Health and Wellness

Oxygen is essential to life. The respiratory system works tirelessly to provide fresh oxygen to the body and ensure that all metabolic activities can occur unhindered. The respiratory system is what makes the inhalation and exhalation of air possible, and itÕs a responsible for the distribution of oxygen throughout the body.…

Fitness is an important component of overall wellness. Indeed, staying active has been linked to a number of noteworthy benefits, including decreased disease risk and improved mental health.

…

As New Year’s Day 2024 approached, millions of individuals were preparing to make changes they hoped would improve their fitness. In a Forbes Health/One Poll survey of 1,000 adults in the months leading up to the start of 2024, nearly half (48 percent) of respondents indicated improving their physical fitness would be a top priority…

Alcohol is one of the most widely consumed beverages across the globe. According to the World Health Organization, alcohol is a psychoactive substance that is a nervous system depressant. Alcohol contains dependence-producing properties, which means there is the risk for addiction. Although alcohol has been widely used in many…

Physical changes are a normal byproduct of aging. Gray hairs and less elastic skin that contributes to wrinkles may be among the more notable physical signs of aging, but older individuals also may note their vision is not what it once was.

…

Nearly everyone knows that exercise is important, but stretching is equally essential to a healthy body. Stretching is one component of maintaining flexibility throughout life. Flexibility is important because it can reduce injury risk. The Mayo Clinic says stretching can help improve range of motion, and this can benefit the body in…

Stress is a normal part of life that is not always as bad as it may seem. For example, a 2013 study from researchers at the University of California, Berkeley found that acute stress caused stems in the brains of rats to proliferate into new nerve cells that ultimately improved the animals' mental performance. That led researchers to conclude that intermittent stressful events can improve alertness, which in turn can help individuals perform better.

When noting the potentially…

Men and women are vulnerable to many of the same diseases, but the prognosis for men is often worse than it is for women. According to WebMD, out of the 15 leading causes of death, men lead women in just about all of them (the lone exception is Alzheimer’s disease). Although it may not be possible to prevent every illness or condition, knowledge of the issues that affect men can encourage them to take a proactive approach to improve their health.

Cardiovascular disease…

Certain foods have generated devoted followings among people from all walks of life. While flavorful foods can be hard to resist, some wildly popular items found in refrigerators and pantries far and wide could be compromising millions of people’s heart health.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute notes that food and heart health are inextricably linked. Individuals who prioritize including heart-healthy foods in their diets can lower their risk for various cardiovascular…

Welcoming a child into the world is an exciting time for parents. However, new parents often lament that there is no guidebook to caring for and raising children. This becomes even more apparent when parents must confront illnesses that affect their children. It can be disconcerting when a child is affected by illness and parents…

Certain types of cuisine tend to inspire a little extra devotion, and seafood is one such food. Seafood is an umbrella term that refers to fish such as salmon and tuna as well as shellfish like shrimp, crab and oysters. That’s a wide range of foods, which underscores the versatility of seafood.

…

The feeling of being out of breath often presents itself when people are exerting a lot of physical effort. If one is winded or having trouble catching his or her breath at other times, that may be indicative of a health problem like asthma.

…

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects between 2.4 and 3.1 million people across the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data from a U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey showed 1 percent of U.S adults may have diagnosed IBD. Also, the National Institutes of Health report an estimated 322,600 Canadians were living with IBD in 2023. Canada has one of the highest rates of IBD in the world.

The Mayo Clinic notes that IBD refers to…

The heart is a vital component of the human body. Without a functional heart, life is simply not possible. As with other muscles in the body, it is important to give the heart a workout to improve its strength and vitality. Intermountain Health says an individual who dos not exercise is more than twice as likely to get heart disease…

Pancreatic cancer is a serious condition originating in the pancreas, an organ that has important functions for both the digestive and endocrine systems. Pancreatic cancer is notoriously challenging to treat and handle because it often is diagnosed late and can be aggressive in nature. Recognition of the risk factors for the disease…

In 2022, Kirk Ingrassi moved from Los Angeles to Boothbay without ever having played pickleball. Now, he plays almost every day. Pickleball originated in Washington State in 1965 and, until recently, was an obscure activity. But that has all changed with the game becoming the fastest growing sport in the U.S. 

