Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

A medical crisis can happen at any age. And if it does happen, it can leave you unable to communicate your healthcare wishes. Advance Care Planning (ACP) involves preparing and discussing your desires for future healthcare needs in the event of a medical crisis in which you are unable to advocate on behalf of yourself. Documenting and recording your desires in a living will, or advance directive, and sharing that information with your loved ones will give them a clear path forward that aligns with your healthcare goals, values and wishes. And when your healthcare team also knows your desires,…

Most packaged foods sold in the United States include a nutrition label, which details nutrients in the food and recommended serving sizes. Understanding food labels and their importance can help you make better choices in the foods you purchase.  Beth Hils, MEd, RD, LD Dietitian at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, says understanding the information on these labels is the first step in helping you become a savvy shopper and healthier eater. What’s the Purpose of a Nutrition Label? A nutrition label provides guidelines for serving size and nutrient information for packaged foods. “The label helps people choose food for a healthy diet,”…

Even if you don’t have a heart condition or are at high risk for developing a heart condition, eating a healthy, heart-protective diet can help you stay healthier and live longer. Beth Hils MEd, RD, LD, Dietitian at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, shares the important connection between what you eat and your heart health. How Healthy Foods Protect Your Heart Following a healthy diet can protect your heart in several ways. First, following a whole-food diet including fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans, fish, shellfish and eggs and minimally processed such as frozen produce and whole wheat flour. A…

Nourish Your Body and Mind Through Journaling What you eat impacts the way your body functions and plays a big role in your overall health. Making better food choices helps build a stronger immune system, improves digestion, boosts energy levels and reduces your risk of developing many serious health conditions, including heart disease. Ever wonder how keeping track of the things you eat can help improve your eating habits? Beth Hils, MEd, RD, LD, dietitian at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, shares food journaling tips, including how to get started. Benefits of Keeping a Food Journal “Tracking food intake is a tool…

Maximizing Nutrition Without Breaking the Bank If you want to improve your eating habits by incorporating more fruits, vegetables and lean protein, you may be worried that doing so will be too expensive. While whole foods can sometimes cost more than packaged foods, there are ways to make eating healthy cost-effective. Plus, it’s always worthwhile to eat better for your long-term health. Learn how eating healthy positively affects your heart health. Beth Hils, MEd, RD, LD, a Clinical Dietitian at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, provides tips for eating healthy on a budget. 1. Plan Ahead for Grocery Shopping Check out sales…

Dale Randall takes his health seriously. His father and brother experienced heart attacks at ages 49 and 52. And, one of his sisters needed bypass surgery. So, Dale knows to listen to his heart. When he woke up with chest pain early on the morning of August 18, 2023, Dale sprang to action. “He woke me up about five in the morning and told me that he was having chest pain, and he was scared and that it felt very different than anything he felt before,” said Dale’s wife, Terri Randall. Dale wasn’t sure what was happening to him, but…

Heart disease is the #1 cause of death for African Americans – and the numbers are rising. Dr. Abiodun Ishola, a cardiologist specializing in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology, at the Florence Wormald Heart and Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth provides details and explains when you should see a doctor. Risk Factors for Heart Disease Dr. Ishola shares that African Americans have specific risk factors for developing heart disease. Many of these are related to social determinants of health, or how people’s socioeconomic situation affects their health. “Locations where, sadly, we have a lot of African Americans with lower financial…

Cardiovascular is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S. What’s more, African American women have a higher risk of dying from heart disease at a younger age than Caucasian women. Dr. Abiodun Ishola, a cardiologist specializing in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology at the Florence Wormald Heart and Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, shares some alarming facts and recommendations to help reverse the trend. Heart Disease in African American Women By the Numbers Check out the latest statistics from the American Heart Association (AHA): Increased Risk for Serious Illness Experts don’t know why, but hypertension (high…

African Americans have the highest hypertension (high blood pressure) rates of any adults in the United States. That’s significant because hypertension puts people at an increased risk for many other serious health conditions, including heart attack, stroke, kidney problems and heart disease. Dr. Abiodun Ishola, MD, an Interventional Cardiologist at the Florence Wormald Heart & Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth, offers details into high blood pressure among African Americans. Prevalence of Hypertension in African Americans According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 56% of Black adults have hypertension (high blood pressure). For comparison, 48% of non-Hispanic white adults, 46%…

Heart disease has been the No. 1 cause of death in the United States for over 70 years. In 2021 alone, it contributed to one in every five deaths. There is good news. Heart disease is preventable. And it’s possible to reverse some of the effects heart disease has on your body, says Dr. Damodhar Suresh, a cardiologist at the Florence Wormald Heart and Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth. “Heart disease is preventable,” he says. “That’s why it’s important to be very aggressive in managing diabetes, controlling blood pressure, and controlling cholesterol.” According to Dr. Suresh, following the American Heart…