Health Feature Articles
February is American Heart Month
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. During this month that we should review our personal habits to assure we are doing everything possible to keep our hearts healthy...more
Fluoride’s Role in Dental Care
Fluoridated water or by taking a fluoride supplement, helps teeth and bones become and stay healthy and strong...more
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported recently on a Salmonella outbreak. 165 people in 31 states, including Missouri and Kansas, have been affected as of October 11, 2007...more
Common Sense Combats the Common Cold
Everyone would like an easy way to prevent cold. A little common sense can help combat the common cold...more
Research indicates the less you sleep, the more weight you may gain. How is it that the numbers of hours you sleep can affect your weight? A lack of sleep seems to be a strong factor in the challenge of managing a healthy weight...more
The American Cancer Society reports that “more than 1 million skin cancers are diagnosed each year in the United States.” Avoid becoming a statistic by taking care of yourself and your family in the sun...more
Whether you are going camping, going to the beach or simply heading out for little league games, it is more important than ever to remember sun safety. The American Cancer Society finds that skin cancer is the most common form of cancer (American Cancer Society, 2007), and the sun’s rays can have a negative affect not only on skin but on the immune system and eyesight as well...more
Diverticular Disease is Common in People over Age 60
Diverticular disease is a term used for persons who have diverticulosis and diverticulitis. Diverticulosis is a condition in which small pouches bulge out in the colon. About 10% of people over the age of 40 and half of people over age 60 have diverticulosis. A person could have diverticulosis and never know it because it rarely causes any discomfort or symptoms. The symptoms appear when diverticulitis develops...more
Beware of Claims that You Can Change Your Blood pH
You may have seen advertisements about eating certain foods to change the pH of your blood so that you can prevent cancer, become more youthful, have more energy, or prevent a variety of other diseases. The pH of any solution can range in number from 0-14. Seven is considered a neutral solution. Above 7 is more alkaline and below 7 is a more acidic. The fact is our blood pH remains fairly constant and we cannot change it by what we eat...more
Habits are difficult to change but it can be done!
Try these tips to help you stay on track...more
Practice Healthy Habits for Your Heart
February is American Heart Month. American Heart Month is an opportunity to educate people about the number one killer of Americans –Cardiovascular disease. It is also a good time to let people know that you can decrease your risk for cardiovascular disease by making some healthful lifestyle changes...more
Women: Take Action Against Heart Disease
Friday, February 2 is National Wear Red Day. National Wear Red Day is a part of the Heart Truth Campaign developed by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the National Institutes of Health. All people are encouraged to wear red on this important day as a red alert to convey the message that heart disease is the number one killer of women... href="health66.htm">more
Simple rules stop flu in the workplace
Experts will tell you that the single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year. But let's face it; some of us ignore such health recommendations, no matter how sound they might be. Consequently, we end up vulnerable to the co-worker who shows up at work running a fever, coughing and sneezing and putting everyone at risk of infection...more
Research has shown that laughter is essential to your well-being and confirms that insufficient laughter could be hazardous to your health. As scientists have learned more about the brain, they’ve discovered that smiles and laughter stimulate the brain to secrete chemicals, including endorphins, which seem to stimulate healing, increase happiness and reduce pain...more
For many years, immunization was administered mostly in childhood and old age. Now MO law requires that college students be informed about meningitis and the importance of immunization...more
What you need to know about Inflammatory Breast Cancer
A friend recently told me about Inflammatory Breast Cancer. It sounded terrible, is it something I should be concerned about? Breast cancer of any kind should be of concern to women. It is the most common form of cancer in women followed by lung cancer. However, the chances of any one women having Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) are slight...more
Pre-Diabetes: A risk factor for heart disease and stroke
In most cases, people will develop pre-diabetes before they develop type 2 diabetes. When someone has pre-diabetes, their blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. Most people with pre-diabetes develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years. However, the onset of diabetes can be prevented or delayed...more
