Your Best Life

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 podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

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 isalwaysbestif available. Hand sanitizers can quickly reduce germs on hands, but they don'teliminate alltypes 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 tobe 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 podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

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 podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne  

Men are more likely to delay or skip health appointments - often waiting until the last minute, or trying to just tough it out.  But men need regular checkups to screen for potential health risks and stay on track for a healthy future. MercyOne urologist Christopher Adams, MD joins us to talk about the importance for men to keep track of their health, and some of the regular screenings you will need.   Some of the top risks for men include: heart health respiratory disease alcohol diabetes behavioral health accidents and injuries 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  

This episode centers around innovative ideas used to revolutionize health care and connecting patients with the help they need in a manner that is convenient!   We have three guests: Matt Dietz is Division Director of Digital and Virtual Care Strategy at MercyOne Stephen Nielson is Manager of Digital Health at MercyOne Dr. Joel Ward is Chief Medical Informatics Officer for MercyOne Central Iowa Medical Group We talk about telehealth, online scheduling, virtual care and implementing other innovative ideas in the future.  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    

On the heels of Mother's Day, we're going to focus on Maternal Mental Health. What are the differences between the "baby blues" and postpartum depression and perinatal anxiety? How can you spot the signs if something serious is happening to you or your loved ones? In this episode we are joined by Dr. Tyler Van Milligen, who cares for patients in the MercyOne Psychiatric Residency Program in Des Moines, Iowa. 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. Dr. Tyler also was featured on the Make It OK podcast to speak about postpartum depression. 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    

If you're a regular listener, you know we've partnered with Iowa's Healthiest State Program and its Make It OK program.   Well, Iowa's Healthiest State Initiative has launched its own podcast!  All episodes are available now and each episode features a MercyOne expert.  Listen to the trailer here, then go find all the episodes wherever you listen to your podcasts. We'll be back with our own new episodes coming soon!

In this episode we're joined by Emily Flahive, CNM, DNP, ARNP and Jessica Gengler, MSPT to talk about endometriosis. Endometriosis is a disorder where tissue like what is normally found inside the uterus- the endometrium- grows outside of the uterus. Endometriosis most commonly involves the ovaries, fallopian tubes and tissues lining the pelvis. It is possible, however, for endometrial tissue to spread beyond pelvic organs. This disorder affects 1 in 10 women (about 200 million women worldwide) according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Common symptoms of endometriosis include: Painful periods- including pain before and after a menstrual period. Lower back and abdominal pain Pain during intercourse Painful bowel movements or urination- especially during a menstrual period Heavy menstrual bleeding or bleeding between periods Infertility Fatigue Diarrhea or constipation Bloating or nausea Read more about endometriosis   Send us your feedback or just say "hello" by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

With COVID-19 vaccine eligibility opening up across the country, MercyOne infectious disease expert Dr. Ravi Vemuri returns to the podcast to encourage everyone to get their shot when they have the chance. The three vaccines approved for use in the United States at this time include the Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. All three vaccines are very effective at preventing serious illness, even against the COVID-19 variants now circulating. Dr. Vemuri also lets us know about some promising new studies that came out in the past week. A reminder -- after you have been vaccinated, it is still important to wear a mask, wash your hands and socially distance. Send us your feedback or just say "hello" by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

At the turn of the last century, physicians were looking for the cause of hay fever, summer colds, or rose fever. They soon discovered billions of invisible pollens trigger allergy symptoms. Using technology and microscopy, they visualized plant pollens from tree, grass and weeds and concluded these were the culprits! Hay fever can affect your quality of life. Initial symptoms include itching nose, mouth and eyes leading to sneezing, nasal congestion, and tearing of the eyes. It can lead to sinus infections, make asthma worse, disrupt your sleep and affect your ability to learn at school or be productive at work. Although we suspect you may have this condition, allergists can help pinpoint the actual cause and diagnosis with skin testing. In this episode, Dr. Dan Dalan from MercyOne Waterloo Allergy Care joins us to talk about how people can get relief, and how to pinpoint exactly what is ailing you.  If you experience allergies or have symptoms contact your provider or find one near you to make an appointment. Send us your feedback or just say "hello" by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne    

If you're one of the 40 million people in the U.S. with varicose veins you may think it's just a cosmetic problem and haven't sought treatment. But those unsightly veins are a symptom of underlying venous reflux disease. Hear from MercyOne Clinton surgeon Dr. Ricky Maddox and cardiologist Dr. Saadi Albaghdadi about minimally invasive, outpatient varicose vein treatments that improve blood flow to your legs and help you love the way they look! Send us your feedback or just say "hello" by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

