2003

S3.E1 ∙ Chronic Kidney Disease

Tue, Feb 01, 2005

More than twenty million Americans, one in nine adults, have chronic kidney disease, making it the ninth leading cause of death in the United States. What's more alarming, is that about twenty million others are at increased risk for the condition, largely due to climbing rates of diabetes and high blood pressure. Unfortunately, most Americans don't know anything about this silent epidemic until it's too late and won't discover their own kidney problems until they experience life-threatening symptoms.

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S3.E2 ∙ Advanced Prostate Cancer

Tue, Feb 08, 2005

The diagnosis of Advanced Prostate Cancer can be devastating, and often is deadly. However, new breakthroughs in the care and treatment of advanced prostate cancer offer hope that patients can live with the disease for a longer period of time without sacrificing their quality of life.

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S3.E3 ∙ Prostate Cryotherapy

Tue, Feb 15, 2005

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men, and the second most fatal. While a diagnosis of cancer is always bad news, the treatments for this particular form of cancer can be frightening and confusing. In this program we take a look at one of the treatments for prostate cancer that has recently gained much national attention. Cryosurgery: a minimally invasive procedure that uses cold gasses to literally freeze the prostate gland and kill the cancer is becoming more and more popular at the foremost medical institutions around the country. We'll hear from the pioneers of this procedure, as well as from patients who are ten-year survivors.

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S3.E4 ∙ IBS

Tue, Feb 22, 2005

Next to the common cold, Irritable Bowel Syndrome accounts for the most days of work missed. Additionally, 40% of all visits to gastroenterologists are for symptoms related to IBS. In this program "Taking Control of IBS", leading researchers and clinicians will debunk the myths and misconceptions of IBS and will show definitive proof that IBS has a physiological cause. In addition to this groundbreaking research, new treatments will be explored that include, medications, lifestyle modifications and how cognitive behavioral therapy and hypnosis are now helping people take control of their IBS.

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S3.E5 ∙ Colon Cancer

Tue, Mar 01, 2005

"The hardest battle to fight is the one that should be the easiest but isn't." - Priscilla Savary, colon cancer patient educator It begins as a polyp, a tiny ball of tissue that forms in your intestinal lining. Polyps are not cancer, but a certain percentage can become cancerous if left in place. That equation means if you do not already have colon cancer, the odds are in your favor of successfully avoiding it. Screening and removal of polyps can stop the cancer before it begins. And yet colon cancer is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in America, claiming some 56,000 victims each year. This show looks at the arc of colon cancer -- from screening options and education, to the stages of cancer, to treatment options, to a new horizon of treatment and prevention - through the eyes of three patient/interview subjects and the health and medical experts that are our guides through each story. In some cases those medical experts are the actual physicians treating our patients. In other cases they are experts who can offer a look at the bigger picture of this disease.

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S3.E6 ∙ Insomnia

Tue, Mar 08, 2005

Leading experts are now speaking out about the importance of a good nights sleep. It helps with memory and an overall feeling of well-being. Conversely, chronic insomnia can lead to depression, time lost from work, a decrease in a person's quality of life, and an increase in injuries. But for some, a good night's sleep is elusive. They simply can't fall asleep. Others can fall asleep, but they wake a few hours later; and stay awake for several more hours and drag through the day. In this program, we'll investigate the clues scientists have discovered to help understand what's behind chronic insomnia and take a look at natural remedies, as well as medications available to help. In addition, we'll discuss a certain "sleep hygiene" people with insomnia can develop to help them learn better sleeping habits.

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S3.E7 ∙ Angina

Tue, Mar 15, 2005

"Strangling of the Heart", is the Latin phrase describing a symptom of heart disease called Angina. It's a pain that occurs when the heart is not getting enough oxygen, usually because of blockages in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. Angina is common, more than six million people in the United States have it but many may not know it. Angina can sometimes resemble other conditions like indigestion, back pain, or shoulder arthritis, and it's not uncommon for people to dismiss their pain and discomfort as nothing to worry about. While angina may not cause long-term heart damage, in many cases it can be a first sign of heart disease and the first alert for patients to change their old habits for a heart-healthy life.

