Staying Well

During the time of a recent study published in The Annals of Epidemiology, there was at least one veteran who committed suicide each day.Putting your own life at risk for the freedom and protection of millions of other lives is one of the most selfless and courageous gestures a person could make.However, it seems like every day there's an article featuring yet another veteran who has taken his or her life after returning home from overseas. Does this mean there's a flaw within America's healthcare system and how returning soldiers are being taken care of?Veteran's suicide has been one of the most controversial topics that doctors, researchers and families of veterans have been discussing for many years.In fact, a recent study published in the February issue of the Annals of Epidemiology highlighted this issue. Thousands of military personnel's lives have been taken due to suicide. The study looked at all 1,282,074 veterans who served in active duty units between 2001-2007 and who also left the military during that time period. Researchers matched military records with the National Death Index, which collects data on all the deaths that occur within the U.S. Researchers tracked the veterans after service until the end of 2009.Researchers found a total of 1,868 suicides, which compares to an annual suicide rate of 29.5 per 100,000 veterans (approximately 50 percent higher). During the time of this study, there was at least one veteran who committed suicide each day.This past February, President Obama signed the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, which is aimed to reduce the amount of suicides among returning veterans and help improve their access to mental health care.Is it possible to reduce military suicides?If you or a loved one is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please don't hesitate to reach out for help to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1.800.273.8255. You are not alone.In this segment, Michael Schoenbaum, PhD, shares a compelling study on the lives of veterans returning home from serving, as well as why so many of them might be turning to suicide.

A whopping 88 percent of U.S. adults have gambled at some point in their life; but when does it turn into a problem?According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, approximately three million American adults have a gambling addiction. Damon Dye, EdD, sheds some light on what gambling addiction really is and what you can do to help yourself or a loved one who’s addicted. A gambling addiction is similar to drug or alcohol addiction, because biochemical changes happen in the brain that make it nearly impossible for the addict to control or modify their behavior. Damon Dye, a licensed mental health professional and a National Board Approved Clinical Consultant for the National Council on Problem Gambling, estimates that a gambling addiction affects around three percent of the population. Between 95 and 97 percent of people can gamble without becoming addicted.Casual vs. ProblematicSo, how can you tell when your gambling habits have crossed from recreational to addictive? Most gambling is done socially, so signs you may be addicted can include things like hiding your gambling, spending money you can’t afford to lose, selling items just to fund your gambles, and letting the time spent gambling affect your social, work, and family life. There are two main types of gambling. The first is action gambling, which includes sports betting and dog track racing, and focuses on the action and thrill of all the commotion. The second type is called escape, and includes the more private gambling like slot machines. With either type of gambling, money becomes a vehicle for the problem; you can make huge wagers and win big, or lose big. Even if you win, you may still be addicted if you are sacrificing important work or family time to be there.Identifying and Treating Gambling AddictionUnlike gambling, an alcohol or drug addiction can be easier to spot because it affects you physically and mentally. Gambling is less apparent because it’s hidden deep within the mind. Potential red flags you may notice include a personality change, discrepancies with money, no sense of trust, or something you just can’t place your finger on. Lying about gambling and betting more than you intended also indicate that help is needed.Treatment for gambling addiction is similar to drugs and alcohol. Dye recommends a family use as many resources as you can find to get started. You can use a Gambler’s Anonymous group, find a professional counselor, or both. Sometimes, the chance of developing an addiction is increased with certain underlying factors like ADD, depression, or bipolar disorder. Getting a specialist to rule these elements out will help you treat it more accordingly. Lastly, if you or someone you know may have a gambling problem, please call 1.800.522.4700 for support. In the accompanying audio segment, Damon Dye, EdD, LMHC, BACC, shares why gambling addictions, even though very prevalent, aren't taken as serious as other addictions, as well as how to spot the warning signs.

Heart disease is the number-one killer for both men and women but can be highly preventable.Even with the progression of understanding heart disease, it's still the number-one killer among men and women. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about 610,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year. That's one in every four deaths.The good news is, heart disease can be prevented. Depending on whether your doctor has encouraged new and healthy behaviors, or if you have a known history of heart disease in your family, you might be able to turn your life around in just eight weeks.How can you improve your heart health in such little time?You can make a HUGE difference in just a short period of time, and it all starts with getting just a little more active. Recently, studies have shown the dangers of sitting too long and how it can damage your health as much as smoking. However, by getting up and walking frequently, you can reduce your blood pressure and cholesterol, boost weight loss, reduce your risk of cancer, and optimize your mental health.Another way you can improve your heart health is through dietary changes. For years, doctors plagued cholesterol as the number one contributor to heart disease. Now, doctors are suggesting cholesterol isn't so bad after all. Staying away from processed foods that are high in sugar and fat, however, is a must for reducing your risk of heart disease.What else can you do to improve your health and live longer?James Beckerman, MD, joins host Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss the dangerous risks associated with heart disease, as well as how you can improve your heart health in just eight weeks.

