In Good Health
McLaren Port Huron

Blooming trees. Blue skies. Fresh air. Warmer temperatures. Spring is in the air, and with that comes spring cleaning. After being cooped up all winter, you are anxious to prep for a thriving lawn and garden. Or you may want to do some exterior work on your home. You may use muscles during spring cleaning that you haven’t used all winter. Whatever the case, it’s important to take steps to work safely and prevent injury. “There are some simple steps you can take to keep safe while working outside this sp...

McLaren Port Huron is a Level III Trauma Center. What does that mean for you? It means that 24 hours a day, surgeons, emergency medicine physicians, specially trained nurses and other vital personnel provide immediate care rather than on-call care. Vital support services throughout the hospital are also available, such as the blood bank, laboratory, respiratory therapists and imaging services, as well as case managers, clinical social workers, physical therapists and other medical professionals. They ar...

Know your stroke risk factors and start addressing them to lower your chances now. When determining one’s risk for stroke, there are many factors that physicians will consider. There are two kinds of stroke, both equally serious. An ischemic stroke is caused by a blood clot blocking the flow of blood in the brain. And a hemorrhagic stroke results from a break or bleed in a blood vessel in the brain. Some risk factors are pre-determined with the patient not able to do anything about them, such as gender,...

The leading cause of serious long-term disability and fifth leading cause of death, stroke affects approximately 795,000 people each year in the United States. Sometimes referred to as a “heart attack of the brain,” strokes are caused when a blood vessel bursts or is blocked. This leads to a lack of blood supply and deprivation of oxygen, rapidly killing brain cells. Although strokes are serious, 80 percent are preventable. Early detection and treatment are key to recovery. A common misconception about ...

Traumatic injuries are serious emergencies. In St. Clair and Sanilac counties, fall are the biggest cause of trauma cases. Motor vehicle accidents – including cars, motorcycles, ATVs, dirt bikes and boats – are the second biggest cause. Other trauma cases involve animal bites, bicycle accidents and assaults. When serious trauma occurs, the availability of a medical facility that can respond quickly and effectively means the difference between life and death. McLaren Port Huron has taken an important ste...

Strokes are the fifth-leading cause of death in the United States and cause the highest number of long-term disabilities. Once a blood vessel bursts or is blocked and oxygen stops flowing to the brain, time is ticking for a person’s future. Knowing how to spot the signs of a stroke can help save a life. If you can remember the acronym BE FAST, you can remember these signs to watch for: Balance – Watch for a sudden loss of balance. Eyes – Is there a sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes? Or double vi...

Not all hospital and free-standing emergency departments are created equal. Patients with injuries ranging from the 'major' catastrophic broken bones to seemingly everyday sprains, strains and twists that cause a prolonged limp — will benefit in the long run from an evaluation and treatment in a nationally verified trauma center. What is a trauma center? A trauma center is a designation obtained by an emergency department that is specially staffed, trained and equipped to provide care for patients who’v...

Spring weather is on its way. After a long season of being cooped up, we may find we need to spend some time outdoors cleaning up. Whether you or a loved one is suffering a seasonal illness or has sustained an injury from spring cleanup, when is it time to seek medical treatment? For conditions such as trauma, heart attack or stroke, it goes without saying that it is always important to act quickly when someone is experiencing symptoms and to call 911 so emergency responders can initiate medical treatme...

March is National Nutrition Month, a time to increase awareness about the importance of good nutrition in maintaining your health. Making healthy food and drink choices, improving eating habits and incorporating more physical activity into your lifestyle can help prevent many chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Here are 7 tips to help you make better, healthier nutrition choices: Make half of your plate fruits and vegetables. These foods add color, flavor, fiber, vitamins and m...

Sleep is such a vital part of our lives. As a regularly recurring rest for the body during which there is little or no conscious thought, sleep restores energy to both the body and the mind while refreshing the spirit. The average adult needs at least seven hours of sleep each night, but more than 50 million Americans have from some type of sleep disorder, and for them, falling asleep – and staying asleep – can be a nightmare.  If you’re having trouble sleeping, try these healthy habits to get a be...