You have probably heard the term “muscle confusion” and may wonder what it really means and why is it important. Muscle confusion, or more accurately periodization training (after all muscles do not really get confused), is a training protocol designed to avoid plateaus by continually challenging... Read more
Warm water can be quite soothing for people who suffer from arthritis. Saint Francis Medical Center's Fitness Plus offers warm water aquatics for arthritis patients every day of the week.
"When you exercise in water, you can improve your range of motion, relieve joint stiffness and build... Read more
If you have heart disease, a daily dose of aspirin may be just what the doctor orders. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you talk to your doctor about taking aspirin if you have experienced a heart attack, a stroke or undergone heart... Read more
If your child complains of a headache, trust your instinct when deciding whether you should take him to the doctor. “Parents know their kids best,” says Beverly L. Brown, MD, FAAP, pediatrician at Saint Francis Medical Center. “Some children are melodramatic, while others never complain about... Read more
Doctors detect most heart murmurs, or abnormal sounds of the heart, during a routine physical examination. While many heart murmurs are not a cause for concern, doctors may perform an echocardiogram of the heart to see if there is an abnormality in one of the four... Read more
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.
Carlos Robles, MD
Being a woman – While men can also develop breast cancer, the disease... 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
About one in 12 people suffers from asthma, and out of that group, about 12 million people every year will experience an asthma attack. One of the most important steps to successful treatment is identifying your individual triggers.
Possible triggers include:Respiratory infectionBacterial infection such as sinusitisGastroesophageal reflux... Read more
When a woman is pregnant, her blood volume increases by 40 percent to supply blood to the baby and placenta. This can lead to anemia, a condition in which the red blood cells are low, leading to fatigue.
“Almost all pregnant women will experience anemia at some... Read more
Many factors can put you at risk for heart disease, including smoking, genetics, diabetes and high blood pressure. One risk factor that receives much attention is trans fat, which is a substance found in partially hydrogenated oil. Many sweets, snacks and fried foods contain trans fat.
“Trans... Read more
If you had gestational diabetes during your first pregnancy, you are at an increased risk for developing the same problem in your second pregnancy.
“After a woman with gestational diabetes delivers her baby, her doctor will check her blood glucose levels at six to eight weeks postpartum,”... Read more
People with celiac disease experience damage to the lining of their small intestine when they eat foods with gluten, a form of protein found in wheat, barley, rye and oats.
Doctors can make a celiac disease diagnosis after performing an endoscopy when they guide a small tube... Read more
Whether at work or play, you should always keep a bottle of water close at hand during warm weather. Water will help your body sweat and maintain a normal temperature, which is important for avoiding heatstroke.
Heatstroke occurs when your body temperature reaches 104 degrees or more.... Read more
If you have spent time outdoors within the past day and suddenly developed red, itchy skin, you may have a poison ivy rash. This type of rash is caused by an oil called urushiol that is found in the leaves, stems and roots of poison ivy,... Read more
One of the most important aspects of playing a sport is making smart choices about what activities you do during the offseason. Offseason conditioning is key to remaining injury free.
Any athlete who participates in a competitive sports activity during a season is basically involved in a "controlled crash."... Read more
If you often experience bloating in your abdominal area, it is probably the result of intestinal gas that has built up in your digestive tract. Fortunately, there are many ways you can avoid bloating:
Avoid carbonated beverages – Drinks such as soda can create gas inside your... Read more
Hip fractures are a common injury in our aging population. Because they can be devastating for a person who already has several other health problems, it is best to take steps to avoid fractures. “In the older population, you have to be very honest with yourselves... Read more
Hip fractures are a common injury in our aging population. Because they can be devastating for a person who already has several other health problems, it is best to take steps to avoid fractures. "In the older population, you have to be very honest with yourselves... Read more
The moment your doctor tells you that you have cancer, your thoughts begin racing. Is the cancer fatal? Will I need months of painful treatment? Will I ever be fully cured?
