Health And Fitness

When you learn something new, the best way to remember it is to sleep on it. That’s because sleeping helps strengthen memories you’ve formed throughout the day. It also helps to link new memories to earlier ones. You might even come up with creative new ideas while you slumber. What happens to memories in your brain while you sleep? And how does lack of sleep affect your ability to learn and remember? NIH-funded scientists have been gathering clues about the complex relationship between sleep and memory.

Many may not be aware that October is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, but most people have been impacted by substance use and addiction. The vast majority of substance use begins with experimentation during the teen years, leading some to become regular users. Regardless of the choices that have been made, adults have the responsibility to teach kids the values and skills necessary for them to live successful, fulfilling, and addiction free lives.

October marks the beginning of the influenza (flu) season and Virginia Gay Hospital and Clinics now has the seasonal vaccine available during special Flu Shot Clinics at the Vinton Family Medical Clinic. Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness. Serious outcomes of flu infection can result in hospitalization or death.

Today, Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton has joined health care facilities all over the U.S in initiating a new Ebola Screening Tool, as fears about the rare virus spread across the U.S. Yet, says VGH Public Health Director Melissa Smith, the infectious disease that Iowans and Americans should still fear much more is the the most commonly-known one: The flu.

On Saturday, October 4th Virginia Gay Hospital Healthcare Foundation with the support of Vinton Parks and Recreation Department (VPRD) and other area health and wellness organizations will host the first Benton County Community Health and Wellness Fair at the Vinton Skate and Activity Center from 10am to 2pm - Admission is Free. Below is a listing of the free health and wellness sessions: Activity Arena” Break Out Sessions 10:30 am -“What is Rapid Resistance Training?” (Kettlebells) Take the opportunity to try some of our most popular tools, Kettlebells, TRX Suspension Trainers and Concept 2 Rowing machines.

Everyone 6 months and older should get an annual flu vaccine. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for your body to develop full protection against the flu. Get vaccinated by October to protect yourself and your loved ones! Shorter days and cooler evenings mean it's fall – and often the time that we start seeing people sick with flu.

Fibromyalgia is a long-lasting disorder marked by widespread pain, tenderness, fatigue, and other symptoms that can interfere with daily life. An estimated 5 million American adults have the condition. It most often affects women, although men and children also can have the disorder. Unfortunately, despite ongoing research, its causes remain unknown.

Millions of infants, children and adolescents in the United States did not receive key clinical preventive services, according to a report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in today’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Supplement. Clinical preventive services are various forms of important medical or dental care that support healthy development.

Vegetarians miss out on lots of foods. No grilled burgers or franks at picnics. No holiday turkey or fries cooked in animal fat. Strict vegetarians may even forego honey made by bees. But vegetarians also tend to miss out on major health problems that plague many Americans. They generally live longer than the rest of us, and they’re more likely to bypass heart-related and other ailments.

Some people enjoy an occasional glass of wine with dinner. Others might grab a beer while watching a football game. Most people drink alcohol moderately, within their limits. Others overdo it occasionally. But some people find they can’t control their drinking. How do you know when drinking is becoming a problem? And what can you do if it is? About 18 million Americans have an alcohol use disorder.