Wellness Blog

Flu shots don’t just protect those who get vaccinated; they protect everyone, including your family and the community. As we continue navigating the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, Renown Health infection prevention expert Whitney Robinson explains how getting your flu shot is vital for staying healthy.

As the leaves turn golden and the air gets crisper, it's not just pumpkin spice lattes that should be on your mind – it's also time to think about your health. Flu season is here, and we at Renown Health encourage you to do your part in keeping your community safe. How can you protect everyone around you? Through something called herd immunity.

Flu season is right around the corner, and as we move into fall, more people start getting sick with things like the flu or the common cold. It’s important to know how to stay healthy—and how to tell the difference between the two.

Heart disease affects more women than many people realize. In fact, it is the leading cause of death among women in the U.S., taking the lives of about 305,000 women each year. That’s about 1 in every 5 female deaths.

Renown Health launches northern Nevada’s only ECMO program.

New cardiology clinic and treatment spaces allow specialists to care for more patients at the Renown South Meadows Specialty Care Center.

When it comes to healthcare options, urgent care often faces misconceptions that can prevent people from getting timely, appropriate care. Dr. Thomas Chmelicek, Division Chief of Renown Urgent Care, helps us debunk common myths about urgent care services.

While often called the most wonderful time of the year, the holiday season can bring unexpected injuries and illnesses. Whether you wake up Christmas morning with a sore throat and fever, or slice your finger while carving that turkey you spent hours preparing, it's important to know where to turn for care when you need it.

To help you better understand your symptoms, here’s how to distinguish strep throat from a common sore throat and when to visit urgent care.

Heart disease affects more women than many people realize. In fact, it is the leading cause of death among women in the U.S., taking the lives of about 305,000 women each year. That’s about 1 in every 5 female deaths.

Mammograms are an effective means for early detection of breast cancer. Still, many women shy away from them for fear of pain or discomfort. Let us debunk a few mammogram myths that will remove your worries and encourage proactive breast health.

Cancer can develop at any age, and that’s why the experts at Renown are ready to help you stay ahead of breast cancer, especially if you're in your 20s or 30s. We're talking about early detection, signs to be aware of, and why being proactive is a big deal.

From left are Dane (11), Mom AJ, Ryan (5), Carter (10) and Dad Ted.

August is National Make-a-Will month. We talked to Renown Health Foundation Planned Giving Officer, Abbey Stephenson, to learn more about wills, trusts and estate plans and why you should feel motivated this month to get started. Did you know that 2/3 of Americans don't have a will or trust? If this is you, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Although there are laws in place to determine who inherits your assets if you die without a will or trust, having a will or trust ensures your assets go where you want them to go after you are gone. They can also help minimize disputes between family members and heirs about who gets what. In Nevada, the laws that govern who gets what if you die without a will or trust can be found in Chapter 134 of the Nevada Revised Statutes. There are other documents that people often prepare at the same time as their will or trust – like an advance health care directive and durable power of attorney for assets. These documents all together are called an estate plan. Although they have other purposes too (like nominating a guardian for a child, planning for disability or avoiding probate, which is a court process), wills and trusts are documents that say who will receive your assets after you are gone. The most common type of trust is often called a revocable living trust or a family trust. People who have a trust usually still have a will, although it is a shorter form of will called a pour-over will. It’s a good idea to talk to an estate planning attorney about whether or not a trust makes sense for your family or circumstances. Now that you’re ready to get started, here are some mistakes to avoid:

It started with a sore knee. Ava was 17, a senior at Bishop Manogue High School in Reno. She played soccer for all four years. Fast, focused, and competitive.