2003

S7.E1 ∙ Living with Alzheimer's

Tue, Aug 22, 2006

Imagine your spouse of 40 years has been missing for hours, when he finally comes home, he has no idea where he was or what he was doing. This can be a defining moment, when you know something is wrong. Alzheimer's disease gradually destroys a person's ability to reason, remember, imagine and learn. And over time, cognitive abilities -- like being able to process information, or have abstract reasoning and problem solving skills--significantly decrease, leaving patients unable to perform simple tasks and function on their own. While there is no cure, Alzheimer's disease doesn't have to mean the end of a patient's independence. Getting treatment early and staying active may allow patients to continue doing things they've always enjoyed.

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S7.E2 ∙ Colon Cancer: Early Detection

Tue, Aug 29, 2006

Most health problems typically respond best when they are diagnosed and treated as early as possible. This is especially true for colon cancer, the fourth most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in the U.S. and the nation's second leading cancer killer. In this program we will explore the lives of colon cancer patients, and speak to leading medical experts about screening, diagnosis, and treatment. They will explain that both men and women are at risk for colon cancer, which usually develops in individuals age 50 and older. We'll discover that in many cases, early screening can actually prevent colon cancer. And if cancer is present, earlier detection means a much better chance for a longer life.

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S7.E3 ∙ Overcoming Infertility

Tue, Sep 05, 2006

Fertility Difficulty in conceiving a child is becoming an increasingly common problem for many couples. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, infertility affects more than 6 million men and women in the United States. As you'll see in this program, infertility can be frustrating, mysterious and difficult to handle. But, with the advances in assisted reproductive technology many couples are able to achieve their dream of starting a family.

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S7.E4 ∙ Identifying Pulmonary Hypertension

Tue, Sep 12, 2006

Pulmonary Hypertension is a rare, complex disease of the heart and lungs. It most commonly strikes women in childbearing years, though it can affect all ages, races and both sexes. This program will identify what pulmonary hypertension is, and how it is treated. Though there is not yet a cure for this illness, treatments have emerged over the last decade, giving patients hope for a longer, healthier life. Meet patients who are living with pulmonary hypertension and demonstrate how to improve your quality of life. We'll also outline the genesis of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, and illustrate the power people can have to organize, draw attention to a cause and work to improve the lives of patients and families coping with serious illnesses.

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S7.E5 ∙ Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A Silent Killer

Tue, Sep 19, 2006

Most smokers know they are at risk for lung disease and heart disease, but few know they are damaging the most important artery in the body, the aorta. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms give patients little to no warning signs that pressure is building in the aorta and causing a very serious condition. Undetected, the aneurysm can rupture causing internal bleeding and sending patients quickly into critical condition. However, if diagnosed in time, patients can be successfully treated... and also; saved from a potentially fatal outcome.

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S7.E6 ∙ Living with Multiple Sclerosis

Tue, Sep 26, 2006

There are few things in life as frightening as the prospect of losing control over one's body, and in turn, one's independence. That's what makes a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis so devastating - the possibility that one-day you might not be able to walk anymore, see clearly, or hold on to anything in your hands. But what makes MS really insidious is its unpredictability. People with MS don't know what their condition might be from hour to hour, let alone from week to week, or year to year. The good news is that treating MS has come a long way over the past ten years, and is expected to go even further over the next ten... The bad news is that life with MS is still a crapshoot. Yet, as we'll see, no matter how bad MS can become, the first step towards beating it starts with re-discovering hope through a new life that's still worth living.

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S7.E7 ∙ BPH: A Growing Problem

Tue, Oct 03, 2006

For many men, issues surrounding health are not ones they typically like to discuss. That's especially true when it comes to health issues that have to do with urological and sexual functions. But oftentimes, these issues will need to be faced. For men over the age of fifty, the odds are high that they may eventually experience Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH. In simple terms, BPH is a male urological condition caused by the non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate. In this program we will explore the reasons and results of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, and learn about the latest treatments that can help men live much more comfortably with this condition.

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S7.E8 ∙ Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Tue, Oct 10, 2006

Inflammatory Bowl Disease, or IBD, is an umbrella term for several different gastrointestinal illnesses, by far the most prominent and serious being Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (UC). Of the 1.2 million Americans currently estimated to have Inflammatory Bowel Disease, about half will have developed the condition between childhood and their 20's. But IBD can strike at any age; it targets both sexes equally; and, presently, there is no cure - although in life-threatening cases, removing the colon will effectively "end" Ulcerative Colitis. In this program we'll meet patients who have had IBD for some time, and young people who are just learning to deal with the limitations. We'll visit a camp in California that plays host to kids with Crohn's and Colitis for two weeks every summer. And we'll hear from leading medical experts at the Mayo Clinic and Cedars Sinai Hospital, on the latest efforts in the diagnosis and treatment of IBD.

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S7.E9 ∙ Diagnosing Depression

Tue, Nov 14, 2006

Depression: Treatments that Work It won't show up on a blood test or x-ray, but it is a leading cause of disability during the prime of life. It is depression and according to experts, depression actually affects more people in the U.S. than coronary artery disease, cancer or AIDS put together. However, the good news is treatments today are far more successful and wide ranging. This program highlights the latest breakthroughs in treatment and diagnostic tools spotlighting several people who have suffered with depression their entire lives, but are finding relief through a combination of treatment strategies and lifestyle changes.

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S7.E10 ∙ Epilepsy: In Search of Effective Therapies

Tue, Nov 21, 2006

The Future of Epilepsy More than a third of the 2.7 million epilepsy patients in the US have persistent seizures using existing therapies. Many others tolerate serious side effects, including diminished cognition, as a price for seizure control. New therapies introduced over the last decade offer fewer side effects but have done little to bring effective seizure control to the significant population living with active and uncontrolled epilepsy. As such, this episode is designed to not only to raise awareness of this unmet need but to encourage the discovery of future therapies. Patients and their families with share their compelling stories describing how they deal with these issues and hope for changes.

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S7.E11 ∙ Understanding Glaucoma

Tue, Nov 28, 2006

There are an estimated three million Americans with glaucoma, a condition that if left untreated can often lead to blindness. The real tragedy is that half of these people don't even know they have the disease - although testing for it is quick, easy and painless - and they probably won't know until it's too late. To be sure, understanding glaucoma has come a long way over the past 20 years. What we thought we knew about it has evolved a great deal, and our knowledge of how to identify and treat it has grown in sophistication and effectiveness as well. But, the sad fact is that many people still don't get tested in time to prevent it, and when they are diagnosed, they often allow themselves to ignore their condition and descend into blindness. As such, this episode is designed to not only examine what glaucoma is and how to treat it, but to encourage our viewers to get tested for it. The episode will also serve as a testament to the extreme importance of self-care and the celebration of life - for 10% of the time, even when glaucoma is diagnosed and treated early, it still causes blindness. However, given the power of the human spirit, even that is a condition that can be overcome.

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S7.E12 ∙ Learning About Crohn's Disease

Tue, Dec 05, 2006

Imagine a disease so potentially debilitating, that going to work, having a relationship or attending a school creates a daily challenge. This is a reality for the nearly half million Americans living with Crohn's disease. Crohn's disease is a chronic disorder that causes inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. It affects males and females equally, and may occur in people of all ages, including children and the elderly. But Crohn's disease is primarily a condition of adolescents and young adults, between the ages of 15 and 35. In this program, viewers will understand what Crohn's disease is, learn how doctors diagnose the disorder, and meet amazing patients who are living full lives while coping with the condition. The program will also show how physicians and scientists are working to help patients and their loved ones have a better quality of life with Crohn's disease.

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S7.E13 ∙ Weight and Cardio Metabolic Risk

Tue, Dec 12, 2006

Understanding the role a persons weight plays on their chances of developing a cardio metabolic disease such as heart disease, hypertension, and type-2 diabetes is what this program is about. The focus is particularly on the "visceral" fat around the body's midsection and the adverse effect it has on cardio metabolic risk and what you can do to "trim" the fat.

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