Your Best Life

Bites, stings and ticks: Navigating insect season and first aid

Join Laura Bowshier, MD, at MercyOne Waukee Family Medicine as she discusses all things insect bites and first aid. We'll delve into signs of an allergic reactions from bee stings, wasp stings and other insect bites, along with effective treatments. Discover the common symptoms of an allergic reaction and when to seek immediate medical attention. Find out about home remedies and first aid measures for relieving pain, itching and swelling caused by insect bites.
Additionally, learn about Lyme disease, tick season's impact, preventive measures and other potential health risks associated with tick bites. Tune in for essential first aid guidelines for bug bites and how to recognize when medical help is necessary.

Understanding breast pain with Dr. Adnan Qalbani

Join Adnan Qalbani, MD, from MercyOne Dakota Dunes Breast Care Center, as he explores the intricacies of breast pain. With insights and possible causes, Dr. Qalbani discusses:
Range of breast pain symptoms.
Relation to menstrual cycles and hormone levels.
When to seek medical attention.
Discover practical tips for managing breast pain, including lifestyle adjustments and self-exams. Gain a deeper understanding of this common symptom and empower yourself with knowledge for better breast health.
Tune in to this informative episode for valuable insights on understanding and addressing breast pain.

BRCA explained: empowering breast health through knowledge

Join Tiffany Torstenson, DO, breast surgeon at MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center, as she explores the intricacies surrounding BRCA gene mutations and the valuable insights testing can provide.
Get an overview of the two BRCA genes, its prevalence and its impact on people's lives. Dr. T dives deep into the relation of BRCA gene mutations to breast cancer risk. Also, learn how Lindsey Behrends took control of her health after discovering she was a BRCA1 carrier.
Tune in to gain valuable insights about BRCA and how it can impact your health!

Living with heart failure: symptoms, testing and treatment

Join Noor Subah, MD, cardiology fellow at MercyOne North Iowa Heart Center, as she explores the topic of heart failure, a condition that affects millions of Americans.
Get an overview of heart failure, its prevalence and its impact on people's lives. Dr. Subah dives deep into the symptoms of heart failure and the key differences between systolic and diastolic heart failure. We also debunk some common misconceptions about this condition.
We also cover:
Congestive heart failure.
Testing for heart failure.
Treatment and medications.
Reversing heart failure.
Impact of heart failure on day-to-day life.
Lowering your risk of heart failure.
Tune in to gain valuable insights into how to manage and prevent heart failure!

Expert’s Guide to Understanding Knee and Hip Pain

Join Craig Mahoney, MD, orthopedic surgeon at Iowa Ortho and MercyOne Central Iowa Orthopedic Physician Lead, as he shares his expertise to understanding knee and hip pain. From common causes and symptoms of joint pain to the importance of exercise in maintaining healthy joints, Dr. Mahoney provides a comprehensive guide to managing and treating joint pain.
We also cover:
How sciatic nerve relates to knee pain.
When to know your joint pain is serious. 
Nonsurgical treatments to joint pain.
Benefits of total joint replacement.
Tune in for valuable insight and tips for maintaining healthy joints!

Navigating preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome with Dr. Velez

In this episode, we're discussing preeclampsia and its risk factors. Preeclampsia impacts 1 in 25 pregnancies in the U.S. according to the CDC. We’re joined by Roberto Velez, MD, at MercyOne North Iowa Obstetrics and Gynecology to explore the various factors that can increase your risk of developing preeclampsia during pregnancy, including:
Pregnancies with more than one baby.
Kidney concerns.
Diabetes.
Pre-existing conditions.
Obesity.
Dr. Velez provides insights into a serious form of preeclampsia called HELLP syndrome. We'll also discuss what health care looks like after labor and delivery while managing risk factors to reduce the likelihood of preeclampsia and other complications in future pregnancies.
Join us as we explore this important topic and provide valuable insights for pregnant people, their families and health care providers.

