Health Matters Blog
Healthy tips for extreme heat this weekend
People should use common sense and take precautions for the extreme heat expected this holiday weekend, local health officials cautioned today.
May 25, 2012 | 11:22 am
| (
Patients wait an average of 20 minutes to see a doctor in St. Louis, agency says
The good news is that even the longest wait time averages were under 25 minutes nationally.
May 24, 2012 | 11:50 am
| (
Rare case of hantavirus reported in Illinois
An Illinois resident has contracted hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a disease spread by rodents, state health officials said.
May 16, 2012 | 2:20 pm
| (
Free Zumba classes in Festus park start this week
Free Zumba classes will be offered at the bandstand in Sunset Park in Festus this summer.
May 14, 2012 | 10:23 am
| (
Local pediatric ER doc offers advice on keeping children safe and healthy this summer
The best way to prevent a visit to a pediatric ER is to avoid conduct that will cause injuries, she says.
May 09, 2012 | 12:19 pm
| (
Music training improves the aging process, researchers say
Learning and knowing music even later in life helps thinking and hearing for elderly, says study.
May 07, 2012 | 4:29 pm
| (
Be aware of germs when traveling on airplanes, says expert
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 the Coverall Health-Based Cleaning System a company that cleans places such as hospitals. Nothing rui…
May 04, 2012 | 4:03 pm
| (
CDC says helmets can't hurt, might help in tornadoes
Families should consider adding helmets to their storm survival kits, federal health officials said today.
May 03, 2012 | 4:39 pm
| (
Soulard group wins GO! St. Louis Marathon cheer zone award
They wore kooky-looking pajamas, shook plastic clapper hands and high-fived runners.
May 02, 2012 | 3:26 pm
| (
YMCA Marquette branch in downtown St. Louis to close
The Marquette branch of the YMCA in downtown St. Louis will close at the end of the month, according to an executive at the fitness center.
May 01, 2012 | 5:27 pm
| (
Pujols foundation expanding to Kansas City, Nashville, Southern California
The foundation, which primarily serves people with Down syndrome, plans to start operations in the additional areas by the end of the year.
Apr 30, 2012 | 11:10 am
| (
New web video helps Spanish-speaking people compare treatments for diabetes
High level of diabetes in the Hispanic community prompts the federal government to launch an information campaign.
Apr 26, 2012 | 12:45 pm
| (
Child found safe in Chicago area after being taken from St. Louis hospital
Father, aunt, grandmother face charges.
Apr 25, 2012 | 10:52 pm
| (
Washington University student diagnosed with bacterial meningitis
A campus alert asks anyone who may have had contact with the student to report to the University health center.
Apr 19, 2012 | 1:33 pm
| (
Raw milk from Howard County farm possible source of E. coli outbreak
Six of 13 people recently sickened by E. coli bacteria reported drinking raw milk from the same farm in Howard County, Missouri health officials said today.
Apr 16, 2012 | 3:31 pm
| (
Two more cases of E. coli infection possibly caused by raw milk
Two cases of E. coli in central Missouri were confirmed today, bringing the total to seven people in the area who have recently been sickened by the same bacterial strain, state health officials said.
Apr 10, 2012 | 4:56 pm
| (
Raw milk possible source of E. coli bacteria outbreak in central Missouri
The state health department has not pinpointed a source of the contamination.
Apr 09, 2012 | 11:56 am
| (
Missouri's 17-cents cigarette tax remains at the bottom of states and territories
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.
Apr 07, 2012 | 1:03 pm
| (
Health reports: Tick-borne diseases in humans and a bat with rabies
The first diseases of the early bug and bat season have shown up in Missouri and Illinois.
Apr 03, 2012 | 4:23 pm
| (
St. Charles County is healthiest in the state, rankings show
The rankings released today measure communities on various factors including access to healthy foods, exercise and medical care while grading them on healthy outcomes and opportunities.
Apr 03, 2012 | 12:15 pm
| (
Class-action suit filed against Vibram FiveFingers
The suit says that there's no science backing Vibram's claims about the health benefits of running in the thin-soled, glove-like shoes.
Mar 30, 2012 | 12:00 pm
| (
Autism rate rises to 1 in 88 U.S. children
The rate is even higher in Missouri, where an estimated 1 in 72 children has autism.
Mar 30, 2012 | 12:05 am
| (
Mississippi River is second-most polluted U.S. waterway
More than 12.7 million pounds of toxic chemicals such as nitrates, arsenic, benzene and mercury were dumped into the Mississippi River in 2010, according to a report released today by the advocacy group Environment Missouri.
Mar 22, 2012 | 1:05 pm
| (
How do you tell a child that a friend has died?
The murder-suicide on Saturday of a Ballwin mom and her three young daughters has many parents struggling with how to break the news to their children. I came across this helpful advice written by Dr. Kelly Ross at St. Louis Children's Hospital.
Mar 20, 2012 | 5:10 pm
| (
Statistics show obesity remains a road to sickness, says federal agency
From joint pain to heart disease, there's nothing beneficial about it.
Mar 20, 2012 | 2:35 pm
| (
