McLaren Health Care

The CDC ranks lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, with cigarette smoking as the number one cause of lung cancer. Although many lung cancers are found in the late stages, making it more difficult to treat, the good news is there is a screening that can increase the likelihood of an early diagnosis and better outcomes.  Individuals who are at high risk can qualify for a low-dose CT lung screening. This screening is a CT image of the lungs that uses a lower amount o...

CDC guidelines have been updated to suggest masking vaccinated people in certain areas. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, announced an update to its pandemic masking guidelines. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the CDC had recommended that everyone wear a mask when leaving their home. With the success of the vaccine rollout and the nationwide drop in coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths, the CDC updated its guidelines in May — unvaccinated Ame...

Summer. It’s the time of year when we venture outdoors, enjoying all the activities that we miss during those long winter months. As the temperature rises, and we revel in the sunshine, it is important to stay hydrated.   Our bodies are made up of about 60% water. The water or fluids in our bodies regulates our body temperature, protects our organs and tissues, and keeps our mouth, eyes and nose moist. These fluids also support our bodily functions by excreting wastes through urination, perspi...

Technological advancements have benefits both in patients’ outcomes and recoveries. “There are a lot of reasons why we eventually make our way to that surgery discussion.” Dr. Michael Wagner, an orthopedic surgeon and co-director of the joint replacement program at McLaren Macomb, every day sees patients whose enjoyment of life has been limited because of pain in a joint — or multiple joints. “Pain is definitely a big driver,” he said, “but it’s also a loss of mobility. Most people that have a hip repla...

There has been a significant increase in the state’s tick population this year. This has led many Michiganders to brush up on the precautionary measures to reduce the chances of being bitten by ticks. Protect yourself by covering up as much skin as possible when going to grassy or wooded areas. Wearing a hat, long-sleeved shirt, and long pants with the legs tucked into socks can be helpful. You can also use a bug repellant that contains a chemical such as DEET, IR3535 or Picaridin. Always check clothing...

Every year when summer weather approaches, we are reminded to put on sunscreen every time we venture outdoors to prevent skin cancer. But did you know it’s just as important to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays? Sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) radiation and too much exposure raises your risk of eye diseases and other problems. Protecting your eyes at an early age is vital as several studies have shown that the effects of UV exposure builds up over time and may increase the chance of devel...

Breakthrough cases are rare but expected with mass vaccination programs. As of mid-July, more than 159 million people in the United States are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Among the vaccinated, there are more than 10,000 reported “breakthrough” cases, which is defined as testing positive for COVID-19 once fully vaccinated (two or more weeks after receiving the second vaccine dose). Medical professionals and public health experts expect these cases with mass vaccination programs. No vaccine is 100 ...

Our beautiful water, inviting beaches and the warm temperatures gets Blue Water Area residents thinking about how we can enjoy the unique resources our area has to offer. Whether it’s a trip to the beach or a dip in the community or backyard pool, injuries aren’t the first thing on our minds. Yet, drownings are a leading cause of injury and death among children ages 1 to 14, and three children die every day as a result of drowning in the United States, and many more are seen in the emergency room for ne...

Being proactive and teaming with your doctor can improve overall health. When interacting with their family doctor, a lot of patients may approach this relationship in a passive role. In this dynamic, the doctor recommends a course of action or treatment, and the patient complies — and there are many conditions and instances in which this dynamic is required and benefits the patient. But when it comes to their general and overall health, both patients and doctors are moving toward patients taking an act...

At what point should a doctor evaluate headaches? Everyone gets headaches. They can range, perhaps starting as a dull pain before escalating to the squeezing, dizzying feeling, and start from a number of causes: a lack of/poor quality sleep, certain foods, alcohol consumption, stress, eye straining, dehydration/lack of food, among others. In many cases, a drugstore pain reliever or headache medicine will resolve the symptoms relatively quickly. There does reach a point, though, that consistent headaches...