The aortic valve controls the flow of blood out of the heart. When it begins to fail, an aortic valve replacement is often the best option to solve the problem. While doctors typically recommend open-heart surgery, some patients are too fragile to be able to withstand... Read more
While both men and women contract bladder infections (also called urinary tract infections, or UTIs), women are much more likely than men to experience this painful occurrence. Symptoms include pain during urination, blood in the urine and a frequent urge to urinate.
“Bladder infections are not serious... Read more
When others ask him to name his favorite hobby, Joseph M. McClain, MD, MS, FACS, trauma surgeon, Saint Francis Medical Partner does not hesitate. “I always say my job is my favorite hobby,” says McClain, who recently came to Saint Francis. “At the end of the... Read more
If you suffer from severe arthritis in your ankle, you may be a candidate for ankle replacement surgery. “Many patients can find relief with treatment such as medications, activity modification or bracing,” says R. August Ritter III, MD, orthopedic surgeon who practices at Saint Francis Healthcare System.... Read more
It’s a new partnership for the new year! Kneibert Clinic, a multispecialty clinic in Poplar Bluff, Mo., has joined the Saint Francis Healthcare System. As of January 1, all providers at Kneibert Clinic are now part of Saint Francis Medical Partners, physicians and providers affiliated with... Read more
Area women who have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer can find encouragement and camaraderie through Saint Francis Medical Center’s Power of Pink Breast Cancer Support Group.
The group, which meets Tuesday evenings for two six-week sessions in January and June, has been going strong since 2011.... Read more
While one in seven men in the United States will develop prostate cancer in his lifetime, the number of deaths due to this disease has decreased significantly over the past 20 years. This is because more men are receiving screening through the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.
“A... Read more
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 Patrick R. Knight, MD, orthopedic surgeon who practices... Read more
Fifty percent of people will experience hemorrhoids – swollen and inflamed veins in the anus and lower rectum. While remedies such as Preparation H®, prescription medications and suppositories can provide relief, recurrent internal hemorrhoids may require further treatment.
Thermal ligation is an outpatient procedure that cuts off... Read more
If you do not receive enough vitamin D, you could be putting yourself at risk for a host of health problems including heart disease, dementia and cancer.
Often called the “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D is manufactured by the body when your skin is exposed to sunlight. Vitamin... Read more
Reye’s syndrome is a rare, serious condition that causes swelling in a child’s liver and brain. The exact cause is unknown, but researchers have observed it most often occurs when children take aspirin following a viral infection such as chickenpox or the flu.
Symptoms of Reye’s syndrome... Read more
Every athlete knows success in competition begins with hard work in the off-season and in practice. What gets lost in the push to outwork the competition is how proper nutrition and adequate recovery can result in even greater gains.
Overtraining is one of the biggest risks to... Read more
"Hold your form!"
That sentence is one of the most common commands used by coaches and trainers as they exhort their athletes to push beyond their comfort zones. Aside from the obvious benefit of avoiding wasted motion, using proper form when exercising holds additional advantages.
“The most important... Read more
If you often experience bloating in your abdominal area, it is probably the result of intestinal gas that has built up in your digestive tract. Fortunately, there are many ways you can avoid bloating:
Avoid carbonated beverages – Drinks such as soda can create gas inside your... Read more
Newborns who have difficulty breathing can get the help they need in Saint Francis Healthcare System’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Doctors give babies treatments ranging from airflow in the nose to a breathing tube that infuses medication into their lungs in the Level III... Read more
A rotator cuff (shoulder) injury can occur due to wear and tear over time or sudden injury. When the injury is severe, surgery may be required. The Orthopedic Institute at Saint Francis Medical Center works with each patient to determine the best approach.
“During the surgery, we... Read more
Many women experience mild to moderate cramping during their period. But if your pain is considerably bad every month, talk to your doctor because you may have endometriosis.
“Endometriosis occurs when the uterine, or endometrial, lining grows outside the uterus,” says Grant D. McWilliams, DO, FACOG, obstetrician... Read more
Establishing a relationship with a primary care physician is essential, says Laura E. Glueck, DO, family practice physician, Saint Francis Medical Partner. Glueck sees patients at Jackson Family Care.
“A primary care physician will help keep you up to date on all the screenings you need, such... Read more
Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism -- the overproduction of thyroid hormones. When you have too many thyroid hormones, you may experience anxiety, weight loss and other symptoms.
This disease is much more common in women than in men, with a ratio of 4-to-1.... Read more
A heart murmur is an abnormal sound the heart makes during the beating cycle. While most murmurs are harmless and do not require treatment, there are some underlying causes that could be serious enough to warrant medication or even surgery.
