As your child reaches adolescence, it is important for them to have visits at least every other year with their pediatrician for screenings. “We need to check our teenagers’ development during these years because things are changing so rapidly as their bodies and minds begin the... Read more
When Kylie Bahr’s water broke during her 24th week of pregnancy, she feared the worst. “I was so scared I was going to lose my son,” she says.
Thanks to the expert care of neonatologists and specialized nurses at Saint Francis Medical Center’s Level III Neonatal Intensive... Read more
For some women, menopause can cause a variety of bothersome symptoms, including hot flashes and vaginal dryness. The most common treatment for hot flashes is hormone therapy, which supplements the body with either estrogen and progesterone or estrogen alone to level out the hormonal effects of... Read more
If you have been experiencing constant wrist pain for more than a month, it is time to see a doctor. There are many different causes of wrist pain, including arthritis, fractures, torn ligaments and long-term chronic pain resulting from childhood injuries.
“When you have a wrist problem,... Read more
Everyone wants a flatter stomach. The good news is the belly reacts more quickly to dietary changes (good and bad) than other areas of the body. For instance, avoiding gassy vegetables, chewing gum, carbonated beverages, salt and foods with sugar alcohols will reduce bloating and water... Read more
Foreign language speaking patients now have an easier way to communicate with doctors and other caregivers at Saint Francis Medical Center. With Saint Francis’ new online, on-demand video interpreter system, patients no longer have to wait for an interpreter to arrive at the hospital or doctor’s... Read more
Jaundice is extremely common, affecting probably 30-50 percent of newborns. It is more common in premature infants, sick infants, and those who ingest breast milk. Breast milk jaundice is typically harmless, but sometimes needs to be followed closely with blood tests and may need to be... Read more
Flexible and healthy joints are the key to living an active lifestyle, no matter how old you are.
If you are experiencing joint pain that is keeping you from being active or participating in your favorite sport, the orthopedic specialists at Saint Francis can perform a complete... Read more
Losing five or 10 pounds is not an unusual accomplishment. The key is making lifestyle changes to keep the weight off. Here are five steps to getting slim and staying that way for a lifetime.
Modify your behavior to match changes that come with age. Aging starts... Read more
A rotator cuff injury may cause a great deal of pain, but there are many ways – both conservative and surgical – your doctor can help you regain the use of your shoulder and arm.
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that attach... Read more
When you are buying sunscreen, you should stick with SPF 30 or higher. SPF stands for sun protection factor, which is a measure of how well the sunscreen protects you from burning. “SPF 30 is more than adequate,” says
Charles M. Moon, MD, dermatologist at Saint Francis... Read more
The best way to prevent infection following a surgery is to stay as clean as possible when caring for the wound. “The most important part of wound care is hand washing,” says
Jonathon K. Foley, MD, FACS, general surgeon at Saint Francis Medical Center. “It is so... Read more
While gallstones can cause sudden, intense pain in the upper right quadrant or pit of your stomach, sometimes they do not produce such obvious symptoms. In these cases, you may think you are experiencing indigestion when you actually have a gallstone.
“You may have nausea or bloating... Read more
The sacroiliac (SI) joint, located at the junction of the spine and pelvis, does not move much, but it is an important transitional point between the upper and lower parts of your body. Pain in the SI joint usually occurs as a result of overuse or... Read more
Despite what health club commercials would have you believe, there are plenty of fat-burning exercises you can do at home. Not only do they build muscle and help trim you down, these exercises fit into any schedule.
Pushups - One of the best overall exercises, the key... Read more
As a man grows older, his prostate becomes bigger—a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). As this occurs, the prostate can block the flow of urine out of the bladder, and the man may experience urinary problems such as a slow stream, incomplete emptying, the... Read more
If you experience seasonal allergies in the spring, fall or both, it is a good idea to start taking medications several weeks before your allergies are due to begin. “Taking medications before you even begin experiencing symptoms stabilizes the allergic response,” says Robert W. Dodson, MD,... Read more
The thyroid is a small gland in the neck that plays a major role in regulating the body’s metabolism. If it produces the wrong amount of hormones – either too much or too little – various systems in the body will not function properly.
With an overactive... Read more
There is the proverbial “frog in the throat,” and then there is the croup, which often sounds more like a barking seal in the throat. Due to its bark-like cough, noisy breathing (stridor) and agitated crying, this inflammatory condition of the upper airways is scary for... Read more
If you’re a woman and it feels like you body is fighting against you in your weight-loss battle, you may be right. Hormones play a large role in determining when you are hungry, what you crave and even where fat is most likely to be stored.... Read more