Health

By Ashley Luthans Recent severe weather events across the U.S. have impacted the blood supply, and the American Red Cross is encouraging community members to give back. Events like Hurricane Debby led to many blood drives being canceled. Just in Missouri, there have been 37 blood drive cancellations so far this year. Blood has a

By Leah Rainwater St. Joseph health care providers are emphasizing local pregnancy resources as national data shows prenatal treatment in the first trimester has slightly declined over the past few years. “Typically when you go to your OB, it’s 13 to 14 prenatal visits before your delivery,” said Jennifer Buch, a clinic supervisor at the

By Leah Rainwater Older adults at the Joyce Ray Patterson 50+ Activity Center learned about all things health care last week. Northwest Professionals in Aging, a nonprofit that aims to education and advocate for the senior population in Northwest Missouri, hosted a health fair on Aug. 22. The fair featured representatives from different businesses like

By Kyle Schmidt It’s common for windows and doors to be cracked open this time of year, but that means plenty of opportunities for flies to make their way into homes and breed. In order to prevent this from happening, Dawn Cooperider, CEO and marketing director at Preferred Pest Control, said it’s important to find

By NewsPress Now StatePoint) Protein is an essential part of a healthy diet. It works to build and repair muscles, is needed to carry oxygen to different parts of your body to give you energy, supports your immune system, and helps you feel full for longer. Here’s how to get enough of this important macronutrient

By Ashley Luthans With school starting back up, eye checkups for kids are key, as vision issues can interfere with their ability to learn. Children may have trouble focusing if they cannot see the board that their teacher is writing on or even the words in the textbook in front of them. This can cause

By Chris Fortune Local women are being encouraged to live healthier lives for themselves and their babies. The Baby and Me Tobacco Free program began at the St. Joseph Health Department in May 2023. It was established to help pregnant women and women who have delivered their babies to become tobacco-free and provide vouchers to

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) Medical experts are reminding everyone that foot and ankle pain is not normal and should be addressed. “Your feet shouldn’t hurt,” says Matthew C. Dairman, DPM, FACFAS, a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon and a Fellow Member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS). “Foot and ankle surgeons

By Leah Rainwater As some kids make a leap to a new school this year, the transition can cause stress and anxiety, which is why district staff encourage parents to establish open lines of communication. Whether it be transferring to a different school or making the jump from elementary to middle school or middle to

By Jazmine Knight Everyone knows the back-to-school season can be hectic, with paperwork, shopping and more, but school officials are reminding families to get health tasks done before the first day. Physical exams and required immunizations prevent painful diseases, but they also create a baseline “snapshot” of a child’s health background, which can be used

By Kendra Simpson As families get ready to go back to school, the St. Joseph School District is urging students to get immunizations before the semester starts. Students must be up to date on all required vaccines and immunizations by the first day of school, Aug. 21, or they will be excluded from classes. “We

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) If you’ve been told you need a root canal, you may be dreading the procedure or even trying to find a way out of it. The good news? Today’s root canal treatment is nothing like the myths you may see circulating the internet, which are misinformed and simply false. “The thought

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) A bladder cancer diagnosis can be scary, but according to those who’ve been through it, advocating for yourself and taking charge of your journey can help you make informed decisions when it comes to your treatment to get the best care possible. “For me, a second opinion turned an originally doom-and-gloom

By Jenna Wilson A new law is set to allow Missourians access to essential medications within their communities through the federal 340B program. Beginning Aug. 28. Senate Bill 751 lets any pharmacy that has a contract with the 340B entity, including Northwest Health Services and Mosaic in the area, fill any medication eligible under the

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) Back to school can be overwhelming for students and families. With new classes, new friends and sometimes new schools, students have a lot to balance. Additionally, changing routine can be challenging for students managing health conditions, including allergies, diabetes and others that require using and safely disposing of needles, syringes, or

