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For the second time in a week, medical experts are revising the advice given women on cancer screenings. Now women are being told that they should get their first screening for cervical cancer -- including a Pap test -- at age 21.
Jeffrey Taylor says he feels better than he has in years after kicking his 30 year smoking habit. And he attributes his success to tobacco cessation classes at Memorial Hospital at Gulfport.
Several months ago, Carrie Duncan and Patrice Clark let us in on a little secret. They didn't like how they looked. So, they started to eat healthier meals, and they started exercising. Over the past few years, Patrice has lost over 100 pounds. She went from a size 28 dress to a 10! And in the past year, Carrie has dropped 40 pounds and has been successful in keeping it off.
Secondhand smoke harms the cardiovascular health of children, especially toddlers and obese youngsters, U.S. researchers say.
New government recommendations on mammograms are creating a lot of questions. It's an emotionally charged issue, especially among those who say early testing saved their lives.
The mass vaccination of students is underway in south Mississippi. This week, more than 6,000 Swine Flu shots will be given to students in Jackson County, Pascagoula and Gautier. And more than 1,200 students in the Biloxi School District will be getting the voluntary injections. As Trang Pham-Bui tells us, there were a few tears Tuesday, but no medical emergencies.
Taking selenium supplements could boost your cholesterol levels and increase your risk of heart disease, English researchers suggest.
When babies are teething, they're generally miserable from the pain, swelling and tenderness in their gums. Here are suggestions from the Nemours Foundation to help comfort little ones who are teething.
Mississippi Senators Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker are asking that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid allow his health reform package to be submitted for a more thorough analysis to determine its long-term costs to the nation.
Women don't need to start having mammograms to screen for breast cancer until they're 50, and they only need to have those exams every other year, new government guidelines suggest.
The Better Business Bureau is urging consumers to be skeptical of products that claim they can prevent, treat and even cure swine flu. Some people have been getting emails about this.
The battle of the bulge among African Americans in Mississippi was the subject of a BET network special Sunday.
Hear how one health reporter with asthma was blindsided when she came down with the H1N1 virus for ten days.
They're starting to walk, talk, eat grown-up food, and sleep through the night. The Cochran quadruplets of Hurley are now a year old and each stage of development brings new challenges for their parents. The four infants were born three months premature last year and faced all sorts of medical complications. As Trang Pham-Bui reports, you wouldn't know it by looking at them today.
When your runny nose persists, you could have a sinus infection. Learn the difference between allergy, cold and sinusitis.
Laser eye surgery doesn't appear to have long-term effects on the cells that line the inside of the cornea, a new study has found.
Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com.
The H1N1 flu virus is sweeping the nation—and so are the myths about the vaccine. Go to any coffee shop or grocery store and you’ll hear them. But here are the facts from the health experts themselves.
Mississippi's uninsured and underinsured can receive free swine flu medication. The state Department of Health announced Monday it had reached agreements with some pharmacies to help distribute Tamiflu and Relenza, two medications used to treat H1N1 flu symptoms.
Hot-tub injuries have skyrocketed in the United States in recent years, rising by 160 percent between 1990 and 2007, a new study has found.
If you are pregnant or think you might be, there's a place in Gulfport giving free prenatal care and classes, even free baby clothes and furniture. Three full time staff members and almost 20 volunteers run the non-profit place called the Women's Resource Center.
The self-reported health of the newly retired improves so much that most feel eight years younger, a new European study suggests.
Visit any neonatal intensive care and you'll see how severe infant mortality is in Mississippi.
Area health care providers say thousands of coast residents are suffering from a chronic disease and don't even know it. At Edgewater Mall in Biloxi, people got free blood glucose screenings as part of National Diabetes Awareness Month.
A new "atlas" of bacterial life on and within the human body has uncovered the fact that your palms, feet and forearms are a veritable United Nations of germs.
Some Jones County residents protested at Gene Taylors's office in Laurel on Thursday.
Construction has officially begun on a new $20 million medical park to help improve health and wellness in Jackson County. Thursday, Singing River Health System broke ground for the state of the art facility on Denny Avenue in Pascagoula. As Patrice Clark reports, leaders are hoping the facility will help this troubled economy.
A new study appears to add to growing evidence that green tea might help protect against cancer.
When the news broke that a domestic cat had come down with H1N1, many people no doubt wondered how vulnerable their own pets were to the illness.
In the next few days the U.S. House could vote on its version of health care reform legislation, and among those calling for swift action on the issue is the Mississippi chapter of the NAACP.
Eating too fast can lead to overeating because gulping down food limits the release of hormones in the gut that trigger the feeling of being full, Greek researchers have found.
One percent of U.S. drivers -- 1.9 million people -- have had accidents or near-misses over the past year because they were driving while sleepy, a new survey finds.
Millions of Americans take drugs like Nexium, Prevacid and Prilosec to ease the effects of acid reflux, but do these medicines put patients at risk for other health problems?
Three-year survival was 100% for people with early-stage lung cancer and good lung function who were treated with radical stereotactic radiosurgery using CyberKnife.
