Enzaime Health Stories

Hormones are chemical messengers that keep the body functioning. From regulating metabolism and sleep cycles to controlling immune function and sex drives, they are key to how the body works — or doesn’t. Suffering hot flashes? That’s an easy one — blame them on hormones. But fatigue, dry skin, sleep problems, heart rate, anxiety, weight gain, constipation and much more can all be affected by changing hormones. While there are numerous hormones in the body, there are several that have a big impact, including the thyroid hormone thyroxine, estrogen, testosterone and vitamin D — yes, vitamin D is a hormone. Thyroxine Dr. Rebecca Adochio, an endocrinologist at Vail Health, says any hormone changes that we see with age can begin to develop at different times for different individuals. The average age of menopause in the U.S. is 51, but commonly occurs in the 40s and 50s. Hypothyroidism is most common in women over the age of 60. “Both men and women can ex...

When it comes to your health, there’s good news and bad about consuming moderate amounts of alcohol Every other year, alcohol is given the thumbs up by doctors and health professionals, as in a glass of wine prevents heart disease or tequila helps fight cholesterol. The following year, at least for the killjoys in the United Kingdom, red wine is bad for the heart, and tequila? The Brits are still all about tequila, as an article earlier this year in The Telegraph touted its uses for everything from possible weight loss to hosting good prebiotics. "Clearly defined contraindications to alcohol consumption exist," said Lisa Bentley, clinical dietitian at Vail Health. "While recent research suggests that moderate drinkers are less likely to develop heart disease than people who don't drink any alcohol or who drink too much, the American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute state that this is not a recommendation to start using alcohol....

VAIL, CO—Vail Health was recently acknowledged as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Obstetrics by the Women’s Choice Award for the second year in a row. The award signifies that Vail Health is in the top 10% of U.S. hospitals offering obstetrics. “Bringing babies into the world is one of the most joyful things we do at Vail Health,” said Vail Health’s President and CEO Doris Kirchner. “We take great pride in making the birthing experience meet each family’s unique expectations. This award reaffirms the exceptional care our Family Birth Center provides for women, babies and families in our community.” The Women’s Choice Award for America’s Best Hospitals™ is a coveted credential that identifies the nation’s best hospitals based on robust criteria that includes patient satisfaction, relevant clinical performance and appropriate accreditations. The top 10% of hospitals are recognized, supporting the Women...

The Pink Vail flamingo has flown into new territory with a new program designed to get cancer patients and Pink Vail revelers on the slopes a couple times in advance of the big event. Bill Schane came up with the idea. The Beaver Creek skier is coming up on his 40th chemotherapy session, and is feeling as alive as ever as he battles mesothelioma. Sharing his vision from the slopes of Beaver Creek on Thursday, Jan. 11, Schane described something he called "skimotherapy." "I always liked to do something hard right after getting chemo, so I'd go skiing," he said. "I'd get chemo in the morning and I'd ski in the afternoon." He'd send selfies to his doctors, and in those messages the term skimotherapy was coined. It started as a challenge to himself, but Schane soon realized the idea should be shared with others facing similar struggles. "Here we are, a year later," Schane said from the Gold Dust run. "We're doing skimotherapy...

Two knee replacement surgeries at Abbott Northwestern's Joint Replacement Center in 2009 and 2010 gave Sandra the ability to lead the active, healthy lifestyle she desired. Following a career as a beautician, with countless hours of standing each workday and a knee injury she sustained more than 15 years ago, Sandra yearned for an active, pain-free lifestyle. A planner, she scheduled each knee replacement surgery one year apart to allow time for healing and to ensure that she was satisfied with the results from the first surgery. Today, Sandra lives in Bemidji and is able to enjoy the outdoors by cross-country skiing in the winter months. She routinely walks for 2-1/2 miles at a time,swims and dances. She continues to work two days a month and enjoys time with family and friends in the beautiful northern woods. She and her husband have been so pleased with the results that her husband has scheduled his own knee replacement surgery at the Joint Replacement Center. "I'm tick...

Deb Clark, 60, is finally getting back to her active, adventurous self. "I've always been one to embrace life," said Clark. She had a rewarding career as an administrator with Minneapolis Public Schools Community Education, found time to earn a doctorate in her 40s, and is passionate about travel, music and enjoying the outdoors. But by the time she was 50, health complications and chronic pain related to osteoarthritis combined with a connective tissue condition had begun to catch up with her. She had problems with her eyes, hips and hands. She also was diagnosed with a thyroid condition and struggled with allergies and acid reflux disease. She sensed that these problems were not onoccurring in isolatin, but were somehow connected. Yet, each doctor she saw could help with only one part of her health puzzle. And the pain kept getting worse. "No one seemed to be trained for the medical complexities of my body," she said. "I really wanted to get to the bottom...

Matthew Barron of Hastings, Minnesota was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when he was 17. Nearing the end of chemotherapy treatment in the spring of 2012, he required hospitalization for staph infection and multi-organ failure. He lost sensory and motor function in his lower extremities, which electromyography showed to be caused by a lumbosacral plexopathy. Barron began his rehabilitation in the Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute - Abbott Northwestern Hospital inpatient unit, working tirelessly to adapt to his new lifestyle, to perform daily cares and gain independence using a wheelchair. He then transitioned to outpatient physical therapy at Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute - River Falls in River Falls, Wisconsin. "When Matt began, he had clear optimism and a determined work ethic to regain as much mobility and lower extremity strength as possible," said Nicholas Maiers, PT, Barron's therapist at River Falls. Barron's accomplishments over the n...