We continue to monitor COVID-19, flu and other respiratory viruses in our communities. Read the most current information about prevention, testing and where to go if you're sick.

COVID-19 Information

Welcoming Twins During COVID-19

In December 2019, Molly Hurley and her husband, Ryan, found out they were expecting twin boys. As first-time parents, they looked forward to baby showers, attending Missouri Baptist Medical Center’s classes on childbirth and preparing for multiples, and celebrating their new arrivals with family and friends. But COVID-19 changed their plans.

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99-year-old patient fights off virus with the force of positivity

Along with a dedicated team of caregivers at Missouri Baptist Medical Center and a countrywide prayer chain, one patient kept a relentless positivity in the face of a frightening disease. Moreover, he had his family’s staunch support.

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Recovery is a Journey

Scott Winder had been having trouble breathing and wasn’t sleeping well. Like many people do, he dismissed the symptoms until one day at work, his suddenly racing heart, sweating and worsening breathing problems sent him to the  Emergency Department at Parkland Health Center in Farmington.

Scott walked through the doors of the emergency room and collapsed.

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Recipes for Your Health

Tasted, tested and analyzed by dietitians at Missouri Baptist Medical Center

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Know the Warning Signs of a Heart Attack

Knowing the warning signs of a heart attack can make a big difference. The faster someone having a heart attack can get care, the better the outcomes.

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Don't Be Afraid to Ask
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Don't Be Afraid to Ask

Why Am I So Gassy?

I seem to have more gas now than ever before. Is it what I’m eating? Is it always what you eat that causes gas or does something else play into it?

Excessive gas is one of the most frequent and difficult problems to explain. Gas is generally benign in origin; however, if it is associated with symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, weight loss, difficulty swallowing, or diarrhea, you should get a prompt evaluation by a physician.

Even though many people believe that diet plays a large role in producing these symptoms, there are no reliable scientific studies that demonstrate this. The majority of people with major gas symptoms have visceral hypersensitivity or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Therapy for IBS may improve symptoms, and avoidance of foods that seem to exacerbate the symptoms can be helpful as well.

Lately I have noticed what looks like blood in my stool. How do I know if it is or not? Could it just be something I ate? Should I be concerned and why?

There are many causes of blood in the stool, including hemorrhoids, benign ulcers of the stomach and small intestine, infectious diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, and bleeding from diverticulitis. However, the most worrisome cause of blood in the stool is colorectal cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in the United States.

For this reason, patients should always tell their physician about even small amounts of blood in the stool. A careful digital rectal examination can provide the physician with important information, including the presence of microscopic blood, which can only be detected by special card testing of the stool. Armed with this information, the physician and patient can determine what further investigation is needed.

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