Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

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…

You may not think hand splinting is an athletic event, but in Northern Kentucky, it is a world-class competition. Each year, St. Elizabeth Healthcare invites physical therapy and occupational therapy students from local universities to square off to learn more about the importance of splinting during the Crosstown Splint Off. Meg Robinson, OTR/L, CHT, St. Elizabeth Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist, is one of the founders of this annual event. Meg is passionate about making sure students are more comfortable with splinting techniques. “Over the years I have found that many students are intimidated by splinting and the materials…

Cold and Flu Season Is Upon Us We all dread cold and flu season and the seemingly endless parade of illnesses that march through our households. Along with these viruses come a variety of information – sometimes accurate and sometimes less-than-factual. Dr. Elizabeth Velazquez-Noll, a family practice physician at St. Elizabeth Physicians, sees countless illnesses all year long. She weighs in on the most common winter illness myths she encounters in her family practice: “The majority of coughs, colds, sinus pressure and sore throats are viral,” says Dr. Velazquez-Noll. “Antibiotics will not help and could even affect your ability to…

Rachel Wagner, MS, LD, a licensed dietitian at St. Elizabeth Physicians Weight Management Center tells us the pros and cons of the hottest diets and how to achieve your long-term weight goals. “Trendy diets tend to have more negatives than positives. Although some of this year’s trends are backed by good research. The positive effect is trendy diets can get people thinking about steps to improve their health.” The Pros and Cons for Keto, Paleo, Fasting and 21-day Fix The Keto diet is a very low-carb, high-fat diet. It restricts carbohydrate intake and replaces it with fat. The reduction in…