Health Discovered

Sandra Abrevaya shares what it's like to care for her husband, Brian Wallach, who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), four years ago. She also discusses the mission of I Am ALS, the nonprofit the couple founded to provide hope for others with ALS -- and to help find a cure.

When you get a surprise medical bill or find an error on one, what should you do? Listen in as Marshall Allen, author of the new book Never Pay the First Bill, shares what works.

It's been 40 years since the CDC first reported on what we now call AIDS. James Curran, MD, is one of the first scientists who worked on this pandemic. Listen in as he recalls the biggest challenges -- and looks ahead to the future of HIV care. Is a vaccine on the horizon?

Joe Cobucci joins us to share his experiences, from getting diagnosed as a teen, to finding the right medications, to learning what works to help him manage the condition. He also talks about the second family he’s found along the way with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.

Caitlin Jones is a physician assistant, so when her husband noticed that a spot on her scalp had changed, she did something about it -- even though she'd had it checked before and had no symptoms. She tells us what it's like to have biopsies, surgery, and what life is like on the other side of melanoma, one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer.

That worst-case scenario you're imagining -- how realistic is it? Clinical psychologist Seth Gillihan, PhD, shares what to do when your ready-for-anything thinking crosses the line into catastrophizing. 

Related:

How to Stop Catastrophizing 

It's something you don't even think about ... until it doesn't work anymore. If COVID-19 put your sense of smell on the fritz, or if you just have questions, we have answers. Harold McGee, author of Nose Dive: A Field Guide to the World's Smells, explains the basics, including why a dog's paws can smell like corn chips and how you can improve your sense of smell. 

We talk with Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, president and dean of the Morehouse School of Medicine, about vaccine availability, hesitancy, and what you can do after you're vaccinated.

Related:

COVID-19 Vaccine Health Center

Suicide and suicidal thinking have become alarmingly common. Clinical psychologist Seth Gillihan, PhD, shares advice if you or someone you know is dealing with this. Help is available 24-7 from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.

Related:

What Is Suicidal Ideation?

When COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic one year ago today, life for everyone with a chronic illness got even more complicated. The Arthritis Foundation's Rebecca Gillett and Julie Eller -- who both have a form of arthritis -- talk about the pandemic's effects, from reimagining doctor visits to the hope the vaccine brings.