Section Health

Revived

New laser offers relief for women suffering from the loss of estrogen, particularly those treated for breast cancer.

All About the Smile

In the world of cosmetic dentistry, the latest and greatest for getting a killer smile is coming from both a return to the basics and the use of cutting edge technology and better materials.

Just Breathe

New implant may be a game-changer for those battling sleep apnea.

Pill Paradox

We’re conditioned to believe if it’s prescribed by a doctor it’s OK, but opioids, while legally available, are as dangerous as heroin.

‘Telehealth for Tots’ Tackles Truancy

The St. Martin Parish School Board has just launched its first telemedicine clinic, called Telehealth for Tots, to provide easier medical access for students at rural locations via telecommunications.

HOT IN FITNESS

There is a lot of newness on the local workout horizon, so much so that what’s old is new again.

Today in very, very bad news

Hot dogs, bacon, cold cuts and other processed meats raise the risk of colon, stomach and other cancers, and red meat probably contributes to the disease, too.

THE UNLIKELY PATIENT

Without a risk factor in sight, Alexa John was diagnosed with breast cancer thanks to supplemental screening.

HEALTH BRIEFS

Lafayette-based XstremeMD was recognized by ConocoPhillips as part of its Supplier Recognition Award program.

A sunny screening

The 4th Annual Free Skin Cancer Screening will be held on Saturday, May 2, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Lafayette Community Health Care Clinic.

LGMC celebrates 50 years with time capsule

Lafayette General Medical Center celebrated 50 years in the Oil Center on Wednesday, April 15, with a special time capsule ceremony as well as the announcement of further renovations to the hospital.

Duck Dynasty candidate for lt. gov.?

Since his showing last year in the 5th Congressional District race, when he was barely edged out of the runoff, Duck Dynasty cousin Zach Dasher’s political future has been wide open — and now it includes speculation about running for the second highest statewide Louisiana office.

Ultrasound Evolved

Lafayette General acquires new endoscopy tool and recruits physician trained to use it, enabling more accurate diagnosis of ailments in the gastrointestinal tract.

LaMOM hosts free dental clinic

The Louisiana Dental Association and LDA Foundation will host a Louisiana Mission of Mercy (LaMOM) charity dental clinic on Feb. 27-28 in Baton Rouge to provide free dental care to 1,500 patients.

THE NORMAL HEART

Heart disease doesn’t always look like a man over 50 with a thick waist and high cholesterol. Heart disease is still the No. 1 killer of women. And last year in the U.S., 10,000 children died from sudden cardiac failure.

New diet guidelines might pull back from meat

A panel that advises the Agriculture Department appears set to recommend that you be told not only what foods are better for your own health, but also for the environment.

It's time hospitals stop billing rape victims

Louisiana's health department says it will seek law changes to stop billing sexual assault victims for exams and tests. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's health department says it will seek law...

LA: a haven for fetuses

But for babies, women and children, eh, not so much. Louisiana is among a group of states with 10 or more abortion restrictions that score near the bottom for policies that support the health and...

What's New in Health Care: Breathing Easy

New in-office solution gives chronic sinus sufferers an intermediate (and 98 percent effective) option to full-blown surgery. New in-office solution gives chronic sinus sufferers an intermediate (and...

Feds reject LSU hospital deals

The rejections involve transactions for LSU-run hospitals in Lafayette, New Orleans, Houma, Lake Charles, Shreveport and Monroe. The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has rejected Gov....

Hitting Pause

More Americans than ever are trying to stop the aging clock. More Americans than ever are trying to stop the aging clock. by Amanda Bedgood Friday, May 2, 2014 In 2013, Americans spent more than $12...

Calorie labeling bill clears committee

A bill requiring chain restaurants to provide calorie information on their menus has received the narrow backing of the Senate's health committee. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A bill requiring chain...

The Sweet Spot

Could carbs - read sugar - be among the biggest culprits in heart disease? Could carbs - read sugar - be among the biggest culprits in heart disease? By Kari Walker, RN, BSN Tuesday, Feb. 4,...

