Read. Talk. Grow.

Chronic illness can come with seemingly endless doctor’s visits, treatment trials and insurance battles. On top of that, people with chronic conditions often experience some degree of shame or blame for their condition – from their social circles, healthcare providers or themselves. Unfortunately, the resulting emotional distress may aggravate physical symptoms. One of the sisters in Alexandra Tanner’s novel “Worry” experiences this distress due to chronic hives that are hard to hide, hard to treat, and come with flare-ups that are impossible to predict. Alexandra and Mayo Clinic expert Dr. Rohit Divekar help us understand what it’s like to live with this kind of condition, remove the blame and offer hope for relief.

This episode was made possible by the generous support of Ken Stevens. 

We talked with:

• Alexandra Tanner is a writer and editor based in Brooklyn, NY. Her work appears in Granta, The New York Times Book Review, The Baffler, and Jewish Currents, among other outlets. She is a graduate of the MFA program at The New School and a recipient of grants and fellowships from MacDowell, The Center for Fiction, and Spruceton Inn’s Artist Residency. Her first novel is Worry.
• Rohit Divekar, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., is an allergist-immunologist, internist and chair of Practice in the Division of Allergic Diseases at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He received his medical degree from the University of Mumbai and his doctorate in microbiology and immunology from the University of Missouri – Columbia. His areas of focus include hay fever, inflammation, rhinitis, asthma attack, chronic hives and chronic sinusitis.

Purchase “Worry.”

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Got feedback?

• If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected]. 
• We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.
• Connect with others talking about the podcast in the Read. Talk. Grow. group on Mayo Clinic Connect, an online community moderated by Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Connect is free, trusted, moderated, welcoming, safe and easy-to-use.

The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional for medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.

We talked with:

• Abby Jimenez is a New York Times bestselling author and Food Network champion living in Minnesota. Abby founded Nadia Cakes out of her home kitchen back in 2007. She is also the author of five bestselling novels. Abby loves a good romance, coffee, doglets and not leaving the house. "Yours Truly" is her latest book.
• Mira Keddis, M.D., is a consultant and associate professor of medicine in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona. Dr. Keddis is passionate about education and supporting and advocating for patients, learners and faculty.

We talked about:

In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:

• The silent nature of kidney disease. Unfortunately, kidney disease often does not have obvious symptoms. Instead, symptoms may be gradual and attributed to stress or exhaustion. Most standard lab tests can quickly identify if something is wrong with your kidneys. But if you're not receiving regular medical checkups, problems may fly under the radar.
• The mental burden of chronic disease. Chronic diseases such as kidney disease can exacerbate mental health challenges and lead to depression and anxiety. Even in the early stages of disease, the "what ifs" can get to you, Abby says: What if I can't eat my favorite foods? What if I need to go on dialysis?
• The transformative power of kidney transplant. Facing a lifetime of dialysis is a traumatic proposition, Dr. Keddis says. Abby's book portrays the transformative power and hope that a kidney transplant can bring. We break down the types of kidney transplants and what transplant entails.

Can't get enough?

• Purchase "Yours Truly."
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• Want to read more about health topics? Check out our blog.

Got feedback?

• If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected]. 
• We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary. 

The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional for medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.

We talked with:

• Beth Macy is a Virginia-based journalist with three decades of experience and an award-winning author of three New York Times bestselling books: "Factory Man," "Truevine" and "Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America." Her newest book is "Raising Lazarus: Hope, Justice, and the Future of America's Overdose Crisis."
• Dr. Holly Geyer is an addiction medicine specialist at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. Her work focuses on care of complex patients in the hospital with a focus on quality of life and the best use of nondrug interventions for treating symptoms, including pain. She is the author of "Ending the Crisis: Mayo Clinic's Guide to Opioid Addiction and Safe Opioid Use."

