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.

Sharing the Road Safely at MSU

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Bicycling is a part of life for the MSU community. Everyone needs to share the road and sidewalks safely. Remembering the roles of pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists can make this process easier.

Police officer on bicycle
The Bicycle Patrol Unit and MSU’s bicycling ordinances are meant to help bicyclists share the road safely with motorists and keep pedestrians and skateboarders safe.

All across campus you’ll find tons of bike lanes designed to help bicyclists share the road with motorists and keep bicyclists off the sidewalks in the path of pedestrians. But on MSU’s campus a number of people still choose the sidewalk as the preferred method of travel while on a bicycle.

An MSU ordinance makes riding a bicycle on non-designated sidewalks and through crosswalks illegal and can result in a ticket.

During 2012 there were 17 bicycle accidents. These accidents included those on the sidewalks, single bike accidents, bike on bike and bike vs. pedestrian. Several required medics.

Whether you’re a faculty member, staff member or student, remembering MSU’s bicycling ordinances can make bicycling safer and more enjoyable.

MSU Police Sergeant Andrea Beasinger offers the following safety tips for bicyclists:Continue Reading… Sharing the Road Safely at MSU

2013 Campus Flu Clinics

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Dropping temperatures and shorter days means flu season will soon be among us and preparation for the foreboding season is vital. The University Physician’s Office will be offering flu clinics at various campus locations in October and November. Flu vaccines administered at the flu clinics will be subsidized by Human Resources for MSU faculty, staff and retirees and will be offered at a cost of $10. The vaccine cost for non-MSU employees and students will be $30.

Woman sick in bed
The flu can be time-consuming, stressful and agonizing. Be sure to get your vaccination provided by the University Physician’s Office.

This flu season the University Physician’s Office is stocking the new quadrivalent flu vaccine, which includes two influenza A strains and two B strains to help protect against influenza disease, in both injectable and intranasal formulations. Until this year, seasonal influenza vaccines included two influenza A strains and only one B strain.Continue Reading… 2013 Campus Flu Clinics

Get Medical Information Delivered to Your Inbox with the MSU Healthy Email Service

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Decoding medical information can be challenging, but not anymore thanks to the Healthy Email Service (HEM) offered by the University Physician’s Office at MSU.

The Healthy Email Service makes access to medical information efficient and convenient.
The Healthy Email Service makes access to medical information efficient and convenient.

The Healthy Email Service provides up-to-date, evidence-based medical information about traditional medicine and alternative practices. The emails cover multiple topics, such as calcium supplementation, sleep medications, head injury in children and more. The emails are delivered bi-weekly throughout the academic year. Each email is written in an easy-to-understand format and can be used for discussions with your health care provider.Continue Reading… Get Medical Information Delivered to Your Inbox with the MSU Healthy Email Service

Walk the Path to Becoming Nicotine Free

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A Chinese proverb says, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” With the MSU Breathe Easy: Tobacco and Nicotine Cessation Program, starting the journey to becoming nicotine free doesn’t have to be done alone.

The MSU Breathe Easy: Tobacco and Nicotine Cessation program (formerly known as the Smoking Cessation Program) sponsored by Human Resources, Olin Health Center Pharmacy Services and Health4U began in January 2008. The program assists participants in eliminating any nicotine addiction through behavior support sessions, with or without the use of prescription medications. Items the program focuses on include: cigarettes, cigars, patches and e-cigarettes.

“Removing tobacco is helpful, but nicotine is the addictive property.” said Bonnie Seaks, physician’s assistant and medical support provider for the Tobacco and Nicotine Cessation Program. “Relapse is more likely when people are still using nicotine products.”Continue Reading… Walk the Path to Becoming Nicotine Free

Congratulations to the Walking Route Photo Contest Winners!

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Walking can provide the opportunity to take great pictures of wonderful scenery. The winners of our walking contest did just that. Three MSU staff members received pedometers for pictures they submitted that were taken while traveling along some of their favorite walking routes on MSU’s campus.

MSU’s campus has many walking routes to enjoy and walking has many benefits. Find out the benefits of walking and how to locate walking routes on campus with our past article.

