Lifestyle & Wellness

The Importance of Primary Care

“Follow up with your primary care provider.” Many people have heard this phrase after receiving medical care, whether at urgent care, the emergency room or even a cardiologist. Many do not understand why this is recommended, but patients are provided with this instruction for an important reason. A primary care provider (PCP) helps to coordinate your care and ensure that nothing is missed in keeping you healthy. Over time, the PCP goes beyond looking at only a single acute problem and cares for all aspects of your health. Connecting with a PCP is one of the few things in healthcare that has been shown to keep you healthy. 

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When It’s Not a Breath of Fresh Air: A Review of Asthma

With Spring in full swing, bringing with it allergy season, decreased air quality and more people out and about getting exercise, now is a good time to brush up your knowledge of asthma. This is a relatively common condition that affects up to 7% of children and up to 10% of adults in Minnesota. However, while common, this condition is not one size fits all and every person who has this is affected differently. 

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How Federal Funding Impacts Minnesotans

Until this January, I’d wager many Minnesotans didn’t spend much time thinking about the way our federal government moves money around. That’s what’s great about a government that works the way it’s meant to: only the people who are paid to think about it, have to think about it. But as we’ve seen since January 20, when the system starts to break down — or rather, is being actively destroyed — it becomes everyone’s problem. Problems like: Will I be able to feed my family this week if our WIC benefits are cancelled? Will I still be able to see my doctor if Medicaid funding is slashed? Will I have to quit my job to take care of my kids if Head Start shuts down? 

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