Every Sunday morning at 10:30am (beginning January 10th) WJCT proudly presents HEALTH MATTERS. Health Matters focuses on important health issues and medical care innovations in North Florida. The goal is to educate our viewers about exciting new ways to improve health, practice better nutrition and live healthy lifestyles.
Health Matters highlights critical medical issues and innovative solutions and features discussions with physicians, health care professionals and most importantly First Coast citizens who are dedicated to living a healthy lifestyle.
WJCT’s Karen Feagins hosts and produces the program. Health Matters is made possible through funding provided by the Mayo Clinic.
Health Matters airs Sundays on WJCT 7.1 at 10:30am and on 7.4 at 8:30pm.
You can also catch host Karen Feagins on WJCT 89.9 FM every Friday on First Coast Connect with the Health Matters Moment. The segment will give listeners a sneak-peek into the next episode on Health Matters before it airs.
HEALTH MATTERS 101
Surgical Initiatives and Breakthroughs
- Minimally Invasive Surgeries
We explore the facets of minimally invasive surgery at Mayo Clinic. We’ll even take you into the operating room to see a surgery done using the da Vinci surgical robotic system. www.mayoclinic.org/minimally-invasive-surgery
- Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgeries continue to evolve giving patients who suffer from obesity options to better health. Mayo Clinic professionals stress the importance of knowing your numbers-to find out your BMI in less than a minute check out the link. www.mayoclinic.com/health/bmi-calculator/NU00597
- Transplant Surgery
Did you know Jacksonville has become a mecca for patients needing organ transplants? Mayo Clinic has become one of the nation's largest liver transplant centers, with the bulk of the patients coming from right here in Jacksonville.
www.mayoclinic.org/transplantservices-jax/
- iMRI
New technology right in our backyard. Mayo Clinic Hospital in Jacksonville has the only iMRI unit in this geographic region. We sat down with Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon to explain this new www.mayoclinic.org/medicalprofs/intraoperative-mri.html
- Understanding Diabetes
We spoke with American Diabetes Association Representatives and Mayo Clinic officials to gain a better understanding of what diabetes is. www.diabetes.org
www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes/DS01121
- Diabetes Disparities
The Duval County Health Department has found growing disparities among varying Florida counties and ethnic races. We explore why this may be and what’s being done about it. www.dchd.net/diabetesinduvalcounty.htm
- Local Diabetes Research
Groundbreaking diabetes research is happening right here in Jacksonville at Nemours Children’s Clinic. We spoke with the lead researcher for more information.
www.nemours.org/index.html
- Gestational Diabetes
Gestational Diabetes is a form of diabetes that is rarely talked about. We had the opportunity to sit down with Olympic gold medalist gymnast, Shannon Miller, to talk about her experiences with gestational diabetes. You won’t want to miss this one.www.diabetes.org
HEALTH MATTERS 103
Aging/Alzheimer’s
- Aging Well
We spoke with a local dietitian, an ER doctor and First Coast citizens to find out all about aging well.
www.firstcoastymca.org/wellness/nutrition
- Mayo Clinic Memory Disorder Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a state-designated Memory Disorder Clinic. Sponsored in part by Florida’s Department of Elder Affairs, these clinics are the state's focal points for research, training and services directed to residents with symptoms of Alzheimer's or related dementias.
www.mayoclinic.org/alzheimers-disease/jaxtreatment.html
- The Caregiver
We sat down with a local caregiver who says she made one of the best decisions of her life by becoming a caregiver for her mother.
- Mayo Clinic Cancer Research
Physicians and scientists at Mayo Clinic are conducting a wide-range of research projects to improve patient care. Patients from all over the country are coming to Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville to receive what is their only hope for survival. www.mayo.edu
- Skin Cancer
Skin Cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer. We sat down with a local dermatologist to teach us how to keep ourselves safe from the sun, even in this beautiful Florida weather.
