Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but according to recent research, a cola a day puts you at a higher risk for developing diabetes. Even if it’s a diet soda. Liquid sugar has long been thought to be a driver for skyrocketing diabetes rates in the United States, which have nearly tripled over the past 30 years. Mirroring that increase, consumption of sodas and other sugary drinks has doubled, according to the National Institutes of Health. At the same time, obesity rates have doubled for American adults, tripled for adolescents and nearly quadrupled for children ages 6-11.…

Have you been looking for a way to get your kids away from the TV and outside? Pokémon Go may be just the thing you are looking for. Pokémon Go takes the original premise of the classic game, Gotta Catch ‘Em All, and puts it outside. Here’s how it works: Users download the app. Users go out and catch Pokémon. That’s it. The game leads players to different locations around the world to gather poke balls and search for  Pokémon. For the most part, parents are thrilled. The game gets their kids off the couch and outside. According…

Sadly, many young athletes, especially those in contact sports, experience a head injury at some point during their career. And, as the term “young athlete” implies, it is often sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, the first concussion may occur early on, but it won’t be the last time they are left feeling dizzy, confused or hurt. Dr. James Hahn, a pediatric sports medicine specialist  with St. Elizabeth Physicians, explains in the video below which signs to look for if you believe your young star has a concussion, and steps you, as a parent, can take to insure the safety of…

Diabetics are constantly reminded of the ravages that their disease can wage on their bodies if they don’t properly manage their diet and blood sugar levels. Nerve damage, damage to their eyes, kidneys, heart and a myriad of small blood vessel maladies await them if they don’t manage their disease. Perhaps the least-known hazard facing diabetics, though, doesn’t grab nearly the same attention: Oral health. When you have diabetes and the resulting high glucose levels in your blood, though, you’re at greater risk for all sorts of oral problems. They include: Tooth Decay Everyone deals with plaque, which contains…

Businesses are taking the wellness of their employees to heart. Some are even putting their money where their mouth is. Recently, insurance giant Aetna – which has a large office in downtown Cincinnati – announced that it was stepping up its workplace wellness efforts, including a program that incentivizes employees to get enough sleep. By using technology, specifically Fitbit wellness trackers, employees can prove they’re getting at least seven hours of sleep a night. The program is based on recent research that found that seven hours is the recommended amount of daily sleep, since cognitive function decreases greatly if the…

Doesn’t it seem like Memorial Day was just a few weeks ago? And what about the Fourth of July? That was just yesterday, right? Wrong. Sadly – and we really do hate to be the ones to remind you – we are already halfway through July, which means school is starting about a month from now. For some schools, even sooner. So, are there things you (and your children) should be doing right now to prepare? Or, can you feasibly wait another few weeks to squeeze every last ounce of ice cream, pool parties and campfires out of this summer?…

Maybe it speaks to the inherent vanity in guys, but there is not a single topic that is surrounded by more widely accepted, false “conventional wisdom” than the topic of hair loss. Baldness is genetically inherited from your mother’s family? Wrong. The gene responsible for thinning hair can come from either parent. A shiny pate is the result of too much testosterone? Nope. Rather, it’s dihydrotestosterone (a completely different hormone) that’s the likely culprit, though that remains unproven. Continued use of hair gel can leave you with nothing to gel? Another myth. Perhaps the biggest and most persistent myth, however,…

When people have run-ins with bees or wasps (which can come in these recognizable species: hornets, yellow jackets, mud daubers and paper wasps), things don’t often end well for the human. Here’s what you need to know before you encounter one of these insects: Why do these insects sting you? For bees and wasps, they are most threatened when you are near their hive or nest. Unless you get too close or aggravate them, they are unlikely to sting you when they’re out “working.” If you do smash a wasp or an insect detects you as a threat ““…

Kindness is something kids learn from observing; whether that’s watching their parents, watching their favorite cartoons or reading their favorite books. Buzzfeed came up with a list of 13 children’s books to enjoy with your children. Each one encourages children to help, share or love. Here are our top 5: We All Sing with the Same Voice by J. Philip Miller and Sheppard M. Greene: This song book is complete with verses, a chorus and fun illustrations. The book takes you on a journey around the world celebrating differences and being friends despite those differences. Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts:…

Powdered peanut butter could be the perfect addition to your diet if you’re trying to avoid the fat and calories associated with conventional spreadable peanut butter. What is powdered peanut butter? Basically, powdered peanut butter is a powdery substance that can be added to smoothies, yogurt or desserts as a healthier option, compared to traditional peanut butter. In this recipe,  provided by St. Elizabeth’s Chris Crowley, it can even be added to lettuce wraps. Betsy Oriolo, MS, RD, LD, CDE, with St. Elizabeth Physicians explains more in the video below.