>> WELCOME TO AND THE SPECIALIST.

TONIGHT WE AND THE DOCTORS, A WCMU PUBLIC TELEVISION.

[ ♪ ] >> HI AND WELCOME BACK TO OUR FIRST NEW LIVE EPISODE OF THE NEW YEAR.

WE'RE OFFICIALLY KICKING OFF 2022.

LET ME INTRODUCE OUR GUESTS TONIGHT IN OUR STUDIO.

>> WE'RE SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

BEFORE WE BEGIN DIVING INTO OUR QUESTIONS, CAN YOU TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR AREA OF EXPERTISE.

EMERY, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> I'M A FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER.

I'VE BEEN AN RN FOR FORTY YEARS.

I'VE BEEN WITH CMU COLLEGE OF MEDICINE FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

Dr. KAKANO IS MY COLLABORATING PHYSICIAN AND HE HAD A DREAM OF OPENING UP A CLINIC THAT COULD SERVE THE COMMUNITY, THE RURAL COMMUNITY AND THE STAFF AND THE FACULTY.

THE MISSION WAS TO SERVE THE UNDERSERVED.

WE OPENED JANUARY 1st OF 2019 AND WE TAKE CARE OF -- I TAKE CARE OF THE ENTIRE LIFE SPAN, BIRTH 'TIL DEATH, AND I SEE MANY ACUTES AND CHRONIC ILLNESS.

I HAVE A LOT OF PRIMARY PATIENTS.

>> THANK YOU.

Dr. BEAUDRY?

>> CAN I'M A FAMILY MEDICINE DOCTOR.

I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE FOR A FEW MONTHS.

IT'S WONDERFUL.

BORN AND RAISED IN BAY CITY.

I JOINED THE NAVY RIGHT AFTER HIGH SCHOOL IN THE NUCLEAR POWER PROGRAM.

MY DAD HAD A HEART ATTACK AND SUCCESSFUL SURGERY AND THAT GOT ME INTO MEDICINE.

I STAYED IN CALIFORNIA AND IT WAS TUITION FREE IN THE NINETIES.

I WENT BACK IN THE MILITARY AS AN AIR FORCE DOCTOR.

WHEN I GOT OUT OF THAT, I WENT BACK TO BAY CITY AND FOR MOST OF THE PAST TWENTY YEARS, HAD MY OWN PRACTISE AND IT'S GOOD TO BE IN MOUNT PLEASANT.

>> THANK YOU TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

THIS CONVERSATION IS FUELLED BY YOUR QUESTIONS FOR PHYSICIANS.

Dr. BEAUDRY AND NURSE PRACTITIONER WIGGINS ARE ABLE TO COVER, AS YOU HEARD, A VARIETY OF HEALTH AND MEDICAL TOPICS.

TO GET YOUR QUESTION TO US, YOU CAN PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL THE NUMBER THAT'S ON YOUR SCREEN.

YOU CAN ALSO POST YOUR QUESTION TO OUR facebook PAGE OR SEND US A TWEET.

I WANT TO STRESS ALSO EVERYTHING THAT'S ASKED TONIGHT IS COMPLETELY ANONYMOUS.

WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE QUESTIONS TO MAKE THEIR WAY UP TO US, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PANDEMIC.

YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO WHEN THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD WENT INTO LOCKDOWN.

I THINK WE ALL KNEW IT WAS PRETTY SERIOUS.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE REALLY EXPECTED IT TO BE THIS WAY.

YOU KNOW, TWO YEARS LATER.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE SEEING SOME OF THE HIGHEST CASE COUNTS SINCE WE'VE SEEN SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

SOME SCHOOLS ARE BACK TO CHIR VIRTUAL LEARNING, MOUNT PLEASANT, SO I WANT TO ASK YOU BOTH, YOU WERE SEEING A LOT OF PATIENTS -- YOU'RE RIGHT IN THE THICK OF IT.

IS THERE A LIGHT AT THE END OF THIS TUNNEL?