In 2015, a Sports & Fitness Industry Association report found almost 2.5 million people played pickleball. In 2023, the Association of…

Boothbay Harbor Police Officer Larry Brown has always been active: a swimmer, biker and runner. He spent years participating in triathlons. However, all that wear and tear had its consequences, and Brown had been dealing with issues from a torn meniscus (the knee cartilage that absorbs shock) for years. He had three surgeries, cortisone shots, and gel inserts before he…

Since June 10, 2017, Angie McLellan has begun her day the same way. Get up, strap on her headlamp, and get out the door by 5 a.m. for her daily walk around Boothbay Harbor. Rain or shine, snow or sleet.  

“There's plenty of excuses at 5 p.m. (…

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease marked by swelling and inflammation of the digestive tract, specifically the small and large intestines. The disease gets its name from American gastroenterologist Dr. Burrill Crohn, who was one of the first physicians to describe the illness back in 1932. Crohn’s disease is similar to ulcerative colitis, but the two illnesses are not exactly the same.

Symptoms of Crohn’s disease

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation says living…

Fatigue and exhaustion are often discussed in terms that characterize the physical effects that they have on the body. However, mental fatigue can be just as draining as physical exhaustion, even if its symptoms are not as evident as achy muscles or tired feet.

The online medical resource WebMD notes that mental fatigue typically arises when individuals focus on mentally challenging tasks for extended periods of time. Many individuals also experienced mental fatigue during the…

Dental health should be a priority at any age, and is especially important for children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says more than half of children between the ages of six and eight have had a cavity in at least one of their primary teeth. Also, more than half of adolescents aged 12 to 19 have had a cavity in at least one permanent tooth. Cavities and other oral health conditions, such as periodontal diseases, are largely preventable with proper oral hygiene.

…

The Coulombe Center for Health Improvement (CCHI) connects LincolnHealth to community members to help solve everyday challenges and improve lives. Often working behind the scenes and through other partnered agencies, its impact is not always visible – but is felt, according to Director Anni Pat McKenney.

CCHI believes in a community health model focused on health promotion, disease prevention, and community engagement, through supplementing and supporting such initiatives without…

Whether teaching kids about nutrition, helping townspeople prevent substance abuse, or collaborating with farms to distribute fresh produce, Healthy Lincoln County (HLC) works with partners across the community to support wellbeing throughout the region. 

Director Larissa Hannan likes to describe the Damariscotta-based organization as a community health department. Hallinan said HLC mainly focuses on food security, nutrition and…

The Community Resource Council (CRC) is dedicated to understanding and addressing the multifaceted nature of health, recognizing the intricate interplay between individual choices and broader social and economic factors. The CRC's initiatives, such as the Food for Thought program, exemplify the organization's commitment to tackling social determinants of health. 

In acknowledging that health outcomes extend beyond personal decisions, the CRC places a strong emphasis on proactive…

Incidence rates for skin cancer can be hard to determine. The World Cancer Research Fund International notes that’s due in large part to the various subtypes of the disease, which can present challenges when collating data. Those challenges have led the WCRFI to conclude that global skin cancer incidence rates, though significant, have likely been underestimated.

Even if skin cancer incidence rates don’t paint an accurate picture, researchers and medical professionals recognize that…

It may seem like adolescence is the time in a woman’s life when most of the biological changes she will experience take place. After all, puberty brings with it hormone fluctuations that can affect both physical and emotional health in various ways. However, as a woman enters mid-life and beyond, she may notice that she has to reevaluate her lifestyle to accommodate the evolution of her body and health.