Heart Series: Heart attacks, early signs and your role as a bystander

With only a 12% survival rate, widow maker heart attacks can be terrifying. Time is crucial, and ensuring you get medical attention immediately can be lifesaving. Brian Loc, DO, cardiologist for Medical Associates Clinic at MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center and Ali Albaghdadi, MD, cardiologist at MercyOne Clinton Medical Center shares the role a bystander plays in the response rate and how early heart attack care saves lives. 
In this episode:
-What is a widow maker heart attack?
-Symptoms of a heart attack
-Early heart attack care (EHAC)
-Bystander's role
-Steps to prevent heart attacks 
Discover more health and wellness tips at MercyOne.org

Heart Series: The WATCHMAN device and atrial fibrillation

Nearly 10% of people over 65 will develop a heart rhythm disorder, also known as atrial fibrillation (AFib). Troy Hounshell, DO, MercyOne Iowa Heart Center electrophysiologist, explains the connection of AFib to your risk of stroke and why a WATCHMAN device could be your best treatment option.  

Heart Series: How pregnancy, childbirth and menopause impact women’s health

Heart disease and stroke claim the life of one woman every 80 seconds, but less than half of women recognize heart disease as their leading cause of death.
Traditional risk factors impact both men and women, but women also face a unique set of risks. Dr. Denisa Hagau, cardiologist at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center, discusses why heart health is different in women, what you can do to be proactive and why caring for yourself improves your family’s health.
“We always have time for someone else. We take care of our dog, child, spouse, colleagues, in-laws, I could go on and on,” she says. “But we forget ourselves. We need to change that mindset.”

Heart Series: Why the heart breaks with Dr. Gary Chan

The heart is the energy source of our entire body. It pumps blood rich in oxygen and nutrients to the rest of our body – to our brains, our hands and to all the vital organs. But if something happens to the heart, the rest of the body suffers. And when the heart breaks, it can be fatal. Gary Chan, DO, PhD, cardiologist at MercyOne Siouxland Heart and Vascular Center, helps explain symptoms of a broken heart and why time is critical.

How to prevent slips and falls during winter months

Slips and falls can occur all year round, but you can be more prone to injury in the winter. Tulsi Sharma, MD, from MercyOne Waterloo Endocrinology Care shares her tips to keeping yourself and family upright and safe during the winter months.

”I have never smoked.” - Lung Cancer Survivor Julie Paup

When we think of lung cancer, we often think of people who smoke. But in the United States, about 10% to 20% of lung cancers, or 20,000 to 40,000 lung cancers each year, happen in people who never smoked or smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime, according to the CDC.
In this episode, we're joined by Julie Paup, who despite never having smoked in her life, was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in 2015. "My outlook was bleak." It's now been six years since the diagnosis and Julie is cancer free.
Julie shares her story and why it's important to not ignore symptoms - it may save your life.
You can help lower your risk of lung cancer by staying away from secondhand smoke, diesel exhaust, and other air pollution. You should get your home tested for radon and take steps to lower the radon level if it is high.
Today, Julie is a volunteer services manager at MercyOne. We also chat about the important roles volunteers serve within our hospitals.
Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

Mental Health at Work - Rebecca Peterson

Caring for your mental health is just as important as your physical health!
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic many people have had the opportunity to work remotely from the comfort of their home. This change offered a new insight to mental health awareness within the workforce and an opportunity to put mental health needs first. Employers have found the benefit that mental health days offer their employees like the chance to reset from a stressful week and return energetic and productive.
In this episode, we're joined by Rebecca Peterson, Director of House of Mercy, who says to make mental health a priority, you need self-awareness to communicate with your employer what you need.
Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
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Setting Boundaries to Protect Your Newborn

After losing their daughter and nearly losing their son to viral illnesses, parents Eric and Holly Sitzmann are working to help prevent other families from having to live the same nightmare.
In this episode we're joined by Holly, who shares her family's experience and the importance of setting boundaries when you welcome a newborn into the world.
Learn more about Holly and Eric's mission at www.dktb.org 
Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne
 

Protecting infants from illness - Dr. Haley Newbrough

We know our smallest humans are also some of the most vulnerable, so there's some extra protection needed when it comes to illnesses that may be contagious to babies.
 
In this episode, Dr. Haley Newbrough joins us to talk about some common illnesses she sees, and when they are the most prevalent.  As a pediatric hospitalist at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center, Dr. Newbrough takes care of infants who are hospitalized.
 
When we add to our family, we want to love and be close to the new addition but need to remember to be safe and sometimes that's keeping people away! Dr Newbrough has tips for big brothers and big sisters and how to interact when their new sibling in a safe manner that won't spread illnesses such as:
Bronchiolitis
Enterovirus
Herpes simplex virus
Influenza
Parechovirus
RSV
Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
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Episode #100

We're celebrating 100 episodes of our MercyOne podcast!  You can find all of our episodes at www.MercyOne.org/podcast or just search for "MercyOne" on your favorite podcast app.
Living your best life means something different to everyone. That’s because we all have different interests, different experiences, and different needs -- especially when it comes to health care.
 
