Perry Health Pulse

Any organ can fail, given the right circumstances.  We tend to overlook it, but that includes the brain.  As an organ, the brain is susceptible to damage or disease, which can progress as far as failure.  When the brain suffers from damage or disease, the effects cascade throughout the other systems of the body and reduce much more than memory, focus, and attitude.  The effects also start very small, almost unnoticeable, and tend to progress faster and faster.  On the other hand, we have the power to keep our brains healthy through our diets, exercise routines, sleep schedules, social calendars, and mental exercises.  Research is ongoing, but one thing is clear:  good brain health is crucial for healthy aging.On this episode of the Pulse podcast, nurse practitioner Carol Debruhl discusses the importance of brain health, and what we should be doing to promote it.Learn more by visiting www.perrymemorial.org/podcast

We often overlook the importance of sleep when it comes to our health.  Generally, we think lack of sleep leads only to feeling tired, and nothing more.  We think, being unable to sleep is a consequence of stress or aging, and nothing less.  Often times, poor sleep is a lot more complicated than that.When it comes to our health, sleep matters so much that primary care providers go out of their way to ask patients about their sleep patterns.  Research has found that lack of quality sleep increases a person's risk factors for a number of diseases.  AND lack of quality sleep can be caused by a number of health problems.  Sleep is a big piece of our overall health wellness puzzle.On this episode of the Pulse podcast, Dr. S. Das Pamnani shares why sleep is so important, what poor sleep can lead to, and what can be done to help achieve a more restful sleep each night. Learn more by visiting www.perrymemorial.org/podcast 

Diabetes is not a simple disease.  It comes with a long list of complications and other health problems, including nerve damage, heart disease, retinopathy, kidney damage, and ... strokes.  And in the midst of the pandemic, people with poorly managed diabetes who have COVID face an EVEN HIGHER risk of strokes.On this episode of the Perry Health Pulse, internal medicine physician Dr. S. Das Pamnani discusses the connection between diabetes and strokes, how COVID increases the risk of strokes, and how people with diabetes can reduce their risk of having a stroke.  Learn more by visiting www.perrymemorial.org/podcast

Ever wondered what it would be like to be a nurse?  How it's possible to care for family and friends?  Or to keep a straight face when something embarrassing happens?  To lend a hand in helping people recover, and to be with others in their last moments?In honor of Nurses' Week, we are sharing stories from our nurses.  Hopefully these stories give some insight into why nurses do what they do, and why they are so tough and amazing!Learn more at www.perrymemorial.org/podcast

Why are antibiotics so important?  How do they work?  Why does resistance to antibiotics matter?  Why don't we have more of them?  Will a superbug cause the end of mankind?On this episode of the Pulse podcast, we are continuing our SpeakUp campaign by discussing everything you should know about antibiotics.  Pharmacist Rena Mathesius and pathologist Dr. Lori Racsa discuss the answers to these questions, and more.Learn more by visiting www.perrymemorial.org/patients-and-visitors/patients/speak-up/antibiotics

Why go to nutritional counseling?  What can a dietitian tell you that you haven't already heard before?  And how does my primary care provider understand my nutrition when I see them for such a short appointment?On this episode of the Pulse podcast, nurse practitioner Abby Vladika, APRN, shares how she gets to know her patients' nutrition habits, how she determines if nutritional counseling can help, and what the program means for her patients.Learn more by visiting www.perrymemorial.org/podcast

You or someone you know probably has varicose veins.  You know, the ugly discoloration or bulging veins on the legs?  It's a very common problem.  But, its not just a cosmetic issue.  Often times, varicose veins are a sign of a disease called venous reflux disease, a problem with blood flow back to the heart.  Untreated, venous reflux disease can lead to pain and more severe problems.On this episode of the Perry Health Pulse podcast, general surgeon Dr. Mark Williams discusses venous reflux disease, its causes and symptoms, and how it can be treated with medical management or minimally-invasive procedures.Learn more by visiting www.perrymemorial.org/podcast

