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Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined and yet only 44% of women recognize that cardiovascular disease is their greatest health threat. Recognizing the urgent need for women's cardiac care, Renown Health established the Helaine Greenberg Women's Heart Center, the first of its kind in Nevada.

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Feelings of grief can take on many forms and can occur in reaction to many situations, including the death of a loved one or a medical diagnosis for yourself or someone close to you. It is important to remember that this reaction is entirely natural, and many people who experience grief find outside help to be a valuable part of the healing process. Below is a list of both local and national grief and bereavement resources for all ages and specificities. If you or someone you know is experiencing grief, the trained professionals below are here to help. Solace Tree Support groups for children and teens (ages 3 to 18), young adults and their family members. For more information visits solacetree.org/grief-programs or call 775-324-7723. Healing Minds Counseling services for those coping with the loss of a loved one or major life change. For more information visit healingminds.com/grief-counseling-reno-nv or call 775-448-9760. Circle of Life Hospice Support groups open to the community held the first and third Tuesday of every month. Fore more information visits colhospice.com/bereavement-and-spiritual-care or call 775-827-2298. Summit View Hospice Grief and bereavement support open to the community-groups, memorials and by mail. For more information visit summitviewhospice.com or call 775-636-9598. The Compassionate Friends Monthly support group on the second Monday of each month for families after a child dies. Fore more information visit facebook.com/TheCompassionateFriendsofReno, compassionatefriends.org or call 775-750-7005. Healing for Survivors of Suicide Links and resources for those who have lost a loved one to suicide. For more information visit survivingsuicide.com GriefShare Grief recovery support groups meeting weekly both in-person and online with options in Reno/Sparks, Carson City and rural cities. For more information www.griefshare.org National Alliance for Grieving Children Resources for parents and caregivers to help children navigate the challenges of bereavement and grow into healthy adults. For more information visit nacg.org/resources-and-support/ Mourning Hope Grief Center Grief support groups, counseling, resources and COVID-19 support for children, adults and families before and after a death loss. For more information visit mourninghope.org Crisis Support Services of Nevada 24/7, free, confidential and caring support to people in crisis across Nevada and the U.S. For more information visit cssnv.org, call 775-784-8090 or text CARE to 839863 National Alliance on Mental Illness-Warmline A stigma-free, non-crisis phone service you can call or text that is staffed by trained peers in recovery. For more information visit namiwesternnevada.org/resources/ or call 775-241-4212. Vitas Healthcare Grief and bereavement resources and support groups both virtual and phone-in. For more information visit vitas.com/family-and-caregiver-support or call 866-489-0583. St. Mary’s - Hospice We Promise Resources on grief for all groups including children to adults, trauma, caregivers and more. For more information visit hospicewepromise.com/topics/grief or call 775-525-6700. Mountain View Mortuary Grief support and tools available to assist you in your healing journey including “365 Days of Healing” email list for daily support and comfort. For more information visit mountainviewmortuary.net/resources/grief-support or call 775-788-2199 Sesame Street – Helping Kids Grieve Discover games, videos and more on topics important to you and your child. For more information visit sesamestreetincommunities.org/topics/grie Trauma Intervention Program-Northern NV A national non-profit organization of volunteers dedicated to ensuring those emotionally traumatized receive assistance. For more information visit tipnnv.org/about-tip/resources Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support Organization A non-profit organization dedicated to the support of families who have lost a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death. For more information visit pilsos.org Caring Info A program of the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization providing free resources to help people make decisions about end-of-life. For more information visit nhpco.org/patients-and-caregivers/

