Category: Health and Wellness

Health and wellness is important to you and to MSU. The healthier our faculty and staff are, the healthier MSU will be. This category features information related to wellness at MSU.

Spring 5k Races on MSU’s Campus!

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Shamrock 5k Graphic
One 5k you can check out is the Shamrock 5k, benefiting the Tower Guard.

There’s no better way to kick that cabin fever than lacing up those running shoes and participating in a 5k for a great cause. There are plenty of 5k races taking place right here on MSU’s campus in East Lansing this spring.

Heart-Healthy Habits

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The American Heart Association has dubbed February as American Heart Month. There are several things that you can do to maintain a heart-healthy lifestyle:

Eat heart-healthy foods.

A nutritious diet plays a vital role in heart health. Fruits, veggies, fibrous whole grain foods and fish are best for your heart. Be conscious of food labels in order to limit your intake of saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, sodium and added sugar. Additionally, eat only as many calories as you need and drink in moderation.

heart-health-month
Are you doing what it takes to maintain a healthy heart?

Exercise

The American Heart Association suggests moderate activity for 2 1/2 hours a week to keep your heart healthy. Your exercise regiment can vary based on a number of factors. Talk to your doctor and set a target heart rate to exercise safely. Choose an activity that you enjoy.

Implement therapeutic lifestyle changes.

While diet, exercise and weight loss are all self-explanatory and fundamental pillars of a heart-healthy lifestyle, there are certainly other therapeutic lifestyle changes to consider. For example, quitting cigarettes and reducing stress are affirmative actions that aid in overall heart health.

The MSU community will recognize heart health in a variety of ways. Consider buying your Valentine’s Day sweets from MSU Bakers. Patrons can donate money to the American Heart Association with the purchase of baked goods.

To learn more about American Heart Month, visit the American Heart Association at heart.org.

 

Wear Red and Support Women’s Health

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Celebrate Go Red Day in recognition of the importance of a heart-healthy lifestyle.

Red is a powerful color that is often associated with energy, strength, passion and love. For this reason, and as a result of the fact that heart disease equates to one in three female deaths in the U.S., the American Heart Association uses the color as a mechanism to raise awareness for women’s heart disease each February. The association’s campaign, Go Red for Women, inspires participants  to make heart-healthy choices. Initiatives of the campaign include a call for increased research in regard to heart disease as well as a much faster course of action when fighting heart disease. This year, Wear Red Day will fall on Friday, February 6. To show your support for women’s health, consider donning red or participating in any of these steps that support the campaign.

While heart disease exists as a menacing threat, especially for women, it doesn’t have to be. Be a part of the Go Red movement and help inspire change! To learn more, visit the American Heart Association’s webpage. Also, visit MSU’s Health eGuide to discover how women can reduce their risk of heart disease.

Breathe Easy and Embrace Your Health

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Do you want to quit smoking but aren’t quite sure what course of action to take? While smoking can be one of the most difficult health behaviors to change, it doesn’t have to be.  MSU Health4U has the perfect solution. Breathe Easy, a totally free tobacco and nicotine cessation program, offers behavioral support and medical evaluation to help you kick your bad habits to the curb—for good. One of the best attributes of Breathe Easy is the fact that the program can be tailored to fit the needs of each participant. For example, participants can elect to enact a medication-free quitting plan. In order to participate in Breathe Easy, an employee needs to be benefits-eligible or be the adult, benefits-eligible family member of an MSU faculty, staff, graduate student assistant or retiree.

If you qualify and are ready for the challenge, please register to attend this spring’s pre-enrollment information session on January 28 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in room 247, Olin Health Center. Being present at this session does not obligate employees to enroll. Rather, attendees can expect a thorough overview of the program. You may register in person at 330 Olin Health Center, by phone at 517-353-2596 or by email at health4u@msu.edu.

For more information, view the entire PDF.

The minute you quit smoking, you being to regain your health.
The minute you quit smoking, you being to regain your health.

Winter Exercise Alternatives

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As temperatures drop lower and lower, it can be tempting to stay inside, curled up in front of the TV, surrounded by unhealthy holiday treats. However, with the right methods in place, exercising during the winter can be a breeze! There are many creative ways to get active.

  • Indoor Walking Tracks
    Indoor walking tracks provide low-impact exercise while avoiding winter’s bitter cold temperatures. IM Sports East features an indoor track for public use.

    Skating at Munn Ice Arena is great exercise option.
    Try skating at Munn Ice Arena for your next workout.
  • Indoor Pool
    Swimming is a great form of total-body exercise and can help you imagine being in a tropical oasis as opposed to an arctic wasteland. Visit IM Sports Circle or IM Sports West for indoor swimming.
  • Ice Skating
    By skating at an indoor rink, you can work off those holiday meals without freezing. Munn Ice Arena holds open skate sessions for the public.
  • Yoga, Zumba, Cardio Kickboxing, etc.
    MSU Recreational Sports and Fitness Services holds group exercise classes every week. These classes are a great way to exercise indoors without being bored. Be brave and try something that you’ve always wanted to! View a schedule of courses.
  • Exercise at Work
    You can even exercise at work; all you have to do is think outside of the box! Try walking up and down the stairs in your building for a simple workout. You can also stretch from your desk chair.