When was the last time you tried something new with your partner?Being in a loving relationship can be such an euphoric time. As you grow into your relationship, everything new can be exciting, and before you even realize it, you're head over heels.However, depending on how long you've been with your partner, you might find that life has thrown just about every curveball at your relationship; you have a demanding job, you're involved in social clubs, you may have a kid (or two)... all leaving you little room for intimacy.Romance in your relationship might have found a more comforting level, which might have put a halt to you and your partners sex life. However, on romantic holidays, like an anniversary,  it can create an overwhelming pressure and expectation for you to show affection, appreciation, and achieve the best sex ever. It might also be a great time to ask yourself, when was the last time you and your partner tried something new?Not to worry, there are five ways you can reinvigorate your love life and give you an opportunity to try something new in the bedroom with your partner.What are these five things to reinvigorate your love life?

Keep boredom out of the bedroom.

Give yourself permission to try something new.

Pay attention to your body's rhythms.

Don't confine sex to the nighttime.

Look into alternative sex practices.

Dudley Danoff, MD, FACS, joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss five ways you can reinvigorate your love life.

Three out of four women experience a yeast infection at some point in their lives.If you've ever experienced a yeast infection, you know how uncomfortable the symptoms are. You may also remember how embarrassed you may have felt, and that you didn't want to discuss it with anyone... even your doctor.However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 75 percent of all adult women have had at least one yeast infection at some point. A yeast infection is a type of vaginitis (inflammation of your vagina) that occurs when the natural bacteria and yeast in your vagina are disrupted and cause excess yeast, which leads to an infection.What are the symptoms of a yeast infection?Symptoms associated of a yeast infection include itching, irritation in and around your vagina, burning, swelling, redness, vaginal pain, soreness, and a thick odor-free discharge. It's important to note that if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor right away to rule out the possibility of any other serious health concerns like an STD.Is there a way you can prevent a yeast infection from happening?Unfortunately, you may not be able to fully protect yourself from getting a yeast infection; but, there are certain things you can do to help lower your chances. For example, avoid tight-fitting pants and undergarments, only wear cotton underwear (at least a cotton panel in the crotch area), avoid sitting around in your sweaty workout gear or wet swimsuit, avoid using scented lotions, lubricants, creams and body washes, always wipe yourself from front to back, and try to incorporate probiotics into your diet (they give your body the healthy gut bacteria that can help prevent yeast infections from occurring).How do you treat a yeast infection?Once you've seen your doctor, you may be wondering what the next step is for treating your yeast infection. Some of the medications and creams your doctor prescribes may burn and only add to the discomfort. However, there are many OTC options that can help.What else do you need to know about yeast infections?Rebecca Posten, MD, joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss the embarrassing symptoms you may be experiencing, how to lower your chances of getting a yeast infection, and what kinds of treatment options are available.

Halloween can be fun and exciting for you and your children, but can cause stress and anxiety for your pets.Halloween can be a fun and exciting time for your family. You may also think to include your cat or dog in the Halloween dress-up and trick-or-treat rituals. Or, if you're in charge of candy distribution this year, you may think strangers in costumes constantly ringing the doorbell won't be a problem for your companion.However, without following safety precautions, your playful Halloween night could turn into a real-life nightmare with your pet seriously injured or sick.What specific candies are especially dangerous to your pets?When it comes to candy, you don't necessarily have to worry about your cat as much as you do your dog. Anything within mouth (or paw reach) such as chocolate, raisins, pumpkins, cookies, and other treats can be extremely toxic to your dog if ingested in large amounts. You also want to be careful of candy wrappers that are carelessly tossed in your house or throughout your neighborhood. Your dog doesn't have the ability (or the patience) to tear open each candy and will just eat the whole thing.What if you're passing out candy... should you allow your pet near the front door?Cats and dogs who are prone to noise sensitivity might want to become escape artists this Halloween and bolt out your front door to escape the constant ringing of your doorbell and loud kids shouting at your door. Because of this, you may want to consider keeping your cat and dog away from the front door. Putting up baby gates in your hallway or keeping your pets in a separate room can help ease anxiety, excitement and from them wanting to make a run for it.What if you want to take your pet with you outside for trick-or-treating?Before you decide to bring your dog on the walk with you and your children while trick-or-treating, you have to be sure you know your dog. Not only do you have to worry about the cars in the street, you have to consider the large groups of children, pre-teens, and other parents who may frighten or induce anxiety in your dog. This may cause your dog to nibble or bite someone.What about pet costumes?If you're dressing your pet up, be sure that the costume is fitted properly without any loose articles that your pet can get tangled in, or on too tight that they could potentially have trouble walking or choke on.What else do you need to know about pet safety during Halloween?Emmy Award winning veterinarian, Dr. Jeff Werber, shares with Melanie Cole, MS, important safety precautions for your pets during Halloween.