Tips for Getting and Staying Motivated to Change Health Habits
If asked, most people would agree, they’d like to have better health. The challenge comes in determining how to go about eating better and being more active. Too often, people take the all or nothing approach. They start the year off trying to improve every aspect of their eating habits, and exercising every day. They soon find they can’t keep up with all this change at one time...more
Changes to the MC+ program will affect more than 46,000 children
The Missouri legislature made many changes to the Medicaid/MC+ program. Most of the changes affect adults, and they have been widely covered in the media. The children’s program changed significantly, however. Because changes don’t fall into the “cuts to eligibility and benefits” category, they have received little attention. That is unfortunate because in states that have instituted similar premium programs, roughly 50 percent of recipients lose coverage. That could mean an additional 20,000 uninsured children in Missouri...more
Each year, nearly 8,000 people receive poisonous snakebites in the United States. Few animals are more disliked than snakes. Snakebites occur despite precautions. They are typically not fatal to healthy adults but can be to children and older adults...more
Stroke: Time Lost is Brain Lost
When someone suffered a stroke before 1996, little could be done except to wait. Rehabilitation and recovery could begin once the damage was done. Today, that picture is changing. Early treatment can prevent disability and death, but fast action is needed. The longer the delay between a stroke and treatment, the more damage a stroke can do...more
Summer weather brings insects and bugs. This can mean bug bites, which can be a bother. For some people a bite or sting can mean a serious medical emergency...more
Before jumping in with the kids, complete a pool safety check
Each year about 300 children nationwide under the age of 5 drown in swimming pools—most often a pool owned by the family, said Karen Funkenbusch, MU safety specialist...more
Many studies show that families have trouble managing work, family, and community responsibilities. Creating a balance helps family members find time to nurture, support and enjoy each other. It is physically impossible to do everything and to be everywhere. What can you do to help find balance? ...more
Making Sense of Health Reports in the News
U.S. Adults follow health news closely. Health stories can change people’s health decisions and behaviors and their use of health care. Unfortunately, health stories often confuse complex issues and rarely provide individuals with enough information to make a good decision about their health or health care. Rather than providing accurate information, health stories frequently raise expectations for cures and treatments that are not yet available, raise doubts about effective treatments, prevention measures, and medications and cause unnecessary fear and worry...more
Personal resources to manage stress
Work and life create stress for each of us. Why do some people cope better than others? Here are some ideas from the researchers who study human behavior...more
Stress can be a positive factor in our lives. Some stress energizes us. However, when we have more demands than we can meet, we may feel out of control. High levels of stress may have a negative impact on physical health, mental well-being, and relationships. So how much stress is appropriate? ...more
Add downtime to your holiday list
Shopping, wrapping, decorating, cleaning, baking, sending cards, hosting parties, attending school and church functions, visiting friends and family. The list of holiday-related activities can be long. When your making your list and checking it twice, be sure to include time for yourself as the holidays draw near, advised a University of Missouri specialist...more
Is it a Cold, the Flu or Pneumonia?
Your head hurts, your eyes are watery, your muscles ache, and your cough is getting worse. You feel like climbing into bed, turning on the vaporizer and taking something to relieve the symptoms. But is that going to do the trick? The common cold, the flu, and pneumonia can have similar symptoms. Mistaking one for the other can mean serious complications...more
Sleep - are you getting enough?
Recent research in the area of sleep has determined that as many as two-thirds of Americans lack enough sleep. Over time the lack of sleep can lead to stress, depression, mental and physical exhaustion. We know that when we are not well rested we do not perform at our best. ...more
Tips to tell difference between flu and colds
The sudden shortage of flu vaccine has many Americans worried about coming down with illness. However, it is a good idea to run through a checklist of symptoms to be sure that what’s bugging you is the flu and not a common cold or bacterial pneumonia. ...more
What Did You Do on Your Summer Vacation
Vacations are an opportunity to see and experience new sights and new activities. While everyone needs some quiet time, vacations should also be about doing. Make your next vacation an active one. Need ideas? Read on ...