Depressed people tend to report more physical symptoms than they actually experience, a new study finds.
Reports about possible kidney problems, including renal failure, in people taking the diabetes drug exenatide (Byetta) have prompted changes to the drug's prescribing information, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Monday.
For a certain kind of worm, the sweet life may also be the short life. New research suggests that added sugar in their diet robs the creatures of 20 percent of their life span.
Flu-prevention kits are being distributed to Mississippi college students. The Mississippi Department of Health will provide nearly 2,500 bags filled with individual hand sanitizer, pocket pack tissues and other items over the next two weeks to students at the state's eight universities. It's part of an effort to stop the spread of swine flu.
South Mississippi families had a chance to get rid of their leftover Halloween candy Monday, for a good cause. A Vancleave dentist paid local children for their unwanted sweets. He plans to ship the candy to Operation Gratitude, an organization that will send the sweets to troops overseas. Sylvia Hall has more on the Cash for Candy initiative.
The crowd was described as "calm and steady" at the health department in Gulfport Monday morning, as dozens of people showed up for the first swine flu shots administered by the state. Mississippi has received more than 200,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine. The first to be vaccinated are "at risk" individuals, including pregnant women and young children.
The South Mississippi AIDS Task Force says it has two reasons to celebrate. The group hosted an extremely successful fundraiser last night and the federal government has lifted a ban on people living with HIV/AIDS from entering the country. AIDS Task Force officials say lifting this decades old ban is an important step toward ending discrimination.
State health officials are asking for patience as Mississippi prepares to pass out its first batch of H1N1 or Swine Flu vaccine. Dr. Bob Travnicek of the State Health Department said the vaccine will be available, starting Monday, at all clinics in the six southernmost counties. It's free and no appointment is needed.
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and the State Department of Health are expressing serious concerns over the FDA's policy change pertaining to oysters harvested from the Gulf of Mexico during the months of April through October.
The Mississippi State Department of Health has announced the swine flu vaccine will be available at all county health department clinics beginning Monday.
As daylight hours dwindle, people with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can often feel the onset of wintertime depression, but a new study suggests that cognitive behaviorial therapy may work best at banishing the SAD blues.
A heart transplant patient and his wife are in a battle with their insurance provider. At issue are thousands of dollars in medical bills the insuror refuses to pay.
A diabetes diagnosis means you have a lot to learn about the disease - including sifting fact from fiction. Find the truths behind some common diabetes myths here.
Taking a proactive approach can help reduce the level of pain linked to poor posture in office workers, researchers have found.
Researchers think they now understand the way that fish oils benefit people with rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions linked to inflammation.
Imagine if you found out the water that you used for years in the past was contaminated with chemicals. A retired Marine living in Crystal Springs recently learned that Marines and their families stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, decades ago, were exposed to tainted water.
Technically, men can't go through menopause. But - like women - they can experience sexual and reproductive changes in midlife. Learn more about 'male menopause.'
The Mississippi Department of Education and The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast are teaming up to provide a new school based program for children with autism. The Gulf Coast Autism Project will assess children on the autism spectrum; provide research-based services to students, train parents and support current and prospective school district personnel.
New research suggests that alcohol may boost the progression of cancer by stimulating a pathway inside cells.
More than 65 percent of U.S. mothers with depression don't receive adequate treatment, a new study has found.
Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com.
While the optimal amount of vitamin D is still subject to debate, a new study finds one thing is sure: over 6 million American children are getting too little of this essential nutrient.
South Mississippi residents lined up for swine flu vaccines Monday, the first day WLOX knows of that it has been available on the coast. The vaccine's arrival comes just two days after President Barack Obama declared the swine flu outbreak a national emergency.
To keep colds at bay during the chilliest months of the year, exercise just might be the key.
President Barack Obama has declared the H1N1 swine flu a national emergency. His proclamation will allow hospitals and doctors' offices to get legal waivers of federal rules so they can handle large numbers of sick people as the outbreak spreads.
Thousands of people took an important step in finding a cure for breast cancer. The American Cancer Society put on its annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5-k Walk at the Biloxi Town Green. Danielle Thomas talked to some cancer survivors who say it's important to never give up hope.
Preparations are underway for the mass vaccination of south Mississippi students against the Swine Flu. The H1N1 vaccine has not been distributed to schools yet. However, the state Health Department and school districts are working on plans to administer the shots once the doses arrive. Assignment Education Reporter Trang Pham-Bui tells us what it will take to vaccinate 80,000 school children.
New research provides further insight into how a health-boosting compound found in red grapes may help the body fend off type 2 diabetes.
Rats develop memory loss in adulthood after receiving high doses of amphetamines during their "teen" years, new research shows.
Fifteen-percent of women in the U-S live with chronic pelvic pain. Now, new treatment options are helping pain patients regain control over their lives.
