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Saturday, November 7, 2009

Health

Cape Girardeau County health center gets more seasonal flu vaccine doses; all given out Tuesday (11/05/09)
Late Friday the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center received a shipment it never expected to receive again this year -- additional doses of the seasonal influenza vaccine.
Be a safe sneezer; don't spread germs (11/03/09)
We wash our hands to keep the germs away, but sneezing is nature's way of cleansing the system of foreign contaminants. A sneeze, or sternutation, occurs when something -- dust, pet dander or other allergens -- enters and irritates the inner lining of the nasal passages...
Saint Francis Medical Center tightening visitation rules to address H1N1 (10/27/09)
Saint Francis Medical Center is tightening the rules for its younger visitors. Visitors under the age of 15 are not allowed in patient rooms until the number of area flu cases decreases, said hospital spokeswoman Emily Sikes.
Baby boom?: Winter ice storm might be causing uptick in births in coming weeks (10/27/09)
SIKESTON, Mo. -- It's been nine months since ice storms crippled Southeast Missouri, leaving many without electricity for days. But things were apparently still heating up in some homes, as local hospitals are expecting an increase in births over the next few weeks...
Sticky situation: Chewy candy and braces can be a Halloween nightmare (10/27/09)
NEW YORK -- For the past two Halloweens, Julie Bonn Heath has gotten into a few battles with her son. It wasn't that he was eating too much candy -- he was just eating the wrong kind. Her son, Nick, now 14, wore braces for two years, which meant his favorite treats like sticky, gummy candy and candied apples were off limits...
Weighing in on workout shortcuts (10/27/09)
More of a workout for your walk? Maybe, according to one exercise expert who tried a special shoe that promises to tone your lower level as you walk. In this feature on exercise cheats, gurus weigh in on products promising to do more while you do less...
Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center giving H1N1 vaccine in schools (10/22/09)
Armed with stickers and suckers, four nurses waited as first-graders lined up for their vaccines in the nurses office at Delta Elementary School. "She's going to squirt just a little bit up your nose," said Linda Doerge, as the first student stepped up.
Exercise shortcuts: How well do they measure up? (10/20/09)
When it comes to exercise, most of us are looking for a shortcut, a way to lose weight and firm up without spending endless hours in the gym. So a funky pair of sneakers that promises to tone the butt and calves sounds appealing. The same for weighted sleeves and stylish ankle weights, or a belt that creators say can shape abdominals, butt and arms...
Giving babies Tylenol may blunt effects of vaccines (10/20/09)
Giving babies Tylenol to prevent fever when they get childhood vaccinations may backfire and make the shots a little less effective, new research suggests. It is the first major study to tie reduced immunity to the use of fever-lowering medicines. Although the effect was small and the vast majority of children still got enough protection from vaccines, the results make "a compelling case" against routinely giving Tylenol right after vaccination, say doctors from the U.S. ...
Bollinger County sees high demand for flu shots (10/14/09)
MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- The Bollinger County Health Center gave more than 650 seasonal flu shots during a one-day clinic at the end of September, the largest response it ever had, said director Beverly Piepenbrok. Meadow Heights, Leopold and Zalma school districts had vaccinations for their students and staff that same week. Woodland had requested 300 doses, and decided to wait until there was enough vaccine to accommodate the school in one day, Piepenbrok said...
Second case of H1N1 confirmed in Cape Girardeau County (10/14/09)
The Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center has confirmed a second case of the H1N1 virus. According to Vanessa Landers, a public health nurse with the health center, a 16-year-old male tested positive for the virus last week after a visit to the center's rural health clinic. Only patients from birth to 18 years old on Medicaid are eligible to receive the treatment at the clinic...
Rabies cases up in Missouri (10/13/09)
KENNETT, Mo. -- Missouri has seen an increase in animal rabies cases with 55 cases as of September, which is usually the total for the entire year. World Rabies Day, which was recognized on Sept. 28, called attention to the rise in cases that has triggered a warning from state health officials. The officials are urging people to vaccinate pets and seek medical treatment for any animal bite, according to Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS)...
Upcoming 5k runs (10/13/09)
Upcoming 5k runs in Southeast Missouri
Appearance is more than skin-deep for cancer patients (10/13/09)
NEW YORK -- Lipstick, moisturizer and a wig can't cure cancer. But beauty -- and beauty products -- can help heal wounded self-esteem, which often takes a big hit as patients undergo cancer treatment. Experts say hair loss, skin discoloration and skin dryness can undermine an already physically difficult and emotionally draining process...
Day care next frontier in fighting childhood obesity (10/13/09)
WASHINGTON -- Grilled chicken replaced the hot dogs. Strawberries instead of cookies at snack time. No more fruit juice -- water or low-fat milk only. This is the new menu at a Delaware day care center, part of a fledgling movement to take the fight against obesity to pudgy preschoolers...
Missouri set to receive 350,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine (10/12/09)
Missouri is set to receive an additional 365,000 H1N1 flu vaccine doses over the next two weeks. On Tuesday, approximately 17,000 doses of aerosol mist vaccine arrived in Missouri and was distributed to doctor's offices, clinics and local health departments...
Task force members discuss flu response in Cape Girardeau County (10/09/09)
Minutes after receiving the H1N1 nasal spray vaccine Thursday afternoon, Dr. Ed LaValle voiced little concern about his dosage.
First shipment of H1N1 vaccine arrives in Cape Girardeau County (10/07/09)
The Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center has received its first doses of the H1N1 vaccine but had yet to administer any Tuesday afternoon. Health center assistant director Jane Wernsman said the center had received 400 doses late Monday. Wernsman said her department is working with local health care providers to determine which area health care workers and emergency personnel will receive the nasal spray vaccine...
Kay Azuma says her outlook on life changed after being diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago (10/06/09)
Kay Azuma said she first experienced denial and then disbelief when she found out she had breast cancer in June 2004. Azuma, the community coordinator of Community Caring Council in Cape Girardeau, said she felt no physical symptoms, no lumps and thought she was in excellent health. All she thought was "How could I have cancer?"...
Government finds higher autism figure: 1 in 100 (10/06/09)
CHICAGO -- Two new government studies indicate about 1 in 100 children have autism disorders -- higher than a previous U.S. estimate of 1 in 150. Greater awareness, broader definitions and spotting autism in younger children may explain some of the increase, federal health officials said...
Flu shuts down Charleston schools (10/02/09)
CHARLESTON, Mo. -- The flu has shut the Charleston R-1 school district down today, postponing homecoming. A spokesperson for the school district at the superintendent's office confirmed Thursda that all of Charleston's schools, kindergarten through grade 12, would not be in session Thursday or Friday due to a high number of absences caused by influenza...
CDC: No overall shortage of flu vaccines (09/30/09)
While the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center has no flu vaccine to give out, the problem isn't an overall shortage of vaccine, a spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control said Tuesday. The health department canceled last week canceled four flu shot clinics, including one set for today in Delta. The clinics were canceled after the department used all 1,700 doses of flu vaccine it has received out of an order of 4,000 doses, said Charlotte Craig, director of the department...
October events seek to raise money, awareness for breast cancer (09/29/09)
The American Cancer Society estimates about 40,170 women will die this year from breast cancer. That's almost the population of Cape Girardeau. October is breast cancer awareness month, and in their ever-present efforts to increase awareness about the disease, local hospitals, organizations and the American Cancer Society have teamed up for breast cancer events and promotions...
Southeast Missouri death attributed to H1N1 (09/29/09)
POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- H1N1 has claimed one life in this area, according to officials. Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center confirmed a patient died at the beginning of last week from H1N1 Influenza A. Also known as swine flu, H1N1 is a strain of Influenza A...
Children encouraging peers to live healthy lifestyle (09/29/09)
FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Nine-year-old Madeline Cumbey is doing her part to keep her generation healthy. She eats wholesome foods, aims for at least an hour a day of exercise -- and acts as a health ambassador to her friends and peers. Madeline is one of 25 students across the nation selected to serve on the Youth Advisory Board for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a joint initiative between the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation...
Events: Health and community

