Don’t Retire-ReFire: Physical health and wellness

By Gail Supplee Tatum, Columnist, The Times Health and Wellness are two words that are not synonymous. However, they do go hand in hand, when it comes to your ReFirement. Health refers to the physical body and whether or not it is free from disease, while wellness, on the other hand, refers to every facet of our lives. It is the complete balance of our well-being from the physical, the spiritual, the...

First case of Zika reported in Chester County

The Chester County Health Department has been notified of the County’s first confirmed case of Zika Virus by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This case involves a Chester County woman (not pregnant) who had recently traveled to an area affected by mosquitos carrying the Zika Virus. The patient was not hospitalized and has recovered. Upon confirmation, the Chester County Health...

Teens need to keep dental health in mind, too

While focus is often on younger kids, teen’s choices can impact whole lives By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times Today, thanks to improved home care and the widespread use of fluorides, many teens have very few serious dental issues. However, that does not make our young patients’ immune from dental concerns. When working with young people I believe knowledge is power. It...

Study: Chesco again healthiest county in Pa.

Chester County has once again been ranked overall as the healthiest county in Pennsylvania according to a study released today by the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The study placed Chester County at the top of the Health Outcomes category, relating to length and quality of life, and number two in Health Factors which include health behaviors, clinical care, social...

Fermentation for the health of it

Age old technique preserves foods, adds healthy live bateria to diet By Matthew Lapp, Columnist, The Times Fermenting is an age-old method used to preserve food.   In fact, according to Robin Foroutan, MS, RD the earliest record of fermentation dates back as far as 6000 B.C. in the Fertile Crescent. Since then, nearly every civilization has included at least one fermented food in its culinary heritage....

Officials caution care with weekend’s frosty forecast

Extreme cold can be a health hazard By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times The National Weather Service is calling for frigid weather this weekend, with overnight temperatures expected to fall to around zero degrees late Saturday night. The only good news: after the weekend blast of arctic weather, Chester County should see moderating temperatures (although a light snow may be possible Monday night), with...

Mosquito spraying: why doesn’t the county want to talk about it?

County needs to answer questions about spraying program By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times The Kennett Township web site has two running headers at the top: “Monarch Butterfly population decline” and “Mosquito Spraying by Chester County Health Department 8/19/2015.” Could these two occurrences be connected, as with bee colonies and insect-eating bird populations being...

Get the most from your dental insurance

By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times Like anything in life, if you want to get the most out of something you need to know how it works. People fortunate enough to have dental insurance should take the time to know what their policy covers and what it’s limitations are. Never assume your dental office’s business staff knows everything. Every employer group negotiates their own...

Spring cleaning can apply to health as well

Sometimes, a lot of little things cause big issues By Dr. Matthew Lapp, Columnist, The Times Spring has finally sprung and after the winter we had, we deserve it!  For many people, the change of season also marks an opportunity for spring cleaning inside and outside the home.  If you’re like me, maybe you’ve noticed that the shrubs and grass are almost due for a trim or that the basement or...

Update your smile without busting the budget

By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times Spring is coming and many of us will spend some time updating our wardrobe, cleaning out some accumulated winter clutter and anxiously awaiting the arrival of the first crocus flower.  It’s also a great time to make sure your smile is it all it can be.   This month I want to talk about the little things we can do to make our smile look better...