Ten Ways to Reduce Health Care Costs
Whether you are talking about buying a house, a car, or health care the quality and value of your purchase should be an important consideration. In the case of health care, higher cost does not necessarily mean better quality...more
CLAIM: Help With
Insurance & Medicare
Understanding Medicare and insurance programs and completing necessary claim forms can sometimes be confusing. A program in Missouri called CLAIM - Community Leaders Assisting the Insured in Missouri - has trained volunteers to answer questions like those above. Volunteers are also prepared to provide older Missourians and their family members assistance with Medicare and Insurance claims...more
Caution–Misleading Information Ahead
Many health studies make headline news, but changing your health practices based on these headlines may be risky. Following are some guidelines when faced with headlines that promise new medical cures or treatments or quick fixes for making lifestyle changes...more
Everyone has stress and a moderate amount of stress is normal. A stressor is any demand on your body or your mind. Stressors can be unpleasant or pleasant experiences like a family reunion, the holidays, or exercise...more
Your home can be hazardous to your health. Regardless of age the leading causes of injury deaths in the home are falls and fires...more
Choosing a Doctor That's Right For You
Finding someone you trust and can talk too is a good health care consumer strategy. How do you find the doctor that is right for you?...more
Medical Self–Care: What is it?
One of the changes occurring in the health care system is the expectation that individuals will take more responsibility for their own health. ...more
Antiperspirants/Deodorants
and Breast Cancer Risk - It is a Myth
There is no truth to the rumor that antiperspirants/deodorants can cause breast cancer...more
Reducing Cancer Risks Among Black Americans
Although black American had less cancer and fewer cancer deaths between 1992-1999, they still had the highest overall cancer rates of any group in this country according to the National Cancer Institute...more
End-of-Life Care Cancer Patients
When a person's cancer can no longer be controlled, cancer treatment often stops. But the care continues with a new focus: making the patient as comfortable as possible and providing emotional support...more
Talking to Children About Cancer
When you have been diagnosed with cancer, it is important not to hide your illness from your children. Even very young children can sense when something is wrong...more
Regular screening is important in preventing and finding cervical cancer. The screening tool for cervical cancer is the Pap test...more
The exact causes of ovarian cancer are not known. However, studies show that the following factors may increase the chance of developing this disease...more
The National Cancer Institute recommends that women in their 40s and older have a screening mammogram (a breast x-ray in women with no signs of breast cancer) every one to two years...more
Missouri Adult Abuse Act at a Glance
Information from The Missouri Coalition Against Domestic Violence on who can obtain relief, what relief is available, the procedure for obtaining relief, how long an order can last, what happens if another court makes a custody order, protection orders from other states, what happens if an order is violated, and more...
Domestic Violence Assault Crimes
The Missouri General Assembly in 2000 established separate crimes for domestic assault. These new categories of assaults acknowledge elements of power and control, and they include enhanced penalties for prior or persistent offenders...more
Relief Available with Protection Orders
The Missouri Adult Abuse Act allows a victim of abuse to petition the court for the following types of relief through an Order of Protection. However, these orders are not always granted by the court...more
Can Employers Discriminate Against Me Because I Have Cancer?
No. Federal and state employee rights laws protect cancer survivors. These laws forbid discrimination and guarantee the right to medical leave...more
Is There Help for Smokers Who Are Trying to Quit?
Yes. Smokers can call the Cancer Information Service (CIS) at 1-800-4-CANCER and select option 3 for personalized assistance with quitting tobacco. Callers will receive one-on-one, tailored assistance and written self-help materials from information specialists trained in smoking cessation...more
Who Is At Risk for Colorectal Cancer?
The exact causes of colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum) are not known. However, studies show that certain factors increase a person's chance of developing this disease...more
More than 100 health care providers throughout Missouri offer free breast and cervical cancer screenings to under-insured Missouri women who meet age and income guidelines. These cancer screening services are offered through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services' Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Project (BCCCP) with funding provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and the State of Missouri.
Mammogram-Our Best Defense Against Breast Cancer
Right now, mammograms along with self
breast exams, are the best defense women have against breast cancer. The
three primary risk factors for breast cancer are being a women, getting
older, or having a mother or sister who has had the disease. These are
factors that women can't do much to change. However, just because you have
one or more of these risk factors does not mean you will get breast
cancer. It does mean that you need to take more responsibility for your
health. One way of doing this is to get a mammogram.
With Jack Frost nipping at our toes, keep in mind that outdoor activities can be risky. Snow shoveling, for example, can be especially dangerous. Exercise experts say shoveling heavy snow requires as much energy as running 9 miles per hour! In addition, breathing cold air, and being exposed to the cold all make the heart work harder.
