Newsroom

To help address hunger in our community, and in celebration of National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day on April 2, Merit Health Biloxi is donating more than 60 jars of peanut butter (and other nut butters) to Back Bay Mission. All of that peanut butter was donated by Merit Health Biloxi’s employees, medical staff members, and volunteers during the recent Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive. According to Feeding America, 483,700 people are facing hunger in Mississippi and 144,320 of them are children. The Jars... ... Read More

For Lesley Isaacs, having a colonoscopy didn’t seem necessary. “I had taken an at-home screening, and it had come back negative. I also don’t have colon cancer in my family history, so I thought I was good and didn’t need one for a few years still,” Lesley said. To her amazement, during the colonoscopy, they found cancer. “I was shocked… shocked!” explained Lesley. “I have a daughter at home and was immediately afraid I wouldn’t be there for her.” Lesley chose to have her surgery at Merit Health Biloxi ... ... Read More

Every three seconds, someone in the world is diagnosed with a type of dementia, which is the general term for the loss of memory, language and ability to make decisions enough that it impacts everyday life. Caused by damage to brain cells, dementia is becoming increasingly more common and a leading cause of disability and dependency among older Americans. However, evidence suggests living a healthy lifestyle could help prevent severe cognitive decline and a dementia diagnosis. Below are a few lifestyle ... ... Read More

An easy formula to promote prevention, awareness of common cancer By: Navin Barot, M.D. Cancer of the colon is the fourth most common cancer in the United States – and, caught early, it’s also one of the most curable. About 90 percent of individuals whose cancer is found before it has spread survive five years after diagnosis. But, if not caught at this point, the five-year survival rate is just 10 percent. Colon cancer is cancer of the large intestine, the lower part of the digestive system. Most cases... ... Read More

More than a million Americans suffer a heart attack each year—and nearly twenty percent of them die, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Unfortunately, many Americans are not familiar with the early symptoms of a heart attack—knowledge that could spur them to seek treatment earlier, minimizing heart damage and saving lives. That’s why Merit Health Biloxi is joining in the efforts to increase awareness of heart attack warning signs. A heart attack rarely happens without warning, so it is p... ... Read More

Hitting the proper sleep target is one key to your heart health Everyone knows there is value in getting a good night’s sleep. After all, no one wants to fall asleep during a lunch date or at the conference table in a 3 pm meeting! But one of the best reasons to consistently pursue the right amount of quality sleep is the impact it has on your heart. A very large European study published in 2011 involved the sleep patterns of nearly 475,000 people. Results indicated that “short sleepers” – defined as le... ... Read More

Strength training, especially in middle age and beyond, is essential for maintaining a high quality of life and longevity. Just 30 minutes to an hour of strength training a week can increase life expectancy by 10 to 17 percent and reduce the risk of premature death from cancer and heart disease. As we age, our muscle mass, strength and function naturally decreases three to eight percent each decade after the age of 30. By age 60, hand strength and dexterity can decrease, making simple, everyday tasks di... ... Read More

The American Heart Association’s heart health checklist now includes new measures for better cardiovascular health. AHA’s Life’s Essential 8 checklist added healthy sleep as a necessary component of heart health and emphasized the importance of eating whole foods, vegetables, lean protein and more. The checklist also added vaping and exposure to secondhand smoke as risk factors to avoid. Sleep is essential for cardiovascular health, proper brain function and a strong immune system, but 35% of U.S. adult... ... Read More

Merit Health Biloxi nurses make a difference every day and are key to providing a positive patient experience. Today, a nurse was honored at Merit Health Biloxi with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses®, an award that recognizes exceptional care, compassion and dedication. The Q4 2022 DAISY Award recipient is: Liz Abarca, R.N. Liz is often complemented by patients for her exceptional care. In the nomination form, they described Liz as very knowledgeable in her field. “She explained everything to us... ... Read More

Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States, claiming the lives of more than 650,000 people each year. Here are some other facts everyone should know about heart disease: In the U.S., one person dies every 34 seconds from cardiovascular disease. Every year, about 800,000 Americans suffer a heart attack. Nearly half of American adults (47%) suffer from high blood pressure, or hypertension, which increases the risk of a heart attack and stroke. However, only about 1 in 4 people with hig... ... Read More