Healthy Body, Healthy Mind

- Season 11

(2008)

Most of us know what influenza is, and many of us have stood in line, or visited the doctor to get a flu shot. But what you may not know is how important getting the vaccine is to your friends, co workers and loved ones. In this program we correct the myths and misconceptions surrounding flu vaccines. Plus we look into the science behind the flu shot and examine who is most at risk for serious complications after a bout with the flu.

Multiple sclerosis is a debilitating disease that often strikes its victims in the prime of life. Some MS patients have learned to manage the disease and live well with it. But for others multiple sclerosis can be devastating. In this program we meet several patients who cope with the different forms of MS and hear their stories of tragedy and triumph.

Hospitals should be places of help and healing but it doesn't always work out that way. Health care providers and patients need to work together to make the hospital a safer place. In this program, we help people understand what could go wrong in the hospital, how they can reduce the risk of contracting a hospital-acquired infection and what information they should get before they head home after a hospital stay.

They've been called "silent killers': aneurysms that lurk in your body without you having a clue that they're there. The problem is if these aneurysms rupture, the result can be life threatening. In this program we take a close look at aneurysms that begin in the chest cavity....called thoracic aneurysms. We highlight the risk factors and symptoms that might lead a person to suspect he has an aneurysm and the treatments that could defuse that "ticking time bomb."

Antibiotics was once seen as super drugs. They rapidly disarmed pneumonia and many other previously fatal bacterial conditions, and had relatively few side effects. But the bacteria weren't ready to surrender yet. Strains emerged that were resistant to the world's most potent medicines and now we're facing a world-wide crisis. In this program we see how the problem developed and what the experts believe we need to do to win the battle.

Imagine a urinary tract pain far greater than a simple bladder infection, one that may prevent you from wearing certain clothes, even enjoying a normal life. That's interstitial cystitis: a mysterious condition that may at first appear to be a bladder infection that won't go away, but becomes something much more debilitating. In this program we meet patients who have this condition and are managing to live comfortably with it. We also hear from the doctors who give them the hope of a pain-free future.

To many, psoriasis is a simple skin condition that may be unsightly, but isn't really serious. But the truth is psoriasis is often a severe, inflammatory disease that can wreak havoc with a person's health and his or her quality of life. In this program, we meet people who have learned to live well with psoriasis. Also, experts highlight the latest treatments that are making a big difference in how patients cope with this condition.

Strokes are the number one cause of disability in America today...and the third leading cause of death behind heart disease and cancer. A major stroke can hit without warning and leave a broken body and a damaged mind in its wake. But there are ways to prevent strokes in those who are at risk. In this program we take a look at anti coagulation and its role in preventing strokes and other devastating conditions. We see how doctors highlight who might be at risk for a stroke and how certain treatments can prevent blood clots from forming that might otherwise make their ...

Multiple sclerosis is a mysterious condition that can rob a young person of his ability to walk, or her ability to speak or think clearly. But doctors and researchers have new weapons to better see the lesions in the brain that cause MS. And the hope is as they see these lesions more clearly they understand them better and can treat them more efficiently. In this program, we head into the MRI lab to see the latest tools in the fight against MS and meet some of the experts who are on the front lines in the battle against this debilitating condition.

Hepatitis C has long been characterized as a wasting incurable disease. But this serious, chronic inflammation of the liver no longer carries that fearsome reputation. Today, many people live well with Hepatitis C because of new medicines that keep the virus suppressed and allow the liver to function normally for decades. In this program we highlight the progress made in treating hepatitis C over the past several years and look ahead to even more success against the virus in the future.

Most people have never heard of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency but it is one of the most common hereditary disorders in the world. It's been found in all populations yet it's been widely misdiagnosed as asthma or some other lung condition. And an estimated 25 million people are undetected carriers of the gene that causes Alpha-1. The problem is, left untreated, Alpha-1 can lead to serious liver disease in children and adults; may destroy the lungs and lead to the need for lung transplants. The good news is it can be identified through a simple blood test and there are...

We've all had trouble sleeping from time to time but when those occasional sleepless nights become chronic insomnia more than just your ability to get out bed in the morning is at stake. Insomnia can impair memory and lead to decreased concentration and functioning during the day. A very real danger of insomnia is falling asleep on the road and getting into a vehicle wreck. Studies suggest drowsy driving is nearly as dangerous as drunk driving. But living a sleep deprived life doesn't have to be the only way to go. In this program we'll highlight the ways to improve ...

There's probably never a good time to get sick but these days there are so many bacteria lurking in hospital corridors that some patients come out of the medical center sicker than they were when they went in. The biggest problem is resistant bacteria which exist in the community as well as hospitals, but there are so many more opportunities for the bacteria to invade a hospitalized patient's body and do damage. In this program we'll highlight some of the ways patients who are in hospitals can protect themselves from dangerous bacterial infections. Plus we'll see what...