During today's program, hosts and pharmacists, Paul White and Brad White discuss current news and offerings in Medicine Center Pharmacies. From genetic testing and compounded prescriptions to our free kids' vitamin program and our Minerva pharmacist running in the Boston Marathon, we have a lot happening!
Sexual violence affects millions of Americans – both women and men. According to RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, every 98 seconds, someone is sexually assaulted. The assault can take many different forms, but one thing remains the same: it’s NOT EVER the victim’s fault. In this podcast, we talk about treatment through Mercy's HAVEN Program and community resources available locally for victims.
Diabetes and nutrition impact a lot of people, including children and adults who have diabetes as well as family members and friends. Living with diabetes requires day-to-day knowledge of nutrition, exercise, blood sugar monitoring, medication and more. So, it’s only natural that diabetes education is extremely important in the management of healthy living. During this program we talk about diet, foods that influence blood sugar levels and learn about a new community diabetes program between Mercy and NFL players.
Patient safety is a serious global health issue that impacts people of all ages, races and pretty much every health category. It is at the forefront of all patient care. Concerns range from transportation of a patient to treatment and medication. Today we are talking with health experts from Mercy Medical Center about some of these issues and potential risks patients face, as well as steps local health providers are taking to ensure patient safety.
Up to 10 million Americans, and hundreds of millions of people worldwide, suffer from lymphedema and other lymphatic disorders. In the United States, that’s more people than are diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, ALS, Parkinson’s disease and AIDS combined. Both children and adults, males and females, can develop lymphatic conditions. But, it often goes undiagnosed until the symptoms have progressed to the point that lymphedema is very difficult to treat, and hospitalization is frequent due to infections and wounds. March is Lymphedema Awareness Month, and during this podcast we talk with experts Jonas Sykes, physical therapy director and Jeannie Lee, certified lymphedema therapist and occupational therapist assistant at Aultman Lymphedema Management Clinic.
Wound care is essential to healthy living. Most of us have experienced scratches or scrapes that healed naturally, but sometimes there are wounds that just will not heal. Other health issues—diabetes, circulation problems, radiation and many more can complicate the healing process, and turn the simplest wounds into complex, non-healing health issues that can cause big problems. Thanks to science, we know wounds need oxygen to heal properly, and when the body isn’t getting the oxygen it needs, there are other steps that can be taken to impact the healing process. In this segment, we discuss treatment options with Mercy Wound and Hyperbaric Center's Kim Landsberger, registered nurse and program director.
Vision therapy is a specialized program, which helps correct visual, developmental and perceptual problems that are not helped through glasses or contacts. Think of vision therapy as physical therapy for the eyes and brain. If you or someone you know has vision problems, behavioral problems or learning problems, vision therapy might help. Today we will talk about optometric vision therapy with Dr. Drusilla Grant and learn more about the types of issues it addresses.
February is American Heart Health Month, and this month we are focusing on heart health for both men and women. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. The good news? It is also one of the most preventable. Making heart-healthy choices, knowing your family health history and the risk factors for heart disease, having regular check-ups and working with your physician to manage your health are all integral aspects of saving lives from this often, silent killer. Today we will talk about women and heart disease, heart failure as well as the link between diabetes and heart disease with Mercy Medical Heart Center experts Michelle Amos, RN, MSN and Kim Swast, RN.
Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability and refers to a group of symptoms, which results in difficulties with specific language skills, particularly reading as well as spelling, writing and pronouncing words. Dyslexia affects individuals throughout their lives; however, the impact can change throughout various stages in life. According to the International Dyslexia Association, it is considered a learning disability because dyslexia can make it very difficult for a student to succeed academically in the typical instructional environment. Also, in its more severe forms, dyslexia can qualify a student for special education, special accommodations or extra support services. Today we talk with Jim Fidler, vice chairman of the Children's Dyslexia Center of Canton.
Hearing loss affects people of all ages in varying degrees. Whether mild, moderate or severe, hearing loss impacts 48 million people in the United States, according to the Center for Hearing Communication. Hearing loss can begin at birth or develop at any stage. Technology has provided many advances in treatment, and today we talk with Dr. Denise Testa, audiologist from Aultman Medical Group about causes, various types of hearing loss, aids and more.
As the number one killer of women, cardiovascular diseases, which include stroke, claim the life of a woman about every 80 seconds, according to the American Heart Association's Valerie Stutler. In fact, today heart disease claims more lives than all forms of cancer combined. This forces us to consider that a woman we know and love may be affected at any age.
Parkinson’s Disease is a disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement and often includes tremors. Nerve cell damage in the brain causes dopamine levels to drop, leading to the symptoms which often start with a tremor in one hand. Other symptoms are slow movement, stiffness and loss of balance. There is good news - with proper treatment, most people with Parkinson's Disease can lead long, productive lives for many years after diagnosis. Several therapies are available that can help delay the disease, and we explore those a little more in depth with the Aultman Hospital's Delay the Disease therapists, Kari Lawson and Chrissy Foraker.
It’s not unusual for young people to experience "the blues" or feel "down in the dumps" occasionally. Adolescence is always an unsettling time, with the many physical, emotional, psychological and social changes that accompany this stage of life. In fact, during this time, teens need adult guidance more than ever, according to Mental Health America. Today we talk with Perry Local School District Clinical Counselor Margaret Delillo-Storey about signs and symptoms of teen stress, anxiety and depression and what parents and caregivers can do to help.
Flu season typically begins in October and lasts through March, and now that we have arrived at week 11 of flu season, we are already seeing many cases in Stark County. The Ohio Department of Public Health upgraded its description of flu activity in the state to “widespread,” the highest geographic indicator. Prior to this, this status was graded “regional,” meaning influenza has already geographically spread to a level that Ohio didn’t hit last year until mid-January. Although flu season is already here, it’s not too late to protect yourself by getting a flu shot. Today we talk with Canton City Public Health Department Epidemiologist Amber Archer.
Many medicines are prescribed for the treatment of heart disease, and keeping track can sometimes be overwhelming. Understanding what each medication does and its relevance in your health is important. Medications can reduce the risk of heart attack, angina, stroke or heart failure. They can also help manage symptoms by controlling high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol, and improve your quality of life. Today we talk about statins, beta blockers, blood thinners and more with Dr. Steven Hirsch, interventional cardiologist with Mercy Cardiovascular Institute.
Gastrointestinal cancers are usually found when a person goes to the doctor after experiencing signs or symptoms, according to the American Cancer Society. These types of GI cancers can include liver, pancreas, colon and beyond. The process of detection typically begins with the doctor taking a history and examining the patient. If cancer is suspected, tests will then begin in order to confirm the diagnosis. However, as in most cancers, early detection is key. Our guests are Dr. David Litvak, surgical oncologist with Aultman Medical Group and Dr. Amar Podugu, gastroenterologist with Gastroenterology Specialists.
Many patients find that actively participating in their own cardiovascular care ultimately enhances both their satisfaction with their healthcare and their outcomes. One great way to participate in your care is to learn more about cardiovascular health, tests, prevention strategies and treatment options. Today we talk about general cardiovascular care as well as Mercy’s Cardiovascular Institute and what it offers our community.
Minimally invasive surgery is becoming more and more common in hospitals. These types of procedures are performed through tiny incisions instead of one large opening. Because the incisions are small, patients tend to have quicker recovery times and less discomfort than with conventional surgery — all with the same benefits. Today we will talk about more in-depth about minimally invasive surgery for the heart with Dr. Tawil, cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon from Mercy Cardiovascular Institute at Mercy Medical Center.
Atrial fibrillation, also known as AFib, is a quivering or irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications. According to the American Heart Association, at least 2.7 million Americans are living with AFib. Some patients have described the feeling as if their heart is skipping a beat or flip flopping, while others report feeling nauseated or light headed. Then there are people who indicate they have had no symptoms and discovered they have AFib at a routine checkup with their physician. In today's segment we talk about AFib treatment options including pacemakers, drug therapy and the Watchman Device with Dr. Michael Markel, cardiologist from Stark Medical Specialties.
World Stroke Day, which was recognized last week, brought much needed attention to stroke risk factors and care. Much like heart disease, strokes can happen unexpectedly, but knowing the risk factors can often prevent strokes and aid in treatment. Some of these risk factors can include high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, smoking, age and gender, race and ethnicity and more. Stroke treatment is relatively new in the medical world, and this program we dive into the topic of neurology treatment with the experts from Aultman Hospital and find out what proactive steps can be taken if a patient suspects a stroke.