In this episode we explore the differences between a therapist, psychologist and psychiatrist. Who does what? Which one should you seek for mental and behavioral health care? We welcome three experts to explain:  Natasha Keller tLMHC, PLMHP, NCC works with children at the MercyOne Siouxland Child Advocacy Center in Sioux City, Iowa. Dan Ekstrom, PsyS is a licensed psychologist at MercyOne Waterloo Behavioral Health Care in Waterloo, Iowa. Dr. Tyler Van Milligen cares for patients in the MercyOne Psychiatric Residency Program in Des Moines, Iowa. 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 podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne      

In this episode, we learn all about robotic surgery with Dr. Scott Hinze. Dr. Hinze is a surgeon at MercyOne Waterloo General Surgery. Minimally invasive procedures with robotic surgery provide several benefits including smaller incisions, an earlier discharge from the hospital, faster recovery time, and less medication required to cope with pain. Watch and see the da Vinci Xi in this YouTube video. Send us your feedback or just say "hello" by filling out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast or send an email to podcast@mercyhealth.com Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

Palliative Care may be one of the most misunderstood terms in health care.  Many people might believe palliative care is the same as hospice care or end of life care. In this episode, Dr. Charles Goldman, a palliative care physician at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center explains how it is different than hospice and can be very helpful to patients and their families.  Send us your feedback or just say "hello" by filling out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast or send an email to podcast@mercyhealth.com Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne  

About 1 in every 700 babies are born with Down syndrome according to the CDC.  Down syndrome is a condition in which a person has an extra chromosome, which changes how the brain and body develop.  In this episode, Dr. Nicole Stoecken explains more facts about Down syndrome, and shares her own experience in her family.Dr. Stoecken is a pediatrician at MercyOne Grimes Pediatrics Care.  Send us your feedback or just say "hello" by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne 

According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. In fact, 1 in every 4 deaths in the United States is caused by heart disease. To help keep you and your family healthy, all you need to do is remember your ABCS:Aspirin when appropriateBlood pressure controlCholesterol managementSmoking cessationLearn more about the ABCS for a healthy heart on our website.This episode's featured medical expert is Curtis Hoogendoorn, ARNP from MercyOne Siouxland Heart and Vascular Center. Send us your feedback or just say "hello" by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne  

It's easy to think about negative things that happened in 2020, but it is better to focus on the good things that happened. In this episode, we are joined by Paul Wehrman, LMHC. Paul is a licensed mental health counselor at MercyOne Waterloo Behavioral Health Care. What are some bad habits we picked up last year that we should drop?Are there any grudges we should let go?What do you want to accomplish this year?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 podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne 

The first shipments of the vaccine to help contain COVID-19 has arrived at hospitals across the country.  In this episode, infectious disease expert Dr. Ravi Vemuri returns to the podcast to answer some common questions many people have about the vaccine.How does the COVID-19 vaccine work?If someone has already had the virus, should they get the vaccine?How long does immunity from the vaccination last?Can I stop wearing a mask and social distancing once I've been vaccinated?Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne 

Wow, this is episode number 50!  We're joined by Brandi Cox, PT, DPT and Linda Crisman, PTA to talk all about physical therapy.  We'll discuss a few conditions physical therapy can treat and the benefits physical therapy can provide over some other methods of treatment. Motion is lotion!Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne

Along with football season, holiday season and flu season… urgent care season is upon us. Not familiar with that? Well, the need for "outside of regular hours," last-minute, early-morning and late-night medical advice seems to increase this time of year as we navigate illnesses that usually see an uptick in the fall and winter.In this episode, some advice right from one of our Urgent Care providers Ruth Ann Uhl, ARNP about how to get the most of your Urgent Care visit, and when you should skip the clinic and head right to the ER.Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne 

October is Depression Awareness Month and in this episode we have a panel discussion with five experts across the MercyOne system of care:Debra Georgia, LMFT, LMSW works with the MercyOne North Iowa Behavioral Services Center in Mason CityNatasha Keller tLMHC, PLMHP, NCC works with children at MercyOne Siouxland Child Advocacy CenterMichael Peroski, DO is a psychiatrist at MercyOne Dubuque Medical CenterJohn Upshaw, LISW is from MercyOne Cedar Falls Behavioral Health CareBreanna Young LMHC is supervisor at MercyOne Psychiatry Residency Clinic in Des MoinesIn this 45 minute discussion, we cover when to know when you're just having "the blues" or if you need professional help, some different methods of treating severe depression and medication-resistant depression, such as TMS Therapy and SPRAVATO, and the successes our experts have seen by using Telehealth.Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne 

In this episode we're joined by Dr. Moiz Dawood and Jenna Niccolls, PA-C to learn all about weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery. Weight loss surgery provides a unique opportunity to help treat and manage chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, and in some cases can even cure those diseases altogether.We also set the record straight on one big misconception many people have about why this procedure works.Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne

Endocrinology is the study of hormones and diseases related to the glands in your body. This episode, we're joined by Losty Torres Potter, MD, who recently joined MercyOne following her stay as Chief Fellow of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the University of South Florida in Tampa.Dr. Torres Potter has done extensive research on Graves disease, Recurrent Adrenal Crisis, Hashimoto Encephalopathy and several other endocrine case reports.Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne

This week's episode is about keeping connected.  Most of us have had to stay away from friends, family and loved ones these past few months to keep our commuities as healthy and safe as possible.  Staying away can be especially difficult when family members need care in the hospital. We'll hear a few innovative ways to keep loved ones as close as possible... and it's not just through technology!Have have you stayed connected?  Send us your story by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne

In this episode we are joined by infection preventionist Gail Gates. This year's flu season will be like nothing we have ever seen.  It is more important than ever to get your flu shot!  Please do your part so health care systems across the country aren't fighting a battle on two fronts - influenza AND COVID-19.What's the difference between influenza and "the flu"?  Can you have influenza and COVID at the same time? Can you get your flu shot if you are COVID positive?  Which arm is best to receive an influenza vaccination?  Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne

We've officially been doing the Your Best Life podcast for one year!  Today we round up the crew from our first episode to talk about some of our favorite episodes, and we look to the future.  We'll also hear from a few of our contributors. Join us for a fun conversation!Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne

There's no doubt about it, things are much different this school year.  Changes can be scary, frustrating and difficult for both students and their parents.  In this episode, we're joined by Anthony Michael, LMHC, RPT for some different suggestions on how to cope throughout the year.  Mr. Michael is a behavioral health counselor who primarily works with children.We'll cover how to effectively communicate while wearing masks, managing screen time while not limiting social interaction among children, and appreciating some of the things we've learned to take for granted.Read more tips from Anthony in this supporting article.Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne

Returning to school while maintaining safety is at the top of mind for many families across the country as classes resume. This week we're joined by Jeff Frost from the Waterloo Community School District to discuss the collaborative efforts among educators to make sure education can continue.Hear about the many plans in place to protect children, faculty and staff, and families from coronavirus.Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne

In this episode we continue with the second part of our discussion with Dr. Valerie Stratton.  When can women expect when going through menopause? One of the biggest complaints is hot flashes and night sweats.  If you are not a candidate for hormone therapy, what else can be done to help? Are there any major health concerns during menopause?Send us your questions or feedback to podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne

Menopause will affect every female in their lifetime!  This week we begin our two-part discussion with Dr. Valerie Stratton.  We'll discuss the typical symptoms women can expect, and the benefits and drawbacks of hormone therapy. We'll discuss non-hormonal treatment in our next episode!Send us your questions or feedback to podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne

Fad diets quickly come and go, but there's good reason why the Mediterranean Diet has continued to be a popular and effective way of eating for decades. In fact, the Mediterranean Diet consistently comes out on top in the U.S. News and World Report's annual ranking of best diets.Many studies have repeatedly confirmed the foundation of a Mediterranean-style diet lowers risk of cardiovascular diseases and other conditions such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.So, just what is the foundation of this diet which is so strongly linked to healthy benefits? Mary Hampton, RD, LD, a dietitian at MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center joins us to explain!Send us your questions or feedback to podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne 

Dr. Ravi Vemuri returns to the podcast to give us an update on our fight against COVID-19.  Dr. Vemuri is an Infectious Disease expert and is the medical director of Infection Prevention and Health Care Epidemiology at MercyOne Des Moines. He first appeared on our podcast just as things were heating up in March.  What do we know now that we didn't know then?Send us your questions or feedback to podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne

A child who has seizures, developmental concerns, muscle weakness, unusual headaches or abnormal movements should see a pediatric neurologist. This week, we're joined by Dr. Surabhi Kaul from MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center to learn about pediatric neurology and the things parents should watch for! Send us your questions or feedback to podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

This week we're joined by Dave Tatman, executive director of the MercyOne Dubuque Cancer Center. Early detection is a key to fighting and beating cancer. A delay in screening can result in a delay in your care!  What is a screening and what does screening involve? What are different methods of screening? What signs are experts looking for? Send us your questions or feedback to podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcast Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne 

On this episode, we're joined by Dr. Mark Schultz to discuss maintaining medical appointments through Virtual Visits. A Virtual Visit allows patients to meet with their local health care provider through video chat without ever leaving the comfort and security of their home. Providers can continue routine appointments, prescribe medications as usual, coordinate additional treatment options, and assess whether further care is needed. An in-person follow-up visit can be determined for specialty care, or if other assessments are needed. As technology advances in the areas of wearables and other applications consumers can download, it will open the door for providers to do more virtually. Dr. Schultz even gives us a couple examples of individuals who have done Virtual Visits while working to plant their field! Learn more about MercyOne Virtual Visits. Send us your questions or feedback to podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcast Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne 

