RCAHD Community Health Update A Roanoke City & Alleghany Health Districts publication From the moment we are born, our brains are constantly changing. In infancy and adolescence, the neural networks in our brains experience periods of enormous growth. These brain networks are essential- they help us learn, think, remember, and organize our memories. As we... Continue reading→

RCAHD Community Health Update A Roanoke City & Alleghany Health Districts publication Along with the importance of physical wellbeing, mental wellbeing plays a significant role in overall health. On the one hand, when communities don’t serve residents’ mental health needs, the result can have a negative influence on homelessness, poverty, employment, safety, and the local... Continue reading→

RCAHD Community Health Update A Roanoke City & Alleghany Health Districts publication As we enjoy another beautiful spring in Southwestern Virginia, we encourage residents to take steps to protect themselves from ticks. Sometimes tiny and hard to spot, ticks can cause serious medical problems including Lyme disease and alpha-gal food allergy, and some life-threatening diseases... Continue reading→

RCAHD Community Health Update A Roanoke City & Alleghany Health Districts publication Sometimes public health efforts operate like a loudspeaker, serving large areas of the community at once, such as with our work to protect drinking water or to respond to emergencies. However, when it comes to reproductive health, our local public health efforts usually... Continue reading→

RCAHD Community Health Update A Roanoke City & Alleghany Health Districts publication During the week of April 1-7, the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts will observe National Public Health Week. The national theme, “Protecting, Connecting and Thriving: We Are All Public Health,” emphasizes what we know is true: the community’s health improves when we... Continue reading→

RCAHD Community Health Update A Roanoke City & Alleghany Health Districts publication Earlier this year, you may have seen media coverage about potential measles exposures at northern Virginia airports. Unfortunately, these notices may become more common as we face the realities of decreased vaccine coverage across the world. Vaccine rates significantly decreased during the pandemic,... Continue reading→

RCAHD Community Health Update A Roanoke City & Alleghany Health Districts publication Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States as well as in Virginia. February is American Heart Month, a time to take steps to reduce your risk of heart disease. According to the National Institutes for Health, the major... Continue reading→

RCAHD Community Health Update A Roanoke City & Alleghany Health Districts publication Sometimes stopping something can be as hard as challenging yourself to start something new. If you are thinking about quitting tobacco and would like some help for a fresh start in the new year, a quitline might be just what you need to... Continue reading→

RCAHD Community Health Update A Roanoke City & Alleghany Health Districts publication As we approach the holiday season, many of us are looking forward to celebrations and interacting with friends and loved ones. Even as we celebrate, it is very common to feel added stress. The “holiday blues” can stem from a variety of sources:... Continue reading→