Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

If you have recently noticed a change in your breasts such as feeling firm, ropy or rubbery to the touch, you may have fibrocystic breasts. These changes may seem alarming, especially if there’s pain or tenderness, but they’re normal. Fibrocystic breast changes have been diagnosed in millions of women worldwide. Formerly called “fibrocystic breast disease,” this condition is not a disease, even if you still hear this term. It does not raise your risk of breast cancer, either. Still, because fibrocystic breasts can cause some discomfort, you may benefit from a doctor’s visit. What Are Fibrocystic Breasts? Fibrocystic breasts happen…

It’s normal to feel strong emotions such as anger or bitterness after a difficult interaction or a life-changing event. However, holding on to negative emotions for a long time causes chronic stress. This takes a toll on the body and may contribute to mental and physical health problems. On the other hand, finding a path to forgiveness for yourself and others can lead to long-term improvement in both mental and physical health. Here are seven things to know about the benefits of forgiveness and how to get started. 1. Forgiveness May Benefit Your Heart Health Chronic stress can contribute to…

Watching your child grow up and prepare for adulthood can be exciting, challenging and potentially overwhelming. After all, there are so many things to think about, such as continuing education, employment options and living independently for the first time. Another important aspect of becoming an adult that is sometimes overlooked is making the transition from pediatric to adult healthcare. How Is Adult Healthcare Different from Pediatric Healthcare? Healthcare for youth is geared toward families and puts the parent in the driver’s seat. That means when your child is young, you are in charge of communicating with doctors and making important…

According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), the average American worker spends seven hours a day staring at screens. It’s no wonder so many people are curious about the benefits of blue light glasses. Yet a recent study indicates blue light glasses are not an effective tool for preventing eye strain. The Background on Blue Light Sunlight emits all colors of the rainbow in a combination that displays to people as white. Light that appears bright white to the human eye has a greater blue component. Digital screens, such as cell phones, tablets, computers and laptops, emit smaller amounts of…

Migraines in women are more common than you might think. While 15% of the population experiences migraines, 3 in 4 migraine sufferers are women, according to the Office on Women’s Health. Migraine headaches are caused by electrical activity in the brain responsible for pain and light sensitivity. Many migraine patients are familiar with the discomfort of migraine phases. Migraine pain makes it difficult for many people to function in their everyday lives. Recently, researchers have been trying to understand why migraines have become such a serious women’s health issue and why they tend to worsen with age. Migraines in Women…

Rolling eyes, slamming doors, and angry words. Sound familiar? If so, you may have a teenage rebellion on your hands. The teen years can be difficult because of adolescents’ general moodiness, heightened emotions, and rebellious behavior.   Why can parenting teens be so hard sometimes? To understand why your teen might be rebelling, you first need to understand more about the teenage brain.  The Teenage Brain Two major areas of the brain play a role in rebellious teenage behavior: Infancy and childhood are crucial periods of brain growth, and some parts of the brain continue neural development into the second decade…

Is anxiety a mood disorder or is it a physical reaction to emotional stress? The answer is that it can be both, but the difference between having a short-lived reaction to feeling anxious and having an anxiety mood disorder is like the difference between driving in a light rain shower and navigating a tsunami. Anxiety disorders are the most common form of mental health disorders in the U.S., affecting about 19% of the adult population and 7% of children and teens, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Women are diagnosed with the condition more often than men. How…

A recent survey indicates that American adults have far fewer friends now than they did in past decades. Why Is It Hard to Make Friends? When we’re young, it seems easy to make friends. This is because, according to the American Psychological Association, friendships develop naturally through frequent interaction and shared vulnerability. While we’re in school, we have several opportunities to develop friendships. We’re around the same people every weekday, sharing classrooms and participating in extracurricular activities with people who share our common interests. In this environment, it’s easy to build our social network and feel close and connected to…

Bones don’t age as well as we’d like, and that can raise the risk of a serious health problem after even a minor tumble. This is typically due to a bone disease called osteoporosis that occurs when bones lose mineral density and mass, becoming more brittle. Osteoporosis is called a silent disease because many people don’t even know they have it until they break a bone. That is why providers recommend bone density screenings — X-ray tests that measure levels of calcium and other minerals in bones — as their patients get older. Your hormones can also affect your bone…

During the years surrounding menopause, you may not always feel like yourself. Hormone fluctuations can cause symptoms such as mood swings and night sweats —common perimenopause and menopause symptoms that some women find severe — that may make you feel downright strange. Those features are frustrating enough, but more unusual menopause symptoms may leave you thinking “Seriously?” One such symptom is hair loss — the silver lining is it’s rarely total — and others include breast pain, burning mouth syndrome and dry skin. Your primary care or women’s health provider can recommend treatments for these and other unusual menopause symptoms. …