Making Choices to Expand (your) Access

Redwoods Rural Health Center is excited to announce that we've opened a new dental office in Fortuna to offer care more a little closer to home for patients in the North County area. We're bringing services closer to where many patients live and work, the Fortuna location helps reduce travel time (and gas money!) and makes it easier for people to get to the care they need.

This expansion also helps address overcrowding at our Redway locations in Southern Humboldt. As demand for appointments continues to grow, the additional office gives our dental team more room to serve patients across the county and helps ease pressure on the existing clinic schedules.

By expanding into Fortuna, Redwoods Rural Health Center is better able to serve both new and established patients. (See how I didn't say old there? So polite.) The goal is not only to reach more people in North County, but also to improve access for patients in Southern Humboldt by creating more appointment availability and help all our patients be seen sooner, closer to home whenever possible.

You need your vision - for, like, driving & sunsets.

While eye exams are cool there is another simple test that may be part of your visit.

The retinal eye exam.

If you’re wondering what the difference between a regular eye exam and a diabetic eye exam, let's break it down.

A regular eye exam is something most of us have experienced. You go in, and an optometrist or ophthalmologist checks your vision with a chart, measures your eye pressure, and gives your eyes a thorough health check. It's like a wellness check-up, but for your eyes.

Now, if you have diabetes, you might need something a bit more specific—enter the retinal eye exam. This exam zooms in on the tiny blood vessels in your retina. Why? Because diabetes can sometimes cause issues called diabetic retinopathy, where those little blood vessels get damaged. The cool thing is that this exam happens during your regular visit at RRHC.

If you have diabetes, we will use a special camera to snap images of the back of your eye. Then these images are carefully reviewed to see if there are any signs of trouble. Catching any issues early is super important because it can help prevent vision loss. The CDC says regular screenings could help 90% of people with diabetes avoid or delay losing their sight.

So, even if your vision seems fine, getting checked out early means you can jump on any problems before they get serious.

Breakfast Veggie Egg Bake

An easy casserole for breakfast - or whatever meal you'd like to eat it for.

 You don't have to chop.

Grab a container of sliced mushrooms, a bag of shredded carrots, a bag of baby spinach, & some frozen diced potatoes - Bam easy peasy.



Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon 

olive oil, plus more for the baking dish

• 8 ounces 

sliced white or brown mushrooms

• 2 cups 

shredded carrots

• 5 ounces 

baby spinach (about 5 packed cups)

• 2 cups 

frozen diced potatoes (do not thaw)

• 1 cup 

roasted red pepper strips

• 2 cups 

shredded sharp cheddar cheese

• 12 

large eggs

• 2 cups 

half-and-half

• 2 teaspoons 

kosher salt

• 1/4 teaspoon 

freshly ground black pepper

1. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 375°F. Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with olive oil; set aside.
2. Heat the 1 tablespoon of oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the mushrooms and carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the spinach and toss until wilted and almost all of the liquid is evaporated, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the potatoes and red peppers.
3. Transfer to the baking dish and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle evenly with the cheese. Whisk the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper together in a large bowl. Pour over the vegetables.
4. Bake until the top is slightly golden-brown and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

Per serving, based on 8 servings. (% daily value)

• Calories 371
• Fat 25.5 g (39.3%)
• Saturated 12.4 g (62.1%)
• Carbs 15.6 g (5.2%)
• Fiber 2.4 g (9.6%)
• Sugars 6.0 g
• Protein 20.1 g (40.2%)
• Sodium 666.8 mg (27.8%)

Why do we keep bugging you about the same things? Because we care.

Colon cancer screening is a little like changing the batteries in your smoke detector: you do it before there is smoke, drama, or someone whacking the alarm off the ceiling with a mop handle.

Screening is specifically supposed to look for trouble before symptoms show up. 

You don’t want to wait until your colon sends smoke signals.

Screening is the smart way to keep things from getting out of control.

Screening can find polyps before they become cancer so they can be removed, and it can also catch cancer early when treatment works best. Even if you feel perfectly fine—no pain, no changes, no mysterious digestive soundtrack—it is still worth getting screened.

Think of it as preventive maintenance: not glamorous, not anyone’s favorite errand, but potentially lifesaving and far better than waiting for the annoying screaming of the alarm.

Collection kit for the FIT test - a simple colon cancer screening you can do at home.

Cologuard home collection kit.

Yo Bruh, Yoga?



During yoga, the idea is to challenge yourself in a healthy way without pushing so hard that you feel overwhelmed. When you find that “edge,” try to stay focused on your breath and give yourself permission to feel steady and calm.

Feeling better about your body

Yoga helps you tune in to what your body can do right now. It builds awareness, breathing, and strength in both your mind and body—and it reminds you that practice is not about how you look.

Studies have found that people who practice yoga often feel more connected to their bodies and are less critical of themselves. That's one reason yoga is often used in programs that support positive body image and self-esteem.

Becoming more mindful.

Mindfulness just means paying attention to what is happening right now.

Practicing yoga can help you bring more mindfulness into your day—not just on the mat, but in everyday moments too.

Researchers found that people who practiced yoga for at least 30 minutes once a week consitantly tended to gain less weight during middle adulthood. Some people who were overweight even lost weight. Overall, people who practiced yoga had lower BMIs than those who did not, possibly because mindfulness can support a healthier, more positive relationship with food.

Boosting your fitness

Yoga is well known for helping the mind and body relax, but it can also support your overall fitness.

In one small study, people who had not done yoga before practiced at least twice a week for eight weeks. By the end, they showed improvements in strength, endurance, flexibility, and cardio-respiratory fitness.

Supporting heart health

Several small studies have suggested that yoga may help with heart-health, including lowering blood pressure in people with hypertension.

Another study found that yoga improved cholesterol and fat levels in healthy people and people with coronary artery disease. It also helped lower high blood sugar in people with non-insulin-dependent diabetes and reduced their need for medication. Because of benefits like these, yoga is now included in many cardiac rehabilitation programs.

Before starting any new exercise routine, it is always a good idea to check in with your doctor.

Researchers are also looking at whether yoga may help with depression and arthritis, and whether it may support people living with cancer.

Yoga can be a simple, supportive way to bring more calm and mindfulness into a busy life.

If you are interested in getting started, here are a few links to local places where you can explore yoga for yourself.