WNC Wellness Review: NC aims to reduce birth defects with free vitamins; the flu has arrived

• Flu activity widespread in Asheville:

“For evidence that flu has arrived in Western North Carolina, look no further than Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care. One of the group’s five centers on Patton Avenue in West Asheville was open until 10 p.m. Monday night, three hours after its normal closing time.” – [Asheville Citizen-Times] 

• Study reveals lowest reports of emotional health among college freshmen:

“The emotional health of college freshmen has reached an all-time low, according to an annual study by the Cooperative Institutional Research Program. […] The first CIRP Freshman Survey in 1985 said about 64 percent of freshmen in college said their emotional health was normal or above average. In the latest survey, only 51.9 percent of students report having a healthy emotional level.” – [The Blue Banner]

• NC program aims to reduce birth defects with free vitamins:

“Nearly 40,000 low-income women have received free multivitamins with folic acid in an effort to reduce birth defects thanks to a bill passed by the N.C. General Assembly. The Bill provided funding in 2010 for the statewide distribution of multivitamins with folic acid to low income, non-pregnant women of childbearing age through health departments and other safety net providers.” – [Asheville Citizen-Times] 

• Study: Diet soft drinks may raise stroke risk:

“New research is raising fresh worries about diet soft drinks, noting that people who drink them every day have a higher risk for strokes and heart attacks compared to those who drink no pop at all. But the researchers are quick to point out that their study does not prove that diet soft drinks cause heart attacks or strokes. They note there could be other aspects about diet pop drinkers that accounts for the increased risk that they observed. ” – [South Asia Mail] 

• Mission Hospitals seeking DAISY award nominees:

“In 2011 Mission Hospitals joins the over 500 hospitals around the country to honor extraordinary nurses through the DAISY award program. Mission Hospitals is putting out a call for nominations; patients, visitors, nurses, physicians and employees of the hospital may submit a Mission Hospitals nurse. The nominee should consistently model compassionate patient centered care, service excellence, and clinical expertise. Nomination forms can be found in the main lobbies of most hospital buildings, and an electronic version is available at [above link]” – [Mission Hospitals]

• T. Colin Campbell to reshedule Asheville visit:

“T. Colin Campbell was scheduled to speak at UNC Asheville Friday evening, but due to the death of a close associate and friend, he will have to reschedule his campus visit.” – [Asheville Citizen-Times] 

• Opinion: Let’s get the fluoride out of our water:

“Do you know that the city of Asheville is contaminating the water that most of us drink with a strong neurotoxin, sodium fluoride? Fluoride is dumped into our drinking water in a misdirected attempt to prevent tooth decay. Residents pay money for this. Why?” – [Mountain Xpress]

• Caregiver Wellness Support Group on Tuesday:

“February 15 / 5:30pm – 6:30pm – Park Ridge Health and Memory Care are pleased to announce that Park Ridge Health’s Caregiver Wellness support group is now a part of the MemoryCaregivers Network.” – [Park Ridge Health] 

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