SVMC Wellness Connection: May 10

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May 10, 2024

What To Do When Food Allergies Strike
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Every 10 seconds, someone is rushed to the emergency department because of an allergic reaction to something they ate. May 12 - 18 is Food Allergy Awareness Week, a great time to learn how to recognize the symptoms and why the right response is critical. 
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Don't Let Your Bladder Hold You Back

We’ve all experienced the panic that ensues when you wait too long to go to the bathroom. But for more than 15% of men and 45% of women in the U.S., that feeling of panic and immediate need to pee is a part of daily life. Anthony Donaldson, MD, a board-certified urologist at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, provides tips on how you can regain control of your bladder and your life.
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Hearing Loss in Little Ones is a Big Deal

From the moment they are born, children start to develop language. But for children with untreated hearing loss, their ability to learn language and produce clear speech can lead to developmental challenges. Read More.

Dementia: Recognizing Early Signs

At a time when almost 10% of U.S. adults aged 65 and older have dementia, it’s important to be able to differentiate normal signs of aging from early signs of the disease. Read more.
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Fish and Wildlife Department: Take Down Birdfeeders, Secure Food from Bears

MONTPELIER, Vt. — The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has begun to receive reports of bears coming out of their dens and is urging Vermonters to remove their birdfeeders and take additional steps now to prevent conflicts with bears over the spring and summer.
 
"Do not wait to take down your birdfeeders and bearproof your yard until a bear comes to visit," said Jaclyn Comeau, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department's Bear Biologist.  "You need to act now to head off bear conflicts over the spring and summer, even if you have never had a bear visit your property before."
 
Bear incidents have been on the rise over the past several years.  Officials believe this trend is a result of Vermont's healthy black bear population learning to associate people and food over multiple generations.  Even with a steady increase in the number bears harvested by hunters in recent years—including a record harvest in 2024—Vermont's bear population has been stable over the past two decades and shows signs of growth over the past five years.
 
Shorter winters also mean that bears are emerging from their dens earlier in the spring.  In recent years bear activity has begun in mid-March.  This is roughly two weeks earlier than what is traditionally considered the start of "bear-aware season" in northern New England.
 
"Preventing bears from having access to human-related foods is key to successful coexistence with these long-lived and intelligent animals," said Comeau. "Bears can be found in every corner of Vermont other than the Champlain islands.  Put bluntly, most Vermonters live in bear country."
 
The department asks Vermonters to take the following proactive steps for coexisting with bears: 
 
  • Take down birdfeeders between mid-March and December.
  • Store garbage in bear-resistant containers or structures, trash cans alone are not enough.  
  • Follow the steps on our web page for composting in bear country. 
  • Use electric fences to keep chickens and honeybees safe. 
  • Request a bear-resistant dumpster from your waste hauler. 
  • Feed your pets indoors. 
  • Never feed bears, it is illegal.
 
"Deep snow may delay some bears from emerging from winter dens until April, but mid-March is the time for Vermonters to prepare for the early risers by taking down our birdfeeders, making sure garbage is secure, and protecting backyard chickens and bees with an electric fence," said Comeau.  "This will help teach bears that our yards and neighborhoods are not good places to search for food, but it will only work if everyone does their part."  Taking these precautions will also help reduce the chance of attracting other wildlife species such as raccoons, skunks and rodents.
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