Welcome to Health Made Simple, where we believe that when it comes to your health, if you are confused, you’ll lose. Our goal is to give you clear, concise, and accurate health information in just 10 minutes or less.

Today, we’ll be talking about a controversial topic for some — the COVID vaccine. Should you or shouldn’t you get it? Before you can make that decision, it’s important that you have the facts so you can make an informed decision!

Because COVID is a new disease with new vaccines, information is rapidly emerging and constantly changing.  You may even feel overwhelmed trying to keep up with the daily updates!

Here is what you need to know…

September is Healthy Aging Month and today, I am going to share 7 tips with you about how you and the people that you love can maximize your quality of life. 

You know, people in the United States are living longer than ever!  

And as we age, our minds change and our bodies change. 

Having a healthy lifestyle not only helps you deal with those changes but it also can prevent some serious health problems.

None of us are looking forward to getting older, but following these tips can help you to stay healthy and lead a more fulfilling life. 

If you have questions about any of these lifestyle changes or need help figuring out how to make these changes, talk with your health care provider today.

Today was scheduled to be Opening Day for Major League Baseball.  

For me, it’s one of my FAVORITE days of the year. 

Everything is new, everything is fresh, my team is still in contention!

Today I want to talk to you about a player on the Orioles named Trey Mancini and why HE matters to YOU.

Welcome to Health Made Simple.  We have one mission.  To help eliminate the confusion by providing you with clear, concise, and up-to-date health information in 5 minutes or less.

On March 7th, Mancini left spring training for what they were calling a non-baseball medical procedure.  

5 days later, they reported that he had had a malignant tumor removed from his colon…he had colon cancer.

So you’re asking…why is this important to me?  

Well, Mancini is only 28 years old. 

Routine screening for colon cancer doesn’t start until age 45.  

This means he either had symptoms or had a strong family history of colon cancer.  

So let’s talk about it, especially since we are in the midst of colon cancer awareness month.

First, what are the symptoms of colon cancer? 

Many of the symptoms of colon cancer can also be caused by something that isn’t cancer, like infection, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome, or inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis.

In many cases, people who have these symptoms do not have cancer. 

Still, if you have any of these problems, it is a sign that you should go to the doctor so the cause can be found and treated if needed:

• A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool, that lasts for more than a few days
• A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that is not relieved by doing so
• Rectal bleeding
• Dark stools, or blood in the stool
• Cramping or abdominal (belly) pain
• Weakness and fatigue
• Unintended weight loss

With regards to family history, about 1 in 3 people who develop colorectal cancer have other family members – especially parents, brothers and sisters, or children – who’ve had it. But most colorectal cancers occur in people without a family history of it.

If you are over the age of 45, you need to be screened for colon cancer.  

But I have good news.  There are new tests available for people who are an average risk and doesn’t require the dreaded prep. 

In fact, all you need to do is have the kit sent to you in the mail, have a bowel movement in the box, and ship it back to the lab.  

I’ll make it even easier for you.  Send me a message at [email protected] and I will send you an order form.

COVID-19 is keeping a lot of people at home.  Let’s at least do something for our health while we sit around and wait!

Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure (based on the incubation period of MERS-CoV viruses).

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

Call your doctor: If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice.

You can also visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html and check your symptoms and help you make decisions about appropriate medical care.

A pandemic (from Greek πᾶν pan "all" and δῆμος demos "people") is a disease that has spread across a large region, for instance multiple continents, or worldwide. A widespread endemic disease with a stable number of infected people is not a pandemic.

Flu pandemics generally exclude recurrences of seasonal flu. 

Throughout history, there have been a number of pandemics of diseases such as smallpox and tuberculosis. One of the most devastating pandemics was the Black Death, which killed an estimated 75–200 million people in the 14th century. Current pandemics include HIV/AIDS and the 2019 coronavirus disease. Other notable pandemics include the 1918 influenza pandemic (Spanish flu) and the 2009 "swine" flu pandemic (H1N1).

Listen to Health Made Simple to learn why COVID-19 is different from the other 3 pandemics in the past 100 years.

Welcome to Health Made SImple.  As with ALL health information, but especially now in the midst of COVID19 pandemic, there is a lot of confusion about what is true.  But at Health Made Simple, we deliver clear, concise, and accurate health information that is based on facts from the CDC and World Health Organization. 

If you have a question, email us: [email protected] 

The information about COVID19 is changing every single day.  Make sure to subscribe to the Health Made Simple podcast so you are getting clear, concise, and accurate health information as it becomes available. 

March 21st is World Down Syndrome Day...and today, I'm dedicating this podcast in honor of my cousin Pippi, who brings our family immense joy with her special personality and big heart.

But do you know why 3/21 is World Downs Syndrome Day??

Welcome to Health Made Simple. Most people know of someone who has Down Syndrome and some people have a family member affected by Down Syndrome, but not everyone knows what the disorder is!  That’s what Health Made Simple is made for — a place where you can get clear, concise, and up-to-date health information in just 5 minutes or less.  

All of the DNA in our cells is contained in a set of bundles known as chromosomes. Most people have 23 pairs of chromosomes, with one copy from each parent number 1 to 23 to make 46 total chromosomes. 

To answer the question we led off with, WHY IS March 21 WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY?

people with down syndrome have a trisomy 21 genetic disorder. This means that instead of having two copies of chromosome 21, people with Down Syndrome have three. 

THEY HAVE 3 COPIES on their 21st CHROMOSOME.

But why does this make people with Down Syndrome different from everyone else? Our DNA acts like a recipe book, and each gene is like a specific recipe. They contain all the instructions on how to make proteins, which are like the delicious pie or pot roast that each recipe, or gene, makes. Proteins are then used to maintain our cells and keep them happy and healthy. If you’re cooking or baking and add too much or too little of one ingredient, it can change the way the final product comes out. It’s the same for people with Down Syndrome. The extra chromosome causes a baby to develop differently, leading it to develop the symptoms of Down Syndrome. 

Although this disorder might affect a child physically and mentally, it doesn’t mean they can’t live a normal and fulfilling life! Many go to school, have jobs, and participate in society just like everybody else. Some are even great athletes! Check out the Special Olympics next winter, which will be held in D.C.! Every person with Down Syndrome is different so it is important to support them in a way that best fits their needs. For parents of children with Down Syndrome, this can mean working with a network of trusted healthcare professionals, teachers, and therapists and getting involved with the supportive community for special needs families. 

We hope that you can add us to your list of trusted sources for health information and news. Join us next time as we’ll be talking about a very important organ! (Hint: it’s not the heart)

If you are 45 or older, pay attention!  It’s time for you to be screened for colon and rectal cancer.  

Colon cancer is when abnormal cells in the colon or rectum divide uncontrollably, ultimately forming a cancerous or malignant tumor. (The colon and rectum are parts of the body’s digestive system, which takes up nutrients from food and water and stores solid waste until it passes out of the body.

Colorectal cancer is very common.  In fact, it’s the third most common type of cancer in both men (after prostate cancer and lung cancer) and women (after breast cancer and lung cancer). 

While it’s the 3rd most common cancer, it is the second deadliest behind ung cancer. 

An estimated 130,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year, and approximately 50,000 will die from it.

The major risk factors for colorectal cancer are a family history of the disease and older age, but several other factors have been associated with increased risk, including excessive alcohol use, obesity, being physically inactive, cigarette smoking.

I’ve made it super easy for you to get screened for colorectal cancer…for most people, it's as easy as pooping in a box.

If you are willing to poop in the box, click here, and I’ll send you an order form that you can take with you to your next doctor’s appointment.