Health Articles

With so many products on the market to help you reverse the effects of aging, it’s unfortunate that there are no creams or ointments available to reduce the pain you could feel as your joints age. However, Advanced Orthopedic Specialists has five tips you can...

Why Screening is Important Silent but deadly: That description fits colon cancer. Most patients with colon cancer experience no symptoms. Usually, there are no warning signs. Colon, rectum and rectosigmoid cancer is the third leading new invasive cancer for Missouri males and females. It remains the second...

National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day occurs on the third Friday of April each year. This national holiday signifies the importance of the proper maintenance and disposal of medication and the risks that medications can pose in our homes if not dealt with properly. According...

If you had gestational diabetes during your first pregnancy, you are at an increased risk for developing the same problem in your second pregnancy. After a woman with gestational diabetes delivers her baby, her doctor will check her blood glucose levels at six to eight weeks...

David Dahlbeck, PhD, HSP In 2011, behavioral health services began at Ferguson Medical Group (FMG) in Sikeston, Mo. when Dr. David Dahlbeck was hired as the first full-time behavioral health provider. FMG has since grown to seven full-time behavioral health providers with four licensed clinical social...

Beware of scammers targeting Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries offering genetic testing. These scammers obtain Medicare or Medicaid numbers from victims for fraudulent purposes. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued an alert about scammers offering cheek swabs for...

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can be very dangerous for a woman who is pregnant. There are two main types of hypertension issues in pregnant women – those who develop it as a part of a condition called preeclampsia or "toxemia" and those who have...

D. Andrew Gayle, MD In a recent interview with the Wayne County Newspaper, Andy Gayle, MD, physician at Piedmont Physician Associates, a Saint Francis Medical Partner, expressed his answers to frequently asked questions regarding COVID-19 vaccines. How Do I Know the COVID-19 Vaccine is Safe? “The vaccines have...

Cardiomyopathy is the medical term for a weak heart muscle. With this diagnosis, it is important to find out what is causing it to begin treatment immediately. People with cardiomyopathy seek medical attention because they are having trouble breathing, retaining fluid, exercising, extremely fatigued and cannot...

Cystic fibrosis is a disorder that causes severe damage to the lungs and digestive system. Early detection can make a big difference in the treatment of this life-threatening condition. Doctors routinely screen newborns for cystic fibrosis using a blood test that checks for abnormally high levels...

Multiple myeloma is a cancerous disease of the bone marrow that arises on white blood cells. It typically affects those over 60 years of age and is not a curable disease. Since bone marrow produces red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, it is...

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a potentially blinding eye disorder that primarily affects premature infants born before 31 weeks. Infants' eyes develop rapidly within the last 12 weeks of pregnancy. When a baby is born prematurely, the blood vessels in the eyes may stop growing...

Are you one of the 1 in 5 Americans who suffers from allergies? Here in the southeast Missouri region, allergies are common to pollen, mold, dust mites and animal dander. If your symptoms are severe enough, you may need help managing them. Ear, Nose and...

Southeast Missouri native, Mark E. Farrenburg, MD, epileptologist at Cape Neurology Specialists, is excited that an epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) is now available at Saint Francis - the only EMU operating between St. Louis and Memphis. Epilepsy is classified as a pathology of the brain that...

Erectile dysfunction (ED) occurs when a man has difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection long enough for sexual intercourse. ED has a physical cause 90 percent of the time and is usually due to a problem with blood flow. Physical causes may include diabetes, obesity, high...

For seniors who want to begin an exercise program, there is one important rule to keep in mind: If it hurts, do not do it. “Older adults sometimes remember exercises they were able to do in their younger years and try to return to those activities...

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that affects millions of Americans. At Saint Francis Healthcare System, there are many options to relieve the pain, from conservative to surgical. “On the conservative end, primary care physicians can provide anti-inflammatory medication,” says Brian C. Schafer, MD, orthopedic surgeon who...

The First Week of January is Folic Acid Awareness Week The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urges all women of reproductive age to take 400 micrograms (mcg.) of folic acid each day in addition to consuming food rich in folate to help prevent some...

High temperatures during the summer can lead to heatstroke – a very serious condition and medical emergency. It can occur gradually or happen suddenly, even if you have no other signs of heat-related injury. Symptoms of Heatstroke Nausea and vomitingSeizuresConfusion and disorientationLack of sweating despite the heatRapid...

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine prevents cancer against HPV infection. Certain types of HPV can lead to oral and genital cancers. HPV vaccines are highly effective in preventing infection when given before initial exposure to the virus. Similar to the need to put a helmet on...