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The current nutritional label (food label) can be very confusing: who really knows what 15% of Vitamin A really means? Did you know a 15 oz. can of soup is 2 servings? The good news is a newer, more user friendly nutritional label is coming. The new label was originally scheduled to be on all food packaging by July 2018, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now planning to delay the release of the new food label until January 2020. A survey by the FDA found 77 percent of Americans use the existing nutrition facts label at least…

The average American gains five pounds over the holidays – something that many of us don’t want to hear in the midst of the holiday season. This weight gain is attributed to over-indulging in delicious foods and delightfully festive drinks, as well as the hustle and bustle of the season that limits our normal healthy activities. Less time for working out and watching what we eat makes for extra pounds to our waistlines. What can be done to keep these pounds at bay this holiday season? Get set up for success For starters, try not to think of the holidays…

The Disruptive Snorer Is there a snorer in your house? Whether it’s you, your partner or your child who is doing the snoring – it can disrupt the entire family’s sleep. St. Elizabeth Healthcare’s partnership with ENT & Allergy Specialists (ENTAS) is the answer to your household’s snoring situation. Our specialized staff of physicians and audiologists can treat the full spectrum of sleep apnea in both children and adults. Sleep apnea in children Children with sleep apnea often have symptoms such as open mouth breathing, restless sleeping, loud snoring and enlarged tonsils. These symptoms impact their quality of sleep each…

The holiday spirit is in the air—happy hours, family gatherings, and holiday parties. Don’t let the holiday cocktails ruin your diet. Remember, what you drink matters as much as what you eat. The hidden calories found in our glass can easily destroy the best holiday diet plans. When measured correctly, one serving of alcohol contains 100 calories. One serving is: 12 ounces of light beer (one bottle or can). 5 ounces of wine (about the size of a yogurt container). 1 shot of liquor Betsy Oriolo, MS, RD, LD, CDE at St. Elizabeth Physicians Weight Management Center recommends watching out…

The excitement of preparing for a new baby typically is centered on what you need in your nursery, but you need to prepare for your stay at the hospital as well. As the months get colder, you may also want to keep in mind some additional items. Myra McElheney, RN, OB Prenatal Educator, reached out to some of the moms that have delivered babies at the Family Birth Place at St. Elizabeth Edgewood to see what they felt were hospital bag must-haves in the winter months. Here is the list they created for mom, dad and baby to be prepared…

The first question that most people have about aquatic therapy is, “is it right for me?” The answer to that is easy, yes! Aquatic therapy is right for almost anyone, no matter your age, fitness level or injury. Whether you are an athlete recovering from an injury, or someone with arthritis dealing with intense pain – aquatic therapy can help alleviate your pain and speed up your recovery. Dana Hoskins, PT, DPT, a Physical Therapist at St. Elizabeth Healthcare outlines what you need to know about aquatic therapy: You do not need to be able to swim to have aquatic…

If you know someone who has recently received a cancer diagnosis, you may be wondering how you can help them this holiday season. Often just a small gesture and a helping hand can mean a lot to someone dealing with cancer. Shayna Hamilton, RN, MSM, CMSRN, Nurse Manager at St. Elizabeth Healthcare Cancer Care Center, says, “One of the biggest concerns for patients undergoing cancer treatment is transportation. Offer to help drive them to the store, treatment, or to visit family and friends.” Other ways you can lend a helping hand this holiday season to a loved one with cancer:…

Is knee pain slowing you down and making it difficult to live your best life? Mike Keipert knows this struggle well. When his knee joints were bone on bone from years of heavy lifting at his job, he knew he needed to take action and called the St. Elizabeth Total Joint Center. Some knee pain patients are willing to wait until their pain is severely limiting their lives before undergoing surgery, while other patients are ready to get back to sports and their active lifestyle. Mike fell into both of those categories. Before his first knee replacement, he was in…

St. Elizabeth Healthcare is an advocate of GERD Awareness Week. The goal of GERD Awareness Week is to educate people on reflux symptoms and treatment options as we begin the holiday season. Festive holiday parties mean decadent food – which can also bring on GERD. What is GERD? Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) affects 30-40 million Americans each year. Also known as acid reflux, GERD symptoms can include: Regurgitation (fluid or food coming up into the esophagus or back of the throat) Difficulty swallowing Cough Voice hoarseness Disruptive sleep due to above symptoms GERD occurs when stomach contents come up into…

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day—right? Everyone has read articles that say eating breakfast can help you lose weight, give you energy for the day, or help you focus more in school. Now, the American College of Cardiology released a study that provides evidence that skipping breakfast has a direct correlation to hardening of the arteries. The study not only showed hardening or narrowing of the arteries due to a buildup of plaque (atherosclerosis) in those that skipped breakfast, but the people that skipped breakfast also had the greatest waist circumference, body mass index, blood pressure, blood…