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.
Summer produce is on its way out to make room for fall fruits and vegetables. Pumpkins, cranberries, apples, squash and more will soon be gracing the East Lansing Farmer’s Market and the MSU student-run Farm Stand.
Once again Residential and Hospitality Services Senior Executive Chef Kurt Kwiatkowski helped us out by giving us some amazing seasonal recipes. This time, he gave us three of his personal favorites. You can view Chef Kurt’s crowd-pleasing Baked Fresh Herb Spaghetti Squash and Butter Beans with Kale recipes here.
Chef Kurt’s roasted squash soup recipe is also a favorite of many. You’ll be sure to impress anyone with this dish.
The MSU Student Organic Farm Stand operates from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every Thursday in front of the Auditorium. Photo courtesy of MSU Student Organic Farm Stand
According to the CDC, RA prevalence is believed to range from 0.5 to 1 percent in the general population.
Rheumatoid arthritis is just one of many forms of arthritis that affect millions of Americans every year. RA is an autoimmune disease of the joints, in which immune cells attack and eventually destroy the healthy lubricating tissues that surround joints. This causes painful swelling that can result in bone erosion and joint deformity.
According to the Center for Disease Control, rheumatoid arthritis can begin at any age, although it is more common in patients over 65.
Patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis experience chronic inflammation in many or all joints, while fewer joints are affected in those with mild RA.
There is no cure for RA, but there are treatments that can decrease the severity of symptoms and slow the disease. As is the case with many ailments, the sooner a patient begins treatment, the better. That’s why it’s important to look out for arthritic symptoms such as fatigue, loss of energy, lack of appetite, low-grade fever, and muscle and joint aches and stiffness that are especially noticeable in the morning and after periods of inactivity. Talk to your physician if you experience these symptoms.
Treatment includes medication supplemented with exercise and occupational therapy.
View the entire Best Doctors article to learn more.
Preparedness is the first step toward safety in any emergency. The MSU Police Department provides several resources to the MSU community members so they are prepared and informed during an emergency.
MSU parents and guardians and visitors can also sign up for MSU Alert. Photo courtesy of MSU Police.
New classroom emergency guidelines are being posted in all of MSU’s classrooms as a quick reference for fire, active violence, hazardous materials release or severe weather emergencies. The guidelines apply to MSU staff working in office buildings as well. They offer important information such as rally site locations, how to act during a secure-in-place and guidelines for those with disabilities.Continue Reading… Stay safe with MSU police guidelines and resources
The pleasant weather is a great motivator to commute by bike in the summer, but it can be more difficult to opt for two-wheeled transportation in the academic year with colder temperatures and increased traffic. Fortunately, there are many resources for cyclists at MSU, which earned a bronze Bicycle Friendly University award in 2011.
Olin Health Center doesn’t only serve students. Faculty and staff can take advantage of the conveniently located center for a wide array of services. The spouse and children of an employee or retiree are also eligible for these services.
Olin Health Center often schedules same-day services by appointment.
Here are some of the services available to employees:
MSU promotes health among faculty and staff. To ensure that employees receive correct and professional treatment, MSU offers the Best Doctors service to its employees.
For an expert second opinion, call Best Doctors at no cost to you.
Contacting Best Doctors grants access to one-on-one discussions with Member Advocates and medical record reviews from top specialists across the country.
The recommendations provided by the experts working with Best Doctors can put patients’ minds at ease and even save lives. The medical information given to Best Doctors is completely voluntary and confidential, and with your permission they can consult your own physician. The service is free and operates on your time. Continue Reading… Contact Best Doctors for expert medical advice
What’s summer without a barbecue? Get out your grill and cook up some savory food to share with family and friends. Residential and Hospitality Services Senior Executive Chef Kurt Kwiatkowski offers a recipe and some tips to make the most of your summer barbecue.
Summer is the perfect time for MSU faculty and staff to get into the habit of biking to work.
Biking is a great way to experience the beautiful MSU campus, get exercise, go green and save on gas and parking.
