Author: admin

A sprained ankle vs Chronic Ankle Instability Many of us have experienced a sprained ankle at one point in our lives, which is when the ankle ligaments tear when you “turn” your ankle. Typically, this minor injury is treated with a splint, rest and staying off the ankle for a few days or weeks. However, when you start having repeat sprained ankles, there could be a bigger issue occurring in your ankle – Chronic Ankle Instability. This condition is characterized by repeated, easy ankle sprains, “giving way” of the ankle, and ankle pain. Patients with Chronic Ankle Instability are first…

Having a heart attack is scary no matter what the circumstance, but if you are alone and having chest pain you need to be prepared. Daniel Zalkind, MD, Cardiologist at the St. Elizabeth Heart & Vascular Institute warns, “A heart attack can begin as chest pain and quickly progress to sudden cardiac arrest. Statistics tell us if you don’t call 911 during the initial chest pain and it progresses to cardiac arrest, if you are completely alone, you have only an 11 percent chance of survival.” Whether you live alone or you just find yourself alone in certain situations the…

Has one of your loved ones been told they need to have their heart valve replaced? If so, they probably have aortic valve stenosis. When someone needs a heart valve replacement their quality of life is poor. They usually see a decline in daily activities and suffer from extreme fatigue. Typically, the doctor performs open heart surgery, removes the damaged valve, and replaces it with a new one. But if you have other health issues, like congestive heart failure or renal failure, you may not be able to live through open heart surgery, or the tough recovery after surgery. That…

Susan Cox did the unthinkable – she drove herself to the hospital, even though she thought she could be having a heart attack. Her children had already been through so much when they lost their father to heart disease, so she didn’t want them to see her leave in an ambulance. Susan said, “Just two years ago my husband Randy was at St. Elizabeth for heart surgery. That was the most difficult time of my life. Randy was everything to me, we were together for 20 years.” After Randy suffered a heart attack, Cardiac Surgeon Victor Schmelzer, MD performed triple-bypass…

At 43 years old, Dennis Dalton doesn’t let much slow him down—not even a heart attack. November 2, 2017 was a typical Thursday for Dennis. He worked all day and met a small group he helps to train for obstacle course race training—think American Ninja Warrior. After a tough workout, he wasn’t feeling great and thought he may have indigestion, but his girlfriend Jen knew exactly what it was. “I am 43, I run 120 miles a month, I exercise regularly, my diet’s good, I’ve never tried a drug, and I’ve never tried a cigarette. I was in denial that…

Low back pain in a young athlete can be much more than muscle soreness or pain after a tough game. Athletes who participate in sports like volleyball, dance, football, diving, baseball, hockey and gymnastics are at risk for Spondylolysis. If a young athlete is suffering from low back pain for more than a few weeks, they should be evaluated for Spondylolysis. What is Spondylolysis? Spondylolysis is a stress fracture in part of the vertebrae that occurs due to repetitive stress and is usually found in the lumbar or lower area of the spine. Kathy Boehmer PT, MHS, SCS, ATC, Specialty…

Phil Dietz has an endless list of jobs—Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Director for Independence Fire Department, flight paramedic, cardiac life support educator, Vice President of Kentucky Ambulance Provider Association, and youth football coach. When he was having the classic heart attack symptoms—he ignored them. At only 39, Phil felt it was too early to start worrying about a heart attack, even though he has a history of heart disease in his family. “As a part of my job I teach people about how to treat patients having a heart attack,” said Phil. “In my 20-year career as a paramedic, I’ve…

According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 1,735,350 new cancer cases and 609,640 cancer deaths will occur in the United States in 2018. Kentucky in particular is one of the five states with the highest incidence rate for cancer, with the commonwealth having the highest death rate of all. Cathy Reising, BBA, CTR, Cancer Registry Manager at St. Elizabeth understands early detection is key. She said, “Early detection is our best weapon against this disease. The best we can hope for if cancer comes knocking at our door is it being caught at an early stage.” Reising explains, screenings…

Cutting-edge cancer treatment at St. Elizabeth Healthcare St. Elizabeth Healthcare is proud to be at the forefront of cancer care in the Northern Kentucky area. Our dedicated Oncology Team consists of nine medical oncologists, three oncologic breast surgeons, two gynecologic oncology surgeons, three radiation oncologists and four oncology research nurses. Our entire team participates in clinical trial research, offering patients access to a variety of cancer treatment options close to home. Currently, we have over 20 cancer clinical trials open to patients at St. Elizabeth. Helping to find a cure A clinical trial is a medical research study where patients…

Genetic testing – a source of knowledge Genetic testing is becoming more and more common in today’s society. Knowledge is power, and people enjoy having all the facts at their fingertips – including facts about their health. St. Elizabeth Healthcare offers board-certified genetic counselors to help our patients make more informed health decisions about everything from potential pregnancies to risk of cancer or cardiac issues. How can genetic testing help during a pregnancy? If a couple is considering getting pregnant, they can undergo genetic testing at  St. Elizabeth to determine the likelihood of having a baby with certain hereditary conditions.…