The first time Jennifer Deiss ever took a Tylenol with codeine, also known as Tylenol 3, it was in 1983 when she was in her late twenties. Suffering from complications following surgery, doctors determined the now 62-year-old had arthritis that had been aggravated by bed rest. Her family doctor prescribed Tylenol 3 and a muscle relaxer. Today, with current CDC guidelines, that prescription would have an end date two to three weeks following surgery, no more. For Jennifer, that end date wouldn’t arrive for 34 years. The Fifth Vital Sign While there is no easy answer, one of the clear symptoms

The first time Jennifer Deiss ever took a Tylenol with codeine, also known as Tylenol 3, it was in 1983 when she was in her late twenties. Suffering from complications following surgery, doctors determined the now 62-year-old had arthritis that had been aggravated by bed rest. Her family doctor prescribed Tylenol 3 and a muscle relaxer. Today, with current CDC guidelines, that prescription would have an end date two to three weeks following surgery, no more. For Jennifer, that end date wouldn’t arrive for 34 years. The Fifth Vital Sign While there is no easy answer, one of the clear symptoms

As American lifespans increase due to progress made on other medical frontiers, the toll from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) grows. More than 5 million Americans are living with the disease, and by 2050 this number could rise as high as 16 million, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. The key to maintaining a functional quality of life resides in the recesses of the brain. A research scientist at Southern Illinois University Medicine has been awarded a $30,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Fund to study brain energetics—the flow and

As American lifespans increase due to progress made on other medical frontiers, the toll from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) grows. More than 5 million Americans are living with the disease, and by 2050 this number could rise as high as 16 million, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. The key to maintaining a functional quality of life resides in the recesses of the brain. A research scientist at Southern Illinois University Medicine has been awarded a $30,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Fund to study brain energetics—the flow and

As American lifespans increase due to progress made on other medical frontiers, the toll from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) grows. More than 5 million Americans are living with the disease, and by 2050 this number could rise as high as 16 million, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. The key to maintaining a functional quality of life resides in the recesses of the brain. A research scientist at Southern Illinois University Medicine has been awarded a $30,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Fund to study brain energetics—the flow and

As American lifespans increase due to progress made on other medical frontiers, the toll from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) grows. More than 5 million Americans are living with the disease, and by 2050 this number could rise as high as 16 million, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. The key to maintaining a functional quality of life resides in the recesses of the brain. A research scientist at Southern Illinois University Medicine has been awarded a $30,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Fund to study brain energetics—the flow and

Nothing says summer fun like an outdoor party by the pool or fire pit. But if you decide to drink alcohol during these steamy days, take precaution. Nearly one-third of motor-vehicle deaths are related to alcohol impairment, according to the CDC. When it’s hot outside, our bodies become dehydrated more quickly. Drinking alcohol while dehydrated leads to a higher blood alcohol concentration. Studies also show that a higher blood alcohol concentration leads to a greater risk of injury from a traffic accident, and the injuries will be more significant too. While each person’s tolerance for

Nothing says summer fun like an outdoor party by the pool or fire pit. But if you decide to drink alcohol during these steamy days, take precaution. Nearly one-third of motor-vehicle deaths are related to alcohol impairment, according to the CDC. When it’s hot outside, our bodies become dehydrated more quickly. Drinking alcohol while dehydrated leads to a higher blood alcohol concentration. Studies also show that a higher blood alcohol concentration leads to a greater risk of injury from a traffic accident, and the injuries will be more significant too. While each person’s tolerance for

Have a child entering pre-k, kindergarten, sixth or ninth grade this year? Be sure you have an appointment set up for a back-to-school physical before school starts. Physicals are required for students entering pre-k, kindergarten, sixth grade and ninth grade and students who are new to Springfield Public Schools. Staying up-to-date on vaccines and having a routine physical helps families protect their children from the most serious illnesses. “When children enter kindergarten, they have to show proof of receiving the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis or the Tdap, their final polio, their