Bikes locked up at the College of Engineering Building. Photo courtesy of Communications and Brand Strategy.
“You just see things you don’t get to see when you’re in a car, so I just find it a lot more fun,” said Sustainable Transportation Manager Tim Potter, a year-round bicyclist.
Biking is especially practical because CATA’s Spartan Service, which includes most MSU campus routes and allows MSU regular employees to ride CATA on-campus routes for free, does not operate in the summer. Several East Lansing routes have reduced run times as well. Read more about the CATA route changes here.
Potter recommends starting with small trips and discovering different routes for beginning bike commuters. The Tri-County Bicycle Association has an updated online map that features bike-friendly streets. The MSU-specific map developed by MSU Bikes is a helpful tool as well.
Do you have too far of a commute to bike all the way to MSU? Try driving to one of MSU’s open summer lots and biking or walking from there! In the summer, lots 89, 91, 83 and 75 are free and do not require a permit. You can also make use of the two membership-based MSU bike garages located inside parking ramps to protect your bike from weather and theft.
There are now eight do-it-yourself bike repair stations on campus and even free lockers.
“You can get an assigned locker inside the IM Circle, which is like a $100 value, for no charge if you commit to being a bike commuter,” Potter said. This allows staff and faculty to shower after a hot commute. Learn how to register for a locker here.
Remember to register your bike. Improve yourself, your wallet and the Earth this summer by leaving your car behind!
The Best Doctors website is available to all members of MSU health plans. They offer three main services at no out-of-pocket costs to you:
In-Depth Medical Review & Interconsultation, where experienced medical professionals can answer any questions you may have about a medical diagnosis or treatment options.
When to call:
You have questions about your existing diagnosis or treatment options.
Your doctor hasn’t given you a diagnosis or you aren’t getting better even with treatment.
 You wonder if you really need surgery or other recommended medical procedures.
 You want to make sure you are getting the right care from the right medical specialist.
Have a question about a medical diagnosis or treatment options? Ask the Expert.
When to call:
You have any general or specific medical question, and don’t want to rely on the Internet for information.
You have heard about a new treatment option or medical procedure and wonder if it’s right for you.
You are uncertain if the medications you’re now taking are the best options for you.
Need a pediatrician? Want the best surgeon in your area? Looking for a world-class medical specialist? Just contact Best Doctors to Find a Best Doctor, and they will locate the right doctor for you—one who’s nearby and in your health plan.
When to call:
You just moved to a new area and are looking for a doctor.
You believe you need to consult with a specialist.
You would like additional providers you can see about your condition.
To get started, call 1-866-904-0910 or visit their website.
Have you recently experienced fatigue and aren’t sure why? The cause could be adrenal gland issues or hypothyroidism. While doctors disagree as to whether adrenal stress is a veritable medical condition or simply related to hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue theory insists that a great influx of stress can actually hinder our adrenal glands from producing hormones that we need. This lack of hormones can lead to a wide variety of unwanted side effects. Albeit, there is not yet enough evidence to support this theory. Similarly, hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland fails to produce the necessary amount of thyroid hormone. Without this hormone, our body produces less energy and we may feel greatly fatigued.
Has chronic fatigue been effecting your lifestyle? You may be suffering from adrenal stress or hypothyroidism.
Often, hypothyroidism is caused by Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, a condition where the thyroid gland experiences irritation. This inflammation can be due to either a viral infection or antibodies that target and destroy the thyroid gland. It is important to note that hypothyroid symptoms and adrenal fatigue symptoms are largely similar. This means that the two conditions are often misdiagnosed. If you are feeling tired, depressed, cold sensitivity, muscle/joint aches or have experienced poor memory, shortness of breath, chronic yeast infections, low libido, infertility, or weight gain, you may be suffering from adrenal gland issues or hypothyroidism. Treatments require a diligent approach so if you are suspect of the aforementioned conditions, do not hesitate to reach out to your health care provider.
