If you’re one of the nearly 94 million American adults living with high cholesterol, you may think that medication is your only option. But, according to the American Heart Association, what you eat can have a big impact on your cholesterol levels.
New parents have plenty of things to worry about when their little one arrives, which is why taking a breastfeeding class before the big day can be a big help. SVMC’s next breastfeeding class begins on September 10th. ?
Recognizing the signs of a heart attack is crucial for timely intervention and can potentially save lives. Because the symptoms often differ for men and women, it’s important to be familiar with all the potential signs so you can seek care as quickly as possible.
?5 Reasons You Shouldn't Put Off Scheduling a Colonoscopy
Let's face it—no one gets excited about the prospect of a colonoscopy. But this simple screening procedure is one of the most powerful tools we have for preventing and detecting the fourth most common cancer diagnosed in the United States, which is why it truly can't wait.
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Mosquito-Borne Illness: What You Need to Know
With the start of fall, you may be looking forward to venturing outdoors. But you also may have heard recent reports of dangerous mosquito-borne illnesses in the region.
"Everyone should get outdoors during this beautiful season, but do so safely," advises Elizabeth A. Talbot, MD, an infectious disease and international health specialist at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. "Yes, there is a risk of acquiring serious infections from mosquitos, but that risk can be substantially lowered," she said.
The last reported human EEEV infection in New Hampshire was in 2014, when the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) identified three human infections, including two fatalities. This year, the region has seen higher numbers of mosquitos testing positive for EEEV.
This August, the Departments of Health in Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire all reported a human case of EEEV. The infected adult from Hampstead, New Hampshire, had to be hospitalized due to severe central nervous system disease and died of the illness.
What other diseases are mosquitos carrying this year?
A few weeks prior, the Vermont Department of Health reported that it had collected mosquitos that carried EEEV and WNV.
Infection in people is rare
The good news is that if you are bitten by a mosquito, you are at low risk of contracting any of these three diseases. One reason is that there are more than 40 species of mosquitos in New Hampshire and only a small number carry and spread mosquito-borne illnesses, according to the DHHS.
Although Vermont has some 45 mosquito species, only a few mosquito pools have tested positive with WNV or EEE, so risk of infection is low in that state, too.
What to look out for
But if you do get bitten by a mosquito, keep an eye out for symptoms.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) says most people with EEE or WNV have either no or mild symptoms and should recover from the illness unscathed.
But the 20 percent to 30 percent of people with WNV who do get symptoms may experience a fever, headache, weakness, pains in their muscles or joints, gastrointestinal issues, and even a rash. In rare cases, WNV can lead to severe neurological disease, causing paralysis, meningitis or brain damage.
EEEV has some similar characteristics but is more severe. People with EEEV also usually do not develop symptoms, but among those who do, the virus can result in febrile illness—with fever, chills, body aches and joint pain—or neurologic diseases such as meningitis or encephalitis,says the CDC.
There was one theme that stood out on Thursday as the ribbon was cut on Southwestern Vermont Medical Center's new $31 million Emergency Department: Community.
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In March of 2023, SVHC entered into a purchase and sale agreement of the campus with Alfred Weissman Real Estate, LLC (AWRE). Since then, AWRE has been working toward the development of a five-star destination resort. click for more
The game-winning rally started when Pittsfield junior Jack Abel led off by crushing a 1-1 pitch to left-center and racing all the way to third base, sliding in just ahead of the tag to give the Generals a sterling scoring opportunity. click for more
The Pittsfield baseball team Saturday rallied for five runs in the top of the sixth inning to break a 5-5 tie and went on to a 12-5 win over Clinton in the quarter-finals of the Division 4 State Tournament. click for more
