Last year, a few weeks before Christmas, one of my best friends texted me “I have very strange news.” I wasn’t sure what would come next, but I sure didn’t expect it to be “I had a heart attack.” Gina and I became friends when we were in high school and even though we live 7 hours apart now we are still close. She is a marathon runner and a vegan. After our friendship flashed before my eyes, I texted back “Are you the healthiest person they have ever had in the cardiac unit?” Hello, I’m Dr. Brooke Hildebrand Clubbs at Southeast Missouri State University. Heart-healthy people can suffer heart attacks due to a condition known as SCAD: spontaneous coronary artery dissection. The Mayo Clinic explains SCAD occurs in the absence of any other heart disease and is caused by a small tear in the wall of the artery that causes blood to accumulate there. As it grows, the space for blood flow narrows, which can cause a heart attack. Dr. Sharrone Hayes, founder of the Mayo Women’s Heart Clinic,

KRCU's To Your Health

To Your Health: S.C.A.D. (Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection)

A friend recently shared his and his partner’s COVID story. They were both fully vaccinated and masked in public settings, but when his partner discovered he had been exposed to a positive case, he got a rapid test that day which came back negative. He also took a PCR---polymerase chain reaction--- test that day and got the results five days later: negative. Two weeks later, he lost his sense of smell. He got another rapid test and it was positive. My friend then began developing symptoms and waited 4 days after his symptoms started to get rapid tested, and also received a positive result. Hello, I’m Dr. Brooke Hildebrand Clubbs at Southeast Missouri State University. My friend’s story brings up important issues regarding types of tests and timing. First, there are three types of tests.The first one, the PCR test, identifies whether the actual COVID virus genetic material exists by taking a sample via a nasal pharyngeal swab. The second one, the antigen test, also known as the rapid

To Your Health: COVID Testing Timing

In the early 1990s , the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Estee Lauder and Self magazine began distributing pink ribbons at events to promote breast cancer awareness. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Today, most people are aware of breast cancer, but many don’t have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages and encourage others to do the same. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about 1 in 8 women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point. The good news is many women can survive breast cancer if it’s found and treated early. A mammogram – the screening test for breast cancer – can help find the disease early when it’s easier to treat. There has been some confusion in recent years about when women should start getting mammograms and how often they should get them. The American Cancer Society suggests women age 40 and older should have a mammogram every year and should continue to do so for as long as they are in

To Your Health: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Fall has arrived! The leaves are turning colors, the air is getting cool and crisp…and you’re sneezing? Allergies don’t just occur as things bloom in the spring and summer. Fall allergies have different triggers than spring and summer allergies, but they can be just as annoying. Ragweed is a common culprit. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America report that 10 to 20 percent of Americans suffer from ragweed allergy or hay fever. Ragweed begins releasing pollen in late summer and continues almost until frost kills the plant. The beautiful autumnal leaves that fall can also house another allergen: mold. Piles of damp leaves are ideal breeding grounds for mold. When you turn on the heat for the first time on a chilly fall day, you may release dust mites which also trigger sneezes, wheezes and runny noses. Knowing your triggers is the first step in treating fall allergies. Look up local pollen counts online or call the National Allergy Bureau at (800)-9-POLLEN. Folk remedies like

To Your Health: Fall Allergies

As the flu season approaches in the United States, health experts are warning that the addition of another respiratory illness on top of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic could overburden the health care system, strain testing capacity, and increase the risk of catching both diseases at once. Although the infection fatality rate of flu is roughly 10 times less than that of COVID-19, it still kills 30 to 60,000 Americans every year. However, unlike COVID-19, the flu is a familiar foe, and a safe and effective vaccine is available every year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older. You should get a shot before flu viruses begin spreading in your community since it takes about two weeks for antibodies to develop and provide protection. The CDC recommends that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October. To be clear, the flu shot can't protect you from COVID-19. But, health authorities are urging people to get the flu