- Men Tackling Cancer
African-American men have the highest rates of prostate cancers and prostate cancer deaths. A new initiative in Jacksonville is addressing this disparity by raising awareness of prostate cancer and providing screenings in the city’s urban core. www.100blackmenjax.org/, www.dchd.net
- Breast Cancer Crusader
Local TV news anchor Donna Deegan takes us through her journey with breast cancer and Dr. Edith Perez shares her story about searching for a cure for breast cancer. www.breastcancermarathon.com/
HEALTH MATTERS 105
Allergies & Asthma
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Allergies
Jacksonville continuously ranks as one of the top spring allergy capitals in the nation. We’ll break down what allergies are all about and how to treat them. www.jaxallergists.com/
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Allergy Proofing Your Home
Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Chad Masters takes us through the typical home to illustrate some ways to allergy proof your home. www.mayoclinic.com/health/allergy/HQ01514
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Asthma
Asthma cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. Tune in to see how local First Coast residents are living with asthma. www.jaxallergists.com/
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Child Food Allergies
It’s already hard enough to find food for children to eat, so what happens when you have a child with over a dozen food allergies? One First Coast family shows us how it’s done. http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/feeding/food_allergies.html
- Bone Cancer Implant
Hospitals around the First Coast are collaborating together to ensure that patients are getting the best care. You’ll see an example here when a young girl gets a high-tech treatment for bone cancer.
- Shands Center for Autism
More children than ever are being diagnosed with autism and that diagnosis affects every member of the family in different ways. There is a program in Northeast Florida that helps by providing support and assistance to families dealing with autism.
- NICU
Doctors are constantly searching for the best ways to provide treatment for patients and now these techniques are being moved into the arena of medical records.
- Nature Deficit Disorder
In the 2005 book, “Last Child in the Woods” Richard Louv coined the term Nature Deficit Disorder to describe how a lack of interaction with nature could be hurting our kids.
- Happiest Baby on the Block
Find out the proven strategies for any parents on how to calm your crying newborn baby.www.happiestbaby.com/
HEALTH MATTERS 107
Careers In Medicine
- Surgical Residents
Millions of viewers tune in to Grey’s Anatomy each week, but what’s the life of a real resident like? Tune in to see. www.mayoclinic.org/jacksonville
- Nursing
The role of a nurse has changed but the demand for them stays the same. We take a look into the Nursing program at the University of North Florida. http://www.unf.edu/brooks/nursing/index.html
- Home Health Care
Home health care is one of the growing professions in the medical field. Patients and health care professionals alike enjoy the benefits of at-home health care.
- Orthotics & Prosthetics
With the rise of diabetes and other medical issues orthotics and prosthetics are in demand. This story takes a look at the different side of the health care field. http://www.realpagessites.com/advanceprosthetics/
- Hypertension
Hypertension is a term used to describe High Blood Pressure. It’s a problem for one in three adults in the United States…and there are usually no symptoms.
- Electrophysiology
Occasional irregular heartbeats are common and usually harmless, but some arrhythmias can cause life threatening symptoms. At Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, doctors are using the latest in pacemaker technology to treat heart arrhythmias. http://www.mayoclinic.com/
- Congenital Heart Defects
Doctors knew from an ultrasound that Ben Hulsey’s heart had a defect. In fact, physicians did not know of any child with this particular defect that had ever lived for more than a few minutes. This is the incredible story of how they saved his life and made medical history. http://www.wolfson55.org/ben_hulsey/index.html
- Atrial Fibrilliation
Atrial Fibrillation affects more than 2-million Americans. When drugs don’t alleviate the symptoms, physicians sometimes turn to a medical procedure known as catheter ablation that does not require open heart surgery. http://www.afibjax.com/
Health Matter 109
Mental Health
- Depression
Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses. Mental illnesses affect about one in five families in the U.S. but there are still some common misconceptions.
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Any terrifying event can cause Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, though it’s often associated with horrors of war. We sat down with an Iraq war veteran who was diagnosed with PTSD. https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/
- Mental Health & Crime
More people are treated for mental illnesses in jails and prisons than in hospitals and mental institutions. We chatted with Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford to find out more information on why this is and what they’re doing to deal with it.
- Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are the most deadly mental illnesses and while they begin with preoccupations with food and weight they are often much more than about food.
http://www.boswellcenter.com/about_bio_boswell.htm
Health Matter 110
Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
- Ankle Replacement
Ankle replacement surgeries have been making a comeback in the last decade. Mayo Clinic Jacksonville orthopedic specialists explain all about ankle replacement surgery. http://www.mayoclinic.org/ankle-surgery/anklereplacement.html
- ConforMIS Knee
St. Vincent’s Center for Orthopedic Excellence offers patients a customizable knee replacement known as ConforMIS. ConforMIS believes that optimizing fit and performance can lead to an overall successful replacement. http://jacksonvillekneereplacement.com/
- Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program
Health care professionals in Jacksonville are coming together to care for our student athletes. The Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program is the only one of its kind in the Untied States. http://jaxsmp.com/
- Jacksonville Suns: Athletic Trainer Spotlight
One of the most vital members of the Jacksonville Suns baseball team isn’t even on the team, it’s the Athletic Trainer. http://jacksonville.suns.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t564
- Brain Cancer Vaccine
An experimental brain cancer vaccine is helping patients live longer. It attacks Glioblastoma multiforme, also known as GBM, the most common and aggressive form of brain cancer, and now it’s available for patients in Northeast Florida
St. Vincent’s Spine and Brain Institute
www.spineandbraininstitute.com
Duke University Cancer Center
- Concussions
New medical research shows that successive concussions can have a damaging effect on the brain and new technology is making it clearer to coaches and trainers when players are really ready to get back in the game. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/concussion.html
- Craniosynostosis
Surgeons in Jacksonville are performing a cutting edge procedure to help babies born with a condition called craniosynostosis that can cause an abnormally shaped head and affect brain development.
www.craniokids.org, www.jorgeposadafoundation.org
- Mothers Against Brain Injury
When Tracy Porter’s son experienced traumatic brain injury, the whole family was affected. Porter felt helpless and didn’t have many of the basic items she needed during her stay in the trauma center. She founded Mothers Against Brain Injury, Inc. to help other families in the same situation.
www.mabii.org, http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tbi/tbi.htm
Health Matter 112
Digestive Health
- Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s Disease is a chronic disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive tract. The good news for Crohn’s sufferers in Northeast Florida is that there is a new chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation in our area to offer help and support. Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, http://www.borland-groover.com/hot_topics/ibs.html
- GERD
Acid reflux is affecting more people in the United States. For people with a condition called Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD, the contents of their stomach leak backwards into the esophagus, causing heartburn and other symptoms.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gerd/DS00967, http://www.borland-groover.com/hot_topics/gerd.html
- Colonoscopies
Colorectal Cancer is the second most common cancer killer, but it’s preventable and treatable when detected early. http://www.borland-groover.com/procedures/colon.html#what, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003886.htm
- Celiac Disease
Celiac Disease is surprisingly common, but often goes undiagnosed. Only about 5% of people with this autoimmune disorder have been diagnosed.
http://www.celiac.org/, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/celiac-disease/DS00319
- LASIK
It used to be that glasses or contact lenses were the only choices for correcting bad vision, but now LASIK surgery provides another option.
http://www.fda.gov/medicaldevices/productsandmedicalprocedures/surgeryandlifesupport/lasik/default.htm, http://seeclearjax.com/
- Macular Degeneration
Macular Degeneration is a leading cause of vision loss in older Americans. Therapy can help patients learn how to deal with failing eyesight, and new medications are providing hope for the future. www.jacksonvillelowvision.com, www.visionispriceless.org, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/macular-degeneration/DS00284
- Eye Allergies
Allergy season often means itchy, watery eyes. It can be a real problem—especially for contact lens wearers.
https://health.google.com/health/ref/Allergic+conjunctivitis
- Women of Vision
For more than a decade, a group of women who are blind or have low vision, have been meeting at The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens to create art—changing the way we think about art and vision loss. www.cummer.org, http://www.visionaware.org/independent_living_for_adult_blind, www.wjct.org/radio/reading