Most people who experience mental health problems recover fully, or can live with and manage them, especially if they get help early on.

But even though so many people are affected, there is a strong social stigma attached to mental ill health, and people with mental health problems can experience discrimination in all aspects of their lives.

We will talk with Chris Fogarty, Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Mercy Medical Center about mental health initiatives in our community and reducing the stigma attached to mental health conditions.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE.  These are powerful words.  It’s important to measure how common mental illness is, so we can understand its physical, social and financial impact — and so we can show that no one is alone.

1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year
1 in 25 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year
1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-34

Community Resources:

Mental Health First Aid Training

Mercy Medical Center Plain Chris Fogarty Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Dr. John Vraciu and Heidi Vraciu, Board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, joining us from Greater Canton Psychiatry.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders of childhood. It is sometimes referred to as Attention Deficit Disorder or ADD. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors, or be overly active. This morning we will talk with Dr. Vraciu and Heidi about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of attention deficit disorder.

American Academy of Pediatrics has a website with many excellent resources for parents on common questions and concerns including ADHD, parenting tips, child development, and more.

Pharmacists Paul White and Brad White discuss tips for a healthy immune system for the coming cold and flu season.

Influenza (Flu) Vaccines

The Centers for disease control estimates that for the 2017-2018 influenza season that vaccination prevented 7.1 million illnesses, 109,000 hospitalizations and 8000 deaths. The CDC recommends that children and adults should received their flu shots by the end of October. Vaccination is recommended before there is flu activity in the community. Statistically flu seasons are most likely to peak in January and February but can occur as early as October. You cannot get the flu from the flu shot. You may experience side effects like soreness at the injection site or a mild temperature or malaise which is a sign of an immune response to the vaccine.

The CDC recommends the following patients get the influenza vaccine:

• All children aged 6 through 59 months;

• All persons aged ≥50 years;

• Adults and children who have chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (excluding isolated hypertension), renal, hepatic, neurologic, hematologic, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);

• Persons who are immunocompromised due to any cause (including but not limited to immunosuppression caused by medications or HIV infection);

• Women who are or will be pregnant during the influenza season;

• Children and adolescents (aged 6 months through 18 years) who are receiving aspirin- or salicylate-containing medications and who might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection;

• Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities;

• American Indians/Alaska Natives; and

• Persons who are extremely obese (body mass index ≥40 for adults).

• Healthcare workers

• Caregivers

Pneumonia Vaccines

Older adults need two pneumonia vaccines separated by at least one year. Prevnar 13 (PCV13) provides coverage against 13 strains of pneumococcal bacteria and Pneumovax 23 (PPSV23) provides protection against 23 strains of pneumococcal bacteria. Both vaccines provide protection against illnesses like meningitis and bacteremia. Side effects are mild and typically do not affect daily activities. Soreness at injection site is the most common.

CDC Recommends:

• You should receive a dose of PCV13 first, followed by a dose of PPSV23, at least 1 year later.

• If you already received any doses of PPSV23, get the dose of PCV13 at least 1 year after the most recent PPSV23 dose.

Nutritional Recommendations

A strong immune system starts with both adequate rest and adequate nutrition. Pharmacist Brad White recommends the following supplements to support your immune system:

• Multivitamin

• Vitamin D

• B-Complex Vitamin

• Omega 3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oil)

• CoEnzyme Q10

• Magnesium Chelate or Magnesium Glycinate

• Probiotic

This installment of Health Matters will talk with our friends from the Great Start for Great Futures Coalition about each of our roles in helping the children of Stark County realize their potential for a Great Future. We welcome Jen Griffing and Krista Allison to share their passion and vision for the youth in our community.

Talk First Stark - is a Stark County strategy geared towards families with children from prenatal to age 3. The initiative promotes the importance of language nutrition as the foundation for healthy growth during this critical time in a child's brain development. Progress made during the first 5 years of a child’s life is extremely predictive of future school successes and struggles. Kindergarten readiness predicts 3rd grade reading achievement, which predicts 8th grade math achievement, which predicts high school graduation, which predicts postsecondary attainment.

For more information about Talk First Stark visit http://www.edpartner.org

This is part of a series of four programs. Don’t miss Part 2, and Part 3 and Part 4 here.

You can find all our Health Matters Podcasts here: iTunes Google Play Stitcher

This week’s episode discusses skin cancer risks and how you can be proactive to protect yourself when you enjoy the sunshine this summer. Do you know what increases your risk for skin cancer? How many times a day do you need to reapply sunscreen? Learn from the experts at Mercy Medical Center for best practices to protect yourself from overexposure and sun damage.

What is more fun than enjoying the out of doors in the summer? Well it certainly isn’t a visit to the emergency room as a result of an injury. This program is led by Dr. Mark Lamielle and provides great summer safety tips for outdoor activities, summer travel, staying hydrated, and maximizing your fun while minimizing your risks! Take this opportunity to check your medicine cabinet and make sure that you have the basic first aid items to treat those cuts and scrapes and make sure your items are in date. Must have on hand items include band-aids, gauze pads, antibiotic ointment, hydrocortisone cream, pain relievers, and hydrogen peroxide.

This episode of Health Matters with the Medicine Center Pharmacy covers a variety of services that we offer at your local independent pharmacy. The pharmacist fills a role that covers many aspects of health care. They link the patient to the prescriber and not only check for drug interactions and make sure that your prescription order is accurate, they also help solve problems with insurance billing, manufacturer recalls, and over the counter medication recommendations. Patients visit their pharmacist on average of 12 times a year, making the pharmacist the most accessible health care professional.

In addition to providing services like home delivery and special medication packaging to simplify medication administration, the Medicine Center also offers a Free Kids Vitamin program for kids in grades Kindergarten through Fifth grade. We have convenient pharmacy locations in Canton, Louisville, Minerva, and New Philadelphia, Ohio for you to take advantage of this service.

We also talk about an upcoming informational seminar that pharmacist Brad White will be hosting on September 5th, 2019 about the uses for Low Dose Naltrexone. Low Dose Naltrexone, or LDN, can be of benefit in a variety of autoimmune disorders and chronic pain treatment. You can register here for the seminar to learn more.

This episode of Health Matters with the Medicine Center Pharmacy as we discuss National Stroke Awareness Month with Maria Griffin, CNP, Stroke Coordinator for Mercy Medical Center. Did you know that every 40 seconds someone in the United States suffers a stroke? Stop by the Medicine Center Pharmacy to get your blood pressure checked by one of our pharmacists.

Audio Block

Double-click here to upload or link to a .mp3. Learn more

Studies show that somewhere between 25% and 45% of post menopausal woman find sex painful.  Estrogen, the primary female sex hormone, regulates your reproductive system. Before menopause, estrogen helps maintain the thickness and elasticity of your vaginal tissues. However, as you age, your estrogen levels drop, causing changes in these tissues.  When vaginal tissue grows too thin, sexual activity can become painful.

Our topic today is women’s health with a focus on Mona Lisa Touch, a promising and exciting hormone free treatment.  

This Friday edition of Health Matters with The Medicine Center Pharmacy features your Pharmacist Paul White and sitting-in for Compounding-Pharmacist Brad White is Health Matters Radio Show Executive Producer Nancy Wharmby. Nicole Selinsky, Diabetes Educator and Registered Dietician from Mercy Medical Center

Seasonal Allergies have you down? Pharmacists Paul White and Brad White discuss Over the Counter treatments to help you beat the pollen. We also cover tips on how to save money at the pharmacy counter.

The Centers for Disease Control report a that a whopping 62 percent of Americans are overweight or obese. It’s no surprise that a sedentary lifestyle combined with increased food consumption lead to health risks among adults, teens and children. As the warmer months approach, many people focus on dieting and exercise to lose weight and getting in warm-weather shape. It’s also a great time to evaluate good food choices and really pay attention to what we put in our bodies. Today we’re going to talk about healthy eating habits,  learn tips on portion control and more. 

