lifestyles/health-med-fit - stltoday.com

Local men's group gives more than $365,000 to 34 organizations that fight cancer

Fri, 25 May 2012 16:37:00 -0500

CANCER CARETAKERS: Whether it's Dan Harbaugh of Ronald McDonald House talking about kids' needs following chemotherapy, or Kathy Sindel of Haven House talking about families in crisis, it's hard to…

Patients wait an average of 20 minutes to see a doctor in St. Louis, agency says

Thu, 24 May 2012 11:50:00 -0500

The good news is that even the longest wait time averages were under 25 minutes nationally.

YMCA approaches St. Charles about community center partnership

Wed, 23 May 2012 13:54:00 -0500

City already is reviewing proposal from another nonprofit

HOUSE CALL: Being sun smart means protecting your skin

Tue, 22 May 2012 06:00:00 -0500

It's been a fairly warm spring, and despite some recent rain, we've seen a lot of sun. Many people, myself included, are happy to get out of the house and enjoy outdoor activities, but since it's N…

Jerry Kent and David Peacock honorees at gala to fight blindness

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:33:00 -0500

LIGHTS OUT: Jerry Kent, topper of St. Louis-based Cequel III, and David Peacock, former prez of Anheuser-Busch, Inc., were honored with Visionary Awards from the Foundation Fighting Blindness at th…

Local 'Biggest Loser' contestant to help distribute at Foodbank tomorrow

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:18:00 -0500

STONE TURNED: Dittmer, Mo.'s Megan Stone, a contestant from this season’s reality show, "The Biggest Loser," is scheduled to be at the St. Louis Area Foodbank tomorrow to help distribute 5,000 poun…

Metro St. Louis Heart Walk

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:43:00 -0500

What • Walks of 1 or 3 miles cq, not 1 k to raise money for the American Heart Association and promote healthy activity. More than 1,000 corporate and community teams and more than 10,000 walkers w…

HOUSE CALL: Preventing sudden cardiac arrest

Wed, 16 May 2012 06:00:00 -0500

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) — an event during which the normal pumping action of the heart unexpectedly stops — is very common, and accounts for more than 250,000 deaths annually and half of all de…

HOUSE CALL: Antibacterial hand gels are effective germ kills for springtime outings

Tue, 15 May 2012 06:00:00 -0500

With spring's early debut this year, families are taking advantage of the balmy temperatures and low humidity to play outdoors. The weather is perfect for picnics, camping and maybe a visit to a lo…

Julie Andrews to headline upcoming National Children's Cancer Society gala

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:21:00 -0500

A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR: Look for legendary Academy Award-winner Julie Andrews to headline the upcoming National Children’s Cancer Society gala on Sept. 29 at the Chase Park Plaza.

Local pediatric ER doc offers advice on keeping children safe and healthy this summer

Wed, 09 May 2012 12:19:00 -0500

The best way to prevent a visit to a pediatric ER is to avoid conduct that will cause injuries, she says.

HOUSE CALL: Healthy valves are doorway to healthy heart function

Wed, 09 May 2012 06:00:00 -0500

When we think about heart disease, we tend to focus on major heart malfunctions, such as heart attacks or sudden cardiac arrest. But thousands of people have improperly functioning heart valves, th…

Dinner with the doctor

Wed, 09 May 2012 06:00:00 -0500

The SSM Heart Institute and St. Clare Health Center will present “Dinner With the Doctor” from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Monday, May 14, at in the Father Krings Conference Center at St. Clare, 1015 Bowles …

Farmers markets bloom in West County

Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500

On a recent Wednesday afternoon, Molly Curlee, of University City, was buying a strawberry rhubarb pie.

Music training improves the aging process, researchers say

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:29:00 -0500

Learning and knowing music even later in life helps thinking and hearing for elderly, says study.

Hospital sale takes on deeper meaning

Sat, 05 May 2012 00:10:00 -0500

Mercy's plan for Arkansas health center sparks resignation of board members, concerns about poor.

Be aware of germs when traveling on airplanes, says expert

Fri, 04 May 2012 16:03:00 -0500

Here's something to brighten up your summer travel prospects. Airports and airplanes are major gathering places for microbes from around the world, says Peter J. Sheldon Sr, a vice president with t…

Do obese people face workplace discrimination?