WHERE ARE WE HEADING?

>> IT'S GOOD TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

IT'S BEEN TRYING ON EVERYONE.

FOR SOME PEOPLE IT'S BEEN SCARY IF YOU HAVE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS IT'S BEEN VERY TOUGH ON OUR YOUNG PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL.

IT'S BEEN TOUGH ON HEALTH PROVIDERS, I THINK, ESPECIALLY IN THE EMERGENCY ROOMS.

EARLY ON, WE THINK, IS THIS GOING TO BE THREE MONTHS, SIX MONTHS, MAYBE A YEAR?

AND TWO YEARS HERE WE ARE.

I THINK WE JUST TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.

THIS HAS BEEN A MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT.

AT THE END OF THIS, THIS WILL SOONER OR LATER END, I JUST THINK WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER SO WE STILL HAVE FRIENDSHIPS WHEN IT'S ALL OVER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> JUST FROM THAT ISOLATION AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.

I WANT TO POINT OUT TOO, WE'RE HERE IN THE STUDIO, WE ARE UNMASKED BUT WE'RE ALL SOCIALLY DISTANCED WITH SIX FEET OR MORE IN BETWEEN US.

SO FOR OUR VIEWERS AT HOME, ALSO.

THE LATEST CASES, MICHIGAN RELEASED THE NUMBERS.

THE NUMBERS FROM THIS PAST SATURDAY THROUGH YESTERDAY, WE HAD 86,000 NEW CASES AND THAT'S AVERAGING ABOUT 17,200 NEW CASES A DAY WHICH IS QUITE HIGH.

AND I THINK WHAT'S ALSO REALLY SIGNIFICANT IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE HIGHEST NUMBERS THAT WE'VE SEEN SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT HITTING THE PEAK.

ARE WE THERE?

ARE WE ALMOST THERE?

WHAT MIGHT THAT LOOK LIKE?

>> RIGHT NOW THE MAIN MUTATION IS OMICRON.

OMICRON IS FAR MORE TRANSMISSIBLE AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, WE ARE SEEING OUR NUMBERS SPIKE.

FORTUNATELY THE SYMPTOMS ARE MILDER, VEIT HEADACHE, CONGESTION.

UNFORTUNATELY THOSE WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S OMICRON OR DELTA, THIS IS WHERE THE HOSPITALIZATIONS COME IN.

AND WE'RE SEEING THE HOSPITAL RATES RISE AS Dr. BEAUDRY HAD SAID, YOU KNOW.

IT'S TOUGH ON OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

I AM HOPING THAT THE SPREAD OF THE OMICRON VIRUS WILL HELP CREATE A HERD IMMUNITY.

AND THAT THOSE WHO AREN'T VACCINATED WHO HAVE HAD THE OMICRON WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME PROTECTION AS WELL AND I THINK WE NEED TO GET THROUGH THIS HERD IMMUNITY WITH THE OMICRON AND I THINK THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE OUR NUMBERS COME DOWN.

>> SURE.

I WANT TO GO ACTUALLY TO, YOU KNOW, VACCINES ARE OBVIOUSLY REALLY IMPORTANT.

IT'S THE THING, I THINK, THAT WILL PROBABLY HELP US FIGHT THIS, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF MANY VARIABLES WHEN IT COMES TO FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES FOR SOMEONE WHO TESTS POSITIVE OR IS A CLOSE CONTACT, RIGHT.

IT'S CONFUSING BECAUSE THERE'S DIFFERENT RULES DEPENDING ON SOMEONE'S VACCINATION STATUS.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE IN TERMS OF SOMEONE STRUGGLE STRUGGLING?

>> IN TERMS OF THE GUIDELINE?

>> YES.

>> AT OUR UNIVERSITY, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY INVOLVED WITH THAT AND ANNE-MARIE.

WE HAVE A CALLER FROM GREEN FIB.

THEY ARE 50% AFIB.

THEY'RE ALREADY ON A BLOOD THINNER.

THEY WANT TO KNOW, SHOULD THEY ALSO BE ON 85 MILLIGRAM ASPIRIN 2?

>> CAN THAT CAN BE A COMPLICATED QUESTION AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO INDIVIDUALIZE THAT.

DO THEY HAVE ANY RISK FACTORS FOR BEING ON ANY MULTIPLE BLOOD THINNERS?

HAS THE INITIAL MEDICATION WORKED FOR THEM?

WE TALK ABOUT HOW OFTEN THE CORONAVIRUS RECOMMENDATION VERSUS CHANGED.

>> NOW IT REALLY DEPENDS ON YOUR AGE AND THE PERSON'S INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS.

>> RIGHT.

YEAH.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD THAT IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY HISTORY OF HEART DISEASE, YOU -- IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO TAKE A BABY ASPIRIN.

HAS THAT CHANGED AGAIN OR IS THAT JUST AGAIN DIFFERENT BY A CASE-BY-CASE -- >> IT'S REALLY A CASE-BY-CASE THING.

A LOT OF IT DEPENDS ON YOUR AGE.

>> OKAY.

>> THERE ARE CERTAIN AGE-GROUPS, I BELIEVE, LIKE IF YOU'RE 60 TO 70.

THEY FOUND YOU'RE GETTING VERY LITTLE BENEFIT AND YET THERE'S STILL THAT RISK OF BLEEDS THAT HAPPEN WHEN YOU'RE ON ASPIRIN.

>> THAT'S THE BIGGEST CONCERN RIGHT IS THE RISK OF BLEEDING.

>> YES.

>> OKAY.

NEXT CALLER LINCOLN.

HOW CAN YOU TELL IF SOMEBODY HAS PARKINSON'S?

WHAT TYPE OF SYMPTOMS MIGHT THEY BE SHOWING?

>> WITH PARKINSON'S, YOU MAY SEE THE TREMOR OF THE HANDS.

YOU MAY SEE A SHUFFLE WHERE WHEN THEY'RE WALKING AND THEY WANT TO TURN.

IT'S MORE OF A SHUFFLE TYPE OF TURNING.

>> OKAY.

>> SO SOMETIMES IT MAY AFFECT THEIR MEMORY.

THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO SPEAK WITH YOUR PRIMARY AND MAYBE HAVE A REFERRAL TO A NEUROLOGIST TO DO FURTHER TESTING.

>> GOT YOU.

>> I WOULD ADD THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE THOSE SYMPTOMS DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU HAVE PARKINSON'S.

>> WE'LL SPEAK TO YOUR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN.

START THERE.

SWITCHING BACK TO COVID, A CALLER WANTS TO KNOW WHAT DOES NATURAL IMMUNITY MEAN FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD COVID?

>> SO NATURAL IMMUNITY MEANS BECAUSE YOU'VE HAD THE COVID, YOUR BODY HAS CREATED ANTIBODIES AGAINST THAT.

SO YOU'VE HAD ILLNESS LIKE IF YOU'VE HAD THE MEASLES OR CHICKEN POX.

AND FOR NATURAL IMMUNITY, THERE HAVE BEEN STUDIES THAT HAVE SHOWN THAT YOUR ANTIBODIES, YOUR IMMUNIZATION WITH YOUR ANTIBODIES MAY LAST A MONTH, THREE MONTHS, WE CAN'T BE SURE.

THAT'S WHY WE ENCOURAGE THE VACCINATION.

>> SURE.

SO SAME WITH CORONAVIRUS.

I MEAN, WE HAVEN'T SEEN -- IT'S NOT GOING AWAY.

IT'S HERE TO STAY, RIGHT?

HOW DO WE LIVE WITH THIS NEW REALITY?

>> YOU THINK EVENTUALLY IT WILL COME DOWN TO WHERE IT'S AN ENDEMIC WHICH MEANS IT WILL BE IN CERTAIN AREAS.

IT MAY BE HIGHER IN SOME AREAS THAN THE OTHERS.

IT MAY BE SEASONAL WHERE WE HAVE THE FLU THAT STARTS, YOU KNOW, OCTOBER AND GOES THROUGH THE END OF MARCH.

I THINK THAT AFTER WE SEE THE SPIKES DECREASING, WE'LL BE ABLE KNOW MORE.

>> SURE.

AS I MENTIONED AT THE TOP, IT'S BEEN A REALLY HARD COUPLE OF YEARS.

KIDS, STUDENTS, FAMILIES ARE STRESSED OR EXHAUSTED.

THEY'RE BURNED OUT.

MENTAL HEALTH HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IN THE SPOTLIGHT LIKE IT IS NOW.

THAT BEING SAID, EMERY, MENTAL HEALTH IS JUST ONE PART OF WHAT MAKES A PERSON FEEL WELL HOLISTICALLY, RIGHT?

ANNE-MARIE RECENTLY MET WITH US TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WHOLENESS IS AND WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WHEN WE'RE FINDING OURSELVES IN THAT MOMENT.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT EMERY HAD TO SAY.

>> A HEALTHY BEING IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST PHYSICAL.

HEALTHY MEANS YOU'RE HEALTHY MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY, SPIRITUALLY AND WHEN ALL OF THOSE FACTORS, WHICH WE REFER TO AS HOLISTIC CARE, WHEN ONE OF THEM IS OFFSET IT CAN DISRUPT THE OTHER SYSTEMS.

IF YOU ARE MENTALLY STRESSED, YOU MAY DEVELOP PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS FROM THAT STRESS.

IF YOU'RE EMOTIONALLY STRESSED, YOU MAY DEVELOP PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS BECAUSE OF THAT.

GIVEN THE PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS OF COVID, THERE ARE MANY STRESSFUL SITUATIONS THAT MANY INDIVIDUALS FIND THEMSELVES IN.

WE NEED TO ADAPT AND I CAN DO IT DO CAN IT IN THE FAMILY OR IN THE OFFICE.

ONE INDIVIDUAL SHOULD NEVER BE EXPECTED TO HANDS THE BRUNT OR THE BURDEN AND IF YOU CAN'T COMMUNICATE THOSE NEEDS, THEN YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF IN THE STRESSFUL EVENT.

AND STRESS CAN LEAD TO ANXIETY.

IT CAN LEAD TO DEPRESSION.

IT CAN LEAD TO OVEREATING.

IT COMES A FULL CIRCLE AND WE NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN AVOID THOSE PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS.

WHEN INDIVIDUALS COME TO ME WITH CONCERNS REGARDING STRESSFUL EVENTS IN THEIR LIFE, WE BRAINSTORM TOGETHER.

AND IDEAS THAT THEY CAN TAKE HOME TO THEIR FAMILY DISCUSS WITH THEIR CHILD, HUSBAND, PARTNER, AND SEE IF SOME OF THESE CAN BE IMPLEMENTED.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO OWN A PROBLEM AND TRY AND SOLVE IT YOURSELF.

THERE ARE SO MANY RESOURCES, WHETHER IT'S TALKING TO A BEST FRIEND, TALKING TO A PARENT, TALKING TO YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, FINDING A COUNCILOR.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS ON YOUR OWN.

>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR TIME.

THAT TURNED OUT REALLY WELL.

YOU NEED TO INVOLVE THE FAMILY IN THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL HAS, THE COMMITMENTS THAT THEY'VE MADE AND TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S LIFE AND THE COMMITMENTS THAT THEY HAVE ARE IMPORTANT BUT HOW CAN WE MANAGE THIS WITHIN OUR FAMILY GROUP: IT SHOULDN'T BE ONE PERSON AND ONE THING THAT CAN HAPPEN IS THAT PEOPLE THINK THAT OTHERS CAN READ THEIR MINDS.

YOU HAVE TO COMMUNICATE SO YOU CAN DIVIDE THAT UP AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT EVERYBODY'S LIFE IS BUSY AND IMPORTANT AND HAVE RESPONSIBILITY.

>> IT'S NOT JUST IN FAMILY LIFE, RIGHT.

I THINK PROFESSIONALLY, TOO, I THINK THAT WE'RE ALL KIND OF FEELING THE STRESS OF MAYBE HAVING TO TAKE ON EXTRA ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES SO MAYBE EVEN IMPORTANT THERE COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES.

>> EXACTLY.

YOU NEED TO.

I ALWAYS THINK OF THIS: YOU CAN DO IT.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF IDENTIFYING THE BARRIERS IN PREVENTING THAT AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY IN THE COVID PAST TWO YEARS WITH COVID, THE WORK FORCE HAS BEEN DOWN.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD ADDED RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT IF YOU'RE RECEIVING RESPONSIBILITIES FROM THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE, EACH OTHER MIGHT NOT KNOW WHAT THEY'VE GIVEN THE OTHER PERSON.

SO EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND YOU SHOULDN'T FEEL THREATENED BY DOING THAT.

WE'RE ALL PROFESSIONALS AND WE NEED TO LET EACH OTHER KNOW.

>> I'M GOING TO TRANSITION TO A CALLER FROM TRAVERS CITY TONIGHT.

A PATIENT HAD CELLULITE IS ON LEFT LEG AND NOW CANNOT RAISE IT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA REGARDING DROPFOOT AFTER CELLULITEIS?

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH?

>> I HAVEN'T SEEN IT TOO OFTEN AFTER CELLULITEIS.

IT COULD HAPPEN IF YOU HAD ENOUGH INFLAMMATION AND SWELLING.

YOU WOULD WANT TO SEE YOUR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER AND THEY MAY HAVE TO REFER YOU TO A NEUROLOGIST WHERE THEY CAN DO SOME TESTING CALLED AN EMG.

>> I WOULD DO THAT.

Dr. BEAUDRY, EARLIER TODAY, THIS IS THE NEW YEAR.

PEOPLE MAKE NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS.

SO SOME OF THOSE CHANGES INCLUDE LIFESTYLE IN THEIR DIET AND NUTRITION.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

WHAT ARE SOME REALISTIC STEPS THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE CHOOSING TO MAKE SOME CHANGES, WHETHER IT'S ADDING MORE EXERCISE TO THEIR ROUTINES, WHAT ARE SOME GOOD, POSITIVE LIFESTYLE CHANGES REALISTICALLY THAT PEOPLE CAN MAKE RIGHT NOW?

>> FIRST, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT, THE EXPECTATIONS NEED TO BE REASONABLE.

SO IF I THINK I'M GOING LOSE TWENTY POUNDS THIS MONTH AND THEN WHEN I DON'T DO IT, I'M UPSET AND I'M DEFEATED IT PROBABLY WASN'T REASONABLE.

IF YOU KNOW SOMEBODY OR IF YOU CAN FIND SOMEBODY WHO'S ALREADY HAD SUCCESS IN THOSE AREAS THAT CAN STEER YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, LIKE YOUR DOCTOR, YOU KNOW, PERSONALLY, I HAD LOST ABOUT 45 POUNDS MOSTLY DURING COVID.

>> OKAY.

>> AND FOCUSING MOSTLY ON NUTRITION.

>> OKAY.

I FOUND WILLPOWER NEEDS TO BE A PART OF THAT BUT THAT DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME.

THERE'S A KNOWLEDGE COMPONENT.

IT'S NOT JUST CALORIES IN, CALORIES OUT.

IT'S A ROT MORE COMPLICATED.

I FOUND THE MOST IMPORTANT PART WAS TO CHANGE MY SURROUNDINGS.

>> OKAY.

>> IF I GO HOME AND THERE'S COOK CAN KISS ON THE CUPBOARD AND APPLE JACKS OVER HERE AND MY WIFE JUST CAME HOME WITH ICE CREAM, MY SUCCESS WENT OUT THE WINDOW.

REALLY CHANGING THE FOOD THAT WAS IN THE HOME.

IT WAS A PROCESS.

DIDN'T ALL HAPPEN IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

WHEN I WASN'T AT HOME I HAD TO HAVE A PLAN.

ONE OF MY FAVOURITE SAYINGS IS FAILING TO PLAN IS PLANNING TO FAIL.

WHEN I COME HERE TO WORK, I HAVE A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE HEALTH BARS AND WATER AND I KIND OF GRAZE ON THAT ALL DAY LONG AND HAVE NORMAL MEAL WITH MY FAMILY WHEN I GET HOME AND IT'S WORKED GREAT.

>> MEAL PLANNING IS KEECHLT I'M LEARNING THAT MORE AS A MOTHER, JUST HOW MUCH BETTER THAT HELPS KEEP YOU ON TASK AND HELPS YOU GROCERY SHOP BETTER, RIGHT.

YOU CAN BETTER PREPARE FOR THE WEEK.

HAVING A PLAN LIKE THAT AND CHANGING YOUR ENVIRONMENT.

>> WE'RE BUSY.

IF YOU HAVEN'T DECIDED, IT ENDS UP BEING PIZZA OR DRIVE-THROUGH MEAL SOMEPLACE.

>> EASY.

>> YOU CAN DO THAT ONCE IN A WHILE SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT.

YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE PERFECT, YOU'LL FAIL.

IF YOU CAN DO REALLY WELL A LOT OF NUTRITIONISTS HAVE THE 90-10 RULE.

80 OR 90% OF THE TIME I'M DOING WELL.

I CAN HAVE THAT TREAT ONCE IN A WHILE.

AND STILL HAVE SOME SUCCESS.

>> EVERYTHING IN MODERATION.

>> EXACTLY.

>> YEAH.

>> NEXT QUESTION.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

WHY IS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE DANGEROUS?

>> THEY CALL IT THE SILENT KILLER.

>> OKAY.

>> YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS AT ALL.

OVER TIME YOUR HEART AND ALL YOUR BLOOD VESSELS HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH THAT HIGHER BLOOD PRESSURE.

AS YOU GET OLDER IT GETS CALCIFIED.

MAYBE YOU'VE DAMAGED YOUR HEART.

SOMETIMES THAT CAN BE REVERSIBLE.

MAYBE YOU'VE GIVEN YOURSELF AN ENLARGED HEART AND NOT KNOWN IT UNTIL SOME OF THE DAMAGE WAS DONE.

>> GOT IT.

HOW CAN YOU TEST FOR IT?

HOW CAN YOU SEE -- IS IT JUST -- IS THAT WHY CAN IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR ANNUAL CHECKUP?

OR YOUR PHYSICAL?

SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

IS THAT ONE WAY TO DETECT IT?

>>.

>> IT'S A GOOD REASON TO HAVE A PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR THAT YOU CAN GET IN INTEREST AND HAVE THAT CHECKED AND FEEL THAT IT IS ACCURATE.

>> SO KIDS, STUDENTS, THEY GET YEARLY PHYSICALS.

SHOULD ADULTS THEN ALSO GET YEARLY PHYSICALS?

>> IT CAN DEPEND ON THE AGE AND WHAT UNDERLYING FACTORS YOU HAVE.

I THINK FOR MOST PEOPLE, WHEN I SEE THEM, THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING I CAN HELP THEM WITH, WHETHER IT'S DEPRESSION.

I THINK THERE'S VERY FEW PARTICULAR DURING COVID, DON'T HAVE AT LEAST SOMETHING GOING ON WHERE YOUR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR CAN HELP YOU.

>> SURE.

I THINK THAT'S ALSO INTERESTING TOO.

I KNOW THAT WITH PHYSICALS THAT STUDENT ATHLETES GET, THEY CHANGE IT THIS YEAR TO ASK MORE MENTAL HEALTH-RELATED QUESTIONS, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TOO.

