The warm weather means more people are getting active outdoors and others are preparing to take on RAGBRAI later this summer. If you’re a new rider who cycles casually or even a more seasoned rider, cycling can cause some aches and pains, especially through the back. UnityPoint Health Physical Therapist...
Paramedic Steven Vannatta, UnityPoint Health - Marshalltown EMS manager, recently completed Healthcare Leadership for Mass Casualty Incidents (HCL) training offered by the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) in Anniston, Alabama. The CDP—operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency—is the only federally-chartered Weapons of Mass...
If you have coconut oil in your cabinets, it’s probably best to keep the lid on it. According to a report from the American Heart Association (AHA), the bad in the oil outweighs the good. It seems that’s a message many people don’t understand. The AHA report says 72 percent...
When having a baby, parents don’t like to imagine their child needing to stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). But, as Pankaj Nagaraj, MD, UnityPoint Health, explains, there are several reasons why preterm and term babies are admitted to the NICU. Reasons Why Your Baby Might Be Sent...
Summer solstice is a day many people celebrate. It’s the longest day from sunrise-to-sunset and the official start of summer. However, the day has a different meaning for those battling Alzheimer’s disease. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the duration of the summer solstice symbolizes the challenging journey of those living...
“At the time, I felt there was no coming back from it. I felt like I was dying,” Dupree Welcome, UnityPoint Health patient, says. UnityPoint Health nurse, Gina Jones, met Dupree Welcome around 2014, which is when their close relationship began. “There were some really dark days. It makes you...
MARSHALLTOWN—The Iowa Insurance Division’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) talks to thousands of Iowans, including those in Marshalltown, every year about enrolling in Medicare. “There is a lot of information for Iowans to digest when they are deciding whether to enroll in Medicare,” Kris Gross, director of SHIIP said....
Nothing says warm weather quite like grabbing a couple buddies and heading to the driving range or your favorite golf course. Regardless of whether you’re a social golfer or a devoted course regular, UnityPoint Health providers have some suggestions to avoid a golf injury and better your game on the...
For some people, like Rita Hartung, having discussions about end-of-life care comes naturally, due to her personal nature and previous life experiences. Rita’s first husband, Wally, was diagnosed with cancer after they had been married for 22 years. This led to honest conversations about the types of care both he...
You try your best to prevent them, but bug bites happen. Between the stings, swelling and itching, it can be hard to know which type of bug is to blame and how to treat symptoms. Thomas Serbousek, MD, UnityPoint Health, helps identify common bug bites and offers advice on how...
