Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

Kids headed back to school in the next few  weeks? You’re going to want to download this guide.  It’s full of tips and advice from local experts, and will help you feel more prepared for the year ahead. Some stories include: 5 things you can do to get your child ready for kindergarten 3 tips to relieve test anxiety What to do about bullying What other questions do you have about back-to-school or family health? Let us know on Facebook! In addition to the stories in this guide, here are a few others we shared this month that you may…

Nearly every runner has experienced the pain and agony of shin splints at some time or another. As high school cross country athletes begin working out, they may notice some pain, especially if they haven’t been running as often or as far all summer. Dr. James Hahn, a pediatric sports medicine specialist with St. Elizabeth Physicians provides the following advice to avoid these injuries altogther:

It’s 3 a.m. and you’re wide awake. Maybe it’s the television throwing light across your bedroom or the cup of coffee you drank after dinner, but something is keeping you from catching some z’s. The cause could be from one of those or other simple explanations, but your bout of sleepless nights could also be the result of a much more serious, albeit misunderstood, problem – insomnia. Insomnia is a sleep disorder that has visited one on three adults at one time or another, according to the American Sleep Association (ASA). Difficulty falling asleep, waking up often during the night…

If you’ve been tuned in to this week’s events, including Michael Phelps’ many, many races (and medal-winning moments), you’ve likely noticed him, as well as other athletes, covered in purple-ish spots. No, they’re not birthmarks, bruises or tattoos – they’re the result of “cupping,” an ancient Chinese healing technique that  is thought to draw blood closer to the surface and improve recovery time for sore muscles, according to  The New York Times. And, while it’s hard to argue with a guy who has 26  career medals (and still counting), we’re still researching the science behind this practice. [Tweet “We’re still…

Preschoolers are so young, so cute, and have so much ahead of them. One thing you don’t want to see in their bright future: Obesity. A recent study published  in the Journal of Pediatrics found that preschoolers who were in bed by 8 p.m. were half as likely to develop obesity in their teens than their peers whose bedtime was 9 p.m. or later. Researchers looked at 977 children born in 1991 from time of birth through their teenage years. They recorded data such as weight, height, level of parents’ education and observed attentiveness through video recordings. Then, when the…

As the last few weeks of summer wind down before the start of school, we want to share a few tips to keep you and your family safe and healthy.  Stay outside just a little bit longer with this quick guide to mosquitoes: Where you find them: Mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water, which, unfortunately, means that all of our recent rainy weather has created a breeding haven for the little pests. Why you don’t want them around: In rare cases, mosquitoes can transmit disease and viruses. They can pick up a disease from an animal or…

Viewers of ABC’s fitness show, “Extreme Weight Loss,” remember Rod Durham as the 50-year-old teacher from Tallahassee, Fla. with the cherubic smile. They’ll remember that he lost almost 180 pounds during the 2014 season of the show. They may remember his efforts to help others lose weight, too. Unfortunately, he also is remembered as a cautionary tale for friends and loved ones who suffer from diabetes. Durham, 52, died recently of diabetic complications after suffering from diabetic shock and slipping into a coma. Diabetic shock – a state of severe hypoglycemia, or extremely low blood sugar – can be extremely…

As kids begin to head back to school, you may notice they have trouble sitting still, listening or following instructions. Unfortunately, your child’s teacher or other caregivers may assume they are simply troublemakers, ornery or lazy. Or, they could have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). If you spot just a few of these signs, or they appear only at school or at home, it’s probably not ADD or ADHD. But, if your child is exhibiting a number of ADD or ADHD signs and symptoms that are present at home, at school and at play, it…

Bladder problems are common in men. Especially older men. Having trouble going, going too often or a constant sensation of having to go – or worse yet, the problems of not being able to completely empty your bladder – are common complaints. But while problems are more common as we age, incontinence and bladder problems are not, as it’s often believed, just something that comes with getting older. Yes, as we age muscles become weaker, and the muscle that support the bladder and urination are no exception. However, more often than not, the problem can be traced to something other…

Every parent,  at some point in time, asks himself, “am I doing this right?”   After all, parenting is scary. Taking care of someone else (or several someones) is a lot of responsibility. You worry you’ll screw them up for life or they won’t have fond memories of their childhood. You worry they’ll get sick or will be kidnapped. You worry about them fitting in at school, or what their test scores indicate about their futures. All of these fears are legitimate, and are the exact reason you are a great parent! Worrying about your child’s well-being is exactly what…