Three New Birth
Control Options
For the first time in many years there are three new options for women for family planning. All three have shown to be nearly 100% effective.
... A chronic illness is defined as any disease that develops slowly and lasts a long time. Some examples are diabetes, arthritis, emphysema, congestive heart failure, and Alzheimer's disease....Taking an active role in managing your illness can help you maintain a good quality of life despite your illness...Here are some things to consider.
Drug interactions are serious business. Interactions can reduce the effectiveness of drugs; the drugs don't work as well as they should. At other times, drug interactions lead to serious complications such as drowsiness, slowed reactions, stomach upset, liver damage, dizziness, light-headedness, irregular heartbeat, and a sudden rise in blood pressure...
Medication Assistance Programs - Are They For You
... In general, drugs are improving health outcomes and quality of life. However, there is a price tag attached. Drugs are the fastest growing segment of health care expenditures in this country...
Paying attention to your safety is an important part of taking care of your health. Be aware of your surroundings and take steps to prevent falls, car accidents, fires and crime. When it comes to your personal safety, the first step toward prevention is recognizing that you are a potential crime victim...
Physical Activity and Older Adults
Becoming more physically active is one of the best things you can do for your health. Physical activity can reduce your risk of heart disease, adult-onset diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, certain cancers and osteoporosis. It contributes to increased bone strength, decreased blood pressure, better sleep, increased "good" cholesterol, increased metabolism and better resistance to colds. It also eases tension and reduces stress. If you are thinking about becoming more physically active, consider the following ideas...
Social Support and Your Health
Building relationships with others is important to our health. Who are the important people in your life? Who makes you feel better about yourself? Healthy supportive relationships contribute significantly to our sense of well-being...
...The holidays can be a time of joy, fun, and excitement. They can also be tiring, disappointing and tension packed. People sometimes feel "blue" or let down during or immediately after the holidays. It is easy to assume that these feelings are a sign that the holiday did not go well; that changes need to be made. That might be one explanation. However, that "let down" feeling may be nothing more than your body's need to relax and recuperate after a very busy and hectic schedule...
Parents and family members spend hours selecting cute baby clothes and purchasing a car seat, stroller and crib. However, some of the things that can prevent late night trips to drugstores and help a parent cope with that first illness are equally important to purchase...
When chilly temperatures arrive, it's time to ensure that your car is winterized. Along with the blankets, candles, matches and snow shovel, don't forget the food! While we may not be going far on our destination, it is those "close calls" that tend to get us in gear and prepare for the worst. It's best to have it packed and never have to use than to wish you had...
Hazardous Look-A-Likes in a Child’s World
Reusing and recycling containers may be in-but only if used for the right things. Handy food containers are reused for everything from oil-to pesticides along with foods stuff like vinegar and red hot candy. While it makes perfect sense to an adult to reuse containers, children under the age of five, are constantly exploring their surroundings and are prone to put many of the things they find into their mouths-containers that might be familiar to them-especially if the content is scented with a food flavor...
Medicare and Medicaid: What is the Difference?
Most Americans are confused about the difference between Medicare and Medicaid. While these programs are part of the Social Security Act, guidelines for both programs change often. It is important to stay in touch with Social Security and welfare offices for current information...more
Many types of managed care plans use primary care physicians as gate keepers to control costs and coordinate health care services for their members...more
Managed Care--Understanding Our Changing Health Care System
Rising health care costs over the last 30 years resulted in a call for health care reform. As a response to growing concerns expressed by businesses and by the Federal and state governments, the health care industry is reorganizing itself in an effort to control costs. Managed care is the result....more
What is a Health Maintenance Organization
Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) are only one of many types of managed care arrangements. If the different types of managed care were placed along a continuum. Managed indemnity plans, which are very similar to conventional insurance, would be at one end. At the other end would be HMO's. ...more
What You Should Know About Managed Care
Managed Care is a system of health care that controls the cost of services, manages the use of services and measures performance of health care providers. There are different types of managed care plans...more
Managed Care--Comparison Worksheet
Managed Care--Abbreviations and Key Terms
Managed care has created a new language. Part of our responsibility as users of this system is to learn as much as we can about how managed care works and what these new terms and abbreviations mean...more
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