Posts

Every time your heart beats, it creates pressure on the walls of your blood vessels. If the force of this pumping is too high, over time it wears out the arteries. Persistent high blood pressure is a risk factor for heart disease. Blood ...

Top 10 Questions About Surgical Weight Loss We sat down with Dr. Denis Halmi to talk about surgical weight loss at Mary Washington Hospital. Dr. Halmi is the medical director of the surgical weight loss program here at MWH. Scroll down for ...

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. Which of these controllable risk factors do you have? I have diabetes I use tobacco products, or I am around people who smoke I am not physically activen I don’t eat ...

Sleep is a complex biological process that supports brain function and helps keep you healthy. Most experts recommend adults get about 8 hours of sleep each day. 8 Facts about sleep You cycle through five distinct stages during the night, ...

More Than Moodiness? Everyone feels moody or occasionally has “a case of the Mondays,” but when disruptions in thought or behavior cause someone to lose his or her ability to cope with normal functions and routines, they may be ...

While you probably don’t characterize your Primary Care Physician (PCP) as your best friend, there is probably no one who knows you as well. What does a PCP do? PCPs keep track of your full health history, chart when you’ve been ...

Fatigue and You Do you feel fatigued during times of the day when you used to have energy? Do you feel like you need that midday coffee in order to make it through the entire workday? Many people get tired around 3pm every day and jokingly ...

If you are a millennial, science has made it possible for you to live a full and productive life by eradicating many diseases and significantly advancing treatment options. However, you may be more sedentary and eat a less healthy diet than ...

Finding the Right Fit Your life is not one-size-fits-all, so why should your workout be? It is practically impossible to escape advertising for a seemingly endless number of fitness trends, but just because a workout is popular or works for ...

Have you thought about the type of care and medical treatment you might want should you ever become unable to make decisions or speak for yourself? It’s hard for most of us to imagine this scenario, especially when we are young and ...

We’ve all been on the fence wondering if we should call the doctor or not. Many common accidents and illnesses may not require a visit to the doctor or hospital. However, if you experience unusual symptoms that come on suddenly, last ...

It may come as no surprise that men are 24 percent less likely than women to have visited a doctor in the past year. Some men feel that they are not “real men” if they complain or can’t deal with pain and will wait until ...

Families share risks for certain diseases, for example Alzheimer's, depression, diabetes, and heart disease. Family history does not mean that you will automatically develop them, only that you are at somewhat greater risk. Most ...

Due to the nature of the work of forensic nurses, some of the content in this podcast may be difficult to hear and it may not be appropriate for all ages. Mary Washington Hospital has the Fredericksburg area's only forensic nursing ...

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and includes different types. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays causes most cases of melanoma, the deadliest kind of skin cancer. To lower your skin cancer risk, protect your skin ...

Check your skin...If you can spot it, you can stop it. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. The three main types, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma, are mainly caused by UV ...

What is The Conversation Project? The Conversation Project is a movement to help remind people, regardless of age or current health, of the importance of having end of life conversations with friends and loved ones before end of life. It is ...

Snap, Crack, Pop Does your body sound like a bowl of breakfast cereal—you know, snap, crackle, pop? Many of the sounds you hear from your joints are normal, but joint pain is not a normal sign of aging. We’ve all experienced ...

Fredericksburg, VA - (April 26, 2018) - Mary Washington Healthcare (MWHC) announced it has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval ® and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check ...

Mary Washington Healthcare Introduces Accurate, Non-Invasive, Painless Option to Aid in Liver Management Fredericksburg, VA - (April 27, 2018) - Mary Washington Healthcare (MWHC) is pleased to announce it now offers patients non-invasive, ...

April is Esophageal Cancer Awareness month. Know the facts about the causes and risk factors so that you can reduce your risk or identify symptoms early and get treated. Esophageal cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form ...

What are Head and Neck Cancers? Head and neck cancer is a general term used to describe a number of different malignant tumors that develop in or around the lips, mouth, salivary glands, throat, larynx, nose, and sinuses. What causes Head ...

Testicular Cancer: Speak up and Speak out Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men ages 15 to 34 with over 8,700 men expected to be diagnosed in 2017. Risk factors for testicular cancer include having had an undescended testicle ...