Wed, 02 May 2012 08:02:00 -0500

Should employers be allowed to discriminate against the severely overweight because of potential health risks?

Marketing effort means real money for local social services provider: Kingdom House

Tue, 01 May 2012 17:39:00 -0500

ROOM TO BREATHE • A marketing gimmick by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, which makes Advil Congestion Relief, has added a welcome $30,000 to the coffers of St. Louis' Kingdom House, a local social serv…

Bob Costas hosts tribute to the late Max Starkloff

Tue, 01 May 2012 14:27:00 -0500

COSTAS TO THE MAX • The Pageant was abuzz with partygoers who dodged hail and the wail of tornado sirens on Saturday night to pay tribute to the late Max Starkloff and to enjoy a program of St. Lou…

HOUSE CALL: Preventative steps for lowering risk of stroke

Tue, 01 May 2012 06:15:00 -0500

On average, someone suffers a new or recurrent stroke every 40 seconds and someone dies of a stroke every 3.1 minutes. Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the U.S., with a…

HOUSE CALL: Suntanned skin looks healthy, but is it?

Tue, 01 May 2012 06:00:00 -0500

Americans are in love with look of sun-bronzed skin — that "I spend all of my time on the beach" look. Unfortunately, that "healthy glow" isn't all that healthy.

HOUSE CALL: Weight-loss surgery can help eliminate diabetes

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:15:00 -0500

For many people suffering from diabetes mellitus (type II), morbid obesity is the major underlying cause.

New web video helps Spanish-speaking people compare treatments for diabetes

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:45:00 -0500

High level of diabetes in the Hispanic community prompts the federal government to launch an information campaign.

Dine out today, and many restaurants will donate to charity

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:05:00 -0500

Today is the St. Louis Effort for AIDS's Dining Out for Life fundraiser.

State narrows E. coli count to 12, including the 2-year-old child still hospitalized

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:53:00 -0500

The source of the raw milk consumed by eight of the 12 is identified.

Behind the scenes of 'The Biggest Loser'

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:07:00 -0500

"No one cooked for us, we washed our own clothes," said Kim Stone of her experience on "The Biggest Loser."

St. Louis' HavenHouse gets national recognition and $$$

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:17:00 -0500

HEALING PLACE: Kathy Sindel, executive director of HavenHouse, is reveling in the recognition that the organization received yesterday for being a merit finalist and $20,000 award winner from Mutua…

Mercy blood drives

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:06:00 -0500

Mercy announces mobile blood drives in April. Snacks and refreshments will be provided and all donors will receive a blood donor long sleeve t-shirt.

HOUSE CALL: Protect kids from warm-weather sports injuries

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 05:30:00 -0500

As summer approaches, kids are like the trees and flowers — bursting out of their cold-weather doldrums to play in the warm sunshine. For many young people, getting back onto the baseball diamond, …

Ascension Health plans $2 billion Cayman 'health city' project

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:05:00 -0500

Edmundson-based nonprofit teams with Indian hospital firm to build for- profit "health city" offshore.

Fifteenth person diagnosed with E. coli bacteria

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:05:00 -0500

Another person has been added to the list of people sickened by E. coli bacteria, raising the number of victims to 15 in Missouri, said Gena Terlizzi of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior…

Carmen Marc Valvo runway fashion show will kick off Variety Week

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:16:00 -0500

SALVOS FOR VALVO: New York fashion designer Carmen Marc Valvo will present his full collection in a runway show to benefit Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis and to kick off Variety Week o…

Washington University student diagnosed with bacterial meningitis

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:33:00 -0500

A campus alert asks anyone who may have had contact with the student to report to the University health center.

ShowMe Aquatics asks St. Charles to revisit idea of jointly-run rec center

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:49:00 -0500

Submits new proposal that it says wouldn't need operating subsidy

HOUSE CALL: Life without your gallbladder

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 06:00:00 -0500

Gallbladders are removed in approximately 700,000 people annually in the U.S. due to gallstones or gallbladder attacks.

Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club gets a new name

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:47:00 -0500

HOOVERING HOOVER: The Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club is now the Boys & Girls Club of Greater St. Louis.

