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ST. LOUIS (September 18, 2025) – Plaza West Tower, the new 16-story patient care tower at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, will welcome patients beginning in October. The tower will provide private rooms for heart and vascular patients, advanced imaging, and the latest in surgical preparation and recovery. Plaza West Tower is designed to enhance the experience for patients and their families under the expert care of WashU Medicine physicians and BJC HealthCare clinical teams.

An epidemic of chronic diseases continues to grow in the United States; half the population — an estimated 129 million Americans — have lifelong health conditions that need continuous medical attention and limit certain daily activities.

Confused about probiotics and prebiotics? Let’s unravel the mysteries of how prebiotic and probiotic foods promote a balanced gut and what role that plays in your overall wellness.

Remember, even researchers are just beginning to understand the complexity of digestive health: how each organ functions and what the microorganisms within them do to keep the whole digestive system in working order. Before you alter your diet and lifestyle to consume more probiotics and prebiotics, consult with your primary care physician for personal guidance on healthy eating for your gut.

If you’re a social media user, you may have noticed a fun new micro-trend making its way across platforms including TikTok: the art of the “hurkle-durkle.”

Although it sounds like a noise a zoo animal might make, hurkle-durkle refers to a Scottish morning ritual of lounging in bed well after your alarm has gone off. As one content creator, Kira Kosarin, says in her viral TikTok video with 3.9 million views, “Once I’ve hurkled my last durkle in a given morning, I will get up.” Countless Instagram users have since posted pictures of themselves in bed along with #hurkledurkle.

Most people know that getting enough sleep is essential for good health. But what about getting too much sleep? Is oversleeping a thing?

The answer is yes, it is possible to get too much sleep. While sleep deprivation gets all the press, oversleeping can also be a problem. The ideal amount of sleep varies from person to person, but most experts agree adults should get 7-9 hours a night.

Guidelines on how much sleep is typical for your age group: