All three MedWest Urgent Care center locations will be open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve. The urgent care centers are located in Sylva in the Wal-Mart Plaza, Waynesville in the Hazelwood area, and Canton off Exit 31 on Interstate 40. The urgent care centers will be closed on Christmas Day and patients needing urgent or emergency care may visit a MedWest Emergency Department, open 24 hours, at MedWest-Haywood, MedWest-Harris or MedWest-Swain.

MedWest Health System currently offers two urgent care centers in west Waynesville and Canton and one in Sylva to serve the community for any non-emergency injury or illness open from 8 a.m. until 6:30 p.m., seven days a week. Urgent Care helps to aid the community in healthcare accessibility when an emergency department visit is not necessary for minor health issues such as sore throats, upset stomachs, sprains and minor cuts.

From clearer skin to a stronger immune system

With more than a third of Americans classified as obese, everyone is advocating exercise to maintain a healthy weight.

That’s great, says Dr. Eudene Harry, author of “Live Younger in eight Simple Steps,” (www.LivingHealthyLookingYounger.com), but the benefits of exercise go far beyond fitting into those skinny jeans.

For one, it will give you younger looking, more blemish- free skin.

At the upcoming Dec. 11, Ladies Night Out Program, the topic will be Weight Management. In addition to improving quality of life, reaching a healthier body weight is good for overall health and wellbeing. Research shows that being overweight or obese greatly increases the risk for developing many chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some types of cancer. The secret to success is making changes and sticking with them. Learning more about preventing further weight gain and maintaining weight loss is sure to come in handy for all of us over the holidays.

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“Time heals all wounds” is a tired and worn cliche that isn't always true, according to The Compassionate Friends, a national self-help bereavement organization. When the wound is a child who has died, the best support to help a bereaved family survive the holidays may simply be that of friends and relatives who care.

“So often friends and relatives stay away from grieving families, uncertain how they can help at this time of the year,” says Patricia Loder, Executive Director of The Compassionate Friends, herself a twice bereaved parent, and a bereaved sibling.