HOUSE CALL: Allergens arrive early; misery close behind

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 05:30:00 -0500

Most St. Louisans had no complaints about this year's mild winter weather, sans snow shoveling and arctic wind chills. Again, no one complained when spring debuted in February, with colorful crocus…

Minnie Driver hits all the right notes for Siteman Cancer Center

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:37:00 -0500

DRIVING MISS MINNIE: More than 500 supporters of Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital turned out Saturday to see and hear Minnie Driver perform at the "Illumination Gala" at the Ritz-Car…

HOUSE CALL: Now that you're expecting

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 06:30:00 -0500

Being pregnant for the first time can be both exciting and overwhelming at the same time. You likely have many questions swirling through your brain and might be experiencing information overload f…

Tests at scene of St. Louis steam pipe rupture show no asbestos

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:15:00 -0500

City wants to conduct test on one more building today before opening streets.

O'Fallon, Mo., firefighters are sleeping on air

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:15:00 -0500

The district bought 51 air-adjustable mattresses for its five firehouses, at a cost of $36,874.

HOUSE CALL: How emergency rooms work

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 06:00:00 -0500

Are you a fan of "Grey's Anatomy" or "House"? Did you watch every episode of "ER"? Hospital dramas have been a television staple since the days of "Marcus Welby, MD." The reality is rarely quite as…

Mizzou medical school wants Springfield campus

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 00:05:00 -0500

COLUMBIA, Mo. • Faced with a national shortage of rural physicians, heavy but unmet demand from would-be doctors and limited classroom space, the University of Missouri wants to expand its medical …

Missouri's 17-cents cigarette tax remains at the bottom of states and territories

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 13:03:00 -0500

While other states raise their taxes to fight tobacco use, Missouri is one of three states that hasn't changed its cigarette taxes since 1999.

Marchers remember woman who died after being arrested at hospital

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:05:00 -0500

About 60 people kicked off Friday's event by chanting "Justice for Anna Brown!"

HOUSE CALL: Springtime tree pollen creates challenges for allergy sufferers

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:30:00 -0500

Springtime in St. Louis seems to have come much earlier than usual this year, and that means allergy season is starting early as well. Tree pollen typically is the number one allergy trigger for pe…

Those tests your doctor orders? Doctor should think twice

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 07:15:00 -0500

The goal is to reduce wasteful spending without harming patients, medical societies say

Teen tanning proposal divides some Missouri lawmakers

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 06:47:00 -0500

Supporters of limiting teen tanning cite the cancer risk; opponents don't like government intrusioni.

HOUSE CALL: Rheumatoid Arthritis — chronic, painful, but treatable

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 06:00:00 -0500

Rheumatoid arthritis affects approximately 1.3 million people in the United States — nearly one percent of the population. While it can affect anyone, even children, 70 percent of its sufferers are…

HOUSE CALL: Oral contraceptives — Multiple uses help to improve quality of life

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 04:45:00 -0500

Nancy, an executive for a big firm, rushes through the airport after leaving the restroom, almost late for her plane. It is a typical monthly ritual she has come to dread. Only today, she did not r…

Bunny ears and all -- kids and parents 'Hunt for a Cure'

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:13:00 -0500

EGGS-ACTLY: Some 5,000 egg hunters turned out on Saturday for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's second annual "Hunt for a Cure," which was a thank-you to the community for supporting the Gatewa…

Hospital defends care prior to woman's death at Richmond Heights jail

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:05:00 -0500

The story of Anna Brown's death has gotten national attention in places like Washington and Los Angeles.

Drugstores sue to block Express Scripts deal

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:15:00 -0500

Chain drug stores and community pharmacies seek to enjoin Express Scripts-Medco merger

Bob Costas and all-star panel to celebrate the life of Max Starkloff, disability rights activist

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:36:00 -0500

IN MEMORY OF MAX: "Costas to the Max" will be a night of celebration and conversation in memory of Max Starkloff, late founder of the Starkloff Disability Institute and Paraquad, a pioneer in the i…

HOUSE CALL: Treatments offer relief for endometriosis

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 05:30:00 -0500

March is National Endometriosis Awareness Month. You may already be aware of this potentially serious condition through personal experience — an estimated 5.5 million women in North America suffer …

Supreme Court indicates health care law is ripe for ruling

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:15:00 -0500

The justices focused on whether a 19th-century tax law might bar them from deciding the case now.

