We live in a world of germs where viruses and bacteria surround us, and we can’t seem to be able to escape these microscopic infectors. Not only do they sicken people, they have the potential to impact the mission and ultimately take a life.

Smith-Cotton High School ninth-graders Bethany Retherford, left, and Shelby McCandless check vital signs on "Rowdy", a pediatric simulator, while listening to presentations Wednesday from State Fair Community College nursing students Maggie Oberreither, Jodie Martin and Nathaniel Caskey. The hands-on demonstration was part of the Freshman Health Care Day sponsored by the college and Bothwell Regional Health Center. Professionals and instructors working in various disciplines in the health field set up presentation stations in the Fred E. Davis Multipurpose Center. Students had to visit six stations during the two-hour program.

(NAPSI)—It could be a healthy idea to take a new look at an old spice.

The Pettis County Health Center will be conducting free urine sexually transmission disease screenings in April in observance of STD awareness month.

(NAPSI)--To make staying healthy easier, the experts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) offer free, easy-to-read information about health conditions that can affect racial and ethnic populations. These tips can help you and your family stay healthy:

(NAPSI)—At one point, Josh described his life as a nightmare. He heard voices compelling him to break into his parents’ homes and take his sister’s car, landing him in jail. He says it is difficult to discuss this period of his life without perpetuating the negative stigma related to his diagnosis of schizophrenia, a condition that affects about 2.5 million American adults. Now, 13 years later, with a treatment team and family support, Josh cites accepting his schizophrenia as the turning point in his recovery, allowing him to actively engage in his treatments and better manage his illness.

(NAPSI)—Families across America say that the cost of healthy groceries makes it hard for them to cook healthy meals, according to the national survey Its Dinnertime.

(BPT) - Secret bottles in the medicine cabinet? Frequent trips to the bathroom? Moodiness, fatigue or changes in social behavior?

The Missouri Department of Mental Health is making a push to better train behavioral health professionals on how to help returning veterans and their families cope with the unique stresses that result from their experiences in the service and the readjustment to returning to the realities of everyday life.

(BPT) - - Health care today is expensive, but there are ways that you can give your wallet a break. One of the best ways to make health care more affordable is to avoid the need for medical care in the first place.

Sept. 23 marked the six-month anniversary of President Barack Obama signing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009 into law.

March 21, 2010, will, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “Go down in history as a day in infamy.” It’s the day our president got his wish to force socialized medicine down the public’s throat.

The Pettis County Health Center will begin taking appointments for a limited number of seasonal influenza vaccines starting at 8 a.m. today. The cost is $25 per vaccine. Individuals with Medicaid and Medicare need to bring their cards with them, including any supplemental Medicare coverage.