Sioux Center Hole-in-one winner

On August 23, Steve Van’t Hof won a new car when he hit a hole-in-one during our annual Swinging Fore Scholarships golf tournament. The tournament was a huge success and gives scholarship money to local students continuing their education. We thank all of our sponsors for this success!

On hole 12 of the Ridge Golf Course, Steve used a 7 iron that carried his golf ball 169 yards directly into the hole. His amazing achievement won him a new car courtesy of Mouw Motor, Ver Hoef Automotive, Vos Motor, and Perspective Insurance.

Congratulations Steve!

New building plan advances

The Sioux Center Community Hospital & Health Center Avera has begun the initial planning stages for the new hospital and medical center replacement.

Hospital officials recently have appointed a 13-member steering committee to assist the building committee during the “pre-planning process.” The committee consists of physicians, employees, board members and community residents.

(more…)

Are you at risk for diabetes?

Diabetes affects nearly 24 million people in the United States – nearly 8 percent of the population. Another 57 million people are estimated to have prediabetes, a condition that puts people at increased risk for Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic lifelong disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood.

There are three major types of diabetes, with Type 2 being the most common by far. Type 1 diabetes is often diagnosed in childhood and early adulthood. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and puts these women at higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and heart disease or stroke later in life.

Type 2 usually occurs in adulthood but can happen to obese teens and young adults. With this type, the pancreas does not make enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels normal, often because the body does not respond normally to insulin. This is known as “insulin resistance.” Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common due to increasing obesity and lack of exercise.

Type 2 accounts for the majority of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Risk factors include the following:

• Obesity

• Family history

• Inactivity

• Being over age 45

• High triglycerides

• Low HDL (healthy cholesterol)

• High blood pressure

• Race/ethnicity (African Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, and Native Americans all have high rates of diabetes)

Check out our free online health risk assessment for diabetes. Whatever your risk factors for diabetes may be, there’s a lot you can do to delay or prevent diabetes. To manage your risk of diabetes, you should:

• Keep your weight within or near normal ranges

• Get 30 minutes of exercise on most days

• Eat a healthy diet

• Manage your blood pressure

I hope to continue sharing information about diabetes with you through our blog. By posting your questions or comments below, you help me know what topics are most important to you.

Judy Hauswald, Diabetes Program Coordinator

(712) 722-8114

Judith.Hauswald@schospital.org

Support Groups

What is happening at Sioux Center Community Hospital & Health Center Avera?

I wanted to share some information regarding some of the support groups that the health system holds each month. There are three that I want to talk about with you today. I hold a Life after Loss Support Group, the others are a Parkinson’s Support Group and a Memory Loss Awareness Support Group.

Tell us a bit about those support groups.

The Life after Loss Support Group is a bereavement program that is designed to help people cope with the unfamiliar feelings associated with the loss of a loved one. This group meets the second Tuesday of each month from 4:30 – 6 pm in the Crown Pointe Gathering Room. You can pre-register by calling 722-8136.

So if you are someone who has lost a loved one, this sounds like a great way to help you learn to cope with all the emotions that are a part of the natural grieving process.

It is. And many people have found that this group helps them express their feelings and helps them deal with them in a healthy way. In our sessions, we learn about the healing and recovery process, share experiences with each other. Together we find strength and hope.

Tell us a bit about the Parkinson’s Support Group and the Memory Loss Awareness Support Group.

The Parkinson’s Support Group meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 1 pm in Royale Meadows Care Center. Caregivers, family members, and those dealing with Parkinson’s Disease are encouraged to join the group. Call 722-8325 for more information. No RSVP required.

The Memory Loss Awareness Support Group meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 1 pm in Royale Meadows Care Center. Like the Parkinson’s Support Group, this group is intended for caregivers, family members and those dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders. You can call 722-8256 for more information, but RSVPs are not required.

So these two groups are intended for everyone affected by these diseases, not just those diagnosed with Parkinson’s or a Memory Loss disorder, right?

That’s right, often the people who benefit the most are the care givers and family. When you care for a person struggling with these disorders, it is important to learn as much as you can about the disorder and it is equally important to have people that you can lean on for support.

Renae Negus, Bereavement and Volunteer Coordinator with Home Health and Hospice spoke on Hospital Happenings on 93.9 KSOU FM on Thursday, July 22.