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Some days a chat with a friend is all you need to feel better. Why? Because humans are social beings. Although we have more technology than ever at our fingertips, sometimes we may still feel left out or disconnected. Dr. Buddy Coard, Ed.D., Psychologist at the Stacie Mathewson Behavioral Health Addiction Institute at Renown, discusses the importance of social connections and tips on how to keep connecting, warning signs of loneliness and how to feel less lonely.  Why are Social Connections Important? Dr. Coard points to significant research on the topic of loneliness and social connections. He uses the findings below to detail how social connections affect our overall health. In a recent survey 40% of participants reported they sometimes or always feel that their relationships are not meaningful and that they feel isolated. Surprisingly, this survey suggests Generation Z (18-22 years old) is the loneliest generation. Another study associates loneliness as a risk factor for early death. It indicates lack of social connection heightens health risks as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, or having alcohol use disorder. In fact, loneliness and social isolation are twice as harmful to physical and mental health as obesity (Perspectives on Psychological Science, Vol. 10, No. 2, 2015). A 2018 study investigated several standard measures of social isolation, including marital status, frequency of religious service attendance, club meetings/group activities and number of close friends or relatives. The findings revealed race as a strong predictor of social isolation. In particular, black men and women were more likely to be lonely than were white men and women. Loneliness also switches on your body’s long-term “fight-or-flight” stress signaling system, which negatively affects your immune system. People who feel lonely have lower immunity and more inflammation than people who don’t. Dr. Coard recommends the following tips for those who feel lonely. Tips to Increase Social Connection Get outside. More and more nature prescriptions are common. In fact even a 10 minute walk can elevate your mood and get your blood flowing. Develop a schedule of activities to accomplish in a week, setting realistic goals. Monitor your technology. Of course, watching the 24/7 news cycle can be depressing. Turn off the TV and listen to music or read a book instead. Even better, use technology to connect with family members by having a virtual game night or book club discussion. Write it out. When was the last time you sent a good old-fashioned letter or card? Or even wrote in a journal? Try to brighten someone’s day with snail mail. Writing down your hopes and fears also helps you to get worries off your mind and process your emotions. With this in mind, there are also volunteer opportunities to support others by sending a handwritten letter to others battling depression. De-clutter your surroundings. Go through those old photos and put them in an album. Clean out a drawer, cupboard or closet. You will feel a sense of accomplishment and can donate items you no longer need that others can enjoy. Increase your joy by reducing your clutter. Warning Signs of Chronic Loneliness One size does not fit all when it comes to loneliness. For this reason, loneliness can be different depending on your particular situation and your unique personality. However, if you feel some (or all) of the following symptoms, chronic loneliness may be affecting you: Lack of ‘best’ or close friends. You connect with others on a surface level, but feel no one truly understands you. People are n your life, yet you are not connecting on a deep, intimate level with them. You feel lonely even when people are around. This means feeling disengaged or not part of the group when around others. You feel less than enough. You often doubt yourself or don’t feel good enough when comparing yourself to others. And social situations feel exhausting. What Can Someone Do to Feel Less Lonely? Dr. Coard offers the following suggestion for those with a lack of social connections: Talk with your doctor, psychologist or another healthcare professional. Sometimes chronic loneliness relates to longstanding negative beliefs that an individual has about themselves. Engage in behavioral activation. For example, being more active and involved in life by scheduling activities which can potentially improve your mood and decrease feelings of isolation. Initially behavioral activation can be very challenging due to lack of motivation, but setting a reasonable schedule of activities is a good start. Pay attention to your sleep. Sometimes when people become lonely they experience significant changes in their sleep cycle. Frequently they sleep too much, or too little. Make sure to maintain a normal, healthy sleep/wake cycle, following good sleep hygiene recommendations.

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Today is a another great day to feel good about yourself. Your generous support affords much-needed items to help our littlest patients cope with the potential stressors associated with hospitalization and illness. Thank you in advance – we genuinely appreciate the generosity of our community.   Wish List All toys must be new Paints and glues must be non-toxic We cannot accept play guns, water toys, latex balloons, scary action figures, candy, gum, or other food Due to privacy and infection control, we cannot accept personal delivery of gifts and donations directly to patients. We receive the majority of contributions during the holiday season, so if possible, please plan your gifts outside this period as we care for patients year-round. View Donation Wish List   If you wish to donate, please fill out this form and the Child Life team will reach out to coordinate your donation.

