Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

Summertime usually means lots of outdoor fun with the family. If camping or hiking are on your to-do list this year, you could come face-to-face with poison ivy. If you do encounter the plant, here’s a quick guide to escape without all the itching: What is poison ivy? While we usually think of ivy as growing along walls, you can find poison ivy just about anywhere. Since it comes in many different forms, the plant can be difficult to spot. We all know to “leave leaves of three be,” but poison ivy is not the only plant with three…

Celebrating a recent anniversary, birthday or graduation? Or, if you prescribe to Thomas S. Monson’s philosophy on life and believe nothing should be saved for a “special occasion,” then celebrate the fact that you’re alive and try this healthy healthier chocolate cake. Yes, you read that right. If you’re watching your caloric and sugar intake, there is literally a way to have your cake and eat it too. [Tweet “There is literally a way to have your cake and eat it too.”] The Mayo Clinic provided the recipe below, in which one serving equals only 150 calories. (More nutritional information…

Ear infections are extremely common. If you notice your child tugging or pulling at his ear, it may be time to take a trip to the pediatrician. Dr. Aleah Gibson, with St. Elizabeth Physicians’ Aurora, Ind. office, explains more about what to look for and how ear infections are treated in the video below: Keep your family healthy and happy this summer by signing up for tips from Healthy Headlines.

Tired of the treadmill? Just getting started on a workout routine? Now’s the perfect time to try the elliptical. The elliptical is a fitness machine, and is a great alternative to other cardio machines (like treadmills) for people with joint pain or injuries. My Fitness Pal  recently shared some tips to get the most out of your elliptical workout: 1. Work all your muscles: You may think cardio is all about the legs. Not true. Most gyms have ellipticals that include arm and leg work, which will improve circulation. That also means more muscles employed and more calories burned. 2.…

Tanning, an activity done to darken the skin’s tone, often gets a well-deserved bad rap. After all, risks of tanning include  premature aging, eye damage and skin cancer. But, what about my vacation? According to Greatist,  many people who don’t tan often still believe  getting a “base tan” before vacation will reduce burns by increasing melanin, the stuff that protects you from UV damage. Getting a base tan does help, kind of, but it only equates to an SPF of 3 to 4, which is not nearly enough to protect you. And, because you exposed yourself to harmful UV…

Love to read, but hate to work out? Book lovers everywhere: rejoice! Buzzfeed has come out with a list of exercises you can do while reading, or at least using your favorite books. Now you can be sharper mentally  and physically! Here are our top 5: Page-turner push-ups: Get a book out that you’ve been dying to read and place it on the floor in front of you. The goal, do push-ups while reading as many pages as you can. When you’re done, you will be a master at multitasking. Character kicks: Get out a book you know really well,…

Dr. Aleah Gibson, a family medicine doctor with St. Elizabeth Physicians’ Aurora, Ind. office, explains the easiest ways to ensure your family’s safety at the poolside this summer. Whether you are an accomplished swimmer or a beginner, these tips will make sure your beach day is both safe and fun. Do you have your own backyard pool? Check out these tips to keep toddlers out of harm’s way. Watch the video below:

Remember when you were a kid and you would sit and color all day? Or maybe you have a child of your own who does this now. Back in the day, coloring books came in all different sizes, colors and themes, and there seem to be even more options available now. In fact, now, they even make coloring books specifically for adults with intricate designs. They are marketed as a stress reliever, and some people swear by their usefulness in this area, but do they really do what their fans claim? According to Certified Art Therapist Marygrace Berberian, as quoted…

Have you ever wondered what SPF stands for? Or, if you know what it stands for, what “sun protection factor” really means? Is 70 SPF better than 15? Or do you need to be looking at the ingredients and ignoring the SPF completely? Dr. Aleah Gibson with St. Elizabeth Physicians explains how to choose the best sunscreen for your needs, which is key to keeping your family safe this summer, in the video below.

The superbug has reached America, but what does that mean? According to the Washington Post, the superbug is a strain of the bacteria E. coli that is resistant to last resort antibiotic, Colistin. The strain found in the United States is treatable by other antibiotics. If it can be treated, why is it such a concern? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is concerned the Colistin-resistance gene the superbug carries could be spread to other bacteria that cannot be treated with other antibiotics. If this happens, antibiotics will be rendered useless. “Control of [antibiotic] resistance is a daily…