Gum graft surgery is a procedure where tissue is taken from the roof of your mouth and used to help treat your infected gums.Maintaining dental hygiene is crucial for your overall health. Not only do you depend on your mouth for breathing, but it's also the opening where food enters and digests into your intestines. When your mouth isn't taken care of, you could increase your risk of developing several oral infections and diseases.For instance, periodontal disease happens when plaque continues to build up and hardens on your gum line and causes your gums to swell. Usually, brushing and flossing can help get rid of access plaque, but can quickly form in your mouth within 24 hours. The longer the plaque is left in your mouth, the harder it is to get rid of.What are some symptoms of periodontal disease?If you have swollen and bright red gums, if your gums are tender to touch, receding gums, new spaces between your teeth, bad breath, a bad taste in your mouth, and if your teeth are loose, then you might have periodontal disease.Is gum graft surgery the right treatment option?Gum graft is a half-hour to hour-long procedure that helps regenerate gum tissue at the infected and inflamed areas of your gums to help ease painful symptoms.What are the different types of gum graft surgery?Depending on the severity of your condition, your doctor will decide which gum graft surgery is best for you. There are three different types of gum graft surgery, one of them being connective-tissue gum graft, which is the most commonly used. This is used to treat the root exposure of your gums. The second is pedicle grafts, where tissue is grafted from another part of your gums for the specific area that needs treatment. Lastly, free gingival grafts, which involves the root tissue of your mouth being attached to the part of your gum that needs treatment.What is the healing and recovery process like?Within the first 24 hours of your procedure it is fine for you to eat soft foods such as smoothies, pasta or potato or tuna salad, and applesauce. However, it is important that you stay away from using straws, so there isn't any sucking action that can damage the tissue in your mouth. You want to avoid hard, crunchy foods like pretzels, chips, and nuts for the first week.What else do you need to know about periodontal disease and gum graft surgery?President of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), Joan Otomo-Corgel, DDS, MPH, shares what periodontal disease is, and why you might benefit from gum graft surgery.

Medical aid in dying is a controversial topic. Should terminally ill patients be allowed to decide their death?If you've been told you have a terminal illness and your time is limited, your whole life can flash in front of you. It can also turn your world completely upside down. The journey ahead may be painful, uncertain, terrifying and extremely emotional. Trying to live a "normal" life may not be possible anymore.If you knew you were going to die a painful and slow death in the months to come, would you consider medical aid in dying?29-year-old Brittney Maynard learned she has a rare brain cancer that left her with six months to live. Just newly married and trying for a family, Maynard's life as she knew it was over. There is no cure that is going to save her life. The radiation she would need would deteriorate her quality of life, and instead of being able to enjoy her last living months, her days would be spent bedridden and unpalatable.She has stated several times that she does not want to die, but she is dying and she wants to go on her terms... peacefully with her family at her side. She has decided to seek medical aid in dying, and plans to die November 1, 2014.What exactly is aid in dying?Medical aid in dying offers mentally competent terminally ill adults with less than six months to live the choice to request the option for lethal medication that would end their life.What states allow aid in dying?Currently, there are five states that allow aid in dying. These states include Oregon, Washington, Montana, Vermont, and New Mexico. There are several other states that are considering bills to authorize and regulate aid in dying.Why is it important for people like Brittney to be able to seek medical aid in dying?It's hard to hear news of someone you love's life is limited to just months. You may want them to be around for as long as they can so you can still enjoy their presence. But, battling the last months of life while suffering can be horribly unbearable.Wouldn't you want an option available to die peacefully, rather than painfully and slowly over time? Even though medical aid in dying isn't for everyone, it can be an important choice to be able to exercise that option for those who are in such a situation.Why is aid in dying such a controversial topic to discuss?National Medical Director for Compassion and Choices, Judy Neall Epstein, ND, joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss what aid in dying is, why someone like Brittney would choose medical aid in dying, and why this is such a controversial topic.

