Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

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…

For more than 70 years, heart disease has been the No. 1 killer in the United States. It can cause coronary artery disease (narrowing or blockage of the arteries), heart attack or stroke. And you can develop it even if you don’t have a family history. As of 2018, 30.3 million American adults had some form of heart disease. But, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), 80% of premature heart attacks and strokes are preventable. To avoid one of these life-changing events, it’s important to understand how frequently they can occur and to be proactive about…

Cervical cancer is a significant health concern, mainly for women over the age of 30. The most recent statistics, according to the World Health Organization, show that cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, with about 600,000 new cases in 2020 alone. In the United States, the American Cancer Society estimated that in 2024, about 13,820 women will be diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer. Despite these numbers, prevention, diagnosis and treatment advancements have significantly improved outcomes. The five-year survival rate for cervical cancer, when detected at an early stage, is around 92%. Understanding your risks, recognizing the…

Do you have pain in your shoulder when you try to lift a heavy object? How about when you throw a ball or cast a fishing line? Are you having difficulty driving a car because your shoulder pain is too severe? About six years ago, two individuals came to St. Elizabeth Healthcare complaining about the pain in their shoulder and how it impacted daily living. What followed was shoulder replacement surgery using a first-in-the-world approach — it completely sparred the rotator cuff. Dr. Michael Greiwe, an orthopedic surgeon at OrthoCincy, practicing at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, developed this groundbreaking technique in…

In collaboration with the Freestore Food Bank, the St. Elizabeth Center for Integrative Oncology hosted a ribbon cutting and blessing of the new Nourish food pantry on Sept. 7, 2023. This food pantry fills a significant need in the Northern Kentucky community for people undergoing cancer treatment and their families who have trouble affording food — especially healthy options to nourish the healing body. Though the official ribbon cutting occurred in September, Nourish has been helping cancer patients and their families since June 2023. In fact, the pantry has already supplied food to more than 1,825 people. “This is a…

St. Elizabeth Healthcare Brings Awareness to Early Lung Cancer Detection Lung cancer screening saves lives! In fact, the St. Elizabeth Lung Cancer Screening Program has found one lung cancer for every 62 screenings performed since its inception in 2013. Our team has discovered over 570 lung cancers, one lung cancer for every 28 patients screened. That equates to over 400 lives profoundly impacted. This Nov. 11, in partnership with the American Cancer Society and the American College of Radiology, St. Elizabeth Healthcare is proud to support the second annual National Lung Cancer Screening Day, a day dedicated to making convenient…

When managing your health and that of your family, convenience and comprehensive care are essential. That’s what you will find at the Family Practice Center. We understand the challenges of juggling multiple appointments and coordinating care for each family member. The Family Practice Center team works to simplify this process by serving as the primary provider for you and your family’s healthcare. This approach means whether your child needs a vaccination, your teenager requires an annual sports physical, or you need assistance managing a chronic condition, you can count on us to address all your needs in one place. Whole…