Health

By Charles Christian A St. Joseph infectious disease expert is encouraging people to take reasonable precautions to avoid mosquito bites, as the insects can pass on West Nile virus, which has been detected in Missouri this summer. Data from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services shows that as of Aug. 31, two confirmed

By NewsPress Now The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed Friday that a case of bird flu was identified in a Missouri resident, and that the patient has recovered. The case of bird flu, formally known as avian influenza A (H5), was detected through an influenza surveillance program by the Missouri Department of Health

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) Regular dental visits are important for a healthy smile, but you can take these steps between checkups to ensure your dentist sees your oral health at its best. 1. Brush up on your dental routine. “A consistent routine of brushing and cleaning between your teeth is essential,” said American Dental Association

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) This article is sponsored by Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. Each year, September 4 marks Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Awareness Day, an initiative that aims to increase public knowledge and understanding of this often under-recognized genetic condition. On this important observance day and beyond, patients, families and healthcare providers are encouraged to

By Leah Rainwater With school back in session, some might find packing healthy lunches a piece of cake, but one local dietitian is reminding parents to keep things balanced for their kids. Heidi Lohmann-Schrader is a corporate registered dietitian. She said a healthy lunch consists of various items from the United States Department of Agriculture’s

By Charles Christian While expressing last wishes is not always the first priority for hospice patients, caregivers say it can be a helpful and meaningful step in the grief process. Registered nurse Kathy Lewis, a hospice care manager at Freudenthal Home-Based Healthcare, said that although asking about last wishes is part of the intake process

By Leah Rainwater Although it may not feel like it, fall is just around the corner. Typically, during the fall and winter months, health officials encourage people to get updated flu vaccines. And with the rise of COVID-19 cases within the past few months, officials are also encouraging people to get the recent COVID vaccine

By Chris Fortune Access to free health care in St. Joseph continues to be available for those who need it thanks in part to a recent funding approval. The St. Joseph City Council agreed to allocate $528,568 to the Stuber Health Center, formerly known as the Social Welfare Board, for the current fiscal year, which

By Leah Rainwater Mosaic Life Care hosted an event Tuesday evening at Ricky Dean’s for the St. Joseph community to meet Mosaic caregivers and to welcome international nurses who have joined the Mosaic organization. One nurse recruiter said it was a long process getting the 35 international nurses to St. Joseph. ”We actually started this process

By Leah Rainwater The Alzheimer’s Association Heart of America Chapter is hosting a “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” event on Sunday, Sept. 22, in St. Joseph. The walk site opens at 8 a.m. at the St. Joe Frontier Casino, with a Promise Garden Flower Ceremony beginning at 9 a.m. with the walk to follow. “This is

By Ashley Luthans Recent severe weather events across the U.S. have impacted the blood supply, and the American Red Cross is encouraging community members to give back. Events like Hurricane Debby led to many blood drives being canceled. Just in Missouri, there have been 37 blood drive cancellations so far this year. Blood has a

By Leah Rainwater St. Joseph health care providers are emphasizing local pregnancy resources as national data shows prenatal treatment in the first trimester has slightly declined over the past few years. “Typically when you go to your OB, it’s 13 to 14 prenatal visits before your delivery,” said Jennifer Buch, a clinic supervisor at the

By Leah Rainwater Older adults at the Joyce Ray Patterson 50+ Activity Center learned about all things health care last week. Northwest Professionals in Aging, a nonprofit that aims to education and advocate for the senior population in Northwest Missouri, hosted a health fair on Aug. 22. The fair featured representatives from different businesses like

By Kyle Schmidt It’s common for windows and doors to be cracked open this time of year, but that means plenty of opportunities for flies to make their way into homes and breed. In order to prevent this from happening, Dawn Cooperider, CEO and marketing director at Preferred Pest Control, said it’s important to find

