Health & Wellness Blog

Whether shoveling snow, lifting weights, or even picking up children or grandchildren, most of us have experienced an episode of acute low back pain. In fact, 25% of Americans report having low back pain within the last three months. Acute pain simply means occurring within the last three months, whereas…

February in South Dakota is prime time for ice fishing, snowmobiling, and day dreaming for warmer summer days to come. February also happens to be Kids ENT Health Month. Parents are often busy taking their children to their primary care physician during this time for ear, nose, and throat (ENT)…

The holidays bring comfort and joy... but they may also bring unwanted, added weight. This season our dietitians have you covered with delicious, healthy recipes. In honor of November being Diabetes Awareness Month, all recipes are diabetes friendly.  Meal: Herb-Roasted Turkey, Half-Mashed Potatoes, Stuffed Brussel Sprout Bites, and Sage Stuffing:…

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), more than 7 million people get sepsis each year in the U.S and about 270,000 die from sepsis each year. Sepsis death can be prevented with rapid diagnosis and treatment. Sepsis is a life threatening illness caused by your body's response to an infection.  Sepsis…

As published in the Public Opinion on August 22.  Have you ever rolled over in bed or tipped your head back and felt like the room was spinning?  Then you probably experienced a common form of dizziness called vertigo. Vertigo is defined as a false sense of movement or spinning. …

Urinary incontinence, the loss of bladder control, is a common complaint among women, but it is not normal.  The most common type of urinary incontinence is stress urinary incontinence which occurs with an increase in abdominal pressure such as laughing, coughing, sneezing, movement and exercise.  While leaking urine is a…

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood. If this pressure rises and stays high over time, it can damage the body in many ways; including, coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and kidney disease. High blood pressure is a…

-Posting last reviewed by Dr. Lanctin, March 2020 In the U.S., over 8,500 cases of testicular cancer are diagnosed each year.  It is highly curable, even if it has spread to other areas of the body at diagnosis. Testicular cancer is generally uncommon; however it is the most common type…

Prairie Lakes Healthcare System is offering a free educational session available for the public to learn about advanced directives. Advanced directives are forms that outline the care individuals would like to receive or not receive if he or she is unable to express their desires for healthcare. The session “Advanced…

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Many times it is hard to tell whether we have a cold…