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.

Winter Farmers Market Continues Through April

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Who says you can’t find fresh home-grown goods in the winter? The Meridian Township Farmers Market comes out to Meridian Mall in Okemos every first and third Saturday of the month from December to April. Approximately 25-30 unique vendors are present at each market day. The event is located in the JC Penney corridor of the mall from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., and will continue through April 19.Meridian Mall Farmers Market

Everything that is sold at the farmers market is grown locally or within the state of Michigan. It is the vendors’ commitment to the quality of their products and services that results in continued support from the community. The event will not only give the public an opportunity to purchase fresh, locally-grown produce, but it will also give them a chance to meet and talk to the farmers who provide the goods. Come in from the cold and see what these local providers have to offer! For more information about the farmers market, visit their Facebook page or the Meridian Charter Township website.

You may also wish to check out other great farmers markets open year-round in the Lansing area such as the Allen Street Farmers Market, Lansing City Market, Bath Farmers Market and the Holt Farmers Market.

Cold vs Allergies

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Woman in doctor's officeLet’s decipher the differences between the two. Seasonal allergies are common for plenty of us.

According to MSU’s Health e-Guide, allergies are caused by an overactive immune system. Unlike a common cold, allergies aren’t contagious but they can be inherited over time. For instance, when someone has a cold it’s relatively rare for them to have itchy, watering eyes, but with allergies it’s quite the opposite. You’re also likely to have repetitive sneezing, especially during morning hours. The duration for cold and allergy-related symptoms differ depending on your unique case.Continue Reading… Cold vs Allergies

February is American Heart Month

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February is a month to celebrate your heart. Not only do we celebrate Valentine’s Day on the 14th, but we must also be aware of heart disease. Heart diseases are the number one killer of American’s today, while strokes are the number four killer. The research done by the American Heart Association can be very helpful for those who want to learn more about the risks and causes. The Go Red for Women campaign strongly encourages everyone to participate in National Wear Red Day on Friday, February 7 to raise awareness about heart disease in women.Holding a Heart

The American Heart Association claims that a healthy lifestyle will decrease the risk of heart disease. Here are some tips from them to maintain a healthy lifestyle:
1. Don’t smoke
2. Maintain a healthy weight
3. Engage in regular physical activity
4. Eat a healthy diet
5. Manage blood pressure
6. Take charge of cholesterol
7. Keep blood sugar, or glucose, at healthy levels

Fill your heart with love this month, but don’t forget to always keep it healthy.

Tips for Dealing with the Cold and Flu

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It’s that time of the year when getting sick is a huge possibility. The cold and flu are two of the most common illnesses during the winter months. The flu is usually caused by the influenza viruses A and B. Colds can be caused by a variety of viruses. Some symptoms of both the flu and cold include: a runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, cough and body aches.

Regardless of which illness you may have, getting sick can be time-consuming, stressful and agonizing. Here are six tips from the MSU Health e-Guide to help you deal with the cold or the flu this winter season.

sick woman in blanket
Taking good care of yourself will help you beat the cold or flu.

1. Get plenty of rest
Reduce the amount of activity involved in your normal day-to-day routines. Bed rest can help you feel better and avoid spreading the cold or flu to others.Continue Reading… Tips for Dealing with the Cold and Flu

Become Nicotine Free in 2014

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There’s no better way to start the New Year then to decide to quit smoking. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 70 percent of people that smoke want to quit. If you’ve ever thought about quitting, then the MSU Breathe Easy: Tobacco and Nicotine Cessation Program is for you.

The MSU Breathe Easy: Tobacco and Nicotine Cessation Program is a 15 month program designed to help participants eliminate any tobacco/nicotine addiction through support group sessions, with or without the use of prescription medications. Items the program focuses on include: cigarettes, cigars, patches and e-cigarettes.

Health4U has one of the most successful tobacco/nicotine cessation programs in the country, as measured by a 15-month sustained cessation rate of over 27 percent.

Participants of the program enjoy many benefits when they quit smoking and stop using nicotine products, including fresher breath, whiter teeth, better breathing, and more money to spend on the things they enjoy.Continue Reading… Become Nicotine Free in 2014

State of Mind Awareness

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Calming your mind allows you the opportunity to learn new information and develop new insights. EAP Counselor and HRD Facilitator Lisa Laughman (formerly Davidson) offers tips on learning how to manage your thoughts and become aware of your state of mind. Check out the video here.

Build your skills and grow professionally by enrolling in one of several upcoming HRD course offerings in the spring of 2014, or check out Lisa’s upcoming Health4U courses.

5 Tips to Stay Healthy in the Winter

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Staying active and eating healthy are essential steps in maintaining your wellbeing throughout the winter months. To assist you in staying healthy this winter, here are five tips from Health4U Nutritionist and Registered Dietitian Peggy Crum.

Physical activity combined with a balanced diet can help you avoid the cold and flu this winter.
Physical activity combined with a balanced diet can help you avoid the cold and flu this winter.

1. While it is tempting to hibernate in the winter, it is better to keep active.
Exercise invigorates the immune system by speeding up the cells that fight off bacteria. You don’t have to be a super athlete for this to happen—a moderate amount of exercise such as a daily walk will do. Check out this list of indoor walking facilities for places to flex your legs.

2. Get adequate sleep.
Your immune system relies on sleep to stay healthy. Ongoing sleep deficiency can change the way the immune system responds, leading to trouble in fighting common infections.Continue Reading… 5 Tips to Stay Healthy in the Winter

Strength in Numbers: The Importance of Knowing Your Personal Health Stats

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Doctor with a clipboard
Ask your doctor for the numbers. Stay up-to-date with your health statistics.

Staying healthy requires having the right information. The right information includes knowing your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Check out this Best Doctors article to find out why a yearly physical is essential and the medical information you should be aware of regarding your body.

View the PDF provided by Best Doctors.

Facing a medical decision? Best Doctors is here to help.

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

Flex Your Legs on Indoor Walking and Running Tracks

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It’s that time of the year, when the air is chilly and the leaves are falling. Snow and ice will soon follow, but luckily for walkers and runners everywhere there are several indoor walking facilities available in the Greater Lansing area to help keep you on track.

IM East offers a variety of outlets for exercising, including an indoor track.
IM East offers a variety of outlets for exercising, including an indoor track.

Jenison Field House

Jenison Field House offers an indoor track available to faculty, staff and students. Availability of the track varies each day due to classes and possible events. The track is not available on weekends and typically closed on Fridays and Mondays for event setup and/or break down. The best way to discover if the track is available is to make a trip to Jenison on the day you want to walk and inquire.Continue Reading… Flex Your Legs on Indoor Walking and Running Tracks

Take a Break with the Rest with Music Series at MSU

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A day at work can always be made better with music and a moment to relax, and that’s exactly what the Rest with Music series at MSU provides. The Rest with Music program helps connect faculty and staff to local musicians that provide a free 50-minute live music session every month at Abrams Planetarium.

“What we know about music is that music has the capacity to impact human emotions in ways that’s pretty phenomenal. We know that it reduces experiences of depression and anxiety. We know that it actually improves people’s health and there’s lots of both scientific and anecdotal evidence,” said Jonathon Novello, an employee assistance counselor with the University Physician’s Office at MSU.Continue Reading… Take a Break with the Rest with Music Series at MSU