Precision medicine leads to personaliz­ed care in Asheville

What if a medical practitioner told you it was possible to look into the future of your health? To predict what illnesses you might get and what medications could be helpful or harmful to you? While it might sound fantastical, companies around Asheville are starting to dive into exactly that: Precision or “personalized” medicine (also known as targeted medicine) is beginning […]

Homegrown Families hosts sweet potato contest and fundraiser Oct. 1

  Something sweet is in the air. The seventh annual sweet potato cooking contest and fundraiser is happening Saturday, Oct. 1. This event will also double as the fall open house for the new Homegrown Families Health and Education Center at 201 Charlotte St. The center houses a variety of integrative family health services, including licensed […]

Celebratin­g National Breastfeed­ing Month

August is National Breast-feeding Month, and Asheville abounds with breast-feeding services for new and expectant mothers. Kimberly Rush, an Asheville lactation consultant, mentions some of the many resources: “We have La Leche League, breast-feeding support groups and many other ways to support and provide information.” Cheryl Orengo, director and educator at Start from Seed, notes that Mission […]

Looking for solutions to Asheville’s obesity problem

Earlier this month, survey company WalletHub marked Asheville as one of the “Fattest Cities” in the country. Asheville ranked No. 43 among the 100 most populated U.S. metro areas for obesity levels, weight-related health problems and environmental factors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, meanwhile, reports that the South has the second-highest regional rate […]

ICYMI: Xpress feature reads of the week

Ahh, Spring is in the air! The tourists are buzzing around downtown and the lovely smell of Bradford pear trees is wafting on the breeze….which means we’re probably in for a heavy frost or one more freak snow shower in the coming weeks. Anyway, here’s some feature stories from the past week, if you’re looking […]

New birthing center highlights Asheville-area services

Although New Dawn Midwifery closes at the end of March, safe and supported birthing options abound in the Asheville area, including hospitals with obstetricians, hospitals with midwives and the WNC Birth Center, which is set to open this spring on South French Broad Avenue. Professionals across the region continue to advocate for education and support as the keys to making choices during childbirth. […]

New Dawn Midwifery unexpected­ly closes after 19 years

After 19 years of providing Asheville women with pregnancy and gynecology services, New Dawn Midwifery is closing. Jan Verhaeghe, founder and president of New Dawn Midwifery, is retiring. “We are making referrals for providers, and we are offering care up through March 31. We have enjoyed every client in our practice,” Verhaeghe says. The center offered prenatal […]