Blog Posts Page

  • A Good Night’s Sleep Makes Life Better for Mike Smith

    October 9, 2018 Mike Smith hadn’t slept more than four to five hours a night for close to a decade. By day, he loaded up on Monster Energy drinks. Today he sleeps six to seven hours a night, sometimes eight, and drinks no caffeine. “Just getting sleep is all I need now,” Mike said. “You’d…

  • Survivor: Sue Olson Stays Positive and Grateful

    October 22, 2018 This article was originally published in Home Magazine Breast Cancer Fact Book, October 2018.  When Sue Olson of Mankato was diagnosed with breast cancer, she requested a week to get her garden in order before her mastectomy. As she worked in her garden, butterflies appeared and flew around her. Butterflies are not…

  • Mother’s Journey: When Your Daughter Must Fight Like a Girl

    November 5, 2018 Val Bembenek is manager of the Mankato Clinic Obstetrics and Gynecology Department. She is secretary of Angels of Breast Cancer founded by Mitzi Roberts of Dance Express. Her daughter Kelli danced at Dance Express from age 3 through her senior year. When my daughter Kelli told me she found a lump near…

  • A Parent’s Guide to Happy Holidays

    Holidays were pretty traditional for me growing up on the Oregon coast. On Christmas Eve, we got together with family and went to the candlelight church service. When we got home, we would take photos in front of the tree. That’s when I went into hiding because I hated having my picture taken!

  • Top 5 Ways to Get Active in Winter

    December 24, 2018 Start Walking. Walking a few times a week is a great place to begin. Malls and community centers are excellent indoor options. Walking can help you lower your risk for heart disease, gain muscle strength and balance, maintain bone health, increase energy and reduce the risk of falls. Play outside. Play in the snow,…

  • Help Your Children Discover the Power of Play

    January 3, 2019 by Ben Dexter, MD Did you know playing is your children’s job? Your child discovers the people and world around them by playing. As silly as it seems, babies learn from peek-a-boo, pat-a-cake, tummy time and when you imitate their sounds. Then they move on to hide-and-seek, baby dolls, trucks, shape sorters, blocks, make…

  • Tuberculosis (TB) Facts

    January 30, 2019 Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. There are two phases: latent infection and active disease. Active TB disease most often affects the lungs, but can involve any part of the body. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, TB is transmitted through the air; extended close contact with someone…

  • Dayne Herber’s Medication Routine Just Got Easier

    February 11, 2019 Dayne Herber of Good Thunder has diabetes and takes several medications to keep his blood sugar in check. With the help of a new service called Medication Therapy Management at Mankato Clinic, he simplified his life and improved his health.  Nathan Evers, PharmD, is a clinical pharmacist at Mankato Clinic. A clinical…

  • Let’s Talk About Poop

    March 20, 2019 by Kara Sullivan, MD When your little one is born, you spend the first days of life making sure she is eating, sleeping and pooping! You breathe a sigh of relief when you get through potty training and accidents. Sometimes though, children have pooping problems and accidents when they get older. In fact, 25-30…

  • Spinning and Skin Care Go Together for Good Health

    April 8, 2019 When Becca Kittelson leads her spin class, she reminds her spinners to wear sunscreen year-round between shout-outs to “go for speed” and “finish strong.” For this certified personal trainer, proactive skin care is an important part of her health routine. In early 2017, she scheduled her first appointment at Mankato Clinic Dermatology to get her skin…