Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

Aging brains are more vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease because they lose the ability to quickly dispose of a waste protein, recent research found. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis identified some of the key changes in the aging brain that lead to greater risk of Alzheimer’s. Why do we develop Alzheimer’s? Aging is the greatest risk for Alzheimer’s. After age 65, the risk of developing the disease doubles every five years, and 40 percent of people 85 and older are estimated to be living with Alzheimer’s. Researchers led Dr. Randall Bateman, senior author of the study…

It’s officially pumpkin spice everything-flavored season, which means you don’t need to worry about sunscreen anymore, right? Think again. You can suffer the same effects from a sunburn while on a tropical vacation in July as you can raking the leaves in your front yard in October. Incidental sun exposure, the kind of exposure you’re barely aware of, accumulates over the years from everyday activities (like walking the dog or  resting an arm outside the car window as you drive).  Damage from these kinds of incidental exposure is frequently linked to the second-most common skin cancer “” squamous cell carcinoma…

Will you be serving potatoes at your holiday get-together? Will those be in the form of french fries? Potato chips? Instant mashed potatoes? We have some advice that will make you and your guests happy; potatoes are chock full of nutrients, but only if you prepare them in a healthy way. Karah Stanley, registered dietitian with the St. Elizabeth Weight Management Center, shares her tips for preparing fresh, healthy potatoes in the video below. Do you have questions about which foods you should stick in your cart at the grocery store? Let us know!

As you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month so be sure to check back each week throughout the month as we share important breast health tips. Cathy Halloran was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001 and has raised close to a combined $450,000 for the American Cancer Society and her very own Chicks and Chucks Foundation, a non-profit she started in 2006 to provide a resource for breast cancer patients in need of financial and emotional support. She devotes much of her time and boundless energy to talking to cancer patients and family members. Halloran is a breast cancer…

Between classes, jobs, sports and club meetings it can be hard for college students to get the nutritious meals they need, especially when the cafeteria fries are calling their names. Buzzfeed recently came out with a list of healthy tips, perfect for college students. These tips range from adding nutrition to each meal to quick recipes to meal prep. Here are a couple that are totally do-able: Stock your dorm room with snacks that aren’t junk food. Keep an emergency granola bar in your backpack. Ones with protein and fiber will help keep you awake and focused. Take extra fruit…

You suspect that a coworker has a substance abuse problem. What should you do? Make specific observations about what you find suspicious, said Kelly Clasgens, a licensed professional clinical counselor with the St. Elizabeth  Employee Assistance Program. “Go talk to the manager or supervisor,” Clasgens said. “And make sure you use descriptive, specific terms and observations, not just broad-stroke accusations.” “Why do you have these suspicions? Because it has to be documentable,” she said. “It can’t be ‘I suspect it because their hair was a mess today.’ It has to be, ‘I smell an odor,’ ‘I notice a change in…

Whether or not you already have a fancy jack-o-lantern design in mind, you will need to find the perfect pumpkin this year. And there are plenty of patches all across the Tri-State full of pumpkins for you and your family to peruse: fat, wide, tall, bumpy, skinny, small. You pick! Find a patch near you: Kentucky Benton Family Farm In addition to a pick-your-own pumpkin patch, there are hayrides, farm animals and a maze of hay for the kids.  The Farm is only open one weekend in the fall. Call 859-485-7000 or email bentonfamilyfarm@aol.com  for more information or to set…

Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are thinking pink. If you haven’t already, now is the perfect time to schedule a mammogram and encourage other women in your life to do the same.  St. Elizabeth’s Digital Mobile Mammography Unit will even bring their mammography technology right to your community center or workplace. You can find upcoming dates for the month of October here. More information is also available here or you can call 877-424-5750 to schedule a visit. Figured out when and where you’re going for a mammogram? Good! Then you can take a little break and try this…

OK, you know you’re supposed to exercise every day. But it’s time-consuming. And it can be expensive, if you have to pay for a gym membership or fancy shoes or equipment. Or maybe you feel intimidated or you don’t like sweating in public or you haven’t quite worked your way up to a formal exercise routine. The American Diabetes Association has some suggestions for incorporating more physical activity into our day that don’t require new shoes or a gym membership, but will help you burn a few calories and keep your blood sugar levels under control. At work Take the…

If you or your family is looking for a great way to spend some time together outdoors, while also picking delicious, nutritious fruit, then apple-picking is the way to go. The Tri-State region has a lot of great orchards, which means there is sure to be one near you. Check them out: Hidden Valley Fruit Farm The Hidden Valley Fruit Farm is hosting an Apple Cider Festival this weekend, which means there will be hayride tours,  live music, train rides and a bounce house for the kids, a  7-acre corn maze and food and craft vendors. Apples are  $25 per…