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

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