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Movement Disorders Program  The Movement Disorders Program evaluates, diagnoses, and treats all movement disorders including: Tremors Parkinson’s disease Dystonia Restless leg syndrome Huntington’s disease or chorea Dr. Christopher Way is a movement disorders specialist that performs deep brain stimulation programming for Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor and performs botulinum toxin injections for dystonia. Dr. Way is the principal investigator of the PROSEEK study at Renown. PROSEEK is a drug trial that is studying a c-Abl inhibitor developed by SUN pharmaceuticals that has shown promise in slowing the progression of Parkinson’s disease. To be a candidate for the study, one must fulfill at least the following criteria: Age > 50 years Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease within the last 3 years Not on medication for treatment of Parkinson’s disease aside from monoamine oxidase B (MAOB) inhibitors. If you fulfill the above criteria and wish to receive more information about the study, please fill out this form.

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Renown Health's Institute for Cancer has the most advanced radiation therapy system of its kind and the first program in the region with American College of Radiology (ACR-RO) accreditation. To serve you, our certified team of experts includes highly trained doctors, medical physicists, dosimetrists, radiation therapists, and registered nurses.   What is Radiation Therapy? A common form of cancer treatment, radiation therapy uses high-energy particles to eliminate cancerous cells and may be used in conjunction with other treatments, like chemotherapy or surgery. What to Expect Treating cancer with radiation is a process that usually lasts about five to eight weeks. The first two appointments are consultation, simulation, and mapping, which help plan treatment. Short, daily radiation treatment appointments follow these. Why Choose Renown? Renown's state-of-the-art Varian TrueBeam radiation therapy system delivers treatment so precisely; it reaches sub-millimeter levels of accuracy. In addition, unlike other treatment centers in the region, Renown has the technology to deliver radiation from 360 degrees around the patient's body, allowing us to target cancerous cells and save healthy tissue. Consultation The first appointment is called the consultation. A radiation oncologist meets with the patient to discuss treatment options, perform a physical examination and answer questions. Simulation and Mapping Since radiation therapy aims to target cancer while sparing healthy tissue, to maintain body position and stillness is essential. A CT scan is used to pinpoint cancer's exact location in the patient's body during the simulation and mapping appointment. Doctors refer to these scans as they work together to craft a treatment plan. Patients are fitted with immobilization devices that keep the body still during treatment. In addition, brain and head, and neck cancer patients are equipped with a mesh mask to keep the head and neck in position. For cancers elsewhere in the body, patients are fitted with foam molds that form to the body. These personalized molds are kept on hand for use during daily radiation treatments. Additionally, the radiation therapist creates several pinpoint-sized tattoos on the patient's skin to ensure each daily treatment targets the same area. These tattoos are permanent but small enough to go unnoticed by others. Daily Radiation Treatments At each treatment appointment, a radiation therapist helps the patient.

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Providing emotional support for your children, and you.    It is undeniable that hospitals can be a daunting experience for all, but when a child is faced with a difficult diagnosis or staying in the hospital, it can be especially overwhelming. Fortunately, Renown Health has a team of experts called the Child Life team to help.   This group of devoted healthcare providers collaborate with kids who have been admitted to the hospital, as well as children whose family member is a patient at Renown, to ensure they understand every aspect of their visit, while also letting them be kids.   Child Life Specialists provide support to children and their families by:    Assessing patients developmental level and tailoring interactions to each individual family need Helping children cope with worries, fears and/or separation Making doctors, needles, and tests a little less scary by creating coping plans Organizing activities in the playroom and at bedside Addressing parent and caregiver concerns Preparing patients and families for what to expect Fostering a therapeutic environment through play opportunities Offering a hand to hold during tests, procedures, and tough stuff Offering services like art, music and pet therapy Creating special memories and mementos for children and families in times of grief and loss The Child Life Program is available seven days a week at Renown Health and the team can be reached at 775-982-5173.

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