Melatonin not a one-size-fits-all sleep solution, experts say
by Melissa Martin It’s shortly after midnight and you’re at the ceiling. You’ve got to be up and out of the house by 7 a.m. to make an early meeting, so you reluctantly head to the medicine cabinet where a bottle of chewable melatonin tablets – purchased for nights just like this – is calling […]
Equine therapy offers unique intervention to emotional, mental challenges
by Sara Hill There’s a line in the 1995 novel-turned-movie, “The Horse Whisperer,” that resonates with the mission and theme of Hope Meadows, a local equine-assisted psychotherapy program: “I guess that’s all forever is. Just one long trail of nows. And I guess all you can do is try and live one now at a […]
Exercise, regular care regimen can alleviate back and joint pain
by Laura Bednar Most applications for manual labor positions include a section asking if the applicant can sit, stand, bend, kneel, crouch and stretch without issue for long periods of time. Whether someone is new to the field or a veteran, there are some things on that list that are harder to do than others. […]

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Northeast Ohio’s Physical Therapy Clinic Offers Hope and Healing for Common Problems
Do you or someone you know struggle with bladder or pelvic floor issues – so bad that it stops you from doing activities that you love like walking, running, exercising or being intimate? Then this article is for you! Many people know there is physical therapy for orthopedic problems like knee and shoulder pain, but […]
Local cardiologist helps clear up cholesterol confusion
by Judy Stringer By now, most of us have heard that there is “good” and “bad” cholesterol. Understanding the differences between “good” and “bad,” however, and how measured levels of one or the other – or both – affect our overall cardiovascular health can be confusing. Summa Health System Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Justin Dunn shed […]
Turning the page on an old lifestyle
Weight-loss surgery helps patients get a new lease on life by Melissa Martin When Gary Martin looks in his closet these days, it’s like flipping through the pages of a memory book – a story of where he’s been, where he’s headed and, most importantly, where he wants to be. Front and center is the […]
Functional fitness exercises train body for everyday tasks
by Laura Bednar People looking to get fit may think the only way to exercise is by using machines at the gym, but there is a type of exercise that promotes full body health just by mimicking everyday movements. Functional fitness is not a new exercise, but rather a newly identified form that causes people […]
Rethinking drinking: It may be time to step away from the ‘quarantini’
by Judy Stringer One of the many unfortunate consequences of the coronavirus pandemic was a noticeable uptick in drinking. A nationwide survey by Rand Corp., released in September, found that American adults reported imbibing 14% more often in spring 2020 than the same period the previous year. Women respondents reported a whopping 41% increase in […]
Dedicated spaces and regular movement aid in productive, safe telework
by Judy Stringer Many companies were forced to quickly adopt remote working capabilities as states, including Ohio, issued stay-at-home orders earlier this year. Even as coronavirus restrictions are being eased, however, a significant portion of office employees continue to work from home, or do so more often than in pre-COVID times. Industry watchers say it’s a trend here to stay. That means it’s […]
The skinny on fasting: Taking long breaks from eating has many benefits
by Laura Straub While “intermittent fasting” – which restricts eating periods to certain days or times – is among one of today’s trendiest diet and wellness strategies, it’s “not quite as new as it would seem,” said Dr. Christine Alexander-Rager, chair of the department of family medicine at the MetroHealth system and associate professor of family medicine […]