza and a rise in common colds, which are both caused by viruses. Knowing the difference between the cold and the flu can help you decide if, or when, you need to see your doctor.
Author: Rachael Lewinski
Sheboygan County Healthy 2020’s tips for surviving, enjoying winter
A mindfulness practice can help you reduce stress, shift your focus on the positive and enjoy life during one of the more challenging seasons for our mental and physical health. Paying attention on purpose, without judgment and with kindness to your emotions, energy and winter activities can lead to better safety during treacherous activities as well as avoiding succumbing to winter blues.
Author: Char Pachniak
Sheboygan County Horizon4Girls announces Jan. as National Mentoring Month
Sheboygan County Horizon4Girl staff speak with parents and family members daily and are often asked for a magic potion. How do we improve school attendance, academic achievement, promote responsible decision making, and provide skills to better navigate relationships at school, socially and at home? Let’s take a step into the lab and see what we can whip up.
Author: Rachael Lewinski
Practice mindfulness with health resolutions
As the New Year begins, many of us look at it as a fresh start and set big health goals. However, many of us fall victim to losing our motivation and giving up on our commitment as the excitement wears off and challenges set in. As a personal trainer, around the end of February, I have seen many people get frustrated, lose motivation and just plain stop what we so enthusiastically began a month ago.
Author: Janelle Schirmer
Sheboygan Healthy 2020 covers New Year’s goals
With the holiday season winding down and a new year beginning, there comes the opportunity to start fresh. You may be thinking back to all your holiday eating at parties and get-togethers. Now it’s time to look forward and focus on setting healthy goals. Aiming to eat healthier can sometimes feel like an overwhelming goal with little direction on where to start. It’s helpful to break this goal down into smaller, realistic goals that you can work on.
Author: Grace Talbot
Eating Healthy for the New Year
It is almost 2018, which means that the time for change is rightaround the corner. After the holidays, it is possible that you would like to make better choices, this article will provide you with 8 tips for eating healthier in the New Year!
Author: Trisha Erpelding
Remember your presence is the best present this holiday
Many of us spend the holiday season searching for that perfect present, combing the aisles during our Target run to find something great that will really make our loved one’s eyes light up. It might be that hard-to-find toy or another item at the top of a wish list, but there is a gift that you can’t buy that your family needs just as much — you.
Author: Elizabeth Wimmler
Tips to reduce drug insurance angst
Understanding drug insurance can be overwhelming, but focusing on key concepts and taking a few simple steps can reduce the insurance-related frustration.
Author: Amy Benz
Sheboygan Area schools teams up with Nourish
Sheboygan Area School District has teamed up with Nourish to bring “Harvest of the Month” to students and the community. Each month, a piece of produce is chosen to be a featured item on the school lunch menu as well as in snacks in certain schools in Sheboygan County. The goal is to increase fruit and vegetable consumption in students and build a solid relationship with our local farmers. Ultimately, the program seeks to help students develop healthier eating habits.
Author: Kate Baer
How to survive holidays after losing a loved one
I met grief as an adult in my late twenties. My step-dad was diagnosed with lung cancer and he died almost exactly one year to the day of diagnosis. Forty-five days later we were spreading his ashes in Northern Wisconsin when we received another heartbreaking call: my father-in-law had died unexpectedly of a heart attack. Sixty days after that, my husband and I lost a friend in his early 40's unexpectedly due to an unknown heart condition. A year and a half after that, I tragically found my Dad who had passed away due to alcohol withdrawal complications. Six months after that, my close girlfriend passed.
Author: Amy Giffin
Reignite your family meals together, not just on holidays
Each year, families and friends will gather together around the table. In some cases, people even travel hundreds of miles for Thanksgiving, while others will spend days preparing and cooking. But what about the meals we eat on the other 364 days of the year?
Author: Liz Abler
Join in Great American Smokeout on Thursday
Join Healthy Sheboygan County 2020 in partnership with re:TH!NK, the Lakeshore Tobacco Prevention Network, this year for the Great American Smokeout on Thursday.
Author: Kerri Robertson
Sheboygan Senior Activity Center hosts workshops
Take a moment and look around you. Half of all Americans live with at least one chronic disease, and 28 percent of us have two or more. Arthritis alone affects 50 million Americans and is now the most common cause of disability. Across the nation, health care costs associated with chronic diseases make up 75 percent of the $2 trillion spent on health care each year. This means 145 million of us can learn how to manage our symptoms and adopt healthy behaviors to help reduce the personal and societal burden of our diseases.
Author: Lauren Smith
Sheboygan County Food Bank commits to fresh method
What if food pantries are your main source of food to fuel your body because you have a disability that affects your ability to work, recently lost a job or simply can’t make ends meet?
Author: LIBBY HOLTE
Have unused drugs? Turn them in Saturday
Healthy Sheboygan County 2020, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will hold a Drug Take-Back Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 28, at five locations throughout Sheboygan County.
Author: DR. SCARLETT & DR. SHAH
Low back pain affects people of all ages
Low back pain is the second most common reason for visiting a doctor and can affect people of all ages, from childhood to adulthood. Approximately 80 percent of the population will experience back pain at some point throughout their life. Low back pain is also responsible for lost workdays and is the single leading cause of disability worldwide. Over 100 million American adults live with chronic pain. Our spine is composed of approximately 33 vertebrae bones stacked on top of one another. In between each of those bones lay discs, which provide the cushioning between the vertebrae. The discs can be thought of as shock absorbers for our spine.
Author: Faith is a Certified Therapy Dog with Horizons4 Girls in Sheboygan.
A word from Faith, Horizons4Girls’ therapy dog
Hi there! My name is Faith, and I work at Horizons4Girls, or should I say, “I volunteer.” I am a Certified Therapy Dog with an advanced degree in working with troubled teens, or as they like to identify themselves, “at promise.” Each one of these middle school and high school teens has plenty of gifts that just need to be identified and enhanced.
Author: ANNETTE SELK
ADRC events will discuss end-of-life health care
You have your advance directive (a legal document, such as a living will that is signed by a competent person to provide guidance for medical and health-care decisions, such as the termination of life support or organ donation, in the event the person becomes incompetent to make such decisions) completed and signed. Your doctor, the hospital, and your health care agent have copies. Everything is in place, right? Maybe. But there are often more decisions that need to be made as one nears the end of life. Will you or your loved one want cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), a feeding tube, an antibiotic, a surgery? The decisions can seem to be endless as options for healthcare have expanded. It can be particularly difficult deciding for another person, especially someone you love.
Author: PAMELA KRUEGER
Sheboygan County substance abuse remains a problem
Per the National Institute on Drug Abuse, individual abuse of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs cost our nation more than $740 billion annually in costs related to crime, lost work productivity and health care expenditure.
Author: JAKE LAMBRECHT
If your health matters to you, think about where your food comes from
Per the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, “Food Security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.” When it comes to obtaining food, we all want to make sure we have enough. That’s where the “sufficient” part comes in, but what about the “safe and nutritious” part? Too often those aspects take a back seat or are reduced to meeting minimum government guidelines. Consumers either assume that food is safe and nutritious or place more importance on quantity. This has led to a prevalence of diet related health disorders in our country today. Instead of looking for the next “2 for 1” deal at the grocery store, I encourage you to focus on the thought: follow the trail.
Author: KATE BAER
Mental Health America partners with UW-Sheboygan for recovery month
September is National Recovery Month and Mental Health America (MHA) in Sheboygan County is proudly partnering with the University of Wisconsin-Sheboygan Theatre to address the topic in an educational and personal way.
Author: KATE BAER
Sheboygan group focuses on suicide prevention strategy
Suicide continues to remain a preventable, yet significant, health problem in Wisconsin.
Author: RACHAEL LEWINSKI
Tapping into the intimate relationship between mental health, exercise
We all know the benefits of physical exercise are endless, leading experts to deem it as our best wonder drug. However, we often don’t prioritize our mental health, which is intimately and dramatically affected by our physical fitness.
Author: SAMUEL KEFER
Protect yourself against ticks
Wisconsin summers bring beautiful weather. Some see this as an opportunity to crank the air conditioning, but many will take advantage of this opportunity to get outdoors. When you are taking in the scenic lakefront, hiking the Ice Age Trail, or some other outdoor activity, the most common pest you might encounter are mosquitoes. While these are a nuisance, there is another insect to look out for — ticks. Ticks are a type of parasite that attach to a host organism and feed off them. There are a variety of tick species in Wisconsin. According to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Entomology, most common are the wood and deer tick. Although small, ticks can carry a number of diseases. The Wisconsin Division of Public Health lists Anaplasmosis, Powassan virus, and, most prominently, Lyme disease as examples. Data from the Center for Disease Control show a decrease from 20102015 in the number of people contracting Lyme disease in Wisconsin each year. However, those numbers are still higher than other states, with 1,309 confirmed cases in 2015, which is why Wisconsinites need to protect themselves from ticks. To learn how to protect yourself against ticks, here are answers to some key questions:
Author: CINDY VANDERWEELE
Parents, don’t forget vaccinations before school starts
Parents, don’t forget vaccinations before school starts
Author: ERICA GOLLHARDT
Physical health is important for people of all ages
General health for individuals is often categorized into age groups. Even when you search online for fitness tips and suggestions, articles focus mostly on specific generations (i.e. teens versus elderly). Besides age and medical conditions, the focus on health and maintaining an active lifestyle is truly similar between age groups.
