The stereotype of a domestic abuser looks like this: A domineering male with a short fuse who routinely erupts, physically assaulting a vulnerable female. But it’s rarely that simple.  Domestic abuse can mean outright physical violence, but it can also mean a lot of other things, from sexual assault to emotional manipulation, reproductive control to financial intimidation. […] The post Relationship Red Flags appeared first on UVM Medical Center Blog ..read more

During the first three weeks of 2018, poison control centers across the country reported 86 intentional exposures to single-use laundry detergent packets by teenagers. The “Tide Pod Challenge,” which spurred young people to post videos of themselves eating the toxic pods, had gone viral.  Though not always national news, risky and sometimes deadly social media […] The post Social Media Challenges: Why Teens Take the Dare appeared first on UVM Medical Center Blog ..read more

Infectious disease experts Jessie Leyse, MD, of UVM Health Network – Central Vermont Medical Center and Tim Lahey, MD, MMSc, of UVM Medical Center tackle the top questions about COVID-19 booster vaccines. Why do I need a booster of the COVID-19 vaccine? Although COVID-19 vaccination remains effective in preventing severe disease and death, studies show […] The post COVID-19 Booster: What You Need To Know appeared first on UVM Medical Center Blog ..read more

Medicare provides health insurance benefits for people age 65 years and older, as well as certain people under 65 with disabilities or specific medical conditions. Becoming eligible for Medicare creates a lot of new opportunities – but you need to know how to make the most of them. 1. What does Medicare Part A mean […] The post What is Medicare? Five Questions You’ve Been Too Embarrassed to Ask appeared first on UVM Medical Center Blog ..read more

Breast health experts Kim Dittus, MD, and Michelle Sowden, MD, of UVM Medical Center’s Breast Care Center join Mammography Team Leader Brittani Trombley, of UVM Health Network – Central Vermont Medical Center, to answer the 11 breast care and preventive health questions they’ve heard from their patients.  1. Does a mammogram hurt? Many patients come […] The post 11 Mammogram Questions You’re Too Shy To Ask appeared first on UVM Medical Center Blog ..read more

Infectious disease experts Cindy Noyes, MD, and Tim Lahey, MD, MMSc, join pulmonologist and critical care medicine physician Gil Allen, MD, to weigh in about boosters, mandates and more. 1. Why are some vaccines, like polio, one and done while others need annual boosters? Most vaccines – against hepatitis B and measles and beyond – […] The post When Will the Pandemic End? Your Top 9 COVID-19 Questions Answered appeared first on UVM Medical Center Blog ..read more

Fall is here, apples are ripe for the picking and school is back in session, but as we put our gardens to bed and prep our homes for winter, we should do the same when considering our health this season. COVID-19 has consumed our attention but there’s another threat right around the corner: the flu. […] The post COVID and Flu: You Have the Power to Help Prevent a Twindemic appeared first on UVM Medical Center Blog ..read more

Every flu season, people decide to skip the flu shot, but it’s an important piece of your preventive health care. Here we clear up some of the most common flu falsehoods.   Myth #1: The flu is like the common cold – it’s not a big deal.  Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness that […] The post Flu Vaccine: The Top 6 Myths Busted appeared first on UVM Medical Center Blog ..read more

Snacks get a bad rap. They’re often prepackaged and loaded with salt and sugar. But where they lose points for nutrition, they win for convenience. So how does one make snacking both easy and healthy? According to Bridget Shea, MS, RD, CD, a clinical dietitian at the University of Vermont Medical Center, snacking can be […] The post Snacking Can Be Good For You appeared first on UVM Medical Center Blog ..read more

Summer’s over, but COVID isn’t. And here we all still are, navigating uncharted, yet familiar, pandemic life and its added stress and worry. Sometimes it’s hard to remember a time when things were ‘normal’ and that can be downright depressing.  So much has changed in the world around us, that the changes within us can […] The post Surprising Signs of Depression: 4 Early Clues to Watch For appeared first on UVM Medical Center Blog ..read more