BJC ST. CHARLES
COUNTY BLOG

Explore topics related to medical, health and wellness from Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital and Progress West Hospital experts.

Understanding Cardiothoracic Surgery

Understanding Cardiothoracic Surgery

April 2023 - We often think of cardiothoracic surgery as just heart surgery, but it encompasses so much more than that. Learn more about this broad specialty and the important work cardiothoracic surgeons do to keep us well.

Understanding Neck Pain

Understanding Neck Pain

February 2023 - Neck pain affects countless people every day. But how do we know when it is a cause for concern and what can we do to find relief? Ian Dorward, MD, a Washington University neurosurgeon at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital, helps us better understand neck pain, from its causes to the recommended course of treatment.

Mental Health for Children and Teens

Mental Health for Children and Teens

January 2023 - In recent years, a mental health crisis has been on the rise in America. Many children and teenagers are being affected by mental health disorders — in particular, major depression and anxiety including anxiety with and without panic, separation anxiety, social anxiety and school phobias. Learn what factors are contributing to this increase in pediatric mental health disorders and how you can best support your child.

Understanding Arrhythmias

Understanding Arrhythmias

November 2022 - The heart pumps blood throughout the body at a rate between 60 to 100 beats per minute. That rhythm is dictated by an elegant electrical system that responds to your body’s needs. If you’re resting, your heart rate will slow down. If you’re exercising, your heart rate will speed up. When this rhythm is beating inappropriately to your body’s needs, this is called an arrhythmia. Learn more about this common heart condition affecting 3 million new patients each year.

Wound Care in St. Charles County

Wound Care in St. Charles County

October 2022 - Wounds can be hard to heal without the proper care. Fortunately, patients in St. Charles County have access to comprehensive wound care right in their community at the Advanced Wound Center in O’Fallon. The Center’s experienced, multidisciplinary team works together with patients to get them fully healed as quickly as possible.

Understanding Cerebral Aneurysms

Understanding Cerebral Aneurysms

September 2022 -  Arteries are major pipelines that channel blood throughout the body. If there is a weak spot, the pressure of the blood pumping from the heart can cause the artery to bulge or balloon out, known as an aneurysm. When this occurs in the brain, it is called a cerebral aneurysm. Learn more about this type of aneurysm, its causes and how it is treated.

Patient credits Progress West Hospital care team for saving his life

Patient credits Progress West Hospital care team for saving his life

"Where should we take you?"

When he was asked to which hospital the ambulance should transport him, then 24-year-old Shaun Johnson wasn’t sure. 

The Importance of Screening in Treating and Preventing Colorectal Cancer

The Importance of Screening in Treating and Preventing Colorectal Cancer

August 2022 - This year, 150,000 men and women will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and approximately 50,000 of those people will die of the disease. Fortunately, this common cancer is both curable and preventable through screening. Learn more about colorectal cancer and why screening is so important.

Why You Shouldn’t Skip Your Annual Wellness Exam

Why You Shouldn’t Skip Your Annual Wellness Exam

June 2022 - You shouldn’t only see your doctor when you’re sick. Your annual wellness exam is an important part in keeping you well. This visit with your doctor once a year focuses on prevention and ensuring your optimal health, often at no cost to you. Learn more about why you should be keeping up with your annual wellness exams.

What to Know About Angioplasty

What to Know About Angioplasty

May 2022 - Angioplasty is a procedure used to restore blood flow by opening up narrowed coronary arteries. These arteries play an important role, wrapping around the outside of the heart and supplying it with blood. When these arteries narrow due to plaque or cholesterol buildup, help from an interventional cardiologist is needed. BJC Medical Group interventional cardiologist Michael Missler, DO, explains more about this minimally invasive procedure.