Photo: Metayel · Public domainWhere Damascus residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Damascus, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Damascus. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Damascus
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Damascus
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11%), vs 6.2% across Virginia. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.2%), vs 6.1% across Virginia. Stroke is also above the state: 4.7%, vs 3.3% across Virginia. In all, Damascus runs above Virginia on nine of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 31% of residents are 65 or older (Virginia 17%), and COPD, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Damascus
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (18%), vs 12.2% across Virginia. Habits ↓
More Damascus adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (30.6%), vs 23.8% across Virginia. Habits ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Virginia figure falls outside Damascus’ likely range.
Out of every 100 Damascus adults…
Damascus runs above VA on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Damascus is an older town: 31% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Virginia. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Damascus as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with Virginia
Share of adults, with the Virginia figure marked.
1.9 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Damascus
1 community health center in Damascus, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Damascus; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Damascus adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
How Damascus adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Damascus runs above Virginia.
1 in 3 Damascus adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
13.7% of Damascus adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Damascus and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Damascus adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Damascus
Why doesn’t Damascus have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Damascus.
What hospital is closest to Damascus?
Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon, 9.3 miles in a straight line from Damascus’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Damascus?
3 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Holston Family Health Center in Damascus, 0.1 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Damascus.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Virginia figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.