Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

Everyone likes a number to work towards to help track their health and wellness goals—an apple a day, eight glasses of water, 2,000 calories, and eight hours of sleep. And of course, you have your Fitbit or your wearable device to track that magic number of 10,000 steps a day. But do you need that many steps? A recent study by a Harvard University professor tested the 10,000-step rule. The study observed the steps and mortality rates of more than 16,000 elderly American women. The conclusion was that at 2,000 steps a day, the women saw positive health outcomes. The…

Joint pain in your upper body can be debilitating and take a toll on day-to-day living. Combing your hair, shaving, lifting and typing can be a difficult task if you are living with joint pain. When chronic pain in your shoulders, elbows, wrists or hands makes it hard to move, it’s time to learn more about your treatment options. If you have been living with pain for several weeks and it hasn’t resolved with rest and ice, something may be wrong. Most joint pain is caused by injury, overuse or arthritis. Do You Have Arthritis? Often, joint pain is caused…

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 years old. The rates are even higher for African Americans. Dr. Deepthi Mosali, Heart Failure Specialist with the Florence Wormwald Heart & Vascular institute at St. Elizabeth says, “This increase is likely due to a rising prevalence of the risk…

It’s that time of year again—school is starting and so are fall sports. Although every sport carries some risk of sports-related concussions, the fall sport lineup of football, soccer and field hockey carry a high risk. Dr. Michael Miller of St. Elizabeth Sports Medicine explained the ABCs of concussions. What is a Sports-Related Concussion “When an athlete suffers a concussion, they develop temporary signs and symptoms that can have an impact on many aspects of their life,” says Dr. Miller. The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine defines a sport-related concussion as “a traumatic brain injury induced by biomechanical forces.”…

Dry Drowning: You Need to Read This According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), drowning is the number one cause of pediatric injury-related deaths. Children under the age of four are at the highest risk for drowning. If you’re a parent or a caregiver, a child drowning in any body of water – the ocean, a lake, a pool or even a bathtub – is front and center on your radar. But are you aware of the symptoms and risks of the lesser-known dry drowning? Dry Drowning: What is it? Children can inhale water through their nose and mouth…

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 St. Elizabeth Healthcare, who teaches the Freedom from Smoking cessation program at St. Elizabeth and is a Mayo Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist and a Mayo Certified Wellness Coach. In a recent study, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)…

Edgewood, KY – Due to the overwhelming response of thousands of signatures from patients, family members, doctors, hospital associates and anyone touched by cancer at the new Cancer Center beam signing in June, St. Elizabeth Healthcare is now inviting the community to share their cancer care story to be memorialized and remembered in “Beyond the Beam.” Beyond the Beam is a project to capture and preserve your cancer care journey at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, whether you are a survivor, caregiver, family member or an associate. Kathy Jennings, Senior Vice President of Oncology Services at St. Elizabeth said, “During the beam…

We all know about pregnancy cravings like pickles and ice cream in the middle of the night. But if you’re pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, it’s important to have a base knowledge of foods to eat and avoid during pregnancy. Pickles and ice cream are fine – in moderation! “I like to advise my pregnant patients to eat whole foods and minimize eating anything processed,” says Dr. Allana Oak, family practice physician at St. Elizabeth Physicians. “It’s also important to eat 75-100g of protein each day to help with your baby’s growth, as well as supporting the growth of…

The St. Elizabeth Family Birth Place is dedicated to making your labor and delivery as comfortable, relaxed and joy-filled as possible. Our beautiful private birthing suites set the tone for the parents-to-be and our skilled Labor & Delivery team is here for you on your labor journey, ready to welcome your little one into this world. At St. Elizabeth, we know it’s essential for mothers to have options during labor. We are continually adding to our menu of services to offer comprehensive, cutting-edge care that gives mothers even more options as their labor progresses. From aromatherapy to new pain relief…

It is difficult to find anyone who hasn’t tried some form of meal replacement products, such as protein bars or shakes. The convenience and ease of meal replacements make it a common choice among dieters. But, to lose weight and keep it off, you need more than a quick fix—you need a long-term plan. Believe it or not, meal replacements can be a key factor in long-term weight loss. Betsy Oriolo, MS, RD, LD, CDE a Registered Dietitian and Diabetes Educator at the St. Elizabeth Physicians Weight Management Center says, “Our meal replacement diet-based option is a great weight loss…