To Your Health: The Importance of Flu Shots in the Time of COVID-19

You might hear it referred to as “Long COVID” or “Post-COVID Syndrome” and the people who have it, “Long Haulers.” Johns Hopkins Medicine describes it as, “lingering health problems” people who were diagnosed with COVID-19 have, “even when they have recovered from the acute phase of the illness.” Some of them may have been hospitalized with COVID, while others had mild cases, but what these 10-30% of COVID survivors have in common now may be breathing issues, heart problems, kidney damage, gastrointestinal upset, lost or distorted senses of smell or taste, trouble with circulation, neurological effects and/or mental health disorders. However, there has been an optimistic report from Yale where Akiko Iwasaki has been studying the effect the COVID vaccine has on people with post-COVID syndrome: As many as 30 to 40% of those who get the vaccine have reported improvements to their symptoms. She has heard from people who say they no longer have ‘brain fog,’, or stopped suffering from

To Your Health: COVID "Long Haulers"

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious, especially for infants. RSV is the most common cause of pneumonia in children younger than 1 year of age in the United States.The CDC reports that RSV infections typically occur in late fall and winter.The American Academy of Pediatrics noted that masking and social distancing meant infants and young children who would have gotten RSV last year, didn't. However, according to an infectious diseases specialist at Children's Hospital in Los Angeles, as many states have lifted mask mandates and other restrictions, doctors are starting to see a resurgence of the virus, and earlier than usual. Hello, I’m Dr. Brooke Hildebrand Clubbs at Southeast Missouri State University. Health care workers on the front lines say that in addition to more children being hospitalized with the delta variant than the first COVID wave,

To Your Health: A Dangerous Combination for Children: COVID-19 and RSV

On June 15, 2020 the American Red Cross began testing all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. An antibody test screens for antibodies in your blood, which are formed when fighting an infection, like COVID-19. An antibody test assesses whether your immune system has responded to the infection, not if the virus is currently present. Positive antibody test results do not confirm infection or immunity; just potential prior exposure to the virus. Donors who test positive for COVID-19 antibodies may have the unique opportunity to help patients fighting the disease. Please note the Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness. Individuals who believe they may be ill with COVID-19 should not present to donate until they are symptom-free for 14 days and feeling well and healthy. Blood donations are more necessary than ever during the current COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Food and Drug Administration, the number of blood donations dramatically declined due

To Your Health: Blood Shortages and Antibody Testing

The American Red Cross reports that although an estimated 38 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood, less than 10 percent of that eligible population actually donate each year. Donations at high school and college blood drives account for as much as 20 percent of the supply during the school year, but during the summer months, these donors are not as accessible. When vacations disrupt other regular donors’ schedules, we are faced with a summer blood shortage. Despite many medical advances, doctors and researchers have not created a substitute for blood. It is not something that can be manufactured. It can only be supplied by donors. And, this supply must constantly be replenished not only because of how often it is used, but also because of how quickly it expires. The American Red Cross, which provides 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply, estimates that every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. This rate doesn’t decrease during the lazy days of summer.

To Your Health: Summer Blood Shortages

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year in the United States, 33,700 women and men are diagnosed with a cancer caused by HPV infection. HPV vaccination could prevent more than 90% of these cancers from ever developing. SoutheastHEALTH reports that though the HPV vaccine has been available for more than a decade, the overall percentage of the number of girls and boys obtaining the vaccine is still low. In 2017, the national average was about 50 percent for girls and 42% for boys. In Missouri, it was far less, with 28 percent of girls and 11 percent of boys. Saint Francis family nurse practitioner Dolores J. McDowell states that the HPV vaccine is the only current immunization that protects against cancer. So, why aren’t people getting the vaccine? The Journal of Ethics described several reasons, including worrying that vaccination promotes promiscuity, fearing side effects, and suspecting pharmaceutical companies achieved FDA approval through corporate

To Your Health: HPV (Part 2)

