Health Education

Health Matters Monthly Column // November 2025 By Tina Opelt, APNP, FNP-BC, Family Nurse Practitioner What Are They and Why […]

This month marks everyone’s favorite month, especially if you like pink! October is breast cancer awareness month. It is our chance to talk and bring awareness to breast cancer for both women and men. Yes, men are also at risk. So let’s jump right into it.

By Tina Opelt, APNP, FNP-BC, Family Nurse Practitioner Handwashing, social distancing and masking when feeling ill are not new concepts,

Are They Right for You? By Tina Opelt (APNP, FNP-BC) With nearly half of American adults classified as obese, many

NorthLakes Community Clinic provides inclusive care in Turtle Lake in a region where healthcare access can be challenging. As one

  Submitted by Rebecca Crumb-Johnson, MA, RD, CDCES NorthLakes Community Clinic  It is not always easy to eat well at

Coffee is a beverage of choice for the vast majority of American adults. According to the National Institutes of Health in 2016, 75% of Americans over the age of 19 reported drinking coffee. Most of us drink it daily and consider it a prerequisite for a decent start to the day. There are a lot of health benefits to regular coffee consumption, but too much of a good thing is, well, bad. So just how much coffee is too much? Let’s take a look.

I work with individuals seeking treatment for addiction every day, whether by self-referral or court order, and I have personally seen the harm that is done to people when they are trying to get better. Despite this desire to get well, their history of involvement in the justice system, as well as the societal stigma present even in the very facilities they reach out to, have become a barrier for them in achieving recovery. Individuals with substance use disorders need to receive evidence-based treatment instead of being sent to jail or prison because addiction is a disease that requires treatment of one’s mind, body, and spirit, and incarceration causes more harm than good.

Submitted by Angela Lunn, APNP, FNP-CNorthLakes Community Clinic It is crazy to think about, but summer is quickly winding down.

As temperatures rise, so does our need to stay hydrated. That said, it seems like there are endless options lining the shelves promising to help us reach our hydration goals. But are they really necessary?

Are you worried about your child keeping up with peers? Is your child delayed with gross motor milestones? Has your child been tripping and falling more often? A pediatric physical therapist can help! At NorthLakes Community Clinic, our pediatric PTs can help kids improve their overall strength, range of motion, coordination, balance, and achieve developmental milestones. Their goal is to help make everyday activities easier for your child. Typically, pediatric PTs treat children from ages birth to 15 years old. They see a wide variety of diagnoses, including: developmental delay, plagiocephaly/torticollis, toe walking, balance/coordination problems with excessive tripping and falling, Autism spectrum disorder, genetic conditions, various neuromuscular disorders, and core weakness. 

As a mom myself, I know being a parent is hard work! This month is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month and I thought it’d be nice to dedicate some time to mental wellness. More specifically, I thought it might be helpful to share the fascinating connection between emotions and the body, specifically the nervous system.

Spring break is upon us, and many are preparing to fly off to enjoy a week on the beach, skiing in the mountains, or maybe something more exotic. Seasoned travelers know the importance of preparing for things like jet lag and staying hydrated on long flights or car trips, but one of the most universal complaints about travel is also one of the least discussed. It might be embarrassing, but as the kids’ book says, everybody poops—and when you’re traveling, normal bathroom routines can go right out the window. While poop-related issues are extremely common while on vacation, they don’t have to be a part of your travel experience. We’ll break down common reasons for these issues and give you some tips on keeping things regular during your vacation.

Did you know adequate sleep is needed for maintaining healthy bodies, minds, and emotions? Research shows that seven to nine hours of sleep a night is considered to be what is needed to support good health in adults. Yet most Americans don’t meet this standard. 

Winter in the Northwoods presents a challenge to our health that is physical and emotional. In this column, I will share strategies I use to keep myself, patients, and loved ones healthy throughout the long chill.