Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

Every year, nearly 700,000 people in the U.S. suffer an ischemic stroke ““ the kind caused by a blood clot or clogged artery. More than a quarter of those patients ““ nearly 180,000 people ““ have suffered a previous stroke. It’s an unfortunate fact that having one stroke significantly increases your risk of having a second “brain attack,” according to the American Stroke Association ““ the risk goes up by about three percent within a month of the original stroke and keeps climbing to about 16 percent within five years of the original stroke. Improved prevention and stroke treatment have…

Spring is here! If you’re looking for a good way to get motivated for summer, consider registering for a race in June. Even if you spent all winter hibernating, you still have time to train for a race this summer. Here are  a few plans to help jumpstart your training: 8-week plan 9-week plan 10-week plan Now that you have your plan, here are a few races to start training for: Kentucky NKY Hates Heroin Distance: 5K run and walk Where: Independence, Kentucky at Simon Kenton High School When: Saturday, June 6 at 8:30 a.m. Cost: $25 pre-registration CASA…

Need an excuse to play a practical joke on your spouse, child or office mate today? We have one for you! It seems the well-known  phrase, “laughter is the best medicine,” has a kernel of truth in it. Whether you’re playing a joke on your friends or family or the prank is on you, laughing out loud could alleviate symptoms of depression, ease anxiety and even act as a buffer against physical pain. That’s only a few of the benefits listed in an article on  The Atlantic. Unfortunately it seems people who are the best at telling  jokes aren’t always…

We all know how well New Year’s resolutions tend to work. You make them, try them for a little while, then inevitably, they fall by the wayside. Rather than make one resolution that may or may not stick this year, why not try something new every month during 2015? Whether you’re looking to refresh your resolution ““ or want to take on a new challenge every month ““ consider giving yoga a try. Easily accessible to all Yoga can be done by almost anyone at any age, and the investment is minimal. All you need are comfortable clothes and something…

Working nights significantly increases African-American women’s risk of developing diabetes, new research shows. The findings carry “important public health implications” given the high number of women affected, concluded the study’s authors, researchers from Boston University’s Slone Epidemiology Center. Researchers stressed that the study wasn’t designed to prove that working nights causes diabetes ““ only that there’s an association between the two. For the study, researchers reviewed data from more than 28,000 African-American women in the U.S. who were diabetes-free in 2005; 37 percent of the women worked nights, and 5 percent said they had worked nights for at least 10…

If you’re considering a diet change, pesceterianism may be a good place to start. Pescetarians don’t eat red meat or fowl – basically, they are vegetarians who also eat seafood. In January, I started eating like this because I wanted to make a healthy change. As a runner, I was looking for  the best way to streamline my diet and consume the right kind of foods to help me train at my highest potential. Following a great deal of research, I decided to forgo pure vegetarianism, because I was worried I’d struggle to find a filling, healthy protein alternative that…

When you feel anxious, pay attention to what you do next. Are you reaching for a sweet or salty treat? If so, you aren’t alone. Eating is the primary method Americans use to decrease anxiety. When we’re anxious, reaching for food is as natural ““ and often unconscious ““ as breathing. But, that soothing feeling doesn’t last long. Typically, noshing ends up increasing our frustration because our choices wreak havoc with our blood sugar, which negatively affects our mood and energy level, and still leaves us feeling anxious. Rather than reaching for what will only make you feel worse, try…

Fuel is one of the most important pieces of  your race training. If you’re participating in an intense training program, it’s easy to eat too much or even too little of the foods you need to achieve that personal best on race day. We want to help you  find the right balance to keep you healthy and prepare for that big race. St. Elizabeth Healthcare physical therapist Stacey McConnell  sits down with certified dietitian Lindsey House to talk about which foods to eat and which to avoid. Do you have questions as you prepare for a race? Share…

We usually think of yoga as a solo activity. You might  imagine a serene yogi quietly clearing his mind on a yoga mat, with calming music playing softly in the background. It seems that’s not the only option available to people who want to stretch out and get centered. A recent CNN Health article shared the benefits of partner yoga, especially for couples. Not only does it help you feel more connected to your spouse, it may even relieve stress. Don’t worry, no crazy poses here! If you and your loved one aren’t too flexible, scroll down to the last…

As with anything in life, there are elements you can control and elements you can’t control. This is even true when considering your risk factors for having a stroke. In a recent post for NKY Tribune, St. Elizabeth Healthcare family physician Dr. Rajeev Kurapati shares how both these factors impact your ability to potentially avoid this life-threatening neurological problem. Risk indicators  like age, gender, ethnicity and family history are beyond your control, but you can still take measurable steps to reduce the likelihood you’ll experience a stroke. Dr. Kurapati’s advice boils down to simply taking better care of yourself. Stop…