Community health news

Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 25, and join Community HealthCare System for a day dedicated to the health of you and your family. Our Health Fair starts early at Onaga Community Hospital with affordable labs and a variety of educational booths and activities.

Whether you’re 18 or 85, regular screenings are important for wellness and preventive care. If you’ve been putting off tests due to cost or coverage concerns, this is your opportunity to get them done at a reasonable...

Doing the right things to stay healthy isn’t easy. At least that’s what we tell ourselves when we become overwhelmed with information about what to eat, how much to exercise, and what is and isn’t good for us.

But if you are making a few small changes, it can make a big difference in avoiding or decreasing high blood pressure, and thus protecting your heart. Holly Schmitz, registered dietitian at Community HealthCare System, said you should pause to consider what you...

If you ask a classroom full of local students from 5th through 12th grade if they vape or know someone who vapes, nearly all of the kids will raise their hands.

That’s what Merica Surdez, advanced practice registered nurse at Community HealthCare System, found when she decided to help area schools teach students about the dangers of e-cigarettes.

Vaping uses an e-cigarette, a battery-powered device that comes in many shapes and sizes, to heat up a liquid to create an...

Vaping has become a burning issue in communities and schools around the country. Community HealthCare System has been asked to serve as a resource to schools and parents in our communities and to help students, teachers, and families understand the risks and dangers of vaping. 

On November 14, Merica Surdez, APRN presented information on vaping to grades 5 through 12 at the Onaga school. Merica was able to present to four different age groups; 5th and 6th, 7th and 8th, 9th...

The holidays are here, and so is the yearly struggle to eat well and stay active. If you are hoping to avoid the need to make health or weight-related New Year’s resolutions, now is the time to focus on good habits.

The Christmas feast will be ready soon – not to mention the delicious cookies, candies, and other treats on offer this time of year – and early darkness and cold weather are barriers to getting enough exercise. Following a few tips will help keep you on...

The National Cancer Institute recognizes lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer death. In the United States, lung cancer follows only skin cancer as the most common type of cancer.

Many people don’t realize that lung cancer screening is available.

Like any screening, lung cancer screening aims to find the disease early, when treatment may be more effective. Dr. Greg Welle, director of radiology at Community HealthCare System and Manhattan Radiology, said low-dose...

By Karen Elliott: Cold and flu season is here. Are you looking for ways to keep your family healthy?

Handwashing is a simple way to prevent the spread of germs and keep everyone healthy and able to go to school, work, and other activities. According to the Centers for Disease Control, handwashing can prevent one in three cases of diarrhea and one in five respiratory infections such as cold or flu.

Soap and water are the best tools to use. If soap and water aren’t available,...

By Katie Kufahl: A crying baby can make just about anyone anxious, but new parents or caregivers can feel especially worried or frustrated when their baby cries and they don’t know how to help. 

The period of purple crying helps parents understand this time in a young baby’s life. Crying is a normal part of every infant’s development. The acronym PURPLE describes specific characteristics of an infant’s crying during this...

Having a baby means new parents have a long list of questions and worries: Do we have the best car seat? Is the nursery stocked with the right supplies? Is our home safe enough?

Feeding a newborn is one area that shouldn’t cause worry. “Without a doubt, breastfeeding is the healthiest choice for moms and babies,” said Katie Kufahl, registered nurse and Birth Center manager at Community HealthCare System in Onaga.

August is National Breastfeeding Month, and...