Texas Tech Health Check

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It’s been five years since the first known appearance of SARS-CoV-2, otherwise known as COVID-19. In January of 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. Later in March, COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. Our experts for this episode graciously shared their experiences not only as frontline workers, educators and scientists, but also as leaders and members of the community trying to best navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to Victor Test, M.D., and Ebtesam Islam, M.D., Ph.D., both Texas Tech Physicians pulmonologists and Ron Cook, D.O., TTUHSC Chief Health Officer. 

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As we age, our memory begins to fail us, but for many it becomes a significant challenge for them and their caregivers. Jonathan Singer, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and director for the TTUHSC Garrison Institute on Aging Memory Clinic, tells about symptoms to look out for and the importance of early diagnosis.

The TTUHSC Garrison Institute on Aging is holding several events during Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month. All events are free of charge and open to the public.

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Having friends at work helps with your mental health and could even help advance your career. How can you go about making friends if you're shy or if you work from home? Here to help us understand why it's important to have friends at work and give us advice on how to make friends are Lynn Jennings, Ph.D., and Nicole Noble, Ph.D. They are both counselors and with the School of Health Professions department of clinical counseling and mental health. 

TTUHSC Office of Communications and Marketing student intern Hope Caperton helped co-host this episode.

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According to the Pew Research Center, nearly one third of adults in the U.S. have a tattoo, and 22% have more than one. What happens to our skin when we get a tattoo and what makes them permanent? Alan Pang, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians surgeon specializing in burn wound, trauma and critical care, is our guest expert for this episode. Dr. Pang answers our question about protecting our skin when we get tattoos or remove them, and offers alternatives to covering up or erasing scars. 

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Jeepers, creepers! Would you like to make your brown eyes blue? We can change our mind, and we can change the color our hair. Can we change the color of our eyes? Kelly Mitchell, M.D., is a well-known expert to our listeners. He's an ophthalmologist with Texas Tech Physicians. Dr. Mitchell explains how we get our eye color and the purpose behind the color on our iris. He also goes over the different procedures currently for changing the color of our eyes, including colored contact lenses, and reminds us to keep our eyes safe while we’re celebrating Halloween.  

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Around 60% of Americans have pets, and many of them are considered family members. How do we deal with the loss when our pet dies? Natalie Harryman, a licensed marriage and family therapist with the Counseling Center, explains that pets bring joy, motivation and unconditional love, but they also bring stress. She notes that grieving a pet is similar to grieving a human loved one, involving stages like sadness, anger, and guilt. Natalie gives us advice on how coping mechanisms, including self-compassion and allowing emotions to pass; what to tell children when a beloved pet is gone; and she emphasizes the importance of sitting with and supporting grieving individuals.

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Occupational or work-related lung diseases are lung conditions which have been caused by long-term, or even a one-time, exposure to certain irritants. Our guest for today, Anuhya Alapati, M.D., is a pulmonologist with Texas Tech Physicians. 
Dr. Alaptai tells us which occupations potentially pose problems, signs of lung disease, treatments and steps to take to prevent it.

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Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are common infections, but they're much more common among women than men. What causes a UTI? What should you do if you think you have one? How can you prevent them? Guests for this episode are Melissa Sanford, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians urologist, and Kristen Sharma, Texas Tech Physicians urology family nurse practitioner. They clear up myths about UTIs and explain proper treatment, if necessary, and stress that this is not a condition that should cause shame or embarrassment. 

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With the number of people aged 65 years and older projected to more than double in the next quarter century, the need for caregivers will increase as well. Caregiving, especially for adults with dementia, is even now expensive and labor intensive, with some choosing home-care putting pressure on family members and even leading to burnout. Gayle Ayers, D.O., a psychiatrist, with the TTUHSC Garrison Institute on Aging, is back with us this time to talk about caregiver burnout and stress and what we can do about it.

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September is designated as Healthy Aging Month, but social isolation and loneliness among older adults negatively affect their mental and physical health.  What does that mean and what can we do to help minimize that risk? Gayle Ayers, D.O. is a psychiatrist with the TTUHSC Garrison Institute on Aging and our guest for this and the next episode. Dr. Ayers explains how the number of older adults who feel isolated increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and how that negatively impacts mental health, contributing to depression and anxiety, and can accelerate cognitive decline, including dementia.