Blount Memorial Health Column

Hopefully, you are finding yourself more active since the blazing summer heat is finally coming to an end. When it comes to hydrating for your favorite fall activities, what drink will you reach for? Water is typically the best choice, ...

One of my favorite tools to suggest that people use to increase their daily physical activity is the pedometer, a simple device that clips to your belt or your waistband and tracks your daily steps. There are a variety of ...

I see success stories every day with our bariatric surgery patients, and it is truly amazing to watch their lives and health completely transform for the better. However, it is important to remember bariatric surgery is just a tool. Lifestyle ...

Have you ever felt hopeless and beaten down, unsure if you can survive or make it one more day? If so, you are not alone as many people have experienced these feelings connected to their struggles with addiction or mental ...

Forty-six percent of 6th to 12th graders in Blount County drank more than a few sips of alcohol before the age of 15, according to the 2007 Strategic Prevention Framework - State Incentive Grant (SPF-SIG) Student Survey. When asked who ...

It is estimated that 40 million Americans are overweight and 11.5 million are morbidly obese. More than 25 percent of Americans are obese, and on top of our obesity problem comes a plethora of other health issues. Body mass index ...

Some surprises are good – and in some cases, they’re even welcome. Others, however, aren’t – especially those that indicate the potential for or even early warning signs of heart health issues, including coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease is ...

As you’re making sure your teen child has all of the right supplies, clothing and study habits to get them back in the groove of a new school year - think about making sure he or she is equipped with ...

Some adults incorrectly assume that the vaccines they received as children will protect them for the rest of their lives. Generally this is true, but there are some exceptions to the rule. First, some adults never were vaccinated as children. ...

Breast pain is one of the most common breast problems. It’s not a disease, and it doesn’t always indicate cancer. In fact, up to 70 percent of women feel some type of breast pain at some point throughout life. The ...

If you are looking to burn calories, then hop on a bicycle - in the gym. The Blount Memorial Wellness Center at Springbrook recently was recognized as an Official Spinning Center by The Spinning® Program, a program that offers energizing, ...

Statistically, more weddings occur in June than any other month. However, the remaining summer months also are popular months for couples to “tie the knot.” You may be wondering what “tying the knot” and a preventable syndrome have in common ...

When you picture a young person taking shots of liquor or guzzling beers, you’re likely to think of a young adult, maybe of college age. But children are now drinking heavier amounts of alcohol at a younger age. According to ...

Over the past two article of this series, you have learned that medication errors do occur among children, and you’ve learned how to help protect children from this. But, if a medication error, adverse effect or poisoning does occur, here ...

When it comes to children and medication safety, one of the most important factors to remember is to keep all medications out of the reach of children. Pediatric deaths caused by some drugs used by adults are raising the question, ...