Remember having chickenpox as a kid? It might strike again . . . as shingles.

Shingles is common: Almost 1 out of 3 Americans will get shingles in their lifetime – and adults 60 and older make up about half of all cases.

So, how do health professionals stay well when they’re exposed to germs all day? And what’s their advice for you? 

“I wash my hands . . . all the time!” – Becky, RN

Tenex is a one-time treatment for chronic tendon pain. Ultrasound pinpoints damaged tendon tissue; a microtip tool cuts and removes the damaged tissue without disturbing healthy tissue, allowing the tendon to heal. The procedure takes just minutes, with local anesthetic and no stitches required. Recovery takes about six to eight weeks. 

Tenex can treat:

·        Plantar fasciitis

·        Achilles tendinosis

·        Shoulder tendinosis

·        Hip tendinosis

·        Tennis elbow

NH+C’s Surgical Services team and St. Olaf’s student-run Volunteer Network registered 80 willing donors with Be The Match, an international registry that connects patients who need a bone marrow transplant to donors with compatible bone marrow.

For the thousands of people diagnosed every year with life-threatening blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, bone marrow transplant is the cure. The trick is finding the right donor. The more individuals registered with Be The Match, the better the chances of finding a match.

Holiday gatherings often center on food. Our favorite treats symbolize connection and celebration. But for families managing food allergies, this heightened emphasis on food is stressful. And when food becomes the symbol of our affection for each other, it’s about more than just the menu.

When new eating habits meet treasured holiday traditions, it’s tough for everyone – from the grandma whose traditional peanut butter blossom cookies are suddenly off the menu to the dad trying to prep his daughter with multiple allergies for a holiday party buffet.

Eighty four million Americans have prediabetes. Are you one?

Prediabetes is a serious health condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal (but not as high as type 2 diabetes). Prediabetes put you at increased risk of heart disease, and stroke as well as developing type 2 diabetes.

Because there are no clear symptoms of prediabetes, 90% who have it . . . don’t know it.

It’s important to talk to your doctor about getting your blood sugar tested if you have any of these risk factors for prediabetes:

By Stacey Zell, RT

Waking up for school can be tough on kids and parents. Shifting from summer to a busy (early!) school routine makes it tempting to cut corners on sleep. But kids age 5 to 12 need 10-11 hours of sleep per night, and teenagers often fall short of the 8-10 hours of sleep they need each night.

And it’s more than mere hours that matters. “Healthy sleep” requires appropriate timing, daily regularity, good sleep quality, and the absence of sleep disorders, says the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Many people have trouble with plugging or pain in their ears during airplane rides. Most people have trouble during the plane's descent.

As airplanes descend, the air pressure increases. If you cannot get enough air through your nose and up the Eustachian tube to the middle ear (the space behind the eardrum), a negative pressure is created behind the eardrum, causing pressure and pain.

There are two things you can do to help prevent pressure and pain during flights.