Get Moving

An active new year can mean a new you - for the rest of your life. IND Monthly annually updates its Fitness Resource Directory, providing readers with the most comprehensive list of health clubs,...

Getting to the Point

Trigger point dry needling may be relatively new to Acadiana, but for one chronic back pain sufferer, the treatment is nothing short of revolutionary. For about six years, Kevin Dupont had lived with...

Lafayette General opens Lung Mass Clinic

"If patients receive a cancer diagnosis, then they are able to come back to the same place for treatment, which is much easier for them physically and emotionally." - Lafayette General...

Outpatient pediatric services return to UHC campus

The Pediatric Clinic is housed in the same location previously closed by state budget cuts in June 2012. University Hospital & Clinics announced Thursday that outpatient pediatric services are...

Beyond loss

Children and grief Monday, Dec. 2, 2013 By Amanda Bedgood There is perhaps no experience more personal and unique than grief. When a loved one dies, people cope in different ways in their own time....

Amazing Grace

Life and parenting after loss Life and parenting after loss. By Kelly Leger Monday, Dec. 2, 2013 Abby, 3, with her brother Lane, 11 months. Lane died in 2005, and mother Kelly says Abby has since...

An Affordable Adjustment

Chiropractic care clinic aims to aid those searching for cost-effective wellness solutions. Chiropractic care clinic aims to aid those searching for cost-effective wellness solutions. By Kari Walker,...

DHH urges all to get flu shot

Parish health units around the state have started offering flu vaccinations to all Louisiana residents ages six months and older. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Parish health units around the state have...

Test is Best

Improvements in genetic screening are making a range of cancers more treatable than ever before. Improvements in genetic screening are making a range of cancers more treatable than ever before. By...

After years of decline, US births leveling off?

After falling four years in a row, U.S. births may finally be leveling off. ATLANTA (AP) - After falling four years in a row, U.S. births may finally be leveling off. The number of babies born last...

Understanding GMO Foods

Whole Foods is the first national grocer to require labeling of all foods containing genetically modified organisms - and there are lots of them. Whole Foods Market President and Chief Operating...

Spirits of Hope

Each year the American Cancer Society honors a handful of people for their efforts in the fight against cancer. The Spirit of Hope awards embody all that ACS stands for - raising awareness, preventing...

Sunscreen slows skin aging (if used often enough)

If worry about skin cancer doesn't make you slather on sunscreen, maybe vanity will. WASHINGTON (AP) - If worry about skin cancer doesn't make you slather on sunscreen, maybe vanity will: New research...

Health Briefs

A look at Acadiana's recent health care developments. Patin **Patin joins LGMD as CAO **Al J. Patin has joined the physicians' group Lafayette General Medical Doctors as chief administrative officer...

(Don't) be still, my beating heart

The annual - free - Be a Heart Starter CPR training event is Saturday at the Cajundome. Want to be a hero? Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR. The 13th annual "Be a Heart Starter"...

FDA will investigate added caffeine in foods

The FDA said Monday it will look at the foods' effects on children in response to a caffeinated gum introduced this week by Wrigley. Alert Energy Gum promises "the right energy, right...

Out of the Box

CrossFit gyms are changing the face of fitness in Acadiana. Lafayette's Patrick Conner, who lost 55 pounds since joining Crossfit three months ago, with daughter Jynlee and son Hudson Patrick Conner...

Heart repair breakthroughs replace surgeon's knife

Have a heart problem? If it's fixable, there's a good chance it can be done without surgery, using tiny tools and devices that are pushed through tubes into blood vessels. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Have a...

Health Briefs

A look at what's up with health care in Acadiana. Regional Medical Center of Acadiana recently ranked among the Top 100 hospitals in the nation for vascular surgery. Medical quality rating system...

Well Sculpted

A new weapon in the arsenal against aging may be worth the wait. The world is against us as we age. Sunspots appear - evidence that those pleasurable days basking in its warmth were an attack in...

