Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

This summer, as you head out for a pickup basketball game or a fierce tennis match with your old high school friend, remember one thing—warm up properly before hitting the court. “The middle-aged athlete, between the ages of 30-50, are the most common people I see with Achilles tendon tears,” says Dr. Nicholas Gates, an affiliated orthopaedic foot and ankle specialist at OrthoCincy Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. Dr. Gates specializes in the reconstruction of the foot and ankle and performs surgeries at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. He adds, “There is a combination of factors that make the middle-aged athlete more prone…

Did you know that one out of four women over the age of 20* struggle with a pelvic floor disorder? Often, women suffer in silence, dismissing their issues as normal or just part of aging. [* source: American Urogynecologic Society] The urogynecology specialists at St. Elizabeth Physicians want you to know that while it’s common to have these problems, it’s not normal – and in many cases, it can be easily fixed. What are Pelvic Floor Disorders? Pelvic floor disorders are an encompassing group of conditions that affect the pelvic floor. The most common pelvic floor disorders include: Urinary incontinence…

At-home genetic testing kits are at the height of popularity right now. But is the information valuable – or just for entertainment? From 23andMe to AncestryDNA, there is an abundance of at-home genetic testing kits that are available right now. You simply buy a kit, mail in a saliva sample and six weeks later, the company emails you a report. The at-home genetic kits can tell you an assortment of fun facts, such as sweet vs. salty or your likelihood of going bald. The at-home kits can also narrow down the origins of your ancestors, shedding light on if your…

When you Google artificial sweeteners, you get a display of conflicting information. There’s a ton of mixed information out there and many, many different options on artificial sweeteners. According to Amber Cranfield, a Registered Dietitian at the St. Elizabeth Physicians Weight Management Center, the key is to use them in moderation and not overconsume one particular kind of artificial sweetener. “There are sweeteners approved by the FDA as food additives that are generally recognized as safe in limited quantities. However, some more recent studies aren’t conclusive, and they show some possible negatives to using artificial sweeteners including impacting our sweet…

July is Ultraviolet (UV) Safety Month – but how much do we really know about UV light and the effects it has on our bodies? Exposure to UV Rays Ultraviolet rays are difficult to avoid – they reach us even when we’re walking down the street or driving in our cars. In the short term, this UV exposure can cause sunburn and/or darkening of the skin. However, over the long term, UV exposure causes premature aging of the skin and increases your risk of skin cancer. To minimize your exposure to UV rays, take the following factors into consideration when…

Hearing loss is more common than you may think. The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) estimates that 48 million – or 20 percent – of Americans experience some degree of hearing loss, and almost 29 million of those adults would benefit from hearing aids.* Hearing Loss We all know someone who struggles with hearing. According to the HLAA, hearing loss is the third most common physical condition in older adults, behind arthritis and heart disease. Hearing loss can occur for several reasons, including: Genetics Age Excessive noise exposure Medical disease or pathology Syndromes Idiopathic (meaning the cause is unknown)…

When you learn you have cancer, there are so many questions swirling through your mind. Oftentimes, things happen so quickly that you don’t even have time to stop and do a lot of research yourself. Stephanie Bonfilio, RN, MSN, OCN, Nurse Navigator with St. Elizabeth Healthcare Cancer Care/Medical Oncology, has three tips to help you prepare for your first chemotherapy treatment. Bring a friend to the appointment before treatment begins. At St. Elizabeth you will be scheduled for a teaching appointment with the nurse navigator before chemotherapy treatment. At this appointment, you will have a personalized, one-on-one session with the…

For the Northern Kentucky community, getting outdoors for sports games and fitness activities are a highlight of the warm weather months. But what happens when those summer plans are derailed by an injury? The St. Elizabeth Sports Medicine department is here to help. “Our sports medicine professionals assist with traditional student-athletes and also meet the needs of the general population,” says Scott Helton, Certified Athletic Trainer and Director of Sports Medicine and Athletic Training Services at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. “We’re here for everyone, whether you’re a weekend golfer, marathon runner or high school sports team captain.” Full Continuum of Sports…

Summer is finally here! It is time to get outside, get moving and absorb some vitamin D. While you’re enjoying the sun, you can add even more nutrients by eating some summer superfoods while they are available fresh, locally. Rachel Wagner, MS, LD, a licensed dietitian at the St. Elizabeth Physicians Weight Management Center tells us superfoods are not only great for your diet, they can help increase your immunity and your energy. She says, “The nutrients and antioxidants in superfoods can help you fight cancer, cardiovascular disease and even liver disease.” Rachel recommends adding these seven superfoods to your…

Immunization is designed to protect your child early in life when they are most vulnerable to life-threatening diseases and not strong enough to fight the illness. Christina Rust, DNP, MSN, RN, Education Specialist for Maternal Child Health at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, explains why immunization is so important for infants, “Your child isn’t born with an immune system that can protect them from most diseases. By following a vaccination schedule, you can protect your child from serious illness, possibly even death.” St. Elizabeth Healthcare is partnering with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in observance of National Infant Immunization Week in…