Blog-October 9, 2024—Working on Wellness Wednesday
   When we do a Working on Wellness Wednesday Show---the show can go a lot of different directions---and this show did.
   Avera –provided our first guest---Dr. Demetre Skliris—the topic—Healthy Aging and why it’s important---
   We know that as we age---many times we back away from doing what we should.
   September is Healthy Aging Month but even though the calendar flipped, today is always a good day to start focusing on your health, especially for those of us who are getting closer to those golden years. 
    Among the things-that we can focus on:
Focusing on health by maintaining a healthy lifestyle to help deal with the changes that come with aging and to prevent common age-related health problems. 
Getting regular checkups—this includes regular physicals, medical tests, and dental and optometry appointments
Eating healthy by eating a variety of fresh fruits and veggies, and ry to avoid excessive processed foods. 
Having a positive attitude: Be positive in your conversations and actions every day.
An annual physical exam with your doctor is what Avera recommends to build that relationship between you and your doctor and also point you to the preventative screenings that you may be eligible for.
Colonoscopy—seeing more colon cancers in younger adults-so regular scopes starting at 45 until age 75 is recommended.
Mammogram starting at age 40, women should get annuals to help detect breast cancer early. These paired with annual checkups will help you and your doctor stay on ahead and plan should a diagnosis be made.
Prostate—depending on your family history and risk factors, men can start as early as 40—
Learn if you’re at risk for disease-during a checkup, your doctor can find problems that might make you more likely to get sick in the future—a check of your family healthy history could flag risks for inherited conditions like cancer or diabetes, so you can get the screenings you need to catch them early. 
       Next up---Dr. Vance Thompson—who talked with us—and promoted an event to help those with vision questions-among those there—20-30-40 year olds—and others who had questions about reading glasses-cataract and laser vision too. More than 100 attended---and we talked about the kind of questions and help his office was able to give. As Dr. Thompson said—YES WE WILL DO THIS AGAIN.
       The American Red Cross of the Dakotas and Minnesota-like others around the country are in the midst of helping with the need for blood thanks to Hurricane Helene and Milton clobbering Florida and gulf states. The worst Storm since Katrina—has cancelled more than 100 blood drives causing thousands of blood and platelet donations to go uncollected. 
        We jumped in to see what we could do—and you can simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App at RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS  (1-800-733-2767). All blood types are needed
   Or you can volunteer---helping support the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross. Visit RedCross.org/MNDAKS for more information. 
   We closed the show with quite the 4th guest---Richard Crawford---really working October as Vision Awareness month---October 15th is White Cane Awareness Day. Brookings will have their day---this weekend----and Sioux Falls will do the same on October 16th. 
     Introducing us to this—a young man who went legally blind around age 10 and over the next few ears lost all of his sight—but he was blessed beyond his wildest dreams with a 46 year working career so far. The last 41 years as a financial advisor (stock broker) who taught his clients it took foresight –not eyesight to make good investments.
     His wife of 42 years had 3 successful adult children and three grandchildren ages 6 months to 22 years. He has a great retirement with good health-and giving of himself and money to causes he believes in.
     We’ll visit more with him next week. 
     Our Working on Wellness Wednesday show –is available as a podcast—go to the KELO-AM website—look for It’s YOUR Business—9-10—October 8, 2024. Use these notes as a guide to what’s in the show. Norm Anderson posts the podcast.
     Questions for me—feel free to call/text at 605-728-2455 (BILL) or email me at bill.zortman@mwcradio.com.