Line One: Your Health Connection

Breast cancer is a complex and wide-ranging class of cancer, with many different types, treatments, and detection methods, but as with any cancer, it’s best to catch it as early as possible. October is breast-cancer awareness month, but monitoring for the signs and preventing risk is a year-round job. On this Line One host Dr. Jillian Woodruff and her guest discuss screening for, and treating, breast cancer.

Social media and technology are everywhere in today’s day and age, but more than ever, young people are getting access to these earlier and earlier in life. Excessive social media use in children can have long-lasting impacts on their mental, behavioral, and even physical health. How can parents prevent their children from becoming technology-addicted, and what can be done for those who already are? On this Line One, host Prentiss Pemberton explores these questions and more with a technology addiction specialist.

When the opioid epidemic first came about in the 1990s it was largely related to prescription drug medications for pain. From 1999 to 2021 nearly 280,000 people have died from overdose of these medications. However, as time has evolved so have the medications. Heroin is an illegal opioid that has killed 152,000 people in this same time frame. Its use rose in the 2010s, but its use is now actually declining in part due to the rise of Fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic man made opioid that is extremely potent and is now being made illegally and can be mixed into other drugs. In 2021 alone it was responsible for 71,000 overdoses. It is now estimated that 60-70% of illicit pills contain fentanyl. Even more concerning is that Fentanyl is also being found in counterfeit prescription medications like Adderal and Xanax. For this show, host Dr. Justin Clark was joined by Coleman Cutchins, who is the lead pharmacist for the Alaska Department of Health and the office of substance abuse and misuse and Venus Woods, Director of HIV Prevention & Education for the Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association (Four A's).

Eating disorders are a complex and widely misunderstood group of disorders that affect people from all walks of life. Eating disorders pose a huge risk to those who experience them and, as a group, have the second highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses, trailing only behind opioid addiction. Eating disorders impact everyone, including boys and men, though their experiences are often left out of conversations. On this episode of Line One, host Prentiss Pemberton discusses how eating disorders can affect boys and men, and looks at the resources available for anyone seeking treatment or information about eating disorders.

As a new school year begins, students, particularly adolescents face a range of emotions and challenges. Academic pressures, peer pressure, body image and self-esteem issues, performance anxiety and bullying are just a few of the challenges that students can encounter. According to the National Institute for Mental Health approximately 20% of adolescents experience mental health disorders, typically beginning around age 14. On this Line One, host Dr. Jillian Woodruff explores the most common mental health disorders that affect adolescents, the crucial evaluations that help identify these issues, and the diverse range of treatments that can make a positive impact on their lives.

The US Surgeon General recently released an advisory on how social media helps and hurts youth mental health. There are positive impacts but social media can also increase depression and anxiety. On the next Line One, host Prentiss Pemberton talks with Jennifer Gessert, a therapist specializing technology addiction. They’ll discuss how social media impacts kids and teens and how to establish healthy boundaries around platforms. That’s Line One, Wednesday, at 10 a.m., repeating at 8 p.m. on FM 91.1, or at Alaskapublic.org.

The use of acupuncture and alternative medicine techniques has greatly increased over the last several decades in the United States, particularly in the treatment of chronic pain. What are the common uses for acupuncture and herbal medicine, and how is it used in combination with Western medicine? Join host Dr Justin Clark. As he explores these topics on this episode of Line One: Your Health Connection.

On this episode of Line One host and clinical therapist Prentiss Pemberton devotes an hour to answering called and emailed questions about mental health, behavioral health, and emotional well-being.

E-cigarette use among teenagers has skyrocketed in recent years, including in Alaska. A recent report from the Food and Drug Administration shows that one in ten middle and high schoolers report using e-cigarettes, overwhelmingly with sweet flavors like fruits or candy. What are the risks of vaping, especially at a young age, and what can parents and students do to bring these numbers down? Join Host Dr. Justin Clark as he explores these topics on this episode of Line One.

Genetic testing provides valuable information for patients and families about the risk of developing certain cancers, known diseases OR, whether someone is a carrier of a genetic disease. Testing encodes the small traits of our DNA which can help us to prepare for or prevent future health issues. How does this information empower people and What role do genetic counselors play in medical decisions? Join host Dr. Jillian Woodruff as she explores these topics on this episode of Line One.

Summer has arrived in Alaska, at least as far as the trees are concerned. Pollen counts are high and it seems everyone is sneezing, coughing, and wheezing. Do you have questions about seasonal allergies? What about pet allergies or food allergies? Do you suffer from allergic rhinitis or asthma? Join host Dr Justin Clark as he explores these topics and more on this episode of Line One.

Emergency Departments are known for management and stabilization of critical patients, but the transition to inpatient hospital care and later discharge are another critical part of the process. Hospitalist and emergency department physicians collaborate to provide 24-hour care to patients in emergency situations. On this Line One, Host Dr. Jillian Woodruff unlocks the secrets of emergency care.

Today’s youth are constantly bombarded with the allure of harmful substances on social media. The highlight reel nature of social media misses the stark impacts that drugs and alcohol can have on us. On the next Line One, host Dr. Jillian Woodruff dives into the struggles that young people experience, with a conversation aimed at seeking compassion, and building trust.

Ketamine was approved for Treatment Resistant Depression in 2019 and has quickly become a growing treatment option for this challenging form of depression. Despite the current buzz around this newly approved approach, many questions remain. How safe is Ketamine? What are the side effects? And is it effective? On this Line One, host Prentiss Pemberton and his guest discuss the uses, risks, and benefits of Ketamine in treating mental health conditions.

A new report from the US Surgeon General highlights a trend of loneliness and isolation among Americans. According to the report, lack of connection with other people can create adverse health effects on par with frequent smoking. On this Line One, host Prentiss Pemberton explores the mental and physical health benefits that come with a sense of belonging and connection and what can go wrong when they’re missing.

There’s a lot of barriers to accessing healthcare in Alaska including costs, long waitlists, language barriers, and more. Anchorage Project Access is a group that assists Alaskans statewide to help uninsured patients with a medical need access various specialties across 700 providers. On the next Line One, join host Dr Justin Clark as he explores the resources available with Anchorage Project Access.

Steph Jagger lost her mother before she really lost her. As Jagger’s mother succumbed to Alzheimer’s she struggled to remember her favorite song, drink, and most heartbreaking of all, her own daughter. On this Line One, host Prentiss Pemberton speaks with Jagger about her and her mother’s story of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, detailed in her book Everything Left to Remember.

Palliative care serves patients with serious illnesses, focused on maintaining a patient’s best quality of life while managing treatments and supporting the family. In contrast, hospices navigate the care of a person typically with a life expectancy of less than 6 months. They manage pain, unwanted symptoms, and improve the quality of their remaining time. When does one need to make decisions about their medical future? Join host Dr. Jillian Woodruff as she discusses this with her guests on this episode of Line One.

Sobriety can be one of the most consequential changes someone can make in their life. It has the potential to improve your mental and bodily health, but it’s also a difficult path that faces large amounts of stigma. March is Alaska’s Sobriety Awareness Month, and on this Line One, host Prentiss Pemberton talks with Recover Alaska’s sober heroes about their stories, and the ways sobriety has changed their lives.

Tuberculosis is a disease with a complicated history in Alaska. For decades, the state has led the country in rates of infection, but care for people with tuberculosis has a history of discrimination and mistreatment. However, treatments have changed and health workers say cases are especially high right now. On this Line One, host Dr. Justin Clark explores the scope of tuberculosis in Alaska, and the treatments for those who have it.