Health Mattters: Fibromyalgia

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Fibromyalgia affects two to four percent of people.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and tenderness, accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way the brain processes pain signals. Women are much more likely to develop fibromyalgia than are men. Many people who have fibromyalgia also have tension headaches, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and depression. While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, a variety of medications can help control symptoms. Exercise, relaxation and stress-reduction measures also sometimes help. There is no test to detect this condition, but lab tests or X-rays are usually conducted to rule out other health problems.

If you have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia or are facing a medical decision, Best Doctors is here to help.

Call 1-866-904-0910 or visit www.bestdoctors.com/members

Read the entire PDF by Best Doctors.

Michigan Tobacco Quitline

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The Michigan Tobacco Quitline is now open to all MSU employees, spouses of MSU employees and MSU students.  It is a free service that provides access to a professional Quit Coach and a personalized quitting strategy, along with other resources to help individuals quit tobacco use. You can even call if you are helping someone else quit smoking.Tobacco Quitline Flyer

This flyer can be used to post in your office or to forward to your colleagues.

This service is provided to MSU members courtesy of the Michigan Department of Community Health, the MSU Healthy Campus Initiative and the MSU Physician’s Office.

Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) to learn about how you can get help to quit smoking.

Raise Awareness for Diabetes

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Ask your doctor about your risk of diabetes and if you should have a screening test done.
Ask your doctor about your risk of diabetes and if you should have a screening test done.

November is American Diabetes month. The purpose of American Diabetes month is to raise awareness. According to the American Diabetes Association:

  •  Nearly 30 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes.
  • Another 86 million Americans have prediabetes and are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
  • The American Diabetes Association estimates that the total national cost of diagnosed diabetes in the United States is $245 billion.
  • Diabetes causes more deaths a year than breast cancer and AIDS combined.

So what is diabetes? There are two variations. As explained by MSU’s Health eGuide, Type I Diabetes occurs when the pancreas ceases to make insulin, a hormone that helps the body use sugar for energy. Lack of insulin causes a high blood sugar level which can be harmful to many parts of the body and can increase risk of other health complications. Type II Diabetes differs in that the body is still able to make insulin, however, it is unable to use it in the right way. While Type I Diabetes is not yet preventable, Type II can be avoided by living a healthy lifestyle.

This month and into the holidays, do your best to engage in a healthy and active lifestyle! You also can donate to help find a cure for diabetes here.

New Services at Olin!

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Does a massage on your lunch break sound too good to be true? Turn your dreams into reality- make an appointment at Olin today!
Does a massage on your lunch break sound too good to be true? Turn your dreams into reality- make an appointment at Olin today!

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season quickly approaching, it’s natural to feel stress and anxiety. Luckily, Olin Health Center is offering three new services that are sure to help! You can now receive reflexology, reiki, and massage therapy services through Olin Health Center.

  • Reflexology is the practice of applying pressure to certain parts of the body and can reduce stress, causing a positive physiological change.
  • Reiki involves gentle hand placement on the body’s “energy centers” in order to release tension and ease stress.
  • Massage therapy entails manipulating the body’s soft tissues by hand in order to reduce pain and induce relaxation.

To schedule an appointment, call 517-353-4660. Sessions are 45 minutes long and cost $50. There are currently evolving plans to make half hour appointments available so that patrons can take advantage of these new services during their lunch hour. Shorter appointment times are expected to be available in Spring of 2015.

To learn more, read the entire PDF here.

Fall Color Tour

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Fall-Shaw-Lane
Take a walk on MSU’s beautiful campus!

Are you interested in enjoying the beautiful fall foliage? Have you been searching for a way to integrate light exercise into your daily routine? If so, drink in the colors of the season and get your heart pumping by taking a walk on one of MSU’s numerous walking loops!

If you aren’t quite sure what route to take, check out the Campus Walking Loops interactive map. Developed through a partnership between MSU’s Health4U and Campus Planning and Administration, the map identifies various paths that snake through MSU’s campus. Additionally, the mileage of each path is labeled, allowing you to select your route based on your available free time.

Walking offers a wealth of benefits, and the gorgeous scenery you’ll spot along the way is a definite bonus. To hold yourself accountable, try organizing a group of interested colleagues or friends. Adding a walk to your schedule is sure to leave you feeling rejuvenated, alert, and in love with the season!

Want to enjoy the fall colors on Wednesday? Consider attending the Rock Walk ‘n Roll! Details here: http://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2014/its-time-to-rock-walk-n-roll-msu-moves-u-mile-set-for-oct-15/.