Do the cold, dark months make you sad? You are not alone.
“Seasonal depression, or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), can range from minor doldrums to serious depression in winter,” says Sarah A. Aydt, MD, FAAP, FACP, internal medicine physician/pediatrician at Saint Francis Medical Center. “It’s ultimately a... Read more
Don’t wait till Valentine’s Day. Love your sweetheart’s heart every day. Keeping your significant other’s heart healthy will keep it beating – and keep the two of you together – for many years to come.
What can you do to inspire better heart health? “The No. 1... Read more
Newborns are naturally tiny, but babies born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces, are tinier than most, and therefore more susceptible to health complications.
“Babies born before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy often have difficulties with feeding and breathing soon after birth. Additionally, they have more... Read more
A butterfly is a welcome sight. A facial rash resembling a butterfly is not. Although not all lupus patients develop this rash, it is a distinctive sign of this chronic inflammatory disease in which a person’s immune system attacks their tissues and organs.
“A rash covering the... Read more
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound test for your heart. It’s also one of the best ways to examine the valves and chambers of your heart.
One type of echocardiogram used at Saint Francis Medical Center is a transesophageal echocardiogram. In this procedure, the cardiologist passes a tube... Read more
With today’s hectic schedules, it is not uncommon for people to find it difficult fitting gym time into their busy days. Others might find that they have simply become bored with their workouts. Circuit training could be the answer for those who are short on time... Read more
Babies need breast milk – especially the premature and critically ill babies in Saint Francis Medical Center’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The World Health Organization, American Academy of Pediatrics and numerous other healthcare experts agree that breastfeeding is the best food source for... Read more
Is it safe to exercise in cold, wet weather? Only if you protect yourself first.
Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you have to stop exercising outdoors. As long as you dress warmly and take other precautions, you can exercise safely all winter long.
Dress in layers... Read more
Can a sweet tooth help your heart? Recent studies by Cleveland Clinic and other organizations suggest that small quantities of chocolate might actually be good for your heart.
Chocolate is high in flavanols, a type of chemical with antioxidant properties. Antioxidants have been shown to help lower... Read more
Meningitis is more than a pain in the neck. If you or a loved one are experiencing the telltale symptoms – stiff neck, headache, fever, nausea and confusion – it’s important to seek medical attention immediately. Delaying treatment could be fatal.
Erica E. Gibson, MD
“Meningitis can be... Read more
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
A migraine attack can ruin your day. How can you stop the pain? How can you prevent it from starting? Answers vary.
Different patients need different medications; it depends on the frequency and severity of your migraine attacks and whether the goal is pain relief or prevention.... Read more
Sleep apnea literally takes your breath away. While you sleep, the disorder repeatedly interrupts your breathing and reduces oxygen to your body and brain. If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, diabetes and depression. “Sleep apnea is a common... Read more
Too much sodium assaults the heart. To function properly, the average adult only needs to consume a small amount of the nutrient every day – about 2,300 mg of sodium, the equivalent of one teaspoon of salt. Over time, too much sodium can lead to a... Read more
Broken bones heal, but they can break again. The older generation is particularly at risk. Patients with osteoporosis have low bone density, which means that if they fall, they are more likely to break a bone either once or repeatedly.
Patrick R. Knight, MD
To prevent broken bones... Read more
Respiratory therapists help you breathe. For hospitalized patients of any age, these highly skilled, highly trained practitioners provide much-needed oxygen. Their role in easing pain and saving lives is vital for critically ill babies, trauma patients and people of all ages with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary... Read more
So much depends upon vitamin D. “As a child, vitamin D is important for bone development and strong, healthy bones,” says Erica E. Gibson, MD, family practice physician at Saint Francis Medical Center. “As an adult, it helps prevent bone diseases such as osteoporosis. If you’re... Read more
Colds are common. Sinus infections are rarer and more serious.
“Common colds typically go away within a few days or a week,” says Matthew B. Schumer, MD, family medicine physician at Saint Francis Medical Center. “If your symptoms linger or worsen after 10 days, you might have... Read more
How to Regain Control of Emotional Eating
Once you have a realization of how your emotions affect your hunger, you can regain control. Do you notice that you are hungry when you are tired, bored, or is it from patterned behavior – potentially a certain time of... Read more
A record number of babies came into the world at Saint Francis Medical Center’s Family BirthPlace last year. One baby boy, however, waited until this year to greet the world.
