Welcome to our page dedicated to the latest news and health tips to help you maintain your well-being. Here, you’ll find articles and resources written by our team of healthcare professionals to keep you informed and motivated to live a healthy life. From preventative care to managing chronic conditions, our goal is to provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions about your health.
In my mid 20’s, my cousin ended his life. I remember when I first heard; I was shocked and deeply saddened. My …
In my mid 20’s, my cousin ended his life. I remember when I first heard; I was shocked and deeply saddened. My …
We have all had or known babies who spit up, but at what point is it concerning? Gastroesophageal reflux (we’ll shorten that …
Fall is on the way! Days are getting shorter, leaves are changing colors, and school is starting. Here are a few safety …
More than fifty million people in the United States have an allergic reaction each year. You are more likely to have allergies …
THANK YOU To those who voted, our patients, and the amazing people we work with at Health West! We are proud to …
Dr. Seuss said, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll …
It’s a scary time to be a kid or an adult who cares for children. Coming on the heels of three pandemic-filled …
Helping Kids with Trauma. One of the main goals of raising children is to help them grow and thrive so they can …
This year, Eating Disorder Awareness Week will be recognized from February 22-28. At least 9% of people in the US will experience …
Hypothermia occurs when our body loses heat faster than it can produce it. It can occur with exposure to cold weather and/or …
Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses diagnosed in the world. Some research suggests that depression is on the rise …
The Power of Acceptance. all the things that happen in life, how much do we think we, as individuals, control? Many of …
Worst Year Ever? As the new year rolls in, it is easy to want to look back at 2020 as a horrible …
We all know getting chickenpox is not fun and that it is highly contagious. Chicken pox is caused by the varicella – …
Bad dreams happen to all of us. Bad dreams can be disturbing but we usually sleep through them. Sometimes we can remember …
Suicide risk factors and preventative measures. Suicide has become the tenth leading cause of death in the United States and the seventh …
Quick results, that is what everyone wants. Making positive, sustainable changes takes time. There are no short cuts to good health. Some …
Let’s talk about skin cancer from sun exposure. It happens to everyone. Male or female, dark skinned or light skinned, young and …
Telehealth is healthcare that is delivered over an audio-visual medium – like a computer screen or a smart phone. Even regular phone …
We have developed so many forms of communication as a species. We use spoken word, written languages, sign languages, and we even …
Sometimes just the mention of “what makes you anxious?” or “what stresses you out?” can be enough to cause immediate anxiety. We …
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a common medical condition in which the force of blood against the walls of …
While it is fair to say that coping with the pandemic has been stressful on all of us in our community, children …
I have been hearing the words “divided,” “divisiveness,” and “discord” quite a bit lately. Additionally, I have observed it multiple times a day for months …
Although elementary school children in our area have returned to in person classes, some families have elected to continue with online learning and middle and …
For many families, back to school feels very different this fall after the abrupt transition to remote learning last spring. In addition …
Most of us have been bitten by an insect at some point. Mosquito, fly, wasp, bee, and similar insect bites or stings are common. They usually cause a mild …
Most spiders in the United States are not dangerous, but some can be deadly. It is hard to identify a spider bite unless you saw …
The world feels like it’s in turmoil, things are changing at a rapid pace, and uncertainty weighs on all of us. Yet, …
As a kid I played soccer in high school. I will admit I wasn’t very good at it, but I did have fun. …
We have all encountered snakes at some point in our lives. Most of the time nothing happens in these encounters other than us being scared. Most …
The CDC states that one in six Americans will contract some form of food poisoning each year. Food poisoning can happen at any point of production: growing, …
Prediabetes, sometimes called elevated blood glucose or impaired glucose tolerance, is a condition that is a warning sign that your body is not processing blood …
We have all heard about rabies, but what is it? Rabies is a viral disease that can be deadly if not prevented or treated. In …
Over seventy-nine million kids in the United States wear backpacks to school; but did you know that an estimated fifty-five percent of them are …
Mike Birbiglia is a stand-up comedian I have enjoyed for several years. One of the stories he tells is about a trip he and his sister took to …
