Did you know

The kidneys may be small (each one is about the size of a fist), but they are important and hard-working organs. Each kidney contains a million tiny filters that clean your blood and balance the chemistry of your body. They remove waste and excess water, help control your blood pressure, produce the hormone erythropoietin to make red blood cells and balance the minerals in your body.

What kidneys do

These bean-shaped organs work very hard.  Kidneys balance the body’s chemistry by cleaning the entire blood supply every 5 minutes. They filter waste products and extra water out of your body through your urine.  Those are just a couple of the many examples of what kidneys do.

What causes chronic kidney disease?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined as a permanent loss of kidney function and it comes on slowly and silently over the years. But did you know that certain conditions you have now can develop into kidney disease?  Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two leading causes of chronic kidney disease as well as having a parent or sibling with diabetes, high blood pressure or kidney disease.  A CKD diagnosis means that tests have shown your kidneys are not functioning to remove wastes and extra water from your body as efficiently as they should.

Call Rebecca today @ 518-533-7883 to schedule your free screening on July 31st, at  St. Mary's Hospital, Vascular Lab  1300 Massachuesttes Ave.  Troy, NY.

“The Butt Stops Here,” is an ongoing support group for those who want to quit smoking, or who have already quit. "The Butt Stops Here"  meets Mondays, 6 – 7 pm at St. Mary's Hospital, 1300  Massachusetts Ave., Troy  2nd Floor/Marillac Boardroom.

According to the Public Health Service Guideline Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, tobacco dependence can lead to symptoms of chronic disease.  Only a minority of tobacco users achieve permanent abstinence in an initial quit attempt.  The majority of users persist in tobacco use for many years and typically cycle through multiple periods of remission and relapse.  “This new program will accommodate those smokers who struggle to become or remain abstinent.  Research shows that group support combined with a smoking cessation medication can increase quit rates to 30% or more,” says Peggy Keigley, Director, Seton Health’s Center for Smoking Cessation.

"The Butt Stops Here"  program was founded in 2001.  It is an extended cessation support program with open enrollment all summer to help people quit smoking.  To date it has conducted over 430 groups and treated approximately 7,000 participants of which 30% have quit smoking. “Most of our participants ask for more support so we’ve decided to offer an ongoing weekly support group program designed for those who want more help with quitting.  Now, when someone needs immediate services, it’s available,” says Debbie Keefe, "The Butt Stops Here"  Program Coordinator.

Nicotine replacement therapy is available in the form of nicotine patches, gum or lozenges.  This program is open to the public but space is limited and reservations are required.  To sign up for the program, or for more information about "The Butt Stops Here"  program, please call Debbie Keefe, Program Coordinator, at (518) 459-2550.

Seton Health is proud to sponsor our Adult Diabetes Support Group which is held on the 1st Thursday, of each month from 2-3 pm in Conference Room B at St. Mary’s Hospital, 1300 Massachusetts Ave, Troy.

Each month’s topic varies so come and learn how to create healthy, tasty, and satisfying meal combinations while learning how to choose the right foods and carbs.  Find out what foods aretruly good for your heart, and how these foods ultimately affect your blood sugar. The Adult Diabetes Support Group is presented by Rosemary Joslin, RN, CDE.

This event is free and open to the public.  Space is limited so reservations are required and may be made by calling (518) 268-5584.

Looking to shed extra holiday pounds?  Tried other diet programs and not had much luck?  Spent way too much $$$$ and didn't get the results you wanted?

Seton Health is offering the national program, Take Shape For Life!  A comprehensive, physician-directed program designed to promote weight loss and a healthy lifestyle.

The Take Shape For Life! program offers significant, safe weight loss in a short time..  The goal is to get people on the right track to optimal health by first reducing weight, teaching healthy habits and reducing and eliminating health issues.  An essential component of the program is Medifast Meals: healthy, nutritionally balanced meal replacements that will help participants reach their ideal weight and keep the weight off for life.

All meetings are one on one and appointments are available between 4-6  pm.  Health coaches will meet with interested people to explain the program and register them.   Please call 518-268-6405 to schedule an appointment or for more information.  

Seton Health is proud to sponsor our Adult Diabetes Support Group which is held on the 1st Friday, of each month from 12:30 - 1:30 pm at St. George's Episcopal Church  912 Rt. 146  Clifton Park, NY  12065  in Hatlee Hall .

Each month’s topic varies so come and learn how to create healthy, tasty, and satisfying meal combinations while learning how to choose the right foods and carbs.  Find out what foods are truly good for your heart, and how these foods ultimately affect your blood sugar. The Adult Diabetes Support Group is presented by Rosemary Joslin, RN, CDE.

This event is free and open to the public.  Space is limited so reservations are required and may be made by calling (518) 268-5584.

Recommended for families with children age 3 years and up, this fun one hour class is geared toward young children and is designed to help prepare siblings for the arrival of a new baby brother or sister.