The national debate over health care and the nursing shortage in Mississippi, are just a couple of the issues and concerns on the minds of nurses these days. More than 1,100 registered nurses and nursing students are attending the 98th Annual Mississippi Nurses Association Convention in Biloxi. As Trang Pham-Bui reports, the nurses are networking and sharing ideas to help deal with ongoing problems, along with new ones that erupted this year.
Do you or someone you know have difficulty organizing thoughts in writing or speaking, learning letters and their sounds, memorizing number facts, spelling, reading, or correctly doing math operations? Do you have problems remembering specific names of people, places, or things? Would you rather memorize than read or write something? These are possible signs of dyslexia.
Vitamin B-12 is an essential vitamin that's found in dairy foods and many types of meat. It plays a role in the health of your nervous system and in the production of red blood cells.
U.S. researchers say they may have found a way to protect healthy tissue and also increase tumor death when cancer patients undergo radiation therapy.
Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com.
A spokeswoman for the Mississippi Department of Health says the state has received 60,000 dosages of injectable swine flu vaccine. Liz Sharlot says the state has another 69,000 dosages of the nasal spray.
Seven-year-old Sophia Mohler may be off in Texas battling cancer, but that doesn't mean she's forgotten here at home. In fact, South Mississippi donated close to $50,000 Saturday at a benefit walk over the Biloxi Bay Bridge to help cover Sophia's medical expenses. As Sylvia Hall reports, it wasn't just about the funds, it was about bringing a lot of love to a little girl in need.
Dozens of people in the Wiggins area received some valuable health information today at an annual event at Stone County Hospital.
At a senior health fair Thursday, almost every senior we talked to was concerned about the lack of a cost of living increase next year. They said in tough times, a small increase is badly needed.
Bicyclists are facing higher injury rates and longer hospital stays, with both worsening over the past 11 years at a Denver trauma center, according to the results of a study of biking injuries.
Supervised exercise programs for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy can reduce fatigue and boost muscle strength, aerobic capacity and emotional well-being, a new study suggests.
Schools, businesses, even dance teams are rallying behind an Ocean Springs girl who is battling a rare form of cancer. Seven-year-old Sophia Mohler has a tumor at the base of her brain. While Sophia is undergoing treatment at a Texas hospital, people in her hometown are doing what they can to help the family through this painful time. Trang Pham-Bui shows us the outpouring of community support.
The Mohler name is well-known in the city of Ocean Springs. Who hasn't been to the family's Tato Nut shop in downtown? But the business has been closed since August, after the family found out their 7-year-old daughter Sophia has a rare form of brain cancer. Sophia is undergoing treatment at MD Anderson Medical Center in Texas. Trang Pham-Bui talks to a very strong family.
Over the past century doctors have suspected that cancers can spread from a pregnant woman to her fetus, but a genetically confirmed case reported this week from Japan suggests the phenomenon is real.
Underscoring the threat that the H1N1 virus poses to children, the CDC announced that 76 children have died from the disease since April, including 19 in the past week.
Imagine being denied insurance coverage because you were a victim of domestic abuse. Mississippi is one of eight states with no laws to stop companies from using it as a reason to deny coverage. Krystal Allan tells us what advocates are doing to make changes in Mississippi.
The cost of giving boys the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine would outweigh any health benefit, researchers say.
Many mothers are leery of the seasonal flu or H1N1 swine flu vaccine for their children despite public health officials reccomendation that all kids receive both shots.
The current treatments for women who've had an early miscarriage don't affect their long-term fertility, new research shows.
When the students at Pecan Park Elementary in Ocean Springs came back to school this year, they were hit with some big news. One of their teachers was going to be absent all year due to breast cancer. Now they're doing what they can to help out by making blankets for Mrs. Hubbard and others like her. Sylvia Hall joined them Friday as the children showed they have big hearts.
Childhood cancer survivors are 20 percent to 25 percent more likely to remain unmarried than their siblings or people in the general population, a U.S. study has found.
Good news for people with chronic low back pain: About four in 10 will recover within a year, according to a study that challenges the common belief that recovery from this type of pain is unlikely.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is praising Mississippi schools for taking the biggest bite of any state out of junk food. Ashley Porter reports.
Schools in the United States are becoming healthier places thanks to more nutritious food and an increased focus on exercise, but still more is needed to combat teen obesity, a series of studies concludes.
Common mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression, may increase a person's risk of obesity, and people with repeated episodes of these disorders are particularly at risk, British researchers say.
During times of stress, many people will reach for that favorite bag of chips, soft drink or snack cake for a dose of quick comfort -- or so conventional wisdom holds.
Among patients who show early signs of multiple sclerosis, treatment with a drug called glatiramer acetate appears to halve the risk that they will develop full-blown disease, new research suggests.
Thousands of Harrison County students are lacing up their sneakers and fighting obesity one step at a time. Wednesday is National Walk to School Day. Since most students don't walk 'to' school, the district launched a program to encourage them to walk 'at' school. Assignment Education Reporter Trang Pham-Bui explains.
Anyone residing or working in Mississippi can download a free discount drug card by visiting www.MississippiDrugCard.com. The card offers pharmacy discounts at more than 50,000 drug stores around the country.
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