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...
Oxygen. This colorless, odorless, tasteless gas heals wounds, reverses radiation burns and saves lives! Hyperbaric oxygen therapy utilizes this miracle substance to treat serious infections, bubbles of air in blood, and chronic wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers, nonhealing ulcers due to underlying chronic bone...
Do you utilize a CPAP machine for sleep apnea? Inspire Sleep Apnea Innovation could help. An estimated 18 million Americans live with sleep apnea, often using a CPAP machine to get a better night's sleep. Now there is a novel approach for treating sleep apnea —...
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about this disease affecting more than 140,000 Americans annually. Colorectal cancer, or CRC, is the second deadliest cancer in the United States, but it can be prevented or detected early with regular screening...
Learn to recognize the signs of a heart attack to prevent it from causing permanent damage. The Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care created the Early Heart Attack Care (EHAC) initiative to encourage early recognition, especially when the symptoms are mild and in the early stages....
Bodily pain presents itself to people in many different forms and levels of discomfort, and stems from a variety of factors including accidents, illness, lack of exercise, improper lifting and more. For those suffering from acute and sub-acute pain, there are various forms of treatment...
When pain or dysfunction in your knee keeps you from doing the things you love most, it is important to seek care that is personalized for you. The experts at the Orthopedic Institute at Saint Francis make specialized plans for patients to reach their treatment...
Children and adults love being outside during the summer months. Whether swimming, mowing the lawn or walking the dog, the best way to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays is to wear long sleeves and long pants or cover yourself with sunscreen. When picking...
Broken bones heal, but they can break again. The older generation is particularly at risk. Patients with osteoporosis have low bone density, which means that if they fall, they are more likely to break a bone either once or repeatedly. To prevent broken bones in the...
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is an airborne virus that causes infection affecting the respiratory tract. It is most severe in infants and the elderly, and the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in kids under one year of age. Premature infants, infants under the...
Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is rapidly infecting many young children throughout the country. Nurse Practitioner Erika Westrich at Cape Physician Associates gives insight on what RSV is, ways to prevent it, symptoms to look out for and more. What is RSV? “Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is...
Sore throat is a common complaint in the pediatric population and can be caused by Group A Streptococcus (GAS) otherwise known as "strep throat." Strep throat accounts for 15 to 30 percent of all sore throats in children ages 5 to 15. Viruses are also...
Stress can cause a stomachache, and an even more serious condition called gastritis. If your bout of indigestion or inflammation lingers for a week or more – or if there is blood in your vomit or feces – you should see a physician to determine...
The Operating Room (OR) is a unique setting in healthcare. It depends on teamwork, communication and surgical conscience (ethics/morality) for anyone who chooses the OR as a career. Besides the obvious goal of providing repairs to bodies, another is to keep Saint Francis Healthcare System...
Martha Margreiter, MD Breastfeeding can be an essential benefit in the development of infants. Martha Margreiter, MD, pediatrician at Poplar Bluff Pediatrics, explains the variety of benefits that come with breastfeeding. “Without a doubt, mother’s milk alone promotes optimum health and development for babies. It is uniquely...
Occupational and physical therapy are two major forms of rehabilitation that help individuals gain or recover their movement and mobility. One common misconception, however, is that the two of these are interchangeable. While they both provide similar functionality of care, they are vastly different in...
As the year winds down, the annual flu season is revving up. Marc Lumsden, DO, family medicine physician at Cape Physician Associates, explains the necessity and benefits of getting the flu shot once the winter months approach. "During colder months, the flu virus tends to be...
Cardio-Oncology is a focused medical discipline devoted to preventing and protecting the hearts of patients with cancer before, during and after cancer therapy. Why is Cardio-Oncology Needed? Many cancer treatments are known to potentially contribute to heart disease. Patients with cancer have a two-to-six times higher risk...
