Health & Wellness Blog

Reduce Your COPD Risk, No Matter Where You Live COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a serious lung condition that affects millions of people. Also known as emphysema or chronic bronchitis, COPD causes breathing problems that can worsen over time. Anyone can develop COPD, but smokers or ex-smokers and…

November is Healthy Skin Month! Living in our Northeast South Dakota region can be particularly hard on your skin, especially in the winter. Here are some tips to help keep your skin healthy throughout the winter months. With our cold and dry winters you have to put a little extra…

Halloween is one of the most dangerous nights each year for pedestrians, especially children - statistics show a 43% increase in pedestrian injuries and deaths on Halloween night. Keep your ghosts and goblins safe on the trick-or treat trail this year: Always accompany young children: Research shows that 6pm-9pm are…

To piggyback off of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in September, it is the perfect time to discuss "BPH."  BPH stands for benign prostatic hypertrophy.  To simplify this definition, it is a natural age-related growth of the prostate gland that is influenced by hormones.  Why is this important? The prostate is…

A recent article from Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety Center (UMASH) found that in 2019, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated that the most dangerous sector in America is still agriculture - responsible for 573 fatalities, or an equivalent of 23.1 deaths per 100,000 workers.  As we enter…

A darting pet, hallway rug or late-night trip to the bathroom can quickly change from a nuisance to a life-changing fall experience. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one of four older Americans fall each year, and a single fall doubles the chance of falling again.…

Sepsis is the #1 cause of death in U.S. hospitals - killing over 350,000 American adults each year.  In 2011 September was deemed Sepsis Awareness Month by the Sepsis Alliance. Each month, healthcare professionals and medical organizations work to spread awareness about this disease. Sepsis affects an estimated 49 million…

Bleeding is the #1 preventable cause of death after a traumatic injury—it is important to be able to identify and intervene when there is life-threatening bleeding present. Prairie Lakes Healthcare System partners with the American College of Surgeons (ACS) to provide Stop the Bleed® to the public in the Watertown…

Over the last several weeks, Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Richard Howard from the Prairie Lakes Cardiology Clinic has been visiting with KXLG about common heart diseases, ailments, treatment options and more.  Recently, Dr. Howard was in-studio to discuss electrophysiology or the study of the heart's electrical system and activities. He explains that the heart is much…

From Dr. Jeffrey Smith, Dermatologist: There are many ways we are exposed to the sun during the day. It can be fun partaking in activities under the sun, but it is important to remember good skin care practices. One in five Americans will have skin cancer during their lifetime. I…