Medical Minutes with WISH-TV

About 2.7% of the US population is 100 years old or older, and it’s not all in their genes! Research shows your genetic makeup only accounts for about 20% of your longevity. So, what can you do to live a long, healthy life? Want to live to 100 and live well? Experts say start preparing now! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#d...

A study by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital reveals a disturbing uptick in breast cancer rates, affecting women and, in some cases, men. According to  breastcancer.org , each year, 30% of all newly diagnosed cancers in women are breast cancer, and in 2023, almost 300 thousand cases of breast cancer were diagnosed. While advances in medical research have brought about breakthroughs...

ccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2020. The condition limits airflow in and out of the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. Until recently, the primary treatment options were inhalers and oxygen. But now, there’s another alternative. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com...

iruses tend to spread more easily in colder weather due to less humidity. There are a billion cases of the flu every year. According to the American Lung Association, adults get two to four colds a year. And right now, there are over 700 million COVID-19 cases around the world. A lot of people are concerned about how contagious they are once they feel better. When can they get back to their regula...

magine being out of the country and needing life-saving surgery – it happened to one dad while on vacation with his two young boys. It turns out, the sun and fun combined with the heat and exhaustion added up to a perfect storm. This young father ended up in brain surgery awake and talking to surgeons. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.c...

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only about 12% of American adults eat the daily recommended amount of fruit, and only 10% meet their vegetable intake recommendations. A new study looks at a way to get more people to eat these healthy foods. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-inf...

Within the next few minutes, three people in the United States will suffer a stroke. If it doesn’t kill you, it may cause severe disability. Now, new medical research is giving patients hope that the damage done by strokes doesn’t have to be permanent. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

There are nearly 1 million heart-related deaths each year, and cardiac warning signs vary widely. Large blockages are usually spotted quickly, but not those in small heart vessels. Women are much more likely to experience a specific “small vessel disease” and be misdiagnosed. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-i...

Almost 1.3 billion adults aged 30 to 79 are hypertensive, and many don’t even know it. Excessive sodium triggers inflammation and disease that begins with high blood pressure, but it can be all avoided by setting the salt shaker down. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Anxiety in seniors is a serious mental health condition that can have a significant impact on their quality of life. In fact, severe anxiety can be debilitating, and it impacts up to 20% of people over 65. It is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. This is because many people mistake the symptoms of anxiety in older adults as a normal part of aging. However, anxiety is a treatable condition. Bet...

In the United States, over 50 million people experienced chronic pain in 2021. Worldwide, over 55 million people are living with dementia, and, every year, 10 million new cases are diagnosed. Now, scientists at UT Health San Antonio are looking into how chronic pain is linked to a higher risk of developing dementia. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at h...

It steals our memories and impacts our minds. Alzheimer’s disease is being called a health crisis as worldwide care is estimated at more than $1 trillion and it’s expected to get worse. There is no cure, but new research reveals that how you eat and sleep could impact it. Every 65 seconds, someone in America is told they have Alzheimer’s disease. Today, more than 6 million Americans are living wit...

A relatively new science studying the idea of hope looks to reverse some trends in mental health. According to a Gallop Poll , since the COVID-19 pandemic, people are the most unhappy and stressed they’ve ever been. The poll had three takeaways from those who participated in the survey. People are having more negative experiences and fewer positive ones. Stress, sadness, and worry are at their hig...

More than 34 million people will be admitted into a hospital this year throughout the United States. Although the average stay is five days, that’s just the beginning of the recovery process. The NIH reports that 15% of discharged elderly patients end up back at the hospital. A Harvard study found half of all patients who were discharged had medication errors when they went home. That’s just one o...

Radiation is one of the key treatments in the fight against all forms of cancer. More than 650 thousand people in the U.S. will receive radiation to try and wipe out their disease. Now, a new radiation therapy is turning cancer against itself. This year, 230 thousand men and women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with lung cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, about 400 thousand people wi...

If you’re hoping to be a better version of yourself in the new year, changing unhealthy habits and focusing in on new goals are keys to success. So, say “goodbye” to unhealthy habits and “hello” to a new mindset for the new year. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

he holiday season is a difficult time for many dealing with loneliness, stress, or the loss of a loved one around this time of year. Amanda Wakefield, a psychologist at IU Health, said communicating expectations early is key when it comes to preventing difficult situations. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-inf...

Almost 3.5 million people in the United States suffer from epilepsy. For some, these seizures can be controlled with medication, while others will need brain surgery, which can be very risky. But now, new technology is helping doctors pinpoint what’s causing the seizures better than ever before. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/priv...

Of all cancer diagnoses, 13% are for lung cancer. In fact, more than 200,000 people every year are diagnosed with it. Despite medical advancements, it’s still one of the deadliest cancers. Now, doctors are not only battling the disease at the hospital but also are taking the fight right into the patients’ homes. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https...

Metformin tablets are the most widely prescribed drug in the world to treat Type 2 diabetes, and it’s been around for more than 60 years. More than 150 million people worldwide take the pills. But now, researchers are learning this popular medicine might also have other health benefits. A large review of 53 different studies concluded that Metformin reduces all causes of death — including can...

Researchers at Northwestern University’s medical school in Chicago are looking at biomarkers in the blood to see if they hold answers as to why one person’s COVID-19 symptoms linger on, while others recover quickly. Doctors say that although the vaccine for the coronavirus continues to save lives, they do not believe it has an impact on whether or not a person will get long COVID. See Privacy Poli...

Dr. Jerome Adams, the WISH-TV medical expert and a former U.S. surgeon general, talked Monday on News 8 about holiday season and the potential for an uptick in cold and flu cases as well as the coronavirus. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Nick Hardwick, a central Indiana native and former Purdue Boilermaker, recently launched a group called the Men of Westfield. The group, which began in May , provides a forum for men to open up about their mental health issues. After a successful career as a center at Purdue, Hardwick played 11 seasons for the San Diego Chargers, and was a team captain for five of those seasons. Hardwick is an ass...

Lack of sleep is bad for health, but a recent Vanderbilt study shows chronically disrupted sleep can trigger heart disease and dementia, and that sleeping less than six hours a night increases heart attack risk by 20%. Tossing and turning at night is more than just annoying. Poor sleep triggers cardiovascular issues by plugging arteries with dangerous plaque, and causing them to stiffen. This caus...

A researcher believes she has discovered a new treatment that can lead to the possible elimination of allergies. More than 100 million Americans have allergies, making it the sixth-leading cause of sickness in the nation. Allergies are the body’s response to foreign items in a person’s system. Traditional ways to treat it include antihistamines, dietary changes, or herbal remedies, but a researche...