Is the U.S. really prepared if an Ebola outbreak was to occur?When the news first broke about a deadly virus in Western Africa in March, you might have paid little attention. Over the last few months, the virus has taken thousands of lives. But you still may not have felt threatened.Until now.Currently, five Ebola victims are in the United States for treatment. This may have caused you to question if you're truly safe.Who are these fateful five?The first to arrive were medical missionaries Nancy Writebol and Dr. Kent Brantly. Both had been serving in Africa and were transported back to the U.S. to seek medical treatment for Ebola. They received an experimental drug, ZMapp, and have been Ebola-free ever since.Another doctor and missionary, Dr. Rick Sacra, was flown in from Africa and taken to a Nebraska hospital. He was treated for Ebola over a three-week period.Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian man, began showing symptoms of Ebola after visiting his family for a couple of weeks in the U.S. He is fighting for his life in a Dallas hospital, while his family anxiously awaits the potential risk of more outbreaks between them.The most recent patient, Ashoka Mukpo, an NBC journalist, arrived this morning (October 6, 2014) from Liberia. He is also currently at a Nebraska hospital to seek medical treatment.Now that Ebola is in the U.S, you might be wondering... is this the beginning of the end?Ebola, which was previously known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a serious and often fatal disease that causes fever, sore throat, muscle weakness and soreness, and internal bleeding. Symptoms usually occur between seven to 21 days after exposure.How can you differentiate flu symptoms from Ebola symptoms?There are two triggers that can help determine if you have Ebola or just the common flu. One is having direct exposure, which for the moment primarily exists in western parts of African countries. The second? Even if you haven't been in those areas, you quite possibly may have had contact with someone who has and is carrying Ebola.Which raises concern with Duncan, the patient who was visiting from Liberia. He had contact with his family members and others; up to a total of 50 people. Health officials are closely monitoring these individuals.How is Ebola spread?Even though you might have been hearing that Ebola could be airborne, it can only be spread through bodily fluids. This includes (but is not limited to) spit/saliva, urine, vomit, semen, and/or feces. This also means you would have to touch the blood or body fluids of a person who is sick or has died from Ebola and have contact with your mouth, eyes, or nose in order for you to become infected.It's important to know that Ebola can live on surfaces, but the life span is limited to a few hours. But, the blood from someone who has Ebola that has dried on blankets or towels, or the virus that is located in the body of someone infected, can live from two to seven days.Once these patients are treated, does that mean they are immune to Ebola for life?Unfortunately, there are several strains of Ebola, and even though several patients have been treated, it doesn't mean they aren't "exempt" from contracting the other strains.Is the U.S. really prepared if an Ebola outbreak was to occur?Director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Dr. Irwin Redlener, joins host Melanie Cole to discuss how Ebola is spread, how you can differentiate Ebola symptoms from the flu, and if the U.S. is really prepared if an Ebola outbreak comes to fruition.

Contrary to popular belief, marijuana can actually disrupt your sleep pattern and cause greater sleep problems to arise.According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana is the most common illicit drug used in the United States. In fact, usage among adolescents has been on the rise since 2007. Many states have legalized marijuana usage; but, do you really know what it's doing to your health?A study conducted by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania suggests marijuana usage could be associated with impaired sleep quality, especially if you've been using the drug since your teenage years.Prior studies have shown that many use marijuana as a sleep and stress aid to help relax. However, recent research suggests that marijuana can actually disrupt your sleep pattern and cause greater sleep problems.The researchers used adults ranging from 20-59 years old that responded to a 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). In this survey, a history of marijuana usage was assessed (participants' history of the drug, age of their first time using the drug, number of times used in the past month, etc.).Researchers found that those who had a history of marijuana use also experienced an increased difficulty of falling asleep, struggled to stay asleep, experienced non-restorative sleep, and felt tired throughout the day.What else do you need to know about marijuana and your quality of sleep?Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry, Michael Grandner, PhD, further discusses this study, other side effects of marijuana that could be implementing your health and how marijuana could be getting in your way of a good night's sleep.