Flat foot (pes planus) is one of three basic foot types. There are also high arched feet (pes cavus) and a normal arch (rectus foot type). Flat foot is when the arches on the inside of your feet are flattened which causes the sole of the foot to touch the floor when standing upright. Some people are born with flat feet. Flat feet can also occur after an injury, or after years of wear and tear to the soft tissues of the arch and ankle. Some people never experience any pain or symptoms associated with flat feet, while others experience pain with every step they take.
When it comes to COVID-19 immunity, one of the issues people consider is whether to get a vaccine or acquire natural immunity through having an active COVID-19 infection. That means getting the virus rather than the vaccine shot.
This time of year can pose quite a challenge for nursing mothers. While the joy of the holidays is among us, with it all comes the business and stress of family gatherings, decorating, cooking, shopping, wrapping and other holiday activities. This is also the season where we often see more upper respiratory infections.
Studies show that breast milk helps to protect infants and toddlers from infections that are common during this season. However, breastfeeding and pumping can be unusually challenging for parents during this time, as we engage ourselves in all the extra activities the holidays seemingly demand from our already busy lives.
Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) will host a special Facebook Live at noon on Wednesday, December 15. The topic will be “The Impact of the Rising COVID-19 Cases Within Our Community.”
Serving as hosts of the event will be BVHS President & CEO Myron Lewis, William Kose, MD, vice president of special projects and Renee Smith, MD, chief medical officer.
The event will be streamed on the health system’s Facebook page, facebook.com/BlanchardValleyHealthSystem/. Community members can “like” the corporate Facebook account of BVHS and visit the page to watch live.
There’s a pandemic. This one is specific to deer and, subsequently, should be of interest to deer hunters. It is called chronic wasting disease. Chronic wasting disease is similar to Mad Cow disease, as it is caused by a prion. What is a prion, you ask? While a little hard to describe, prions are essentially a misfolded protein that can cause other proteins (predominantly in the brain and nervous system) to also misfold and then create microscopic holes in the brain tissue.
The holidays are quickly approaching, which can be such a joyful time of the year for celebrations with family and friends. However, they can also wreak havoc on our nutrition goals. The following are some helpful tips on how to be mindful during the holidays.
Don’t skip meals. A common thought around the holidays is, “if I skip lunch, I will be able to save those calories and eat them all at dinner.” However, skipping meals often leads to overeating at the next meal. It is important to eat three balanced meals during the holidays to help avoid overeating at gatherings.
