Saint Francis Healthcare System is closely monitoring the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) and we have implemented a number of measures to detect and respond to this public health threat. Visit our COVID-19 page for more information.
Bronchitis is when the lining of your bronchial tubes becomes inflamed, causing coughing, mucus, chest discomfort and fatigue.
“Most cases of acute bronchitis get better on their own within a couple of weeks,” says Erica E. Gibson, MD, family practice physician, Saint Francis Medical Partner. “You may... Read more
Eyes are constantly producing tears that serve to lubricate and nourish them. When they do not produce enough tears, or when they produce poor-quality tears, you have a condition called chronic dry eye.
Chronic dry eye can cause scratching or burning in your eyes or blurred vision. “If the... Read more
Saint Francis Healthcare System’s electronic medical records system is keeping patients safe by helping physicians prevent medication errors.
The Epic system allows providers from all parts of the Saint Francis system, including the Medical Center in Cape Girardeau and the clinics throughout the region, to access information... Read more
When you begin introducing solid foods to a baby, do so slowly and one at a time. That way, it is easier to identify potential food allergies.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you start trying solid foods when your baby is between 4 and 6... Read more
Pregnant women can track their baby’s growth and find answers to all their questions through Saint Francis Healthcare System’s SFMC 4 Moms app.
The free app is a convenient way for women to access information about Saint Francis’ Family BirthPlace, childbirth classes and physicians on staff at... Read more
Oral cancer is most often found in the tongue, the lips and the floor of the mouth. The most frequent treatment is surgery, which can be used to remove a tumor, all or part of the jaw, the bone in the roof of the mouth or... Read more
When you have diabetes, controlling your blood sugar level is the key to staying healthy. The following are some tips for keeping your blood sugar stable:
Stick to a regular meal schedule. “When you eat just one or two big meals a day, that can cause... Read more
Doctors at Saint Francis Medical Center utilize a minimally invasive method known as an endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) for diagnosing and staging lung cancer. Endobronchial ultrasound uses sound waves to gain a clear picture of the area around the bronchial tubes and biopsy the abnormal area with... Read more
Depression and sleep disorders are closely linked. In some cases, depression can cause problems with sleep, and in others, certain sleep disorders can contribute to depression.
“One of the many purposes of sleep is to restore you,” says Michael T. Jedlinski, MD, FACP, internal medicine physician, Saint... Read more
As you age, you increasingly are at risk for developing eye problems, particularly glaucoma and a detached retina.
Glaucoma is a disease that results from too much pressure inside the eye. Your doctor should be checking the pressure in your eyes on a regular basis. Symptoms can... Read more
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 lie... Read more
If you want to lose weight, first you need to find a plan that is the right fit. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
Would you like to try cutting back on some foods, but want to focus mainly on exercise?“Talk to your doctor about the best... Read more
The death of a baby is devastating for the family and friends. Infant mortality is the number of deaths of children under the age of one year per 1,000 live births.
With almost 10 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, Southeast Missouri’s rate is about 50 percent higher than... Read more
While it is important to have your cholesterol checked on a regular basis, remember cholesterol is just one piece of the cardiovascular risk reduction puzzle. You need to maintain a healthy diet and weight and quit smoking, if you are a smoker, to decrease your risk... Read more
The gallbladder is the pear-shaped organ that sits just below the liver on the right side of the abdomen. It collects and stores bile, a digestive fluid produced in the liver.
If a patient needs his gallbladder removed, a cholecystectomy is performed. A cholecystectomy is necessary if there is pain from gallstones that... Read more
Shoulder instability occurs when the ligaments and soft tissue in the shoulder joint and capsule are loose and allow for too much motion. This problem most commonly affects athletes who participate in sports exerting their shoulders and upper arms over their heads.
“Instability can happen due to... Read more
Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder that causes overwhelming daytime drowsiness. About 200,000 persons in the U.S. have the excessive and uncontrollable urge to sleep during the day.
In addition to excessive daytime sleepiness, persons with narcolepsy may experience hallucinations and cataplexy, the sudden loss of muscle... Read more
Saint Francis Healthcare System’s Certified Nurse Midwives Program offers a holistic approach to pregnancy and childbirth. Our certified midwives, the first in Cape Girardeau County, are trained specialists who provide individualized care to patients through each stage of pregnancy. This care includes education, clinical care, advice and... Read more
Many men over age 50 suffer from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or an enlarged prostate. Symptoms can include slow urinary stream, straining to urinate, incomplete bladder emptying, urgent frequent urination and the need to urinate in the middle of the night.
“When the symptoms bother you so... Read more
A healthy spine is made of small bones stacked on top of each other that run straight down the center of the back. There are three main types of spine curvature disorders that cause misalignment of the spine:
Lordosis: The spine curves inward at the lower back.
... Read more
Bronchitis is when the lining of your bronchial tubes becomes inflamed, causing coughing, mucus, chest discomfort and fatigue.
“Most cases of acute bronchitis get better on their own within a couple of weeks,” says Erica E. Gibson, MD, family practice physician, Saint Francis Medical Partner. “You may... Read more
Eyes are constantly producing tears that serve to lubricate and nourish them. When they do not produce enough tears, or when they produce poor-quality tears, you have a condition called chronic dry eye.
Chronic dry eye can cause scratching or burning in your eyes or blurred vision. “If the... Read more
Saint Francis Healthcare System’s electronic medical records system is keeping patients safe by helping physicians prevent medication errors.
The Epic system allows providers from all parts of the Saint Francis system, including the Medical Center in Cape Girardeau and the clinics throughout the region, to access information... Read more
When you begin introducing solid foods to a baby, do so slowly and one at a time. That way, it is easier to identify potential food allergies.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you start trying solid foods when your baby is between 4 and 6... Read more
Pregnant women can track their baby’s growth and find answers to all their questions through Saint Francis Healthcare System’s SFMC 4 Moms app.
The free app is a convenient way for women to access information about Saint Francis’ Family BirthPlace, childbirth classes and physicians on staff at... Read more
Oral cancer is most often found in the tongue, the lips and the floor of the mouth. The most frequent treatment is surgery, which can be used to remove a tumor, all or part of the jaw, the bone in the roof of the mouth or... Read more
When you have diabetes, controlling your blood sugar level is the key to staying healthy. The following are some tips for keeping your blood sugar stable:
Stick to a regular meal schedule. “When you eat just one or two big meals a day, that can cause... Read more
Doctors at Saint Francis Medical Center utilize a minimally invasive method known as an endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) for diagnosing and staging lung cancer. Endobronchial ultrasound uses sound waves to gain a clear picture of the area around the bronchial tubes and biopsy the abnormal area with... Read more
Depression and sleep disorders are closely linked. In some cases, depression can cause problems with sleep, and in others, certain sleep disorders can contribute to depression.
“One of the many purposes of sleep is to restore you,” says Michael T. Jedlinski, MD, FACP, internal medicine physician, Saint... Read more
As you age, you increasingly are at risk for developing eye problems, particularly glaucoma and a detached retina.
Glaucoma is a disease that results from too much pressure inside the eye. Your doctor should be checking the pressure in your eyes on a regular basis. Symptoms can... Read more
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 lie... Read more
If you want to lose weight, first you need to find a plan that is the right fit. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
Would you like to try cutting back on some foods, but want to focus mainly on exercise?“Talk to your doctor about the best... Read more
The death of a baby is devastating for the family and friends. Infant mortality is the number of deaths of children under the age of one year per 1,000 live births.
With almost 10 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, Southeast Missouri’s rate is about 50 percent higher than... Read more
While it is important to have your cholesterol checked on a regular basis, remember cholesterol is just one piece of the cardiovascular risk reduction puzzle. You need to maintain a healthy diet and weight and quit smoking, if you are a smoker, to decrease your risk... Read more
The gallbladder is the pear-shaped organ that sits just below the liver on the right side of the abdomen. It collects and stores bile, a digestive fluid produced in the liver.
If a patient needs his gallbladder removed, a cholecystectomy is performed. A cholecystectomy is necessary if there is pain from gallstones that... Read more
Shoulder instability occurs when the ligaments and soft tissue in the shoulder joint and capsule are loose and allow for too much motion. This problem most commonly affects athletes who participate in sports exerting their shoulders and upper arms over their heads.
“Instability can happen due to... Read more
Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder that causes overwhelming daytime drowsiness. About 200,000 persons in the U.S. have the excessive and uncontrollable urge to sleep during the day.
In addition to excessive daytime sleepiness, persons with narcolepsy may experience hallucinations and cataplexy, the sudden loss of muscle... Read more
Saint Francis Healthcare System’s Certified Nurse Midwives Program offers a holistic approach to pregnancy and childbirth. Our certified midwives, the first in Cape Girardeau County, are trained specialists who provide individualized care to patients through each stage of pregnancy. This care includes education, clinical care, advice and... Read more
Many men over age 50 suffer from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or an enlarged prostate. Symptoms can include slow urinary stream, straining to urinate, incomplete bladder emptying, urgent frequent urination and the need to urinate in the middle of the night.
“When the symptoms bother you so... Read more
A healthy spine is made of small bones stacked on top of each other that run straight down the center of the back. There are three main types of spine curvature disorders that cause misalignment of the spine:
Lordosis: The spine curves inward at the lower back.
... Read more