Preventive health screenings and additional strategies can keep women fit and well…

I know I’m beginning to sound like a broken record with my yearly article about fall prevention and balance. But I’m here to tell you the statistics aren’t changing and people are still getting hurt and, in some cases, dying from their injuries as a result from falling. Even our local Joe Gelarden in his “Happy New Year “ article of wise words, described how he had fallen in his garage. This year alone, I know of over a dozen people in our community who have fallen. Examples include falling…

On Monday, Jan. 7, 48 pickleball players came together for the opening matches in the second season of the Boothbay Region YMCA Pickleball League. When the online sign-up for the season had been posted before Christmas, organizers Andy Hollon and Susan Kirby were surprised by the speed with which the roster filled up.

“We’d run a trial league over four weeks around Thanksgiving 2023,” Hollon said. “We needed 32 players to make it work – four teams of eight players. The first 16 signed…

When it comes to strength training, this age-old question stands strong. And while there are benefits to both practices, I advise my clients towards free weights, barbell and suspension training over machines more often than not. 

Here’s why. 

While you can effectively perform the same exercises utilizing hand held weights as you can stabile machines, the outcome is very different. From the effects of gravity, dumbbells or kettle bells…

Human use of herbs, flowers and other plants for their curative powers goes back centuries. In some cultures, shamans and wise women used them to treat a variety of complaints. How long? According to takingcharge.csh.umn.edu, the Egyptian Ebers Papyrus dates back to 1500 B.C. and, in India, the Charaka Samhita documented the uses of more than 300 medicinal plants in 700 B.C.

In “Understanding Folk Medicine” Bonnie O’Connor and…

The heart has been characterized as the engine that makes the human body run. If that metaphor is not exactly spot-on, it still serves as a good indicator as to just how vital a healthy heart is to the human body.

Despite the importance of a healthy heart, diseases that affect the heart remain the single greatest cause of death across the globe. According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, claiming roughly 18…

The human body needs salt to survive. Sodium chloride is required in a nominal amount to conduct nerve impulses, contract and relax muscles, and maintain a proper balance of water and minerals. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health says it’s estimated people need 500 mg of sodium per day to perform these vital functions. Too often, however, people consume much more salt in their diets than is necessary, which can lead to a host of medical issues. The average person eats 3,400 mg of…

A balanced diet and routine exercise are the recipe for a healthy lifestyle. Such an approach can help a person maintain a healthy weight and even avoid many illnesses.

People tend to be creatures of habit, and that includes poor dietary habits. Familiar foods and methods of cooking may be holding people back as they pursue their health and fitness goals. According to John Foreyt, Ph.D., director of the Baylor College of Medicine, people tend to be skeptical about dietary changes…

Finding Our Voices, a grassroots, Camden-based organization, is working to raise public awareness by redefining what domestic violence looks like.

This summer, the organization won a Purple Ribbon Award for its bookmarks with the faces and stories of 44 Maine survivors of domestic violence. The Purple Ribbon Awards, run by experts in the domestic violence field, strive to nationally honor advocates, programs,…

As many a parent can attest, decoding a youngster’s needs can be challenging when that child is not yet able to fully communicate. Diagnosing health issues may require a little trial and error. So it’s no wonder many parents are not aware if their children are having issues with vision.

Routine wellness exams by your child’s physician can help to determine if a child is having problems with his or her vision. Doctors may detect subtleties that parents may not see, including signs that…

Long-term health is not something that many young people routinely consider. After all, it’s easy to feel invincible during one’s childhood and adolescence. But the steps that young people take early on can affect their health as they get older.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, establishing healthy behaviors during childhood and adolescence is more beneficial to long-term health than trying to change poor behaviors in adulthood. The following are some ways…

Most people do not give much thought to the blood running through their veins. However, it may pay to learn more about blood type, as it can affect your overall health in a variety of ways.

What is blood type?

