Health Matters

Poll: Do you wrestle with holiday blues?

Harry Jackson Jr. — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:49:44 +0000

WebMD.com, probably the best medical information website behind Medline Plus, has a new depression meter on its front page, appropriately just in time for the major holidays.
Holiday depression is a mood disorder that can range from the blahs to the blues. Some of…

Poll: Are you a cyberchondriac?

Dr. John Morley — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:02:36 +0000

The web has become a key way in which many people obtain health knowledge. E-health is becoming the future for persons to self diagnose and treat before going or not going to the doctor. In 1996 Business Wise coined the term…

H1N1 vaccine will be offered at five St. Louis Public Schools

Cindy Gregorian — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:26:10 +0000

The St. Louis Public Schools District will offer H1N1 vaccinations to students at the following schools this week, Nov. 16-20.

Gateway Michael and Gateway Elementary, 9 a.m., Wednesday
Mason Elementary, 9:30 a.m., Friday
Meramec Elementary, 9:30 a.m., Friday
Shenandoah Elementary, 1 p.m., Friday

The district…

Women in their 40s don’t need mammograms, panel says

Blythe Bernhard — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:22:42 +0000

Most women younger than 50 don’t need mammograms and self exams are worthless in lowering the breast cancer death rate, according to new screening guidelines from a panel of experts in preventive medicine.

The recommendations released today by the U.S. Preventive…

St. Louis no longer ranks number one in STDs

Blythe Bernhard — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:45:47 +0000

St. Louis has finally relinquished its title as the sexually transmitted disease capital, dropping to number two in the country for rates of gonorrhea and chlamydia. For several years the city’s disease rates topped the country.

St. Louis has a chlamydia rate of…

Poll: Will you watch your calories during the holiday eating season?

Harry Jackson Jr. — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:30:57 +0000

The holiday eating season has arrived. It arrived with the first bag of Halloween candy and will stick around until that last chili dog on Super Bowl afternoon.
The myth is people gain five and even 10 pounds during this season. But…

Cholesterol levels do not need to be measured fasting.

Dr. John Morley — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:01:13 +0000

For as long as I can remember I have not told my patients to fast when getting a cholesterol level. I saw this as an inconvenience with minimal extra benefit. Today an article in the Journal of the American Medical…

Ronald McDonald House to be built at St. John’s Mercy

Blythe Bernhard — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:46:42 +0000

A third Ronald McDonald House serving St. Louis will be built on the campus of St. John’s Mercy Children’s Hospital in Creve Coeur.

Groundbreaking on the site is set for Nov. 20.

Up to 20 families of hospitalized children will be able…

Swine flu vaccine clinics set for Jefferson, St. Charles and St. Clair counties

Blythe Bernhard — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:27:52 +0000

Jefferson County residents in high-risk groups can make appointments to get H1N1 vaccine from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on November 16, 19, 20 and 24 at the county health department office at 405 Second Street in Hillsboro. High risk…

Having trouble finding the swine flu vaccine?

Blythe Bernhard — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:53:00 +0000

So far, there has not been enough H1N1 vaccine to meet the demand, even for the at-risk groups identified by health officials as most vulnerable to the sickness and severe complications.

Pregnant women, toddlers and adults with health conditions such as asthma,…