Clinical care – Here for Life

Get your skin ready for the winter

October 8, 2019

October is National Eczema Awareness Month. Sounds like a good time to talk about winter and how the cold upcoming weather can be harsh on our skin. Dry skin and eczema are two of the most common conditions the dermatologists at Hennepin Healthcare see this time of year. Dr. Jenny Liu, from the Dermatology Clinic, shares some easy and simple gentle skin care tips that everyone can use.

Bathing tips:
1. Daily bathing is recommended. Baths are better than showers as soaking can help hydrate the skin.
2. Avoid super-hot water. Although it feels good with the cold weather, hot water can dry out the skin. (more…)

Two heart attacks – two different types of pain

September 27, 20192

Is it heartburn? Muscle strain? Pain from a heart attack can take on different forms for women – and unfortunately, it’s those subtle differences that could be making a huge difference in clinical outcomes for patients.

Coronary heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death for women in the United States even though more is being done to identify and treat the disease. Ignoring the symptoms of heart attack is one of the key factors attributing to this statistic.

“Since the 1980s there’s been a steady decline in cardiovascular disease rates for women, and that’s great,” explains Dr. Michelle Carlson at Hennepin Healthcare. “Awareness of prevention efforts like reducing cholesterol, stress and smoking cessation as well as incorporating positive exercise and diet choices are making a difference. But there’s one obstacle we’re still not overcoming – and that’s the likelihood of women to dismiss symptoms until it’s too late.” (more…)

Soothe your soles and save your toes

September 18, 2019

Brenda Lutzke is feeling lucky. She’s heading to Las Vegas after a rough beginning to her summer when she was facing amputation due to a diabetic wound on her left toe that would not heal. “But I came here on a Monday and by Tuesday I started hyperbaric treatments,” she said. “Between the great care […]

The History of Trauma Care

August 30, 2019

As Hennepin Healthcare celebrates 30 years of Level 1 Adult & Pediatric Trauma verification, it’s important to look back in time and see how we got here. Trauma is not new – it has happened and been treated since the beginning of time, not just the past 30 years. But before the formal verification process was developed by the American College of Surgeons, an interesting journey led us to this honorable professional status. (more…)

Sports physicals create opportunities for healthy conversations

July 17, 2019

The start of school also signals the kick-off for school athletics. According to the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL), the non-profit that coordinates most of the interscholastic athletics in the state, more than 300,000 youth participate in middle school or high school athletics each year from over 525 schools. In fact, despite our smaller population size, Minnesota ranks 10^th in the nation for school athletic participation. This is great news for the youth of our state as physical activity and sports participation have many physical and emotional health benefits. Youth who are involved in sports are more likely to get the recommended 60 minutes of vigorous activity each day. Additionally, sports participation has been shown to improve social connection, reduce depression and suicidality, improve confidence and self-esteem[i]. For high school boys and girls, participation in sports teams is associated with higher academic achievement as well[ii].

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One day at a time…. celebrating 50 years of Knapp Rehabilitation

July 5, 2019

It’s hard to put into words the daily life at Knapp Rehab, Hennepin Healthcare’s inpatient acute rehabilitation unit. To end up in Knapp, something pretty awful sent you there – a stroke, a traumatic brain injury, a chronic disease, an accident. (more…)

What is a chemical peel?

June 21, 2019

Just what is a chemical peel? It sounds kind of scary, right? Well, it shouldn’t. Chemical peels have been around for a long time, and if you have thought of trying one, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Everyday sun exposure can affect the quality of your skin and, of course, there’s always that aging thing happening. A fifteen-minute chemical peel over your lunch break can improve your skin’s color and texture. “It’s a chemical exfoliation that removes dead, damaged skin to reveal a new refreshed glow. And, it only takes fifteen minutes!’” explains an RN within the dermatology department.

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Nutrients in foods more beneficial (and tasty!) than dietary supplements

June 12, 2019

The best way to benefit from the nutrients found in foods is to well, eat them – according to a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

“Nutrient sources in their original packages – food – have shown the greatest benefit,” explains Natalie Ikeman, PA at Hennepin Healthcare’s Golden Valley Clinic. “Investigators found that the use of dietary supplements did not lower one’s risk of death. And in fact, in some instances, excessive use of supplements like calcium were associated with a higher risk of cancer-related death.”

Nothing can beat a well-balanced diet says Ikeman, and combined with adequate exercise and activity it has a proven record for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and certain cancers.

“Staying healthy involves more than taking a supplement or pill,” she says. “It’s making positive lifestyle choices that impact your mental and physical health and motivate you to be the best you can be. Eating sensibly and enjoying nutritious meals gives us the benefit of seeing, touching and tasting the intelligent and delicious choices we’re making about the fuel our bodies need.”

“No easy pill or powder can replace our food’s natural packaging. And once we start processing food to isolate nutrients and put them some other form, we’re losing the full benefits of how they were meant to be absorbed in our bodies.”

Natalie Ikeman is the founder of The Great Slim Down weight loss program, a one-on-one program that provides counseling once a month for 12 months on a healthy diet and exercise ideas to prevent chronic diseases caused by increased body weight. For more information go to hennepinhealthcare.org/greatslimdown.