Your Best Life

We're in the middle of an unprecedented effort to contain the COVID-19 pandemic around the globe and within the United States. Today we're joined by Dr. Ravi Vemuri to help make sense of it all. Dr. Vemuri is an Infectious Disease expert and is the medical director of Infection Prevention and Health Care Epidemiology at MercyOne Des Moines.

• How is COVID-19 different from other coronaviruses?

Be sure to visit our resource page: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) - What You Need to Know

Send us your questions or feedback to [email protected], or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcast

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This week we take a deeper dive into colorectal cancer with Shankar Raman, MD and Jodi Wilson, ARNP. Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is 3rd most common cancer in the United States. 1 in 23 men and 1 in 25 women will get colon or rectal cancer.

Dr. Raman and Jodi are part of the only National Accredited Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) in the state of Iowa and only one of a dozen NAPRC programs across the country!

Send us your questions or feedback to [email protected], or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcast

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This week we're joined by Angie Schmitz, ARNP to talk about the importance of gut health! March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and regular screening beginning at age 50 is the key to preventing colorectal cancer. We'll talk through what to expect when getting a colonoscopy, why screening is important to find polyps or colorectal cancer, and we'll break down some of the common fears people have when getting screened. 

We'll also cover how to maintain a healthy digestive system and some signs that you may need to visit a specialist. 

Angie Schmitz, ARNP, is a nurse practitioner at MercyOne Waterloo Gastroenterology Care.

Send us your questions or feedback to [email protected], or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcast

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We close out Heart Month with an interesting discussion with Fran Johnson, MD from MercyOne Iowa Heart Center.  Learn about heart failure and how advances in technology have allowed patients to live a fairly normal life.  Mechanical devices like a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVADs) can help the heart pump blood. Telehealth technology makes it easier to bring heart experts to individuals who may have difficulty seeing a specialist in person.  We learned a lot during this episode and we hope you do too!

Send us your questions or feedback to [email protected], or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcast

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This week we explore women's heart health with Denisa Hagau, MD. According to the America Heart Association, more than one in three women is living with some form of cardiovascular disease. For women, heart disease is deadlier than most cancers combined! Heart disease and stroke cause one in three deaths among women each year. Dr. Hagau takes us through the risk factors. Know the symptoms of heart disease, understand the warning signs and find out how to reduce your chance of developing a heart related problem. 

We'll also read some feedback we've received from our listeners!  Send us your questions or feedback to [email protected], or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcast

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Atrial fibrillation (also called AFib) is an irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications. Electrophysiologist Victor Abrich, MD, joins us to explain the condition and the different treatments available. 

Click here for more information about atrial fibrillation from the American Heart Association.

February is American Heart Month, and this is one of several episodes that we explore heart health.

Send us your questions or feedback to [email protected], or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcast

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This week we're joined by Cheryl Neill, who shares her story of experiencing a heart attack seven years ago. Cheryl says she didn't "fit the profile" for someone who should be at risk of a heart attack, and explains that's exactly why it's important for you to pay attention to possible warning signs.  Cardiac nurse Anne Ferris also joins our conversation to dig deeper into the signs & symptoms of a heart attack, heart disease, and why cardiac rehabilitation is an important part of recovering back to your full potential.

February is American Heart Month, and this is the first of several episodes that we'll be exploring heart health during the next few weeks.

Send us your questions or feedback to [email protected], or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcast

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This week we continue our discussion with Katie Stedman, RN, from MercyOne Waterloo OB/GYN to answer all your questions about the pregnancy journey. In part two, we cover care for momma and baby after delivery, postpartum health, breastfeeding and more.

Send us your questions or feedback to [email protected], or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcast

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This episode is for anyone planning to have a baby soon! We're joined by Katie Stedman, RN, from MercyOne Waterloo OB/GYN to answer all your questions about the pregnancy journey. In part one of our discussion, we cover what you'll experience each trimester, what to expect on delivery day, and managing pain during delivery.

Send us your questions or feedback to [email protected], or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcast

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How many of you made exercise goals for the year ahead? This week, a roundtable discussion about your many options for how to exercise! We'll cover how many times you should break a sweat each week, and how long each of your workouts should be. Strength training, cardio, interval training, and modifying exercises as you get older. We'll also break down some terms you may have heard and explain what they mean.  

Send us your questions or feedback to [email protected], or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcast

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