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The excitement of preparing for a new baby typically is centered on what you need in your nursery, but you need to prepare for your stay at the hospital as well. As the months get colder, you may also want to keep in mind some additional items. Myra McElheney, RN, OB Prenatal Educator, reached out to some of the moms that have delivered babies at the Family Birth Place at St. Elizabeth Edgewood to see what they felt were hospital bag must-haves in the winter months. Here is the list they created for mom, dad and baby to be prepared…

The first question that most people have about aquatic therapy is, “is it right for me?” The answer to that is easy, yes! Aquatic therapy is right for almost anyone, no matter your age, fitness level or injury. Whether you are an athlete recovering from an injury, or someone with arthritis dealing with intense pain – aquatic therapy can help alleviate your pain and speed up your recovery. Dana Hoskins, PT, DPT, a Physical Therapist at St. Elizabeth Healthcare outlines what you need to know about aquatic therapy: You do not need to be able to swim to have aquatic…

If you know someone who has recently received a cancer diagnosis, you may be wondering how you can help them this holiday season. Often just a small gesture and a helping hand can mean a lot to someone dealing with cancer. Shayna Hamilton, RN, MSM, CMSRN, Nurse Manager at St. Elizabeth Healthcare Cancer Care Center, says, “One of the biggest concerns for patients undergoing cancer treatment is transportation. Offer to help drive them to the store, treatment, or to visit family and friends.” Other ways you can lend a helping hand this holiday season to a loved one with cancer:…

Is knee pain slowing you down and making it difficult to live your best life? Mike Keipert knows this struggle well. When his knee joints were bone on bone from years of heavy lifting at his job, he knew he needed to take action and called the St. Elizabeth Total Joint Center. Some knee pain patients are willing to wait until their pain is severely limiting their lives before undergoing surgery, while other patients are ready to get back to sports and their active lifestyle. Mike fell into both of those categories. Before his first knee replacement, he was in…

St. Elizabeth Healthcare is an advocate of GERD Awareness Week. The goal of GERD Awareness Week is to educate people on reflux symptoms and treatment options as we begin the holiday season. Festive holiday parties mean decadent food – which can also bring on GERD. What is GERD? Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) affects 30-40 million Americans each year. Also known as acid reflux, GERD symptoms can include: Regurgitation (fluid or food coming up into the esophagus or back of the throat) Difficulty swallowing Cough Voice hoarseness Disruptive sleep due to above symptoms GERD occurs when stomach contents come up into…

When you are preparing to have a baby, you may have some surprises. For about 1 of every 10 pregnancies, the surprise is an early arrival of the baby. On November 17, we recognize World Prematurity Day to bring attention to the research, community support, and medical teams that work together to give every baby a chance at life. The team at St. Elizabeth Healthcare Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is proud to fulfill their calling of caring for our smallest patients. Tracy Burch, NICU Nurse Manager at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Edgewood Kentucky believes “Our job as a care…

The American Diabetes Association and the American College of Cardiology teamed up in 2011 to raise awareness of diabetes. Together, they created the ABCs of Diabetes to make it easy for you to remember the key numbers you should be watching to know your risk of diabetes and heart disease. Dr. Mark Boyd, Family Medicine, St. Elizabeth Physicians Covington Primary Care, Covington, KY, believes you should not only monitor the ABCs of diabetes, but he adds the D and E as well. A is for A1C A1C is the average of your blood sugar over a three-month period. The test…

Many times you hear people use Alzheimer’s and dementia interchangeably, but they are not the same. Dementia is a description of a group of symptoms, while Alzheimer’s is a specific disease. Many diseases or conditions can cause dementia. Alzheimer’s is the most common — with 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases due to Alzheimer’s. “Dementia is a word used by most people to describe a group of symptoms that impact the loss of memory,” says Dr. Ty Brown, St. Elizabeth Healthcare Neurologist. “Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that causes loss of memory and other functions. Today, the cause is…

Thanksgiving is the beginning of a long and indulgent holiday season— the first day in a 6-week onslaught of food and drinks. But, you can give your Thanksgiving dinner a makeover and start the holiday season on the right foot, without disrupting your healthy eating goals. “Everyone needs some indulgences, you just can’t let them get out of control,” says Amber Cranfield, RD, LD, registered dietitian at St. Elizabeth Physicians Weight Management Center. “So have those special foods you may only eat once a year, but watch your portions and make intentional choices about what you’re eating.” Some key tips…

Football, cross-country and soccer season are coming to an end, and student-athletes are moving indoors to the hardwood for the basketball and volleyball season. Here are five tips from athletic trainer Chris Unkraut, MHA, ATC, CSCS, Head Athletic Trainer for St. Elizabeth Sports Medicine, to keep you healthy as you transition from the soft outdoor surface, to the court. Ease Your Body into the New Activity The most important element when transitioning from outdoor sports to indoor sports is to familiarize your body by progressing into the new activity slowly. Moderately increasing the frequency, intensity and the time of the…