Hunter Glen Vanek, the first Saint Francis delivery of 2013, was born at 5:06 am on Jan. 1... Read more
Do the cold, dark months make you sad? You are not alone.
“Seasonal depression, or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), can range from minor doldrums to serious depression in winter,” says Sarah A. Aydt, MD, FAAP, FACP, internal medicine physician/pediatrician at Saint Francis Medical Center. “It’s ultimately a... Read more
Don’t wait till Valentine’s Day. Love your sweetheart’s heart every day. Keeping your significant other’s heart healthy will keep it beating – and keep the two of you together – for many years to come.
What can you do to inspire better heart health? “The No. 1... Read more
Newborns are naturally tiny, but babies born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces, are tinier than most, and therefore more susceptible to health complications.
“Babies born before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy often have difficulties with feeding and breathing soon after birth. Additionally, they have more... Read more
A butterfly is a welcome sight. A facial rash resembling a butterfly is not. Although not all lupus patients develop this rash, it is a distinctive sign of this chronic inflammatory disease in which a person’s immune system attacks their tissues and organs.
“A rash covering the... Read more
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound test for your heart. It’s also one of the best ways to examine the valves and chambers of your heart.
One type of echocardiogram used at Saint Francis Medical Center is a transesophageal echocardiogram. In this procedure, the cardiologist passes a tube... Read more
Babies need breast milk – especially the premature and critically ill babies in Saint Francis Medical Center’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The World Health Organization, American Academy of Pediatrics and numerous other healthcare experts agree that breastfeeding is the best food source for... Read more
Is it safe to exercise in cold, wet weather? Only if you protect yourself first.
Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you have to stop exercising outdoors. As long as you dress warmly and take other precautions, you can exercise safely all winter long.
Dress in layers... Read more
Can a sweet tooth help your heart? Recent studies by Cleveland Clinic and other organizations suggest that small quantities of chocolate might actually be good for your heart.
Chocolate is high in flavanols, a type of chemical with antioxidant properties. Antioxidants have been shown to help lower... Read more
Meningitis is more than a pain in the neck. If you or a loved one are experiencing the telltale symptoms – stiff neck, headache, fever, nausea and confusion – it’s important to seek medical attention immediately. Delaying treatment could be fatal.
Erica E. Gibson, MD
“Meningitis can be... Read more
A migraine attack can ruin your day. How can you stop the pain? How can you prevent it from starting? Answers vary.
Different patients need different medications; it depends on the frequency and severity of your migraine attacks and whether the goal is pain relief or prevention.... Read more
Sleep apnea literally takes your breath away. While you sleep, the disorder repeatedly interrupts your breathing and reduces oxygen to your body and brain. If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, diabetes and depression. “Sleep apnea is a common... Read more
Too much sodium assaults the heart. To function properly, the average adult only needs to consume a small amount of the nutrient every day – about 2,300 mg of sodium, the equivalent of one teaspoon of salt. Over time, too much sodium can lead to a... Read more
Broken bones heal, but they can break again. The older generation is particularly at risk. Patients with osteoporosis have low bone density, which means that if they fall, they are more likely to break a bone either once or repeatedly.
Patrick R. Knight, MD
To prevent broken bones... Read more
Respiratory therapists help you breathe. For hospitalized patients of any age, these highly skilled, highly trained practitioners provide much-needed oxygen. Their role in easing pain and saving lives is vital for critically ill babies, trauma patients and people of all ages with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary... Read more
So much depends upon vitamin D. “As a child, vitamin D is important for bone development and strong, healthy bones,” says Erica E. Gibson, MD, family practice physician at Saint Francis Medical Center. “As an adult, it helps prevent bone diseases such as osteoporosis. If you’re... Read more
Colds are common. Sinus infections are rarer and more serious.
“Common colds typically go away within a few days or a week,” says Matthew B. Schumer, MD, family medicine physician at Saint Francis Medical Center. “If your symptoms linger or worsen after 10 days, you might have... Read more
A record number of babies came into the world at Saint Francis Medical Center’s Family BirthPlace last year. One baby boy, however, waited until this year to greet the world.
Hunter Glen Vanek, the first Saint Francis delivery of 2013, was born at 5:06 am on Jan. 1... Read more