We talked about:

In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:

• Addiction as a medical condition. Opioid use disorder (OUD) isn't a moral weakness, and it's not just a social problem or a mental health disorder. It's a health condition, and everyone is at risk.
• The need for nonjudgmental, evidence-based care. Many people with OUD think they can't get better. Beth Macy argues this is partially because they've never been able to access evidence-based care. Holly argues it's time to stop battling against opioids and start battling for the people impacted by them.
• Hope for healing. Ending the opioid crisis may seem like an impossible task, but both of these books offer ideas and solutions for battling and preventing opioid addiction. Beth Macy's book looks at the heroes on the front lines — sometimes in unexpected locations like a McDonald's parking lot. They say that ultimately, we all have a role to play.

Can't get enough?

• Purchase Dr. Geyer's book "Ending the Crisis: Mayo Clinic's Guide to Opioid Addiction and Safe Opioid Use."
• Purchase Beth Macy's book "Raising Lazarus: Hope, Justice, and the Future of America's Overdose Crisis."
  • From Bookshop.org
  • From Barnes & Noble
  • From Amazon
• Want to read more on the topic? Check out our blog:
  • Opioids aren’t the only effective treatment for pain management
  • What exactly are opioids?
  • What does fentanyl do and how is it misused?

Got feedback?

• If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected].
• We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.

The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional for medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.

Writing your life story be a healing process – even if you have zero intention of ever publishing it. But many people who want to write don’t know how to get started. We talk to expert storytellers Allison Fallon, author of “Write Your Story,” and Sandi Marinella, author of “The Story You Need to Tell,” to give us some expert writing insight and advice.

This episode was made possible by generous support from Ken Stevens.

In this episode, we talked to:

• Allison Fallon is an author, speaker, and founder of Find Your Voice, a community that supports anyone who wants to write anything. In addition to her books “Write Your Story: A Simple Framework to Understand Yourself, Your Story, and Your Purpose in the World,”“The Power of Writing It Down: A Simple Habit to Unlock Your Brain and Reimagine Your Life,” “Packing Light” and “Indestructible: Leveraging Your Broken Heart to Become a Force of Love & Change in the World,” she has ghostwritten 11 books and has collaborated on countless others. She has lived all over the country in the past decade but now lives in Nashville, Tenn., with her husband and two kids, Nella and Charlie. You can follow Allison at allisonfallon.com.
• Sandra Marinella is an award-winning writing teacher and author. She has taught story-sharing and writing to thousands of students, professionals, and cancer patients for over three decades. When she faced breast cancer, Sandra turned to her personal writing as a way of healing. The experience inspired her to teach “writing to heal and transform” to patients, veterans, and those in life-altering situations at many nonprofits and hospitals, including Mayo Integrated Medicine in Phoenix. As she watched expressive writing transform lives, Sandra wrote “The Story You Need to Tell,” acclaimed as the go-to-guide for writing to heal and grow.

Purchase “Write Your Story.”

• From Bookshop.org.
• From Amazon.
• From Barnes & Noble.

Purchase “The Story You Need to Tell.”

• From Bookshop.org.
• From Amazon.
• From Barnes & Noble.

We talked about:

In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:

• Structure can help. Writing and crafting your narrative can be a healing process, but for many people, it’s not as simple as putting pen to paper and just letting your thoughts flow. Many of us need a structure or framework to enable us to translate the feelings in our bodies to the written word.
• Reclaim your story. If you’re experiencing writer’s block, it might be because the topic is a trauma that you’re not quite ready to write about yet. And that’s OK! But once you are ready, writing it down can help you reframe it and heal from it. This can also help you reclaim your agency and tell your own story — rather than having someone else tell the story about you.
• You’re the flawed hero of your story. If you’re considering penning a memoir, you may feel strange referring to your flawed self as the “hero.” But the hero is simply the main character who is transformed by the problems they face. Problems are essential, and often, the juiciest part of the story. You may not be “heroic” or make perfect decisions, but you were changed by your experience. When you begin to see your life through the lens of narrative structure, it can help you reach resolution.

Got feedback?

If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected].

We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.

Connect with others talking about the podcast in the Read. Talk. Grow. group on Mayo Clinic Connect, an online community moderated by Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Connect is free, trusted, moderated, welcoming, safe and easy-to-use.

This episode was made possible by the generous support of Ken Stevens.

The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional for medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.

