General Wellness

As we enjoy some of the longest days and shortest nights of the year, you and your family might also be struggling through some shorter-than-normal and shorter-than-needed nights of sleep. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that preschool age children receive 11-12 hours of sleep, while school-age children get at least 10, with 9-10 hours for teens and 7-8 hours for adults. An early and regular bedtime might be easy when November rolls around, but bright rooms and warm evenings can make it a real challenge during summer months.

That “gut” feeling is more than just intuition – the health of your body often starts and ends there.

“Your gut health influences a lot more than just digestion, it affects your entire body. Believe it or not, a healthy gut contains a diverse and balanced ecosystem of more than 100 trillion microorganisms where bacterial cells outnumber human cells 10 to 1,” said Allie Nowak, physician assistant at Clinic Sofia who is currently completing a program in functional medicine.

We are thrilled to announce the addition of Dr. Deborah Krahl to our staff. She joins Clinic Sofia with more than 20 years’ experience as an OBGYN in the Twin Cities’ area and will begin seeing patients at our Edina location as of July 5. In the meantime, we want to share some fun facts to help you get to know her. Please be sure to say hello to her when you see her in the Edina office!

Everyone experiences constipation or irregular bowel movements on occasion, but when you are regularly straining to go to the bathroom, suffering from stomach pain, having small or hard stools, or feeling like everything is not coming out, it is time to seek help and relief. Bowel movements can vary significantly from person to person – from a couple times per week to several times per day – but once you reach the three-day mark, it is often cause for concern.

“If you think that you drink too much, there is a good chance that you do,” said Dr. Donna Block. “Many women tend to underestimate how much they drink – that’s why we ask about it during your annual visit – and underestimate the effects that alcohol can have on the body and mind over time. While it’s ok to celebrate on occasion, if you are struggling to get up in the morning and function well during the day, it’s probably time to talk with someone about your alcohol consumption.”

It is never too late to fall in love. In fact, more Americans are waiting longer to get married – and more people are marrying later in life. Likewise, more than half of Americans over the age of 55 are remarried, according to Pew Research, while legalized same-sex marriage is giving more gay couples the opportunity to profess their love.