July Fourth is right around the corner. People will enjoy cookouts and fireworks — hopefully without feeling sick due to food or a bug passed from another partygoer. Warm temperatures create the ideal environment for bacteria and other pathogens to multiply and cause foodborne illnesses. Hand-washing and proper food safety techniques can help keep your…
It’s fun to play with fireworks … until it’s not. Emergency rooms across the country see an increase in burns and hand injuries around the Fourth of July. Charity S. Burke, M.D., hand surgeon, Norton Louisville Arm & Hand, is no stranger to treating fireworks injuries. “When you’re the on-call hand surgeon during the Fourth…
Despite the widespread availability of safe and effective vaccines, adult immunization rates remain low in the U.S. — and far below the targets set by Healthy People 2020, a national agenda to improve the health of Americans. “Many people associate immunizations with childhood and teen years; however, there are two recommended vaccine schedules — one…
The hottest part of the year is right around the corner, which means iced coffee is no longer an acceptable way to stay hydrated. The summer heat tends to take a toll on our bodies. It also can have a serious impact on our attitudes due to changes in sleep patterns, dehydration and restrictions on…
Melon distributed to Costco, Gordon Food Service, Kroger, Trader Joe’s, Walgreens, Walmart and Whole Foods stores in Kentucky and Indiana has been recalled due to fears of salmonella contamination. The fruit, including cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon, were sold in plastic clamshell packaging either on their own or as part of a fruit salad. It was…
Many of us will be throwing a Memorial Day cookout or taking a weekend getaway to start off the summer. Memorial Day signifies the beginning of the season — a time for grilling, baseball, suntans and travel. Here are a few tips to stay safe this holiday weekend. Eat healthy Half your plate should be fruits and vegetables! Summer…
Greater Louisville is known for allergies, and this year is no exception. Spring has brought high pollen counts, and you can actually see a coating of yellow pollen on items left outdoors. An allergy happens when the immune system reacts to a substance, such as pollen, and releases histamine, a chemical found in some of…
A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that opioid-based pain medications in some cases aren’t any better for treating chronic pain than over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Need help managing pain? Your first stop should be your primary care provider. He or she can make a plan for…
Spring in the Ohio Valley is tough — all the pollen, grass and mold spores in the air can make for a miserable couple of months for people with allergies. So tough, in fact, that the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America lists Louisville as No.2 on its list of Spring Allergy Capitals. Seasonal allergies…
Do you know the names and types of prescription medicines in your home? If some pills were missing, would you notice? Do you run out before you’re due for a refill? Two-thirds of teens who have misused pain relievers said they got them from family and friends, including from their home medicine cabinets, according to…
Health care providers often form close bonds with their patients. But in situations where the provider is the only one who knows about a patient’s HIV infection — and is the only one who can be there to listen — the bond is even stronger. As practice manager for Norton Infectious Disease Specialists, Deanna Polsgrove…
Sometimes families have guns in the house for protection or for hunting, but any gun can bedangerous. A baby is strong enough to pull the trigger. If guns are part of your family culture, expose older kids to guns by showing them how to safely handle and secure them. This will help them develop respect…