Summertime is checkup time!  It’s time to schedule your kids’ annual checkups and immunizations. Nationally, more than a million kids have already missed appointments due to COVID-19.In this episode, we hear from pediatrician J. Michael Metts, DO to highlight the importance of these annual checkups, immunizations, and the things his office is doing to keep patients safe during the pandemic.What do health care providers review during checkupsImmunizations and boostersCOVID precautionsDo kids need to wear masks?How effective are flu shots and when is the best time to get them?Send us your questions or feedback to podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcast

We had a few episodes recorded and ready to release, and then the pandemic arrived.  We've been waiting to share some of these episodes with you, and are happy we can do that today!  Our wellness friend and podcast contributor Debbie Olson recently injured her foot. For many, an injury can really sidetrack anyone's exercise and workout regimen. How do you continue? How much time should you take away from your workout routine to recover? Are there things you can do to keep moving toward our exercise goals while being injured? This week, Sheri, Merriam and Debbie are joined by physical therapist Dan O'Malley for a fun conversation, and Dan offers some expert advise that can be useful to everyone!  We'll also ask Dan some other exercise and therapy-related questions. Send us your questions or feedback to podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne

This week we're joined by Dr. Stilianos Efstratiadis, an expert in cardiovascular procedures with an extensive experience of more than 10,000 procedures and has participated as presenter and moderator in multiple national and international meetings as a key opinion leader in the field of interventional cardiology.Concern is growing among medical providers that patients are delaying essential care for heart attack or stroke symptoms. MercyOne is asking individuals to continue to seek care for immediate medical conditions such as chest pain, shortness of breath, numbness or weakness. Heart attacks and strokes do not stop during a pandemic. Please always call 911 if you think you are having a heart attack or stroke.Send us your questions or feedback to podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne 

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, MercyOne has continued to perform essential surgeries and procedures for patients for whom a delay could cause harm. After a thorough evaluation, we're now moving forward to resume other select surgeries, procedures, clinic visits and other services. Now is the time to get your health back on track, and we are committed to providing the safest health care environment possible so you can seek the care you need from us in confidence. This week, hear a list of ten things MercyOne is doing to keep you safe. We'll also catch up on some episode feedback we have received over the past few weeks.Send us your questions or feedback to podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne 

The coronavirus pandemic has brought a lot of change to our way of life -- we've had to stay inside, we've had to keep away from family and friends and we've had to change our normal routines. This week we have a discussion with behavioral health experts Breanna Young, LMHC, supervisor of MercyOne South Des Moines Behavioral Health Clinic and Rebecca Peterson, LMHC, director of House of Mercy. Who is most at risk for behavioral health needs during the pandemic? What resources are available to help? What are some warning signs that it's time to seek help?Send us your questions or feedback to podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne 

When individuals are forced to live outside the norm, it can be easy to lose track of their routine, including what to eat. Stress, inactivity and a stockpile of high-calorie foods are pushing many individuals to gain what people are calling "The COVID 15."This week we're joined by diabetes educator Mary Steffensmeier for some tips to keep those extra pounds off the scale and get you back into holding yourself accountable.Send us your questions or feedback to podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne 

A lot in health care has changed in recent months and if you have had to postpone important visits, surgeries, screenings, or exams, now’s the time for you to get your health back on track! Be assured we’re taking extra safety precautions to provide the critical care you need. This week, Dr. Nicholas Edwards joins us to give us an example of the initiatives they are taking at his hospital in Dubuque.Here are just a few of the ways we’re protecting your family’s health and safety:• We’ve designated COVID-19 free zones to minimize risk of infection.• We’re requiring temperature screenings of all patients, personnel and visitors.• We provide and require masks to be worn throughout our facilities.• We are also following the CDC’s standards for cleaning with extra sanitation measures including increased cleaning of frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs and flat surfaces.• We are continuing our visitor restrictions to keep everyone safe.• And, of course, we’re continuing safe social distancing measures wherever possible.Send us your questions or feedback to podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne 

We’re back! We look forward to our journey of recovery, and that includes publishing new podcast episodes!Recently, Iowa joined states reporting at least one case of a new pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome (PMIS). This rare condition is also known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Today we are joined by Dr. Sara Schutte-Schenk from MercyOne Children's Hospital. Knowledgeable pediatric and family medicine physicians at MercyOne are prepared to provide safe, quality care and answer questions from parents! Send us your questions or feedback to podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne   

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?Why is it necessary to cancel and postpone large events?Why we need to take this disease seriouslyAdvice for travelersBe sure to visit our resource page: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) - What You Need to KnowSend us your questions or feedback to podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne   

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 podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne   

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 podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne   

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 podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne 

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 podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne 

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 podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne   

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 podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne  

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 podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at www.MercyOne.org/podcastYour Best Life – powered by MercyOne