We talked with:

• Dolen Perkins-Valdez is the New York Times bestselling author of "Wench," "Balm," and most recently "Take My Hand." In 2011, she was a finalist for two NAACP Image Awards and the Hurston-Wright Legacy Award for fiction. Dolen is the current chair of the board of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation. She is currently associate professor in the Literature Department at American University and lives in Washington, D.C., with her family.
• Swapna Reddy, J.D., DrPH, M.P.H., is a clinical associate professor at Arizona State University's College of Health Solutions. At Arizona State University, Dr. Reddy teaches undergraduate and graduate coursework — including as faculty at Arizona State University's Barrett, the Honors College in Medical Studies. Additionally, she is an adjunct assistant professor in Health Care Administration at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona. Dr. Reddy also was named a Fulbright Specialist.

Purchase "Take My Hand."

• From Bookshop.org
• From Amazon
• From Barnes & Noble

Want to read more on the topic? Check out our blog:

• Racism, accelerated aging and the biases of health care
• Ask the Gynecologist: Is abortion illegal?
• Beyond contraception: Other uses for birth control

Got feedback?

• If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected].
• We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.

The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional for medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.

We talked with:

• Stacey Swann holds an MFA from Texas State University and was a Stegner Fellow at Stanford University. Her fiction has appeared in multiple journals, and she is a Contributing Editor of American Short Fiction. Her first novel "Olympus, Texas" has received critical acclaim.
• Jennifer Vencill, Ph.D., L.P., is an assistant professor, board certified clinical health psychologist and AASECT certified sex therapist. Dr. Vencill spends the bulk of her time providing integrated sexual health care in the Menopause and Women's Sexual Health Clinic. She's currently working on her first popular press book, a guide for managing sexual desire discrepancies in relationships — to be published in summer 2023!

We talked about:

In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:

• Infidelity is a health issue. Infidelity is a common experience that can greatly affect interpersonal and intimate relationships — and by extension, your mental health — with collateral damage for kids, friends and communities.
• The definition of infidelity is personal. "Cheating" means different things to different people. A lot depends on what you've agreed to in your relationship … or what you assume your partner has agreed to.
• Judge not. This novel brings the complexities of affairs to life. People may not cheat (or be "the other woman" or stay with a cheating partner) for the reasons that you think. We discuss some of the characters who don't fit the mold.

This concludes Season One. To sign up for emails with more information about future releases and other women's health content, click here. 

Can't get enough?

• Purchase "Olympus, Texas."
  • From Bookshop.org.
  • From Amazon.
  • From Barnes & Noble.
• Pre-order Dr. Vencill's book: "Desire: An Inclusive Guide to Navigating Libido Differences in Relationships."
  • From Bookshop.org.
  • From Amazon.
  • From Barnes & Noble.
• Want to read more on the topic? Check out our blog:
  • Modeling healthy problem-solving for your kids
  • Building self-esteem is an important part of self-care
  • Trauma and women: Untangling the complex emotional and physical consequences

Got feedback?

• If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected].
• We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.

The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional for medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.

We talked with:

• Kirsten Miller is a groundbreaking feminist author in YA literature, best known for her popular Kiki Strike series. In addition to writing novels, Kirsten spent 25 years as a strategist in the advertising industry. During that time she worked for some of the largest agencies in the world, as well as boutique agencies and an eight-person startup. She's proud to have quit at least two of those jobs over ads and incidents described in "The Change."
• Paru David, M.D., is a consultant and assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic. After her internal medicine residency at Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona, she joined Women's Health Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic in 1999. She has published research and given lectures in the areas of menopause, contraception, menstrual migraine and sexual health. She's a contributor to the Mayo Clinic Press book "The Menopause Solution."

We talked about:

• It's time to talk about menopause. Despite the fact that menopause happens to roughly half the population, it's shrouded in secrecy and even shame. That means most people who experience menopause walk into it blind and are surprised by the changes they experience. Dr. David and Kirsten Miller want to change that.
• Menopause isn't the end. Life, careers, interests, relationships — and yes, sex — can extend far beyond middle age. For some women, middle age is a renaissance where they're most comfortable with themselves and thrive in ways they didn't in their 20s or 30s. Kirsten Miller talks about "rebranding" menopause in her book as a time of newfound power.