How to install a car seat properly

As an OB nurse with the Sioux Center Community Hospital & Health Center Avera, I take great pride in helping educate parents about their new baby. In my years of experience, I have seen many new and even experienced parents struggle to understand how to correctly install their car seats. In fact in this year’s car seat safety check, we found an 84 percent misuse rate. Here are a few tips to keep in mind that will help keep your little miracle safe on the road:

• Make sure your car seat is the right size for your child.

• Do not buy a secondhand car seat because you don’t know if it has been in an accident.

• Infant seats should always face backward.

• Most Car Seats only have a six-year life span unless otherwise printed on the car seat. Some of the seats that can go from forward facing with harness to belt positioning booster to backless boosters have a 9-year life span.

• Your car seat should have a five point harness that fits snugly.

• A properly installed car seat base will not move more than an inch in either direction.

• The carrier handle should always be lowered during drives unless stated differently in the car seat manual. Toys should not dangle from the carrier handle because the toys have not been crash tested.

Marcia Van Voorst, LPN, Certified Car Seat Technician

Work and play safely in the summer heat

It’s the season for picnics and swimming, summer construction projects and field work. But as you’re out playing or working hard in the sun, protect yourself and your family from heat-related illness and sunburn.

Heat is responsible for more weather-related deaths than any other weather event including tornadoes, lightening, wind, cold, winter storms, flooding or hurricanes. Heat-related deaths have averaged 117 per year over the past 10 years, according to the National Weather Service. The best medicine for heat-related illnesses is prevention. Here are some tips to keep you and your family safe.

• Dress for the heat. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect away some of the sun’s energy. It is also a good idea to wear hats or use an umbrella.
• Drink water. Carry water or juice with you and drink continuously even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate the body.
• Eat small meals and eat more often. Avoid foods that are high in protein which increase metabolic heat.
• Avoid using salt tablets unless directed by your physician.
• Slow down. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, usually the early morning hours.
• Stay indoors when possible. If your home is not air conditioned, spend time in public facilities such as movie theaters, libraries, and shopping malls. While electric fans provide some relief on mildly hot days, they won’t help prevent heat-related illness when the temperature rises above the mid-90s.
• Take regular breaks: Take time out to find a cool place.
• Never leave your child, pet, or anyone in a closed car on a hot day.

Never underestimate the effect of heat on your body, or think that you’re used to it. Anyone can be vulnerable to heat exhaustion or heatstroke.

Dr. Jason Koelewyn, family practice physician with the Sioux Center Medical Clinic.

Colorectal cancer is preventable and treatable

It’s the cancer no one likes to talk about, yet colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers – and most treatable, if detected early.

As the third most common cancer in both men and women, an estimated 147,000 new cases were diagnosed in 2009. After lung cancer, colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths, with an estimated 50,000 deaths annually. (more…)

The silent power of sleep

Sleep disorders are more common then you might think. There are over 100 known sleep disorders, but the one I want to focus on is Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Statistics indicate that one in 10 Americans suffer from sleep apnea. On any given day 2 to 5 percent of the drivers on our highways are tired enough that they could fall asleep behind the wheel at anytime. (more…)

Encourage healthy habits early to prevent childhood obesity

First, the bad news: Childhood obesity is a growing health threat for today’s kids. The good news? Parents have more influence than anyone in preventing or addressing this problem.

Over the past 25 years, incidence of childhood obesity among children ages 6 to 19 has grown from around 5% to 17%, according to research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Even among preschoolers, obesity has increased from 5% to around 12%.

Dr. M. Yvonne Rayborn, family practitioner with Sioux Center Medical Clinic said several factors are to blame, including bigger portions of high-fat, high-sugar foods coupled with less outdoor play and more time in front of the TV or computer screen. (more…)

Healthy Hull Results

The results are in! Here are the first month results of the Healthy Hull fitness challenge 2010.  The points listed below are the average activity points per person for that team. 

1. Faithfully Fit (Cheryl Vierhout) – 218

2. Walkin’ Talkin’ Women (Tricia Marra) – 135

3. Mission Control (Jeanne Visser) – 131

4. Hoefin It(Melony Vande Hoef) – 111

5. Team Stiemsma(Craig Stiemsma) – 107

Please, feel free to leave posts to help motivate others and let them know what is working for you!

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