You’ve probably been told to ‘live your life’ and ‘be in the moment,’ so it’s no surprise that you might not want to think about the what-ifs. What if you are in an accident or become too sick to make decisions about your own healthcare? Will your family know what you want — or don’t want — done to keep you alive?

You’ve been playing a little too much pickleball or bowling, holding babies or toddlers too long or carrying heavy groceries into the house. Now you have some aches and pains in your shoulder and it’s hard to sleep at night. A part of your shoulder called your rotator cuff might be to blame and, no, this injury doesn’t just happen to professional athletes.

Your body is a machine that gets put through its paces each and every day and your joints take the brunt of the workload. Thanks to hours of walking, carrying packages and babies, running, playing sports and standing, you might find that your joints — such as your knees, hips or neck – hurt and feel a little stiff. This could be osteoarthritis.

It seems to make sense that if you eat less food, you’ll lose weight. But that’s not necessarily the case, according to Dr. John B. Cleek, an obesity medicine specialist with Roper St. Francis Physician Partners.

Job loss, remote learning, financial strain, stress and fear of you or your family members getting sick are just some of the concerns weighing down everyone during these trying times. 

Nobody wants to think about a medical emergency happening to them or their loved ones, but the fact is that illnesses and accidents can happen. If they do, your health – or the health of your loved one – shouldn’t wait. Be prepared by knowing now when you should get to the emergency room, what the medical staff can do for you and when the ER may not be the best place for your symptoms.

When someone gets emotional, it’s said that they have a lump in their throat. While that kind of lump is harmless, you may have a reason for concern if you actually see or feel a lump.  The symptoms of something more serious are not always obvious. They can mimic other diseases. But if you have a lingering sore throat, a sinus infection that won’t go away, neck pain, voice changes, breathing difficulties, coughing or trouble swallowing, all of these symptoms can be indicators of thyroid cancer.

Are you considering working out to drop a couple pounds from staying home? Maybe you’re just looking to get in better shape? No matter what your reason for starting a new exercise routine, don’t take one step without making sure you have the right footwear.

Are you dealing with a crick in your neck that seems to linger forever? Do you wake up with shoulder discomfort that lasts throughout the day and sometimes disrupts your sleep in the middle of the night? You’re not alone. Millions of Americans suffer from these common issues, but there are ways to ease your pain.

There are a number of reasons your joints — especially your knees and hips — could be hurting. The pain could be a result of osteoarthritis, an old injury flaring up, too much high-impact activity, or simple wear and tear that occurs over time. If you’ve tried everything to ease your pain, it might be time to consider a joint replacement.

It seems to make sense that if you eat less food, you’ll lose weight. But that’s not necessarily the case, according to Dr. John B. Cleek, an internal medicine specialist with Roper St. Francis Physician Partners. Dr. Cleek points out that genetics are responsible for 50 to 70 percent of a person’s weight, but other factors contribute to what your bathroom scale tells you each morning. For example, if you don’t get enough sleep, your metabolism decreases and your appetite increases.

One of the best parts of living in the Lowcountry is enjoying the great outdoors — but that can also mean all kinds of nasty bites, stings, and other injuries from insects and ocean dwellers.

Charleston’s summers are no joke. The high temperatures combined with the high humidity can be potentially dangerous if you don’t pay attention to your body. Whether mowing the grass, playing at the beach or even working in the blistering sun, it’s important to know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

While everyone knows colonoscopies are not exactly the most pleasant procedure, getting screened for colon cancer is incredibly important — and can potentially save your life. “Many of the symptoms are silent, so many people will not have any major symptoms whatsoever,” says Dr. Jorge Lagares-Garcia of Roper St. Francis Healthcare. “Pain can be a late symptom of very advanced colorectal cancer.”

Menopause is a natural, normal process, but for some women it can feel quite mysterious — because it’s something so few people discuss.
“I frequently hear, ‘Why doesn’t anyone talk about this?’ All of a sudden women can’t sleep, and they have no idea what’s going on,” says Dr. Elaine Eustis, with Roper St. Francis Physician Partners OB/GYN. “They see two or three doctors before they get to me. It’s surprising to me that more women don’t talk about this.”

If you’ve ever had kidney stones, you know that they’re painful. Kidney stones are small, hard mineral deposits that can form in the urine.

When it comes to maintaining health and protecting yourself and your family against diseases, vaccinations play an essential role.

This year, the flu is hitting later than usual, so even though winter may be fleeing, the flu is not. For many people, flu symptoms can appear seemingly out of nowhere, so it’s important to understand the symptoms.

If you’ve ever had chicken pox, you could be at risk of developing shingles sometime in your life — so it’s important to understand the signs, symptoms and treatment options.

Everyone knows losing weight—and keeping it off long-term—can be challenging, especially for obese individuals who need to lose significant amounts of weight. For many people, bariatric surgery can be a great option that doesn’t just help you lose weight but helps you maintain lifelong health and a better quality of life. “Bariatric surgery is becoming the gold standard for the treatment of people with morbid obesity and the medical problems related to it,” says Dr. Bryan Thomas, who specializes in bariatric and general surgery at Roper St. Francis Healthcare. “The goal is for you to reach a healthy weight and then maintain that weight for the rest of your life.”

Every year we’re faced with the challenge of the holiday and winter season: the dreaded extra pounds we are liable to pack on with an extra cookie here and an extra holiday drink there. If you are trying not to gain weight through the holidays or just trying to maintain a healthy balance, consider these tips.

It’s imperative for women to make sure they’re maintaining good breast health. While women can’t control their genetics or a family history of breast cancer, what they CAN control is seeking proper medical treatment and screenings. If you are age 40 or older, you should be seeing a healthcare provider for routine screening mammograms, says Dr. Susanne Bradford, an OB/GYN with Roper St. Francis Physician Partners.

Most people assume eating healthy and exercising will result in dramatic weight loss. And while a balanced diet and physical activity are important elements for a healthy lifestyle, they aren’t always enough to help seriously overweight people achieve weight loss goals.

Sponsored by: Roper St. Francis Healthcare Charleston’s summers are no joke. The high temperatures combined with the high humidity can be potentially dangerous if you don’t pay attention to your body. Whether mowing the grass, playing at the beach or even working in the blistering sun, it’s important to know the signs of heat exhaustion […]

When it comes to helping people understand the role of a palliative care doctor, Dr. Beth Wolf describes it as simply as she can: the palliative care team provides an extra layer of support while a patient is going through a significant illness.

Parents to-be do a lot of planning for their new baby. They pick out the safest crib and car seat, decorate the nursery and take classes on breastfeeding and infant CPR. But many parents wish they’d done a little more pre-conception planning because there are plenty of questions that need answered before the baby bump.