Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

Did you know there are nearly  90 million family caregivers in the United States, and  that number is growing? We’re recognizing these folks throughout November for National Family Caregivers Month. We kicked it off with a quiz to test your knowledge on family caregivers. Keep visiting stelizabeth.com/healthyheadlines  all month long for more tips! Caregivers can be so busy helping their family members with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia that it’s easy to neglect their own needs. But if you get sick, who’s going to take care of your loved one? In 2013, the Alzheimer’s Association shared some pretty…

Running is a mental sport, and any seasoned runner can tell you hills provide their own special mental challenge. If you’re a Greater Cincinnati runner, you’re pretty familiar with our less-than-flat city. In the latest On the Run video, St. Elizabeth physical therapist Stacey McConnell explains the best way to tackle the hills in your next race or training run. One more tip – develop a mantra when you’re running up hills. I repeat, “I love hills,” to myself until I reach the top. Sounds corny, but it actually works. I can’t say I truly love hills, but a mantra…

Deep down, we know we should avoid processed foods, but every now and then we need to grab something quick off the grocery store shelf. Before you toss that veggie burger or salad dressing into your cart, take a closer look at the label. An ingredient that extends your foods’ shelf life could be causing serious problems, from obesity and Type 2 diabetes to inflammatory  bowel syndrome. When you are scanning  nutrition labels, look for any of the “gums,” such as xanthan. These ingredients, known as  emulsifiers,  are found in everything from ice cream and milk to hamburgers. Even foods…

Will your dentist be the healthcare provider who diagnoses your diabetes? Researchers at New York University recently found that oral blood samples collected during routine dentist visits were as effective as blood samples collected during finger sticks for testing hemoglobin A1c levels. A1c is a blood protein marker that indicates whether blood sugar levels have been elevated over a period of time. It’s one of the markers used to diagnose diabetes, as well as to determine if the disease is under control. About 29.1 million Americans have diabetes, but an estimated 8 million don’t know it.   The NYU findings…

Going to the potty. Singing the ABC song. Riding a bike. Earning an A on a test. Graduating from high school or college. These are some of the big milestones that we as parents look forward to and cherish when they happen. But, what about the “little” moments that make you smile or deepen your bond with other parents? This hilarious and incredibly accurate BuzzFeed article, 19 small moments all parents look forward to will have you laughing and sharing with your partner in crime. Having a two-year-old and expecting my second child in four weeks, there were a few…

Long distance running can be the culprit behind many enduring injuries, but changing your stride will  go a long way to keep you on the road. Your stride, or cadence, is the length between your footfalls. Traditionally, runners try to lengthen their stride – or take fewer, longer steps. In theory, that translates into fewer steps per mile, but it increases your chances to injure your hip or hamstring. I experienced this firsthand when I first started running. As a 5′ 7″ runner, I thought I should take as big a stride as possible…and was soon sidelined by injury. Instead…

The big warehouse superstores are convenient and can save you money, but only on certain items. We read a recent John Matarese “Don’t Waste Your Money” article on when to buy in bulk. For example, apparently you shouldn’t buy cereal in bulk. We had never heard “the sale price at supermarkets on name brand cereal is almost always less per ounce.” Matarese shares how buying items like paper towels, toilet paper, tissues, detergent and diapers can save you hundreds of dollars a year, and won’t expire before using them. However, some items  will go bad before you can even use…

About one in five people with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia are affected by “sundowning” ““ they become confused and agitated as the sun goes down, and may stay that way throughout the night. The behavior can make it difficult for people with dementia (and their caregivers) to sleep at night. It may make people with Alzheimer’s more likely to wander, and having to keep up with people prone to sundowning is a major contributor to caregiver burnout, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. What is “sundowning?” It’s unclear what causes sundowning. Some researchers theorize as the brain…

It’s difficult to workout when you have young kids. Time never seems to be on your side. So, when we saw this brief video  of a mom and her two daughters hitting the gym together, it brought a smile to our face. For this mom, working out with her daughters is a great way to introduce them to taking care of their own bodies and that fitness, as well as eating right, should be priorities. Check out more of her videos on Buzzfeed. The next time you think you don’t have time to workout, remember this mom and daughter trio…

It’s Friday the 13th – take a deep breath. There’s no need to call in sick and stay home today! We wondered why this date is considered so unlucky, and we ran across a video that explains it all in about 90 seconds. Do you have questions about Friday the 13th, or any other myths or superstitions? Let us know, and we’ll do our best to answer them for you.