About 33% of Americans over age 20 have high blood pressure and over 5 million Americans have heart failure.  Of those diagnosed with heart failure, roughly 70%  also have high blood pressure.  These conditions increase a patient’s risk for heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.  Medication therapies continue to improve and manage the symptoms of these conditions – but there are many things we can do to control these diseases and improve our health.  This morning we will talk about risk factors, symptoms and treatment of these conditions – but also about the changes we can make in our lives to improve our health. Today, Dr. Simonette Jones, non-invasive cardiologist joins us from Mercy Cardiovascular Institute to talk about cardiovascular health issues. 

(L-R) Brad White, R. Ph., Paul White, R. Ph. and Dr. Simonette Jones

Voting day is just a couple weeks away, and there is a lot of chatter about Issue 2, which has been dubbed the “deceptive Rx issue”. Will you vote NO or yes? To help you get a better understanding of what is at stake, today we will talk about what Issue 2 is, how it will affect individuals and families and find out how the actual ballot language reads, as well as dig into what it all means. Antonio Ciaccia, Director of Government and Public Affairs for the Ohio Pharmacists Association joins us to discuss the facts.

(L-R) Brad White, R. Ph., Paul White, R. Ph., WHBC producer Steve Potter and Antonio Ciaccia, Director of Government & Public Affairs for Ohio Pharmacists Association

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women (after skin cancer). The American Cancer Society estimates this year about 252,710 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women, and 40,610 will die from this disease. This morning we talk with Dr. Russell Ramey, general surgeon from Mercy Medical Center and Dr. Noman Rafique, oncologist and hematologist from Tri-County Hematology & Oncology about breast cancer screening options and breast cancer treatment.

L-R: Health Matters Hosts Brad White, R. Ph, Paul White, R. Ph, Dr. Russell Ramey, general surgeon from Mercy Medical Center and Dr. Noman Rafique, oncologist and hematologist from Tri-County Hematology & Oncology prepare for the Health Matters program at WHBC-AM1480.

Most people recognize podiatry as the treatment of feet, although it’s a diverse specialty and covers many aspects. In addition to general podiatric care, the Aultman Medical Group Podiatrists specialize in foot and ankle trauma, reconstruction, sports medicine and wound care. Dr. Natalie LaScola joins us today to talk about diabetes-related foot care, treatments, conditions and why the feet are vulnerable.

Dr. Natalie LaScola

September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men (after skin cancer). Overall, the lifetime risk of developing prostate cancer is: about 1 in 7. The American Cancer Society estimates this year about 161,000 people will be newly diagnosed and 26,730 will die from this disease. This morning we talk with Dr. Steven Ochs and Dr. Edward Walsh from Mercy Medical Center about prostate screening options, prostate cancer treatment and robotic prostate surgery.

Years ago celiac disease was believed to be a very rare occurrence; the statistics indicate 1 in 12,000 people was diagnosed with celiac disease. Fast forward to 2017, and current research reveals that today 1 in 100 people deal with this auto immune disease that is treated without medication or therapy. There is more gluten in the average American diet today than ever before. Bobbie Randall is in the studio with us to talk about why there is an increase in gluten allergies and celiac disease as well as give us some guidance on how to identify foods that cause allergies and replace them with foods that are healthy and tasty. 

Today our guests, Bobbie Randall and Alyssa Diamint, registered dietitians join us from Aultman-Orrville to talk about the history of celiac, the differences between gluten sensitive and gluten intolerant, how we arrived at the dietary health issue today and how we can maintain a healthy diet. 

Making a guest appearance is Catherine Sackett, owner of Four Kids Coffee, with tasty gluten-free treats from her gluten-free bakery.

All of today's guests will join us at the Canton Medicine Center Pharmacy, Tuesday, October 3 for a Gluten-Free Living Health Fair.

National Rehabilitation Awareness Week is held September 18-22, and during this time healthcare professionals focus on raising awareness of Rehab treatment, explaining what Rehab is, how it benefits patients and why it is vital in the recovery process of many patients. Dr. William Washington is part of NeuroCare Center, one of our program sponsors, and he is the Medical Director of Mercy’s Regional Rehabilitation Center. He brings 26 years of experience in his field and gives great insight into Rehab and the many forms it takes supporting patients.