Award Recognizes Work Supporting Colorectal Cancer Screening Fredericksburg, Va. – April 4, 2018 – The Mary Washington Healthcare (MWHC) Regional Cancer Center has been chosen by the American Cancer Society (ACS) to receive a ...

On March 28, 2018, Ted Schubel of TownTalk on News Talk 1230AM sat down with patient Elaine Morgan and Dr. Kay Blanchard, Medical Director, Breast Surgery, MWHC Regional Cancer Center, to talk about the new Breast Microseed Treatment® ...

Stafford Hospital held their first quarterly Women’s Wellness event on Thursday, March 22, 2018. Attendees got tips on eating healthy on a budget from dietitian Alice Bones, MSM, BS, RDN, and were treated to an intro-to-yoga class led ...

Miniaturized Wireless Heart Device Provides Patients with the Most Advanced Pacing Technology Available Fredericksburg, VA, March 15, 2018 - Mary Washington Hospital announced today that it is one of the first hospitals in the Commonwealth ...

We sat down with Jamia Crockett, MWHC Manager of Community Benefits and Community Services, and Mary Ann Batsche, Community Outreach Coordinator, to talk about some upcoming events in Fredericksburg, and to find out about the partnerships ...

How well do you know your family history? When it comes to your heart health, your family may be more important than you think. Both your risk factors for heart disease, such as obesity or high blood pressure, and your risk for ...

On February 20, 2018, Ted Schubel of TownTalk on News Talk 1230AM sat down with Dr. Christine Laky from Mary Washington Medical Group Maternal Fetal Medicine to talk about high risk pregnancy. Listen now, especially if you or someone you ...

Arrhythmia Heart rhythm problems, or arrhythmias, occur when the electrical impulses that coordinate your heartbeat don't work properly, causing your heart to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly. A heartbeat that is too fast is ...

In the United States, someone has a heart attack every 34 seconds. Heart disease is the #1 cause of death for both men and women. More people die from heart disease than ALL forms of cancer... combined! 3 signs of heart disease that you ...

Ellen, a high school teacher, wife and mother, lives with her husband and children in Spotsylvania. After months of being increasingly tired, she was finally diagnosed with colon cancer. Hear about her journey through diagnosis, surgery and ...

Aphasia is a disorder that is characterized by impairment in language abilities. It can impact the way a person is able to communicate, the way language is understood, and/or the ability to read or write. Symptoms can range from very mild ...

Whether you live alone in an apartment or with a houseful of children, you would be wise to have a well-stocked medicine cabinet. Go through your first aid kids and medicine cabinets on a regular basis to check for expired medications, ...

ARE YOU AT RISK? Individuals from some Asian ethnic groups tend to have higher risks for stroke and coronary heart disease (the most common form of heart disease). WHY IT MATTERS Heart disease is a serious, life-threatening illness. More ...

On February 5, 2018, Ted Schubel of TownTalk on News Talk 1230AM sat down with surgeon Dr. Denis Halmi and dietitian Meredith Hill to talk about weight loss surgery at Mary Washington Healthcare. In partnership with your physician, ...

On October 11, 2017, Dr. Greg Szlyk and Dr. Corey Wright sat down with Ted Schubel of TownTalk on News Talk 1230am, to talk about robotics surgery at Mary Washington Healthcare. With the upgrade to the da Vinci Xi System in September 2017, ...

Tami Jeffries, Manager of Mary Washington Healthcare Health & Wellness, recently sat down with Jessica Cash, from the 93.3 WFLS Morning Show, to talk about flu symptoms, duration, precautions, and prevention. Listen Now Your browser ...

Sandra was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer after doctors saw an anomaly on her annual screening mammogram. She is a dedicated full-time postal carrier. With the busy holiday season approaching right as she was ready to start her ...

Some cold weather safety tips from Mary Washington Healthcare's Director of Safety and Preparedness, Andy Holden: Personal protection Know the weather forecast so you can dress correctly for wind, cold or snow and ice. Add layers for ...

Mary Washington Healthcare, Rappahannock Area Community Services Board and Rappahannock United Way are combined resources and convened experts to host a town hall on the serious public health issue of suicide. Suicide takes an enormous toll ...

Fredericksburg, Va. – (Oct. 24, 2017) Stafford Hospital Nuclear Medicine department received accreditation renewal from the American College of Radiology (ACR) for a period of three years in the areas of Planar, SPECT, and Nuclear ...

