Weekend Wellness with SSM Health

November is National Hospice and Palliative Care month. Since we are in the middle of that awareness month, we talk about palliative care. Palliative care is a concept that many don't really understand. Dr. Shagun Saggar explains what it is and why its so important.

Guest: Rebekka Hefty, Manager of Sales, Dean Health PlanACA Open Enrollment Period is from November 1 – January 15, 2022. Anyone who is not covered by an employer plan, Medicare or Medicaid/BadgerCare, can apply for health coverage during this period with no special enrollment event, such as marriage, job loss, move, etc.

Dr. Julia Dellaria Optometrist at SSM Health Davis Duehr Dean Eye Care.

The deer archery and crossbow season is underway in Wisconsin – it started September 18th, and runs through January 31th. And of course, the traditional gun season is next month, November 20th to 28th. So with a lot of people out in the woods, Dr. Rachel Hughes, Emergency Medicine, SSM Health and Madison Emergency Physicians has some important tips for keeping safe.

Mo Kharbat, SSM Health Wisconsin Regional VP of Pharmacy Services with the latest on the COVID vaccines.

Dr. Roopa Shah, Board-certified Family Medicine physician and Wellness Consultant joins us to break down all the current health trends. What is fact, what is fiction and the importance of communicating with your doctor about supplements and lifestyle changes.

September is Atrial Fibrillation – also known as AFIB – Awareness Month. SSM Health Cardiologist Dr. Jasdeep Sidhu helps us understand AFIB?

Hearing loss is a result of many factors – including noise, aging, disease and heredity. Approximately one in three people between the ages of 65 and 74 has hearing loss, and nearly half of those older than 75 has difficulty hearing. Guest: Dr. Sarah Childress, SSM Health Audiologist

Dr. Roopa Shah, SSM Health Family Medicine Physician on the causes and treatments of various headaches. Also, when a headache should be a cause for concern.

Our conversation today is about the most common form of arthritis – osteoarthritis. Guest: Dr. Jay Christensen, SSM Health Orthopedic Surgeon is our guest.

Guest: Dr. Rachel Hughes, Emergency Department Physician. Carbon monoxide, or “CO” is an odorless, colorless gas that can kill you. How can you keep yourself and family safe? Dr. Hughes explains.

As most adults will tell you, as they get older, their bodies change and there may be more ailments, aches and pains. The same be said for our eyes and our vision. SSM Health Optometrist Dr. Kristin Moseman fills us in.

Guest: Dr. Susan Ferguson, SSM Health Pulmonologist.What is pulmonology? What's happening inside someone's body who has asthma? What are the treatments for emphysema?

Polls show about 25-30-percent of the U.S. population is reluctant to be vaccinated. It can be difficult to sway these people. Mo Kharbat, SSM Health Regional VP of Pharmacy Services is our guest and he address the importance of vaccines.

With summer under way and a long holiday weekend, there are some important steps that you need to take to keep you skin and body heathy, SSM Health Dermatology Physician Assistant Carleen Acker joins Shawn with the details.

Guest: Janet Bollig, MSSW, SSM Health at Home Business Development Consultant. Janet answers questions like: What exactly does hospice care involve? What type of care is provided and who provides it?and more.

Jenni Beekman, Health Promotion Manager, Dean Health Plan talks about some fad diets and weight loss plans

Guest: Dr. Roopa Shah, SSM Health Family Medicine PhysicianDr. Shah discusses the fascinating connections between the gut and brain also, new research into the role gut micro biome plays in our health. Also IBS and IBD and how they differ and how they are treated.

Urinary incontinence means a person leaks urine by accident. While it may happen to anyone, urinary incontinence is more common in older people, especially women. Incontinence can often be cured or controlled. SSM Health Urologist Dr. Tope Rude is our guest.

How prevalent is insomnia? What are some mental factors? What are some physical factors? Dr. Scott Bohon, SSM Health Psychiatrist answers these questions and more.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Tracie Halvorsen SSM Health Injury Prevention Coordinator and Dana Pellebon, Rape Crisis Center Co-Executive Director join Shawn to talk about this very important topic.

This week a new group of Wisconsinites became eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Those age 16 and older with certain medical conditions that have a greater risk of severe infection from COVID-19 are now eligible. With so many people having the potential for vaccination, we’re going to catch everyone up with Dr. Jim Levin, SSM Health Infectious Disease Physician on answers to common vaccine questions.

Our discussion today is about cancer risk. Specifically, some common risk factors you may not always think about – things like body weight and alcohol consumption. Dr. Michelle Mackay, SSM Health Radiation Oncologist joins Shawn on this important topic.

Dr. Christopher Baggott, SSM Health Neurosurgeon joins Shawn to talk about strokes. What are the different kinds of stroke? Have there been any recent advancements in stroke treatment? The doctor has answers to these and many more questions.

You may wonder: What is nuclear medicine? What is it used for? Is it safe? How long has the technology been around? Derek Angle, Manager of Imaging, SSM Health Dean Medical Group has the answers to these an many more questions.

Alex Finch, ICU nurse at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital - Madison joins us to talk about treatments and precautions in the ICU.

What exactly is the SSM Health St. Mary’s Foundation? Dina Boyle, SSM Health St. Mary’s Foundation – Madison Executive Director answers all your questions.

Do you run, or are thinking about starting to run, Dr. Brian Reeder, SSM Health Sports Medicine Physician talks about avoiding running injuries.

Now we’re in the holiday season… and it’s one unlike we’ve ever experienced before, Dr. Julia Shah talks about the difficult decisions that needed to be made this year.

Guest: Dr. Alison Schwartz, SSM Health infectious disease physician talks about what it’s been like this year during the COVID-19 pandemic..

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve heard that people with chronic health conditions like hypertension are at greater risk of COVID illness. Broadly speaking, how does something like heart disease impact how your body responds to COVID? Dr. Jimmy Sidhu, SSM Health cardiologist explains.

Some of the topics we’ll be covering today have traditionally been a little taboo. But they’re serious medical issues. What do you do to help put patients at ease when they come to see you?