health matters

Imagine a headache so intense, it stops you in your tracks. That’s the reality for many dealing with migraines, and it’s not just a bad headache.

March is colon cancer awareness month. To learn more about colon cancer I was joined by Dr. Daniel Kraft from CentraCare on WJON's Health Matters program. Dr. Kraft is a Gastroenterologist who's been with CentraCare for 18 years.

Measles has made a resurgence in some locations in the United States. Dr. David Smith from Sartell Pediatrics joined me on WJON. He is concerned that measles could impact unvaccinated Central Minnesota residents in the near future.

Becoming a new parent is an exciting and stressful time. I was joined by Pediatrician Dr. David Smith from Sartell Pediatrics on WJON's Health Matters program to talk about common infant health issues.

Back to School items are everywhere in local stores and the calendar says we're in August. Many college students will be heading back to school in the next couple of weeks with kindergarten - 12th graders soon to follow.

March is Multiple Sclerosis awareness month. To explain what multiple sclerosis is I was joined on WJON by Dr. Kathleen Rieke, the Director of Neurology at CentraCare, St. Cloud. Dr. Rieke says MS is where your body, for reasons we really don't understand, decides to attack the nerves of your brain and spinal cord.

During the Christmas season making sugary items from cookies to candies and other treats are often consumed by Minnesotans. This week on WJON's Health Matters program I talked with Registered Dietician Kari Collett from A-to-Zinc Nutrition.

This week on WJON's Health Matters program I talked with CentraCare Dermatologist Dr. Liz Blixt about skin cancer. Dr. Blixt says there are 3 types of skin cancer; squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Blixt says melanoma is the most deadly of the 3 but basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma are both more common.

This week on WJON's Health Matters program I talked with Certified Nurse Practitioner Leah Roering from CentraCare. Leah specializes in stroke neurology. She says there are many ways people can reduce the odds that they suffer from a stroke at some point in their life. Ways include eating healthy, exercise on a regular basis, don't be overweight and don't smoke.

This week on WJON's Health Matters program I was joined by Dr. David Smith from Sartell Pediatrics. He says he trusts the doctors and scientists that say the Covid-19 Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be safe. Smith says he believes this so much that his kids have participated in the clinical trials.