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S3.E8 ∙ Hyponatremia

Tue, Mar 22, 2005

Physicians and researchers are placing greater focus on this life-threatening condition that commonly afflicts not only ailing patients but also supremely conditioned athletes. The human body has a limited threshold for salt concentrations and serious health consequences can result if the sodium level in our body falls too far below normal. In this program we'll detail the procedures to diagnose hyponatremia and discuss the three most common forms. Treatment options for patients with hyponatremia have been limited and not entirely effective. However some medical experts believe that may be on the verge of changing, thanks to the development of promising new therapeutic agents that can dramatically improve the treatment of hyponatremia.

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S3.E9 ∙ Parkinson's Disease

Tue, Mar 29, 2005

More than 1.5 million Americans currently have Parkinson Disease. It's a condition that affects men and women from all areas of the world and walks of life equally. The outward effects are quite recognizable, with patients experiencing shaking limbs, slow movement and muscle stiffness. But the impact on quality of life can be equally challenging for patients, family and caregivers. This program will help provide a better understanding of the disease, diagnosis and treatments, while offering a look at the future of preventing and managing Parkinson's disease.

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S3.E10 ∙ Migraines

Tue, Apr 05, 2005

Migraine headaches afflict about 24 million people in the United States, and are listed by the World Health Organization in the top 20 reasons for missed work days world-wide. They can last up to 24 hours and in some cases several days. They are debilitating, throbbing pain and the sensitivity to sounds and light taking over the lives of sufferers. Through the stories of migraine sufferers, we will piece together a picture of what life is like during migraine attacks. Through interviews with leading medical experts, viewers will understand the physiology and the possible treatments of migraine headaches. More than most shows, this one will center on the idea of the patient/physician working as a team. We will put viewers into the patient/physician dialogue that leads to successful migraine treatment.

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S3.E11 ∙ Atrial Fibrillation

Tue, Apr 12, 2005

You know the signs...rapid heart beat... shortness of breath... panic! Sounds like a heart attack, or panic disorder. More often, it is Atrial Fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat disorder than can cause the heart to beat more than 300 times a minute. More than 2 million people have Atrial Fibrillation. Here's what happens: because of a problem with the electrical wiring in the heart, the two small upper chambers, the atria, quiver instead of beating effectively. This quivering causes the discomfort the patient feels, and can cause the blood to pool and clot. If a piece of blood clot leaves the heart and becomes lodged in an artery in the brain, a stroke results. About fifteen percent of strokes occur in people with Atrial Fibrillation. There are effective treatments for Atrial Fibrillation including medication and a minimally invasive surgery.

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S3.E12 ∙ Osteoporosis

Tue, Apr 19, 2005

You know the signs...rapid heart beat... shortness of breath... panic! Sounds like a heart attack, or panic disorder. More often, it is Atrial Fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat disorder than can cause the heart to beat more than 300 times a minute. More than 2 million people have Atrial Fibrillation. Here's what happens: because of a problem with the electrical wiring in the heart, the two small upper chambers, the atria, quiver instead of beating effectively. This quivering causes the discomfort the patient feels, and can cause the blood to pool and clot. If a piece of blood clot leaves the heart and becomes lodged in an artery in the brain, a stroke results. About fifteen percent of strokes occur in people with Atrial Fibrillation. There are effective treatments for Atrial Fibrillation including medication and a minimally invasive surgery.

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S3.E13 ∙ Macular Degeneration

Tue, Apr 26, 2005

Age-related macular degeneration is becoming an all too common condition that is devastating to the quality of life of its victims. Those suffering from it lose sight in the center of their field of vision, often losing the ability to read, drive, or even recognize faces. However, this program illustrates that with the help of preventative measures, new technology, and adjustments to daily living, this diagnosis does not have to be a sentence to life without vision.

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