McLaren Port Huron

Vaccines are here, bringing hope of returning to life as we knew it before the COVID-19 pandemic. You’ve received your vaccine, so now what? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued new guidelines for those who are fully vaccinated. You are considered fully vaccinated: Two weeks after your second dose in a 2-dose series, like the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or Day 29 after a single dose vaccine like Johnson & Johnson If you have been fully vaccinated, there are some things yo...

Screening mammograms and COVID-19 vaccines are both really important to your health. But recent reports about the vaccine potentially causing “false positives” on mammograms have certainly created confusion and stress over whether to continue delaying that annual screening. “If you, like many women, cancelled your annual mammogram last year because of COVID, it’s really important that you make it a priority to get that screening as soon as possible,” says Dr. Kimberley Clark-Paul, a breast surgeon at Mc...

It’s not news that breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. But with different recommendations for screening mammograms floating around, it’s often difficult to determine what’s right for you. Before you delay a mammogram, talk with your physician — your family history and overall health may be factors to take into consideration when deciding when to schedule the screening. “My recommendation, and the recommendation from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and American College of ...

You’ve been craving your grandmother’s famous chocolate cake and decide to look up the recipe. As you glance through the list of ingredients, you are shocked to learn how much sugar is in there...no wonder grandma’s cakes always tasted so good! But before you reach for that bag of sugar, you remember that conversation with your doctor and his concern over your upward trend of fasting blood glucose levels. Sugar helps make baked goods puffy, golden brown and moist. Finding alternatives for sugar in bakin...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in four older adults falls each year, and one in five falls causes serious injury, such as broken bones or a head injury. Falls are the leading cause of traumatic injuries seen at McLaren Port Huron’s emergency room, with the majority resulting in hip fractures and traumatic brain injuries.   Four things you can do to reduce your risk of falling include: Exercise to improve your strength and balance. As your legs get stronger, y...

Cancer is often unpredictable, but there are things you can do to help reduce your cancer risk. Healthy behaviors, like eating right and staying active, can make all the difference.  If you're interested in reducing your risk for cancer, follow these 10 simple healthy habits. 1. Avoid all types of tobacco products 2. Protect your skin from the sun 3. Limit the amount of alcohol you drink 4. Make regular exercise part of your daily routine 5. Maintain a healthy weight  6. Eat a healthy diet with...

All vaccines are deemed safe and effective, but how do they differ? Doctors, researchers and the population as a whole rejoiced when a third COVID-19 vaccine was approved. More effective vaccines out there mean more vaccinated people means the closer herd immunity is to being achieved and protection against the coronavirus, ending the pandemic. Both Pfizer and Moderna were granted emergency use authorization just before the end of 2020, with Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine endorsed in February. Johnson ...

Balance is the ability to move or remain in a position without losing control or falling. Problems with balance are one of the most common reasons why older adults fall. You can help identify a balance problem by asking yourself these 8 questions. Do I feel unsteady? Do I sometimes feel like the room is spinning around me? Do I feel like I am moving even though I’m standing still? Do I lose my balance and fall? Do I feel as if I’m falling? Do I feel lightheaded or like I might faint? Do I experience blu...

Whether you are starting to see a new physician or are scheduling your yearly physical with the doctor you have had for years, there are some tips for making the most of your appointment. 1. Start thinking about what you want to discuss with your doctor. Write these down and prioritize what is most important. During your appointment, start at the top of your list to ensure that issue is addressed first. 2. Stay focused on why you are there. Every appointment is given a limited amount of time so make the...

There was never really a question that we would see variants of the COVID-19 virus — it’s what viruses do, and the more cases you have, the greater likelihood there is of variants developing. Dr. John Brooks, an infectious disease specialist and our Chief Medical Officer, shared some information on what the variants are, what they mean for vaccine efficacy and what the future may hold. • What are variants and what do they do? Variants result for changes in the RNA of a virus. In the variants we’ve seen ...