Woman unhappy with care at St. Mary's hospital is arrested for trespassing, dies in jail

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 00:15:00 -0500

Anna Brown's family wonders whether anyone — including themselves — is to blame.

Mentally ill Dardenne Prairie man challenges unemployment bureaucracy

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:05:00 -0500

Missouri Supreme Court will rule on state's claim that it overpaid a laid-off retail employee.

Politics may sink technology upgrade for Missouri's Medicaid program

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 02:15:00 -0500

Missouri may say "no" to $107 million in federal money to modernize the state's Medicaid system.

JDRF gala launch at dream penthouse in the CWE

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:09:00 -0500

BLOCK DIABETES: Susan Block, chair of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's upcoming Garden of Hope Dream gala, opened her ultra-fabulous CWE penthouse condo the other evening for an intimate…

HOUSE CALL: Raising hope: The future of Multiple Sclerosis

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 05:45:00 -0500

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disease that affects the brain, nerves that connect the eyes to the brain, and spinal cord. Approximately 400,000 people in the U.S. have MS, which typ…

Statistics show obesity remains a road to sickness, says federal agency

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:35:00 -0500

From joint pain to heart disease, there's nothing beneficial about it.

HOUSE CALL: Don't let headaches ruin your day

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 06:30:00 -0500

Migraines and other headaches can be debilitating and may affect your overall quality of life. According to the World Health Organization, it is estimated that 50 percent of migraine sufferers worl…

MU animal surgeon hones cartilage storage method

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 07:22:00 -0500

His method could help humans waiting for different joints to be repaired.

National group recognizes local minister for her views on reproductive choice

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:16:00 -0500

TIME FOR TURNER: The Rev. Rebecca Turner, executive director of the locally based Faith Aloud, has been selected as one of 13 "Religious Women to Watch in 2012" by the D.C.-based Center for America…

Stop-smoking campaign puts human faces on tobacco risks

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:58:00 -0500

The American Lung Association and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have created a Web presence called "Tips for Former Smokers."

Physician predicts another miserable allergy season for the St. Louis area

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:04:00 -0500

Because of the mild winter, it could be worse than last year's rough season.

HOUSE CALL: Headache can be minor inconvenience or major incapacitation

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 06:00:00 -0500

Over a lifetime, only one percent of the population escapes headaches all together. But for most people, headaches are a relatively minor aggravation, usually relieved by a quick nap or an over-the…

Kevin Costner & Modern West to headline Costas benefit for Cardinal Glennon

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:42:00 -0600

COSTAS CALLED: Kevin Costner & Modern West has been added to the headliners for the 24th annual Bob Costas Benefit for SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center beginning at 8 p.m., April …

Former Pulaski Bank CEO Bill Donius' book to be published next week

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:47:00 -0600

YOUR OTHER LEFT: A book on unlocking the creativity of your right brain by Bill Donius, former chairman and CEO of Pulaski Bank, is set to be released on Tuesday culminating more than three years o…

Local chapter of national sorority hosting 'Impact Day' on Saturday

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 11:36:00 -0600

DELTA DAY: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s St. Louis alumnae chapter is hosting a “Delta National Impact Day” on Saturday at the YWCA’s Phyllis Wheatley Heritage Center.

St. Louis Crisis Nursery's Razzle Dazzle Ball raises more than $300,000

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 13:46:00 -0600

CRISIS CAPITAL: Razzle Dazzle pulled in the green on Saturday night, with the St. Louis Crisis Nursery's annual fund-raising ball raking in more than $300,000 to help prevent child abuse.

Mo. lawmaker frustrated over birth control debates wants to restrict vasectomies

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 07:00:00 -0600

Rep. Stacey Newman's bill would only allow the procedures to protect a man from serious injury or death.

Illinois campaign seeks more African-American blood donors

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 07:25:00 -0600

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. • Advocates are reaching out to African-American lawmakers to help recruit blood donors from the black community.

Illinois green lights new hospital in Highland

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 14:00:00 -0600

St. Joseph Hospital in Highland, Ill., wins state approval to build replacement facility

Illinois suspends license of doc who bought illegal chemo meds

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 11:24:00 -0600

The drugs were unapproved for use in the United States.

Do you have dental insurance?

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 07:23:00 -0600

More Americans are going to the emergency room for dental care at a cost of up to 10 times what a trip to the dentist's office would be.

