Your Best Life

Everyone has goals for the new year - perhaps exercising, being more successful at your job, becoming a better cook, or spending more time with family. We explore how to make those goals happen, and the difficulties of sticking to your goals. We also discuss the top habits of successful people - do you agree?

Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

Your Best Life - powered by MercyOne

This week we learn all about therapy dogs! Charlotte Feckers joins us with Rose, a yellow lab serving our rehabilitation patients. Find out how these dogs become certified therapy animals, and how they help both patients and our colleagues. MercyOne uses therapy animals all across the state of Iowa - Sidney, Baxter, Gracie, Bubba, Zuzu and Leo in Des Moines, Cooper and Mac in Dubuque, and Jimi in Siouxland!

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

Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

This week we discuss winter heart health with Youssef Nasr, MD, a cardiologist from MercyOne North Iowa Heart Center.  Learn why the winter season brings an elevated risk to heart attack, and what some individuals should keep in mind when they head outside to shovel snow. We also cover the signs you may be experiencing a heart attack.

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

Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

This week we are joined by Dr. Richard Deming from MercyOne Des Moines Cancer Center to discuss the dangers of e-cigarettes and vaping, and the outbreak of severe lung disease associated with vaping.  Dr. Deming is also the founder of Above and Beyond Cancer, a public charity with a mission to elevate the lives of those touched by cancer, to create a healthier world. The group's journeys have led participants to places like Mount Everest Base Camp and the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.  November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and every year the American Cancer Society promotes the "Great American Smokeout" on November 21. To learn about resources to help you quit smoking, click here.  Check out Iowa Department of Public Health overview of vaping, e-cigarettes and electronic smoking devices.

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

Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

This week we take a deeper dive into techniques for managing stress. Colby and Sheri talk about some proven methods to bring a little bit of peace to your life, and explain why stress isn’t always a bad thing!

Do you have any stress management tips to share? Send us your feedback to [email protected], or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcast

Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

We "gained" an hour with the end of Daylight Saving, but here come shorter days, longer nights and colder weather! We're joined by psychologist Dan Ekstrom and Chris Latta, director of Behavioral Health and Emergency Care at MercyOne Northeast Iowa, to discuss the impact these colder, shorter days can have on our well-being.  We'll cover seasonal affective disorder (SAD), different stresses the holidays can bring - such as financial stress or family stress - as well as general discussion around behavioral health and living your best life!

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

Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

It's flu season! In this episode, we're joined by pediatrician Dr. Daniel Wright to talk about influenza. We discuss why it's important for most people to get a flu shot, why there are sometimes shortages in vaccine, what influenza is, and why it's different than the "stomach flu." We all learned something in this discussion and bet you will too! 

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

Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

It's October, and that means this episode is all about breast health!  We're joined by Dr. Meghna Krishnan, a radiologist fellowship-trained in breast imaging; and Kelly Flaucher, supervisor of breast care at MercyOne Waterloo Breast Center.

Learn about risk factors for breast cancer, why it's important to know your breast density, breast screening tips and much more. 

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

Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

October brings colder weather, Halloween candy, and we’re looking ahead to holiday gatherings and big holiday meals! We’re joined by Registered Dietitian Virginia Brown for some expert advise about holiday eating, and general guidelines to follow when it comes to our daily diet.  

Should you skip meals to make room for a big holiday meal? Do trending diets work? We cover a wide range of topics to help you keep the weight off over winter.

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

Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne