You probably learned about red blood cells in a high school science class. But most of us don’t know the impact that they can have on our bodies when we don’t have enough healthy ones. When faced with a shortage of healthy red blood cells, our blood flow can be blocked causing pain, infection and fatigue. This is known as sickle cell disease.

Host:

Willard Shepard, Emmy Award-Winning Journalist

Guests:

Neil Miransky, D.O., Chief Medical Officer of Pharmacy Services and operates Sickle Cell Care at Baptist Health South Miami Hospital

Josiah Frierson, Sickle Cell Patient

It’s important for men not to hit snooze on their health. Instead, they should take a proactive approach on recommended health screenings and regular check-ups. As the American Heart Association and other medical groups have pointed out repeatedly: Men are much less likely than women to take control of their health and see their doctor on a regular basis. Here's what men need to know about common cardiovascular and orthopedic issues for which they may need to seek medical attention.

Host:

Willard Shepard, Emmy Award-Winning Journalist

Guests:

Alexander Toirac, M.D., Cardiologist at Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute

Richard Morgan, D.O., Spine Care Physician at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute

If you’re on social media, chances are you’ve scrolled onto a post or two about mental health. Even in today’s movies and shows, it’s easy to see the tides have turned regarding society’s attitude towards the topic, with more support and awareness on these issues than previous years. One quarter of people worldwide suffer from mental illness. But because mental illnesses were often misunderstood and stigmatized, many people suffer in silence.

Host:

Johanna Gomez

Guests:

Manuela Rodriguez, LMFT, Psychotherapist at Baptist Health

Sarah Spar Alexander, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist at Miami Veterans Affairs

You've probably heard about the hype over “infusion therapy” or “IV therapy” for conditions such as dehydration, fighting exhaustion, boosting your immune system, and getting vitamins into your system. And while the IV therapy market (IV stands for intravenous or “within a vein” ) is expected to surge in demand and reach $4.5 billion dollars by 2028, infusion therapy is also a vital treatment for those battling all types of conditions.

From multiple sclerosis (MS) to cancer treatment, keeping track of medication schedules can be overwhelming. And many medications can trigger unwelcome side effects, such as stomach issues or skin reactions. Yet, infusion therapy can help many minimize these side effects since medication is delivered directly into the bloodstream.

Host:

Johanna Gomez

Guests:

Farima Raof, Pharm.D., Pharmacy Manager at Baptist Health

Carolina Duran, Infusion Care Patient

Mom: A special title for a group of exceptional women who have carried the weight of the world on their shoulders as they raised their tiny humans through two decades of life. Becoming and being a mother can bring on a range of feelings. And mothers deserve the best, including the very best mental health. May is a time when we come together to honor and celebrate the amazing mother in our lives – no matter where they are in their journey from newborns to empty nesters.

Host:

Johanna Gomez

Guests:

Natalia Echeverri, M.D., Obstetrician and Gynecologist and Baptist Health

Manuela Rodriguez, LMFT, Psychotherapist at Baptist Health

One minute, you and a friend are talking about your weekend plans. And the next thing you know, you feel confused, have trouble speaking and start slurring words. That’s what having a stroke feels like. If treated “fast” – and we’ll get to what the acronym F.A.S.T. means - a stroke can be reversed and permanent disability prevented or minimized.

The longer the stroke lasts, the more brain damage occurs. The faster you treat it, the more brain you protect. F.A.S.T. represents the top signs of a stroke: F – Face Drooping; A – Arm Weakness; S – Speech Difficulty; and T – Time to call 9-1-1.

Host:

David Jeannot

Guests:

Guilherme Dabus, M.D., Co-Director of Interventional Neuroradiology at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute

Meisha McIntosh, Stroke Survivor

Award-winning actor Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991 at just 29 years of age. It's a progressive brain disorder that can strip away a person’s movement and speech over time. There’s been some headway since Mr. Fox created his foundation on Parkinson’s research in 2000. But what’s the latest and what more can be done for the estimated one million Americans who have this disease?

Host:

David Jeannot

Guests:

Diego Torres-Russotto, M.D., Chief of Movement Disorders at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute

Ana Velasco, Parkinson’s Patient

You’ve likely seen celebrities such as Christina Applegate, Selma Blair and Jamie Lynn Sigler talk publicly about their battles with multiple sclerosis, or MS. But do you know what this disease entails; or how common it is; or how disabling it can be? MS was among the first diseases to be described scientifically nearly 200 years ago. Although doctors back then didn’t understand what they saw and recorded, drawings from autopsies clearly show what we recognize as MS today.

Host: Johanna Gomez

Guests:

Amy Yu, M.D., Director of the Multiple Sclerosis and Immunology Program at Marcus Neuroscience Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital.

Farima Raof, Pharm.D., Pharmacy Manager at Baptist Health Infusion Care.