For five long decades, a smoking habit overshadowed Sally’s life. The idea of quitting always seemed like an unreachable goal — something she never tried to attempt. “I knew I shouldn’t be doing it,” she explained. “But because I enjoyed smoking, I hadn’t previously considered quitting.” Deep down, Sally knew each cigarette was taking its toll, even if she couldn’t …

Dr. David Mosko, Oncologist at Edgewood and the Dearborn Cancer Center, competed in the Olympic trials for swimming in 2008 and 2012. Here he shares his thoughts on competing as an elite-level athlete, and how that has informed his approach to life and practicing medicine.  Dr. Mosko’s remarkable swimming career made headlines ever since he was a teen as a …

Vaping (using e-cigarettes) is actually no safer than smoking. It’s a public health emergency that affects more than your lungs. Vaping also significantly increases your risk for heart and vascular disease. So, if you’re vaping, it’s time to ditch e-cigarettes. Here’s what you need to know. What Is a Vaping Device (E-cigarette)? A standard e-cigarette device holds a cartridge with …

Many medications that help prevent or treat heart disease date back to ancient times, including aspirin and Digitalis. The blood thinner warfarin was first used for sick cattle in Canada. And a common cholesterol-lowering drug called lovastatin occurs naturally in oyster mushrooms, as a Japanese scientist discovered in 1970. Today scientists continue to develop safer, more effective medications for people …

As basketball season winds down into the frenzied fun finale of March Madness, the athletic trainers at St. Elizabeth Healthcare remind student-athletes about the importance of injury prevention year-round. “We see the whole gambit of sports-related injuries in basketball, but the most common are ankle and knee injuries,” says Nathan Ameen, Assistant Athletic Trainer at St. Elizabeth Healthcare and Northern …

Heart disease and stroke, recognized as the first and fifth leading causes of death in the United States, claim the lives of more than 877,500 Americans annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In response to this alarming reality, the St. Elizabeth Healthcare CardioVascular Mobile Health Unit is taking proactive steps by bringing cardiovascular screenings and educational …

Joyce Jacobs has always loved helping others and taking care of people. A career in nursing was a natural fit for her. Her journey through nursing taught her the importance of self-care, which led her to adopt a healthy lifestyle. She exercised several times a week, ate healthy foods and always stayed on top of preventive care. When a routine …

Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure, was always thought to be a disease of the old and sick. But a report published by the medical journal from the American College of Cardiology says heart failure is rising in people under 65 years of age. The study shows that death rates are increasing for adults between 35 and 64 …

E-Cigarettes have been around since 2006, and by the name alone most people would assume there’s nicotine in the product. “The scariest part of these products is kids don’t know it contains nicotine and other harmful products. Kids think it is just water and flavoring,” says Joyce Jacobs. Joyce is a Heart and Vascular Prevention and Wellness Nurse Navigator at …

You aren’t alone if the first thing you think of when you think of the holiday season is stress, stress, and more stress. All of that added stress can lead to serious health problems. Studies have shown that there is an increase in cardiac events during the holiday season, possibly triggered by activities such as shoveling heavy snow or a …