Andrea Wickham has spent her career as a dietitian helping senior citizens eat properly, a daily task that for the young and healthy happens without much thought. But for the older person suffering deteriorating health, taking dozens of medications every day or living with dementia, the seemingly easy task of eating becomes a hurdle that challenges not only the senior but the caregiver as well.
WINCHESTER -- Sometimes the smallest gestures are the ones most appreciated and most needed. That's what Elizabeth Parsons thought when she decided to begin the Virginia chapter of Afghans for Angels in 1999.
FRONT ROYAL -- Sept. 15 can't get here fast enough for Jamie Yowell. That's when he turns 13. Becoming a teenager is exciting for any youngster, but for this Front Royal lad, it will be extra special.
With classes back in session this month, students are eager to get to their college campus and explore the opportunities that await them. But, in the midst of studying long hours and having a social life, maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle can easily get lost in the shuffle, something 18-year old Olivia Harris is well aware of.
Health care might need reform, but not the type pending before Congress.
That was the message from a crowd of about 150 protesters in downtown Winchester on Friday afternoon.
WINCHESTER -- Summer -- like many dogs -- loves to walk. She and others can have their chance to walk for a cause at Jim Barnett Park in Winchester on Saturday.
Washington wants to redraw the entire U.S. health care system as soon as possible. But some business owners and health care providers in the Shenandoah Valley are counseling caution.
FRONT ROYAL -- If you regret that battleship tattoo that you got in the military, or you're a recovering addict who wants to get rid of needle track marks, the doctor is in.
Strawberries and bananas have more in common with chocolate and licorice than you might think. Along with a tendency to appear in shopping baskets around the globe, they share a reputation. Along with countless other foods, the four are often included in lists of snacks that double as aphrodisiacs, which are foods or drugs that excite sexual desire.
WOODSTOCK -- While the "Beach Body Boot Camp" at Woodstock Rehab & Fitness may not get you in shape to become a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, it does promise to get you fit enough to be confident about slipping back into your favorite bathing suit.
Eating for two these days? Pregnancy can be a hectic time, a whirlwind of out-of-control cravings for frozen cheesecake and pickles mixed with moments of no appetite at all.
WINCHESTER -- The new president and CEO of Valley Health applauds President Obama for making health care reform a top priority. But like many of his colleagues in the industry, Mark H. Merrill has concerns about what providing universal health coverage would do to patient costs.
Whether inspired by the warmer weather and longer days or from watching amazing results televised on "The Biggest Loser" finale, many valley residents will be hitting local trails and roads this summer in an effort to enjoy the sun, spend time with family and get in shape. Health professionals warn, though, that the heat can make exercise more damaging than helpful, if correct precautions are not taken.
It's finally time to trade sweaters for swim trunks. Recent warm weather is sure to get warmer. With it, families begin their annual flock to area pools for some relief. But how can parents be sure their excited children are safe?
GORE -- Frederick County fire and rescue officials hope a successful state grant application will help streamline operations for emergency medical technicians.
LURAY -- A contagious virus has been reported in schools in the Northern Shenandoah Valley, prompting local health officials to work to stop the outbreak.
WINCHESTER -- The seats, exam tables and even doorways are larger in the little building on Westside Station Drive that houses Winchester Medical Center's Bariatric Program -- but so is the level of hope, the program's two surgeons say.
RICHMOND -- A man and a woman from Virginia contracted swine flu on recent trips to Mexico and have recovered after mild confirmed cases, officials said Thursday.
WINCHESTER -- As of late Tuesday, there were no cases of swine flu reported in Virginia. But state and local health officials are getting ready, just in case.
A recent National Bed Bug Summit brings to mind chattering cartoon insects seated around a diminutive boardroom table, with microphones, bottled water, and pens and paper -- the stuff of a Disney movie -- complete with celebrity voice overs.
WINCHESTER -- When it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, sometimes it's easier said than done. Between expensive gym memberships, waiting for a spin on a stationary bike or even just finding the time in a hectic schedule, maintaining a regular exercise regimen can be costly and time-consuming.
WINCHESTER -- Give people a chance to improve how they do their jobs, and the entire organization will benefit. It's a concept that's shared in workplaces as diverse as manufacturing to the military. Now it's pushing nursing to higher levels at Winchester Medical Center.
EDINBURG -- Whether it's a grandparent suffering from dementia or a sibling confined to a wheelchair, keeping disabled loved ones under home care for as long as possible is always the goal -- but it isn't always easy.
WINCHESTER -- Massage therapist Raquel Torres gently rubbed the angry, red scar that perfectly looped the teenager's left cheek, relaxing the skin, increasing blood flow and breaking down the damaged tissue.
Dreams seem to bring out the worst fears in each of us, magnifying them into unrealistic proportions, from an army of invading spiders to a long fall from an airplane.
FRONT ROYAL -- Cathy Steed has learned during her 50 years of life that people see with more than their eyes. Steed has macular degeneration, a condition that affects her central vision.
EDINBURG -- Horse trainer and registered nurse Tammy Shoremount has rarely ventured far from her home. Her intention this year, though, is to get all that traveling done in one shot. And, in quite an extraordinary way.
WOODSTOCK -- A woman stands with her back hunched and arms crossed, her hands around her own throat. Many know this image as the universal sign of choking, but how many people would know what to do if they saw someone displaying that posture?
It's cold out and you're burning some extra fuel around the house to keep warm -- maybe you've lit the kerosene space heater, or are burning the wood stove. You and some of the members of the family also seem to be coming down with something typical of this time of year. You're feeling fatigued, nauseous and have a headache. Maybe it's the flu -- or maybe it's carbon monoxide poisoning.
The interior of the innocent-looking, '50s-era rancher looked like a setting for a Stephen King novel.
Green spots covered almost every space in the Warren County residence. Green tendrils reached out across ceilings, choking a fan in one room, leaving it drooping like a giant, dead daisy.
STEPHENS CITY -- "Find your level, ladies." The upbeat instructor repeats the steps she wants her students to follow. The women in the room dutifully respond, sweating to the music in this weekly fitness class in the community center at Sherando High School in Stephens City.
Connie Dailey, of Stephens City, was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 1994, a little more than two years after she was in a car accident that left her in severe pain.
Every time that ball drops to officially usher in a new year, hordes of people declare that this is the year they will start the march to reach their physical peak by going to the gym.
FRONT ROYAL -- Austin and Tyler Burdick were inspired by the solace of the lambs. Several years ago, the teens watched their grandmother battle the dark days of cancer by visiting with the lambs on the family's Flint Hill farm.
WINCHESTER -- Even with its blackout curtains, dark purple walls, stripper poles and mirror balls, Dazzling Diva Fitness puts to shame thoughts of exotic dancers, smoke-filled rooms and groping clientele. Men aren't allowed here. It's about the exercise. And, it's all about the women.
Need a last-minute gift for that hard-to-shop-for relative? Want to give a thoughtful gift that will provide entertainment as well as strengthen the brain? With all the gift options out there, sometimes the best choice is one that encourages the imagination or provides a challenge for the user.
'Tis the season to overindulge. Just look at the unofficial face of the holiday season
Santa Claus will never be mistaken as a bastion of physical fitness, giving everyone the perfect excuse to load up on sweets and the like this Christmas -- if he can, why can't I? But if you want to take the healthy route for once, there are many options to choose from. Make sure you're all for it first.
Health care might need reform, but not the type pending before Congress.
That was the message from a crowd of about 150 protesters in downtown Winchester on Friday afternoon.
WOODSTOCK -- You could say Shenandoah Memorial Hospital is wired for sound practices.
FRONT ROYAL -- If you regret that battleship tattoo that you got in the military, or you're a recovering addict who wants to get rid of needle track marks, the doctor is in.
FRONT ROYAL -- Austin and Tyler Burdick were inspired by the solace of the lambs. Several years ago, the teens watched their grandmother battle the dark days of cancer by visiting with the lambs on the family's Flint Hill farm.
