News & Health Tips

News & Health Tips

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.

Summer break is a time that children look forward to all year long—a season of sunshine, freedom from homework, and plenty of …

When I was in my late 20s, I noticed a mole on my calf was changing. It looked bigger, more irregular and …

Music is all around us—from lullabies at bedtime to the catchy tunes that get stuck in our heads on the radio. But …

Sleeping is one of the things in life that influences many aspects of our physical and emotional well-being. Quality sleep for an …

Your newborn baby is born with 20 teeth under the gum line. The first tooth typically appears between 6 months and 1 …

Group therapy can seem daunting, especially if you’re new to the counseling process and aren’t aware of all the benefits and drawbacks. …

In recent years, there has been more research on the importance of sleep and how to improve sleep hygiene. For example, chronic …

Introduction Diabetes, particularly type 2, has become a global health concern, affecting millions worldwide. While genetics play a role, lifestyle factors—especially diet—are …

Question:  Will it hurt my child to get several shots (vaccines) at one time? Answer:   Research shows that it’s safe to …

The key fundamentals to good health are the standard answers: diet and exercise. The trick is finding changes that can endure the …

A good friend of mine recently brought in his 9-month-old child. The child started crying inconsolably, suddenly and for no reason. The …

Why Sleep Is Important? Physical Health Sleep is not just about feeling well-rested; it plays a critical role in maintaining your body’s …

“I don’t like school!” It’s a phrase many parents hear at some point. When your child expresses dislike for school, it’s important …

Our phones are amazing tools! They help us connect, learn, and even have fun. But like too much candy, too much screen …

POCATELO — Health West is pleased to announce construction will soon be underway on a new pharmacy located inside Health West Pocatello, …

“Well, I have to die of something” is a reply I find interesting when I ask patients how they feel about their …

For as long as I can remember, “but they’re your family” came with the expectation to accept how your family treated you, …

Happy New Year! According to Pew Research, 38.5% of adults in the US make resolutions for the new year. This varies by …

In today’s fast-paced world, ensuring the well-being of children is a top priority for parents and educators alike. While mental health is …

It is the beginning of a new year. Many of us are considering new goals for the year like “exercise every day!” …

If there was a medication with little to no side effects that decreased the risk of having a heart attack or a …

Emotional intelligence (EI) involves the ability to understand, express, and manage emotions effectively. It encompasses skills such as self-awareness, empathy, self-regulation, motivation, …

It is that time of year again when every germ available is going around. We need to do all we can to …

Coughing, sneezing, wheezing? High fever and no sleep? Your child may have RSV! RSV or Respiratory Syncytial Virus is a common seasonal infection usually …

Osteoporosis is a common condition characterized by weak and brittle bones, which makes individuals more prone to fractures. It is often referred …

Health West is pleased to announce the arrival of its newest provider, Spencer Esplin, PA-C, at its Montpelier location. Esplin brings a …

Cervical cancer is a preventable and treatable disease when detected early. Regular cervical cancer screenings are essential for identifying abnormalities that could …

Positive Psychology, a branch of psychology that focuses on studying and promoting the positive aspects of human life, such as strengths, well-being, …

Breast cancer affects millions of women worldwide. While the exact causes of breast cancer are not fully understood, early detection and screening …

The quest for effective and safe weight loss solutions has long been a focus of medical research. In recent years, a novel …

Video games are a popular pastime for children, providing entertainment and social engagement. However, they have sparked ongoing debates among parents, educators, …

Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the crisp mornings and warm afternoons, but many people feel “down” or have …

Children, just like adults, frequently find themselves feeling anxious, nervous or worried about many things. While much of the anxiety a child …

Screen time for kids is a big issue, and it is only going to get bigger. We are becoming more and more …

As we approach the start of a new school year, I am reminded of the many adolescents who are either starting or …

Mental Health Matters Often unseen and untreated, child and adolescent mental health struggles can greatly impact the ability to learn and develop. …

The warm summer weather is here, and a favorite activity of kids is to ride bicycles. Kids ages five to fourteen are …

Summer is usually associated with fun memories related to the warm weather and the increased opportunities for outdoor recreation. Some of the …

Warm weather is finally here! That means sun. With the sun comes the sunburns. Get enough sunburns and eventually you could get …

Summer is upon us! Kids are out of school, summer vacations are planned, the BBQ is fired up, and the pools are …

Delivering a child, called the postpartum state medically, brings many new things. A new person in your life, a new and different …

Summer is approaching, which means more activities in and around water. In the U.S., someone dies from drowning every ten minutes and …

Breastfeeding is a natural and beautiful aspect of motherhood, but it can also present its own challenges. Many new mothers encounter difficulties …

Trying to figure out when and what to feed your kids can be frustrating, especially when they are toddlers. Toddlers may reject …

To quote a well know song lyric – SCHOOL’S OUT FOR SUMMER (thank you Alice Cooper for this perennial ode to the …

As discussed in a previous article, baby rashes are quite common and often have simple solutions. This article is a continuation of …

Baby skin can be very sensitive and when rashes appear, it can make a parent unsure of what to do. A rash …

In a prior recent article by Matthew Edrington, we learned the basics of what to expect in a therapy session. That article …

In popular media there are two kinds of therapists. We’ve all seen the movies where the therapist sits back with his notebook, …

Springtime is once again upon us, and it seems there is always some illness going around. Because of this, we have become …

Have you heard of the 1% rule? It’s the rule Sir David Brialsford used to help the British cycling team win eight …

As women gracefully move through the different stages of life, menopause stands out as a significant and transformative phase. While it is …

Recently, I have seen an increase in patients diagnosed with something called laryngomalacia and tracheomalacia. There has most likely not been an …

There are few things more important to parents than the health, well-being, and development of their children. Choosing the right healthcare provider …

Do you ever feel frustrated after visiting your medical provider? There are a lot of reasons why this might happen: You may …

The importance of prenatal care in ensuring the health and well-being of expectant mothers and their unborn babies cannot be overstated. Regular …

As we wrap up Thanksgiving, we can feel the cold of winter really setting in, and snow has started to appear.  Last …

Health West is pleased to announce the opening of its first pharmacy and the addition of seven clinics in Utah and Wyoming. …

It’s a great question. My patients ask me for the answer often. Usually because they are desperate to quit smoking and think …

The flu. We all know what it is and that it occurs every year between October and April. We hear that it …

In the past year, we have experienced several sad, large-scale events that have taken place and impacted our larger society: mass shootings, …

In my mid 20’s, my cousin ended his life. I remember when I first heard; I was shocked and deeply saddened. My …

Fall is here. That means cold and flu season. But, it also means the start of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) season. RSV …

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. Five million cases are diagnosed yearly in the USA alone. …

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 …

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 …

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, more of us will be outside. Being out in the sun is fun, but there …

In 2018, Idaho voters approved a ballot initiative to expand Medicaid starting in January 2020. The program has been enormously successful, and …

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 …

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