Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

The empty chair. The unhung stocking. The favorite story that won’t be told. “The death of a loved one leaves holes in our lives and in our holidays,” says James Ellis, bereavement care coordinator at St. Elizabeth Hospice. The holidays may bring a renewed and profound sense of loss to families dealing with the death of a loved one, says Ellis. Here are some coping strategies that may help: Celebrate your loved one. Don’t deny your loss. Celebrate your loved one. Propose a toast in his or her honor, write them a letter, hang a special ornament on the tree in…

Most of us know we should be drinking more water. But when thirst kicks in, maybe we’re craving the flavor of a sports drink instead, or the afternoon caffeine boost of a soda. That’s where liquid water enhancers come in, a relatively new player in the market that some experts see as a $1 billion business by 2020. We’ve all seen them, whether in the beverage aisle or maybe the checkout of your local grocery. Made by brands such as Mio, Kool-Aid, Crystal Light, and available in flavors from berry pomegranate to tropical coconut and everything in between, they can…

No matter what you’re serving for your summer holiday celebrations, you’ll want to use these tips from the FDA to make sure you’re not serving up a big helping of salmonella or other food-borne illness with your hamburgers. You want your picnic to be memorable for the fireworks show, after all, not the tummy trouble. Here are a few of our top tips: Pack beverages and perishable food (meats) in separate coolers so the perishable foods’ cooler stays closed as people reach for cold drinks. Try to limit the number of times you’re opening the cooler with perishable foods so…

Frequent, weak streams are not something men should learn to endure. It’s just not going to get better on its own and it’s worth a discussion with your doctor. In fact, the feeling that you haven’t quite emptied your bladder could mean the bladder is irritated and can, in some cases, lead to bladder or kidney infections. As men age, their prostate grows larger and squeezes the urethra – the tube which carries the urine from the bladder through the penis. Avoiding drinking too much, caffeine in the evening and emptying your bladder completely can help, according to the National…

If your child recently received an autism diagnosis, you’re probably feeling alone and unsure of what to do next. In honor of April as Autism Awareness Month, Dr. James Hahn – a pediatrician with St. Elizabeth Physicians’ Aurora office – gives some advice to parents of children with autism: 1. Speak up. This is for parents who haven’t received an autism diagnosis for their child yet but simply suspect something might be not right with their child’s development or behavior, which is where most autism diagnoses begin, Hahn said. “The earlier we can identify problems and the earlier kids can…

If you fall into the camp of Thanksgiving eaters who enjoy a turkey sandwich the next day just as much as, if not more than, the actual Thanksgiving meal, we have some fun ways to step up your leftover game. Who knew there were so many possibilities? If you’re feeling adventurous, here are a few recipes that will use up those Thanksgiving leftovers: Homemade Turkey Soup and Black Bean ‘n’ Pumpkin Chili, courtesy of Taste of Home. Turkey Enchiladas, courtesy of All Recipes Sweet and Crunchy Salad and Leftover Turkey and Stuffing Stuffed Peppers, courtesy of Delish 21 different open…

Children are very rarely going to bring it up themselves. An eating disorder is usually a way for them to gain control – a physical manifestation of an emotional disorder. They typically don’t want help, probably don’t know they need it and certainly don’t want to ask for it. That’s why it’s up to parents to monitor their children’s eating habits and behaviors to look for signs of a problem. What to Look For Dr. John La Count, a Pediatrician with St. Elizabeth Physicians’ Florence office, said parents should keep an eye out for obsessive attitudes toward food. “Calorie counting,…

Make the Holidays Merrier for Loved Ones with Alzheimer’s The holidays are a great time to reminisce or make new memories with friends and family. But for people battling Alzheimer’s disease, or other forms of dementia, and their caregivers, the holidays can be a stressful and even frightening time, says the Alzheimer’s Association. The person with dementia might not recognize the friend or relative stopping by to say hello or realize it’s Christmas, and a whirlwind of parties and visits could be an upsetting disruption in their normal routine. Imagine suddenly being surrounded by strangers in a strange place, and…

There are many ways to go about getting exercise. Here are four different fitness activities: Endurance: Try to build up to at least 30 minutes of activity that makes you breathe hard on most or all days of the week. Every day is best because it builds your energy or “staying power.” Ten minutes at a time is fine. Note: If you watch an hour TV show and do some kind of exercise on every commercial (walking around the couch is better than sitting through the commercial) you will have given yourself 10 minutes of exercise. If you can…

More than 60 percent of Americans suffer from poor sleep quality, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Here are your five do’s for a good night’s sleep: Meditation or yoga: There are many types of meditation. Progressive Muscle Relaxation is a favorite sleep inducer. Yoga emphasizes gentle stretches and deep, even breathing. The exercises can help ease muscle tension, lower blood pressure, and calm nerves. Aromatherapy: Certain scents relax the body and mind. Relaxing aromas include: Lavender, Chamomile, Sandalwood, Ylang-ylang, Cedarwood, Jasmine, and Orange Blossom. Vitamins and minerals: Calcium, Vitamin D and the B Vitamins each play a role in…