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More than 30 million Americans have type 2 diabetes, and 7 million of them don’t know it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Diabetes is serious business. It can lead to heart disease; stroke; kidney failure; vision loss; amputation of toes, feet or legs; and premature death. The good news is that you can often manage diabetes with physical activity, diet, insulin and other medications. Marjorie Lang, a diabetes educator at Lake Health, knows how important it is to see if you're at risk. 

 A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked or bursts, depriving the brain of oxygen. Brain damage can occur within minutes.

Stroke is the nation’s leading cause of adult disability and the third leading cause of death. Early diagnosis and treatment can help lessen a stroke’s long-term effects and increase the chances of survival. Many people having a stroke can’t help themselves. That’s why you should learn the symptoms of a stroke and act FAST*.

Blood pressure is considered normal or healthy when it’s below 120/80, according to the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC). Both organizations now define high blood pressure as anything over 130/80, down from 140/90.

Why is it important to keep track of your blood pressure? Neelima Rao, MD, explains: 

When it comes to taking care of ourselves, most women tend to worry more about the health of others than their own. Having a yearly wellness check-up may be an addition to your already overwhelming to-do list, but it’s important to make sure you're in good health before you can take care of others.

Lake Health General Surgeon Eveline Klenotic, DO, explains the importance of breast health and the facts and risk factors of breast cancer:

Whether or not you've had weight-loss surgery, you should always be eating healthy, balanced and whole foods. Here's a day's worth of recipe ideas to enjoy the flavors of fall. 

Many new moms ask, “Is breast milk really better for my baby?” Michelle Carlson, RN, IBCLC, certified lactation consultant and breast milk expert, discusses this common question: 

Abdominal pain is a common complaint after any surgery, including weight loss surgery. Initially, this is often caused by the abdominal incisions from your surgery. This pain should be temporary and lessen over the first six weeks after surgery. Farther out from surgery, you may experience abdominal pain for a number of reasons: 

As we venture through life, we may start to notice that we tend to break bones easier than before. This is due to the loss of bone density. Bone density is the amount of calcium and other minerals found in your bones. We start to lose that density over time.

Melinda Wivell, RDN, LD, a registered dietitian with the Lake Health Integrative Medicine team, give tips on foods and other sources that are enriched with calcium and vitamin D to help maintain your bone density.

As a parent, you want your child to eat healthy and nutritious foods that give them the energy they need to play and grow. A plant-based diet is one of these options. Spending a week at camp is a tradition that many children love – it provides new adventures, fun friendships and a chance to enjoy activities independently from their parents. If your child follows a vegetarian or vegan eating style, you may worry he or she will go hungry at sleepaway camp. Melinda Wivell, RDN, LD, a registered dietitian with the Lake Health Integrative Medicine team, gives her top tips for sticking to a plant-based eating style away from home:

Childhood obesity is on the rise in the United States. Even the prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes is increasing in children. Families are busier than ever, while also more sedentary than previous generations. School lunch choices are mostly processed, fatty, sugary foods.

Melinda Wivell, RDN, LD, a registered dietitian with the Lake Health Integrative Medicine team, discusses how a plant-based diet for elementary aged children can be a healthy alternative to the traditional American diet: