House Calls with Dr. Valerie Walker is produced by KETC/Channel 9 with funds provided by a grant from the  Missouri Foundation for Health, a philanthropic organization whose vision is to improve the health of the people in  the communities it serves. The program also airs on WSIU/WUSI in Carbondale, IL, KOZK in Springfield, MO; and  KMOS in Warrensburg, MO. Check local listings for times and dates.

About Dr. Walker
 Dr. Valerie Walker is a family practice physician with a Central West End office and a roster of close to 6,000  patients. A popular speaker and radio host, Walker combines her warmth, humor, and ebullient nature with an  amazing ability to translate medical terminology into terms everyone can understand. She is a fitness enthusiast  who advocates walking, nutrition, and healthy lifestyle habits. “Prevention is still the best treatment,” says Walker.

Exciting New Season:
 
Watch for these topics during the third season of House Calls:

Sickle Cell
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells. People with sickle cell disease have red blood cells that contain mostly hemoglobin* S, an abnormal type of hemoglobin. Sickle cells are destroyed rapidly in the body of people with the disease causing anemia, jaundice and the formation of gallstones. How does this disease impact patients-medically/lifestyles? What is being done to increase the numbers of donors? What are some promising treatments? Research?

Skin Conditions
As a protective wrapping, skin insulates humans against bumps, bangs, wear and tear. It keeps germs and water out and keeps necessary fluids and salts in. Skin also plays an important part in the regulation of the body temperature. Under certain circumstances, physiology can bring about unwanted disruptions in the skin’s surface. What are the various skin ailments (eczema, psoriasis, melanoma, etc.)? How do they differ? How are they alike? How do they help in identifying other conditions? What is being done to treat them – advances? How can we protect our skin? Particular emphasis on eczema.

Alcoholism/ Substance Abuse
Almost 14 million Americans—abuse alcohol or are alcoholic. What characterizes the disease? How does it harm those it affects – medical result? How does it impact families? What medical solutions are available for alcoholics? Broader discussion about substance abuse. What do characteristics do various addictions share? How are they being treated? What are signs of substance abuse, etc.?

Grief/Depression
What is Grief, its medical impact, how can doctors/support groups help, the affects of going without counseling. What are some of life circumstances (loss of job, family, pets) that lead to grief/bereavement and physiological consequences of grieving. What treatments are available – pharmacological/therapeutic? Any cutting edge research? Depression: compared to milder bereavement/grief. Depression as medical condition. How to fight it and medicines available.

Mature Women’s Health
What women need to know about aging and how the aging process impacts them: Menopause, hormonal treatments or not, osteoporosis, over active bladder (OAB). The psychology of aging for women. Exercise programs, support groups.

Fountain of Youth
Fifty is the new 30 … Sixty is the new 40. Now more than ever, society’s doing its best to delay aging and prolong youth. Concurrently, a slew of new procedures are becoming popular that make it possible to smooth wrinkles and reduce pockets of fat less invasively, at a lower cost. What’s out there for the man or woman who wants to look like he or she did in his or her 30s? (Exercises, groups, treatments?) How safe is it all? Does it promote good overall health? What should the patient/consumer know?

For more information about the CALERIE study mentioned in this program, visit the study Web site at http://calerie.dcri.duke.edu. Or contact: Morgan Schram, Study Coordinator 314-747-3182; Calerie@im.wustl.edu.

Holistic Medicine
Increasingly, the old “apple-a-day…” axiom is replacing the once popular, “take-two-pills…” way of thinking. A growing number of doctors are promoting a variety of alternative approaches to lifestyles and incorporating alternative treatments into their methodology. Chiropractors and massage therapists are growing in popularity and more doctors are championing overall wellness, including spirituality into their practices. What’s the new, non-medical thinking in (and outside) the medical community? Does it make sense? Is it safe?

Eye Care
What’s new in eye care? What does the eye care community know about overall ocular health that it did not know 10 – 15 years ago? How do certain ailments (diabetes?) impact the eyes? How often should we check our eyes (what kind of exam)? Eye care and children: what are the new guidelines for screening children’s eyes? What are the risks of not screening?

ADHD
What is ADHD? How does it present itself? What are the medical causes? What role does sleep deprivation play? What are the medical treatments? Are we over-medicating children? Long term affects? What about adult ADD? Compare to child variety.

Pregnancy
How to safely navigate pregnancy. Dos and don’ts of pregnancy. Myths v. Reality of pregnancy and the medical processes related to it. The growing popularity of C-sections & induced labor – Are these good ideas? Medical complications – risky pregnancies. Post partum depression – how to manage. Staying fit during pregnancy.

Sexual Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction: causes, prevention of, treatment …indicator of additional medical condition. Risks associated with pills. Loss of female libido: causes, prevention of, and treatment.

Mental Disorders
Mental health disorders affect an estimated 22 percent of American adults each year. What is the range of mental disorders that impacts people: anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, eating disorders, personality disorders, addictions? How do they compare? How do you treat? What methods are available to protect one’s mental health, promote mental health? What disorders are heriditary? How to choose a doctor/therapist? What to expect from treatment? Which mental illnesses are common in children? How does treatment differ?

Sports Injuries
Professional athletes receive the best care sports medicine can offer. Every sprain, break, pull and tear gets immediate treatment. Not so for the weekend warrior, high school athlete or mom or dad running each morning, hoping to lose an extra pound. What do amateurs need to know about protect themselves during and treating themselves after physical activity. When do you apply ice and when do you apply heat? And what about sports injuries for children? They comprise a vast number of amateurs susceptible to injuries. When do you take your child to the emergency room and when do you wait to see whether the swelling goes down? How important are helmets and pads? Does insurance cover sports injuries?