The American Red Cross says there are four main blood types, which are determined by the presence or absence of A and B antigens on the surfaces of red blood cells and the presence of antibodies in the blood plasma. Blood type is further affected by a protein called the…

“Hey, it’s snowing!”

Familiar words to any Mainer, though not always met with excitement and joy. Let’s face it, when we stopped getting snow days off, we pretty much stopped thinking of snow as anything more than a nuisance.  The shoveling, the ugly piles of it still around in spring, every winter, year after year. No thanks.

But perhaps we have sold snow short.

A growing body of research points to several benefits exposure to white landscapes (whitescapes) has on both…

When it comes to New Year's resolutions, scammers know that losing weight and getting in shape is one of the most popular goals. This popularity has led to a slew of scams involving vitamins, supplements, and weight loss formulas, all claiming to offer rapid results. Not only are the products themselves questionable, but so are the business dealings of the companies peddling them.

How the scam works

Most weight loss product scams start with promises that…

While tobacco use has been declining for decades, 16.5% of Maine residents still smoke and tobacco is the leading cause of death and disease in the state. Through the new “Tobacco-Free ‘23” campaign, the American Lung Association in Maine is sharing key reasons why 2023 is the year to quit tobacco, as well as sharing tips and resources.

“Each year, quitting smoking is listed as one of the top New Year’s resolutions. While quitting smoking is extremely difficult, it is possible. In…

With the leading cause of accidental death in persons 65 and older “Fall” is a bad 4-letter word and not enough is being done about it. Why? Because we typically do not concern ourselves with something that isn’t currently our problem. Many people say” I don’t fall so why should I worry about it.” I don’t know about you but I fall down often and as someone who teaches Balance and Fall prevention daily and I still FALL how can this really be avoided? I am here to tell you it can’t be but you…

Individuals looking for a way to incorporate exercise into their lives need look no further than their own feet. Walking offers numerous health benefits to people of all ages, and it’s particularly beneficial to fitness novices. Walking can facilitate a transition between inactivity and increased intensity for those who may have been away from exercise for some time.

According to Dr. Thomas Frieden, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, walking is “the…

Physical activity is an important component of overall health. Health experts advise that exercise can increase lean body mass, prevent conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, improve balance, and positively affect mental health/cognition. Exercise also can foster socialization with others, helping people overcome boredom and isolation.

As individuals get older, they may not be able to participate in all of the activities they enjoyed as youths, but that doesn’t mean…

It may have a comical name, but pickleball is a sport with a seriously enthusiastic following. As it takes the country, and the Boothbay Harbor Region by storm, the YMCA is the place to come and play.

The Y is the hub of our pickleball community and provides players of all ages and skill levels, including total beginners, opportunities to join in on the fun.  Pickleball offers the ideal combination of a short learning curve while still being challenging to master.   There are…

LincolnHealth’s Emergency Department is experiencing a significant increase in volume, like most hospitals in Maine. As a result, extremely long wait times can be expected, especially for those who arrive with non-life threatening concerns.

The Urgent Care Center in Boothbay Harbor offers a better option for those with non-life threatening illnesses or injuries who cannot access their primary care provider.

“You can expect to be treated quicker, at lower cost than a typical…

Downward facing dog, happy baby, child’s pose, high dragon, cobra pose: These are but a few of the poses struck during yoga classes all over the world. Practiced for centuries, its health benefits include increased flexibility and muscle tone, cardio and circulatory health, improved breathing, and more, according to http://www.yogaalliance.org/

For those of us living on or near the Boothbay peninsula, there’s Crow Point Yoga owned by teacher…

Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, was the founder of Buddhism. One of his teachings was this: “Your mind is a powerful thing. When you filter it with positive thoughts your life will start to change.”

Life during a pandemic makes it harder to focus on positive thoughts; every day, every hour we are bombarded with new COVID-19 statistics, worrying about the health of family members – and our own health; political fractures, changes in doing business, business closings, the to…