Allergies are not confined to the spring and fall – many people suffer from indoor allergies that become worse during the winter. "When you start using your furnace, it may release particles into the air that can trigger an allergic reaction," says Robert W. Dodson, MD,... Read more
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one out of every four older adults experiences a fall each year, but less than half tell their provider. Here are eight ways to prevent household falls:
Watch out for pets. “Pets are one of the biggest... Read more
A bone density test determines whether a person is at risk for osteoporosis, a disease that causes bones to become fragile and break more easily. Saint Francis Medical Center’s Womancare offers bone density tests for men and women who have obtained referrals from their physicians.
Most insurance companies cover... Read more
Do you want to keep the flu out of your house this winter? Try these six tips to fight the flu:
Get a flu shot. “Everyone over six months of age should be vaccinated against influenza,” says Stephen Nagy, MD, internal medicine physician at Saint Francis Clinic... Read more
An umbilical hernia occurs when part of the intestine bulges through a weak spot in the belly. It is most common in infants, but adults can experience umbilical hernias as well.
In infants, the hernia usually closes on its own by 12 to 18 months. Very rarely,... Read more
Sometimes, doctors need to perform computed tomography (CT) scans or X-rays on very sick children to obtain images of their internal organs and bones. While these scans do contain some radiation, staff at Saint Francis Medical Center take extra precautions to ensure children are exposed to... Read more
Infections can be a big problem for patients who have recently undergone surgery.
Saint Francis Medical Center provides a video for patients detailing what they can expect before surgery and how they can best care for their surgical sites.
“Washing hands is key,” says Charles Edward LaValle III,... Read more
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, except for skin cancers. About one in eight women will develop cancer during their lifetime. While researchers do not know why cancer occurs, they have identified several factors that increase a person’s risk for breast cancer.
Being... Read more
Patients with pre-existing diabetes or those who develop gestational diabetes need to carefully monitor their glucoses to have the best outcome for their babies. This often involves testing the blood glucoses frequently. Controlling glucose levels can decrease the risk of additional complications of pregnancy, including preeclampsia... Read more
If you have a history of heart disease, smoking, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, you should participate in a regular cardiac risk assessment. This can occur during a routine physical examination with your primary care physician, or during an office visit with a cardiologist.
“Our primary... Read more
If you feel tired all the time, there could be a medical reason … or you might just be taking on too much in your life. Here are some reasons you could be experiencing fatigue:
Underactive thyroid: Called “hypothyroidism,” this condition occurs when your body does not... Read more
The last thing any person wants after returning home from the hospital is to be readmitted. Saint Francis is beginning a new nursing model that aims to provide more targeted care to reduce the number of readmissions.
Under this model, called Practice Partners, registered nurses (RNs) and... Read more
There are many health conditions that can trigger low testosterone, including obesity, diabetes, kidney damage and changes in thyroid function. In many of these cases, your body is simply putting more effort into fighting a chronic condition than it is into producing testosterone.
“Another cause of low... Read more
When a person has an unusually large or cancerous lesion in his colon or another part of his gastrointestinal tract, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) can be an effective, minimally invasive method to remove that lesion.
“While a colonoscopy or polypectomy can be used to remove small polyps,... Read more
If you have heart disease, catching the flu can be dangerous and even deadly. This is because the flu can cause added stress to your body, which affects your blood pressure and heart function. A person with heart disease is also at high risk for stroke... Read more
Hundreds of babies will benefit from Saint Francis Medical Center’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Follow-up Clinic. The Follow-up Clinic follows NICU graduates at risk for developmental issues following their discharge from the NICU. The unit has expanded from three to five rooms and... Read more
Bedtime battles can be exhausting for both parents and children. If you want to minimize conflict, establish a consistent routine.
Try to keep your routine to 30 minutes or less. Do the same activities in the same order every night – and stick to the same time.... Read more
If you think you are having a panic attack, pay very close attention to your symptoms: You may actually be experiencing a heart attack.
"In some situations, it can be difficult to distinguish between a panic attack and a heart attack," says Duc T. Nguyen, DO, interventional... Read more
The holidays are difficult not just for people who are trying to shed pounds, but also for those who want to maintain their weight.
“Even if you only gain a few pounds during the holidays, you may not be able to lose that weight easily,” says ... Read more
Surgery is never stress-free. But if you know what to expect and are prepared for your procedure, you can make it as easy as possible for you and your loved ones.