From left to right: Tim Skutt, Eli Broad College of Business, Lisa Roy, Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures and the Writing Center, Elizabeth (Ann) Bushon, Olin Pharmacy at the Olin Health Center.
From left to right: Tim Skutt, Eli Broad College of Business, Lisa Roy, Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures and the Writing Center, Elizabeth (Ann) Bushon, Olin Pharmacy at the Olin Health Center.

Find Healthy Foods and Baked Treats at Farmers Markets This Summer

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Yummy baked goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, and live music are just some of the great things you’ll find at farmers markets this summer.

Farmers markets are open in various cities across the state of Michigan and offer a variety of products to love. The East Lansing Farmers Market in Valley Court Park in East Lansing features live musical performances at their market every Sunday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.  Allen Street Farmers Market, located at the corner of Kalamazoo and Allen St. in Lansing, includes vendors with handmade soaps and fresh baked breads at their market every Wednesday from 2:30 – 7 p.m. The MSU Student Organic Farm Stand sells organically grown fruits and vegetables on Farm Lane in front of the Auditorium every Thursday from 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.  These are just some examples of the wonderful farmers markets to visit this summer. Others include:Continue Reading… Find Healthy Foods and Baked Treats at Farmers Markets This Summer

Take a Walk …. At MSU! (with a contest!)

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Do you want to flex your legs, see amazing scenery and increase your energy? Then the Campus Walking Loops interactive map is just for you.

Campus Walking Loops  is an interactive map that displays walking routes across campus. The map lists the distance of each route to help you coordinate your walking schedule, along with emergency phones and campus art features. There is also a downloadable PDF version available on the website.

Women walking on campus
Walking on MSU’s campus provides an opportunity to improve your health and enjoy the scenery. Photo courtesy of Communications and Brand Strategy.

Walking is good for you. According to the MSU Health e-Guide, walking can strengthen the heart, increase blood circulation throughout the body, lower blood pressure, reduce body fat and improve blood sugar and cholesterol levels.Continue Reading… Take a Walk …. At MSU! (with a contest!)

Are You Washing Your Hands Properly?

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We’ve all heard that washing our hands is important, and that it prevents the spread of germs and infections.  Hand washing seems like such a simple task, but a recent study by MSU researchers found that only five percent of people that use the bathroom wash their hands properly.

The study was conducted by Carl Borchgrevink, JaeMin Cha and SeungHyun Kim, faculty members in the MSU School of Hospitality Business. The researchers trained a dozen college students in data collection and had them observe 3,749 people in public restrooms. Of the 3,749 people observed: 33 percent didn’t use soap, 10 percent did not wash their hands at all, 50 percent of men used soap compared to 78 percent of women and people were less likely to wash their hands if the sink was dirty.Continue Reading… Are You Washing Your Hands Properly?

Recognizing and Treating a Heatstroke

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Guy wiping sweat off his forehead during a sunny and hot day
Being able to quickly identify if you’re having a heat stroke can be the difference between life and death.

Summer is soon approaching, which means warmer weather and a lot of sun. Time spent in the warm weather can be fun, but it also has the potential to be dangerous. According to the MSU Health e-Guide, a heatstroke occurs when the body fails to normalize its own temperature and the body’s temperature rises, often to 104°F (40°C) or higher.

Remaining healthy and safe requires the ability to recognize a heatstroke before it’s too late and treat it while waiting for help to arrive. Listed below are the symptoms associated with a heatstroke from the MSU Health e-Guide.Continue Reading… Recognizing and Treating a Heatstroke

Stay Healthy All-Year Round with the New MSU Health e-Guide

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The MSU Healthwise Knowledgebase has been upgraded to the new MSU Health e-Guide, making access to resources and educational materials for maintaining your health easier than ever.

MSU Health Website
The new upgraded MSU Health e-Guide makes accessing important medical and health information easier for visitors.

The MSU Health e-Guide features a new homepage in an easier to use format, allowing visitors to find medical information quickly. The extra features include: an archive of the Healthy Email Series directly on the homepage, a Consumer Care Section with videos on health care reform and suggested questions to ask about medicines and other health topics. It also includes the top 10 searches for various health subjects to see what others in the MSU community are searching for.Continue Reading… Stay Healthy All-Year Round with the New MSU Health e-Guide