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Stroke considerations for flight
Stroke considerations for flight
By: Kyla Ruf, RN, BSN, CCRN, Flight Nurse A cerebral vascular accident (CVA), also called a stroke, occurs when there is a decreased blood supply to part of the brain. CVA’s can be either embolic (due to a clot) or hemorrhagic (due to a bleeding vessel). In either case, parts of the brain not receiv...
Keep kidney disease in check
Keep kidney disease in check
Kidneys may not be the most glamorous organs in your body, but the work they do is essential to your health. They remove waste from the body in the form of urine and filter toxins from the blood. They also help create red blood cells, regulate blood pressure and build strong bones. When kidney probl...
Atrial fibrillation: What you need to know
Atrial fibrillation: What you need to know
Everyone’s heart changes pace throughout the day in response to the body's needs. The heart speeds up during physical exercise to provide more blood to working muscles. It slows down during sleep, when the body is at rest. These normal changes help the heart serve the body more effectively. A heartb...
mG-FAST, A single pre-hospital stroke screen for evaluating large vessel and non-large vessel strokes
mG-FAST, A single pre-hospital stroke screen for evaluating large vessel and non-large vessel strokes
Original research article by: Roy El Koussa, Sarah Linder, Alicia Quayson, Shawn Banash, James J. MacNeal, Parshva Shah, Mariaelana Brenner, Ross Levine, Osama O. Zaidat and Vibhav Bansal There are approximately 800,000 new ischemic strokes in the United States annually. Of these, close to 20% are t...
What is high blood pressure? (hypertension)
What is high blood pressure? (hypertension)
A blood pressure reading consists of two numbers. The top number is the pressure within your arteries when your heart contracts, also known as systolic blood pressure (SBP). The bottom number is the pressure within your arteries when your heart is relaxed, also known as diastolic blood pressure (DBP...
Headaches: What a pain
Headaches: What a pain
How common are headaches? More than 50 percent of adults reported having a headache in the last year, according to the World Health Organization. A 2013 Global Burden of Disease study found that worldwide, headache disorders are the third highest cause of years of life lost due to disability. That m...
What is osteoarthritis?
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as “wear and tear” arthritis, is the most common form of arthritis. It occurs most frequently in the hands, hips and knees. What causes OA? Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in your joints gradually deteriorates. Over time, it ca...
GERD (acid reflux) symptoms
GERD (acid reflux) symptoms
What is GERD? Gastroesophageal reflux disease occurs when the contents of your stomach back up into your esophagus (food pipe) and cause bothersome symptoms or, eventually, long-term problems. The esophagus is the tube that carries food from your throat to your stomach. The backward movement of stom...
Water safety
Water safety
With summer in full swing, Mercyhealth emergency services personnel caution that staying safe around water should be top of mind when headed out for warm-weather fun. Every year in the US there are an estimated 3,960 accidental drownings. Amongst children aged 1 to 4 years old, drowning is the leadi...
Taking care of you before baby
Pregnancy is a time filled with many feelings for new and even second or third time moms. The best way to take care of your growing baby is to care for yourself during pregnancy. Your health affects your baby. Healthy diet and prenatal vitamins Prenatal vitamins help with your baby’s brain growth. I...
Ticks: What to know and how to stay safe
One arachnid to be aware of is ticks. The reason for concern is due to their ability to spread disease. Ticks feed on blood similar to mosquitoes. Humans are one of many meal options ticks enjoy. They can pick up and share a variety of pathogens and bacteria as they feast. Lyme disease is one of the...
Got water?
Staying hydrated helps your body control temperature, remove waste, protect body tissues and lubricate joints. Recommended total daily water intake varies by age, lifestyle, health and gender. Total water intake comes from drinking water, other beverages, and food. Milk, juice, cucumbers, tomatoes, ...
Why are chlamydia screenings important?
Sexually transmitted infections or STIs are bacteria or viruses. They’re spread through sexual contact in blood, semen, vaginal discharge or other bodily fluids. One in five people have an STI in the US. Almost half of new STIs are in young adults ages 15-24 years old. Chlamydia is one of the most c...
Protect your vision
Good vision is important for quality of life and independence as you age. Follow the tips below in addition to healthy habits for long-term eye health. Sunglasses Eyes can sunburn just like skin. The sunglasses you choose should block 99 to 100% of UV-A and UV-B radiation. It’s important to wear the...
What is monkeypox?
What is monkeypox?
Author: Moamen Al Zoubi, MD, Infectious Diseases You may have heard about monkeypox in the news lately. Monkeypox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It’s related to smallpox, but is less severe. Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 in monkeys used for research. The first human...
June is Cataract Awareness Month
June is Cataract Awareness Month
Author: Justin Johnson, OD, Optometry The lens inside the eye, called the crystalline lens, is an important part of the eye’s complex focusing system. Normally clear, the lens focuses images onto the retina. Over time, the lens can become cloudy making it difficult to focus. A cloudy lens is called ...
OB/GYNs offering next-day availability at Mercyhealth Hospital and Medical Center–Walworth
OB/GYNs offering next-day availability at Mercyhealth Hospital and Medical Center–Walworth
Choosing an OB/GYN is a personal decision. You will want to choose an OB/GYN you can connect with and trust sharing personal information with. Whether this is your first visit to a gynecologist, you’re planning to start a family or you’re entering menopause, Mercyhealth’s team of women’s health spec...
Mental health in teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder two years into the pandemic
Mental health in teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder two years into the pandemic
Author: Angie Levin, MS, SLP, Behavioral Health Clinic Coordinator These past two years have taken a toll on our children’s social and mental development and well-being. Recent data released by the CDC sheds light on the impact the pandemic has on high schoolers’ mental health. The data shows increa...
Mercyhealth helps stroke patients regain their independence
Mercyhealth helps stroke patients regain their independence
Brianna was just 23 years old when she had a brain aneurysm. “I had collapsed on the bathroom floor, and my dog, Cash, found me and nudged me awake,” said Brianna. “I was rushed to the nearest ER and then flown via Mercyhealth REACT to Javon Bea Hospital–Riverside where they performed emergency surg...
Women: Make your health a priority
Women: Make your health a priority
COVID-19 has been stressful for everyone and has unfortunately caused many individuals to neglect their health. This is especially true for females, and mothers specifically, who are oftentimes busy caring for their families and others. Since the pandemic has brought on many challenges to families, ...