“Make sure you understand exactly what the surgery involves,” says William Ray Silliman, MD, FACS, general... Read more
Allergies are not confined to the spring and fall – many people suffer from indoor allergies that become worse during the winter. "When you start using your furnace, it may release particles into the air that can trigger an allergic reaction," says Robert W. Dodson, MD,... Read more
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one out of every four older adults experiences a fall each year, but less than half tell their provider. Here are eight ways to prevent household falls:
Watch out for pets. “Pets are one of the biggest... Read more
A bone density test determines whether a person is at risk for osteoporosis, a disease that causes bones to become fragile and break more easily. Saint Francis Medical Center’s Womancare offers bone density tests for men and women who have obtained referrals from their physicians.
Most insurance companies cover... Read more
Do you want to keep the flu out of your house this winter? Try these six tips to fight the flu:
Get a flu shot. “Everyone over six months of age should be vaccinated against influenza,” says Stephen Nagy, MD, internal medicine physician at Saint Francis Clinic... Read more
An umbilical hernia occurs when part of the intestine bulges through a weak spot in the belly. It is most common in infants, but adults can experience umbilical hernias as well.
In infants, the hernia usually closes on its own by 12 to 18 months. Very rarely,... Read more
Sometimes, doctors need to perform computed tomography (CT) scans or X-rays on very sick children to obtain images of their internal organs and bones. While these scans do contain some radiation, staff at Saint Francis Medical Center take extra precautions to ensure children are exposed to... Read more
Infections can be a big problem for patients who have recently undergone surgery.
Saint Francis Medical Center provides a video for patients detailing what they can expect before surgery and how they can best care for their surgical sites.
“Washing hands is key,” says Charles Edward LaValle III,... Read more
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, except for skin cancers. About one in eight women will develop cancer during their lifetime. While researchers do not know why cancer occurs, they have identified several factors that increase a person’s risk for breast cancer.
Being... Read more
Patients with pre-existing diabetes or those who develop gestational diabetes need to carefully monitor their glucoses to have the best outcome for their babies. This often involves testing the blood glucoses frequently. Controlling glucose levels can decrease the risk of additional complications of pregnancy, including preeclampsia... Read more
If you have a history of heart disease, smoking, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, you should participate in a regular cardiac risk assessment. This can occur during a routine physical examination with your primary care physician, or during an office visit with a cardiologist.
“Our primary... Read more
If you feel tired all the time, there could be a medical reason … or you might just be taking on too much in your life. Here are some reasons you could be experiencing fatigue:
Underactive thyroid: Called “hypothyroidism,” this condition occurs when your body does not... Read more
The last thing any person wants after returning home from the hospital is to be readmitted. Saint Francis is beginning a new nursing model that aims to provide more targeted care to reduce the number of readmissions.
Under this model, called Practice Partners, registered nurses (RNs) and... Read more
There are many health conditions that can trigger low testosterone, including obesity, diabetes, kidney damage and changes in thyroid function. In many of these cases, your body is simply putting more effort into fighting a chronic condition than it is into producing testosterone.
“Another cause of low... Read more
When a person has an unusually large or cancerous lesion in his colon or another part of his gastrointestinal tract, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) can be an effective, minimally invasive method to remove that lesion.
“While a colonoscopy or polypectomy can be used to remove small polyps,... Read more
If you have heart disease, catching the flu can be dangerous and even deadly. This is because the flu can cause added stress to your body, which affects your blood pressure and heart function. A person with heart disease is also at high risk for stroke... Read more
Hundreds of babies will benefit from Saint Francis Medical Center’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Follow-up Clinic. The Follow-up Clinic follows NICU graduates at risk for developmental issues following their discharge from the NICU. The unit has expanded from three to five rooms and... Read more
Bedtime battles can be exhausting for both parents and children. If you want to minimize conflict, establish a consistent routine.
Try to keep your routine to 30 minutes or less. Do the same activities in the same order every night – and stick to the same time.... Read more
If you think you are having a panic attack, pay very close attention to your symptoms: You may actually be experiencing a heart attack.
"In some situations, it can be difficult to distinguish between a panic attack and a heart attack," says Duc T. Nguyen, DO, interventional... Read more
The holidays are difficult not just for people who are trying to shed pounds, but also for those who want to maintain their weight.
“Even if you only gain a few pounds during the holidays, you may not be able to lose that weight easily,” says ... Read more
Surgery is never stress-free. But if you know what to expect and are prepared for your procedure, you can make it as easy as possible for you and your loved ones.
“Make sure you understand exactly what the surgery involves,” says William Ray Silliman, MD, FACS, general... Read more
