Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

The fall season is quickly approaching and young athletes are starting to train and prepare to take the football and soccer field, volleyball court, or the cross country and golf course. A key to preparing for competition is a proper warm-up and stretching routine. Scott Helton, Certified Athletic Trainer and Director of Sports Medicine and Athletic Training Services at St. Elizabeth Healthcare describes how adding dynamic stretching to your routine can help boost your performance during competition. “Dynamic stretching is sport-specific, it prepares your body to do the activity you are about to start,” says Scott. “By warming up and…

It is hard to look around today and find someone who isn’t wearing a Fitbit, smartwatch or some wearable technology. If they aren’t wearing something, I am sure a smartphone is just out of sight. With all of this technology at our disposal, many people are tracking their diet, exercise and heart rate in an effort to live healthier. Specialized devices and apps are now geared toward monitoring your heart rate. Research has shown your resting heart rate is a major indicator of your overall health and fitness, and it can reveal underlying cardiovascular disease. The Importance of Your Heart…

Chicken Salad Lettuce Wrap If you like chicken salad, you’ll love this fresh take on an old favorite! Lose the bread for a low-carb lunch with this chicken salad lettuce wrap. Ingredients 1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted 1 small tomato, chopped 2 tablespoons plain yogurt 1 tablespoon Dijon or yellow mustard 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro or parsley 2 tablespoons minced red onion 1/4 cup red or green pepper, chopped 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 2 cups cooked chicken, cubed Salt and pepper to taste 8–10 butter lettuce leaves, 4 romaine leaves, 2 cups mixed…

A delicious and healthy drink does not have to be complicated. Keep it simple with this healthy blueberry banana smoothie! Ingredients 1 fresh or frozen banana 1 cup skim milk or unsweetened almond milk 1/2 cup plain or vanilla Greek yogurt 1/2 cup frozen blueberries 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed or chia seeds 3-4 ice cubes, optional Instructions Blend all ingredients until smooth and creamy.

Take this fresh summer salsa to any yard party this summer and it’ll be sure to be a crowd favorite! Ingredients 28 oz can of whole tomatoes 1/4 cup chopped onion 1-2 chopped jalapeño peppers 2 chopped garlic cloves 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon sugar 1 cup chopped cilantro Juice of 1/2 a lime 1/2 can drained black beans 1 cup chopped tomato Instructions Blend together can of whole tomatoes, onion, jalapeño peppers, garlic cloves, cumin, salt, sugar, cilantro and lime juice. Pour into a large mixing bowl and add in black beans and chopped tomato.…

Mothers-to-be delivering at the St. Elizabeth Family Birth Place will be pleased to find a new holistic service offered during their labor and delivery: Aromatherapy. “Aromatherapy is a wonderful option for patients during their labor, delivery and postpartum,” says Jocelyn Laake, assistant nurse manager of the St. Elizabeth Labor and Delivery department. “It can be used along with traditional medicine or as a stand-alone option for natural birth patients.” Research has shown that using essential oils can help to ease some of the symptoms of labor and delivery, including: Pain Anxiety Depression Nausea or upset stomach Essential oils can also…

We’ve all heard “breast is best” for newborn babies. But could breastfeeding have a long-reaching impact on the Northern Kentucky community? Lactation experts at St. Elizabeth Healthcare weigh in on the short and long-term benefits of breastfeeding – and the added benefit to the community. Breastfeeding: A Lifetime of Protection Breastfeeding is much more than just feeding your newborn. Touching, holding, stroking and talking to your baby is so important to their development. Breastfeeding not only provides all the nutrients a baby needs, it also helps to meet your baby’s emotional needs – and it has a lasting impact. “Breastfeeding…

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus that infects teens and adults. An estimated 80% of people will get an HPV infection in their lifetime. HPV can have far-reaching effects on your health, from illnesses like genital warts to multiple types of cancer. The majority of people infected with HPV are in their late teenage years or early 20s. The state of Kentucky leads the nation in HPV-related cancers, which includes: Cervical cancer in women Anal cancer in men and women Throat cancer in men and women Penile cancer…

It’s a question many new and expectant mothers wonder – is it safe for me to exercise during and after pregnancy? Staying fit: it’s good for you and the baby For expecting mothers, there are many positives to exercising throughout the entire nine months of pregnancy. While modifications are sometimes necessary, exercising while pregnant typically gets the green light from the Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN) field. “There are so many benefits,” says Dr. Lily Hahn, an OBGYN in the St. Elizabeth Physicians Women’s Health group. “It can help you maintain or even improve your fitness, decreases your risk of gestational…

Smoking is the biggest cause of lung cancer but the second leading cause of lung cancer is a gas you can’t see, smell or taste—radon. Radon is a radioactive gas. You may remember it from the periodic table you studied in high school. It is naturally present in nature and comes from the ground when radium (another chemical element) decays. Radon has been present in our atmosphere for thousands of years but what makes it dangerous is when you inhale too much of it. Since humans can’t sense it without special equipment, you probably don’t even know you are inhaling…