In this episode, we catch up with a number of different people across the state of Iowa to hear what living "your best life" means to them!Do you have a story to share? We'd love to hear it -- it’s easy and convenient, and you can win great prizes!
Snap a picture and share a story of living your best life on social media using the hashtag #MercyOneLYBL and tag MercyOne. Make sure your privacy post settings are set to public so we can see your picture!
Social media not your thing? No worries - upload your story and photo at MercyOne.org/bestlife
Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne
 

Monkeypox - Dr. Ravi Vemuri

In this episode, we are once again joined by infectious disease specialist Dr. Ravi Vemuri to discuss monkeypox. We'll learn about its history, what it looks like, how it spreads and how to protect yourself.If you are interested to learn more about monkeypox and its current trends in the U.S., please follow the links below:
About Monkeypox
How it spreads
Prevention
Vaccines
If you are sick
Treatment
U.S. Map and Case Counts
Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

Meal Prepping and Nutrition - Haley Strait

How do you make sure you have a healthy relationship with food? In this episode we're joined by registered dietitian Haley Strait to discuss:
healthy weight loss
body mass index (BMI)
meal planning
dietary supplements
Meal prepping can be a game changer for your health if done properly. Strait says it can make your week easier if you are busy and also helps prevent you from buying fast food or convenience store choices which can be filled with sodium and saturated fats. “Meal prepping can seem overwhelming. There are a lot of different ways to do that. To start, find out what ingredients you have on hand already and think of some meals you can make before going to the store. It can help you from wasting food.”Strait says it’s also important to remember not to restrict your food too much. Doing so can backfire, causing you to want more and binge when you finally get to eat it. “Food is to be enjoyed, not something to be obsessed over or worried about all the time. Having room for flexibility is important and necessary.”
Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

COVID-19 vaccination under age 5 - Dr. Mustafa Eldadah

COVID-19 vaccinations to protect children from six months through the age of 5 are now available. Experts say it is best to get your child vaccinated as soon as it’s available.
In this episode, we're joined by MercyOne pediatrician Dr. Mustafa Eldadah who says, “Every day a child is unvaccinated there is risk of them getting a COVID-19 infection.  The vaccine is safe and getting it now can help put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. Children can be fully protected by the time school starts.”
Vaccination will:• Help prevent the risk of serious illness like Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)• Keep your child from missing sporting events or extracurricular activities after exposure• Reduce the need to quarantine if your child is exposed to COVID-19 at school or elsewhere• Help prevent long-term effects of COVID-19• Reduce the risk of passing COVID-19 infection to family members and others at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19
Scheduling a vaccination appointment for your child may vary depending on where you live. When ready, contact your pediatric or family medicine physician. 
Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
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Adaptive Golf Iowa - Steve Husome

At MercyOne, your best life is our one purpose - whether it's time with family and friends, your favorite hobby, a day on the golf course... or a combination of all three!  With that in mind, we welcome a special guest Steve Husome of Adaptive Golf Iowa.
Steve and friends were enjoying the nice weather on motorcycles when a semi pulled in front of him, forever changing the trajectory of his life’s path. Battling multiple injuries, the worst damage to both of his legs, Steve had to make the difficult decision to amputate his right leg below the knee. Leading a very active lifestyle, Steve worried how this decision would affect his abilities and lifestyle.
After nine surgeries, hundreds of hours of physical therapy, two different prosthetic legs and learning how to walk all over again - fast forward to now as Steve leads Adaptive Golf Iowa, bringing the healing power of golf to make sure every can live your best life.
Adaptive Golf Iowa is the only golf clinic in Iowa whose mission is to spread joy through the game of golf to individuals living with disabilities. Adaptive Golf Iowa will offer instruction, organized events, and adaptive equipment to help make the game enjoyable for everyone.
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MercyOne is here for you and proud of the care we provide to get you living your best life, whatever milestone that may be, big or small. If MercyOne is a part of your journey – whether you’re working hard to maintain good health and well-being, have recently overcome a health crisis or just started a family, we want to share the joy of your story. Head to MercyOne.org/bestlife to learn more about how you can share your experiences to win prizes for "best life" experiences.
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