Health News

Features

Supporting Survivors

Annual Event Lifts Spirits, Offers Education & Cancer Awareness The 11th Annual Pampering Event at BELK, where cancer education and awareness blended with activities designed to pamper cancer survivors, was held on September 16. It was a Star Wars themed event, held from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on a Sunday at Citi Center. A good time was had by…
September is Suicide Prevention Month

By Mary Joye, LMHC We probably all agree there needs to be more than one month set aside for suicide awareness. Statistically and tragically, there are on average, one-hundred-twenty-one suicides per day. That’s almost 45,000 per year. Often, I hear healthy people say, “It is selfish for people to commit suicide.” From those who think…
Phillip Williams Helping to Light the Way for the Blind

By LENORE DEVORE Phillip Williams was almost 15 years old when the juvenile version of macular degeneration – Stargardt disease – began to take his eyesight. What starts out robbing people of their central vision eventually leaves its sufferers blind or legally blind. “I went through the rest of high school coping with (the transition…

Aortic Dissection: Diagnosis and Management

In the June article, we discussed aortic dissection, its symptoms, and its classification. Let’s discuss other aspects now. Aortic dissection is most commonly diagnosed when the patient presents with tearing chest or back pain that is unrelenting and associated with severely elevated blood pressure. Other signs indicative of various important organs not getting enough oxygen/blood…
Hindsight Is 20/20, so Prioritize Eye Safety Now

by TERRANCE HAFNER, O.D. The eyes are one of the most important organs in our body, allowing us to see and experience the world around us. It is crucial to prioritize eye safety to prevent any potential injuries or long-term damage. In this article, we will explore various safety measures and practices that can help…
Aortic Dissection: Rare and Potentially Deadly

Aortic dissection is a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, the main blood vessel branching off from the heart. An acute aortic dissection is a medical emergency and presents with excruciating chest or upper back pain that radiates to the neck or back. Other symptoms include sudden loss of consciousness and shortness of…