Spring has finally arrived in Northwest Arkansas, and the redbuds are blooming. It’s warm enough to plant seedlings or seeds outside now. Rising food prices and seeing your friends’ gardens on Instagram might already have you thinking about doing some gardening yourself, but there’s another reason to take the plunge: it’s good for your health. […]
Medical Laboratory Professionals Week
Each year, the last full week of April is a special time to honor medical laboratory professionals who dedicate their lives to helping others. Lab professionals provide as much as 70% of the information doctors use for diagnosis. This year, we would like to recognize MANA lab professionals for their hard work and sacrifice. “Thank […]
Mammograms and COVID-19 Booster Shots
What do mammograms have to do with COVID-19 booster shots? COVID-19 vaccinations cause swollen lymph nodes in 10-15% of people. Swollen lymph nodes can cause abnormal mammogram results, leading to a call back for further study. This outcome makes some people hesitate to have a mammogram if they have recently had a vaccination. The recommendation […]
National Minority Health Month for Kids
April is National Minority Health Month, a time to think about the disparities in U.S. healthcare and health outcomes — and to take action against those inequities. Health outcomes are different for kids from different ethnic groups Here are some eye-opening statistics: Infant mortality rates in Arkansas are different in different ethnic groups. Black children’s […]
Can You Eat Too Much Protein?
Paleo, keto, Atkins, or Dukan — high protein diets are trendy and appealing with their promise of weight loss without hunger. Plenty of people jump at the chance to enjoy practically unlimited bacon burgers (without the bun). Protein is one of the essential nutrients your body needs to build and repair tissue, too, so you […]
A Healthy Easter Brunch
Easter can be tricky if you’re working to develop healthy eating habits. On the one hand, it usually involves ham, which can be a lean meat, plus lots of vegetables, which are a great part of a healthy meal. Your Easter dinner plate can be healthy and delicious. On the other hand, there’s Easter brunch. […]
A Dozen Easter Basket Alternatives
Easter means family gatherings, egg hunts, and Easter baskets full of chocolate bunnies and jelly beans! But candy isn’t the only thing your kids will enjoy in their Easter baskets this Easter. Colored eggs are a basic! Kids enjoy coloring hard-boiled eggs and they’ll enjoy seeing the eggs they made in their baskets, too. Art […]
AAP Updates Child Development Milestones
You may have heard that the American Academy of Pediatrics has updated their child development milestones. Those milestones — when kids are expected to crawl, speak, walk, and so on — are in important part of your child’s well child appointments. Your pediatrician will check and see whether your son or daughter has met the […]
Combat Stress with Routines
Routines may sound boring at first, but research shows they’re actually able to ease our stress and help us relax. Good routines ultimately enable us to make fewer decisions, free our creativity, and strengthen healthy habits. The focus of National Stress Awareness Month this April is “Back to Basics.” Try some of these ideas to […]
MANA Gives Back to Children’s Safety Center
On April 6, 2022 MANA physicians and staff donated $2,300 to the Children’s Safety Center of Washington County (CSC) as part of the MANA Giving Program. Several staff members from this month’s clinic sponsor, Northwest Arkansas Pediatrics, presented the check to leaders at CSC before they toured the center and learned about the organization. The […]