Your Best Life

In this episode Kimberly Ellington, LMHC joins us to talk about suicide prevention.  Kimberly is a licensed mental health counselor at MercyOne.

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, but it is preventable!  What are signs that someone is in crisis? What resources are available if you or someone you know are at risk?

The National Suicide Hotline is 1-800-273-8255 (TALK)

We're happy to partner with Iowa's Healthiest State Initiative and the Make It OK campaign to bring you this content! It's OK to have a mental illness - many people do. It's OK to talk about mental illness - talking makes people feel less alone. It's OK to seek help with mental illness - life can get better. 

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

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In August 2021 the CDC strengthened its recommendation for women to receive COVID-19 during pregnancy.

In this episode we're joined by Sarah Massey, DO and Neil Mandsager, MD to discuss making the best vaccine decision for you and your family.  

Dr. Massey is a physician at MercyOne West Des Moines OBGYN Associates. Dr. Mandsager primarily works to provide personalized care to expecting mothers with high-risk pregnancy at MercyOne Perinatal Center.

Read more - MercyOne maternity experts support COVID-19 vaccinations during pregnancy

• 22 times more likely to have a premature birth

The study involved 869, 079 adult women, including 18,715 women with COVID-19, who underwent childbirth at 499 US medical centers between March 1, 2020- Feb. 28, 2021

What questions do you have about the COVID-19 vaccine? Send us your feedback by emailing [email protected], or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast

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In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Eric Reynolds to talk about concussions.  

As we head into fall sports, most people think of football - but concussions don't just happen in contact sports.  They can also happen in activities like cheerleading or even gym class.

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

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MercyOne encourages everyone who is eligible and able to receive a vaccination to protect yourself from COVID-19.

Unvaccinated people are more susceptible to the virus and its variants, and people who are not vaccinated make up most COVID-19 hospitalizations today. Many individuals could avoid the hospital entirely if they had been vaccinated.

Still, there are many eligible individuals who have not been vaccinated, citing a number of reasons or concerns. In this episode, we bring those concerns to infectious disease expert Aneesa Afroze, MD, to provide additional context and even dispel some myths.

• Claim: The vaccine is experimental and not safe. 

Read more COVID-19 vaccine facts here.

What questions do you have about the COVID-19 vaccine? Do you have questions about the variants of the virus?  Send us your feedback by emailing [email protected], or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast

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Many of us experience feelings of worry, fear or anxiety. But when is it time to seek professional help? 

We're happy to partner with Iowa's Healthiest State Initiative and the Make It OK campaign to bring you this content! It's OK to have a mental illness - many people do. It's OK to talk about mental illness - talking makes people feel less alone. It's OK to seek help with mental illness - life can get better. 

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

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In this episode we are joined by Andrea Haynes, Lab Director at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center to talk about what happens when you donate blood. Nationally, there is a severe shortage of blood due to the pandemic’s effect on donations. We will learn:

• How are blood cells, platelets and plasma used in a hospital?

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

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We are a week away from RAGBRAI and we have another bike-themed podcast for you. Dr. Richard Deming has been a guest on the podcast before - and in this episode you'll hear a story that only he can tell: his journey after a training ride ended with a severe crash, sending him to intensive care. 

Dr. Deming first told this story on stage at the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "What Happens Next: Filling in the blanks after a story ends." The Des Moines Storytellers Project is a series of storytelling events in which community members work with Des Moines Register journalists to tell true, first-person stories live on stage. Read his story and watch a video of his speech here. (Republished here with permission.)

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

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We welcome the return of RAGBRAI! Bicyclists will spend hours at a time in the July heat. Health experts from MercyOne have a few tips for your best ride, or if you find yourself spending a lot of time outdoors during the summer:

1. Water, water, water

This is your number one choice to get and stay hydrated. Beverages with caffeine or alcohol are dehydrating. You can consume water through your food too! Eat foods like watermelon, strawberries, cucumbers or celery.

2. Alcohol

Alcohol increases excretion of water and salt from your body and increases internal body temperature. If you’re planning to consume alcohol, try to switch between water and your beverage of choice every other drink.

3. Food for fuel

When you’ve got an 80-mile bike ride ahead of you, it’s important to eat foods to give you the energy you need to make it to the finish. If you’re aiming for high performance, eat easy-to-digest carbohydrates like a banana or a bagel before you hit the road. Once you’ve finished, add in foods that have protein and fat, like chocolate milk or pizza.

4.Sunscreen

You’re going to be in the sun for many hours each day. Use sunscreen of at least SPF 30 and make sure you hit your ears, the tip of your nose, your forehead, and hairline. Reapply every two to three hours.

5. Hygiene

Germs are everywhere! Washing with soap and water is always best if available. Hand sanitizers can quickly reduce germs on hands, but they don’t eliminate all types of germs, so it’s still important to wash your hands with soap and water as soon as you’re able.

6. Heat exhaustion vs. heat stroke

Two common heat-illnesses are heat exhaustion and heat stroke. While heat exhaustion leads to heat stroke, they need to be treated very differently. Learn the symptoms and what to do if your friends or family are experiencing a heat-related illness.

Accidents do happen and if you experience a minor injury, MercyOne Urgent Care locations provide walk-in care for any bumps, bruises, burns, sprains and stitches. Enjoy RAGBRAI XLVIII and everything Iowa has to offer along the route!

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

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This episode is all about protecting your skin and Stephanie Walker, PA-C joins us with expert information why this is important.

Practicing sun safety daily helps protect your skin from damage. 

Why do I need to wear sunscreen?

The sun emits a wide spectrum of light including ultraviolet-A (UV-A) and ultraviolet-B (UV-B). These are the two most common types of UV rays that contribute to skin cancer. They damage the skin on a DNA level that can eventually lead to skin cancer. Studies have shown that sunburns, especially blistering sunburns during childhood, can dramatically increase the risk of skin cancer later in life. It’s important that everyone in your family wears sunscreen to block out these harmful rays and reduce the risk of skin cancer.

What type of sunscreen do I need?

While The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using a sunscreen with SPF of 15 or higher for everyday use,  we advise sunscreen with SPF of 30 or higher to provide stronger protection. Remember, both UV-A and UV-B can cause skin cancer, so choose sunscreen that protects against both. This will be labeled as protecting against a “broad spectrum” of rays.

What should I look for during a self-examination of my skin?

There are three things to look for when examining your moles and skin: symmetry, borders and color. If you notice any changing moles that appear asymmetrical, have irregular borders or multiple colors, please contact a health care professional to evaluate the lesion. Any sore that hasn’t healed or is a painful lesion should be evaluated as well.

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

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Summertime means warmer days, sunshine and spending time outdoors. With more activities and more time out and about there are an increased risk of injury and emergency.

Serious injuries or severe illness that may require hospitalization should be directed to your local emergency room.

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

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