A sty is a bacterial infection on or in your eye that causes red, painful swelling. It can be located on the outside or inside of the eyelid.
Most sties heal on their own in about a week. In the meantime, you can reduce pain and swelling... Read more
Heart failure means a person’s heart is not pumping as well as it should. About five million Americans suffer from the condition in which blood moves through the heart and body at a slower rate, resulting in pressure building up in the heart.
Heart failure can occur... Read more
The lymph system is part of the immune system and helps your body fight infections. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a cancer that starts in the lymph system. Since lymphoid tissue is located in many different parts of your body, Hodgkin’s lymphoma can start anywhere.
Hodgkin’s lymphoma, named after... Read more
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder in women that disrupts the growth and release of eggs from the ovaries. Some PCOS symptoms include infertility, missed periods, weight problems and acne.
“Treatment for PCOS depends on the goals and symptoms of the individual woman,” says Jessica... Read more
A year ago, Christina Hahs of Cape Girardeau did not socialize much. She preferred to stay at home and read or watch TV – activities that did not require interacting with other people. She was too self-conscious about her weight, which peaked at 265 pounds. She... Read more
Pediatric ear infections are one of the most common childhood illnesses. However, when your child experiences four or more infections in a year, it is time to see an otolaryngologist.
“In most cases, ear infections are relatively benign,” says Marc A. Sachs, MD, otolaryngologist, Saint Francis Medical... Read more
When a baby is breech (lying upside down or on its side rather than head down), it is unsafe for the mother to deliver vaginally. She has two options: schedule a C-section or ask her doctor to try to turn the baby.
External cephalic version (ECV) is... Read more
One blessed family has infinite reasons to be thankful for Saint Francis Medical Center’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Thanks to the wonderful care they received at this leading-edge facility, the whole Smith family is healthy and happy, even after two difficult pregnancies.
Jana and... Read more
An umbilical hernia occurs when part of the intestine bulges through a weak spot in the belly. It is most common in infants, but adults can experience umbilical hernias as well.
In infants, the hernia usually closes on its own by 12 to 18 months. Very rarely,... Read more
Prostate cancer affects one in seven American men, making it the most common cancer in the country behind skin cancer. Most of the risk factors are ones that men have little control:
Age – More than 65 percent of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over... 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
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
While the United States declared measles eliminated in 2000, recent cases have brought it into the public limelight again. Most of the recent cases are linked to an outbreak at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, Calif.
“Measles is a highly contagious disease,” says Jean... Read more
As your child prepares for college, make sure he or she is up to date on all necessary vaccinations. They include:
TDAP (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, commonly called “whooping cough”) – “We know from studies that the pertussis vaccinations we receive as young children eventually wear off,”... Read more
So much depends upon vitamin D. “As a child, vitamin D is important for bone development and strong, healthy bones,” says Erica E. Gibson, MD, family practice physician at Saint Francis Medical Center. “As an adult, it helps prevent bone diseases such as osteoporosis. If you’re... Read more
The best way to consume the vitamins and minerals you need is to eat a healthy diet. However, if you do not eat enough fruits and vegetables, you should supplement your diet with vitamins.
"Hardly any Americans consume enough calcium in their diets," says Janna R. Crosnoe,... Read more
You’re standing still, but you feel like you’re spinning. You’re dizzy and nauseous, and your vision is blurry. If this sounds like you, you might have vertigo.
“Vertigo is imbalance that occurs when the brain receives positioning information from different sensors – your eyes and inner ear,... Read more
Sleep apnea literally takes your breath away. While you sleep, the disorder repeatedly interrupts your breathing and reduces oxygen to your body and brain. If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, diabetes and depression. “Sleep apnea is a common... Read more
Conditions such as bunions, corns and hammertoes may seem more annoying than dangerous, but if you continue to ignore such a problem, it could affect the way you walk which in turn could lead to knee, hip and lower back pain. “In many cases, fixing one... 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
A sty is a bacterial infection on or in your eye that causes red, painful swelling. It can be located on the outside or inside of the eyelid.
Most sties heal on their own in about a week. In the meantime, you can reduce pain and swelling... Read more
Heart failure means a person’s heart is not pumping as well as it should. About five million Americans suffer from the condition in which blood moves through the heart and body at a slower rate, resulting in pressure building up in the heart.
Heart failure can occur... Read more
The lymph system is part of the immune system and helps your body fight infections. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a cancer that starts in the lymph system. Since lymphoid tissue is located in many different parts of your body, Hodgkin’s lymphoma can start anywhere.
Hodgkin’s lymphoma, named after... Read more
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder in women that disrupts the growth and release of eggs from the ovaries. Some PCOS symptoms include infertility, missed periods, weight problems and acne.
“Treatment for PCOS depends on the goals and symptoms of the individual woman,” says Jessica... Read more
A year ago, Christina Hahs of Cape Girardeau did not socialize much. She preferred to stay at home and read or watch TV – activities that did not require interacting with other people. She was too self-conscious about her weight, which peaked at 265 pounds. She... Read more
Pediatric ear infections are one of the most common childhood illnesses. However, when your child experiences four or more infections in a year, it is time to see an otolaryngologist.
“In most cases, ear infections are relatively benign,” says Marc A. Sachs, MD, otolaryngologist, Saint Francis Medical... Read more
When a baby is breech (lying upside down or on its side rather than head down), it is unsafe for the mother to deliver vaginally. She has two options: schedule a C-section or ask her doctor to try to turn the baby.
External cephalic version (ECV) is... Read more
One blessed family has infinite reasons to be thankful for Saint Francis Medical Center’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Thanks to the wonderful care they received at this leading-edge facility, the whole Smith family is healthy and happy, even after two difficult pregnancies.
Jana and... Read more
An umbilical hernia occurs when part of the intestine bulges through a weak spot in the belly. It is most common in infants, but adults can experience umbilical hernias as well.
In infants, the hernia usually closes on its own by 12 to 18 months. Very rarely,... Read more
Prostate cancer affects one in seven American men, making it the most common cancer in the country behind skin cancer. Most of the risk factors are ones that men have little control:
Age – More than 65 percent of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over... 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
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
While the United States declared measles eliminated in 2000, recent cases have brought it into the public limelight again. Most of the recent cases are linked to an outbreak at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, Calif.
“Measles is a highly contagious disease,” says Jean... Read more
As your child prepares for college, make sure he or she is up to date on all necessary vaccinations. They include:
TDAP (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, commonly called “whooping cough”) – “We know from studies that the pertussis vaccinations we receive as young children eventually wear off,”... Read more
So much depends upon vitamin D. “As a child, vitamin D is important for bone development and strong, healthy bones,” says Erica E. Gibson, MD, family practice physician at Saint Francis Medical Center. “As an adult, it helps prevent bone diseases such as osteoporosis. If you’re... Read more
The best way to consume the vitamins and minerals you need is to eat a healthy diet. However, if you do not eat enough fruits and vegetables, you should supplement your diet with vitamins.
"Hardly any Americans consume enough calcium in their diets," says Janna R. Crosnoe,... Read more
You’re standing still, but you feel like you’re spinning. You’re dizzy and nauseous, and your vision is blurry. If this sounds like you, you might have vertigo.
“Vertigo is imbalance that occurs when the brain receives positioning information from different sensors – your eyes and inner ear,... Read more
Sleep apnea literally takes your breath away. While you sleep, the disorder repeatedly interrupts your breathing and reduces oxygen to your body and brain. If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, diabetes and depression. “Sleep apnea is a common... Read more
Conditions such as bunions, corns and hammertoes may seem more annoying than dangerous, but if you continue to ignore such a problem, it could affect the way you walk which in turn could lead to knee, hip and lower back pain. “In many cases, fixing one... 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