When it comes to chest pain, one of the most difficult questions is "How do you know when to go to the Emergency Department?"  What are the signs and symptoms of something more serious than heart burn?  How do you avoid getting stuck with a huge bill if you're wrong?  How does COVID-19 affect the heart?  Will the lingering symptoms like heart palpitations go away?  Listen as Dr. Neal Edelson (Emergency Medicine) and Dr. S. Das Pamnani (Internal Medicine) answer these questions and more about heart attacks, strokes, and COVID-19.  This episode of the Perry Health Pulse includes audio taken from the February 17 Zoom event titled "Don't let your heart skip a beat."Learn more by visiting www.perrymemorial.org/podcast

When you have a heart attack, what happens?  What does the EMS crew do?  How quickly do you need a procedure?  Who are you referred to after a heart attack?  What is the best form of prevention for heart attacks?  Does COVID-19 damage the heart?  On this episode of the Pulse, cardiologist Dr. Thompson and his patient, Donna, discuss heart attacks and everything you hope you never have to find out about heart attacks.  Dr. Thompson shares his expert knowledge and offers his best advice for anyone hoping to prevent heart disease from becoming a part of their life.Learn more by visiting www.perrymemorial.org/podcast

With a new year, comes a fresh start, but it can be challenging to sustain a new exercise routine for more than a month a two.  Success comes down to planning:  how you set goals, track results, and balance different types of exercises.On this episode of the Pulse, personal trainer Lindsay Hart shares suggestions for exercises at home, how to exercise safely, how to set realistic expectations, and how to get the best results.  Learn more by visiting www.perrymemorial.org/podcast

Changing your lifestyle with a new exercise routine and diet is challenging for everyone--especially during the winter months, and a pandemic.  Success is possible, and it starts with S-M-A-R-T goals.  Success takes careful planning, frequent reflection, and partnering with apps and programs that work for your needs and personality.  On this episode of the Pulse podcast, PE teachers Zach and Sarah Clark share what they teach their students, and how they have been guiding them to stay active and stick to a routine, despite the weather and COVID-19.  Learn more by visiting www.perrymemorial.org/podcast

With a new year, many people start planning a "new you."  January resets the rules and offers an opportunity to live healthier, but ultimately only about 10% of people succeed.Other people have no choice in the matter.  When someone has a heart attack, their lifestyle has to change, immediately.  Donna and Joan know what it's like.  They each experienced a heart attack under challenging circumstances, and responded by embracing the new routine.  Changing lifestyles is difficult for anyone, but Donna and Joan figured out how to make regular activity, healthier eating, avoiding extra treats, and reading food labels feel like second nature.  On this episode of the Pulse podcast, they share their stories--of heart attacks and recovery--to help others make smart decisions now, and avoid traumatic experiences down the line.Learn more by visiting www.perrymemorial.org/podcast

What is it about the winter season that makes depression more severe?  What can people do to overcome it?  Is SAD a real disorder?  What causes people to have trouble sleeping?  What information should people share with their primary care provider?  How do you make up for the lack of social interaction due to COVID-19?These questions and more are discussed and answered on this episode of the Perry Health Pulse, featuring audio of a Zoom event held with licensed clinical social workers Ariel Swanson and Dave Roden.  Learn more by visiting www.perrymemorial.org/podcast

Mental health means something different when you've been through it, when you've had a personal encounter with depression or anxiety and reached the point of seeking help.  From the outside, mental health challenges can be difficult to comprehend, and people who are struggling with depression or anxiety are often given labels--as "weak" or "crazy."  It is time to break that stigma.  On this episode of the Pulse, three patients from our Senior Behavioral Wellness program volunteered to share their powerful stories, to help others understand what mental health really means, and to encourage those who need help, to seek it.  These are very personal, intimate stories, and we appreciate their willingness to be so vulnerable.Learn more by visiting www.perrymemorial.org/mentalhealth

Is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) a real disease?  Or are people just "bummed out" during the shorter days?  Does decorating for Christmas help if you're spending the holiday alone?  Or does it make things worse?How can people get through the stresses of winter, shorter days, and COVID-19 without depression or anxiety?On this episode of the Pulse podcast, Dr. Scott Arbaugh, psychiatrist and Medical Director of Senior Behavioral Wellness (SBW), and Angie Hughes, LCPC and program director of SBW, discuss the "Winter Blues" and what their experience has taught them about coping through the holiday season.

