HealthTalks NOW

From the Frontline: Your Vaccine Questions Answered

Cases of the novel coronavirus have reached all-time highs in the commonwealth of Kentucky and in southern Indiana during the early weeks of 2021. But with vaccination against COVID-19 underway, health experts are encouraged that hope is on the horizon. For HealthTalks Now’s first show of the new year, guest Benjamin Klausing, MD, an infectious disease specialist in Louisville, Kentucky, weighs in on the vaccine and its role in creating a return to normalcy. He shares his experience getting the shot, discusses vaccine rollout, and offers advice about vaccination. He also provides insight into new strains of the virus, explains the significance of achieving herd immunity, and predicts how this pandemic could influence the future of treating infectious diseases.

Controlling Your Weight When Life Feels Out of Control

The struggle to maintain a healthy weight is never easy. During a global pandemic, when emotions are high, routines are upended, and the pantry is always open, it can be even more difficult. Paige Quintero, MD, a bariatric surgeon in Lexington, Kentucky, answers HealthTalks Now hosts’ questions about the newly coined term “quarantine 15,” offering tips for controlling your weight when everything else feels out of control. She outlines options for managing weight loss safely, explains how to know if you’re a good candidate for bariatric services, and advises how to get started. In addition, she walks listeners through the surgical process, including preparations, follow-up care, and long-term maintenance. We also get to know Dr. Quintero, as she reveals her reasons for choosing the bariatric specialty and tells us what her life is like outside the hospital.

Facing 2021 With Hope and Resolve

Turning the page on a new year typically involves making lofty promises for a healthier, more productive year ahead. But in 2020, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of those goals went by the wayside as life as we knew it came to a halt. In this podcast, Krista Moe, PhD, a Lexington psychologist, talks with the “HealthTalks Now” team about approaching 2021 with positivity and resolve despite 2020’s unmet expectations and amidst continued uncertainty. Dr. Moe explains the importance of self-reflection, especially after a year of loss and disappointment, and offers suggestions for recognizing our strengths and using them to help us stare down 2021.

COVID-19 CEO Update

A lot has changed since the HealthTalks Now crew last talked with Baptist Health CEO Gerard Colman. As Baptist Health begins administering the first doses of a vaccine against COVID-19, Colman joins Kerri and Kendra to provide an update on the health system’s pandemic response efforts. He discusses PPE supply, ICU bed space, and frontline caregiver staffing. They also examine how Baptist Health has weathered the storm financially and consider how the virus could impact healthcare delivery and infection control post-pandemic. Tune in as Colman shares lessons he’s learned, 2020’s “silver linings,” and his greatest hope for 2021.

COVID-19: Where Are We Now?

In the coming weeks, hospitals in Kentucky and Indiana expect to receive their first doses of a vaccination against COVID-19. While cases of the virus continue to rise, infectious disease specialist David Dougherty, MD, is hopeful the vaccine — combined with antibody treatments and continued precautionary measures — will set the community on a course to a pre-pandemic normal. In this podcast, he discusses vaccine trials at Baptist Health, the safety of the vaccine, and how it works to provide protection from the virus. He explains COVID-19 treatments and describes the long-term health issues he’s seeing in patients who have recovered from the virus. Dr. Dougherty also offers advice for staying safe this holiday season and predicts when we’ll see that return to normalcy.

Do You Know the Difference Between Seizures and Epilepsy?

According to neurologist Supriya Kohli, MD, epilepsy affects 1 in 26 people of all ages, or approximately 50 million worldwide. While it’s estimated that 70% of those affected could live seizure-free with proper diagnosis and treatment, she says the condition can be hard to pinpoint. In this podcast, Dr. Kohli describes epilepsy diagnosis and treatment in detail, explaining who is most at risk, signs and symptoms of a seizure, and advanced treatment options. She outlines the types of seizures and defines the relationship between epilepsy and other conditions, such as anxiety, panic attacks, and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures. In addition, Dr. Kohli addresses some common misconceptions about seizures and offers tips on providing aid to someone who may be experiencing one.

Ladies, Listen Up!

Women in their 30s and 40s may still look and feel young, but many begin to notice subtle changes in their bodies during these decades. Hosts Kendra and Kerri interview primary care physician Wanda Lowe, MD, for a no-holds-barred discussion about women’s health. They ask: Why can’t I eat a whole pizza without budging my jeans? Do I need a beauty box to keep my skin looking youthful? How can I counteract the inevitable loss of bone and muscle mass as I grow older? Dr. Lowe uses clinical evidence to shed light on simple things women can do to set themselves up for healthy aging. She provides metabolism-boosting tips, explains the mystery of perimenopause, and advises on care for symptoms of anxiety or depression. Lastly, Dr. Lowe offers guidance on vitamin supplements and outlines the preventive screenings women should schedule during these years. Listen up, ladies, for some powerful info you’ll want to share with your girlfriends.

Don’t Shrug Off Shoulder and Elbow Pain

In this episode of the HealthTalks NOW podcast, Kendra is joined for a telephone conversation with Dr. Brent Morris, Orthopedic Surgeon at Baptist Health Medical Group Orthopedic Sports Medicine. Dr. Morris is an expert in the areas of shoulder and elbow and answered questions to common injuries. Can you injure your shoulder by sleeping on your side? Tune in for the answer to this question and many more!

Radical Acceptance: Youth and Mental Health in 2020

In this episode of the HealthTalks NOW podcast, Kendra and Kerri are joined for a phone conversation by Katelyn Arvin, the lead navigator of the Behavioral Health clinic at Baptist Health Richmond.  In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, this conversation focuses on some ramifications of the situation.  Many parents have their hands full as they navigate work environments, finances, and health concerns, and it is easy to simply think of children as resilient and turn attention to other pressing issues.  However, this conversation presents an opportunity to pause and consider more deeply the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children.

Introducing Baptist Health Hardin: A Conversation with Dennis Johnson

As we prepare to welcome Hardin Memorial Hospital (HMH) to the Baptist Health family on September 1, we sat down with Dennis Johnson, President and CEO to learn about the Central Kentucky region.