Delible Ink

Lasers are helping many people safely remove tattoos they've grown to regret. Having a tattoo used to be a permanent commitment, a decision that would follow you for the rest of your life. Removing...

Senior Moments

Realizing a loved one is sliding into dementia presents a host of tough decisions for families. In December, families gathered across Acadiana to celebrate the holiday season with their loved ones,...

La. among 29 states slammed by flu

The early start to flu season that's sweeping the country hasn't spared the Pelican State. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The early start to flu season that's sweeping the country hasn't spared Louisiana and...

Anti-obesity effort wins grant

A Loyola University student has won a grant to help teach health care providers at a New Orleans area school counseling skills aimed at reducing childhood obesity. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A Loyola...

Pregnancy weight study looking for 306 BR women

Doctors in Baton Rouge are looking for 306 overweight, pregnant women to participate in a study of whether getting advice by smartphone can help them control weight gain as well as meeting with a...

Battle of the Bulge

The Living Lab Initiative aims to trim the fat. Photo by Robin May "The Living Lab Initiative will take all the existing initiatives against obesity, add new technology and ideas, and will give...

Fitness Calendar

Your guide to fun activities that will keep you fit throughout 2013. Your guide to fun activities that will keep you fit throughout 2013. Cajun Cyclists Group Ride Saturdays - Lafayette Rides leave...

2013 Fitness Resource Directory

IND Monthly's directory of health clubs, gyms, health and sports drinks, medical fitness facilities, and studios and classes to keep you healthy and fit in 2013. IND Monthly's directory of health...

Red Hot

This year's Personally Fit challengers are energized - and it shows. Photo by Robin May This year's Personally Fit challengers are energized - and it shows. "It's your moral obligation to take...

Dental Day for musicians

Lafayette's many musical professionals are invited to the Lafayette Community Healthcare Clinic today for complimentary dental care. Today, the Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation Health Care...

CDC: flu season comes early, could be bad

Health officials say suspected flu cases have jumped in five Southern states, and the primary strain circulating tends to make people sicker than other types. NEW YORK (AP) - Flu season in the U.S. is...

Health Briefs

CIS donates to UL Nursing; Delhomme, Thomas named directors at Lourdes; Arnold named to LSHPRM board; Cavitt honored CIS steps up for UL Nursing Cardiovascular Institute of the South donated $20,000...

Persevering through Parkinson's

Diagnosed with the brain disorder at 41 and blind six months later, Kevin Gaither got his life back. Diagnosed with the brain disorder at 41 and blind six months later, Kevin Gaither got his life...

Donate Life Louisiana gets national award

Louisiana's organ donor registry has received a national silver medal for achieving four of five goals set by Donate Life America. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's organ donor registry has received...

Bottoms up

Adults get almost as many empty calories from booze as from soft drinks, a government study found. NEW YORK (AP) - Americans get too many calories from soda. But what about alcohol? It turns out...

Stories to Tell

Hospice of Acadiana is making sure Acadiana's stories are recorded for future generations. Hospice of Acadiana is making sure Acadiana's stories are recorded for future generations. By Erin Z. Bass...

Rare procedure performed on infant at W&C Hospital

Collin Landry was born earlier this year with what his father describes as a "crooked" nose that doctors and family initially attributed to his positioning in the womb. **IND Monthly...

LGMC Expansion, Renovations Under Way

Not-for-profit medical center is investing $52.5 million in additional upgrades. Not-for-profit medical center is investing $52.5 million in additional upgrades. By Wynce Nolley November...

Mission Possible

The work of the Lourdes Foundation can be seen through a number of health care outreach initiatives for Acadiana's poor population. The work of the Lourdes Foundation can be seen through a number of...

Touchy-Feely

The medical community debates whether breast self-exams are worth the time. Just how effective are self breast examinations when it comes to early detection of breast cancer and improving the...

Culture of Wellness

Companies are beginning to see the real value in offering programs that keep their employees healthy. The bottom line on healthy employees is they cost less. That's the gist of an idea starting to...

