Health

By Chris Fortune Adult vaccines supplied through a federally funded program are in short supply at the St. Joseph Health Department. The health department announced that it has about a two-week supply of vaccines provided by the Section 317 program, which provides vaccines for uninsured and underinsured adults. “Things like this happen periodically, and we

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) Summer is a great time to try new activities and get outdoors, but the season also brings with it unique risks, according to medical experts. “Regardless of where you are in your fitness journey, the warm weather months offer opportunities to reevaluate your wellness goals for the remainder of the year.

By Riley Funk After it was announced that a PGA Tour player died by suicide over the weekend, community members are discussing the importance of athlete mental health. It was announced that Grayson Murray, a PGA Tour player, died Saturday at the age of 30. He most recently won the Sony Open in January. Jeffrey

By Charles Christian Extra outdoor time in the summer calls for an increased need to take care of our eyes. Local optometrist Dr. Amy Fitzgerald said that with kids being out of school and adults getting ready for more outdoor adventures, summer marks the perfect time to schedule your annual eye exam. “We encourage annual

By NewsPress Now Morning and afternoon drivers in St. Joseph will need to find an alternate route of traffic for portions of Karnes Road starting next week. Beginning May 28, Karnes Road between North 25th Terrace and Northwest Parkway will be closed to traffic from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The roadway will reopen

By Chris Fortune A longtime employer in St. Joseph is working to take care of the dental health of the community. Specialty Industries at 3801 S. Leonard Road is partnering with Elks Mobile Dental Unit to provide free dental services for its workers and members of the St. Joseph community, according to a press release

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) In today’s evolving reproductive health landscape, informed decision making about contraception is crucial, particularly for women affected by inherited blood clotting conditions or thrombophilia. Selecting the right birth control method is pivotal, say experts, who point to research that shows the risk for potentially life-threatening blood clots is 35 times greater

By Charles Christian The call for end-of-life care is growing along with the aging U.S. population, and local hospices are striving to meet that need. Local registered nurse Lisa Rygalski has cared for dying patients throughout her career. However, in recent years, she went from professional caregiver to the recipient of hospice assistance when her

By Charles Christian A St. Joseph Youth Alliance program offers safety for infants and peace of mind to parents. The Safe Sleep program is for children who are newborns up to a year old. Parents receive a free survival kit consisting of items to provide babies with a safe place to sleep. Safe Sleep program

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is a long-term lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. Impacting 11.7 million people in the United States, many people think of it only as a disease that impacts people who smoke and use tobacco products, but long-term exposure

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) Barbecues, beaches and braces? Summertime may not typically be associated with orthodontics, but according to experts, it’s a great time of year to start orthodontic treatment and help kids enter a new school year with a confident smile. “Braces can be a very exciting step, but like with anything new, there

By NewsPress Now Mosaic Life Care announced Friday a new foundation designed to help patients with spinal muscular atrophy. Mosaic CEO Mike Poore made a statement Friday morning confirming Mosaic’s commencement of a multi-million dollar SMA gene therapy fund: “We are pleased to announce the creation of a $3.4 million philanthropic fund through the Mosaic

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) The health care system can feel uncoordinated and costly. One in 10 U.S. adults ration medication because they can’t afford their prescriptions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, the more a patient must pay at the counter, the more likely they are to abandon their treatment.

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) Summer fun and chores alike come with potential hazards to feet. According to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, here’s how to protect feet and ankles from the most common seasonal hazards: Be DIY Safe DIY projects like power washing, roofing and decking require ramped up safety measures. Always

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) May is Save Your Tooth Month, an annual celebration of tooth-saving procedures and the endodontists responsible for saving teeth. It’s also an important reminder that while having a tooth pulled may seem like the easiest option when you have tooth pain from an infection or disease, saving your natural teeth is

By NewsPress Now A local couple is struggling to get an expensive gene treatment for their newborn twins who are suffering from a rare and often fatal condition. Social media posts made by Austin and Amanda Reed have been drawing widespread attention to their desperate situation. The couple’s twin sons, Easton and Eli, were born

By Jenna Wilson A recent report showed that drug shortages in the U.S. have hit an all-time high, impacting pharmacies across the country and locally. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists tracked a record 323 active drug shortages during the first quarter of 2024, surpassing the previous record of 320 shortages in 2014. Patients who

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) Nearly 25 million people of all ages in the United States are living with asthma, a lifelong chronic disease that makes it harder to move air in and out of the lungs. Here’s what the American Lung Association wants everyone to know during summer, when extreme heat can make asthma harder

By Chris Fortune Visits to the local clinic will be more efficient after upgrades to its record-keeping. The St. Joseph Health Department clinic’s transition to electronic medical records began this week. Typically, each visitor received a new paper chart when they came to the clinic, which presented issues with continuity of care if a patient

By Charles Christian As underage drinking remains a prevalent issue across the U.S., local experts are urging parents to have open conversations with their kids about the potential dangers. According to the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about one in five middle school students report having had at least one drink in

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) Shopping for groceries can be like navigating a maze: so many choices in every aisle, food packages covered in marketing claims and little direction on what is truly healthy and what isn’t. People want to make healthy choices for themselves and their families, but how can they when the information available

By Kirsten Stokes The legal seesaw surrounding abortion laws continues to spark controversy as women seek guidance and resources for their reproductive health decisions across the country, and St. Joseph is no exception. Since June 2022, Missouri legislation has had a full ban on abortions in the state, except in the case of an emergency

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) Pneumococcal pneumonia is a potentially serious bacterial lung disease that can disrupt a person’s life for weeks. When severe, it can result in hospitalization and even be life threatening. Each year, pneumococcal pneumonia results in an estimated 150,000 hospitalizations in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and

By Jenna Wilson Mosaic Life Care is extending its hours for breast screenings this week across three branches in Northwest Missouri for a special two-day “Mammothon.” In St. Joseph, Maryville and Albany on April 19 and 20, Mosaic Life Care centers are promoting breast health and screenings by offering longer hours for those who can’t

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) It’s been four years since the collective trauma of the pandemic created widespread grief, anxiety and isolation, but the psychological wounds of this period have not fully healed. The American Psychological Association reports continued elevated rates of anxiety and depression among Americans, and mental health experts say that negative self-talk plays

By Jazmine Knight Friends of the St. Joseph Animal Shelter hosted their 10th annual Run/Walk for the Paws event and the turnout was better than ever.  This event raises money and awareness for the St. Joseph Animal Shelter by hosting a 5k run/walk. The event features multiple booths with food, beverages, trinkets, dog accessories and

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) Practices in oral and overall health care continually advance to keep you well. Here are two changes affecting dental care you might notice at your next visit. 1. Updated recommendations for dental X-rays. In the past, when your dentist took X-rays of your teeth, you probably wore a leaded apron or

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) Close to 238,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year. That’s about one person every two and a half minutes. Fortunately, more Americans are surviving lung cancer thanks in part to early detection, groundbreaking research and new treatments. However, the path from diagnosis to treatment

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) Excessive heat. Emerging diseases. Severe storms and off-season illnesses. The environmental hazards associated with climate change threaten the physical and mental health of children and families — and can be a source of anxiety. It’s not just speculation. Communities are already impacted by such climate change effects as heat illness from

By Jenna Wilson Family Guidance Center’s Behavioral Health Urgent Care center has been open to patients for a year now, and employees are reflecting on the clinic’s successes. The Behavioral Health Urgent Care center opened its doors April 3, 2023, and has served more than 1,300 patients since then. On average, they see 110 patients