What’s in your brown bag?

Packing your own lunch is a great way to eat healthier – and to save money. But sometimes the daily routine can get as stale as the crusts in the bottom of the bread bag.

So we’d love to hear from you. Have a favorite sandwich or healthy lunch tip to share? Tell us your great ideas in the comments section.

In the meantime, if you need a little help with healthy lunch ideas, read on.

Can stress cause a heart attack?

Health experts aren’t completely certain, but research shows that uncontrolled stress can have long-term effects on your health – and your heart.

Chronic stress forces the body to remain in “high gear” for too long. That takes a toll on your energy level and your immune system, which needs rest and relaxation to recharge and keep your body healthy.

The holidays are coming; can you still manage a heart-healthy lifestyle?

I ate how many holiday cookies?

The potluck luncheons. The fast-food bites after shopping. The family gatherings with cookies for the kids and cocktails for the adults.

There’s no way around it. The holidays are a challenge for anyone trying to stick to a heart-healthy lifestyle – or just about anyone trying to manage weight gain.

The goal for a heart-healthy lifestyle is to eat more vegetables, fruits, beans and foods with whole grains. It also means eating less meat and trying to avoid foods that are high in salt and fat.

But of course, the holidays are about celebrating and getting to enjoy some special foods and treats. So don’t beat yourself up if you stray off the healthy path a little.

McLaren Macomb Facilities Accepting McLaren Medicaid

If you have any questions regarding the participation status of any health care provider please click here, or contact Member Service at McLaren Health Plan toll free, at (888) 327-0671.

Bradycardia: Controlling a slow heart rate

Irregular heart rhythm. It’s a common cardiac condition, but most people with this problem experience a heart beating too fast. A less common type of arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) is known as bradycardia. This condition happens when the heart rate is too slow. Bradycardia is a heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute. It can be caused by various problems, including problems with the heart's sinus node, which acts as a kind of natural pacemaker.

It may also be caused by problems in the conduction pathways of the heart. This means that electrical impulses are not being conducted from the atria to the ventricles, so the heart’s regular rhythm is disrupted. Other causes include metabolic problems such as hypothermia, or damage from a heart attack or heart disease.

Is it a heart attack?

Warning signs vary for men and women

It doesn’t always happen like you may think. A heart attack can sneak up without the classic symptoms.

While people often expect pain in the left arm or crushing tightness in the chest, there are other warning signs that something may be wrong.

Considering weight loss surgery?

For anyone considering weight loss surgery, education is an important first step. McLaren Macomb’s Bariatric Surgery Institute offers free seminars about surgical weight loss options. Board-certified bariatric surgeon Dr. Carl Pesta will provide information and answer questions regarding bariatric surgery and life after surgery.

Do you know about atrial fibrillation?

That strange, fluttery feeling in your chest could be serious.

It could be atrial fibrillation (A-fib), a type of abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that causes the heart to pump blood ineffectively. A-fib is the most common type of persistent heart arrhythmia and it affects almost 5 million Americans.

What is a heart arrhythmia?

 Did you think about your heartbeat today?

If you’re like most Americans, you probably didn’t give it much thought, even though your heart was beating constantly, anywhere from 60 to 100 beats a minute.

Normally, the heart’s electrical system causes the heart muscle to contract in a regular, controlled pattern. However, a problem anywhere along the electrical pathway causes a disturbance in the heart rhythm. This could lead to an irregular heart rhythm or a heart rate that’s too fast or too slow.

Dirty Picture Friday: How does the flu spread?

Everyday preventive actions can help slow the spread of germs that can cause many different illnesses and may offer some protection against the flu. Do you know how the flu spreads?

Click through for the answer and more information on how to prevent germs from spreading.

Dirty Picture Friday!

What is the dirtiest part of this photo? Comment and share with your friends, the answer may surprise you.

Click through for the answer!

When the diagnosis is diabetes, what’s next? FREE expo with panel of experts

The Diabetes Center at McLaren Macomb will host a free diabetes education event offering the latest information on preventing and managing diabetes to reduce complications. The annual Diabetes Expo will be held Wednesday, October 2, 2013,1 p.m. to 3 p.m., in McLaren Macomb’s medical education auditorium (on the hospital’s lower level, east tower).

A panel of physicians will discuss the latest information on how diabetes relates to other medical conditions, especially heart disease, the nervous system and the digestive tract.

Five common ways germs are spread:

It's back to school time and we all know what that means. Shopping, getting back into a night time routines and runny noses.

One of the most common ways children get colds is by rubbing their nose or eyes after cold virus germs have gotten on their hands.

Here are five common ways germs are spread between people.

How to choose a primary care physician

For individuals and families, it is important to have a primary care physician. Primary care physicians include family practitioners, pediatricians and internists. These physicians diagnose and treat patients for common medical conditions that aren’t emergencies.

ER vs Urgent Care: Which is right for you?

 It’s 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, your doctor’s office is closed, and you need medical care. Where do you go – an emergency department or an urgent care center? The answer is: It depend

The first step should be to contact your primary care physician, who may advise you to come to the office, go to an urgent care center or visit the emergency department, depending on the symptoms you are experiencing. If your physician’s office is not open, an urgent care center or emergency department can provide the care you need. Less serious symptoms can usually be treated effectively at an urgent care center. For more serious symptoms, or sudden severe injuries or illnesses, a hospital emergency department will likely be the best option, providing the necessary level of care.

Staying cool when summer sizzles

When you have 90 degree weeks like this in Macomb County it can be hard to keep it cool in your home. Having an air conditioned home is one of the best ways to keep cool, but can be quite costly.  There are many ways you can stay cool, remain comfortable and still save energy when it’s hot outside.

• Use a fan to cool your home.  A fan costs a penny an hour to use, compared to an air conditioner that can cost approximately 50 cents an hour
• Set your thermostat at 80 degrees while using an air conditioner.
• Use the fan portion of the air conditioner system to circulate air.
• Keep air-conditioning vents clear inside and outside your house.
• Open windows at night and during the cooler part of the day.
• Close blinds and drapes during the day to keep out the sun’s warm rays.
• Install a programmable thermostat. Change the temperature setting during the day and night.

There are other ways to keep your house cool, even if you do not have air conditioning, such as:

• Install more efficient windows.
• Shading through awnings, louvers, shutters and natural landscaping.
• Install insulation in your home.
• Paint your home a lighter color, to reduce the amount of heat absorbed into the house.
• Install reflective film or solar screens on windows.