September is World Alzheimer’s Month. And recently, two new risk factors for the disease were identified. Dr. Caldwell said they’re not entirely sure why these two health issues could play a role in a person’s risk for Alzheimer’s. However, it’s possible vision loss could impact a person’s sensory input, meaning their brain is not processing as much information. Vision loss could also make it harder for an individual to exercise, socialize with family and friends, or do other stimulating activities. As for those with high levels of LDL cholesterol, Dr. Caldwell explains that it’s not good for our heart and blood vessels. Our brain has a lot of small blood vessels, so they can be more easily impacted by things like cholesterol.

There are many different careers and pathways that one can pursue in the healthcare industry. Freedom Bell is a radiologic technologist with Mercy Health St. Rita's. She worked for St. Rita's back in 2021 with patient transport, and discovered that she loved the imaging field and wanted to know more. While attending Rhodes State College, she applied for their radiology program, and obtained clinical hours as a student. She also took advantage of another opportunity while earning her degree.

As the new school year begins, it’s a great reminder to schedule your child’s annual physical. These yearly visits are crucial to keep tabs on a variety of things. After their more frequent visits early on, Dr. Robinson said children should keep up with at least one yearly physical starting at age 3. These regular visits help doctors catch and address anything abnormal early. Along with doing vision, hearing and other necessary tests – doctors can start talking to kids about things like healthy eating and the importance of sleep. By having these conversations, Dr. Robinson said children can start developing lifelong healthy habits. An annual checkup is also a good time for kids to bring up anything on their minds, as well.

Every 40 seconds in America, someone has a stroke and doctors say around 80% of all of them are preventable. So, as part of Stroke Awareness Month, Mercy Health-St. Rita's has created an online quiz to see if you are at a high or low risk of having a stroke. The quiz will ask for some general information like age and family history, and about some preventable factors, like smoking, activity level, and regular doctor checkups. Once you know your risk level, it will give you suggestions for your next step to lower or maintain your risk level.