By Destri Leger, Guest Columnist

The Jackson County Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are advising patients and their families to use antibiotics only when necessary to further reduce antibiotic resistance, the spread of superbugs and protect patients from side effects of antibiotics. 

In the Dark Ages epileptic seizures were thought to be a sign of demons or evil in the person. Now we know it as a neurological disease that can affect anyone.

‘Know It, Control It for Seniors’ classes to meet Oct. 30-Dec. 18

Healthy Carolinians promotes healthy lifestyle during holiday season

Those born 1945-1965 most likely to have infection

Fairview School to celebrate 

Dogwood Health Trust will host a community meeting at Southwestern Community College’s Burrell Building at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 10. A livestream of this meeting will be available at https://dogwoodevents.org/live.

The Nantahala Health Foundation, a newly formed 501(c)(3) organization, recently announced its inaugural director, Lori Bailey, and the addition of two members to its board of directors. 

Saturday is Ostomy Awareness Day. An ostomy is a surgical procedure where a passage is created to re-route bodily waste to the abdomen. Some reasons people have an ostomy are for infection, perforated diverticulitis, birth defects, trauma, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, cancers of th…

Take Back events scheduled 

September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness and garner support for those affected by prostate cancer.

The Alzheimer’s Association – Western Carolina Chapter will give the presentation Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Community Room of the Jackson County Library.

National Falls Prevention Awareness Day brings communities together in support of healthy aging.

As school is back in session for the Smoky Mountain and Blue Ridge districts, the Jackson County Department of Public Health would like to remind parents and caregivers of the importance of protecting themselves and their children as more cases of measles are reported across the United States.

In recent years, there’s been a shift in the philosophy of how health is viewed.

The Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation has awarded grants during its first grant cycle and is taking applications for its second.

Jackson County Public Schools has announced that meal prices remain unchanged this year despite a significant loss of federal funding that will result in a deficit of nearly $130,000 for the program.

The Cullowhee Community Garden works to combat food insecurity

The Nantahala Health Foundation, a newly formed, public 501(c)(3) organization, is excited to announce its initial request for funding proposals from local organizations in Jackson, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Macon and Swain counties and the Qualla Boundary. 

Keep kids safe in pools

By Geoff Cantrell

Look before you lock

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians recently received the Redefining American Healthcare Award from the Healthcare Leadership Council, a coalition of chief executives representing some of the nation’s leading healthcare companies and institutions.

Whether you’re biking the Virginia Creeper Trail, hiking to Waterrock Knob or paddling the Tuckaseigee River this summer, don’t forget to pack a first-aid kit, along with a water bottle and sunscreen.

It’s now officially summer and the staggering statistics are out: eight drowning deaths have been reported along North Carolina’s coast in the past month. The cause of six of them? Rip currents.

Did you know that walking is one of the easiest ways to improve your health? A study by Harvard researchers found that their participants who walked briskly for an hour per day cut in half the obesity promoting genes. Just a short 15-minute walk has also been shown to help curb chocolate and…

Harris Home Health has been recognized by Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) as a “Superior Performer” for achieving an overall patient satisfaction score that ranked in the top 20 percent of all eligible SHP clients for the 2018 calendar year.

July 26 marks the 29th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) signed by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990.

Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital are proud to announce the winners of the annual school wellness challenges. The programs include teachers and staff from area school systems participating from September to May in customized wellness programs designed by the hospitals. Ca…

June 27 is National HIV Testing Awareness Day, a day to raise awareness about the importance of testing and early diagnosis of HIV. This year’s theme, “Doing it my way,” highlights how and why people make testing part of their lives on their terms and in their way.

As the summer season quickly approaches, Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey and Safe Kids North Carolina are reminding people of the dangers of leaving children in cars by launching a statewide summer campaign: “Baby, It’s Hot Inside.”