Colorectal cancer affects both men and women equally – 140,000 people are diagnosed with the disease every year. But colorectal cancer is preventable, and can be successfully treated and is often curable when detected early. Know your ...

February is National Cancer Prevention Awareness Month. Just being aware is not enough. We need to TAKE ACTION! While there is no certain way to prevent cancer, there are certain risk factors that increase the likelihood. You can TAKE ...

Do you remember the feeling you had when a teacher or professor announced a pop quiz in school? That sudden jolt of fear that caused your heart to flutter was probably experienced by everyone in the room. While these sudden jolts of anxiety ...

Each year over 600,000 people die of heart disease in America. That’s about one in every four deaths. Risk factors include being a smoker or overweight, family history, or leading a sedentary lifestyle. Luckily, small changes can make ...

HPV Vaccine Offers Protection Against Certain Cancers Every year, 30,000 Americans are diagnosed with cancer caused by human papillomavirus, or “HPV” for short. Many of these cancers can be prevented through vaccination. ...

Lung cancer survival has improved over the last few decades thanks to advances in cancer treatment options. There is opportunity to continue this trajectory through better screening and detection that can find lung cancer before you have ...

Testicular cancer affects the tissues in one or both testicles and is the most common cancer in men between the ages of 15 and 35. Despite this, it’s relatively rare—about 1 in 263 males will develop testicular cancer during his ...

She was waiting in the exam room after going through the check-in process, quietly afraid she had cancer. Not having insurance, she had put off coming to the Moss Clinic for a long time, too long she feared. While her interview and ...

All pregnant women want to be assured that their fetus has no major birth defects or chromosomal abnormalities, especially those who have had children with birth defects or pregnant women over a certain age (35+). Recent advances in ...

Its officially Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and by this time, nearly everything around you is draped in pink; pink ribbons, pink flowers, pink bracelets, bumper stickers, stamps, headbands, etc. But, while Breast Cancer is a horrible ...

I have been treating patients with breast problems for over a decade, and have treated more than one thousand patients with breast cancer, as well as thousands more with benign breast health concerns. Women, and sometimes men, present with ...

‘Tis the season of indulgences, a time when we help ourselves to an extra serving of our favorite dish and wear out our credit cards on gifts for the ones we love. The holidays are our favorite time of year—so why are we so ...

Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are those you buy without a prescription from your doctor. These medications can help you feel better by treating or preventing health problems, including constipation, cold and flu, and nausea. As with any ...

A super food is a food source packed with higher nutrients per calorie as compared to other foods. While they may not be your typical superheroes in capes and tights, super foods do possess special powers. They power our brains, fight ...

Be sure to bundle up! Training in inclement weather can be a challenge. It’s really hard to get motivated to get off the couch when there is snow and sleet covering your sidewalk. What should you do? Cross training indoors is always ...

Is it that twinkle his eye that makes your heart skip a beat? Or could you have Atrial Fibrillation? What Is Atrial Fibrillation? Atrial fibrillation (A-fib) is an irregular and often rapid heart rate that commonly causes poor blood flow to ...

There’s an old myth that says as people get older they aren't interested in intimacy. It’s time to set the record straight! Intimacy has no age limit! Relationships are a balancing act of two people sharing their lives, ...

This is the season for listing items on your wish list. Many couples are hoping that “baby” will be on that gift list for the upcoming New Year. More so, in our society, many couples want to know as soon as possible before ...

"Home care" is a term that encompasses a wide range of health and social services delivered at home if you or a loved one need medical, nursing, social services resources, or help with daily living activities. The need for home ...

Do you need a prescription to exercise? Patients who have had cardiac issues or a known cardiac disease are often prescribed exercise by their doctors. Known as cardiac rehabilitation, this monitored, medical exercise improves a ...

In 1994, with much support from community members and government organizations, Mary Washington Hospital received permission from the Northwerstern Virginia Health Services Agency to bring open heart surgery to Fredericksburg. This November ...

One day in 2013, Donna began to feel strange. Her back and arms hurt, and she was having shortness of breath. Donna’s granddaughter, Camryn, immediately recognized the symptoms as those of a heart attack. Heart attacks are one of the ...

Are you fond of cherries or strawberries? How do you feel about tomatoes? Hopefully, you’re a fan! We’ve compiled a list of some of the reddest, healthiest foods for your heart! Red Wine: Okay, so, technically, it’s not a ...