Author: NATE DAVIS
A well-cared for lawn makes for a healthy lake
Being in Sheboygan County lends us the great gift of having a national treasure almost on our doorstep: Lake Michigan. So often taken for granted, the secondlargest Great Lake and its surrounding rivers provide some of the most treasured summer fun.
Author: HEATHER CLEVELAND
Healthy diet can be first step to building resiliency in life
Resilience.
Author: Lauren Smith
Host a healthy summer food drive
In the summer months, the top things on many Sheboyganites’ minds are following the scent trail to the nearest brat fry, planning a day on North Beach and spending nights beside a bonfire pit. Far from many people’s thoughts are spending hours in the kitchen baking grandma’s recipe of her famous sugar cookies to warm the hearts of loved ones. Even joining the crowds at Deer Trace on Nov. 26 to stock up on Christmas gifts seems like light years away.
Author: ELIZABETH ABLER
Ordinance moving tenants toward smoke-free living
As we start a favorite month in Wisconsin, we are reminded that this is the seventh year our state celebrates the Smoke Free Air Bill passage of July 5, 2010. In June we celebrated Healthy Homes Month, which is sponsored by U.S. Department of Housing And Urban Development (HUD). The observance focuses on raising awareness of housing’s impact on health and providing ways for families to protect themselves from hazards in the home.
Author: ERICA GOLLHARDT
How seniors can keep active while staying safe this summer
As we continue through the warm summer months, we look for outdoor and indoor activities to keep busy. For seniors who reside in long-term care facilities, getting the chance to go outside during the warm weather days can be difficult. Local assisted living facilities and nursing homes have activities and programs enabling seniors to stay active without breaking a sweat. Some examples include balloon tennis, bean bag toss, ring toss, gardening, cooking, or seated chair exercises. Facilities benefiting from having onsite therapy services invite residents to utilize their equipment for quick exercises; some examples include an arm pedal exerciser or a simple exercise bike.
Author: Chia Lee
Never too late to quit or too early to inform about tobacco
My name is Chia Lee. I am a recent graduate of Lakeshore Technical College. Earlier this year, I accepted a spring internship with re:TH!NK, the Lakeshore Tobacco Prevention network, a partner of Healthiest Manitowoc County.
Author: LIBBY HOLTE
Practice beach safety this summer in Sheboygan
The gorgeous Sheboygan summer days are finally here! Now is the time to take advantage of the weather and be active with your family on the beautiful beaches of Sheboygan County. Before you throw on those flip flops and run to the beach, remember that safety is priority No.1.
Author: BETH TEUNISSEN
6 reasons to shop at your local Farmer’s Markets
Farmer’s markets have fresh, local fruits and veggies that come straight from farms to your plate. Haven’t been to the farmer’s market before? Well, the benefits to stopping at your local farmer’s market are endless!
Author: AMY GIFFIN
Sheboygan Area School District offers free summer meals
Learning does not end when school lets out.
Author: JONATHAN RIBICH
Tips for keeping lawns healthy for everyone
Land access is important for good health and in the United States, it can be easy to take for granted.
Author: KERRI ROBERTSON
Celebrate National Senior Health and Fitness Day
For many aging Americans, May is a month to be celebrated loudly and proudly. Since 1963, when President Kennedy declared the month of May as Senior Citizens Month (later renamed Older Americans Month) the meaning of the celebration has changed drastically.
Author: STAFF AT ADVANCED PAIN MANAGEMENT
Options exist for patients with chronic pain
Over the past year, I have had many patients come to our clinic quite discouraged over the escalating government regulation on the prescription of opioid medications. They are quite concerned that they are going to have their “pain pills” taken away and left to suffer in endless pain. With nearly 15,000 deaths per year in the United States attributed to opioid pain medications, the government stance is more than justified.
Author: KATE BAER
Discover mindfulness at upcoming mental health event
Life is difficult and we all experience pain and stress to varying degrees throughout our lifetime. These emotional, physical and mental pains, sometimes due to stress, bodily injury/disease, or a combination of both, are often inevitable. A fact of life. Pain and stress affect everyone. An old anonymous adage shares, “Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.” Suffering is the emotional context we give to pain. The stories we tell ourselves, our bodies, our minds.