Can't get enough?

• Purchase the Mayo Clinic Press book "The Menopause Solution."
• Purchase Kirsten's book "The Change." 
  • From Bookshop.org
  • From Amazon
  • From Barnes & Noble  
• Want to read more on the topic? Check out our blog:
  • Menopause: The change that can add challenges to diabetes management
  • Menopause: Unexpected symptoms catch women by surprise
  • Vaginal moisturizers and lubricants: What’s the difference? Which do I buy?

Got feedback?

• If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected]. 
• We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary. 

The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional for medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.

The opioid epidemic is now a well-known phenomenon, drawing justified attention in medicine, politics and pop culture. But how much do you know about benzodiazepine dependence?  In this episode, author Melissa Bond tells us how she unintentionally ended up becoming deeply dependent on benzos, a journey chronicled in her memoir “Blood Orange Night.” Mayo Clinic pharmacist Dr. Michael Campbell joins us to provide expert insight on this complex issue.

This episode was made possible by the generous support of Ken Stevens. 

In this episode, we talked to:

• Melissa Bond is a narrative journalist and poet. In the years of her dependence on benzodiazepines, Melissa blogged and became a regular contributor for Mad in America. ABC World News Tonight interviewed her for a piece in January 2014. Her memoir “Blood Orange Night” was selected by the New York Times as one of the best audiobooks of 2022. Bond has been featured on PBS Story in the Public Square, Radio West, the podcasts Risk!, Endeavors, Psychology Unplugged, The New York Times Podcast, RadioWest and Mom’s Don’t Have Time to Read Books. She lives in Salt Lake City with her husband and five wild teenagers.
• Dr. Michael Campbell is a board-certified ambulatory care pharmacist. He works under a collaborative practice agreement with Mayo Clinic Providers to improve patient outcomes in a wide variety of disease states. Largely his focus involves resolving medication-related problems for individuals with hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, depression, anxiety and obesity.

We talked about:

In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:

• An onslaught of symptoms. After getting hit with severe, unrelenting insomnia, Melissa was prescribed benzodiazepines — and a lot of them — to help her sleep. She didn’t realize that the side effects of these drugs were responsible for her rapidly deteriorating quality of life.
• Struggling to find understanding and support. It was hard to find a healthcare professional who could help her get off the drugs while avoiding the dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Even her friends didn’t understand, suggesting she go to rehab and “sweat it out” — a potentially life-threatening method for those with benzodiazepine dependance.
• Hope for recovery. Today, Melissa is free of benzodiazepines. She offers hope of healing for those on similar journeys.

Can't get enough?

Purchase “Blood Orange Night.”

• From Bookshop.org.
• From Amazon.
• From Barnes & Noble.

Got feedback?

If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected]. 

We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.

The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional for medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.

You’re sore, you’re sleep deprived and you’re responsible for a new life – what if you’re also struggling with your mood, depression or anxiety? In this episode, we’re talking to author Sarah Sawyer, who portrays the guilt, shame and exhaustion of postpartum depression in her novel “The Undercurrent.” Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Dr. Neeta Jain helps us understand what postpartum depression is and what you can do about it.

This episode was made possible by the generous support of Ken Stevens.

• Learn more about postpartum depression, anxiety and mood changes.
• Learn how to cope with intrusive thoughts.
• Learn about thyroid problems during pregnancy and postpartum.
• Symptoms of postpartum depression are listed below, along with information about when to see a doctor.

We talked with:

• Sarah Sawyer is a graduate of Amherst College and the Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College. She teaches English at a boarding school in Western Massachusetts, where she lives with her husband and two children. THE UNDERCURRENT is her first book.
• Neeta Jain, M.D., is a board-certified psychiatrist at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. Her interests include mood and anxiety disorders, integrated behavioral health, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. She is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.
   

Purchase “The Undercurrent.”

From Bookshop.org.

From Amazon.

From Barnes & Noble.

Resources

Postpartum depression symptoms

Postpartum depression may be mistaken for baby blues at first — but the symptoms are more intense and last longer. These may eventually interfere with your ability to care for your baby and handle other daily tasks. Symptoms usually develop within the first few weeks after giving birth. But they may begin earlier — during pregnancy — or later — up to a year after birth.

