The Health In Harlem Podcast

Influenza Vaccination in the COVID Era: It's Flu (and COVID season) and time to roll up Your sleeve

Flu season is upon us once more, and unfortunately it's COVID season too!  According to the CDC, in any given year, only 45% of the United States population gets vaccinated against influenza. Ladies and gentlemen, I commend you all for following through with social distancing, wearing masks, and practicing great hand hygiene, but we should all strongly consider taking that additional step and getting a flu shot this Fall. With the combined threat of COVID-19 and Influenza, there is a chance for an increased number of serious illness amongst large numbers of people that could overwhelm our health system and resources. In this episode, we discuss the possible threats and give you the information you need to make an informed decision about this important public health intervention. 
Johns Hopkins Medicine Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vs. The Flu 
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/coronavirus-disease-2019-vs-the-flu
Vaccine Information Statement
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/flu.html
Who Needs a Flu Vaccine
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccinations.htm
 

Colon Cancer Awareness and Prevention

We must thank the wonderful talent that was Chadwick Boseman. While he shared many a gift with us on the big screen, perhaps his greatest gift to us was his experience in living with colon cancer. We must be forever grateful for Mr. Boseman and his family sharing the story of his struggle with colon cancer as it was clearly aimed at ensuring that his death was not in vain. While deaths from colon cancer have been in decline amongst all age groups, the rate of new colon cancer diagnoses in people younger than 50 years of age has been steadily increasing, along with an increase in deaths among these younger individuals. It is for this reason that awareness and prevention of this disease are key. In this episode, Maurice Selby, MD and Georgio Malouf sit down and pay tribute to Chadwick Boseman and discuss colorectal cancer, risk factors for the disease, and most importantly, how we can the reduce of risk of developing colorectal cancer through simple lifestyle modifications and appropriate screening. Please check out the links below for more information. 
 
Washington Post- Chadwick Boseman's Death is Making Young People. Think About Colon Cancer. Here's What to know:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/colon-cancer-chadwick-boseman-tips/2020/09/03/13d224f2-ed29-11ea-99a1-71343d03bc29_story.html
American Cancer Society- Colorectal Cancer Facts and Figures: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/colorectal-cancer-facts-and-figures/colorectal-cancer-facts-and-figures-2020-2022.pdf
New York Times- More Young People Are Dying of Colon Cancer:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/22/well/live/more-young-people-are-dying-of-colon-cancer.html
Mayo Clinic- Colonoscopy:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/colonoscopy/about/pac-20393569
 
 
 

How to Choose a Primary Care Physician/Provider

Primary care providers save lives! With that said, we all need a competent, compassionate and accessible health professional to provide primary care services. This is essential to healthy living as these professionals can provide everything from preventive health services, general health counseling, access and referrals to specialists, counseling and even assistance with many of the social factors that can affect our health and well-being. We had a discussion with Dr. Alexa Mieses-Malchuk, Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Medicine and a Family Medicine Physician on the importance of having a primary care provider and tips on how you can find the best provider for you and your family! Enjoy the program and please check out the resources below so that you can find your match! 
 
National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging: How to Choose a Doctor You Can Talk To- https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/how-choose-doctor-you-can-talk
American Medical Association DoctorFinder: https://doctorfinder.ama-assn.org/doctorfinder/disclaimer.jsp
American Board of Medical Specialties' Certification Matters Database: https://www.certificationmatters.org/
National Library of Medicine's Medline Plus Physician Directories List: https://medlineplus.gov/directories.html
Medicare.gov Physician Compare Tool: https://www.medicare.gov/physiciancompare/
 
 
 
    

Women, Families, and the Impact of COVID-19

While men are more likely to physically succumb to COVID-19, the social impact has affected women all over the world and is seen by many experts as a major setback in the gains made in gender equity and women's rights. In this episode, we sat down with the Dr. Dara Kass the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of Feminem, Females Working in Emergency Medicine, to discuss the challenges facing women from all walks of life and how this disease is impacting work, home and family life, and the education of children and the laws and changes in culture we will need to triumph in the face of the pandemic. Also, please check out the extraordinary work being done by Dr. Kass and Feminem at  https://feminem.org/
Enjoy!
 

COVID-19 Vaccine Development and Mistrust and Hesitancy in Minority Communities

With the pandemic raging on and communities of color heavily impacted by the virus, an effective and safe vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 would seem like a Godsend to outsiders looking in. However, due to the real and sordid history of medical experimentation and exploitation of Black and Brown people, there is a fair amount of skepticism and wariness that could lead to rejection of this therapy by the people and communities that arguably need it most. In this episode we sat down with Dr. Jane Zucker, Assistant Commissioner in the Bureau of Immunizations at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; Dr. Noel Manyindo, Assistant Commissioner of the Harlem Neighborhood Health Action Center at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; and Dr. Italo Brown, Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Stanford University School of Medicine and Clinical Instructor of Social Emergency Medicine at Stanford Hospital to discuss the development of the COVID-19 vaccine, participation of Blacks, Latinx, and other minorities in clinical trials, and finally the history of medicine as well as looming myths and misconceptions that will certainly make any COVID-19 vaccine a hard sell.
 
