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INTEGRIS Health On Your Health Blog

Check back to the INTEGRIS Health On Your Health blog for the latest health and wellness news for all Oklahomans.

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How Physical Therapy Improves Outcomes After Surgery

Whether you’re having a knee replaced or are undergoing an intense heart procedure, the road to recovery can be long and arduous. Physical therapy is one of the most common ways to both speed up healing and regain the strength needed to return to your everyday life.

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What Is a Child Life Specialist?

Stepping into the hospital or a doctor’s office can be a new experience for children, filled with unknowns and apprehensions. The unfamiliar sights and sounds of a hospital, the separation from loved ones for surgery and the potential challenges of navigating medical procedures can create a whirlwind of emotions for young patients. Add to that the disruption of familiar routines and the potential for ongoing treatments, and the road to recovery can seem overwhelming.

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Walking Pad vs. Treadmill - What's the Difference?

When it comes to home fitness, walking pads and treadmills often appear as two sides of the same coin, both designed to enhance your indoor exercise routine. A walking pad, with its sleek and foldable design, is perfect for people seeking a compact solution for light walking, especially in confined living spaces. On the other hand, a treadmill is a bigger machine, capable of supporting a range of activities from walking to intense running. Understanding these differences is key to selecting the right equipment to match your lifestyle and exercise preferences.

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What Causes Food Aversion?

The older you get, the more eating seems second nature by putting food in your mouth and chewing. As a child, though, trying and experiencing new foods isn’t that simple. Food aversion describes food refusal by a toddler or young child despite having the fine motor skills to do so. Children with food aversion typically have a limited diet and are highly selective in what they eat. They may have a particularly strong dislike for a food while also enjoying other foods.

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Are You Getting Enough Vitamin B12?

Essential for everything from energy production to neurological function, vitamin B12 serves as a cornerstone for maintaining vitality and wellness. However, many people may not realize they're falling short of this crucial vitamin, leading to potential health issues. In this blog, we’ll delve into the pivotal roles that vitamin B12 plays in your body, highlight foods high in vitamin B12 and explain why some people have issues absorbing this vitamin.

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Maintaining Your Mental Health During the Holidays

The holiday season can be filled with fun traditions and time with family, but it also comes with its own set of challenges that can be hard on mental health. For many people, their mental health ends up declining during the holidays. In this blog, we have five of our best tips for maintaining your mental health during the holidays.

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Fun Family Activities to Do During Christmas

Christmas time in Oklahoma City can be a magical experience when done right, as the city has many traditions and events that provide festive options for residents and visitors alike. Use this blog as a guide to schedule family-friendly events this holiday season.

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Can You Live with One Lung?

Living with one lung may seem like an impossible challenge – the lungs are a key organ that work 24 hours a day to keep us alive – but the human body has an uncanny ability to adapt. Much like living without a pancreas, gallbladder, appendix or spleen, missing out on the functionality of these organs isn’t ideal but it can be done. Learn more about what causes people to have a single lung and how you can still live a healthy life.

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Does Vaping Cause Lung Cancer?

Traditional tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals that increase smokers' chances of developing cancer. In fact, smoking is tied to 80 to 90 percent of lung cancer cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As an alternative to smoking, many people have turned to e-cigarettes to vape, including teens and young adults (read our blog on how e-cigarette use is on the rise among teens in Oklahoma). But is inhaling liquid nicotine any safer and is there any risk of cancer associated with vaping?

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November Is Movember: Raising Awareness About Men's Health

November is a time when mustaches take center stage, but it's not just about style – it's about striking up conversations and raising awareness for men's health. Movember, a global movement, is dedicated to bringing attention to pressing men’s health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health challenges.

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American Diabetes Month: Complications, the Importance of Screenings and How to Lower Risk

American Diabetes Month serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of taking proactive steps to reduce the risk of diabetes through lifestyle changes such as healthy eating, regular exercise and weight management. Equally vital is the role of regular diabetes screenings, which can lead to early detection and more effective management of the condition.

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Stomach Cancer Awareness: Facts, Causes and Outlook on Prognosis

Stomach cancer, though less talked about than other common cancers, poses a significant health risk that deserves more attention. By raising awareness about stomach cancer, the goal is to empower patients and the community with vital knowledge on the facts, causes and prognosis of this disease.

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What Is the Difference Between Urgent Care and an Emergency Room?

Emergency and urgent care medicine both serve an important purpose in health care, but what exactly does each facility do and how should you decide which one to use for medical problems?

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Lung Cancer Awareness: Facts, Advances in Treatment and How to Lower Your Risk

Lung cancer remains a significant health challenge, affecting millions worldwide. In this blog, we speak to Nathaniel Moulton, M.D., a board-certified interventional pulmonologist at INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Baptist Pulmonary Medicine, to learn more.

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How Do I Find a Primary Care Physician?

Choosing the right primary care physician (PCP) is a crucial step in managing your health care journey and living a healthier life. A PCP acts as your main health advocate, coordinating care, managing chronic conditions and offering preventive services tailored to your needs.

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Somatic Therapy: Signs Your Body Is Releasing Trauma

In the quest for healing from trauma, somatic therapy is a unique alternative that emphasizes the connection between mind and body. While this therapeutic approach may not be suitable for everyone, it offers benefits for individuals dealing with PTSD and other mental health conditions by focusing on physical sensations and body awareness.

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Breast Cancer in Men: Signs, Symptoms and Treatment Options

Male breast cancer is a rare condition, accounting for less than one percent of all breast cancer cases, but it's still important to be aware of its signs, symptoms, causes and treatment options should you or a loved one be impacted. As part of breast cancer awareness in October, we talk to Samer Hassan, M.D., a board-certified physician in internal medicine, oncology and hematology, with INTEGRIS Health Cancer Institute at Southwest Medical Center.

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Depression Awareness: Facts, Types and Treatment Options

October is Depression Awareness Month. In this blog, we speak with Cassandra Deford, director of clinical programs behavioral health, about depression and mental health conditions to learn more.

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How to Prevent Infection After Surgery

By understanding the common types of infections that can occur after surgery and implementing effective prevention strategies, patients can enhance their recovery journey and achieve better outcomes. Being informed and taking proactive steps can significantly reduce the risk of infection. In this blog, we speak to Rebecca Lewis, system director of infection prevention, to learn more.

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What Happens to Your Body When You Have Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is one of the most common and effective forms of cancer treatment. Despite doing its job of destroying cancer cells, chemotherapy drugs also impact healthy cells and cause a wide range of side effects. In this blog, Brian Geister, M.D., and Agnel Raparthi, M.D., both with the INTEGRIS Health Cancer Institute, weigh in on how chemotherapy affects the body.

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