Archbold Blog

It’s officially fall and the countdown to the holiday season has begun. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many families are wondering what the holidays will look like in 2021. From big community events to indoor family gatherings, it’s not too early to think about how you will celebrate. In fact, in many ways planning ahead will help ensure you’re able to celebrate the holidays safely with the ones you love most. Step 1: Start conversations with family now When it comes to...

You do not need to live near the water to enjoy the health benefits of seafood. Fish in all its forms—fresh, frozen or canned—is full of vitamins, minerals and healthy fats, and because there are so many varieties, you have lots of options. “Eating fish twice each week is an important part of a healthy diet,” said Kelsey Shackelford, MBA, RDN, LD, clinical nutrition manager with Morrison Healthcare at Archbold. “I advise people to vary their choices to reap the benefits of...

Between the pandemic, your job, the inability to spend time in person with loved ones, it’s easy to feel burned out on life. When you’re stressed, you feel overwhelmed, but you know you’ll feel better when things get under control. Burnout, on the other hand, makes you feel mentally, emotionally or physically stretched past what you can handle. You may not feel like there’s any hope that life will get better. When you’ve reached the point of burnout, prioritizing your mental...

Diabetes doesn’t occur in a vacuum—it affects many organs and body systems, including the heart. “For people with diabetes, the risk of a heart attack or stroke is double that of individuals who don’t have diabetes,” said Christopher L. Daniels, MD, FACC, FSCAI, a board-certified interventional cardiologist at Cardiovascular Consultants of South Georgia. “Having diabetes can increase your likelihood of dying from heart disease, which is why it’s so important to keep your...

As the highly contagious Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus sweeps across South Georgia, many experts say it’s time to get back to the basics and reduce the spread of the virus. And that means wearing a mask again, even if you’re vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports an estimated 50% of virus transmissions have been linked to asymptomatic or presymptomatic cases where people were likely unaware of their contagious state. And though the COVID-19...

Health problems don’t always occur when your primary care provider’s office is open. Yet, sometimes it’s hard to determine if your nearest urgent care clinic can help or if a visit to the emergency room (ER) is in order. On the other hand, heading to the ER instead of an urgent care clinic could cost you more money. ER visits may be triple the cost of a primary or urgent care visit, according to the National Library of Medicine. In addition, seeking care in an ER when you don’t...

A new strain of COVID-19 is causing concern as cases are rising across the country and throughout South Georgia. Since the Delta variant surfaced this summer, its caused more infections and has spread faster than early forms of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Here’s what you need to know about the Delta variant. 1. The Delta variant is highly contagious Studies show the Delta variant is more than 2x as contagious as previous virus variants. “The Delta variant has...

Even though seasonal flu comes around as early as October, it can linger into the spring, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To prevent illness from catching you off guard, you can: » Get a flu shot. “No matter how late it is into flu season, you should get vaccinated, if you haven’t already,” said Rachel Anderson, DO, board-certified family medicine physician at Archbold Primary Care. “The flu vaccine does not give you the flu—it will continue...

More than 31% of nearly 5,000 adults surveyed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in June 2020 reported delaying routine care because of concerns about the coronavirus. Such worries are understandable, but there are many reasons to continue preventive care, such as annual physicals and screenings, during the pandemic, including: 1. Diseases don’t always have warning signs.“Conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and breast cancer can develop without...

Updated guidelines suggest that daily aspirin for heart health may be beneficial for some, but not for all. For years, healthcare providers have recommended taking a small dose of aspirin daily to prevent cardiovascular disease. “Aspirin works to make it less likely that blood clots will form in your blood vessels,” said Robert D. Miles Jr., MD, FACC, a board-certified cardiologist at Cardiovascular Consultants of South Georgia. “Blood clots can form on unstable plaque and block...

If you ever started dieting to lose weight, only to gain it all back shortly after you stop, you are not alone. How do you avoid rebound weight gain after all your hard work? Rather than using a fad diet that’s designed to give you temporary results, switch your focus to sustainable, long-lasting habits that can help you gradually lose weight and keep it off. 1. AVOID DRINKING YOUR CALORIES. Sweet tea, soda, sports drinks and other beverages can pack too much sugar and unnecessary...

You know your family needs to eat more fruits and vegetables, but trying to find healthy options that everyone will eat can be difficult. With healthy smoothie recipes in your pocket, you’ll have a quick and easy way to make nutritious snacks or meals they’ll enjoy. “When made properly, smoothies are a great source of protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants,” said Megan Stafford, MS, RD, LD, a dietitian in the outpatient nutrition services department at Archbold...