Mayo Clinic Health Matters

Because cancer treatments can weaken the immune system, cancer patients are at increased risk of complications from COVID-19. Despite these concerns, cancer patients often still need treatment, including going to the clinic or to the hospital, and many have questions about whether cancer should be treated differently during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Tanios Bekaii-S...

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the World Health Organization(WHO) says more than 117 million children in 37 countries may be missing out on the lifesaving measles vaccine. The WHO had issued some guidelines to help countries sustain immunization activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Tina Ardon, a Mayo Clinic family medicine physician, discusses the impor...

Each week, the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast shares the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic. On today's episode, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, answers listeners' coronavirus questions. Topics include: pets and COVID-19, ultraviolet light and viruses, and herd immunity. Research disclosures for Dr. Gregory Poland. Advertising I...

COVID-19 was first identified late last year with a cluster of pneumonia cases caused by a new coronavirus. The COVID-19 disease process heavily affects the respiratory system, and patients often need oxygen support. The respiratory therapist plays a critical role in managing oxygen levels, placing breathing tubes, and managing the mechanical ventilator, when necessary. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podc...

Using tele-ICU capabilities, Mayo Clinic physicians in critical care medicine are volunteering to support staff at New York-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital, which has been inundated with COVID-19 cases. At this unprecedented time, these two organizations are collaborating and innovating to help patients. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Sean Caples, a Mayo Clinic pulmonologist and critical care...

Your best defense against the spread of coronavirus is hand-washing, but frequent hand-washing can deplete the skin of its natural moisture and oils, causing dry and cracked skin. Recommendations to wear face masks also are taking a toll on the skin. Face masks may rub across the nose and behind the ears, which can irritate the skin. What should you do if your skin is becoming dry or sensitive? On...

People around the world have been under stay-at-home orders to prevent the spread of coronavirus. While this situation isn't ideal, it can be dangerous for some. For people in abusive situations, home may not be a safe environment. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Amanda Kubista Owen, a Mayo Clinic social worker, discusses services available to help support people affected by domestic violence and...

On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group, covers the latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Poland discusses current outbreak numbers, why there may be a second wave of infections, and research on a vaccine. Research disclosures for Dr. Gregory Poland. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPri...

As the SARS-CoV-2 virus spread worldwide, a race began to develop testing protocols and ramp up research. Mayo Clinic's COVID-19 research task force is studying the virus, predicting hot spots, and working towards effective treatments and a vaccine. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Andrew Badley, chair of Mayo Clinic’s COVID-19 research task force, gives an update on COVID-19 research activitie...

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, efforts are underway to find a new normal and begin to reopen the country and the economy. While people are eager for strict social distancing rules to end, public health measures, including testing and tracing for the virus, will be important tools needed to control the spread of the virus and prevent an uptick in new infections. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast,...

A new serology test from Mayo Clinic Laboratories  is being used to identify the presence of immune response to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The serology test is intended only to detect antibodies to the virus. It does not diagnose recent or active infection. Mayo Clinic Laboratories also offers a molecular test to diagnose very recent or active infection. Both tests are important t...

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced changes to daily life, and disrupted normal routines at work, at school, and at home. Physical isolation can negatively affect mental health, and constant news coverage can bring fear and anxiety about the disease. How can you best cope in these uncertain times? On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Craig Sawchuk, chair of the Division of Integrated Behavioral Health...

Contact tracing is a used to slow community spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19. Contact tracing is the process of finding and reaching out to the people who have been in contact with an infected person. Then close contacts of a person who might have COVID-19 can be isolated or quarantined to lessen further spread of the virus. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infecti...

An intensive care unit (ICU) is a special unit in a hospital where patients who are very ill can be under constant supervision by their health care team. The COVID-19 pandemic has stressed ICU and critical care units in hot spots where the virus had spread widely. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Daniel Brown, director of critical care medicine at Mayo Clinic, discusses critical care medicine a...

There are two types of tests for COVID-19, and it is important to understand the difference. The first type, a diagnostic test, is used to find out if you are actively infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. This test typically is done as a nasal swab. The second type of test is a serologic test to determine if you had a recent infection of SARS-CoV-2 and now have antibodies again...

Emergency medicine is a specialty that prides itself on a mantra: anyone, anything, anytime. The COVID-19 pandemic has put emergency health care providers and first responders on the front lines, fighting the spread of the virus and caring for critically ill patients. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Annie Sadosty, a Mayo Clinic emergency medicine physician, discusses when patients should come...

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Because SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus, researchers are still learning how the virus affects the body. And this raises questions for pregnant women. Can COVID-19 affect pregnancy? Is breastfeeding safe? How can a pregnant woman protect herself from the disease? On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a pediatric infectious d...

On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group, covers the latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic.  Dr. Poland discusses why the U.S. has reached its deadliest week during the pandemic, and how clinical trials and vaccine research are underway to prevent future outbreaks. Research disclosures for Dr. Gregory Poland....

A study published recently in Mayo Clinic Proceedings details information about potential cardiac side effects when using off-label drugs to treat COVID-19. Off-label means the drug has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat a different condition. Some of the off-label drugs being used to treat COVID-19 have a risk of sudden cardiac arrest and death. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podc...

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends that Americans wear wearing cloth masks in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. The CDC considers cloth masks an additional, voluntary public health measure. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, a Mayo Clinic COVID-19 expert, explains th...

On today's Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, shares the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Poland discusses antibody testing, immunity, and how the scientific and research communities are collaborating to fight this disease. Research disclosures for Dr. Gregory Poland. Advertising Inquiries: ht...

The ongoing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic has heavily burdened front-line health care providers. "Our nation and our medical community is facing an unprecedented challenge," says Dr. Elie Berbari, chair of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Mayo Clinic. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Berbari discusses how Mayo Clinic is minimizing exposure to staff, while providing safe and compassi...

A novel coronavirus is a new strain that has not been seen before in humans. SARS-Co-V2 is a novel virus, causing the disease COVID-19. Because COVID-19 is a new disease, much is still being learned about how it spreads and the severity of illness it causes. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, infectious disease expert and head of Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group, explains the...

When it comes to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayo Clinic is relying not only on clinicians, but also engineers. Supply chain management and manufacturing capabilities are being readied to help in the fight against COVID-19. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Jonathan Morris, co-director of tMayo Clinic's 3D Anatomic Modeling Lab, and Mark Wehde, chair of Mayo Clinic's Division of Engineering,...

Each day, the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast shares the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic. On today's episode, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, answers listeners' coronavirus questions. Research disclosures for Dr. Gregory Poland. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy