If you suspect you have a hernia, there’s no need to panic, said John Mellinger, MD, and Jim Fullerton, MD, co-medical directors of the Memorial Advanced Hernia Center. Although they won’t go away on their own, most hernias are easily…
Successful hernia treatment often involves more than just surgery. Patients can benefit from lifestyle changes both before and after a procedure to repair a hernia—changes that may also help prevent the hernia from recurring. “We now understand, better than we…
Most of us wouldn’t consider bullying someone based on race, religion or gender. But Lindsay Roush, LCPC, a behavioral health consultant at Memorial Weight Loss & Wellness Center, said while other forms of discrimination have become taboo, it’s still common…
Registered nurse John Oaks has experienced Memorial’s culture of care from two different angles: as a provider and as a patient. A video featuring Oaks, who works in Memorial’s Infusion unit, was recently shown at employee meetings. He told his…
It’s hard for 37-year-old Malia Smith to imagine how she will feel after undergoing a kidney transplant. Having battled Lupus for more than half her life, health struggles are part of Malia’s normal routine. At age 12, Malia was treated…
There’s life before your heart attack, and then there’s life after. Those first days and weeks as you start “life after” can be difficult physically, mentally and emotionally. That’s one reason the earlier you start going to cardiac rehab, the…
Smoking kills more than 480,000 Americans each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For many, the “why” to quit is clear, but the “how” is more challenging. If you live in central Illinois, Memorial Health System…
Tony Shuff is a busy man, and his Oct. 5 heart attack was not on the fall “to-do” list. His warning signs? • Tired and easily winded • Shortness of breath • Minimal feelings of discomfort around the heart The…
Cold and flu season is upon us. And as moms, dads and anyone who wants to avoid seasonal viruses prepare for the germ battle, they often reach for the same weapon of choice: the trusty ole’ hand sanitizer. The small…
Pete Rafferty, 72, knew from early childhood that he wanted to serve his country. A Springfield native who attended Feishan’s High School, he achieved that dream quickly upon graduation when he enlisted in the U.S. Marines in 1963. He was…