Better You Blog

An ACL tear is a common yet devastating injury for athletes. For Ava Welk, a senior at Walker-Hackensack-Akeley High School in Walker, Minnesota, it happened during a Junior Olympics volleyball tournament on Mother's Day, May 12, 2024.  While blocking, Ava landed on...

Marlee Morrison, PHN, CHI St. Joseph’s Community Health Director The resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases has raised concerns throughout the United States. In Hubbard County, childhood immunization rates have fallen. The percentage of children vaccinated for...

As we navigate the journey of life, it's crucial to ensure our healthcare wishes are known and respected, especially during challenging times. One of the most profound gifts we can give our loved ones is clarity about our end-of-life decisions. This is where advanced...

One second you’re fine. The next you’re on the ground, unable to control your body and struggling to breathe.  That’s how the nightmare of a stroke started for Jana Epema and her family.  Six months later, Jana is thankful to be alive, talking and walking. While she’s...

Symptoms of breast cancer are different for each person, and in some cases, even invisible or nonexistent. Some common warning signs (pain, swelling, lumps) are not always noticeable to the touch or naked eye, making mammograms the most effective way to detect breast...

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the medical term for the sudden loss of heart function. It’s different from a heart attack and often occurs without warning. However, experts now say that sudden cardiac arrest may not be so sudden or subtle after all. In...

Lung cancer claims more lives than colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. Historically, lung cancer has been more common in older adults and diagnosed at an advanced stage. Younger women, however, are getting lung cancer at higher rates than men younger than...

The heart is often thought of as the body’s powerhouse because it pumps oxygen and nutrients to every major organ. We all know the basics of keeping our hearts healthy: regular exercise, a balanced diet and a smoke-free lifestyle. But some lesser-known facts about...

Once considered a disease of older adults, colon cancer is now becoming more common in people under 50. While the reasons behind this worrisome trend are still unclear, several factors within your control likely play a role. Read on to understand the three most common...

Your kidneys are two of the most important body organs. Think of your kidneys as a filter system for your body. The kidneys’ job is to remove toxic substances, also called waste products, from the blood and expel them from your body in urine. When your kidneys don’t...