Health news
  • Island village hit by suspected swine flu
    ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Suspected swine flu is sweeping a traditional Eskimo whaling village on a remote Alaska island -- prompting an urgent medical mission to deliver help.
  • House opens debate on health care overhaul bill
    WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama's landmark health care overhaul moved toward a vote in the House Saturday after anti-abortion lawmakers won a chance to knock out language that would let federally subsidized health care plans cover abortions.
  • Poll: One-third able to get swine flu vaccine
    ATLANTA (AP) -- Only about a third of adults who have tried to get a swine flu vaccine have been able to get it, according to a new national poll released Friday.
  • FDA warns Web companies not to sell flavored cigs
    RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- The Food and Drug Administration said Friday that it has warned several companies to stop selling banned flavored cigarettes to U.S. consumers online.
  • In Europe, most swine flu shots by invitation only
    LONDON (AP) -- In Britain, there are no long lines of people seeking swine flu vaccine. Doctor's offices aren't swamped with desperate calls. And there are no cries of injustice that the vaccine is going to wealthy corporations or healthy people who don't really need it.
  • Goldman Sachs, Citigroup got swine flu vaccine
    NEW YORK (AP) -- Some of New York's biggest companies, including Wall Street giants Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, received doses of swine flu vaccine for at-risk employees, drawing criticism that the hard-to-find vaccine is going first to the privileged.
  • Old method of heart bypass better than 'off-pump'
    NEW YORK (AP) -- It seemed like a great idea -- doing bypass surgery while the heart is still beating, sparing patients the complications that can come from going on a heart-lung machine. Now the first big test of this method has produced a surprise: Bypass has fewer problems and is more successful done the old way.