preventive health

The pandemic has taken a toll on the mental health of many people. In addition to catching up on your physical healthcare, now is time to catch up on your mental healthcare, too.

Suicide affects not only an individual or a single family, but entire communities. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, one Kansan dies by suicide every 16 hours. Rural areas have consistently demonstrated higher rates of suicide than urban counterparts. In 2018, suicide...

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men and women in the United States, and 25 to 30% of colorectal cancer patients have a family history of the disease according to FightCRC.

That was enough to convince Gary Sorensen, a patient of Dr. David Allen at Community HealthCare System, to start getting regular colonoscopies when he was in his late 40s.

“My dad had colon cancer, and it was detected in his 50s. My dad’s brother and his father...

Many of us can make a long list of things we missed in 2020: family reunions, weddings, graduations, and vacations. For too many people, checkups also belong on that list.

Yearly wellness visits are important, so now’s the time to catch up by making an appointment with your healthcare provider. Remember, checkups aren’t just for kids. Adult women and men should also protect their health by having a physical exam every year.

“Parents are likely to make sure...

As COVID‐19 dominated our lives and the news headlines, many people delayed important screenings. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, so it’s the perfect time to catch up on care you or your loved ones may have missed in 2020.

Research predicts that delays in colorectal cancer screenings during the COVID‐19 pandemic will result in a 12% increase in cancer deaths in the next five years. The good news is colorectal cancer is highly treatable if it’s caught early,...

We’ve all been worried about our health as we put on our masks to run errands, sanitize our hands, and avoid gatherings, but we probably haven’t been thinking about our hearts very often. Our hearts beat 2.5 billion times over the average lifetime and push millions of gallons of blood to every part of the body, so we need to care for these life‐giving organs. If you need to take time to catch up on caring for your heart, CHCS is here to help.

Diet and exercise both play...

The American Lung Association estimates that more than 15 million Americans suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, and many more don’t realize they have it. With a rampaging respiratory virus on the loose, now is a good time to learn more about a disease that can take your breath away.

According to Deb Rezac, advanced practice registered nurse at Community HealthCare System and experienced provider of pulmonary-critical care, the symptoms that trigger suspicion...

Every year, clinics, hospitals, and pharmacies urge everyone over the age of 6 months to make sure they receive a flu shot. The COVID-19 pandemic has made flu vaccination more important than ever this year.

In our September news article “Cold, flu, or COVID-19?” CHCS Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Michele Reisinger said, “Flu shots are more important than ever to potentially prevent illnesses that pose increased health risks which may further increase susceptibility...

As COVID-19 has spread, the world has seen what happens when a disease has no vaccine. Researchers and drug developers are working hard to make sure that changes soon, but in the meantime, we should not forget that many other diseases are preventable through vaccines. August is National Immunization Awareness Month, so it’s a perfect time to make sure your family’s immunizations are up-to-date.

Immunizations are important because they reduce diseases that result in illness...

In June, we take time to celebrate our fathers. June is also Men’s Health Month, so it’s a perfect time to encourage your dad and other men in your life to get a checkup. Men are much less likely to schedule regular wellness visits, but checkups are important because many health problems can be prevented or treated with early diagnosis.

Dr. Marcus Weiser, family practice physician for Community HealthCare System, recently took time to answer a few questions about...