Working on your tan? Be careful. Any amount of ultraviolet (UV) tanning – indoors or outdoors – can cause cancer and other skin problems later in life.
Charles (Chuck) M. Moon, MD
“The first danger with tanning is increased risk of skin cancer, which can metastasize and be... Read more
Have you heard how painful ear infections are? When fluid builds up and infects a baby’s ear, the baby may tug their ears in pain, or fuss and cry more than usual. Not all children are so demonstrative, so be on the lookout for the following... Read more
The CyberKnife® VSI™ Robotic RadioSurgery System is one of the newest weapons in the fight against cancer. It is also one of the most powerful. At Saint Francis Medical Center, the remarkable results are starting to roll in.
The only one of its type in the region,... Read more
You’re standing still, but you feel like you’re spinning. You’re dizzy and nauseous, and your vision is blurry. If this sounds like you, you might have vertigo.
“Vertigo is imbalance that occurs when the brain receives positioning information from different sensors – your eyes and inner ear,... Read more
Recovering from heart surgery takes time – typically six to eight weeks. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind as you recuperate:
Medications: Carefully follow your physician’s instructions regarding pain relievers, nutrition supplements and other prescription or over-the-counter medications.Activity: Do not lift heavy objects... Read more
You made a New Year’s resolution. You can’t fit into your favorite jeans. Swimsuit season is coming up. You want to look good in your wedding photos.
Are these the reasons you want to lose weight? If so, that’s fine. They’re all valid reasons. In fact, we... Read more
With three great weight-loss options to choose from at Saint Francis Medical Center, what have you got to lose? Things like exercise at Fitness Plus will improve your overall health – and your heart health, too.
"Heart disease is a national epidemic due to unhealthy diets and... Read more
When you’re expecting, expect fatigue. It’s normal to feel tired as you carry the extra weight of the baby inside you. You’ll probably have trouble sleeping, too. What can you do to feel more refreshed?
“Mothers can fight fatigue by making sure they’re getting their prenatal vitamins,” says Jessica H. Lemmons, MD,... Read more
Breathing heavily when exercising is normal. Coughing, wheezing and chest pain when exercising may be asthma. “Some people experience asthma symptoms when they’re exercising, but they don’t attribute their breathing problems to asthma because they don’t suffer from the disorder at other times,” says W. Keith Graham,... Read more
Mold in the bathroom? Clean it out! Not only because it’s ugly, but also because it’s hazardous to your health.
Mold is an irritant that needs to be removed. Inhaling it harms your lungs and airways. It can even lead to chronic problems. If there’s mold in... Read more
If you have ever hit a plateau, or you feel that your workouts are no longer challenging you, try incorporating negatives into your routine. A negative contraction is simply going slow on the "down phase" of a strength training exercise. For example: on a pull-up, pull... Read more
Whooping cough is on the rise. Although whooping cough, or pertussis, can be treated after an outbreak, it is healthier for individuals and the community to stop the disease before it spreads.
The symptoms of whooping cough – the characteristic "whoop," uncontrollable coughing, reddening face and vomiting... Read more
The trend is clear: childhood obesity is on the rise. So what can children – and their concerned parents – do to buck the trend?
Just as there are multiple causes for the alarming rise in childhood obesity, there are multiple things parents can do to prevent... Read more
The recent renewal of a prestigious accreditation at Saint Francis Medical Center’s Chest Pain Center is good news for the Medical Center and even better news for the patients in the region who rely upon its care.
The Chest Pain Center holds full Cycle IV accreditation with... Read more
Are you short of breath when you run? Here are a few tips that could help you.
Relax your shoulders. If your shoulders are up by your ears while you run, you are restricting the breathing area and not allowing for maximum oxygen uptake. Shake your shoulders... 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