Health

During the Oct. 16-17 Education Minnesota Professional Conference, formerly known as MEA, school’s out for kids across the state.

Tobacco Free Youth of Meeker, McLeod and Sibley counties is offering its Friday afternoon MEA BASH for fun-seeking sixth- through 12th-graders. It runs 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, at Glencoe-Silver Lake High School’s Panther Field House, 1825 16th St. E., Glencoe.

A coalition of public health officials and health care providers is urging physicians to "get smart" about when it's helpful – and when it's harmful – to prescribe antibiotics.

Despite previous efforts to educate physicians and the public, patients are still too often given antibiotics for viral infections, including the flu, chest colds, runny noses, coughs, and most sore throats.

By Deb Botzek-Linn, University of Minnesota Extension

When preparing a frozen dinner in the microwave, you will see that the directions always include a final statement such as “Let stand two minutes in microwave.” This is followed by “Carefully remove as product will be hot.” Yes, the product is hot, so the directive to let stand in microwave is a personal safety guideline to prevent a steam burn. But following the directive to let stand in microwave for a specified amount of time is a key microwave food safety practice.

By Kim Asche
University of Minnesota Extension

Working and living around teens one learns to adapt to the tired state teens sometimes appear to be in. Note that teen sleep cycles may not match family and school schedules, but we can help them synchronize.

Jennifer Magallon graduated from the Minnesota School of Business’ massage therapy program just two years ago, but she puts continuing education high on her list of priorities.

Magallon is an independent massage therapist working out of a room in the basement of Julie Elder’s Urban Hair Salon, 18 Main St. S. There she offers hot stone massage, body wraps, prenatal massage and Swedish deep tissue massage.

State health and agriculture officials said today that recent cases of salmonellosis in Minnesota have been linked to raw, frozen, breaded and pre-browned, stuffed chicken entrees. The implicated product is Milford Valley Farms Chicken Cordon Bleu and Chicken Kiev. This product is sold at many different grocery store chains.

Affordable medicine has become a political catch-phrase, but what many people don’t realize is they already are eligible for prescription drug assistance. A recently launched Web site, www.awarerx.org, provides this information as part of a new awareness campaign.

By Kim Asche
University of Minnesota Extension

Year around we find many parents on the sidelines of the soccer field or football field cheering on their young athletes. Is this a good thing? Participating in sports can be a good experience for kids if handled in a healthy way.

MINNEAPOLIS – This year, hundreds of Minnesotans will join a national effort in the fight against prostate cancer. On Saturday, Sept. 27 at 9 a.m., the Fifth Annual Hartford PACE Race — which includes runners and walkers at all fitness levels — will help support the mission of the Prostate Cancer Education Council (PCEC) by raising awareness of prostate cancer. This event, which will take place at scenic Lake Nokomis, is part of the PCEC’s national PACE Race Series, which helps to educate men and their families on the importance of early detection.

The Meeker McLeod Prevention Coalition recently received a five-year federal grant to combat drug and alcohol abuse among youth.

The $125,000-per-year grant from the Office of National Drug Control Policy is an increase from the previous five-year grant for Meeker and McLeod counties, according to health educator Jean Johnson.

Johnson said the grant will help strengthen community anti-drug coalitions and reduce substance abuse by youth. Locally, the money will fund efforts to: