Tag: Health

You’ve likely seen miniature horses at fairs or expos, but did you know they’re also involved with therapy? Oklahoma is home to a few mini horse farms that serve the state. Peaceful Ponies Located in Sapulpa, Peaceful Ponies Foundation provides healing therapy to people with the help of equines, specifically miniature ponies. These highly trained animals are dedicated to visiting those...

Get Moving Once you’ve decided to commit to a new exercise routine or just healthier choices across the board, you don’t want to lose momentum. It’s important to plan ways to stay motivated.  John Jackson, personal trainer and owner of Impact Fitness in Tulsa, says your fitness, nutrition and health should be a lifestyle – and not just a block of...

More than any other time of the year, the holiday season awakens cravings. Whether it’s a unique flavor that’s perfect in the winter months or the nostalgia of grandma’s spiced apple pie, December is a time of indulgence. While giving in to that proverbial sweet tooth is enjoyable in the moment, there’s a way to find a balance. Experts...

A strong back is essential to ensuring good posture and supporting an active lifestyle, says Gregory Holt, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon with the Orthopaedic Center of Tulsa.  “Not maintaining good posture and back strength can lead to changes in your spine, such as the constriction of blood vessels and nerves,” he says. “This can cause headaches, fatigue, and back and neck...

According to the American Diabetes Association, approximately 37.3 million Americans have diabetes and 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed every year. But if you’ve not had experience with this disease, either personally or through a friend or family member, you may not be aware of its physical effects, or the unique distinctions between type 1 and type 2. “The difference between...

The Brain Signs of Dementia  “Dementia is an umbrella term,” says Jason King, M.D., a neurologist with Ascension St. John in Bartlesville. “There exists an array of dementing illnesses – vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer’s dementia – and there can be ‘mixed dementia’ as well.” The most common type in the U.S. is Alzheimer’s disease, which carries genetic...

A conversation about menopause can bring up a variety of shared experiences, unique challenges and differing emotions, from extreme dread to great relief. It’s a lengthy process that includes three stages: perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause.  “Perimenopause includes the few years prior to the last menstrual cycle, when symptoms such as hot flashes and irregular cycles begin,” says Pamela Miles, M.D.,...

Back pain is one of the most common reasons to seek medical care, says Santaram Vallurupalli, M.D., an OU Health orthopedic surgeon and assistant professor with the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City. “Back pain is mostly non-specific, and less than 1% of people with back pain have risk of serious spine disease,” says Vallurupalli. “The most...

A healthy skin care routine is essential at any age. To know how to best care for your skin – the largest organ of the body – it’s important to understand the impact of sun exposure.  Jeffrey McBride, MD, with OU Health’s department of dermatology and dermatopathology in Oklahoma City, says sunlight has a special effect on our health.  “A few...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) names antibiotic resistance as one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. Approximately 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur in the United States each year, resulting in more than 35,000 deaths. These infections are often caused by ‘superbugs,’ a term coined for microorganisms that have developed a resistance to commonly...