Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

If you are like most people, you spend the entire month of December eating your way through a gingerbread forest—full of gumdrops, candy, cookies, icing and everything sweet. But holidays aren’t the only reason people love sugar—it can also help calm nerves, stress and anxiety for some people. Sugar provides a quick rush of endorphins to keep us calm and make us feel better. Make this the year you stop your addiction to sugar and sweet treats. In the United States, added sugars account for up to 17 percent of the total calorie intake of adults—seven percent more than dietary recommendations.…

Does the Cold Weather Bother Your Joints? If the cold weather bothers your joints, you are not alone. Changes in weather, especially falling temperatures can cause stiffness, aches and pains in your joints. Although there are no scientific studies to explain why the cold causes pain and stiffness, there is a common understanding among physicians. Dr. Matthew S. Grunkemeyer, an affiliated orthopaedic surgeon with OrthoCincy Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine who practices at St. Elizabeth Healthcare says, “Drops in barometric pressure can cause pain, especially in joints affected by arthritis. The pressure causes tendons, muscles, and the surrounding tissues to expand,…

Preparing for Delivery During a Snowstorm Babies and snowstorms – a likely pair If your baby is due this winter, you’ll want to take the unpredictable TriState weather into consideration. Snowstorms can swoop in at any time – making it more likely that you can go into labor. “The barometric pressure changes as the snow comes down,” says Deborah Cinque, Nurse Manager at the St. Elizabeth Family Birth Place. “Some people consider it an old wives’ tale, but a mother’s body can respond to these atmospheric changes and go into labor.” To-Do List – Preparing for delivery during a snowstorm…

Winter is a beautiful but often challenging season, especially for new parents trying to keep their babies warm and safe. Our St. Elizabeth experts weigh in on the most important things to remember about babies and cold weather – helping to ease your mind and keep your little one healthy this winter. Cheri Prodoehl, RN, Maternal Child Health Education Specialist at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, offers valuable tips to help create a cozy and safe sleep environment, dressing for the outdoors or navigating car seat safety so you can safeguard your little one’s well-being. 1. Dress for Safe Sleep Making sure your…

You can’t wait to share your new little bundle of joy with family and friends this holiday season – but navigating winter travel and the germs with a newborn can seem daunting. Our team of maternal child health experts at St. Elizabeth Healthcare has compiled a list of helpful tips for holiday travel with little ones. Cheri Prodoehl, Maternal Child Health Education Specialist at St. Elizabeth, says traveling with a newborn can be manageable – as long as you are prepared. “Have a plan and think about what your trip entails,” says Cheri. “Be prepared for things like delays, diaper disasters,…

Take Control of Your Holiday Stress You aren’t alone if the first things you think of around the holidays are stress and depression. But you don’t have to suffer through the holidays—learn to love them again with some simple tips on getting into the holiday spirit. “You can learn to enjoy the holidays and not just endure them,” says Perry Bohanon, APRN who specialize in adult mental health at St. Elizabeth. “The two things that typically drive stress and depression over the holidays are over commitment and unrealistic expectations.” Tips on Coping with Stress When your calendar starts to fill…

Busting Deadly Myths About the Flu Shot Flu season is upon us, which means it’s time to get your flu shot. The flu can have a devastating effect on people of all ages, especially those with a compromised immune system. In fact, in 2020, about 38 million people in the United States had the flu, and more than 22,000 people died of complications last year. Of those that died, it’s estimated 80 percent did not get the vaccine. So, what is stopping you? It could be one of the many myths that still exist about the vaccine. Here are the facts:…

If You’ve Met Your Deductible, Consider Joint Replacement Now As the holidays approach you may not be thinking about elective surgery, but Jan. 1 is also when many health care deductibles reset for the year. In fact, with so many people moving to high-deductible insurance plans, many surgeons and hospitals see an end-of-year rush for surgeries like a total joint replacement. Matthew T. Hummel, MD, an affiliated surgeon with OrthoCincy Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine who practices at St. Elizabeth Healthcare says, “It is very common to see people put off surgeries that are considered elective because of the out-of-pocket expense they…

Coconut oil attracted everyone’s attention when experts promised it could boost immunity, increase fat burning, reduce hunger, and even kill harmful microorganisms. Many people on the keto diet began adding coconut oil to their daily routine as a supplemental energy source because of the reduction in carbohydrates, which is critical to the keto diet. A Harvard University professor delivered a lecture that called coconut oil “pure poison.” Rachel Wagner, MS, LD, a licensed dietitian at the St. Elizabeth Physicians Weight Management Center weighed in, “There is controversy surrounding coconut oil, and although I believe more studies are needed to know…

Avoid Strains and Sprains During Indoor Soccer Sprains and strains are the most common injuries in all sports, including soccer. Unfortunately, playing indoor sports puts you at three times more risk of injury than outdoor sports, according to a research study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine. Matthew Hartke, PT, DPT, Physical Therapist at St. Elizabeth Healthcare Sports Medicine says, “Indoor soccer puts you at risk for strains and sprains because of the sudden jolting movements that come with changing direction and starting and stopping. In addition, collision injuries are common and often more violent in indoor soccer.”…