Please check out the following links if you want more information about COVID-19 vaccine development and if you would like to inquire about participating in a clinical trial:
U.S. National Library of Medicine-
https://clinicaltrials.gov/
The New York Times-
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/05/health/volunteer-coronavirus-vaccine-trial.html
COVID-19 Prevention Network-
https://www.coronaviruspreventionnetwork.org/
National Geographic- 
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/health-and-human-body/human-diseases/coronavirus-vaccine-tracker-how-they-work-latest-developments-cvd/
New England Journal of Medicine-
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2025111
Routine Vaccinations During the COVID-19 Outbreak (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)-
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/visit/vaccination-during-COVID-19.html
Finally, shoutout to Dr. Cedric "Jamie" Rutland and his YouTube series Medicine Deconstructed! Check out this video to understand how a COVID-19 vaccine works and why it might be our best shot in combatting this disease. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBFQ_jbIR84

COVID-19 Update with Dr. Syra Madad

It's still COVID season folks, and we bring you an update on the disease with Dr. Syra Madad, one of the leading experts in special pathogens and emerging infectious diseases. Our conversation deals with everything from where we are in battling this pandemic, to what you and your family can do to lower your risk of acquiring this dangerous infection and finally we go into what we must do as a nation to triumph over this illness. Please check out the links below to learn how to be safe when out and about from the Centers for Disease Control and a risk index (what are high risk situations versus low risk situations with regard to spread of the coronavirus) from the Arizona Department of Health Services. Be safe and enjoy!!!!!
 
Arizona Department of Health Services COVID-19-Risk-Factors-Index
https://www.azdhs.gov/documents/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/infectious-disease-epidemiology/novel-coronavirus/communication-materials/covid-19-risk-factors-index-circle-8-5x11.pdf  
CDC Daily Activities and Going Out (guide on safe practices when out and about during the pandemic)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/going-out.html

Disaster Preparedness with Mark Silverberg, MD

On August 4, 2020 in Beirut, Lebanon two explosions rocked the port and sent shockwaves miles away from the blast causing more than 200 deaths, injuring thousands, and leading to billions of dollars of damage. This show is dedicated to our brothers and sisters in Lebanon. Disaster can strike at anytime and it is important that we have plans in place four ourselves, our families, and our communities in order to mitigate damage and ensure our survival and ability to recover. We sat down with Mark Silverberg to discuss how we can MAKE A PLAN, BUILD A KIT, AND BE INFORMED. Finally, we at Health In Harlem are in support of the following organizations and campaigns providing relief in Beirut at this time. Please check out the links below to support the recovery:
 
Ahla Fawda Beirut Blast Victims Relief Fund
https://www.gofundme.com/f/beirut-blast-victims-relief-fund
Lebanese Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org.lb/SubPage.aspx?pageid=1370&PID=158
Lebanese Food Bank
https://donate.lebanesefoodbank.org/
Basmeh and Zeitooneh Relief and Development
https://www.basmeh-zeitooneh.org/bz-campaigns
 

Tick-borne Illnesses

The tick invasion is upon us (well actually, they have always been around, thus not much of an invasion)!!! Not only is it creepy to think that these blood thirsty insects are waiting in the brush for unsuspecting wanderers, but these creatures also carry some really nasty pathogens that can make us quite ill. I know, yet another thing to fret over, but in this episode we empower you with information to protect yourself from ticks; everything from where they like to hang out, what to wear, and the signs and symptoms of serious illness and when to seek medical attention. Enjoy (and please be safe)! 

The Present and Future of Wearables, Health, and Wellness

Wearable technology has emerged as a major force in the health and wellness industry and it will without doubt play a critical role in the promotion of healthy lifestyles and in the prevention, detection, and management of various diseases. In this episode, the Health In Harlem Team interview Dr. Albert Titus, Professor and Chairperson of Biomedical Engineering at the Jacobs School of Medicine of the State University of New York at Buffalo. They discuss the exciting developments in wearable technology, current applications of wearable technology in the management of chronic diseases, and the work being done to make these technologies available to seek and require them. So, take a break from counting those steps and check out this episode of the Health In Harlem Podcast!  

Heat-Related Illness

It's that time of year again, and the heat is upon us! In this episode we discuss the physiology behind body temperature regulation, the spectrum of heat-related illnesses that can arise when those compensatory mechanisms fail or are maximized, risk factors for developing these illnesses, and how we can protect ourselves from complications from illness in extreme heat. Enjoy and stay cool!