Postpartum depression symptoms may include:

• Depressed mood or severe mood swings
• Crying too much
• Difficulty bonding with your baby
• Withdrawing from family and friends
• Loss of appetite or eating much more than usual
• Inability to sleep, called insomnia, or sleeping too much
• Overwhelming tiredness or loss of energy
• Less interest and pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
• Intense irritability and anger
• Fear that you're not a good mother
• Hopelessness
• Feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt or inadequacy
• Reduced ability to think clearly, concentrate or make decisions
• Restlessness
• Severe anxiety and panic attacks
• Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
• Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

It is always important to rule out medical causes for and contributors to depressive symptoms such as hypothyroidism, anemia and vitamin D deficiency. Ask your healthcare team if further workup is appropriate. 

When to see a doctor:

If you're feeling depressed after your baby's birth, you may be reluctant or embarrassed to admit it. But if you experience any symptoms of postpartum baby blues or postpartum depression, call your primary health care provider or your obstetrician or gynecologist and schedule an appointment. If you have symptoms that suggest you may have postpartum psychosis, get help immediately. 

It's important to call your provider as soon as possible if the symptoms of depression have any of these features:

• Don't fade after two weeks.
• Are getting worse.
• Make it hard for you to care for your baby.
• Make it hard to complete everyday tasks.
• Include thoughts of harming yourself or your baby.

If you have suicidal thoughts:

If at any point you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, immediately seek help from your partner or loved ones in taking care of your baby. Call 911 or your local emergency assistance number to get help. Also consider these options if you're having suicidal thoughts:

• Seek help from a health care provider.
• Call a mental health provider.
• Contact a suicide hotline. In the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Or use the Lifeline Chat. Services are free and confidential. The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S. has a Spanish language phone line at 1-888-628-9454 (toll-free).
• Reach out to a close friend or loved one.
• Contact a minister, spiritual leader or someone else in your faith community.

Helping a friend or loved one:

People with depression may not recognize or admit that they're depressed. They may not be aware of signs and symptoms of depression. If you suspect that a friend or loved one has postpartum depression or is developing postpartum psychosis, help them seek medical attention immediately. Don't wait and hope for improvement.

Got feedback?

If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected]. 

We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.

Connect with others talking about the podcast in the Read. Talk. Grow. group on Mayo Clinic Connect, an online community moderated by Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Connect is free, trusted, moderated, welcoming, safe and easy-to-use.

The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional for medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.

Episode summary: Older adults often experience loneliness due to factors like retirement, limited mobility, and the deaths of their peers. Author Simon Van Booy’s novel “Sipsworth” portrays an older woman who is lonely and alone — until she forms a connection with a mouse and adopts it as a pet. Mayo Clinic geriatrician Dr. Erum Jadoon tells us about the serious health consequences of isolation — and we discuss the richness, beauty and joy that social connection can bring at any age.

This episode was made possible by the generous support of Ken Stevens.

We talked with:

• Simon Van Booy is the award-winning, bestselling author of more than a dozen books for adults and children, including The Illusion of Separateness and The Presence of Absence. Simon is the editor of three volumes of philosophy and has written for The New York Times, The Financial Times, The Washington Post, and the BBC. His books have been translated into many languages and optioned for film. Raised in rural North Wales, he currently lives in New York where he is also a book editor and a volunteer E.M.T. crew chief.
• Erum Jadoon, M.D., is a geriatrician, internist and an assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. Her interests include nutrition, bone health and geriatric medicine with an emphasis on functional status, unintentional weight loss and frailty. She is on faculty with the Academy of Communication in Healthcare and teaches communication to Mayo Clinic with faculty, physicians in training and medical students.

Purchase “Sipsworth.”

• From Bookshop.org.
• From Amazon.
• From Barnes & Noble.

Got feedback?

• If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected].
• We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.
• Connect with others talking about the podcast in the Read. Talk. Grow. group on Mayo Clinic Connect, an online community moderated by Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Connect is free, trusted, moderated, welcoming, safe and easy-to-use.

The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional for medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.