It is starting to get hot outside, and with some of the restrictions from COVID-19 lifting, more of us will be outside. Being out in the sun is …
Long before the events of today, I lived in the world of “yeah, but. . .” or “but, dad. . .”, yes I am “but, dad. …
In 2018, Idaho voters approved a ballot initiative to expand Medicaid starting in January 2020. The program has been enormously successful, and …
In the last little while, I am sure we all have been feeling a lot of different emotions. I know I have and have been working on effectively expressing them and validating them; at times, it has …
Schools across the country and here in Eastern Idaho have recently shut their doors because of the novel coronavirus. Kids are now …
I thought right now with the chaos in the world and in our own personal worlds, it may be a good time …
Three quarters of children will get at least one ear infection by the age of three, but it is hard for parents …
Constipation is a common problem in children. Every child has different bowel movement patterns. Most children have one or two bowel movements a day, but some can go two or three days before …
As winter comes to an end it’s important to remain cautious of all the fall risks it can present. Children and young adults …
Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher stated, “The only thing that is constant is change”. No matter how you live your life you will experience some sort of …
Car accidents are the leading cause of death in children. And injure over 120,000 children annually. Properly used car seats reduce the chance of death by 70% in …
We have developed so many forms of communication as a species. We use spoken word, written languages, sign languages, and we even use nonverbal …
We have all seen kids fall and bump their heads. But what if the bump is more serious? Do you know when you need to …
Slips and falls on ice and snow are a common occurrence in the winter. Injuries from slips and falls are normally minor but can also be …
We’ve all had a common cold. A cold is a mild viral infection of the nose, throat, sinuses, and upper airways. Colds …
Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C or A1C) is a simple blood test that measures the average blood sugar levels over the past 2- 3 months. Because it …
Many people experience an increase in distressing thoughts and emotions during the holiday season. For some it may be increased stress due to obligations and expectations; …
All people have a history and a story which help form who they are, the attitudes with which they approach the world, …
Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways to your lungs. According to the CDC, about 25 million Americans have asthma. In …
Americans spend a lot of time in their vehicles. One study reported the average American spends eighteen days in our cars each …
Chompers, fangs, chiclets…no matter what you call them, teeth are underrated and often underappreciated. With the bountiful feasts of Thanksgiving and Christmas …
There’s a common belief that grief can only be experienced through the death or loss of a close loved one. That grief …
There has been a lot of discussion and debate lately regarding vaccines, and more specifically the use and safety of the Covid-19 …
When you hear the word boundary what do you think of? Maybe something to keep something/someone in or keep something/someone out? Maybe …
I don’t believe there are many of us out there who enjoy being criticized by others, especially if it is hurtful. But, …
Chompers, fangs, chiclets…no matter what you call them, teeth are underrated and often underappreciated. With the bountiful feasts of Thanksgiving and Christmas …
There are many recreational activities to do in the winter. Two of the most popular are skiing and snowboarding. Downhill skiing and …
Physical exercise can be extremely beneficial not only for your physical health but also for our mental health. Physical exercise is defined …
How often do you find yourself getting caught up in thoughts about someone else’s behaviors? One of our biggest sources of consistent, …
A rash is a swelling or irritation of the skin that makes it appear red, bumpy, scaly, lumpy, or itchy and sometimes …
This article is a continuation of the previous article about baby rashes. Cradle cap (seborrheic dermatitis) shows up as scaly patches on …
By Doty Collins, Health West LCSW Many times I have heard a very well-meaning parent tell a child not to be angry, …
By Cassandra Noyes, LCPC “I just want to be dead” is a statement heard more often now in conversations with adolescents. Hospital …
By Candice Hutchins, RN Salmonella causes about 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and about 400 deaths every year in the United States. …
Suicide Prevention Emily Hauser, LMSW at Health West, Inc Suicide is something that still has a stigma attached to it. It’s something …
Until a few weeks ago, many of us likely had never heard of the term “social distancing.” Social distancing simply means keeping a safe distance, …
By Emily Hauser, LMSW at Health West There are often things in our lives that we want to get rid of. Not …
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