Health Matters with The Medicine Center Pharmacy

March is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month, and we are helping raise awareness and joining the effort to save lives. According to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer, and it’s the second leading cause of cancer death in men and women combined in the United States. Family history, ethnicity and race can put you at a higher risk for colorectal cancer, so screening is an important factor. 

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a third of adults report they usually get less than the recommended amount of sleep every night. Why does this matter? Not getting enough sleep is linked with many chronic diseases and conditions – such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity and depression – which all threaten our nation’s health. However, diagnosis of sleep disorders can lead to treatment. In today's podcast, we talk about sleep apnea, why starting school later is better for kids and more. 

Neurosurgery is synonymous with treating brain conditions, but neurosurgeons also evaluate and manage carotid artery disease, stroke, cervical spine conditions, head injuries and more. In this podcast, Dr. Rishi Goel, neurosurgeon with Aultman Medical Group, discusses technological advances in 3D MRI brain reconstruction, minimally invasive surgery, treating blood clots and more in easy to understand terms.

More than five million Americans are diagnosed with heart valve disease each year, according to the American Heart Association. When one or more of your four heart valves fail to work properly, surgery is often required in order to replace the valve. Innovative procedures like a Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement – commonly known as TAVR – can provide beneficial treatment options and faster recovery for patients who may not be candidates for open heart surgery.

In this segment of the Health Matters podcast, we discuss medication recalls, the benefits of having a local pharmacy including free delivery, relying on your pharmacist, saving money and how you can get the most out of your pharmacy. 

Heart disease can happen at any age, and according to the Centers for Disease Control, younger adults are now being affected by the disease more often than in past years. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and obesity are just a few of the risk factors. Advances in cardiovascular medical treatment are making an impact on life expectancy and since February is American Heart Health Awareness Month, now is the perfect opportunity to focus on heart health awareness and talk about the latest advances in minimally invasive heart surgery and robotic surgery.   

Driving safely during winter months can be a challenge for all drivers – this includes teens, parents, seniors and anyone who gets behind the wheel. When the snow and freezing rain comes, it often causes many problems for those of us who must be out on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 17 percent of all crashes occur during winter months. Julie Dominik, certified driver rehabilitation specialist from Mercy Medical Center shares winter weather driving safety tips—like what to do when your car or truck is sliding as well as how to prepare our vehicles before we head out on the roads.  

The American Heart Association recently released new cholesterol guidelines. In this podcast, Dr. Justin Dunn, cardiologist from Summa Health and president-elect of the Akron American Heart Association board of directors, explains what the new guidelines mean for you and shares tips for heart healthier living. 

Whether you’re taking the kids sled riding, hitting the slopes for fun or even just clearing your sidewalks, you’ll want to consider safety. Some health issues that are top of mind include frostbite, hypothermia, concerns with shoveling snow, falling and others. Injury prevention coordinator for Mercy Medical Center, David Morris, shares advice to stay healthy in this Health Matters podcast.

After finishing a breast fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Sabrina Shilad has new information to share about breast health and surgery techniques. Tune in to listen.