Maximizing Nutrition Without Breaking the Bank If you want to improve your eating habits by incorporating more fruits, vegetables and lean protein, you may be worried that doing so will be too expensive. While whole foods can sometimes cost more than packaged foods, there are ways to make eating healthy cost-effective. Plus, it’s always worthwhile to eat better for your …

Heart valve disease can lead to serious complications if not properly treated, but with early detection and advanced treatment options, many patients can successfully manage their condition. The Structural Heart & Valve Center offers the latest treatments for heart valve disease, including minimally invasive options. Dive deeper with Dr. Michael Kasten, MD, a Cardiothoracic Surgeon at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, as …

It was a beautiful Friday in September, and Shelly Emrick was in her element, volunteering at a community service event. As the crowd grew, a fellow volunteer asked her to sign up for a carotid artery screening. The St. Elizabeth Healthcare CardioVascular Mobile Health Unit was parked nearby, waiting for its first “customer,” she explained. “Just get the ball rolling,” …

David, a Kentucky-born Permanent Deacon now living in Ohio, spent decades battling a smoking addiction that controlled his life. Starting in college, his habit grew to two packs a day. It left him breathless, coughing constantly and worried about his health. When a low-dose CT scan at St. Elizabeth showed lung abnormalities and loved ones encouraged him to quit, David …

Nourish Your Body and Mind Through Journaling What you eat impacts the way your body functions and plays a big role in your overall health. Making better food choices helps build a stronger immune system, improves digestion, boosts energy levels and reduces your risk of developing many serious health conditions, including heart disease. Ever wonder how keeping track of the …

Cardiac Surgery Team Delivers Life-Changing Results When it comes to heart health, expertise matters. At St. Elizabeth, a nationally recognized leader in cardiac surgery, patients and families find unparalleled care, close to home. Through cutting-edge techniques, specialized teams and a commitment to patient-centered care, St. Elizabeth is transforming lives across the region. In recent years, St. Elizabeth has built a …

The advice is straightforward: Stop smoking and work with your healthcare provider to protect your heart. Kentucky has the second-highest smoking rate in the nation, explains Joyce Jacobs, a Nurse Navigator at the Florence Wormald Heart & Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth. According to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), more than 17% of Kentucky adults smoke, and more …

There’s a lot of advice out there on how to live a healthier, longer life – but actually accomplishing that can feel out-of-reach for some people. The American Heart Association provides a realistic science-based foundation to help people achieve success. Their formula focuses on five lifestyle behaviors and three health factors that make up eight key components for better cardiovascular …

If you’ve been looking for ways to improve your heart health — and especially if you have blood pressure problems — you may have heard of the DASH diet. Dr. Sudha Jaganathan, a Cardiologist at the Florence Wormald Heart & Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth, explains the health benefits behind this diet. What is the DASH Diet? DASH stands for “Dietary …

Sodium is a naturally occurring mineral found in salt. And while sodium is essential for several functions in our body, most of us eat too much of it on a regular basis. Dr. Sudha Jaganathan, a Cardiologist specializing in heart failure at the Florence Wormald Heart and Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth, explains how excess sodium affects our bodies and …