For such small organs, our kidneys tackle big important jobs within the body. Our kidneys make urine, remove toxins and excess water from our blood, help control blood pressure, produce red blood cells, control blood stream levels of minerals like…
Have you or someone you know lost a loved one to suicide? While it is not an easy topic to discuss, suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, especially among young people. In honor…
Experts say that practicing social distancing and wearing a mask are the best ways to prevent COVID-19. Memorial Health System has taken important steps to make sure both of these practices are easy to follow within their facilities. At Memorial…
Be Proactive about Screening for Colorectal Cancer Each year, thousands of Illinoisans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer. With males and females combined, it is also the second leading cause of deaths…
Ever really wonder what happens when you eat? Your digestive system is complex and has an impact on your overall health. Every time you eat, food takes a trip through your digestive system, and bacteria in your digestive tract helps…
Depression can affect more than just mental health—it can have physical consequences as well. Memorial Care Primary Care (previously known as Memorial Physician Services) is working to address the overall well-being of their patients through a multi-faceted effort to identify…
Annual screening mammograms are the most effective way to diagnose breast cancer. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said only 65 percent of women age 40 and older had a mammogram in the last two years. Screening mammograms…
Jennifer Anderson had a strong support network as she battled breast cancer—friends, family and an unexpected new companion that she calls her “cancer kitty.” In October 2016, she heard faint noises coming from outside her house. Kneeling in her yard…
Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes and another 79 million have prediabetes — and many of them don’t know it. People with prediabetes have blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed…
If you suffer from hearing loss, you’re usually the last to know. Hearing loss goes unnoticed because it often occurs so gradually and is painless. But it can hamper your quality of life. “A lot of times family members will…