Discussions of health always seem to center around nutrition and exercise.  In a broad sense, that is for a very good reason:  eating right and staying active will help prevent many diseases.  In the end, the process is much more complex than that, and sometimes the specific nutrition needs or exercises are not easy to pinpoint.On November 16, Ashley Kannenberg, RDN, and Adam Varvil, PT, hosted a Zoom Q&A to discuss how nutrition and exercise can help your immune system recover from illnesses such as cold, flu, or COVID-19.  They provided a short presentation, and then followed up by answering questions submitted by the participants.  For this episode of the Pulse podcast, we are sharing the recorded audio from that event so you can hear what they had to say.Learn more by visiting www.perrymemorial.org/podcast

When you get sick, your immune system automatically kicks in, and other systems in your body start making adjustments to support your immune system.  Suddenly, you feel more tired, and you've lost your appetite.  Is that your body talking, or the disease?  Sometimes it can be difficult to tell the difference.  Does it help when you sleep for hours on end or drink a bunch of orange juice or eat bowl after bowl of soup?  Or is there something else you should be doing to support your immune system?  On this episode of the Perry Health Pulse podcast, Dr. Anju Patel, pediatrician, discusses how your body reacts to a virus and what you can do to help fight it.Learn more by visiting www.perrymemorial.org/podcast

Everyone seems to experience COVID-19 differently.  There are at least a dozen possible symptoms, ranging in severity from none to mild to fatal.  And those symptoms overlap significantly with cold and influenza, which makes our winter season even more challenging.The best way to help understand COVID-19 is to hear from people who have been through it.  After looking at enough first-hand accounts, it becomes even clearer that everyone is affected differently, and anyone can be affected severely.  Regardless of age and health conditions, COVID-19 has the potential to do lingering damage.In this podcast, Brittany Sondgeroth shares her personal story about COVID-19 and the many symptoms she experienced, despite being young and healthy, and taking precautions to avoid the virus.Learn more by visiting www.perrymemorial.org/podcast

It has been a long time since doctors made house calls with a small black bag.  Today, the bag just isn't big enough to fit a CT Scanner or a chemistry profiler.  Technology has and continues to change healthcare at a rapid pace, to the point that doctors rely on technology to assist throughout the entire diagnosing process.Given all of the technology and computer-driven tests, it is no stretch of the imagination to wonder when doctors will be replaced by robots.  A quick blood draw and body scan, and the Dr. Roboto will tell you exactly what is wrong and how to fix it.According to real life Dr. Blanford, that day is possible, but not for a very, very, very long time.  Even now, testing is not perfect.  Different tests have different rates of false positives or false negatives, and people's body don't work exactly the same.  What might be a healthy range for one person, might be completely unhealthy in another.  And some tests are too expensive or expose too much radiation to be used frequently, so providers narrow down the diagnosis options using other tests first.  These are all things that go into the "Art of Medicine," as Dr. Blanford refers to it.  Healthcare is far from exact.  The piece that technology lacks--and probably will lack for a long time--is intuition and an understanding of the whole picture.  Through their experiences and relationships with each individual patient, providers begin to develop a gut instinct that guides them through the diagnosis process to a more accurate result, without putting too much unnecessary stress on the patient's body.On this episode of the Perry Health Pulse podcast, Dr. Blanford discusses how providers navigate the inconsistencies and imprecision of healthcare while relying more and more on technology.  Learn more by visiting www.perrymemorial.org/podcast

Unlike most vaccines, the influenza vaccine is never a "one-and-done" immunization.  Year after year, the flu virus adapts and changes, and our bodies are left defenseless against a new strain of disease.  Fortunately, that strain usually only amounts to a temporary setback in an otherwise healthy and cozy season, but for tens of thousands of Americans each year, the virus is debilitating enough to cause death. The question we all face is simple:  does the flu vaccine actually work?  For many, the unpredictability of the influenza virus is proof that the vaccine is a waste of time.  Perhaps it even makes the symptoms worse.  Healthcare professionals have another take on it.  On this episode of the Perry Health Pulse podcast, Infection Control nurse Kathy Blanford and Assistant Health Department Administrator Laurie Geuther share their perspective on the influenza vaccine and how it helps protect others who are more vulnerable to the disease.Learn more by visiting www.perrymemorial.org/podcast