Health Take-Away

Healthcare news, written by BHS physicians and other healthcare professionals

Berkshire Health Systems, in partnership with the Berkshire Eagle, regularly provides columns by our health and wellness professionals for publication on the Health Page of the Eagle. These interesting articles focus on many areas of health and well-being, with tips for living a healthier life. Click on the links below to see the text from each article.

2019 Health Take-Away Articles

Weight Loss Surgery Is a Lasting Solution to Chronic Obesity - By Andrew Lederman, MD, Berkshire Eagle, January 1, 2019
Hospitalists: Your Around the Clock Caregivers - By William DeMarco, DO, and Laurie Dugan-Macchi, RN, Berkshire Eagle, January 21, 2019
High Blood Pressure and How to Lower It - By Lisa Laramy, RN, Berkshire Eagle, February 4, 2019
Go for Nutrition that is Heart Healthy - By Marcie Fredenburg, RD, LDN, Berkshire Eagle, February 18, 2019
Thyroid Health Essential to Metabolism - By Brian Phillips, MD, Berkshire Eagle, March 4, 2019
Screenings for Colon Cancer - By Jason Bratcher, MD, Berkshire Eagle, March 18, 2019
Be Safe Using Over the Counter Medications - By Hayden Kuhn, PharmD, RPh, Berkshire Eagle, April 1, 2019
Lung Cancer Screenings Recommended for Smokers, Those Who Quit - By Christian Galvez-Padilla, MD, Berkshire Eagle, April 15, 2019
Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Abuse Disorders - By Douglas Molin, MD, Berkshire Eagle, May 6, 2019
Facts About Dense Breast Tissue - By Caitlin Lopez, MD, Berkshire Eagle, May 20, 2019
Narrowing Your Eating Window Can Help Weight Loss - By Jennifer Ward, RD, Berkshire Eagle, June 3, 2019
Unplug from Online for Better Health - By Maureen Daniels, MEd, Berkshire Eagle, June 17, 2019
Harness the Power of Nature - By Lisa Laramy, RN, Berkshire Eagle, July 1, 2019
Probiotics: Using the Good Bugs Against the Bad - By Hayden Kuhn, PharmD, RPh, Berkshire Eagle, July 15, 2019
Low Carb, High Fat Diet has Benefits - By Mark Pettus, MD, Berkshire Eagle, August 5, 2019
Embrace Mindfulness - By Angela Wilson, Berkshire Eagle, August 19, 2019
Vaccinate Against Needless Risks - By Gregory Malanoski, MD, Berkshire Eagle, September 16, 2019
Food Insecurity in the Berkshires - By Peter Gazzillo, RD, Berkshire Eagle, September 30, 2019
Surviving Breast Cancer: A New Journey - By Kathy Hart, RN and Amanda Bayliss, Berkshire Eagle, October 14, 2019

