Breast Health, Womens Health

Dense breasts: What they mean for you and your mammogram choices

All breasts are unique – from their shape and size to their density. Breasts are made of fat, fibrous tissue (strands of collagen protein that hold fat, connective tissue and blood vessels in place) and glandular tissue (the part of the breast that makes milk). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),…

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Cancer, Hematology

Natural killer cells are part of the immune system’s front line of defense

The body has cells that naturally attack cancer cells and other diseased and infected cells. These natural killer (NK) cells are part of the immune system’s front line of defense. NK cells are a type of white blood cell that travels in your bloodstream, patrolling the body, scanning cells to see if they are healthy…

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Urogynecology, Womens Health

Overactive bladder: Don’t give up if medication fails

Controlling your bladder is something we take for granted until we lose the ability. If you’re living with urinary incontinence, you may be surprised to learn that your condition is quite common. “Among American adults, 42.6 million have an overactive bladder,” said Stephanie A. Flaspoehler, APRN, nurse practitioner with Norton Urogynecology Center. “That’s more people…

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Norton Hospital, Norton Womens & Childrens Hospital, Obstetrics, Womens Health

Norton Women’s Care only location in Louisville ranked ‘High Performing’ from U.S. News & World Report

Norton Women’s Care, which encompasses childbirth services at Norton Hospital and Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital, has been recognized as High Performing in Adult Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy) by U.S. News & World Report. The designation is the highest award a hospital system can earn in the U.S. News list of Best Hospitals for Maternity…

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Epilepsy, Neurosciences

Birth control and epilepsy

Pregnancy can be overwhelming for anyone, and having epilepsy adds another layer to an already stressful time. Epilepsy affects people assigned female at birth differently. Additional factors such as hormone levels, environmental factors and genetics also contribute to a complex situation. Taking birth control if you have epilepsy should be discussed with your health care…

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Cardiology, Heart, Heart Attack

Chest pain can be a concerning symptom, but it isn’t always an emergency

Most people are familiar with the typical way someone shows they are having a heart attack: gasping, clutching their chest, and so on. Despite what may be depicted as a heart attack in movies or on TV, sometimes chest pain is just chest pain — with a harmless cause. However, sometimes pain in the chest…

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Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics

How to lower blood pressure during pregnancy

Having high blood pressure while pregnant can lead to health complications for both mom and baby, but making certain lifestyle choices can help lower blood pressure during pregnancy. “High blood pressure during pregnancy, or gestational hypertension, is when a blood pressure reading is greater than or equal to 140/90 mm Hg,” said Whitney E. Jamie,…

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Patient stories - Norton Healthcare, Sports Health

Norton Sports Health social worker coaches Bellarmine University athletes to reach peak mental performance

It’s Thursday afternoon at Knights Hall, and the sounds of leather hitting hardwood signal the Bellarmine University men’s basketball team is ready to start practice. Shooting drills dominate this afternoon’s day on the court — catch and shoot, two-dribble pullups, pick-and-pop. It’s easy to see how this physical training would translate to in-game performance. At…

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Atrial Fibrillation, Electrophysiology, Heart, Heart Rhythm Center

Cardiac ablation procedure can correct heart rhythm disorders

A normal heart rhythm is 60 to 100 beats per minute. If your heart is beating too fast, too slow or irregularly, you may have an arrhythmia. An abnormal heart rhythm doesn’t always require treatment. However, if the arrhythmia is causing significant symptoms or putting your health at risk, an electrophysiologist can help. One common…

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Ortho - Foot and Ankle, Orthopedics, Sports - Foot and Ankle, Sports Health

Recovering from Achilles tendon rupture, tendinitis and other injuries

Probably the most severe Achilles tendon injury is a rupture, or complete tear, of the tendon. An Achilles rupture — a severing of the tendon that connects the calf muscle and your heel bone — often results in sudden pain in the back of your ankle and lower leg, accompanied by a snapping or popping sound….

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Cancer, Flu, News, Norton Now

The flu shot for cancer patients: Is it safe?

Both the flu shot and the COVID-19 vaccine are safe if you are a cancer patient, a cancer survivor or in the midst of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy or other course of treatment. The injectable vaccines do not contain live virus. The vaccines trigger an immune response using dead viruses. The American Cancer Society emphasizes…

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Norton Now

What’s considered good cholesterol for women?

There are many factors that affect good cholesterol levels for women: age, nutrition, lifestyle and menopause, to name a few. Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in two places: Your liver produces it, and cholesterol comes from animal products you eat (think meat, eggs and cheese). Like many other things in life, cholesterol is not…

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