Health

Reminder: Get support for managing your diabetes at Nov. 20 Verdant event

Navigating Diabetes Today is a free new program to support individuals living with diabetes. Join the Verdant Health Commission on the third Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. for a session in the teaching kitchen or a presentation by a health professional to learn up-to-date information about diabetes and strategies for better blood sugar…

Edmonds School District students’ vaccine records due by Nov. 1

Edmonds School District staff are reminding parents regarding the Nov. 1 deadline to be in compliance with immunization requirements for students attending school. School nurses will provide administrators a list of students that are out of compliance by the end of the week of Oct. 21. Students who are still not in compliance and have not…

Robin Fenn

Verdant Health Superintendent Robin Fenn stepping down

After three years at the helm of the Verdant Health Commission, Superintendent Robin Fenn is leaving in November. That’s according to an announcement issued Monday morning by Verdant. During her time leading the Verdant Health Commission and Public Hospital District No. 2, Snohomish County,  Verdant has invested nearly $17.8 million in community health and wellness program…

Latest opioid overdose survey tracks incidents in Snohomish County

During one week in July, 27 people in Snohomish County overdosed because of opioids, according to the data released Monday by the Snohomish Health District. Two of those overdoses were located in Edmonds, two were in Mountlake Terrace and one was in Lynnwood. Two overdoses — both were fatal, That information comes from the third…

Elected officials join Swedish Edmonds workers on informational picket line

An estimated 60 health care workers from Swedish-Edmonds took to the streets on Thursday to publicly air their claims, chief among them that providing the best quality care is no longer the organization’s top priority, having been replaced by executive pay, profits and expansion. The workers are represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and…

Sponsored: 5 Ways to Get Your Sober Fun in Seattle

I got sober in Seattle. Best thing I ever did (please don’t let my wife see this, as she thinks the “best thing I ever did” happened on our wedding day…) But it was. The best thing. Getting sober, and becoming (and then, remaining) 100% abstinent from any alcohol of any kind changed my life…

Fitness Corner: How to get motivated

Motivation can be elusive even for the most disciplined and driven of us. It ebbs and flows through different phases of our lives . . . as our goals change . . . as we change. As a coach and trainer, motivating my clients is one of the most important aspects of my role in…

A few simple measures will keep shellfish harvesting healthy and fun

With low tides expected through this holiday week, Washington State Department of Health officials are reminding recreational shellfish harvesters to take extra precautions to prevent illness from shellfish. Follow the Three Cs – check, chill and cook. Check the DOH Shellfish Safety Map on the day you’re headed to the beach to ensure areas are…

Sponsor spotlight: How platelet-rich plasma can improve sexual health

​Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections are a form of natural sexual health treatment that gathers platelets and growth factors from a sample of your own blood and re-injects it into your body. These injections are used to improve sexual function in both men and women and can serve as a very effective form of medical…

Alzheimer’s Association names new Washington state chapter executive director

The Alzheimer’s Association has appointed Jim Wilgus as the new executive director for the Washington State Chapter, which is based in Lynnwood. Wilgus joined the Alzheimer’s Association in 2010 and has previously served as a regional leader for nine states, including Washington. “It’s an honor to continue my work with the Alzheimer’s Association here at…

Health Department: Take steps now to plan for wildfire smoke, poor air quality

As summer and dry weather approaches, officials at the Washington State Department of Health are urging everyone in Washington to prepare for smoky days with unhealthy air quality. What people can do now: Identify air quality reports for your area. The Washington Smoke Information Blog has a map of current fires and air quality reports…

Parent group sheds light on dangers of vaping

The number of Edmonds School District students using e-cigarettes – a practice known as vaping – has increased dramatically in recent years. In response, a district parent group last week hosted an information night for parents and students aimed at dispelling myths about these products. According to a 2018 survey by the Center for Disease…

Families get moving at annual Health and Fitness Expo

It was a beautiful Saturday morning to be outside and active, as hundreds of kids, parents, health-related business owners and others gathered at Edmonds School District stadium for the annual Health and Fitness Expo organized by Edmonds Parks and Recreation, Move 60!, the Edmonds School District and Verdant Health Commission. Organized activities focused on track and…

Reminder: Health & Fitness Expo at Edmonds District Stadium May 18

The Edmonds School District and Edmonds Parks and Recreation are sponsoring the annual Health & Fitness Expo Saturday, May 18 at Edmonds District Stadium, 7600 212th St. S.W. Free activities include exhibitor booths, a Move 60! Family Fun Run, a family fitness stage, bicycles, gardening, basketball and an obstacle course. The event runs from 9 a.m.-noon….

Bloodworks issues urgent appeal for blood donors

Bloodworks Northwest is issuing an urgent appeal for donors as O blood types reach a single-day supply. Those who donate by April 30 will be entered to win prizes. O Positive and O Negative blood are required most for emergencies in trauma centers across the Pacific Northwest. “Making things worse, there is a nationwide shortage…

Sponsor spotlight: Introducing a less-invasive form of fertility treatment

Seattle Sexual Health Centers, located just off Interstate 5 at Northgate, offers Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) — a common treatment option for a variety of fertility-related issues. IUI is considered a less-invasive form of fertility treatment. Although it does require human intervention, certain important steps of the pregnancy process are still expected to occur as they…

Fitness Corner: Get back into the working-out game

After an unexpectedly intense workout this morning, I found myself crying. This is not unusual for a lot of people who work out hard; sometimes, after pushing your mind and body, it’s easy to find yourself overwhelmed with emotion. Just about all of my clients get emotional at some point during our work together. This…

Sponsor spotlight: A holistic approach to ovulation induction

Ovulation induction in traditional medical practice uses hormonal therapy to stimulate the development and release of an egg. These drugs are designed to induce ovulation in women who did not ovulate on their own — typically women with irregular menstrual cycles. At Seattle Sexual Health Centers, we take a holistic approach to ovulation induction.  Infertility…

Snohomish County ranked third healthiest in Washington state

Snohomish County holds its spot as third healthiest county in Washington state for the second year in a row, according to the annual County Health Rankings. The 10th annual rankings were released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. They are meant to be a snapshot of health…

Sponsor spotlight: GAINSWave Technology aimed at improving men’s sexual health

Seattle Sexual Health Centers offers GAINSWave, a new, innovative trea protocol for men designed to improve sexual performance in a variety of ways. Men who suffer from erectile dysfunction, Peyronie’s disease, and a variety of male sexual health issues could benefit from GAINSWave treatment. As men age and their bodies and sexual organs become less…

Swedish Edmonds earns nuclear cardiology reaccreditation

Swedish Edmonds has been granted a three-year term of accreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) in Nuclear Cardiology, the hospital announced Friday. “Nuclear Cardiology re-accreditation demonstrates our culture of a positive practice environment and excellent care is raising the bar in Snohomish County,” said Swedish Edmonds Chief Operating Officer Sarah Zabel. Cardiovascular diseases are…

Verdant honors programs, individuals dedicated to community health

The Verdant Health Commission presented four awards to community members and organizations at the Verdant Healthier Community Conference on Thursday, Feb. 21 in Lynnwood. After keynote speaker Eric Klinenberg discussed the importance of shared spaces, four awards were presented to three programs and one individual who have worked to promote a healthier community. The awards…

Shared public spaces key to healthy communities, Verdant conference speaker says

In our increasingly divided society, shared community spaces play a key role in promoting a healthy community. That was the message delivered by keynote speaker Eric Klinenberg during the Verdant Health Commission’s 4th annual Healthier Community Conference in Lynnwood Feb. 21. The annual conference brings together those who serve South Snohomish County residents’ needs, with…