The harmless murmurs, called innocent murmurs, can... Read more
The aortic valve controls the flow of blood out of the heart. When it begins to fail, an aortic valve replacement is often the best option to solve the problem. While doctors typically recommend open-heart surgery, some patients are too fragile to be able to withstand... Read more
While both men and women contract bladder infections (also called urinary tract infections, or UTIs), women are much more likely than men to experience this painful occurrence. Symptoms include pain during urination, blood in the urine and a frequent urge to urinate.
“Bladder infections are not serious... Read more
When others ask him to name his favorite hobby, Joseph M. McClain, MD, MS, FACS, trauma surgeon, Saint Francis Medical Partner does not hesitate. “I always say my job is my favorite hobby,” says McClain, who recently came to Saint Francis. “At the end of the... Read more
If you suffer from severe arthritis in your ankle, you may be a candidate for ankle replacement surgery. “Many patients can find relief with treatment such as medications, activity modification or bracing,” says R. August Ritter III, MD, orthopedic surgeon who practices at Saint Francis Healthcare System.... Read more
It’s a new partnership for the new year! Kneibert Clinic, a multispecialty clinic in Poplar Bluff, Mo., has joined the Saint Francis Healthcare System. As of January 1, all providers at Kneibert Clinic are now part of Saint Francis Medical Partners, physicians and providers affiliated with... Read more
Area women who have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer can find encouragement and camaraderie through Saint Francis Medical Center’s Power of Pink Breast Cancer Support Group.
The group, which meets Tuesday evenings for two six-week sessions in January and June, has been going strong since 2011.... Read more
While one in seven men in the United States will develop prostate cancer in his lifetime, the number of deaths due to this disease has decreased significantly over the past 20 years. This is because more men are receiving screening through the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.
“A... Read more
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 Patrick R. Knight, MD, orthopedic surgeon who practices... Read more
Fifty percent of people will experience hemorrhoids – swollen and inflamed veins in the anus and lower rectum. While remedies such as Preparation H®, prescription medications and suppositories can provide relief, recurrent internal hemorrhoids may require further treatment.
Thermal ligation is an outpatient procedure that cuts off... Read more
If you do not receive enough vitamin D, you could be putting yourself at risk for a host of health problems including heart disease, dementia and cancer.
Often called the “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D is manufactured by the body when your skin is exposed to sunlight. Vitamin... Read more
Reye’s syndrome is a rare, serious condition that causes swelling in a child’s liver and brain. The exact cause is unknown, but researchers have observed it most often occurs when children take aspirin following a viral infection such as chickenpox or the flu.
Symptoms of Reye’s syndrome... Read more
Every athlete knows success in competition begins with hard work in the off-season and in practice. What gets lost in the push to outwork the competition is how proper nutrition and adequate recovery can result in even greater gains.
Overtraining is one of the biggest risks to... Read more
"Hold your form!"
That sentence is one of the most common commands used by coaches and trainers as they exhort their athletes to push beyond their comfort zones. Aside from the obvious benefit of avoiding wasted motion, using proper form when exercising holds additional advantages.
“The most important... Read more
If you often experience bloating in your abdominal area, it is probably the result of intestinal gas that has built up in your digestive tract. Fortunately, there are many ways you can avoid bloating:
Avoid carbonated beverages – Drinks such as soda can create gas inside your... Read more
Newborns who have difficulty breathing can get the help they need in Saint Francis Healthcare System’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Doctors give babies treatments ranging from airflow in the nose to a breathing tube that infuses medication into their lungs in the Level III... Read more
A rotator cuff (shoulder) injury can occur due to wear and tear over time or sudden injury. When the injury is severe, surgery may be required. The Orthopedic Institute at Saint Francis Medical Center works with each patient to determine the best approach.
“During the surgery, we... Read more
Many women experience mild to moderate cramping during their period. But if your pain is considerably bad every month, talk to your doctor because you may have endometriosis.
“Endometriosis occurs when the uterine, or endometrial, lining grows outside the uterus,” says Grant D. McWilliams, DO, FACOG, obstetrician... Read more
Establishing a relationship with a primary care physician is essential, says Laura E. Glueck, DO, family practice physician, Saint Francis Medical Partner. Glueck sees patients at Jackson Family Care.
“A primary care physician will help keep you up to date on all the screenings you need, such... Read more
Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism -- the overproduction of thyroid hormones. When you have too many thyroid hormones, you may experience anxiety, weight loss and other symptoms.
This disease is much more common in women than in men, with a ratio of 4-to-1.... Read more
A heart murmur is an abnormal sound the heart makes during the beating cycle. While most murmurs are harmless and do not require treatment, there are some underlying causes that could be serious enough to warrant medication or even surgery.
The harmless murmurs, called innocent murmurs, can... Read more