HOUSE CALL: Untangling the mystery of Alzheimer's disease

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 06:00:00 -0600

In 1906, Dr. Alois Alzheimer noticed changes in the brain of a patient who had died from a seemingly mysterious mental disorder that caused progressive memory loss. Since then, researchers have bee…

MU campus events raise eating disorder awareness

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 07:40:00 -0600

The events include a free screening for eating disorders.

A day of challenges for runners in a Crystal City mine

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 09:45:00 -0600

Obstacle-filled race goes through the dark, cavernous mine

HOUSE CALL: Varicose vein treatment can end pain

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:15:00 -0600

Varicose veins for some women are a cosmetic concern. For others, however, they mean pain and swelling, and possibly other circulatory problems.

HOUSE CALL: Cold weather can be hazardous to your health

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 06:00:00 -0600

We've all heard the annual dire warnings regarding shoveling snow: heart attacks, strokes, broken bones from falls on slippery pavement. The truth is that cold weather alone — even without the rigo…

Cancer Society releases 2012 cancer outlook and statistics

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:32:00 -0600

The print version of Cancer Facts & Figures 2012 has been released by the American Cancer Society.

Life Sherpa: Komen erred twice in flap with Planned Parenthood

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:15:00 -0600

Too many groups believe in free speech and free choice only when the speeches and the choices agree with theirs.

Lutheran leader sides with Catholics on contraceptives issue in fiery testimony

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 00:10:00 -0600

The Rev. Matthew Harrison told a panel of lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives that the St. Louis-based denomination "stand(s) with our friends in the Catholic Church" in opposition to a …

Parents in St. Louis area say mental illness in kids tied to strep

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:20:00 -0600

They say sudden obsessive behavior, insomnia, severe mood swings and tics all followed strep throat.

Minnie Driver to headline Illumination gala in April

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:04:00 -0600

MIGHTY MINNIE: Minnie Driver, award-winning actress and vocalist, will headline the annual Illumination gala to benefit Siteman Cancer Center and the Washington University medical school on April 1…

Smoking ban citations are few and far between in St. Louis area

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:10:00 -0600

More than a year into city, county smoking ban, Joe Clark's Bar is the first and only establishment to be cited.

Young hospital patients get a lift from a clown

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Claire Wedemeyer says the work is a different kind of reward than performing on stage.

Should government order companies to make certain drugs?

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:50:00 -0600

If children will die without a certain cancer drug, should the government be able to order a drug company to make it?

HOUSE CALL: Hope for avoiding leading cause of age-related vision loss

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:30:00 -0600

Loss of independence is one of the most difficult things people may face as they age, and one cause is vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This disease steals sight from mill…

CDC commemorates Black History Month with a cool website

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:04:00 -0600

CDC offers comprehensive look at the health issue of black people in America.

AP: Obama does about-face on birth control policy

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:05:00 -0600

He will announce that religious employers will not have to cover birth control for their employees after all

St. Louis Crisis Nursery to give awards at upcoming 'Razzle Dazzle' ball

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:28:00 -0600

KID CARE: St. Louis Police Chief Dan Isom, Linda and Eric Gerhardt, GKN Aerospace and David Malone will receive this year's H.U.G.S. & K.I.S.S.E.S. Awards from the St. Louis Crisis Nursery for …

HOUSE CALL: Shingles — How you can protect yourself from this painful virus

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:00:00 -0600

If you have had chickenpox in the past, then you are at risk for shingles. Known as Herpes Zoster, shingles is a localized, blistering rash which can become painful. It's caused by a herpes virus c…

'Hidden' salt cited as culprit in U.S. diet

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:03:00 -0600

About nine of every 10 Americans eat more salt than is recommended, and Public Enemy No. 1 is bread — not junk food, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday.

Komen official resigns

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Atlanta • Karen Handel, the vice president of public policy at Susan G. Komen for the Cure, has quit her post at the breast cancer charity; her move comes on the heels of the group's reversal of it…

HOUSE CALL: Chickenpox — It's name is funny, it's symptoms aren't

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:30:00 -0600

Although kids often giggle at its funny name, chickenpox is no laughing matter for a child who feels itchy, achy and uncomfortable.

McClellan: Komen fallout reminds us that politics were once private, personal

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:05:00 -0600

In a way, it was much ado about nothing.