Category: Health and Wellness

The new year serves as a common time for people to begin improving the health of their minds and bodies. An often-overlooked but vital part of human health is emotional wellness. Health4U is introducing a new experiential course, The Daring Way™, that teaches participants how to understand and examine their emotions. Lisa Laughman, LMSW, ACSW, will be teaching the course, and affirms that “learning to live and work the Daring Way is essential to high performance.” Workers that are able to navigate the full range of human emotions and understand how vulnerability, shame, insecurity and fear might hold them back will be more likely to take risks and will be emotionally prepared when things go wrong.

“The Daring Way teaches you how to be more comfortable with risk and innovation, and risk aversion is a barrier to high performance,” Laughman said. “When we’re afraid to take a risk because we’re afraid of failing, then we’re not being as high performing as we could be.”

Participants in The Daring Way program will develop tools to take charge of their lives and relationships outside of work, as well.

“Being able to move through challenging circumstances effectively is going help you have healthier relationships, a better sense of perspective, and will protect your physical health as well.”  Laughman said. “Your body is not going to be resisting difficult emotions.”

Each of the 12 classes for The Daring Way take place 12:10 – 12:50 p.m. Wednesdays in 338 Olin Health Center, beginning January 20. The class will now be offered using the online learning platform Zoom, and online seating is still available.

Participants should sign up with the intention to attend every class, if possible.

To register or to ask questions, email health4u@msu.edu or call 517-353-2596.

It’s easy to forget the trials of winter transportation after months of clear roads. Here are a few safety tips for getting around in the cold and snow.

Driving

• Drive slowly and leave extra room between you and the vehicle in front of you.
• Anticipate extra time needed for scraping ice and snow off your vehicle and/or slower driving.
• Always have at least a half tank of gas in your vehicle.
• Leave with warm clothes. If you get in an accident or your vehicle gets stuck, you will need to spend some time outside.
• Don’t warm up your vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.
• Make sure the exhaust pipe isn’t clogged with snow, ice or mud.

Read more driving tips from AAA and all about snow removal at MSU.Continue Reading… Travel safely this winter

Joint replacement surgery has become very common in the United States, with surgeons replacing more than a million hips and knees each year with very high success rates. Nine out of 10 people who get a hip or knee replacement have significantly reduced pain and increased mobility.

Who is a candidate for replacement surgery?

Although joint replacement is usually needed later in life, anyone who experiences chronic joint pain or reduced mobility in the knees or hips is a candidate for replacement surgery (depending on a variety of other factors). Surgeons will look for signs of osteoarthritis or joint degeneration, the most common forms of arthritis, as the starting point for a plan of treatment.Continue Reading… Health Matters: Knee and hip replacement

First snowfalls, holiday preparations and the beginning of basketball and hockey seasons might be fun, but they signal the onset of a dreaded annual occurrence: cold and flu season.

The cold can happen year-round, but the flu is generally seasonal and can be more harmful. The first step to prevent the flu is getting the vaccination in the fall. There are four more campus flu clinics providing free shots to faculty and staff until November 16.Continue Reading… Prevent the cold and flu this season

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time of recognition that helps to raise money for research and support for families affected by breast cancer.

This month also serves as a reminder for women to get mammograms; the earlier the cancer is detected, the easier it is to stop its spread and damage.

MSU Human Resources extends its thanks to the researchers, fundraisers and involved citizens who work to find the cure. The strength of current patients, survivors and their families is admirable and is the driving force behind the spirit of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.Continue Reading… Support Breast Cancer Awareness Month