Health Matters

Virginia is in the Diabetes Belt

In the U.S., 644 counties in 15 states have the highest incidence of Type 2 Diabetes. Our area has been specifically identified as having a high incidence of diabetes. Right here is where diabetes care and prevention is most needed. Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are two of the four major contributing factors to the increased incidence of diabetes.

Ants aren’t the only pests ready to spoil your picnic

Food poisoning may also be lurking around the corner. Here are a few easy food handling steps you can take to keep your summertime al fresco meals healthy and fun!

Over Two Million Americans Are Diagnosed Each Year

Are You a Weekend Warrior?

Adults who spend their time off playing on soccer leagues, hitting the tennis courts or jogging in fun runs often find that they’re competing with their bodies as well as the opposing team.

Doctors even have a name for these sometime athletes: weekend warriors. It’s a reference to the two-day intense span that most adults devote to their game, hobby or sport, followed by several days of inactivity (and soreness) during the week.

Adding These Protective Foods Can Reduce Your Risk of Cancer

According to the Mayo Clinic, "Cancer refers to any one of a large number of diseases characterized by the development of abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably and have the ability to infiltrate and destroy normal body tissue. Cancer often has the ability to spread throughout your body."

Here's what you didn't know about white-colored foods....

This New Year, many of us have resolved to live healthier lifestyles, whether by quitting smoking, exercising more or eating a healthier diet. If you’re looking to change your diet or take on a new health trend, you’re probably unsure about which one is best for you.

It’s been a few weeks since you set your goal to improve your health this year, and it is going great – or maybe not so much. Whether or not you’ve made any progress, it's never too late to refocus on your health.

Get started by breaking down your health goals into smaller, more achievable objectives. Set an intention for each month and stick to them. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately one in three American adults have prediabetes, but more than 90 percent of these adults don’t even know they are at a high risk for Type 2 diabetes, stroke and heart disease.

Prediabetes occurs when blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but are not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. If you’re at a high risk for or have already been diagnosed with prediabetes, prevention of Type 2 diabetes is possible (and highly recommended!), and it doesn’t require killing yourself at the gym every night. 

He may be the jolliest guy of all, but his physician probably isn’t feeling very merry.

Awash in Christmas cookies and candy canes, and participating in an inadequate once-a-year exercise regimen, Santa’s potential health concerns are too many to count. If I were his physician, I would suggest that as he prepares for his busiest night of the year, he should also get ready for few lifestyle changes.

Winter hibernation is the quickest path to gain weight and a case of the seasonal blues. Don’t let the frosty weather take a bite out of your workout. Resolve to stay active with these tips and learn how to stay healthy during the holidays.