UPDATED: June 2022

The CDC now recommends COVID-19 primary series vaccines for everyone ages 6 months and older, and COVID-19 boosters for everyone ages 5 years and older, if eligible. The Medical Specialty Center at Orchard Hospital will be offering a one day infant/toddler vaccine clinic on Friday, July 1st from 8am-4pm by appointment. Call 530-797-3595 for more information or to schedule an appointment. Both Moderna and Pfizer is available for all children and adults ages 6 months or older.

The official start of summer brings the fun of outdoor activities, summer camps, vacations, and high temperatures. It can be easy to get caught up in the excitement of activities and a more relaxed routine, forgetting to take proper care of ourselves and our loved ones when the temperatures get into the triple digits. High temperatures combined with strenuous physical activity can lead to heat exhaustion. Luckily, with the right knowledge and precautions it’s completely preventable.

We all experience levels of stress, sadness, depression, anxiety and other emotions in our lives. They are part of who we are as human beings and our natural way of responding to situations. But as many as 1 in 5 people are affected by these expected behaviors and responses turning into a mental health condition. The signs of mental illness are not always obvious, and each mental health condition has its own symptoms. It’s important to be able to recognize the symptoms and to know how to help yourself or someone else who is suffering.

We all want our youngsters to eat nutrient-rich foods and hope they naturally gravitate towards choosing healthy options – especially when we’re not around to feed them. But you may find yourself with a picky eater and you’re at a loss of how to get them to eat anything other than chicken nuggets or mac & cheese.

Being a picky eater typically starts around the age of one or two. This is the age when kids begin to form specific opinions, but also act very fickle. They love a certain food one day, but if you suggest it to them the next day, they have a temper tantrum.

Some parents feel like bribing their kids is the only way to get them to eat healthy options. Forcing and bribing kids to eat specific foods seldom instills a desired result or behavior. Instead, try different strategies on your meticulous eaters to encourage healthy eating habits.

There’s been so much talk about Covid-19 the last few years you may have forgotten about the flu! But even though Covid-19 has been top-of-mind for most people, the influenza virus is still alive and well. You may think that because spring is here, you’re out of the woods for getting the flu. While typically flu season occurs in the fall and winter, it can actually last as late as May. While its important to test for Covid if you think you might have it, it’s equally important not to forget about influenza A.

Where we live impacts our communities’ health, and we can make our communities healthier, stronger, and safer! The 2022 National Public Health Week (NPHW) theme is “Public Health is Where You Are.” During the first full week of April each year, the American Public Health Association (APHA) brings together communities across the United States to observe National Public Health Week as a time to recognize the contributions of public health and highlight issues that are important to improving our nation.

Weight loss may be the first thing that comes to mind when you hear words like exercise, physical activity, nutrition, diet, and healthy eating, but there’s much more to it. A lifestyle that consists of physical activity and proper nutrition is important to your overall quality of life, more than just the benefit of weight loss. The truth is that physical activity and nutrition are essential to a healthy body and a healthy mind.

Nearly half of the American population over age 20, has high blood pressure, and many don’t even know it. Not treating high blood pressure is dangerous because high blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Devoting a little time every day to care for yourself can go a long way toward protecting the health of your heart. Simple self-care, such as taking a moment to de-stress, giving yourself time to move more, preparing healthier meals, and not cheating on sleep can all benefit your heart. And that’s a good thing, because heart disease is largely preventable and focusing on improving your heart health has never been more important.

In an ongoing effort to curb the latest omicron variant of COVID-19, as of January 18, 2022, every home in the United States is eligible to order up to four free COVID-19 tests. In recent weeks COVID tests have been hard to come by as there’s been an increase in demand, again thanks to the latest and more contagious variant. By offering these free tests, Americans will be able to have them when they need them so they can know sooner whether they need to stay home to protect themselves and others or if they can have peace of mind and go back to their daily activities.