Saturday I remarked within grandson Dustin’s hearing that I thought this was a very unusual spring. Dustin laughed and said “Grandma – I think you say that every spring!” Maybe I do, but I do believe this spring of 2022 is the strangest one I have experienced in my 91 encounters with the season.
From Babe Ruth to John Wayne, Americans have seen chewing tobacco in popular culture for over a century. Spitting chew has been a trademark of cowboys and professional athletes alike and chewing tobacco use continues at high rates in the United States. In 2018 a survey showed 2.4 percent of American adults used smokeless tobacco, with snuff or snus pouch use on the rise and chewing tobacco on the decline.
As the weather warms up this spring and summer, thousands of Nebraskans are planning to visit our state’s many national treasures and other historic sites. From Homestead National Historic Park in Beatrice to Scotts Bluff National Monument in the Panhandle, Nebraska has so much to offer.
In Nebraska, we know the importance of good stewardship. Our farmers and ranchers responsibly cultivate the land so future generations of Nebraskans can continue enjoying the Good Life for years to come. It’s why, nearly one hundred years before Earth Day even began, J. Sterling Morton founded Arbor Day right here in Nebraska City. Our farmers and ranchers are the original conservationists.
The doctor told my father, “If you stop smoking, in eight years you will have a new set of lungs.” My dad went cold turkey that very day, holding on to the promise. Today he has that new set of lungs, and he’s working hard, breathing strong.
A nutritious diet can serve as a strong foundation for a long, healthy life. Fruits and vegetables are the building blocks of nutritious diets, as they're loaded with nutrients that serve the body in myriad ways.
An excellent weekend of four-sport entertainment concluded with the realization that, at least for me, the football offseason is over already. In addition to watching NBA playoff basketball action, Major League Soccer regular season competition and Major League Baseball on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball, this sports fan was treated to some tackle football as the USFL (United States Football League) began its first campaign after a near four-decade hiatus.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common neurological disease affecting young adults. MS is an autoimmune disorder in which one's body attacks the myelin sheath protecting nerve fibers, resulting in inflammation and a number of neurological impairments. Here's a look at MS by the numbers.
Skin is the largest organ in the human body, but it’s easy to take it for granted. Unless we notice pain or itching or funny spots, most people don’t give it much thought.
Estimates indicate that roughly 200 million people across the globe have thyroid disease. That figure undoubtedly raises an eyebrow, and it also may spark curiosity regarding just what the thyroid does. According to the American Thyroid Association, the butterfly-shaped thyroid gland is responsible for producing thyroid hormones. The gland is normally located in the lower front of the neck and the hormones it produces are carried to every tissue in the body. Those hormones help the body perform various vital functions, which is one reason why thyroid disease poses such a significant threat. Thyroid hormones help the body use energy and stay warm. In addition, these hormones play an important role in keeping the brain, heart, muscles, and other organs functioning at full capacity. Estimates from the Canadian Cancer Society indicated that 6,700 Canadians would be diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2021, while the ATA indicates that more than 12 percent of the United States population will have some form of thyroid disease in their lifetime. Such statistics, coupled with knowledge of the thyroid gland and the vital role it plays in overall health, should compel anyone who suspects they have a thyroid problem to speak with their physician immediately.