Samantha Rux from OSF HealthCare joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to talk about surgical services at OSF Saint Luke and healthy living after 50 by Dr. Travis Swink. Former Kewanee mayor Steve Looney has retired after 24 years of service at OSF St. Luke and the broader OSF ministry. Looney most recently held the role of Western Region Director of Environmental Services. OSF staff gathered last week to celebrate his years of leadership and service. In related OSF St. Luke news, surgical offerings have expanded with Dr. Matt Heber joining Dr. Atwell, providing four days of surgery coverage for the community. Routine procedures like colonoscopies can now be done locally, reducing travel for patients. More resources and interviews can be found at newsroom.osfhealthcare.org.
Reaching 50 often sparks both reflection and renewed focus on health. Dr. Travis Swink, a family medicine provider with OSF HealthCare, cautions that risks for chronic conditions climb after this milestone, particularly if self-care has slipped. He emphasizes regular physical activity, recommending brisk walking for just 15 minutes twice a day—no marathon required. Strength training with free weights or bands is advised for maintaining muscle without straining joints. Dr. Swink also urges better awareness of nutritional intake, highlighting a move away from carbs toward proteins and non-starchy vegetables. Moderation and consistency, not deprivation, set the tone for a healthier decade ahead.
“The problem is that when we get into our 50s, we get kind of complacent,” he says. “We stop exercising, we stop taking care of ourselves, and we’re getting into the limelight part of our career. So, we tend to slow down. We need to find out where their activity level is at at that point.”
“What I tell people is, when we get into our 50s, it’s not about running, it’s not about cross training, pickleball even, it is about walking,” he says. “And if we can do 15 minutes twice a day, that’s your best activity.”
“The problem is that we have become a very carb generated society, and so most of the time I have people actually write a diet diary, even if they’re not overweight, and we sit down and we look at it, because most of them will have a 70 to 80% carb ratio, and that, in itself, is going to be very poor for their health. So that’s where I approach it, first.”