Your Best Life

Join Adnan Qalbani, MD, from MercyOne Dakota Dunes Breast Care Center, as he explores the intricacies of breast pain. With insights and possible causes, Dr. Qalbani discusses:

• Range of breast pain symptoms.
• Relation to menstrual cycles and hormone levels.
• When to seek medical attention.

Discover practical tips for managing breast pain, including lifestyle adjustments and self-exams. Gain a deeper understanding of this com...

Join Tiffany Torstenson, DO, breast surgeon at MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center, as she explores the intricacies surrounding BRCA gene mutations and the valuable insights testing can provide.

Get an overview of the two BRCA genes, its prevalence and its impact on people's lives. Dr. T dives deep into the relation of BRCA gene mutations to breast cancer risk. Also, learn how Lindsey Behrends took control of her health after d...

Join Noor Subah, MD, cardiology fellow at MercyOne North Iowa Heart Center, as she explores the topic of heart failure, a condition that affects millions of Americans.

Get an overview of heart failure, its prevalence and its impact on people's lives. Dr. Subah dives deep into the symptoms of heart failure and the key differences between systolic and diastolic heart failure. We also debunk some common misconceptions about this condi...

Join Craig Mahoney, MD, orthopedic surgeon at Iowa Ortho and MercyOne Central Iowa Orthopedic Physician Lead, as he shares his expertise to understanding knee and hip pain. From common causes and symptoms of joint pain to the importance of exercise in maintaining healthy joints, Dr. Mahoney provides a comprehensive guide to managing and treating joint pain.

We also cover:

• How sciatic nerve relates to knee pain.
• When to know you...

In this episode, we're discussing preeclampsia and its risk factors. Preeclampsia impacts 1 in 25 pregnancies in the U.S. according to the CDC. We’re joined by Roberto Velez, MD, at MercyOne North Iowa Obstetrics and Gynecology to explore the various factors that can increase your risk of developing preeclampsia during pregnancy, including:

• Pregnancies with more than one baby.
• Kidney concerns.
• Diabetes.
• Pre-existing conditions.
...

With only a 12% survival rate, widow maker heart attacks can be terrifying. Time is crucial, and ensuring you get medical attention immediately can be lifesaving. Brian Loc, DO, cardiologist for Medical Associates Clinic at MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center and Ali Albaghdadi, MD, cardiologist at MercyOne Clinton Medical Center shares the role a bystander plays in the response rate and how early heart attack care saves lives. 

In thi...

Heart disease and stroke claim the life of one woman every 80 seconds, but less than half of women recognize heart disease as their leading cause of death.

Traditional risk factors impact both men and women, but women also face a unique set of risks. Dr. Denisa Hagau, cardiologist at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center, discusses why heart health is different in women, what you can do to be proactive and why caring for yourself impr...

The heart is the energy source of our entire body. It pumps blood rich in oxygen and nutrients to the rest of our body – to our brains, our hands and to all the vital organs. But if something happens to the heart, the rest of the body suffers. And when the heart breaks, it can be fatal. Gary Chan, DO, PhD, cardiologist at MercyOne Siouxland Heart and Vascular Center, helps explain symptoms of a broken heart and why time is critical...

When we think of lung cancer, we often think of people who smoke. But in the United States, about 10% to 20% of lung cancers, or 20,000 to 40,000 lung cancers each year, happen in people who never smoked or smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime, according to the CDC.

In this episode, we're joined by Julie Paup, who despite never having smoked in her life, was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in 2015. "My outlook was ...

Caring for your mental health is just as important as your physical health!

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic many people have had the opportunity to work remotely from the comfort of their home. This change offered a new insight to mental health awareness within the workforce and an opportunity to put mental health needs first. Employers have found the benefit that mental health days offer their employees like the chance to...

After losing their daughter and nearly losing their son to viral illnesses, parents Eric and Holly Sitzmann are working to help prevent other families from having to live the same nightmare.

In this episode we're joined by Holly, who shares her family's experience and the importance of setting boundaries when you welcome a newborn into the world.

Learn more about Holly and Eric's mission at www.dktb.org 

In this episode, we are once again joined by infectious disease specialist Dr. Ravi Vemuri to discuss monkeypox. We'll learn about its history, what it looks like, how it spreads and how to protect yourself. If you are interested to learn more about monkeypox and its current trends in the U.S., please follow the links below:

• About Monkeypox
• How it spreads
• Prevention
• Vaccines
• If you are sick
• Treatment
• U.S. Map and Case Counts
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How do you make sure you have a healthy relationship with food? In this episode we're joined by registered dietitian Haley Strait to discuss:

• healthy weight loss
• body mass index (BMI)
• meal planning
• dietary supplements

Meal prepping can be a game changer for your health if done properly. Strait says it can make your week easier if you are busy and also helps prevent you from buying fast food or convenience store choices wh...

COVID-19 vaccinations to protect children from six months through the age of 5 are now available. Experts say it is best to get your child vaccinated as soon as it’s available.

In this episode, we're joined by MercyOne pediatrician Dr. Mustafa Eldadah who says, “Every day a child is unvaccinated there is risk of them getting a COVID-19 infection.  The vaccine is safe and getting it now can help put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. ...

At MercyOne, your best life is our one purpose - whether it's time with family and friends, your favorite hobby, a day on the golf course... or a combination of all three!  With that in mind, we welcome a special guest Steve Husome of Adaptive Golf Iowa.

Steve and friends were enjoying the nice weather on motorcycles when a semi pulled in front of him, forever changing the trajectory of his life’s path. Battling multiple injuries, ...