Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

Congratulations on the arrival of your little one! But we know new parenthood can feel overwhelming and full of uncertainty. That’s why we are thrilled to invite you to Beyond Delivery, a unique virtual continuing care group offered by St. Elizabeth Healthcare. Designed exclusively for new parents like you, Beyond Delivery provides free support, education and fellowship during the crucial first year after your baby arrives. Led by a compassionate Mother Baby Registered Nurse (RN) and Lactation Consultant (LC) team, Beyond Delivery smooths your transition into parenthood, helping you feel more informed and connected. We invite both moms and dads to attend…

A medical crisis can happen at any age. And if it does happen, it can leave you unable to communicate your healthcare wishes. Advance Care Planning (ACP) involves preparing and discussing your desires for future healthcare needs in the event of a medical crisis in which you are unable to advocate on behalf of yourself. Documenting and recording your desires in a living will, or advance directive, and sharing that information with your loved ones will give them a clear path forward that aligns with your healthcare goals, values and wishes. And when your healthcare team also knows your desires,…

Most packaged foods sold in the United States include a nutrition label, which details nutrients in the food and recommended serving sizes. Understanding food labels and their importance can help you make better choices in the foods you purchase.  Beth Hils, MEd, RD, LD Dietitian at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, says understanding the information on these labels is the first step in helping you become a savvy shopper and healthier eater. What’s the Purpose of a Nutrition Label? A nutrition label provides guidelines for serving size and nutrient information for packaged foods. “The label helps people choose food for a healthy diet,”…

Even if you don’t have a heart condition or are at high risk for developing a heart condition, eating a healthy, heart-protective diet can help you stay healthier and live longer. Beth Hils MEd, RD, LD, Dietitian at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, shares the important connection between what you eat and your heart health. How Healthy Foods Protect Your Heart Following a healthy diet can protect your heart in several ways. First, following a whole-food diet including fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans, fish, shellfish and eggs and minimally processed such as frozen produce and whole wheat flour. A…

Nourish Your Body and Mind Through Journaling Watching what you eat is a great way to improve your overall health. After all, focusing on consuming fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins can help reduce your risk of developing many chronic health conditions. You may wonder how to keep track of everything you’re eating or even how to get started keeping a food journal. Beth Hils, MEd, RD, LD, dietitian at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, shares helpful tips on getting started with a food journal. Benefits of Keeping a Food Journal “Tracking food intake is a tool that helps reduce…

Maximizing Nutrition Without Breaking the Bank If you want to improve your eating habits by incorporating more fruits, vegetables and lean protein, you may be worried that doing so will be too expensive. While whole foods can sometimes cost more than packaged foods, there are ways to make eating healthy cost-effective. Plus, it’s always worthwhile to eat better for your long-term health. Learn how eating healthy positively affects your heart health. Beth Hils, MEd, RD, LD, dietitian at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, provides tips on eating healthy on a budget. 1. Plan Ahead for Grocery Shopping Check out sales and coupons…

Dale Randall takes his health seriously. His father and brother experienced heart attacks at ages 49 and 52. And, one of his sisters needed bypass surgery. So, Dale knows to listen to his heart. When he woke up with chest pain early on the morning of August 18, 2023, Dale sprang to action. “He woke me up about five in the morning and told me that he was having chest pain, and he was scared and that it felt very different than anything he felt before,” said Dale’s wife, Terri Randall. Dale wasn’t sure what was happening to him, but…

Heart disease is the #1 cause of death for African Americans – and the numbers are rising. Dr. Abiodun Ishola, a cardiologist specializing in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology, at the Florence Wormald Heart and Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth provides details and explains when you should see a doctor. Risk Factors for Heart Disease Dr. Ishola shares that African Americans have specific risk factors for developing heart disease. Many of these are related to social determinants of health, or how people’s socioeconomic situation affects their health. “Locations where, sadly, we have a lot of African Americans with lower financial…

Cardiovascular is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S. What’s more, African American women have a higher risk of dying from heart disease at a younger age than Caucasian women. Dr. Abiodun Ishola, a cardiologist specializing in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology at the Florence Wormald Heart and Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, shares some alarming facts and recommendations to help reverse the trend. Heart Disease in African American Women By the Numbers Check out the latest statistics from the American Heart Association (AHA): Increased Risk for Serious Illness Experts don’t know why, but hypertension (high…

African Americans have the highest hypertension (high blood pressure) rates of any adults in the United States. That’s significant because hypertension puts people at an increased risk for many other serious health conditions, including heart attack, stroke, kidney problems and heart disease. Dr. Abiodun Ishola, a cardiologist specializing in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology at the Florence Wormald Heart and Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth, offers details into high blood pressure among African Americans. Prevalence of Hypertension in African Americans According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 56% of Black adults have hypertension (high blood pressure). For comparison, 48%…