Extension Rural Health & Nutrition

Sleep, Recovery, and Physical Activity: Understanding the Science Behind Rest and Performance

During sleep, the body repairs muscle tissue, regulates hormones, and restores energy, making adequate sleep an essential part of recovery and overall health. Image Credit: Canva Why Sleep Matters Sleep is an essential biological process that supports physical, mental, and emotional health. Although sleep is often viewed as a period of rest, the body remains […]

Understanding and Addressing Sickness Absence in the Workplace

Figure 1 Clemson University FMLA manual

Sickness absence remains one of the most significant contributors to economic and social challenges, directly impacting daily workplace operations and overall organizational effectiveness. In 2003, reports indicated that over 176 million working days were lost due to sickness absence. Today, that figure has risen dramatically, with billions of workdays lost annually due to illnesses. What […]

Liver Health-From a Different View

Obesity Association Promotion Items

Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is a condition characterized by the accumulation of excess fat in the liver, typically defined as fat comprising more than 5% of the liver’s weight. The development of MASLD is closely linked to underlying cardiometabolic risk factors, including obesity, hypertension, type […]

Exercise for Persons with Low Mobility

Yoga is an accessible form of balance and flexibility training that can be performed standing, seated in a chair, or on the ground. Image Credit: RHN Team Picture Bank Physical activity is an essential part of maintaining health, independence, and quality of life, but for individuals with low mobility, traditional exercise advice can often feel […]

Stress and the Autonomic Nervous System

Everyone experiences periods of stress throughout their life. When stress levels remain high, they can cause elevated blood pressure and increased glucose (blood sugar) levels, both of which are risk factors for chronic conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Stress can also lead to unhealthy coping behaviors, including overeating and excessive alcohol consumption, which further […]

Reasonable Accommodations for Individuals with Chronic Health Conditions

Chronic Health Conditions and Disability Chronic health conditions, such as cancer, arthritis, and diabetes, tend to develop gradually and worsen over time. When chronic health conditions transition from an asymptomatic to a symptomatic stage, they can contribute to the onset of disability. Diabetes, for example, is a condition in which the body either does not […]

High Blood Sugar and Hunger

Lee en español What You Need to Know Polyphagia, also known as hyperphagia, is a medical term for excessive or insatiable hunger, even after a meal. This phenomenon is commonly experienced among individuals working to manage a diagnosis of diabetes and can present a significant barrier to effective diabetes self-management. Persistent feelings of hunger may […]

New Year, Less Stress: Diabetes and Caregiving

The New Year can bring new challenges for caregivers. Caregivers balancing a diabetes diagnosis and caregiver responsibilities should be mindful of limiting high-stress situations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people living with diabetes are twice as likely to experience depression or other mental health challenges compared to those at a […]

Understanding RSV: How to Protect Your Family and Community

Discuss RSV prevention with your provider to stay one step ahead. Image Credit: RHN Team Picture Bank What is RSV? Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that infects the nose, throat, and lungs. RSV typically causes mild, cold-like symptoms and does not usually cause severe illness in healthy adults and children. However, […]

Pandemic Influenza

Get Informed An influenza (flu) pandemic is a worldwide outbreak of a novel influenza virus. Novel viruses can impact populations due to a lack of immunity and access to readily available vaccines. Pandemics differ from seasonal outbreaks of influenza that occur every year. Seasonal influenza is caused by influenza virus types to which people have […]