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French bulldog’s sudden paralysis highlights tick danger in the Tug Valley
BY ANNIE HOLLER MOUNTAIN CITIZEN DINGESS, W.Va. — As warmer weather settles across the Tug Valley region, veterinarians are warning pet owners about a sharp rise in cases of tick paralysis. This potentially fatal neurological condition can leave dogs unable to walk within days. The concern became personal for the Walker family of Dingess, West
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Health department to host Alpha-Gal Support Group May 7
BY DOROTHY DILLON INEZ — The Martin County Health Department will host an Alpha-Gal Support Group on Thursday, May 7, at 10 a.m. at the health department, 136 Rockcastle Road in Inez. The free event is open to people living with Alpha-Gal syndrome, caregivers and anyone who wants to learn more about the condition. The
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Diabetes Connection 2026 to focus on benefits of physical activity
BY LAKEAN MEADE The Martin County Health Department, in partnership with Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) and Aetna Better Health of Kentucky, will host Diabetes Connection 2026 on April 30 at 10 a.m. at the Martin County Health Department located at 136 Rockcastle Road in Inez. This free educational session will focus on the benefits of
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KY lawmaker wants EMS reimbursements increased to address shortages
by Sarah Ladd Kentucky Lantern February 4, 2026 FRANKFORT — Emergency responders are warning that in Kentucky’s ambulance deserts they are often overworked and underpaid and use old equipment to treat patients who may live 90 minutes from the nearest hospital. They gathered Tuesday in support of a bill that would result in higher reimbursements
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Healthy Happenings: Join the Diabetes Connection Support Group Feb. 26
BY LAKEAN MEADE We are excited to partner with Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) to host their Diabetes Connection Support Group. Join us Feb. 26 at 10 a.m. for a hands-on Nutrition Demonstration where you will actively participate, ask questions and learn simple, practical nutrition tips to support everyday diabetes management. Giveaway Alert: Everyone who attends—in
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Feeling the winter blues? Light may be the best medicine
BY LINDSEY FEY and JOSEPH REY-BARREAU UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY As the days get shorter and the sunlight fades, many people notice a change in their energy and mood. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), often called seasonal depression or the “winter blues,” is a type of depression that typically occurs during the fall and winter months when
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Another creditor lays claim to foundering addiction treatment provider’s $8 million loan
by Deborah Yetter Kentucky Lantern January 29, 2026 A federal lawsuit accusing Addiction Recovery Care, or ARC, Kentucky’s largest treatment provider, of defaulting on an $8 million loan has a new twist. Just two and a half weeks after Angelica Capital Trust sued the embattled provider, accusing ARC of refusing to repay the $8 million,
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On the front lines of prevention: Local provider urges cervical cancer screening, HPV vaccination
BY ANNIE HOLLER MOUNTAIN CITIZEN An illness that often develops without symptoms remains one of the most preventable cancers facing women today — if it is caught in time. Health providers say routine Pap smears and early HPV vaccination continue to be the most powerful tools for stopping cervical cancer before it becomes life-threatening. That
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UK first in nation to treat small cell lung cancer patient with new immunotherapy
by Sarah Ladd Kentucky Lantern January 5, 2026 If you smoke and want to quit, call the national quit line at 1-800-784-8669 to speak with a confidential coach. In what could be a “game changer” someday for Kentuckians with small cell lung cancer, the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center has treated the first patient
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Commentary: HPV cancer rates are higher in Appalachia. Wish I had known.
BY SKYLAR BAKER-JORDAN There was no privacy when I was told I might die. In November, I complained about a sore throat during my annual physical with my primary care physician. She saw nothing of concern. By early February, that sore throat had become unbearable, a sharp pain radiating up my neck and into my
