The healthy spine isn't perfectly straight—and that's a good thing! The natural forward and backward curves make it easier for our spines to absorb forces as we move about our day. The spine normally curves slightly toward the front of the body in the neck and lower back. We call this lordosis. The spine curves slightly toward the back of the body in the middle back. We call this kyphosis. People can have varying degrees of lordosis and kyphosis, and about 2 to 3 percent of the American population has less-typical curves known as scoliosis. Keep reading to learn about what scoliosis is, how to

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Getting your child interested in vegetables might feel like an uphill climb sometimes, especially if you have picky eaters at home. To avoid having all your mealtimes feel like Battle of the Broccoli, use these six ideas to get more veggies into your kids' diet: 1. Lead by example. When it comes to food, your job as a parent is to decide what, where and when your children eat. It's your child's job to decide whether and how much they eat. Respecting these roles can be difficult when you're worried your children aren't eating enough—or when they refuse to eat what you prepare. One thing you can

Getting your child interested in vegetables might feel like an uphill climb sometimes, especially if you have picky eaters at home. To avoid having all your mealtimes feel like Battle of the Broccoli, use these six ideas to get more veggies into your kids' diet: 1. Lead by example. When it comes to food, your job as a parent is to decide what, where and when your children eat. It's your child's job to decide whether and how much they eat. Respecting these roles can be difficult when you're worried your children aren't eating enough—or when they refuse to eat what you prepare. One thing you can

A stroke is a medical emergency that causes a lack of blood flow to an area of the brain. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds, and someone dies of stroke every 4 minutes. Doctors and researchers know that early diagnosis and treatment is associated with better outcomes in stroke. In other words, if you or someone you love experiences a stroke, the chances of having a better functional level are much greater if you receive medical attention sooner. The best way you can increase the odds of better

A stroke is a medical emergency that causes a lack of blood flow to an area of the brain. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds, and someone dies of stroke every 4 minutes. Doctors and researchers know that early diagnosis and treatment is associated with better outcomes in stroke. In other words, if you or someone you love experiences a stroke, the chances of having a better functional level are much greater if you receive medical attention sooner. The best way you can increase the odds of better

Exercise, create, and explore using all five senses. Minds in Motion is an evidence-based program, designed for persons experiencing memory loss or dementia. The goal is to improve or maintain mental, physical and emotional well-being, using all five senses in a variety of activities. Sessions are held twice a month and each session has a different theme to help keep the program fresh. Activities include: Brain games Creative activities Art Music Socialization Chair yoga The Minds in Motion programs are between three and four hours, and allow respite for caregivers if they choose. Caregivers

SPRINGFIELD, IL – A new report dissects the impact of COVID-19 on the rural health workforce and identifies methods the state can utilize current health workers more efficiently while committing to long-term rural health workforce recruitment strategies. “Pre-pandemic, rural regions suffered from significant healthcare provider shortages, which often required rural residents to travel long distances or wait longer for appointments,” said Dr. Sameer Vohra, Chair, SIU Medicine Department of Population Science and Policy. “Despite rural health workers’ heroic efforts during the pandemic, job

On average, 1 in 8 American women will get breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. These women are our grandmothers, mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, aunts, friends, colleagues and community members. Let's show them our support! In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, our team at SIU Medicine wants to help you raise awareness and learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones. 1. Learn about breast cancer risk factors. As clinicians and researchers, we learn more every day about breast cancer risk factors. By becoming aware of your own risk factors, you can start