Your Health Update Newsletter

The bulge in your stomach started small, so you ignored it and hoped it would go away. Unfortunately, over time it became larger and more painful. You have all the classic signs of a hernia — it is time to see a doctor. What is a hernia? A hernia is caused by a weakening or […]

Congratulations, you are having a baby! So many things to do to get ready for the newest addition to your family. Outfitting the nursery, stocking up on diapers, selecting that perfect stroller and car seat … and everything in between. But THE most important choice is your pediatrician. Marie Batty, MD, a Washington University pediatrician […]

You never knew when your abdominal pain and cramping was going to hit. You also had diarrhea, fatigue and blood in your stool. Your weight is decreasing day by day – and you weren’t even trying. This was not the stomach flu, but what was it? You had all the classic signs of inflammatory bowel […]

Alzheimer’s disease has always been diagnosed based on symptoms. You get lost driving home from the store. You can’t remember your next door neighbor’s name. You have trouble with a simple math problem. These unmistakable signs only appear late in the course of the disease, long after the brain is significantly damaged. An MRI brain […]

Every month, about one week before your period starts, your mood changes drastically. You are angry for no reason, anxious, depressed and feel out of control. This is not your typical premenstrual syndrome (PMS), but what is it? Most women know what PMS is, but there is another disorder associated with a woman’s menstrual cycle […]

The following locations are now open or opening soon to better serve our patients. NOW OPEN Occupational Therapy NOW OPEN in Washington, Missouri Washington University Occupational Therapy has opened their sixth clinic location in Washington, Missouri. Occupational therapists (OT) help adults and children with a wide range of services, including helping people stay independent as […]

Your leg and back pain disappears when you are sitting, but quickly returns when you are standing and walking. The pain radiates down your leg, causing weakness, stiffness and numbness in your legs and buttocks. This pattern of pain is a classic sign that you may have lumbar spinal stenosis — it is time to […]

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The first whiff of a morning cup of coffee. The irresistible fragrance of a beautiful flower. A cake burning in the oven. Most people don’t recognize the importance of smell in their lives – until they lose it. Unfortunately, one of the most common symptoms of COVID-19 is the loss of smell. Not being able […]

When you don’t know where to turn, turn to the medical genetics clinical services team of Washington University Physicians and St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Offering compassionate, high-quality consultation, they see patients with developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, autism, epilepsy, inborn errors of metabolism, hereditary cancer and family history of genetic disease. Patricia Dickson, MD, genetics and […]