Runners sometimes joke about the strangest places they have gotten a drink when putting in long, hot miles ---from a stranger’s garden hose, a spigot on a golf course---but dehydration is no laughing matter. It’s also not something to cry about...because people who are dehydrated can’t produce tears. According to The Mayo Clinic, dehydration occurs when you use or lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesn't have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions. In the winter, people can get dehydrated by illness; in the summer, they are more likely to become dehydrated by sweating. Changes in elevation and certain medications can also lead to dehydration. Dehydration can be treated by consuming liquids, especially electrolyte solutions. Severe dehydration can lead to seizures, kidney problems and low blood volume shock and requires emergency medical treatment. Dehydration can be prevented by consuming an adequate amount of liquid, especially during exercise.

To Your Health: Dehydration

Over the last year, parents may have been concerned about potentially exposing their children to COVID-19 so they skipped well-child visits. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wants to remind parents of the vital need to protect their children against serious vaccine-preventable diseases, even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. As social distancing requirements are relaxed, children who are not protected by vaccines will be more vulnerable to diseases such as measles. Coordinated efforts between healthcare providers and public health officials will be necessary to achieve rapid catch-up vaccination. Hello, I’m Dr. Brooke Hildebrand Clubbs, instructor of health communication at Southeast Missouri State University. August is National Immunization Awareness Month. The New York Times reports that the number of administered doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccines dropped 15.7 percent among children under age 2, and an alarming 60 percent among those aged 2

To Your Health: Catch up on Immunizations During National Immunization Awareness Month

The U.S. has some of the highest maternal and infant death rates out of all developed countries, and these numbers are even higher for black women and infants. What can we do to address such a disturbing fact. There is one thing we can do to help reduce the gap in health equity early on, and that is take breastfeeding seriously. Despite the recommendation for infants to breastfeed exclusively for their first 6 months, the CDC reports only 26% of American infants meet the criteria. There are several reasons for this low percentage. First, many parents aren’t receiving support from their doctors. Pediatricians may not have the most accurate infant feeding information because they only receive an average of 3 hours of breastfeeding education per year in medical school, according to an article in Pediatrics. Next, a 2019 article in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report pointed out that black parents are less likely to receive breastfeeding support and are more likely to be given

To Your Health: Breastfeeding and Health Equity

Reaching retirement age at 65 is one of life’s key milestones and certainly a cause to celebrate! However, before the celebration starts, one of the important tasks is cutting a clear path through the Medicare Coverage confusion. Low health literacy is one of the biggest problems when people begin considering their Medicare options. An article in The Journal of Health Communication stated "the success of health plans hinges on the engagement of their members, and that requires providing information that they can understand and act on.” Understanding Medicare starts with getting the correct information from reliable sources. Here are some tips as you begin navigating your path. Do not wait until you are 65 to sign up for Medicare! Waiting too long to sign up can cost you money now and have long term future financial consequences. Eligibility begins as early as 3 months before you turn 65, so start by gathering all your medical information a full year in advance. Before you enroll at

To Your Health: How To Cut A Clear Path Through Medicare Coverage Confusion

Could you or someone you know have created a monster? A monster, mutant...variant of COVID-19? Unvaccinated people lead to person to person transmission of the virus. Every time the virus replicates, there is an opportunity for mutation. Right now, the mutation known as the delta variant has become the dominant strain of COVID in the United States. The Public Health Communications Collaborative reports that the delta variant is more contagious and spreads more easily than the original COVID-19 virus. People infected with the delta variant are more likely to need hospitalization than those infected with earlier strains of the virus. COVID-19 vaccines are extremely effective in preventing people from catching and spreading the virus, including the delta variant, but it is critical that you are fully vaccinated in order to be protected. While the World Health Organization continues to recommend that everyone wear masks because a large portion of the world remains unvaccinated, in the

To Your Health: COVID Variants

Brooke Hildebrand Clubbs provides health information you can trust. With trustworthy sources, she explores the fact and fiction surrounding various medical conditions and treatments, makes you aware of upcoming screenings, gives you prevention strategies and more…all to your health.

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KRCU's To Your Health

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