Author: KATE BAER
Annual mental health, addiction resource fair nears
Join anytime between 4 and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 2, for the 3rd annual community- wide Mental Health and Alcohol & Drug Abuse Resource Fair in Sheboygan County, at the new location of St. Dominic Parish Activity Center (2133 N. 22nd Street, Sheboygan).
Author: ANN SALZMANN
Think about end of life wishes now
My husband and I recently planned a trip to Disney World with our 7-year-old granddaughter. We have planned Disney trips over the years but things have changed. Technology and options at Disney have changed, and so have we. We are a bit older. We have different goals and priorities. So, our family has had many discussions about the trip to determine what is best for us at this time.
Author: CHRISTA WILSON
Drug Take-Back event is answer to unwanted meds
Each year on a Saturday in April and a Saturday in October, the citizens of the United States get rid of a few hundred tons of unnecessary weight. Sounds like a great weight loss plan, right? Well, it’s not pounds of body weight that are shed; it’s pounds of unused medications.
Author: ERICA GOLLHARDT
Tai Chi could be answer for elderly seeking exercise
Tai Chi, a traditional Chinese martial art, continuously is proven to have both physical and mental benefits for individuals of any age. This gentle form of martial art concentrates on controlled movements, breathing and relaxation. The commitment to Tai Chi is less than 30 minutes a day and does not require any equipment to get started.
Author: HALEIGH KAISER
Fill your ‘bucket’ with positive actions
Creating a healthy lifestyle is talked about everywhere you go these days. However, it is not all about diet and exercise. There should also be a focus on mental and emotional health. Researchers have found a correlation between caring for and helping others and an increase in health. An article from BMC Public Health finds that voluntarily helping others is associated with lower depression, increased well-being and a 22 percent reduction in the risk of dying.
Author: HEATHER CLEVELAND
Nutritious eating for one
At Nourish, we encourage eating together. We invite you to join us for our community dinners. However, eating together is not an option for everybody every day, whether you live alone or are traveling for work. Here are some tips for eating healthy for one.
Author: LIZ ABLER
Kick ‘butts’ to live a healthy, smoke-free life
Several times a year, I have been writing articles for our HSC 2020 column on Tobacco prevention. I usually mention that “Tobacco use is still the number one preventable cause of death in the United States” and that remains true. This statement can cause readers worry or concern and it is meant to have an impact.
Author: ELIZABETH WIMMLER
Tips for creating a medication management plan
Over the past few decades, healthcare has shifted its focus to preventative care which has generated an increase in medication use. This boost in medication use created new challenges, including medication interactions and side effects, overprescribing and unintentional medication misuse. These challenges demonstrate the importance of medication management, but complex dose regimens, busy schedules, age related changes, and caregiver roles make this task difficult to execute. We can conquer these difficulties by constructing a medication management action plan.
Author: SAMANTHA DAILY
Put best fork forward for National Nutrition Month
March is National Nutrition Month, and this year the focus is on putting your best fork forward. February ended with Paczki Day, or Fat Tuesday, and this month we can start fresh by choosing to fill our forks with more nutritious, better-for-you options. Putting our best fork forward this month can mean eating more fruits and vegetables with every meal, choosing more whole grains and reaching for more nutritious snacks. These are all simple ways we can improve our plates and step forward towards better health.
Author: LIBBY HOLTE
Time to check in on those New Year’s resolutions
January first came along, and you were packed full of motivation to make changes for the New Year. No matter how much momentum you had that first week, we all know that winter can be a hard time; sickness is traveling around, workloads are high after the holiday lull, chilly weather makes it hard to stay active, and before we know it — we are already two months into the year. Whether you are on the road to success, or have taken an unexpected detour from your goals, let’s take some time to do a check-in on ways you can take care of your mind, body, home and heart in 2017: Take care of your
Author: ANDI IGOWSKY
Tips for keeping your kids’ teeth healthy
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. Despite the fact that it’s almost entirely preventable, tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children. The good news is there are safe and effective preventive measures that can protect teeth.
Author: ELIZABETH WIMMLER
Tips for avoiding the risks of over the counter meds
It’s the season for coughs, sniffles, trips to the pharmacy, and unfortunately, self treatment with over the counter medications. Believing over the counter (OTC) medications are risk free and can be used safely without consulting a healthcare provider are common misconceptions. Direct to consumer medication advertising and access to OTC medicine allows people to take part in their healthcare, but can be dangerous. Some dangers include potential for overdose, creating drug interactions and mistreating serious conditions.
