Newsroom

Gassing up the grill this summer? July is the peak month for grilling- and for burns involving grills. Don’t invite burns to your summer cookout. Here are some tips provided by the JMS Burn Center, located at Merit Health’s Merit Health Central facility in Jackson, to help you avoid burn injury: Make sure the grill is at least 10 feet away from other objects, like houses or bushes. Check your gas grill for leaks with soapy water. Spray on gas line connections, and if it bubbles, there's trouble. Never s... ... Read More

So much of what we do physically impacts us mentally – it’s important to pay attention to both your physical health and your mental health, which can help you achieve overall wellness and set you on a path to a healthy life. Merit Health is raising awareness about the connection between physical health and mental health. Eating healthy foods, managing stress, exercising and getting enough sleep can go a long way in making you healthy all around. “A healthy lifestyle can help to prevent the onset or wors... ... Read More

The Mississippi Braves have announced plans for a tobacco-free Trustmark Park in 2018. This initiative will be implemented with the support of Merit Health and The Mississippi Tobacco Quitline. The Tobacco-Free Policy will prohibit tobacco use in the ballpark, including electronic devices and will apply to all Mississippi Braves staff, players and fans. Trustmark Park becoming a tobacco-free ballpark is part of a movement by the M-Braves to help exemplify a healthy environment and create a positive mode... ... Read More

May is American Stroke Month, and The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, along with local sponsor Merit Health, are encouraging Metro Jackson residents to join together to end the No. 5 cause of death in the U.S. Despite striking more than 7 million adults in the United States annually and being a leading cause of serious, long-term disability, globally, stroke is largely preventable and treatable. Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mm Hg. Nearly half of all adults in the U.S. ha... ... Read More

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this year’s flu season has hit its peak, and is in a steady decline – finally. “We are confident that the worst of a tough flu season is over and we are encouraging patients who may have put off care to make sure they get back on track,” Merit Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Greg Oden said. According to the CDC, the flu rate in Mississippi has been falling over the past few weeks. The consistent decline in cases follows a season where i... ... Read More

The past two decades have brought us a significant amount of education on skin cancer: who is at risk, what it looks like, and how to avoid it. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S., with more than 3 million people diagnosed each year. With increased awareness and screening habits, dermatologists are also seeing and treating patients concerned about more benign forms of skin lesions – either for medical reasons or vanity. “As we grow older and are exposed to more sunlight and environ... ... Read More

From time to time, almost everyone will experience a stomachache. Most causes of abdominal pain are nothing to worry about, and will either pass on their own or be easily diagnosed and treated. But sometimes, stomach pain is a sign of a more serious illness. Learn which symptoms to watch out for, and use these tips to prepare for a successful visit with your doctor. “Stomach pain is both quite common AND notoriously difficult to diagnose,” Shuja Yousuf, MD said. "There are literally hundreds of potentia... ... Read More

Thanks to the Gamma Knife technology at Merit Health, you don’t have to suffer from facial pain (Trigeminal Neuralgia). People who suffer intense facial pain simply by eating, applying make-up, shaving, or receiving a kiss on the cheek, may have Trigeminal Neuralgia. This nerve condition is often described as an episodic sharp shooting pain, usually on one side of the face and has nothing to do with your teeth or gums. Luckily, the Gamma Knife Center offers a non-surgical option. This procedure offers p... ... Read More

It’s become common knowledge that heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the United States, taking the lives of more than 600,000 Americans annually. Medical and research communities continue to expand their efforts toward better prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. A recent study was conducted at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, focusing on the impact of trauma on a woman’s general heart health. The results were significant, indicating that women... ... Read More

JACKSON, Miss., Dec. 13, 2017 – According to event management company Big South Events, Merit Health Christmas Wonderland at the Braves Stadium in Pearl has thus far proven a rousing success. Christmas Wonderland has drawn over 50,000 attendees who have enjoyed the skating, sliding, and bouncing activities since the event opened mid-November. “We couldn't be happier with how everyone has turned out for the event,” Big South Events Vice-President Scott Steele said. "Our event workers have been asked to p... ... Read More