This flu season is striking hard and wide across the country, creating anxiety for individuals who are vulnerable to serious complications. As with any illness, it’s important to learn and follow steps that can protect you and your loved ones from contracting the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists four important steps to reduce your risk of infection: Wash your hands consistently throughout the day . Hand washing is still one of the most effective and easiest ways to preve... ... Read More

Keep holiday toy shopping safe and stress-free While buying the hottest and trendiest toys for your child may be tempting at this time of year, Merit Health wants to remind you that safety should always be the first priority. Nothing spoils a holiday celebration faster than an unexpected trip to the emergency room. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2020, there were an estimated 198,000 toy-related injuries treated in ERs across the country, and nine tragic, toy-related deaths ... ... Read More

Chronic stress can lead to a variety of health problems The holidays are here, but you may not be feeling very jolly. Where’s that yuletide cheer? Holiday stress can hamper your enjoyment of the festivities of the season – and more importantly, take a long-term toll on your health. Stress is an unfortunate reality of day-to-day life, due to overcommitted schedules, work and family pressures, lack of sleep and an overly ambitious to-do list. During the holidays, our already frantic schedule is turned up ... ... Read More

Millions of Americans struggle with seasonal depression, or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), each year. Commonly brought on during the fall and winter, the condition can occur during any seasonal change and last as long as four or five months. People with SAD may feel lethargic or moody and tend to sleep more. Symptoms also can include social withdrawal, trouble concentrating, weight gain, and feelings of depression. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, women and those living farther ... ... Read More

Employees of Merit Health hospitals are eligible for enhanced benefits designed as pathways to help them eliminate existing student debt faster, pursue additional professional education, and advance their careers. The goal in offering Merit Health Pathways benefits is to support and retain employees and attract a strong workforce, especially frontline nurses, technicians, therapists and other clinicians and caregivers, along with support personnel. Benefits include a student loan repayment program that ... ... Read More

With less than three months left in the year, now is the time to check the status of health plan deductibles and schedule necessary appointments, recommended testing and surgeries before December 31. Most health insurance plans have a deductible requirement—a predetermined amount of health care expenses that must be covered before the plan begins paying the majority (if not all) of expenses related to necessary medical care. “If you have been putting off scheduling prescribed care, it would be wise to c... ... Read More

Advancements in spinal surgery offer major benefits over traditional surgery The prospect of undergoing traditional back surgery is understandably daunting to most patients. Until recently, patients with chronic back pain as the result of trauma, degenerative disc disease and other factors have had no choice but to undergo lengthy spinal procedures that often require a prolonged hospital stay combined with intensive physical rehabilitation. Today, advances in minimally invasive lateral access spinal tec... ... Read More

The new school year is here, which means the lazy, relaxed days of summer have been replaced with hectic school mornings, homework and after school activities. Most likely, your kids have been staying up late and sleeping in during the summer break, so getting them back to a healthy sleep routine may be a challenge. “Lack of sleep is not just an issue of motivating cranky children in the mornings,” said Jennifer Russum, MSN, NP-C. “Studies have shown that lack of quality sleep increases the likelihood o... ... Read More

The warm weather of summer creates more opportunities for people to spend time outside. Whether you are working, exercising, or doing other activities it is important to protect yourself from heat related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Know what to expect when you are planning outdoor activities by checking the temperature and heat index. Try to plan exercise and outdoor activities during the cooler parts of the day, early morning and late afternoon. “Spending time in cool, air conditio... ... Read More

When we think of cancer prevention, we typically think of those we hear the most about, such as breast cancer or lung cancer. One of the most common cancers is actually colon cancer: cancer of the large intestine and lower part of the digestive system. It is the fourth most common cancer diagnosed and the second-leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. – and early detection dramatically increases the survival rate. An estimated 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are expected this year. If detected ... ... Read More