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) Proper nutrition is critical to older adults’ overall vitality, providing energy, helping to control weight, and even preventing and managing some diseases. Unfortunately, 10% of older people don’t eat enough, while one-third eat too much, according to HealthinAging.org, which is the Health in Aging Foundation’s online public education resource. Such nutritional

By Leah Rainwater The Community Blood Center announced they are in a blood emergency in the Kansas City, St. Joseph and Topeka areas. Typically, the center likes to keep a five- to seven-day supply of blood to donate to hospitals. That equates to about 600 donations each day, or about 4,000 donations each week. Right

By Leah Rainwater The hot and humid summer weather in St. Joseph calls for extra safety precautions for those who plan to visit Chiefs Training Camp, and medical staff are doing everything necessary to be prepared. Mosaic Life Care, who is a sponsor for Chiefs Training Camp, is expanding its services this year to try

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) The LGBTQ+ community celebrated their shared and lived experience this June during Pride Month. While the LGBTQ+ experience varies from individual to individual and from generation to generation, one constant remains – the importance of protecting health. “We celebrate Pride because we are proud of who we are, what we have

By Leah Rainwater A study from U.C. Berkeley recently found that 16 different metals were found in 30 types of tampons from 14 different brands, but one local health professional says more research needs to be done to determine the full extent of the risk. This is the first study done to investigate the contaminants

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) A new school year brings with it fresh opportunity, excitement, and, sometimes, anxiety for parents and students. Medical experts say that addressing health-related issues can help make for a stress-free back-to-school season. “Opening the lines of communication with your child and their physician to talk about nutrition, physical activity, and the

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) The excitement of a new school year unfolds each year when families flood the superstore aisles to buy classroom supplies, tape afterschool schedules on the fridge and organize carpools with friends. Common to each family is a desire for children to remain healthy, active and ready to learn. To prepare children

By Jazmine Knight With the summer travel season in full swing, it’s important to remember that traveling can increase the risk of getting sick or ending up with pesky bed bugs. Nick Chabarria, AAA spokesperson, said travelers don’t have to be as thorough as they were during the pandemic but it doesn’t hurt to practice

By Jazmine Knight In times of high temperatures, getting outside in the fresh air is a place many people turn to. But for many elderly individuals, the heat could be detrimental. Deanna Utz, client care manager with Home Instead, says they avoid taking their patients outside during the summer. “One of our biggest struggles with

By Kirsten Stokes Hospice is a crucial aspect of end-of-life care that focuses on providing comfort and support to individuals facing terminal illnesses. “Everyone has the right to die with dignity, respect and peace, we make sure that we’re there to fulfill that. And not only that, but we want to make sure that the

By Jenna Wilson The Samaritan Counseling Center received a generous donation this week on behalf of a former client who passed away unexpectedly due to a seizure. The family of Devin Delaney, who was a wildland firefighter, gave $1,120 to show appreciation for the services the nonprofit organization provided for their son and many others

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) Better oral health is strongly linked to better overall health, helping you speak properly, eat healthfully, and prevent certain infections and disease. According to experts, it all starts with preserving your natural teeth. “Your natural teeth are not disposable. They are designed to last a lifetime,” says Dr. Natasha M. Flake,

By Leah Rainwater Known as the oldest free and charitable clinic in the U.S., the Social Welfare Board is changing things up. The 111-year-old program officially changed its name to the “Stuber Health Center” on Monday, June 24. “The word ‘welfare’ lost its meaning and has even insulted those living in that unfortunate situation,” said

By Jazmine Knight Adults know how to take proper precautions to protect themselves from the summer heat, but it’s important to keep a close eye on babies and young children to protect them from overheating. In the summer heat, infants and kids tend to overheat and sweat faster compared to adults, according to Precious Pipe,

By NewsPress Now (StatePoint) American men may be neglecting their health and wellness, particularly when it comes to their urological health. But an open line of communication between men and their healthcare providers, and among family members, can lead to better care. A Cleveland Clinic survey found that only 3 out of 5 men get