Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

People with diabetes face a higher risk of gum disease and other oral health problems. That increased risk means it’s critical that people with diabetes take good care of their teeth and gums, and also work to control their blood glucose levels. Vicious circle The two issues aggravate each other, according to the American Diabetes Association: Diabetes makes it more difficult for a person to fight off the bacteria that leads to gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis), and gum disease makes it difficult to control blood sugar levels. If gum disease isn’t treated, it can lead to tooth decay and…

Anxiety is normal for children at any age, especially when experiencing big changes like going to school. Many parents dismiss their child’s feelings of anxiety or worry because it can change as often as their favorite food. But, it’s important to take these feelings seriously and get to the bottom of them. With school about to start, here are a few signs to  determine whether your child is experiencing uneasiness about starting or returning to school. What’s not normal? After the first day or even the first week, your child should begin to settle into a new environment. If his…

Feeling stressed or depressed? Are you surrounded by grief or anxiety? If your employer offers an Employee Assistance Program, you have free and confidential help available for that, without copays or deductibles. Such programs also can provide an understanding therapist to help sort out job issues, offer strategies to manage anger, or just provides someone who can help you examine important issues, including whether to get married now, or have kids. What is an Employee Assistance Program? Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), of course, help with heavy-duty issues of serious addictions or significant mental illnesses. But an unfortunate secret surrounds Employee…

The Legionnaires disease outbreak captured news headlines,  first in New York’s South Bronx and now, perhaps in an unrelated case, in Cleveland. So far, 11 people have died, including  one in Cleveland, and 100 other cases have been diagnosed. Here’s what you need to know about the disease: What is Legionnaires disease? It’s a form of pneumonia. Patients, who may not show signs or symptoms until a couple of days after exposure, usually have a fever, chills and a cough. It is spread by breathing in a mist (or consuming infected water) which contains legionella bacteria. The disease is not…

If you haven’t been following the  recent controversy  surrounding Honest Company’s sunscreen, here’s a quick overview. Honest Company, owned by Jessica Alba, is under fire because a  sunscreen it manufactures  appears  to be ineffective. Customers across the U.S. are posting photos of their sunburned skin after using the SPF 30 product. The company promotes its products as “safe and eco-friendly.” The Food and Drug Administration says a third party independently verified the product as effective, but customers are disagreeing – loudly. So, why is this a problem right now? According to Forbes, the sunscreen was recently reformulated after  complaints…

Open a magazine or watch the evening news, and it won’t be long until you see something about the “obesity epidemic” that threatens to consume the average American. Now, for the first time in more than  40 years (as far back as data is available), Americans may finally be eating less. Calories eaten daily by adults and children are  decreasing across  all socioeconomic and racial classes. With more information about our food and its harmful effects available, it seems more Americans are aware what they’re buying for their families  and are making smarter choices. Great job – keep up the…

If you don’t stretch at all, you’re asking for an injury. But, the big question remains – should you do it before or after you exercise? Stretching before According to Greatist, stretching before a workout is crucial to avoiding injuries. That said, the “stretching” you did in gym class likely isn’t as effective as you think before your workout. Next time you workout, try a  “dynamic warm-up.” Use lunges, jumping jacks and high-knee runs to get your heart rate up and your blood pumping. Don’t give up on stretching after your workout, yet, though. Stretching after Although recent studies have…

In as little as two years, Type 2 diabetes damages the way blood flows to the brain. The negative changes are associated with lower scores on tests measuring cognitive skills and the ability to perform activities of daily living, a new study from Harvard University found. The small study, published July 8 in Neurology, found people with Type 2 diabetes experienced negative changes in their ability to regulate blood flow to the brain. “Normal blood flow regulation allows the brain to redistribute blood to areas of the brain that have increased activity while performing certain tasks,” study author Vera Novak,…

We’ve seen some great weather the past few  weekends. And, this weekend’s forecast is shaping up to be beautiful. If you’re looking for a fun way to get out and enjoy the sunshine, pack up the family and go canoeing. We looked up a few nearby canoe rentals and here’s what we found: Scenic River Excursions offers tours along the Little Miami River. Terrell’s Short Trip is 2.1 miles long (ideal for families with younger children), but they also have 6- and 9-mile trips  with plenty of places to stop and “beach” along the way. The short trip is $17/person,…

When you think about an ambitious person, you likely imagine someone who has a high income, a great job and more satisfaction at home and at work. In spite of  these perceived benefits, ambitious people can get a bad rap for focusing too much on their own success and using whatever means necessary to be successful – even if that means stepping on people in their way. If you want to be ambitious, or already consider yourself ambitious, here are some tips from Fast Company to have ambition  the healthy way: 1. Keep your goals to yourself, as sharing them…