Q&A with Dr. K

Whether is for a new year's resolution, an effort to follow doctor's orders or any other reason to improve your health, sticking to a lifestyle change can be challenging. Dr. K offers advice on how to set realistic goals to achieve a healthier you and responds to a listener's question about steps for lowering blood pressure.

Additional resources for this episode:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/index.htm
American Heart Association: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure
Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/symptoms-causes/syc-20373410#overview
Cleveland Clinic: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/17649-blood-pressure

If you have a question for Dr. K, email [email protected]. Your question will remain anonymous. 

What is hospice care? Is it different from palliative care? And why is some care denied when a loved one is on hospice care?

Dr. K addresses these questions and more as we take a few minutes to better understand hospice, where hospice can be provided, who can provide it and more.

Additional resources for this episode:
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization: https://www.nhpco.org/

If you have a question for Dr. K, email [email protected]. Your question will remain anonymous. 

What is the latest with COVID-19? With reports of a bump in positive cases and hospitalizations, is it resurfacing? Who should get the newest COVID vaccine?  And how do we know when we are up to date on our COVID vaccinations?

Dr. K responds to a short email with a lot of questions about what is going on with the latest strain of COVID-19, the release of the new vaccine and whether the flu, pneumonia, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and COVID will join forces to make for a rough winter.

Additional resources for this episode:
https://www.vaccines.gov/
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/symptoms-causes/syc-20479963

Bridge Access Program for free COVID-19 vaccines for uninsured and underinsured adults: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/07/13/cdc-launch-bridge-access-program-fall-2023-provide-free-covid-19-vaccines-treatments-uninsured-underinsured-adults.html

If you have a question for Dr. K, email [email protected]. Your question will remain anonymous. 

Understanding diabetes and your risks for developing diabetes can be challenging and a little scary, especially when diabetes runs in your family. What's the difference between prediabetes, type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes? If people in my family have it, is it inevitable I will get it, too? How will I know if I have diabetes? Dr. K answers these questions and more in this episode of Q&A with Dr. K.

Additional resources for this episode:
Your primary care doctor!
https://diabetes.org/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/

If you have a question for Dr. K, email [email protected]. Your question will remain anonymous.

We all have trouble remembering details here and there as we get older. Why did I come into this room? Where did I put my car keys? What is that one actor’s name? But when does forgetfulness, a normal part of aging, tip into dementia—which is not a normal part of aging? Dr. K dives into an email asking those questions and more, as we learn about our brains, aging, forgetfulness and dementia.

Additional resource for this episode:
https://www.alz.org/

If you have a question for Dr. K, email [email protected]. Your question will remain anonymous.