The Skinnygirl ‘revolution'

First, it was a low-cal margarita marketed to women. Three years later, it's a full-blown Skinnygirl lifestyle encouraging healthy habits for ladies. First, it was a low-cal margarita marketed to...

OGHS names new CEO

Opelousas General Health System has named Mark Marley chief executive officer. A Missouri native with more than two decades of executive-level experience, Marley began his work as OGHS CEO on Aug. 31,...

Post-op Stride

A year-long effort by Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital puts a dent in the half-million surgical site infections Americans are diagnosed with each year. Doctors, nurses and administrators at...

WebMD: Good or Bad Medicine?

What do you do when you are feeling bad but don't want to take the time to wait in a doctor's office? Many people resort to the Internet, where medical sites dispense advice with just a few strokes of...

WebMD: Good or Bad Medicine?

What do you do when you are feeling bad but don't want to take the time to wait in a doctor's office? Friday, Sept. 7, 2012 Written by Lisa Hanchey Dr. Indira Gautam What do you do when you are...

One a Day

Women who make small changes in their health and habits can experience a multitude of lifelong benefits. August 1, 2012 By Amanda Bedgood When people say women are like spaghetti and men are like...

The Constant Gardener

Horticulture can be an effective therapy in the battle to reclaim life after a brain injury. August 1, 2012 Story and photos by Elizabeth Rose As 10 Acadiana Brain Injury Center residents pass around...

From Stout to Svelte

We live in the food capital of the world. Deal with it. By Elizabeth Rose It's no secret that Louisiana is better known for its food than fitness habits, and after the nation has recognized that...

Garden of Life

Vermilionville's Healer's Garden set out to preserve the way Creoles alleviated illness long ago, and now a group of researchers hopes to determine whether its plants really do have medicinal...

The Summer Skin You're In

Promotional Feature Summer skin requires extra care and concern to keep it hydrated, nourished and free from sunburn. By Maria Lambert It seems that sun worshipping is finally on its way out and sun...

Tele-mazing

Stuller Telemedicine Clinic beams world-class health care into the office setting. By Lisa Hanchey Imagine being able to see a doctor for a minor illness without having to leave work, fight traffic...

Hitting a Grand Slam

A unique student marketing project is putting more fans in seats at softball games - and working to save newborns worldwide. By Lisa Hanchey Photo By Robin May On the first day of his spring 2012...

Hitting a Grand Slam

On the first day of his spring 2012 marketing management class, UL Lafayette professor Dr. Geoff Stewart showed his students a film about the "Why?" of marketing. The point of the video was...

Raising the Barre

Two Lafayette women ditched their high heels and high-stress careers for pole dancing.' Two Lafayette women ditched their high heels and high-stress careers for pole dancing.' By Lisa Hanchey Photos...

Medical Makeover

Surgery is no longer the only option for those wanting to enhance their appearance. While facelifts and other surgical procedures for those wanting to improve imperfections in their appearance are...

New Iberia teen gets rare bone marrow transplant

An unrelated donor turned out to be a perfect match' for local sickle cell patient. For the past 11 years, Ollie Green of New Iberia has had to worry about debilitating pain attacking his body at a...

Making an IMPAC

A state-supported program in Lafayette is helping adults with developmental disabilities find their way to self-sufficiency. By Lisa Hanchey Upon entering a strip mall on Ambassador Caffery Parkway...

Weighing In

This year's Personally Fit Challenge took place during the holidays, but these ladies shunned the sweets and shed the pounds. By Lisa Hanchey The 2012 Go Red for Women Personally Fit Challenge has...

Weighing In

This year's Personally Fit Challenge took place during the holidays, but these ladies shunned the sweets and shed the pounds. By Lisa Hanchey The 2012 Go Red for Women Personally Fit Challenge has...

Heart Smart

Dr. Chuck Wyatt has been working 15 years to educate Acadiana about heart attack symptoms - and his efforts are saving lives. Dr. Chuck Wyatt has been working 15 years to educate Acadiana about heart...

Go Red Update: Will Power

Avoiding the Christmas cookies, eggnog and champagne, this year's Go Red challengers shed the pounds. Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012 Avoiding the Christmas cookies, eggnog and champagne, this year's Go Red...

Remember Me

The loss of family members to Alzheimer's inspires a local partnership to open Lafayette's first facility solely dedicated to dementia sufferers. Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012 The loss of family members to...

Coming Full Circle

Wednesday, November 2, 2011** Local fitness experts Mike and Stephanie Morris bring their unique training approach to Sugar Mill Pond. By Lisa Hanchey** Mike and Stephanie Morris have come full circle...

Goal Medal Behavior

Wednesday, October 5, 2011 You can behave your way to weight loss. By Lisa Hanchey If you're like most people, you don't weigh anywhere near what you did in high school. We've all gained a few pounds....

Get Well Soon

Wednesday, September 7, 2011 By Lisa Hanchey Photos by Robin May Pennington Biomedical and River Ranch aim to make Lafayette's corporate workforce healthier. Wednesday, September 7, 2011 By Lisa...

CyberKnife Saves a Life

Wednesday, August 3, 2011 By Lisa Hanchey LGMC's painless, noninvasive radiosurgery treatment puts Denham Springs woman on the road to recovery. Wednesday, August 3, 2011 By Lisa Hanchey LGMC's...

Mystery Solved

Wednesday, August 3, 2011 By Lisa Hanchey A local woman's real-life medical dilemma is featured on Discovery Health's Mystery Diagnosis. Wednesday, August 3, 2011 By Lisa Hanchey A local woman's...

Health Flashes July 2011

Wednesday, July 6, 2011 Gentle Choices Birth Center, a family-centered maternity care facility offering natural birthing services with access to midwifery care, has been awarded National Accreditation...

Tech-Savvy

Wednesday, July 6, 2011 Of the $211 million Lourdes invested in its new hospital, almost $30 million was spent on technological advancements.  By Lisa Hanchey It's unlike anything Lafayette has ever...

Ease Your Mind

Whether searching for meaning in life, hoping to relieve emotional or physical pain or seeking a spiritual path, meditation improves your health and well-being.

Red Hot

Wednesday, May 18, 2011 The 2011 Go Red challengers lost a total of 85.6 pounds and 68.5 inches, dropped their total cholesterol by 183 points and slashed their triglycerides by 461 points.  By Lisa...

Jennifer's Story

Wednesday, May 4, 2011 Nursed to health by UMC and her adoptive parents two years ago, preemie Jennifer Marie Fero is this year's March of Dimes ambassador. By Lisa Hanchey Edwina and Christopher Jude...

The Beat Goes On

Wednesday, April 6, 2011 Darrell Robinson has listened to the first heart beats of countless babies, but it's playing alongside the beat of Grammy winners like Buckwheat Zydeco that really ignites the...

You can't lock them out the house anymore, y'know

Playday 2011, a family fitness expo and summer activities trade fair, is aiming to help you and your kids plot the scholastically empty summer months. Taking place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday...

Face Forward

Wednesday, March 2, 2011 Patients looking to rejuvenate their faces now have more choices. By Lisa Hanchey With spring approaching, people are finally starting to emerge from their cold, concealing...

24-7 Fitness

Wednesday, November 3, 2010 It's time to work out on your terms. By Lisa Hanchey When it comes to regular exercise, some people want to get down to the basics - no pools, tennis courts or group...

World-Class Kid Care

Wednesday, October 6, 2010 After losing its two pediatric oncologists to Hurricane Katrina, Women's & Children's recruited top-notch specialists who now offer the same treatments for pediatric...

Acadiana Docs Making a Difference

**Wednesday, September 1, 2010 Written by Lisa Hanchey Using equipment donated by Acadian Ambulance and PSA Healthcare, local medical professionals saved the life of an 8-year-old and are helping...

Doing a Body Good

**Wednesday, August 4, 2010 Written by Todd R. Brown New research indicates superfoods like blueberries and cinnamon may help combat certain diseases and cancers and fight infections.** **Wednesday,...

Reflux Remedied

**Wednesday, July 7, 2010 Written by Lisa Hanchey Patients opting for incisionless reflux surgery are back at work the next day - and medication free.** Belching, burning, bloating. These are just a...

Helping Moms Help Themselves

Wednesday, June 4, 2010** Written by Lisa Hanchey Nurse-Family Partnership turns lives around for low-income mothers and kids.** Back in 2005, Lutricia Davis was in dire straits. The New Iberia native...

On Angels' Wings

Wednesday, May 5, 2010 Written by Lisa Hanchey Imerman Angels take flight in Lafayette. At age 26, Jonny Imerman was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Devastated, the young athlete started pondering...

Shedding the Pounds

Almost 100 lbs. lighter, this year's challengers enter the final lap. Well, another month has gone by, and the women are showing awesome results. So far, they have lost a combined 97.5 pounds, with...

Signs of Spring

Written by Carol Stubbs Wednesday, 7 April 2010 This should come as no surprise, but pollen levels in Lafayette have been consistently high since mid March. Just as spring weather lures us outside,...

Smiling in the Mirror

Plastic surgery and aesthetic procedures are not necessarily for the famous or the vain. With good health and realistic expectations, these medical techniques can help a person achieve self-esteem...

20 Tips for Eating Healthy in the New Year

What goes in has an outcome. It’s that time of year again! After two months of gobbling on fried turkey, stuffing your face with buttery dressings, downing rich cream-filled drinks and grazing on...

Health Flashes - December 2009

On Dec. 1, Our Lady of Lourdes unveiled its new Burn Center, the first of its kind in southwest Louisiana. Lourdes partnered with nationally recognized burn experts at The Grossman Burn Centers in...

Ringing the Bells

Combining strength, cardio and flexibility training, kettlebells are ‘the hottest new way to blast fat.’ Traditional kettlebells (like these) may soon be replaced by an adjustable version coming to...

Health Flashes - November 2009

Healthe Habits for Living, a comprehensive weight loss program for individuals with a body mass index of 30+, celebrated its one-year anniversary with an open house on Wednesday, Sept. 23. The event...

Malnourished Mommies

The desire to remain thin while pregnant causes some women to take drastic measures, usually to the detriment of their unborn child. When women get pregnant, their most frequent thoughts about food...

Health Flashes - October 2009

Dr. Robert Menuet has joined Cardiovascular Institute of the South as a staff cardiologist. Menuet is seeing patients at the Heart and Vascular Institute at Opelousas General at 1233 Wayne Gilmore...

Picking up the Pace

A new wireless pacemaker uses the Internet to trigger immediate medical care if something goes wrong. Charles Watkins Sr., Lafayette’s first wireless pacemaker patient, is monitored by Dr....

Health Flashes - September 2009

LHC Group President John Indest has stepped down and assumed a new role. The company, one of the largest home nursing providers in the country, announced that Indest will serve as special adviser to...

Minding Your Business

GMC’s H1N1 seminar aims to get local companies ready for what could be a rough ride this flu season. Stone Energy's Flo Ziegler, who will attend the H1N1 seminar, says her company already has a...

Health Flashes - August 2009

Mary Landry has joined the Woman’s Foundation Inc. as assistant program manager. She assists with managing all programs and will help with coordination and implementation of future educational...

Miles Strong

Miles Perret Cancer Services aims to improve patients’ outcomes with a new three-pronged wellness program. Vic Kilchrist  in proper workout techniques based on their current level of health and...

Health Flashes - July 2009

Acadian Ambulance Service and Priority One EMS have joined forces in Southeast Texas. Acadian plans to assume the operations of Priority One EMS effective July 14. There will be no interruption of...

The Coolest Thing in the World

Lafayette Community Health Care Clinic stares down the storm. From left, clinic pharmacist Marlene Brantley, Becki Cobb, pharmacy tech, and LCHCC Executive Director Jeanette Alcon stock up for storm...

Health Flashes - June 2009

Heart Hospital of Lafayette was presented with the 2009 C.A.R.E.S. Designation Achievement Award by Jeffrey Tully, CEO of Medical Partners International. The acronym stands for Compassion, Attitude,...

Strange Love from the Tap

The fight against fluoridating Lafayette’s water supply rages on. Dr. Paul Connett Photo by Robin May Nothing brings together the tree-hugging left and the gun-toting right like fluoride. On the...

Health Flashes - May 2009

Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center recently received full Cycle II accreditation status as a Chest Pain Center from a review committee of the Society of Chest Pain Centers. This three-year...

Hope Springs Eternal

A group of local women took the Go Red for Women Personally Fit Challenge and won a new lease on life. The original Go Red for Women Personally Fit Challenge participants and trainers, pictured at...

Health Flashes - April 2009

Dr. Patrick Moore, a family medicine physician, joined Southwest Medical Center’s medical staff. He recently opened Moore Healthcare Group at 3400 Moss St., offering treatment for illnesses ranging...

Aligned With Technology

A local dentist is part of an elite group of doctors using computer technology to successfully diagnose and treat TMJ sufferers. Dr. Craig S. Landry uses high-tech means to help his patients. Photo...

Magnetic Attraction

UL’s patented medical research uses magnetic fields to get life-saving medicine into sick cells without destroying healthy ones. In what should surely be filed under the category, “Why didn’t anyone...

The Heart of the Matter

Eleven Acadiana women take the Go Red for Women campaign’s first fitness challenge. Danielle Keeton, Kat Bergeron and Dawn Foreman of Personally Fit with AHA’s Laura Broussard (front); Suzanne...

Health Flashes - January 2009

The U.S. Local Business Association has selected Dr. Samuel Moss for the 2008 Best of Lafayette Award in the dentists category. The Best of Local Business Award program recognizes outstanding area...

Mission Possible

Acadiana’s medical professionals go the extra mile to offer their services abroad. Lafayette ophthalmologist Suzy Azar treated hundreds of poor patients on a one-month mission to Liberia, where some...

Whoop, here it is!

Once virtually eradicated, whooping cough is making a comeback. After years of dormancy, the dreaded whooping cough is back. This long-lasting respiratory infection, characterized by episodes of...

Healthy Choice

LGMC hopes its staunch support of breastfeeding will serve as a model for other companies. Registered nurse and lactation consultant Evelyn Landry talks with new mom Amy Foret, an LGMC employee who...

Managing Diabetes

African-Americans are four times more likely than whites to die from diabetes, but a new grant program aims to turn that tide. Sandra Pierce had a significant family history of diabetes — her mother,...

What You Don't Know About UMC

Quality medical care, a transplant center, training ground for young residents, doctors who volunteer: there’s a lot more going on at UMC than meets the eye. UMC’s Dr. Lonn Guidry, who has been...

Aaaah, Massage

Whether you’re in pain, experiencing too much stress or just want to do your body good, massage therapy may be the best — and least expensive — decision for your health. Picture yourself entering a...

STDs in Teens on the Rise

A report from the CDC reveals that one in four U.S. girls is infected with a sexually transmitted disease — a disturbing trend that has local physicians concerned. Dr. Chris Hayes of UL Lafayette...

Perfect Image

State-of-the-art breast imaging technology is helping local physicians diagnose cancers earlier and raising Lafayette’s reputation as a medical hub. The American Cancer Society estimates that 178,480...

Bid Time

A local program, which works like eBay, allows nurses to pick up extra shifts through the bidding process. Shortly after joining Lafayette General Medical Center’s staff as a licensed practical nurse...

A Bitter Pill to Swallow

A new study shows Louisiana residents popping more prescription pills than any other state. A new study shows that the number of Americans with at least one prescription has increased from 67 percent...

The Doctor Is In

Few understand the role of a hospitalist - the doc who's always there when you need him - but it's a growing health care trend that's here to stay. Imagine you are admitted to the emergency room in a...

Shaping Up

With the new year under way and The Independent Weekly's Corporate Cup slated for May 9, here are a few easy-to-keep resolutions toward better health in 2008. It's the new year, and there's going to...

The Cola War

Cutting back on soft drinks ' or eliminating them completely ' could be a big boost to your health. Down in the sweltering hot South, folks routinely quench their thirst with an ice-cold soda; lots of...

What Becomes of the Brokenhearted?

A newly transplanted heart surgeon is performing groundbreaking robotic procedures in Lafayette. Edith Melancon was facing a dilemma. When the 85-year-old started having shortness of breath and pain,...

Foot Flops

Local experts say limiting the time you spend in ultra high heels and flip flops, along with lots of stretching, can go a long way toward avoiding foot injuries that really cramp your style. When...

Life Expectancy

New studies show bariatric surgery patients are living longer. For years, obese people have battled with yo-yo diets and fad exercise programs in futile attempts to lose weight. Fearing the...

Building Blocks

Former addict Nora Sparks is one of the clients benefiting from a partnership between Acadiana Outreach Center and the UL Lafayette School of Architecture and Design. One night last summer in...

Raising a Glass

Study after study appears to extol the health benefits of red wine, but local dietitians still don't buy the hype. In 1991, iconic television news show 60 Minutes got corks popping with a report...

A Hearty Walk

A new study shows post-menopausal women get benefits with minimal exercise. Summertime is just starting, and people are already dreading the thought of spending endless hours sweating to fit into...

Hormonal Changes

The drop in breast cancer rates is linked to decreased use of hormone replacement therapy. For years, questions have lingered about the long-term effects of hormone replacement therapy. But now that...

For the Record

A Lafayette entrepreneur helps local doctors go paperless. Hospital errors have been making headlines lately, particularly when it comes to medicating patients. A March study by United States...

Donating for Life

How two Lafayette women are working to raise awareness of organ donation. Nationwide, about 95,000 people are on the waiting list to receive an organ donation. In Louisiana, 1,580 individuals are in...

Going Mobile

Lafayette's Louisiana Emergency Mobile Unit gets rolling with a high-profile Washington, D.C., Mardi Gras fund-raiser. Last year, in the aftermaths of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Mystick Krewe...

Now You See It, Now You Don't

Malpractice damage cap debate heats up in Louisiana after the Third Circuit Court of Appeal ruling. Since the ceiling on medical malpractice damage awards was ripped away by the state's Third Circuit...

Mind Over Platter

Just in time to navigate holiday feasts, a new book from a leading researcher on eating habits shows how to recognize and avoid predictable overeating triggers. Brian Wansink has some advice for...

New Lease on Life

Innovative medical devices help women affected by heavy bleeding Dr. Allison Taylor's 36-year-old patient's quality of life several days each month depended on how close she was to a bathroom...

Message in a Bottle

Unaware of the short and long-term effects on their kids' health, some parents think it's OK for teens to drink alcohol. Louisiana, perhaps more so than any other state, promotes a lifestyle that...

Health Care Curriculum

A new health care training school in New Iberia takes off. While working as a health care instructor in Lafayette, Ginger Barras saw a void in health care training opportunities in the New Iberia...

Nature's Way

Two Lafayette midwives hope their new birthing center will encourage more natural childbirths. Midwife Anne Lastrapes likes to compare her role in natural childbirth to that of a coach and his...

Butt Out

With anti-smoking campaigns making inroads in Louisiana, smokers have more incentive than ever to quit. The odds are stacked against smokers. If you're one of the 26.5 percent of Louisianans who...

Getting Under Your Skin

A Lafayette Doctor's New Vitamin Therapy Gains Momentum. Five years ago, Lafayette doctor Barbara Brierre was in a quandary. The internal medicine and women's health specialist's father had...

Heart of the Matter

A simple, inexpensive test available at local hospitals can detect the warning signs of heart disease. The verdict may still be out on whether Lafayette is attracting enough business to support its...


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