Author: BETHANY SODERLUND
Choose the right fats for your heart
Since February is American Heart Month, I would like to take an opportunity to debunk a myth about heart-healthy eating. One food group that is often questioned is fat. Can you eat fat while following a heart-healthy diet? Yes! In fact, your body needs fat to produce hormones, grow cells, protect your organs, insulate your body and absorb fat-soluble vitamins. What matters is how much, and what kind of fat, you eat. Moderation is key.
Author: CATH TEASE
Stop tobacco addiction at checkout counter
Most tobacco users get started before they even turn 18, which is why it’s so important to prevent tobacco sales to minors. Wisconsin Wins helps responsible retailers follow the law, avoid costly fines and keep tobacco out of kids’ hands — including new, candy flavored tobacco products that appeal to youth.
Author: KRIS FRITZ
If you’re active, winter can feel good
Winter is often defined as the “colder half of the year; a period of inactivity or decay.” Please don’t let this be true for you or your family. Don’t let winter stop all the positive physical activity and healthy eating progress made during spring, summer and fall. Let’s continue leading healthy and active lifestyles through winter:
Author: JANE JENSEN
Help make the county healthier for everyone
Healthy Sheboygan County 2020 is a community- based initiative formed in 1993 and designed to make positive changes in the health of Sheboygan County by the year 2020. The diverse membership works together to help county residents live better and longer lives. Subcommittees have engaged in a wide variety of initiatives over the last several years. A Health Literacy Campaign shared resources to help residents make better decisions about their health. Medication Take-Back days have been held twice annually at five locations throughout the county. Mental health and alcohol and drug abuse resource fairs have been held annually.
Author: KELLY BOELDT
Working to make local workplaces 'well'
In January 2015, the Sheboygan County Activity and Nutrition (SCAN) Coalition, announced plans to pursue a “Well County” designation.
Author: KRISTIN BLANCHARD STEARNS
Insurance enrollment help is available
Health Insurance coverage is an issue that should be on everyone’s mind. Yes, it is a big deal. Yes, it can be overwhelming. Enrollment is open until Jan. 31, so you still have time to sign up for a plan. Let’s talk about getting covered. What is this Affordable Care Act, “ACA,” “Obamacare,” or “Marketplace Insurance”?
Author: MIKE BURNS
Local Support available to help prevent type 2 diabetes
There are a lot of things in our life that we cannot control or prevent. Fortunately, Type 2 diabetes is one thing that we can prevent or at least delay with some knowledge, effort and perseverance.
Author: KERRI ROBERTSON
Feeling like a Scrooge? How to manage stress
The holidays seem to be one of those times of the year that people either love or loathe.
Author: LIDIA KALSOW
Encouraging children to eat veggies in fun ways
It’s no secret that children can be difficult to convince when it comes to trying new things. The website Choose MyPlate, sponsored by the US Department of Agriculture, recommends half our plate be filled with fruits and vegetables. This can be daunting to parents who struggle to get their kids to take a bite of vegetable at the dinner table.
Author: LIZ KROLL
Making the case for healthier food donations
What does “food insecurity” mean? It means people or households are limited in their resources to buy food. It can also mean they’re running out of food, cutting the quality of their food, eating unbalanced meals and maybe even skipping meals. Food insecurity is closely linked with high rates of obesity, diabetes and other health problems, and this is partly due to the lack of choices supplied by food pantries. As families depend on donated foods more and more for a greater share of their nutritional needs, the quality of those foods becomes more important. Local research has shown that one-third of all donated pantry food is of low nutritional value, damaged or very outdated.
Author: DAWN KIND
Feature veggies for healthy holiday meal
Guess who’s coming to your holiday dinner?
Author: LIZ ABLER
Great American Smoke-Out’ quitting event comes Nov. 17
The Great American Smoke-out is Nov. 17. So what’s new in tobacco prevention?
Author: LAURA APFELBECK
Ways to spice up important family meals
Iowa State University reports that not only do family meals offer children a chance to learn about their family’s values and culture, but that children who eat with their families eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Even better? Teens who eat with their families are less likely to smoke, drink and use drugs, according to the research.
Author: PAMELA KRUEGER
Learn to live your best life to increase wellness, longevity
Do you want to live a longer, happier and healthier life? Wellness plays a significant role in the quality and longevity of your life! What is wellness, anyway? Wellness matters and is often described as a balance of your mind, body and spirit, which results in an overall feeling of well-being.
1011 N. 8th St.
Sheboygan, WI 53081
United States
(920) 459-3031