Because “cancer” is such a frightening word, patients often opt for the most extreme treatments. In... Read more
If you want to know whether weight-loss surgery can change a life, just ask one of the people who have tried Weight Loss Solutions, Saint Francis Medical Center’s bariatric surgery program. There are now more than 100 individuals in the region who have had bariatric surgery... Read more
Warm water can be quite soothing for people who suffer from arthritis. Saint Francis Medical Center's Fitness Plus offers warm water aquatics for arthritis patients every day of the week.
"When you exercise in water, you can improve your range of motion, relieve joint stiffness and build... Read more
If you have heart disease, a daily dose of aspirin may be just what the doctor orders. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you talk to your doctor about taking aspirin if you have experienced a heart attack, a stroke or undergone heart... Read more
If your child complains of a headache, trust your instinct when deciding whether you should take him to the doctor. “Parents know their kids best,” says Beverly L. Brown, MD, FAAP, pediatrician at Saint Francis Medical Center. “Some children are melodramatic, while others never complain about... Read more
Doctors detect most heart murmurs, or abnormal sounds of the heart, during a routine physical examination. While many heart murmurs are not a cause for concern, doctors may perform an echocardiogram of the heart to see if there is an abnormality in one of the four... Read more
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.
Carlos Robles, MD
Being a woman – While men can also develop breast cancer, the disease... 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
About one in 12 people suffers from asthma, and out of that group, about 12 million people every year will experience an asthma attack. One of the most important steps to successful treatment is identifying your individual triggers.
Possible triggers include:Respiratory infectionBacterial infection such as sinusitisGastroesophageal reflux... Read more
When a woman is pregnant, her blood volume increases by 40 percent to supply blood to the baby and placenta. This can lead to anemia, a condition in which the red blood cells are low, leading to fatigue.
“Almost all pregnant women will experience anemia at some... Read more
Many factors can put you at risk for heart disease, including smoking, genetics, diabetes and high blood pressure. One risk factor that receives much attention is trans fat, which is a substance found in partially hydrogenated oil. Many sweets, snacks and fried foods contain trans fat.
“Trans... Read more
If you had gestational diabetes during your first pregnancy, you are at an increased risk for developing the same problem in your second pregnancy.
“After a woman with gestational diabetes delivers her baby, her doctor will check her blood glucose levels at six to eight weeks postpartum,”... Read more
People with celiac disease experience damage to the lining of their small intestine when they eat foods with gluten, a form of protein found in wheat, barley, rye and oats.
Doctors can make a celiac disease diagnosis after performing an endoscopy when they guide a small tube... Read more
Whether at work or play, you should always keep a bottle of water close at hand during warm weather. Water will help your body sweat and maintain a normal temperature, which is important for avoiding heatstroke.
Heatstroke occurs when your body temperature reaches 104 degrees or more.... Read more
If you have spent time outdoors within the past day and suddenly developed red, itchy skin, you may have a poison ivy rash. This type of rash is caused by an oil called urushiol that is found in the leaves, stems and roots of poison ivy,... Read more
One of the most important aspects of playing a sport is making smart choices about what activities you do during the offseason. Offseason conditioning is key to remaining injury free.
Any athlete who participates in a competitive sports activity during a season is basically involved in a "controlled crash."... Read more
If you often experience bloating in your abdominal area, it is probably the result of intestinal gas that has built up in your digestive tract. Fortunately, there are many ways you can avoid bloating:
Avoid carbonated beverages – Drinks such as soda can create gas inside your... Read more
Hip fractures are a common injury in our aging population. Because they can be devastating for a person who already has several other health problems, it is best to take steps to avoid fractures. “In the older population, you have to be very honest with yourselves... Read more
The moment your doctor tells you that you have cancer, your thoughts begin racing. Is the cancer fatal? Will I need months of painful treatment? Will I ever be fully cured?
Because “cancer” is such a frightening word, patients often opt for the most extreme treatments. In... Read more
If you want to know whether weight-loss surgery can change a life, just ask one of the people who have tried Weight Loss Solutions, Saint Francis Medical Center’s bariatric surgery program. There are now more than 100 individuals in the region who have had bariatric surgery... Read more