From Botox injections to tummy tucks, Americans are spending more than ever on plastic and reconstructive surgeries, according to an article published in USA today. What was once common only in wealthy social circles has become much more common in mainstream America because plastic and reconstructive procedures have been proven to be affordable and safe when provided by a reputable medical provider. However, plastic and reconstructive surgeries are commonly known as cosmetic luxuries, but they are often medically necessary – from removing skin cancer to addressing a cleft lip. Dr. Stephen Lopez, plastic and reconstructive surgeon from Aultman Medical Group shares more with us during this segment.

Opioid addiction has been a serious and growing issue in our country for years, and the face of the epidemic is usually of those who are addicted. However, there is another side of the opioid addiction crisis and substance disorders in general – the children of those who are addicted or who overdose. As the opioid crisis spreads, it has forced more children into foster care and exposed many to severe trauma. In this segment, we learn more from the experts at OhioGuidestone.

Hosts and Pharmacists Brad and Paul White talk with OhioGuidestone’s Hollie Spencer Truman.

March is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month, and we are helping raise awareness and joining the effort to save lives. According to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer, and it’s the second leading cause of cancer death in men and women combined in the United States. Family history, ethnicity and race can put you at a higher risk for colorectal cancer, so screening is an important factor. Early detection is key, and in this program with talk with the cancer experts from Mercy Medical Center.

L-R: Medicine Center Pharmacy’s Nancy Wharmby, executive vice president and Paul White, R. Ph., discuss colon cancer awareness and treatment with Mercy Medical Center’s Angelina Barbato, cancer nurse navigator and Dr. Russell Ramey.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a third of adults report they usually get less than the recommended amount of sleep every night. Why does this matter? Not getting enough sleep is linked with many chronic diseases and conditions – such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity and depression – which all threaten our nation’s health. However, diagnosis of sleep disorders can lead to treatment. In today’s program we talk about sleep apnea, starting school later and more. 

Joel Porquez, clinical manager at Mercy Sleep Disorders Center, talks about sleep issues with adults and children.

Often neurosurgery is synonymous with issues involving the brain. However, neurosurgeons diagnose and treat issues beyond the brain. Some conditions that might warrant treatment from a neurosurgeon include carotid artery disease, cervical spine disorders, chronic pain, stroke and nerve and head injuries among others. Dr. Rishi Goel, neurosurgeon from Aultman Medical Group, explains brain surgery in terms listeners can understand in today’s podcast!

More than 5 million Americans are diagnosed with heart valve disease each year, according to the American Heart Association. When one or more of your four heart valves fails to work properly, surgery is often required in order to replace the valve. Innovative procedures like a Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement – commonly known as TAVR – can provide beneficial treatment options and faster recovery for patients who may not be candidates for open heart surgery. As we continue this month’s focus on Heart Health Awareness, Dr. Sabe, Executive Director of Mercy Heart Center shares more.

A lot is happening in the world of pharmacy, from local store closings to news about middle men - called pharmacy benefit managers, often known for causing havoc on patient prescription costs. In this segment we talk about these issues as well as medication recalls, flu and strep testing, monthly health screenings along with how to interpret your numbers and more.

Heart disease can happen at any age, and according to the Centers for Disease Control, younger adults are now being affected by the disease more often than in past years. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and obesity are just a few of the risk factors. Advances in cardiovascular medical treatment are making an impact on life expectancy, and since February is American Heart Health Awareness Month, today is the perfect opportunity to focus on heart health awareness and talk about the latest advances in minimally invasive heart surgery and robotic surgery with Mercy Cardiovascular Institute’s Dr. Mark Tawil.   

Dr. Mark Tawil, cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon from Mercy Cardiovascular Institute Explains the Latest Advances in Minimally Invasive Surgery on Health Matters .

Audio Block

Double-click here to upload or link to a .mp3. Learn more