The Top 21 INTEGRIS Health Blog Posts of 2021
After one of the longest years imaginable in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a sense of normalcy somewhat appeared this past year as Americans started to pick up the pieces and move forward from this health crisis.
Undoubtedly, these times have challenged the health care system, but we can proudly look back and take comfort knowing we continued to change and save lives during the past 12 months. For example, a 2-year-old patient at INTEGRIS Children’s went home for Christmas after spending half of his life in the hospital. We also celebrated performing our 1,500th liver transplant this past fall, and we also announced plans for a state-of-the-art Heart and ICU Hospital expansion at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center.
To help highlight the end of 2021, we examined the 21 most popular INTEGRIS Health For You blog posts of 2021. While COVID remained a hot topic throughout the year, our readers were also interested in food trends, such as the health benefits of apple cider vinegar, and how you can use certain neurotransmitters to boost your mood.
21. Understanding COVID-19’s Impact on Children
The first of many COVID-19-related blogs, we took a look at the lasting impact on changes in routines, disruptions in learning, missed life events and milestones and a lack of health care for certain children. This resource was a popular tool for parents navigating several unknowns during this time.
20. The Rise in Virtual Cooking Classes
The start of the pandemic left many Americans with plenty of time on their hands – possibly even too much free time. To stay busy, many people turned to food and cooking as a new hobby. With learning came the need for cooking classes, which turned to virtual events due to social distancing measures.
19. Different Cooking Oils and Their Health Benefits
Many food trends are increasingly focused on minimally processed products and healthier alternatives. This now includes the oils you can cook with. From standard olive oil to avocado oil and flaxseed oil, we covered the many options you can choose from when grocery shopping. We also provided several recipes to try with these new oils.
18. A Pain in the Back: Living With Scoliosis
Millions of Americans deal with back pain each day. Many cases involve disc herniations or a muscular imbalance. In some cases, these issues stem from scoliosis, a curvature of the spine that causes pain in the back and legs. We covered common causes of scoliosis and treatment options for those who suffer from this condition.
17. Chlorophyll: What is it? Is it Good For Your Health?
Known as the pigment that makes plants green, chlorophyll has become a popular topic on social media of late as a possible cure-all for many health conditions. To provide context, we took a look at the purported benefits and explored what you need to know about chlorophyll.
16. A Brief History of Hospice Care and Palliative Care in the U.S. and Oklahoma
Thinking about the finality of life – whether for you or a loved one – is depressing. Unfortunately, it’s a reality everyone must deal with at some point in their life. We provided an overview of hospice care and palliative care so family members can know what their end-of-life options are when the time comes.
15. Foods That Give You Energy
Your body needs energy to stay focused and productive throughout the day. Without it, you may start to feel fatigued and sluggish. That’s why it’s so important to put the right foods in your body. This blog outlines several foods that can give you an energy boost.
14. Is Coconut Oil Healthy?
When thinking of healthy eating, fats often carry a negative connotation due to the association with weight gain. Some fats are better than others, though, and many people who follow the paleo diet and keto diet swear by coconut oil. But is it actually healthier for you? We explored this topic in detail.
13. Pros and Cons of Different Diet Lifestyles
These days, diets are like alphabet soup – there are so many of them that it can be hard to keep track of. This blog covers the pros and cons of diets such as keto, paleo, vegetarian, vegan and Mediterranean.
12. How Tech Can Help Track Stress Levels
Step trackers and heart rate monitors are becoming a thing of the past with technology that has the ability to monitor your stress. We explained how stress tracking systems work and provided several options to choose from.
11. What Is Herd Immunity?
As quickly as vaccines rolled out in early 2021, the conversation quickly turned to herd immunity and how long it would take to achieve as a country. This blog discussed how immunity works, explored prior herd immunity for past viruses and examined how many people it takes to reach herd immunity.
10. The Importance of Donating Blood During the COVID-19 Pandemic
In early 2021, local and regional Oklahoma hospitals began to experience a blood shortage. This was due to many factors, including fewer donors due to COVID and more people needing blood due to COVID-related hospitalizations. As a result, we teamed up with the Oklahoma Blood Institute to explain the need for blood donors during this time.
9. Home Remedies Using Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a great addition to a salad or to finish off a dish in need of some brightness. But the internet was buzzing in 2021 with possible home uses of apple cider vinegar. We discussed some of these uses and explored if they were beneficial.
8. Is Maple Syrup Better than Sugar?
Table sugar makes baked goods and desserts taste good, but it is full of empty calories. Many bloggers and health food connoisseurs often tout “healthier” alternatives to sugar, such as agave or maple syrup. Is there such a thing as a healthier sugar, though? We explored this in detail to set the facts straight.
7. Why It's Important to Allow Yourself to Rest
Stress can be debilitating. Up to 73 percent of Americans say stress impacts their mental health, which can throw off your entire physical and emotional well being. Rest is one way to recharge and combat stress. We offered up some rest and relaxation tips to get you through stressful times.
6. How Parents Affect Their Child's Mental Health
When children act out, it’s easy to chalk it up to them being a problem child. However, the way you parent can impact your child’s physical and mental health. We discussed how certain styles can impact children and also explored how a parent’s own mental health can trickle down to their child and their development.
5. Mind-Blowing Facts About the Human Body You Never Knew
The human body is pretty incredible, so we put together seven amazing facts that you probably never knew existed. This was one of our favorites: Your network of blood vessels, when stretched out, would equal 100,000 miles!
4. How You Can Benefit from Happy Chemicals
When you laugh or cry, did you know your brain chemicals are responsible for these emotions and mood swings? We discussed the four major brain chemicals – also called happy chemicals – that play a role in your day-to-day life. We also provided tips on how to get the most out of these neurotransmitters.
3. Impacts of Chronic Marijuana Use
Take a drive around Oklahoma City one weekend, and you’ll notice how many marijuana dispensaries you see on seemingly every street corner. This is due to the explosion in medical marijuana access in the state. With that in mind, we wanted to explore how your body is impacted by chronic marijuana use.
2. What Are ‘Long-Haul’ COVID Symptoms?
For most people, COVID symptoms are mild and they return to their normal lives in no time. However, a small subset of COVID patients experience long-lasting symptoms long after their initial infections. These people are known as COVID long haulers. We examined the nature of these symptoms and how getting vaccinated can help.
1. Why You Shouldn't Skip Your Second COVID-19 Vaccine
Midway through the year, millions of Americans had received two doses of either Pfizer’s or Moderna’s version of the COVID-19 vaccine. Still, for a variety of reasons, there were plenty of people who skipped out on their second shot after successfully receiving the first one. To help stress the importance of receiving both doses, we discussed why there are two doses in the first place and explored what happens when you don’t receive the second shot.
These blogs are just a fraction of the various health trends, news updates and lifestyle topics we covered during the past 12 months. For more information, check out the articles and expert doctor opinions we share each month on the INTEGRIS Health For You blog. We look forward to a healthy and happy 2022!