By NewsPress Now StatePoint) Protein is an essential part of a healthy diet. It works to build and repair muscles, is needed to carry oxygen to different parts of your body to give you energy, supports your immune system, and helps you feel full for longer. Here’s how to get enough of this important macronutrient

By Ashley Luthans With school starting back up, eye checkups for kids are key, as vision issues can interfere with their ability to learn. Children may have trouble focusing if they cannot see the board that their teacher is writing on or even the words in the textbook in front of them. This can cause

By Chris Fortune Local women are being encouraged to live healthier lives for themselves and their babies. The Baby and Me Tobacco Free program began at the St. Joseph Health Department in May 2023. It was established to help pregnant women and women who have delivered their babies to become tobacco-free and provide vouchers to

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) Medical experts are reminding everyone that foot and ankle pain is not normal and should be addressed. “Your feet shouldn’t hurt,” says Matthew C. Dairman, DPM, FACFAS, a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon and a Fellow Member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS). “Foot and ankle surgeons

By Leah Rainwater As some kids make a leap to a new school this year, the transition can cause stress and anxiety, which is why district staff encourage parents to establish open lines of communication. Whether it be transferring to a different school or making the jump from elementary to middle school or middle to

By Jazmine Knight Everyone knows the back-to-school season can be hectic, with paperwork, shopping and more, but school officials are reminding families to get health tasks done before the first day. Physical exams and required immunizations prevent painful diseases, but they also create a baseline “snapshot” of a child’s health background, which can be used

By Kendra Simpson As families get ready to go back to school, the St. Joseph School District is urging students to get immunizations before the semester starts. Students must be up to date on all required vaccines and immunizations by the first day of school, Aug. 21, or they will be excluded from classes. “We

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) If you’ve been told you need a root canal, you may be dreading the procedure or even trying to find a way out of it. The good news? Today’s root canal treatment is nothing like the myths you may see circulating the internet, which are misinformed and simply false. “The thought

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) A bladder cancer diagnosis can be scary, but according to those who’ve been through it, advocating for yourself and taking charge of your journey can help you make informed decisions when it comes to your treatment to get the best care possible. “For me, a second opinion turned an originally doom-and-gloom

By Jenna Wilson A new law is set to allow Missourians access to essential medications within their communities through the federal 340B program. Beginning Aug. 28. Senate Bill 751 lets any pharmacy that has a contract with the 340B entity, including Northwest Health Services and Mosaic in the area, fill any medication eligible under the

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) Back to school can be overwhelming for students and families. With new classes, new friends and sometimes new schools, students have a lot to balance. Additionally, changing routine can be challenging for students managing health conditions, including allergies, diabetes and others that require using and safely disposing of needles, syringes, or

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) Proper nutrition is critical to older adults’ overall vitality, providing energy, helping to control weight, and even preventing and managing some diseases. Unfortunately, 10% of older people don’t eat enough, while one-third eat too much, according to HealthinAging.org, which is the Health in Aging Foundation’s online public education resource. Such nutritional

By Leah Rainwater The Community Blood Center announced they are in a blood emergency in the Kansas City, St. Joseph and Topeka areas. Typically, the center likes to keep a five- to seven-day supply of blood to donate to hospitals. That equates to about 600 donations each day, or about 4,000 donations each week. Right

By Leah Rainwater The hot and humid summer weather in St. Joseph calls for extra safety precautions for those who plan to visit Chiefs Training Camp, and medical staff are doing everything necessary to be prepared. Mosaic Life Care, who is a sponsor for Chiefs Training Camp, is expanding its services this year to try

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) The LGBTQ+ community celebrated their shared and lived experience this June during Pride Month. While the LGBTQ+ experience varies from individual to individual and from generation to generation, one constant remains – the importance of protecting health. “We celebrate Pride because we are proud of who we are, what we have

By Leah Rainwater A study from U.C. Berkeley recently found that 16 different metals were found in 30 types of tampons from 14 different brands, but one local health professional says more research needs to be done to determine the full extent of the risk. This is the first study done to investigate the contaminants