Pre-teen girls experience many rapid changes in their minds and bodies. Sorting those out and knowing what is normal can be difficult while combatting the messages they receive from a media invested in convincing them that they need to buy products to make them better.

VINTON — When retired Air Force Staff Sgt. Corey Goodwin got an email earlier this month from his Wing Commander, Col. Samantha Weeks, asking that Christmas cards be sent to a sick child in Vinton, he decided he could do more.

Audrey Hepburn once said, “As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands: one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” Volunteering time and talent not only helps others; it also helps the one giving back.  

Though mosquito season in Louisiana typically runs through October or November, increasingly warmer winters are enticing the pesky critters to overstay their welcome.

WESTLAKE — Sadness and grief are a part of the human condition. But when those feelings remain, despite every attempt to relieve them, medical intervention may be necessary.

LAKE CHARLES — The Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana has hired Bantam Strategy Group in partnership with Toole Design Group, two experienced bikeshare firms, to study the feasibility and implementation of a multi-city bikeshare system serving the City of Lake Charles and City of Sulphur.

WESTLAKE — September is National Emergency Preparedness Month. In recognition, representatives with the Calcasieu Medical Reserve Corps and the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Health and Human Services taught seniors how to address some medical emergencies at the Westlake Senior Center Monday.

Immunizations don’t stop once you leave school, according to Christa O’Neal, immunization specialist with West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital. In fact, they never stop from birth to death.

With school just around the corner, West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital’s Director of its Shots for Tots program and immunization specialist, Christa O’Neal, is expecting a full office this next week.

Kayla Courvell, one of the hosts on FOX29’s Morning Show, is hard to miss. She is blond and bubbly with a million-watt smile.

CHICAGO (AP) — Lowering blood pressure more than usually recommended not only helps prevent heart problems, it also cuts the risk of mental decline that often leads to Alzheimer's disease, a major study finds.

The Sulphur City Council authorized Mayor Mike Danahay to join other entities in Calcasieu Parish in conducting a feasibility study concerning a bike sharing program at a special City Council meeting Monday following a public hearing on an ordinance approved at the regular meeting earlier th…

While LifeShare Blood Centers are no longer in the blood shortage crisis that created an urgent need last week, the Fourth of July holiday is right around the corner — requiring a stocked blood bank.

LifeShare Blood Center is calling on the local community to help alleviate a blood supply crisis this week.

NEW YORK (AP) — New guidelines released Wednesday recommend U.S. adults start colon cancer screening earlier, at age 45 instead of 50.

Occasional memory loss is a normal part of the aging process. And that may make it difficult to differentiate between what is to be expected as we get older, and what is a sign of dementia.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal health officials are cracking down on underage use of a popular e-cigarette brand following months of complaints from parents, politicians and school administrators.

The Louisiana Department of Health announces a new, interactive and user-friendly website for the Louisiana Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program (WIC), louisianawic.org. Stocked with healthy living tips, the new website provides easy-to-use information about applying for WIC and for…

Later this month, voters in Calcasieu Parish Wards 4 and 7 and Cameron Parish Ward 6, Precincts 3 and 4,  will be asked to renew a tax supporting the West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital.

Those in attendance at the Green Cleaning program held at the Sulphur Regional Library Friday received a history lesson along with tips on mixing and using non-toxic, cost effective cleaning solutions.

According to Audiologist Dr. Jake Cavanaugh, who spoke to the Sulphur Rotary Club Wednesday, certain noises contribute to hearing loss.

Question: I’m a third grade teacher. I love being with my students, but I often feel frazzled at the end of the day. My friend said exercising regularly would help calm me, but it seems like an energetic exercise routine would only make me more keyed up. Who is right?

When a patient receives bad medical news, it can be a paralyzing moment. It’s easy to see how any serious diagnosis can shatter someone’s life into a million pieces, but we often overlook what’s happening to the caregiver who’s devoting their time and energy to provide care. On top of the ph…

Question: How can I tell if food is contaminated with E. coli?

CHICAGO (AP) — Are poinsettias really poisonous? Are snowflakes really pure as the driven snow? Does feasting really put on the pounds? Sure as sugarplums, myths and misconceptions pop up every holiday season. Here's what science says about some of them:

The body is a complex system that is usually capable of healing itself when injured, but there are times when wounds simply won’t heal. This can lead to serious complications, including extensive infection and even amputation.

Hunting in Southwest Louisiana is a passionate pastime. While firearm safety precautions are top of mind, ear protection might not be.

Nutritionist Sharnet Nixson spoke to seniors at the Sulphur Senior Center Wednesday about eating balanced meals.

The flu is nothing to sneeze at, especially if you’re an older adult.

West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital’s top executive spoke of significant investment in capital improvement and services, and growing recognition for the facility’s operational excellence to members of the West Calcasieu Chamber of Commerce last Thursday.


VINTON — West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital’s CEO Janie Frugé, FACHE, told members of the West Calcasieu Chamber of Commerce Thursday that the hospital conducts Community Health Needs Assessment every three years.

Question: My daughter recently had a baby and the nursing staff were quite helpful with encouraging the baby to breast feed soon after birth. I don’t recall this happening when I had babies years ago. Is this a new approach?

Social media is here to stay. Parents will do themselves a favor if they learn more about it so that their children can gain the positive influences it brings, and avoid or at least minimize the negative influences.

Mohammad Khan, MD, with Hematology and Oncology with Memorial Medical Group, spoke to Sulphur Rotarians Wednesday about lung cancer.

Dealing with insomnia? Chances are, it’s related to the foods you’re eating before bedtime.

A new kitchen can lead to a healthier lifestyle, according to the 2017 Houzz Kitchen Trends Survey.

About 610,000 people die of heart disease in the U.S. every year; that’s one in every four deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

BATON ROUGE — The new school year is almost here, but will your child be ready? Besides shopping for supplies, the back-to-school checklist should include making sure your child has an up-to-date immunization record.

Whether you’re a professional athlete, a fitness buff or totally unplugged from a regular exercise program, knowing how to protect your knees from injury can mean the difference between a fulfilling lifestyle and years of painful, limited mobility.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Altering human heredity? In a first, researchers safely repaired a disease-causing gene in human embryos, targeting a heart defect best known for killing young athletes — a big step toward one day preventing a list of inherited diseases.

CHICAGO (AP) — A study suggests many surgery patients often end up with leftover opioid painkillers and store the remaining pills improperly at home.

Older people are dying on the job at a higher rate than workers overall, even as the rate of workplace fatalities decreases, according to an Associated Press analysis of federal statistics.

When the temperatures rise, we all feel uncomfortably hot when outdoors, especially in Southwest Louisiana. Perspiration and a slight increase in heart rate are to be expected, but when exposed to high temperatures for an extended amount of time, more severe symptoms could indicate a heat-re…

Portable. Delicious. Healthy. With various combinations of fruits, vegetables, and juice blended together result in delicious flavors, smoothies are ideal choices for people on the go and those who are trying to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their diet; which includes most of us.

A state-funded program, implemented in Calcasieu Parish in January of 2016, is helping local law enforcement serve some of the area’s most vulnerable — victims of crime.

Question: I have a pain in my lower abdomen and pelvic area. I’ve had it for several months. What could be the cause?

Timing is everything, and when it comes to labor and delivery, it’s even more important. Many women joke that they are ready to deliver their bundles of joy once their pregnancy begins to feel heavy and cumbersome, but in reality, women will agree that delivering early – before the baby is f…