2018 Health Take-Away Articles

Healthy Resolutions for 2018 - By Linda Avalle, Berkshire Eagle, January 22, 2018
Give Up Tobacco for the New Year - By Doreen Donovan, RN, Berkshire Eagle, January 29, 2018
Your Gut Bacteria and Better Health - By Mark Pettus, MD, Berkshire Eagle, February 12, 2018
Hospitals Improving Heart Health - By Gray Ellrodti, MD, Berkshire Eagle, February 26, 2018
Preventing Mindless Eating - By Jennifer Ward, RD, Berkshire Eagle, March 12, 2018
Breaking the Silence on Kidney Disease - By David Henner, DO, Berkshire Eagle, March 26, 2018
Mammography and MRI for Women with High Risk of Breast Cancer - By Caitlin Lopez, MD, and Susan Gazzillo, RN, BSN, Berkshire Eagle, April 16, 2018
Life-Threatening Strokes Can Be Prevented - By Lawrence Ufford, MD, and Darlene Boyce, RN, Berkshire Eagle, May 7, 2018
Rehabilitation Can Help in Recovering from Stroke - By Jessica Dellaghelfa, DPT, PT and Natacha Dockery-Livac, MA, MS, CCC-SLP, Berkshire Eagle, May 21, 2018
Medicare Wellness Visit Important - By Daniel Doyle, MD, Berkshire Eagle, June 4, 2018
Urgent Care versus Emergency Room - By Michael McHugh, MD, Berkshire Eagle, June 18, 2018
Vaping and Nicotine Addiction - By Kim Kelly, BA, CHEC, Berkshire Eagle, July 2, 2018
Advances in Joint Replacement - By Daniel Sage, MD, Berkshire Eagle, July 23, 2018
Language Diversity in Healthcare - By Veronica Torres-Martin, Berkshire Eagle, August 13, 2018
New Moms Encouraged to Breast Feed - By Laura French, RN, Berkshire Eagle, August 27, 2018
Prepare for Travel Abroad Using Travel Medicine - By Nancy Ciuk, NP, Berkshire Eagle, September 10, 2018
Vestibular Care: It's All in Your Ears - By Jessie DeLuca, PT and Mary Ann Racette, MPT, Berkshire Eagle, September 24, 2018
How to Care for Your Migraine - By Dr. Emma Weiskopf and Kay Hanley, FNP, Berkshire Eagle, October 3, 2018
New Tool Helps Assess Breast Cancer Risk - By Dr. Caitlin Lopez, Berkshire Eagle, October 17, 2018
Vaginal Birth After a C-Section - By Dr. Lauren Slayer, Berkshire Eagle, November 5, 2018
Quit Smoking: If at First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again - By Kim Kelly, BA, CHEC, Berkshire Eagle, November 19, 2018
Coping with Holiday Depression - By Don Scherling, PsyD, Berkshire Eagle, December 3, 2018
Finding Joy in the Holidays, Even When Sick - By Sue Budz, MSW, LICSW, Berkshire Eagle, December 17, 2018

2017 Health Take-Away Articles

Yoga to Relieve Stress - By Shannon Ashcroft, RYT, CPT - Berkshire Eagle, January 9, 2017
Excercise as a Priority - By Stephen Faucher, Exercise Specialist - Berkshire Eagle, January 23, 2017
Taming Inflammation - By Mark Pettus, MD - Berkshire Eagle, February 13, 2017
Living with Heart Failure - By Alicia Emerson, NP - Berkshire Eagle, February 27, 2017
Alternatives to Opioids for Pain - By Guarav Jain, MD - Berkshire Eagle, March 20, 2017
Self-Care is the Future of Healthcare - By Mark Pettus, MD - Berkshire Eagle, March 27, 2017
Family Wellness - By Maureen Daniels, MEd - Berkshire Eagle, April 10, 2017
Healing Through Acupuncture - By Regina Touhey Serkin, LAc, April 24, 2017
Walking to Good Health - By Carol Nixon, MEd, Berkshire Eagle, May 15, 2017
Prevent Stroke or Respond FAST - By Darlene Boyce, ANP-BC, ANVP-BC, Berkshire Eagle, May 29, 2017
Men's Health In Crisis - By Mark Pettus, MD - Berkshire Eagle, June 19, 2017
Wellness Coaching - By Tim Korte, RN - Berkshire Eagle, June 26, 2017
Healthy Heart Rhythms - By Teresa Menendez, MD - Berkshire Eagle, July 17, 2017
Hospitalists - By William DeMarco, DO - Berkshire Eagle, July 31, 2017
Caring for Chronic Wounds - By Richard Basile, MD - Berkshire Eagle, August 14, 2017
Advanced Cardiac Imaging - By Vikas Veeranna, MD - Berkshire Eagle, September 11, 2017
Avoiding the Flu This Year - By Michael Perreault, RN - Berkshire Eagle, October 9, 2017
Don't Die of Embarrassment: Get Screened for Colon Cancer - By Jacqueline Sciola, RN - Berkshire Eagle, October 23, 2017
Celebrate a Thankful and Healthy Holiday - By Jennifer Ward, Registered Dietitian - Berkshire Eagle, November 20, 2017
Heads-Up on Concussion - By Alan Kulberg, MD - Berkshire Eagle, November 27, 2017
Healthy Gift-Giving for 2017 - By Mark Pettus, MD - Berkshire Eagle, December 11, 2017

2016 Health Take-Away Articles

New Year's Resolutions to Live By - by Mark Pettus, MD - Berkshire Eagle, January 11, 2016
Falls: The Leading Risk for Losing Independence Among Older People - by Patricia Tremblay, MS, RN - Berkshire Eagle, January 25, 2016
Staying Healthy in the Office - by Maureen Daniels, MEd - Berkshire Eagle, February 15, 2016
Exercising at Home, Getting Fit During the Winter - by Carol Nixon, MEd - Berkshire Eagle, February 29, 2016
Cardiac Rehabilitation: Regaining a Healthier and Better Life - by Kelley Weider, RN - Berkshire Eagle, March 14, 2016
Nutrition & Exercise: Two Great Gifts for Children - by Peter Gazzillo, MBA, RD, LDN, CPT - Berkshire Eagle, March 28, 2016
A Screening That Has Saved More than a Million Lives - by Jeffrey St. John, MD - Berkshire Eagle, April 11, 2016
Walking: The Simple Routine that Will Change Your Life - by Carol Nixon, MEd - Berkshire Eagle, April 25, 2016
Injury-Free Sports & Activities - by Mark Sprague, MD - Berkshire Eagle, May 16, 2016
Have a Healthy Summer - by Mark Pettus, MD - Berkshire Eagle, May 30, 2016
Go to the Local Farmers Markets - By Morgan Ovitsky, Certified Holistic Nutrition Educator - Berkshire Eagle, June 13, 2016
Just Breathe - By Donald Scherling, PsyD - Berkshire Eagle, June 27, 2016
Lyme Disease: Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment - by Paula Aucoin, MD - Berkshire Eagle, July 25, 2016
Mindful Eating - By Maureen Daniels, MEd, and Jennifer Ward, RD - Berkshire Eagle - August 8, 2016
Empathy in Healthcare - By Newell Young, LICSW - Berkshire Eagle, August 22, 2016
Preparing for Emergencies - By Lucy Britton, RN, BS - Berkshire Eagle, September 12, 2016
Helping Someone to Cope with Opioid Addiction - By Adam Rosen, MD - Berkshire Eagle, September 26, 2016
Breast Cancer Awareness: Mammograms Save Lives - By Lisa Loring, MD - Berkshire Eagle, October 17, 2016
Antibiotic Resistance - By Paula Aucoin, MD - Berkshire Eagle, October 31, 2016
Lung Cancer Screening - By Christian Galvez, MD - Berkshire Eagle, November 14, 2016
Giving Thanks - By Maureen Daniels, MEd - Berkshire Eagle, November 21, 2016
Healthy Holidays - By Mark Pettus, MD - Berkshire Eagle, December 12, 2016
Ring in the New Year Responsibly - By Shannon McCarthy, LADC - Berkshire Eagle, December 26, 2016

2015 Health Take-Away Articles

Rewriting Your Book of Life - by Dr. Mark Pettus - Berkshire Eagle, July 6, 2015
Pre-Diabetes: A Wake-Up Call for Better Health - by Dr. Brian Phillips and Candace Lusa, Certified Diabetes Educator - Berkshire Eagle, July 20, 2015
Overcoming Crisis With Resiliency - by Dr. Alex Sabo - Berkshire Eagle, August 3, 2015
Stepping Off the Slippery Slope - by Dr. Gray Ellrodt - Berkshire Eagle, August 17, 2015
Sleep & Wellness: Learning to Cherish Your Sleep - by Dr. Jack Ringler - Berkshire Eagle, August 31, 2015
Kicking the Habit & Ending the Fear - by Carol McMahon, MS, Master Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist - Berkshire Eagle, September 14, 2015
High Blood Pressure: One of the Few Things in Life We Can Control - by Susan Kaufman, RN & Kimberly Kelly, BA, CHEC - Berkshire Eagle, October 12, 2015
Friendship is Powerful Medicine - by Mark Kenyon, LMFT, LADC-I, CEAP - Berkshire Eagle, October 26, 2015
It's Flu Season: Get the Vaccine! - by Paula Aucoin, MD, and Karen Benzie, RN - Berkshire Eagle, November 9, 2016
The Healing Power of Gratitude - by Mary O'Malley, MD, PhD - Berkshire Eagle, November 23, 2015
Where's the Joy? - by Gary Freifeld, RN, CHWC - Berkshire Eagle, December 14, 2015