Integrative medicine is an approach to health care that puts the patient at the center. It focuses on overall health including physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual and environmental influences. Our topic today focuses on integrative and functional health, ranging from perimenopause and bio-identical hormones to gut dysfunction and probiotics.

Dr. Scott is a Fellow of American College of OB/GYN; Advanced Fellow and certified in Anti-aging, Regenerative, and Functional Medicine; Board Certified, American Board of Integrative Medicine, Certified Menopause Practitioner through the North American Menopause Society; Clinical Associate Professor of OB/GYN at Northeast Ohio Medical University; Chief Medical Officer, Revitalize Medical Group, Medical Director of Integrative Medicine at Summa Health Systems.

We hope you enjoy the discussion.

Have you ever wondered what a Physician Assistant is?  Maybe you have been seen by a Physician Assistant or a Nurse Practitioner and wondered about the difference in their degrees or the services they can provide.  Our guest today, Sarah Casper, physician Assistant from Jackson Family Practice answers those questions and talk to us about the importance of immunizations, back to school sports physicals and the important of annual wellness visits. 

When we think of heart disease and cardiovascular issues, we often think of adults later in age. However, approximately 40,000 children are born with a heart defect each year. And, at least eight of every 1,000 infants born each year have a heart defect. Thank goodness for organizations like the American Heart Association and volunteers across America who get involved not only to raise funds for research but also raise awareness of heart disease. Next month the Stark and Wayne County Healthy For Good Heart Walks will take place, with the Wayne County Walk, Saturday, September 16 at Secrest Arboretum in Wooster. The Stark County Walk will be held Saturday, September 30 at Kent State University-Stark. This walk is the Association’s premier event for raising funds to save lives from this country’s Number 1 and Number 5 killers – heart disease and stroke. 

Jack Ford, senior vice president of Beaver Excavating and chair of the American Heart Association’s Stark and Wayne County Healthy For Good Heart Walks and Dr. Brandon Smith, pediatric cardiologist at Akron Children’s Hospital Heart Center join us today.  

Brad White, R. Ph. and Paul White, R. Ph. are joined by Jack Ford, senior vice president of Beaver Excavating and Brad's son Reagan in the WHBC studio.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death of both men and women in the United States. This includes heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases, according to the American Heart Association. Heart disease is often associated with men, but it is a major health risk for women as well. Statistics indicate every minute, approximately one woman dies from heart disease. Unfortunately, only one in five American women believes heart disease is her greatest health risk.  

It’s not all gloom and doom – there is some good news. Risk of cardiovascular disease can be reduced by diet and exercise, so it is important to know the risk factors. The statistics may be daunting, but cardiovascular disease can be treated. During today's program, Dr. Rizwan Sardar, cardiologist at Aultman Hospital joins Brad White, R Ph. and Paul White, R. Ph. to talk about treatment options for cardiovascular disease.

General dentists are the primary providers for dental care in patients of all ages. From children to seniors, dentists treat the entire family for overall health care which is crucial to mouth and general health. So, when it comes to baby teeth, sealants, root canals and beyond, regular dental care can not only treat problems but also prevent many issues – from cavities to gum disease.

Dr. Brian Amison from the Amison Dental Group joins us to talk about all things dental including root canals, oral cancer, preventive visits and his upcoming event Dentistry From the Heart.

In August of 2015 Community Services of Stark County merged with Quest Recovery Services to create CommQuest.  Together they provide a broad range of services to the residents of Stark County to provide a continuum of care for behavioral health issues in our county.  This includes addiction and recovery services. Ohio’s opiate epidemic is a crisis of unparalleled proportions with devastating, often deadly, consequences. Opiates include both heroin and prescription pain reliever medications. Today our guests discuss the epidemic and the CommQuest Addiction and Recovery Symposium on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 in downtown Canton. 

CommQuest's President and CEO Keith Rochadel and Fund & Business Development Coordinator Sara Stone discuss the opiate and heroin epidemic 

For many Americans, summer means fun in the sun.  The kids are out of school, adults are on vacation and it’s time for outdoor activities like swimming, riding bikes and outdoor barbecues.  However, summer is also the time of year consumers are most likely to be injured.  June, July and August are peak months for Emergency Room visits.  If you are wondering how to avoid being a summer statistic and how to keep your children safe and healthy please listen in as Andrew Bolgiano, RN, ENT-P, EMS and Trauma Coordinator at Mercy Medical Center and Brad White R.Ph. discusses tips for a safe, healthy summer.  

The percentage of children with obesity in the United States has more than tripled since the 1970s. Today, about one in five school-aged children, ages 6–19 has obesity. Children with childhood obesity miss more days of school compared to children of normal weight, they may suffer from lower self-esteem and in the long term, childhood obesity is associated with having obesity as an adult which is linked to serious health conditions.

Changes in the environments where children spend their time—like homes, schools, and community settings—can help children achieve and maintain a healthy weight by making it easier to eat nutritious foods, get at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily, watch less television, and eat fewer foods and beverages high in added sugars or solid fats.

Today we will discuss healthy eating for children and how to include healthy eating habits as part of our summer meal planning.  Our guest today has some great information to share, and we are glad you joined us. 

Sereen Zawahri Krasuna
Program Coordinator
Sereen Zawahri Krasuna, MS, RD, LD, is a registered and licensed dietitian as well as our program coordinator. She has worked in clinical and wellness settings. She is bilingual as our Arabic speaking team member. Sereen attended The University of Akron where she earned her bachelor’s degree in dietetics. She completed her master's degree in nutrition from Kent State University where she wrote her thesis on organic food. In addition to helping others achieve their goals, Sereen enjoys traveling with her husband, being involved in her church, and spending time with her family. 

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 of Health Matters, Kim Landsberger, hyperbaric wound treatment expert at Mercy Medical Center Hyperbaric & Wound Center discusses treatment options. We hope you enjoy.

Heat-related disease and illness affects people of all ages. From toddlers to teens and seniors, summer temperatures are a major factor in health issues. This week Mark Adams, environmental health director for the City of Canton, is our guest on the Health Matters program. Mark discusses the importance of hydration in people with chronic illnesses as well as mosquito-born diseases and how to safely remove ticks. The Medicine Center Pharmacy focuses on patient health, and whether you’re spending the weekend camping, swimming, fishing or gardening, we want our listeners to stay healthy this summer.

When we think of “kidney stones,” the image of a typical patient is

usually not a child. But surprisingly, kidney stone disease in children and

teens has increased five-fold from the late 1990s to the early 2000s and now

accounts for 1 in 685 hospital admissions for children. Many experts believe

the increase in incidence and prevalence can be attributed to major dietary

and environmental changes in the United States. Research indicates the rise

in pediatric kidney disease is a result of children drinking much less water

and milk than previous generations and consuming more sodium through

processed foods. It's a growing problem, and we are eager to share more

information with our audience.  Today we welcome Dr. Kirsten Kusumi from Akron Children's Hospital.

Know your Pharmacist, Know your Medicine! That catchy phrase

sums up the very important relationship you have with your local

pharmacist. In a recent poll of U.S. individuals 65 years old and older who

use medications, researchers found that 51% take at least five different

prescription drugs regularly, and 25% take between 10 and 19 pills each day.

57% of those polled admit that they forget to take their medications. ….

Medications don’t work in patients who don’t take them! Authors of a

recent study on patient compliance found that a patient’s sense of

connectedness with their pharmacist or pharmacy staff was the survey’s

“single strongest individual predictor of medication compliance.” So, get to

know your pharmacist by name and let us help you know your medicine.

Today and everyday, we offer you both our expertise and our concern.

Join us live on 1480 WHBC as we discuss Dentistry from the Heart with Dr Farah.

Some people think tooth decay is just for children, but did you know

you are at risk your whole life? Untreated dental disease can lead to serious

health problems such as infection, damage to bone or nerve and tooth loss.

Dental infections that are left untreated can even spread to other parts of the

body and, in very rare cases, can be life threatening. The good news is that

dental disease is preventable. You can practice preventive dentistry on

yourself by adopting healthy habits.