Health & Medicine

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is sometimes called "the silent killer," but a new clinical trial will investigate if sound waves can affect it.

SIU Medicine researchers are enrolling patients in a study to see if ultrasound energy can be used to improve blood pressure and reduce the reliance on medication.

The Southern Seven Health Department will be providing free tetanus shots to Alexander county flood victims and volunteers.

Unprecedented flooding continues in the northern part of Alexander County.

Lesley Stoffel grew up in McClure and is volunteering to help residents there and in East Cape Girardeau battle the high water. She says flood victims and others are stressed after weeks of lifting 40 to 60 pound sandbags to protect their homes and businesses from disaster.

Summer is in high gear and with many people enjoying the outdoors, there are hazards that create problems that might go beyond what you should treat at home. 

How do you know when to seek medical treatment? 

Alexander County officials are begging for sandbaggers to help residents fend off spreading seep water.

Lots of water and other hydrating drinks are needed to help volunteers battle the heat.

The Family Counseling Center is celebrating its 45th anniversary in southern Illinois with plans to change its name.

Executive director Sherrie Crabb says her agency has been investigating what it means to be a human services provider in the area after doubling in size over the last four years in terms of income, number of employees and clients it serves.

With national HIV Testing Day set for next week, Southern Seven Health Department is now offering HIV PrEP medication services at its Cairo clinic for those at risk of contracting the disease.

The Dayempur Farm in Union County is hosting an Herbal Medicine Workshop next week.

Dayempur Herbals General Manager Terry Hickey says much of today's medicine was derived from plants. She says the workshop is a great opportunity to learn how many common plants can help with such things as allergies, digestion, inflammation and more.

The American Red Cross wants to raise awareness about the need for more blood donations.

The Missing Types Campaign will erase the letters A, B and O - letters representing the main blood groups - from brands, social media pages, signs and websites. It's designed to highlight the role blood donors play in helping patients.

It's National Nurses Week, and advocates for the profession are continuing their fight for safer working conditions.

Centerstone is opening a Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) facility in Marion.

Mona Miller, the M-A-T Grant Coordinator says the facility is designed for those with an opioid abuse disorder.

Area residents who have suffered from heart failure gathered Friday in Carterville to learn more about their cardiac issues.

Southern Illinois Healthcare's Heart Failure University featured guest speaker Terry Burns of Marion, who underwent heart transplant surgery in St. Louis on May 20th, 2018.

This week is National Public Health Week and Sarah Patrick, director of the Jackson County Public Health Department, says they have a big goal in mind.|

Illinois residents are now able to review the number of lead service lines in their community's water system.

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director John Kim announced Tuesday the agency has launched an online tool that allows residents to download reports on their local water system.

The featured speaker at Friday's Southern Illinois Healthcare Coaches Clinic encouraged area high school coaches to focus less on wins and losses and more on the mental health of their student-athletes.

Tami Eggleston is a sports psychologist at McKendree University. She says anxiety disorders affect 25-percent of children between 13 and 18 years old.

Southern Illinois' first hybrid medical clinic is set to open.

Heartland Regional Medical Group held an Open House and Ribbon Cutting Tuesday at the brand new clinic located in the Marion Crossing complex on The Hill in Marion.

Patients in need of a heart valve replacement procedure now have an alternative to open heart surgery.

Medical professionals at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale Tuesday unveiled a less invasive procedure called Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, or TAVR.

There will be some changes coming to Washington County Hospital in Nashville.

The hospital board of directors has signed a management agreement with SSM Health to carry out the day-to-day operations.

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer says the Food and Drug Administration should immediately ban e-cigarette flavors like candy and cookies that can appeal to young people.

This comes in the wake of warnings that teens and children are increasingly using the smoking devices.

The Drug Enforcement Administration says Americans did their part to drop off a record number of unused, unwanted or expired prescription medications.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons says so many kids today are specializing in just one sport, that the number of overuse injuries is reaching numbers never before seen.

Southern Illinois Healthcare is bringing an urgent care facility to Marion.

System administrators say the hours of the new facility will work better for working people than traditions primary care locations.

Herrin Hospital Friday unveiled the final phase of its nearly three-year long expansion project.

Chief of Surgery Dr. Don Arnold says the 23.7 million dollar project will mean good things for the hospital and its patients.

A mosquito sample from Union County tested positive for West Nile virus.

The Southern Seven Health Department reports the sample was collected July 17th.

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner is urging Democrats to return to Springfield and pass a budget following a federal court ruling requiring the state to pay more toward Medicaid.

Wednesday, a judge ruled in favor of some low income Medicaid patients-who say the state's gotten so late with its healthcare reimbursements that doctors may stop treating them.

The 4th annual Herbal Medicine Workshop is set for next week in southern Illinois.

The first signs of West Nile Virus are popping up in Illinois.

The virus has been confirmed in a batch of mosquitoes in Godfrey in Madison County.

Governor Bruce Rauner is less than thrilled with the U.S. House of Representatives' passage of the American Healthcare Act.