SO, YEAH.

THOSE ANNUAL PHYSICAL ARES GOOD FOR EVERYBODY.

>> MOST DEFINITELY.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT DEPRESSION SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRES.

THERE'S EDEN BERG -- THERE'S GERIATRIC DEPRESSION SCREENING.

THERE'S ATHLETES, STUDENTS, ADULTS, SO IT IS -- THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT.

>> IF YOU HAVE DEPRESSION, IT DOESN'T ALWAYS MEAN THAT YOU'RE GOING CAN TO BE END UP ON A PILL.

>> OKAY.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS YOU CAN DO BESIDES PILLS.

>> YEAH.

>> TO REALLY HELP WITH YOUR DEPRESSION.

IN FACT, EXERCISE HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE -- CAN IS GOOD OR IF NOT BETTER THAN A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT PHARMACEUTICAL TREATMENTS THAT WE HAVE.

>> SURE.

>> THERE COMES A POINT WHEN YOU'RE JUST NOT ABLE TO, SOMEONE THAT MIGHT BE STRUGGLING, THAT THEY'RE JUST -- THAT IS A BETTER OPTION, RIGHT, BECAUSE THESE OTHER ALTERNATIVES HAVEN'T WORKED OUT FOR THEM.

>> COUNSELING IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AS WELL.

>> YES.

>> YOU KNOW, REFERRING YOUR PATIENT TO A COUNCILOR TO BE ABLE TO MAYBE TALK ABOUT SITUATIONS THAT HAVE COME UP SOMETIMES WHEN WE'RE IN A COVID PANDEMIC LIKE THIS.

DEPRESSION THAT'S IN THE HINDSIGHT CAN MOVE FORWARD.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, INTO THE -- >> I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, COUNCILORS ARE REALLY BUSY THROUGH THE LAST TWO YEARS, YOU KNOW, BUT I THINK WHAT'S ALSO MADE THEM -- THEY'VE ALSO BECOME MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE ACCESSIBLE, GIVEN THE AVAILABILITY OF TELEHEALTH, RIGHT.

>> YES.

>> THAT WAS ONE OF THE ONLY NICE THINGS OF THIS WHOLE COVID SITUATION IS A LOT OF THE INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE ALLOWED US TO DO A LOT MORE TELEHEALTH IN VIRTUAL MEETINGS.

>> WE'VE GOT ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT.

I WANT TO GET THIS QUESTION IN.

WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN GET THE NEXT ONE IN.

WHAT NUMBERS MAKE ME A DIABETIC?

MY RANDOM TEST IS 166.

>> WELL, THE DEFINITION OF "DIABETIC" IS REALLY GETTING A HEMOGLOBIN A1C.

IT IS A TREE-MONTH ROLLING AVERAGE AND A PERCENTAGE F YOU'RE LESS THAN 5.7 -- LESS THAN 5.6, YOU'RE NOT A DIABETIC.

FROM 5.7 TO 6.4 IS A PREDIABETIC.

AND THEN 6.5 AND ABOVE.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE FASTING.

IF YOU HAVE AN IMPAIRED FASTING BLOOD SUGAR GREATER THAN 110, IN THE MORNING OR IF YOU CHECK YOUR SUGAR TWO HOURS AFTER A MEAL AND IT'S GREATER THAN 140, THEN THAT'S WHEN THERE IS A CONCERN, DEFINITELY GET TO YOUR PRIMARIES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> FOR FURTHER TESTING.

>> COOL.

GUESS WHAT?

WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND HELPING.

>> OUR FIRST TIME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU GUYS DID CAN A WONDERFUL JOB.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE WITH US.

>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING US.

>> TO YOU AT HOME, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE NEXT WEEK FOR ANOTHER LIVE EPISODE WHEN WE CATCH UP WITH OUR LOCAL VETERINARIANS FOR AND THE VETERINARIANS.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT!