Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

People who’ve had head and neck cancer often face challenges with talking, eating or swallowing. These challenges can arise due to the cancer itself or as a result of treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Thankfully, there is help available to significantly improve outcomes. Our Approach to Recovery and Survivorship for Head and Neck Cancer “Our main goal is to focus on survivorship – working with you to return to a full life after you’ve defeated cancer,” says Stephen Buechel-Rieger, Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and Voice and Swallow Specialist at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. As the only healthcare system in…

Dave Brown noticed that his speech was becoming increasingly quiet and that he was starting to slur his words due to Parkinson’s disease. Dave also sang in his church choir and found himself out of breath. He decided to do something about it. After hearing about LSVT Loud (Lee Silverman Voice Treatment) from a family friend, Dave asked his neurologist for a referral. Dave was referred to Paige Hester, CCC-SLP, a speech-language pathologist at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. Paige is one of the few providers in Northern Kentucky who offers this treatment for voice-related changes in people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.…

Blood pressure kiosks are a fast, easy and cost-free way to monitor your blood pressure. But are they accurate? As with many things in life, the answer is, “It depends.” But before we expand on that, let’s talk about why people use these convenient devices and how they can be helpful. Why Do Blood Pressure Monitoring Kiosks Exist? If you have a risk of high blood pressure or have this condition, you probably already know it is important to monitor it. After all, many people refer to high blood pressure as the “silent killer” because it has no noticeable symptoms.…

Firefighters frequently face exposure to the sun and hazardous conditions. Research shows these conditions put them at an increased risk of developing melanoma and other skin cancers. Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, underlining the need for targeted prevention and early detection efforts. Thus, St. Elizabeth Healthcare and Melanoma Know More are partnering to provide screenings for firefighters in our region. This special event will raise awareness about melanoma and other skin cancers. Firefighters can receive a FREE skin check. Regular checks are a key component for early intervention and successful treatment. The saying “early detection saves…

The facility will provide quality care close to home for cancer patients in Southeastern Indiana all under one roof On Monday, April 29, the highly anticipated St. Elizabeth Dearborn Cancer Center will officially open its doors, providing cutting-edge cancer care and easier access to cancer screenings, prevention and treatment for patients in Southeastern Indiana.  “The opening of the St. Elizabeth Dearborn Cancer Center is a significant milestone in our goal to provide compassionate, top-tier cancer care,” said Garren Colvin, President and Chief Executive Officer of St. Elizabeth Healthcare. “We believe everyone in our community deserves world-class care close to home,…

Does your heart seem to race or beat “funny”? It could be one of the most common heart rhythm disorders – atrial fibrillation. “And that can be fixed,” says Dr. Mohamad C. Sinno, a Cardiologist specializing in cardiovascular disease and cardiac electrophysiology at the Florence Wormwald Heart and Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth. What is AFib? Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a common heart rhythm disorder affecting the heart’s upper chambers (atria). When this happens, the atria can’t effectively pump blood into the ventricles, causing blood to pool in the atria. AFib can lead to potentially life-threatening blood clots and increase your…

Blood pressure machine kiosks are a fast, easy and cost-free way to monitor your blood pressure. But are they accurate? As with many things in life, the answer is, “It depends.” But before we expand on that, let’s talk about why people use these convenient devices and how they can be helpful. Why Do Blood Pressure Monitoring Kiosks Exist? If you have a risk of high blood pressure or have this condition, you probably already know it is important to monitor it. After all, many people refer to high blood pressure as the “silent killer” because it has no noticeable…

Heart attacks often don’t send warning signs. So, when people suddenly and unexpectedly feel symptoms, they think, “This can’t be happening! I’m … As the American Heart Association warns, “Don’t die of doubt.” If you think you or someone else is having a heart attack, call 911. It Helps to Learn Heart Attack Symptoms Knowing the symptoms of a heart attack can help you be prepared and act more quickly. Symptoms may differ in men and women, but the most common signs of a heart attack are: Sometimes, women don’t experience these “classic” symptoms, said Benjamin Peterson, MD, MPH, an…

When it’s time for your annual primary care provider visit, one health value they’re likely checking is your cholesterol levels. So, you probably already know that keeping your cholesterol levels within range is essential for your overall health. It’s important that you have the facts on cholesterol. Here, Kevin Miller, MD, a Cardiologist at the Florence Wormald Heart and Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth, debunks some common myths about cholesterol. Myth #1: All cholesterol is bad There are two types of cholesterol: You should strive to keep your HDL cholesterol level as high as possible and your LDL cholesterol level…

When it comes to high blood pressure, ignorance isn’t bliss. In fact, not knowing could kill you. That’s because high blood pressure (hypertension) has few noticeable symptoms. Left untreated, it can damage your kidneys, heart and other organs before you even realize you have it. The good news is by understanding your risk of high blood pressure and taking steps to lower those risks, you can enjoy better health now and in the future. What is High Blood Pressure? Normal blood pressure allows your heart to pump blood to every organ system in your body. High blood pressure happens when…