Better Health Podcast

If diet, exercise and other conservative measures haven’t helped you control your weight long term, bariatric surgery may be an option for you. Learn about the types of bariatric surgery and if it might be right for you through this Better Health Podcast featuring board-certified bariatric surgeon Dr. Sara Shields Tarwater.

Dr. Lucretia Carter discusses the impact screens have on children, how to establish healthy habits and set boundaries on how much screen time is allowed.

Dr. Jill Aiken shares several health and wellness tips for parents to help their kids make the best of the new school year.

It’s a neurological condition often overshadowed by the more prevalent Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease. But local neurologists are seeing an increase in cases of normal pressure hydrocephalus, or NPH. Learn about the symptoms of NPH and the treatment options from Dr. Seun Omofoye, a neurosurgeon at Tidelands Health Neurosciences.

Now, it’s easier than ever to take a more active role in managing your health and wellness. With the new My Tidelands Health app, featuring MyChart, better health is in your hands. With the free My Tidelands Health app, you can find a physician, schedule an appointment, access your medical records, refill a prescription, get directions and so much more to help you conveniently manage your health care. Learn more about the My Tidelands Health app from Amy Stevens, vice president at Tidelands Health.

In this episode, Dr. Monica Selander (OBGYN at Tidelands Health Women's Center) delves into the extraordinary advantages offered by cutting-edge robotic-assisted procedures in the realm of women's health.

Dr. Omofoye talks about brain tumors. Dr. Omofoye explains what you need to know about it, its symptoms, and its treatments.

Dr. Alex Suda with Tidelands Health provides tips to help you stay cool and explains symptoms to watch for that are signs you may be developing dangerous heat-related illnesses.

Dr. Jack Johnston, a surgeon at Tidelands Health, answers your common questions about robotics-assisted surgery, including how it works and the benefits it provides for patients.

Hear from Dr. Victor Diaz with Tidelands Health about this new sonic pressure wave technology and how it’s already showing tremendous results in patients with certain types of coronary artery disease.

Cooled radiofrequency treatment is an alternative to other remedies such as surgery or opioid-based medications for treatment of chronic knee pain.

Pediatricians are noticing many children gained significant weight during the pandemic, likely as a result of disrupted routines. Dr. Carter offers insight into this trend and advice for parents.

These are often problems some are shy about discussing, but today we're talking all about them so you can listen and learn. Dr. Annaceci Peacher shares useful information about women's health and urogynecology conditions - from signs and symptoms to treatments.

Tidelands Health Medical Park at The Market Common provides greater opportunity to service the community. Gayle Resetar, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, discusses this new facility and the care it will provide to the growing population in this area.

Diagnosing colon cancer early increases the likelihood of a good outcome. To examine, diagnose and treat a problem in your colon – or large intestine – your physician at Tidelands Health may use a colonoscopy.

Dr. Christopher Bach, Tidelands Health gastroenterologist, joins the show to discuss the importance of a screening colonoscopy to prevent cancer, the latest guidelines and how a colonoscopy is much easier than you might imagine.

Dr. William Epperson shares his insight on flu shots.

Pam Digiovanna discusses the technique of dry needling for pain relief.

Gayle Resetar discusses the 'Safe in Our Care' initiative by Tidelands Health.

Dr. William Epperson discusses why not to delay seeking needed medical care.

Dr. Harmon discusses social distancing and what you need to know to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Physical pain may benefit from the McKenzie Method physical therapy. Vincent DiGiovanna, physical therapist at Tidelands Health Rehabilitation Services, discusses this treatment method.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is commonly seen in the winter. Dr, Lucretia Carter, pediatrician at Tidelands Health, discusses RSV.

'A Walk in the Garden' is a prescription walking program for patients. Dr. James Turek discusses this initiative.

To learn more about A Walk in the Garden click here: https://www.tidelandshealth.org/a-walk-in-the-garden/

Abnormal uterine bleeding is one of the most common conditions prompting women to visit the gynecologist. Dr. Monica Selander, obstetrician and gynecologist, discusses normal bleeding and when to visit your doctor.

Skin cancer is of particular concern for folks who enjoy coastal living and spending time engaged in outdoor activities. Dr. William Jackson Epperson details how to prevent and detect skin cancer.

Suicide has been in the news lately. Learn the warning signs and what to do if you think someone may be at risk.

Heather Partridge, a behavioral health consultant, shares what to watch for and how to help.

Cancer patients face many challenges as they battle the disease. Treatment takes a toll on physical function and mental stress. Physical therapy improves mood through appropriate exercise. It also aids in gradual improvement of strength and function in the areas affected by cancer treatment.

Dargan Ervin, Tidelands Health physical therapist, discusses the benefits of physical therapy for cancer patients.

Every woman will experience menopause at some point in their life. Unfortunately, menopause can come with unpleasant and uncomfortable symptoms of vaginal dryness. This is due to the decreased levels of estrogen and can also cause itchiness, irritation and pain during sex.

Gayle Richmond, MD, discusses vaginal dryness due to menopause, and treatment options available at Tidelands Health.

Have you tried to quit smoking only to relapse and start again? Then you know how hard it can be.

Dr. Lash Springs discusses smoking cessation and how you get the help you need to quit for good.

Do you know what it means to eat healthy?

Jamie Kandora, Tidelands Health clinical nutrition manager discusses the importance of a balanced diet, and how easy it is to eat healthy and enjoy the foods you eat!

The practice of using herbal supplements dates back thousands of years. Today, there is a renewal in the use of herbal supplements among American consumers. However, herbal supplements are not for everyone.

Herbal supplements are considered by the FDA to be foods, not drugs, and therefore are not subject to the same testing, manufacturing, and labeling standards and regulations as drugs.

Do not self-prescribe. Talk with your healthcare provider before taking herbal supplements.

Kelly Edwards, Tidelands Health pharmacist, joins to the show to clear up confusion regarding the use of herbal and vitamin supplements.

At Tidelands Health, you'll find support and care for women at every stage of life – from adolescence to menopause and beyond. As your needs evolve, our physical therapists are there to help you with issues you might not even think of.

Pelvic issue in women are common as they age. Physical therapy can help to strengthen the pelvic floor and help conditions such as incontinence, pelvic pain, and more.

In this segment, Donna Pagano, Tidelands Health physical therapist, joins the show to discuss how a physical therapist can help you with many pelvic disorders which can then help you to lead a more full and active life.

If you are living with chronic pain, you might want to consider dry needling therapy. Dry needling is a physical therapy intervention used to target muscle banding or knots, and to treat many types of pain.

Listen as Kristin Dorio, PT discusses how dry needling works, and how it can possibly alleviate pain in many areas and restore your function for a better quality of life.

After an injury, illness or surgery to your neck or back, a rehabilitation program helps restore you to the best possible function. At Tidelands Health, you’ll find our region’s widest range of rehabilitation services and gain access to many health care experts in more than a dozen locations.

We’re united in helping you get back to your work, home and recreational activities as soon as possible.

In this segment, Frank Moreno, Tidelands Health physical therapist, discusses how you’ll get assistance from skilled medical professionals at Tidelands Health who are dedicated to helping you reach your potential and make the best possible recovery from the disabling pain of a back or neck injury.

According to the National Council on Aging, one in four older Americans falls every year. Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for people aged 65+.

Balance disorders can strike at any age, but are most common as you get older. 

In this segment, Sandra Fox a Tidelands Health physical therapist, joins the show to discuss balance and fall prevention and how helping an aging loved one to reduce their risk of falling is a great way to help them stay healthy and independent as long as possible.

If you have difficulty getting quality sleep, speak with your primary care physician. Primary care doctors can thoroughly assess you and make sure your sleep difficulty is not being caused by other health-related issues.

In this segment, Neal Lilly, Tidelands Health physician assistant, joins the show to discuss sleep disorders, the importance of getting a quality nights sleep and how Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital's sleep center offers a comfortable environment when you need a sleep study to help diagnose sleep disorders.

According to the American Lung Association, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is a chronic lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. The disease is increasingly common, affecting millions of Americans, and is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. The good news is COPD is often preventable and treatable.

In this segment, Dr. Desmond Young discusses COPD, treatments available at Tidelands Health, and the steps you can take to prevent it from occurring in the first place.

According to the Center for Connected Health Policy, Telehealth is a collection of means or methods for enhancing health care, public health, and health education delivery and support using telecommnications technologies.

Virtual visits via phone, video, computer/web, mobile app, or text with health care providers have grown in popularity of the years due to the comfort and convenience of being able to reach a doctor from your home or anywhere with internet connection (and not have to drive over town, spend time in the waiting room, etc.).

What are some examples of how telehealth is used?

Listen as Dr. David Haseltine explains telehealth, the benefits, and some examples of how it's used.

Medications can relieve symptoms of your condition and improve your quality of life. At Tidelands Health, you’ll benefit from pharmacists who help you get the right dose of the correct medication at the proper time.

When you're prescribed medication it's important to follow instructions carefully. If medications are taken improperly, it can cause some some serious issues.

What are some ways to avoid common medication mishaps? At Tidelands Health we take your medication safety seriously. That's why we've assigned a clinical pharmacist to every medical service in our hospitals. That means you get safe, effective and cost-efficient medication during your hospital stay. A clinical pharmacist is available around the clock to help your health care team respond immediately if your medical needs change.

In this segment, Darrell Willm, Tidelands Health pharmacist shares the most common medication mishaps and how you can avoid them.

Outpatient rehabilitation can help patients recover from injury or illness. Tidelands NextStep Rehabilitation Services offers physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy customized to each patient's individual needs.

Speech therapy can help you or a loved one recover from illness or injury. 

In this segment,  Luann Mezzatesta, Tidelands Health speech therapist, explains that the goal of speech therapy is to help you or a loved one regain control of your voice and communication skills.

Being independent and able to drive is an important part of your well being, but after a illness or injury you might find it difficult to get back behind the wheel.

Driver rehab specialist Ian McClure talks today about Tidelands NextStep program and the goal of getting patients back on the road safely.

If your back or neck aches, you're not alone. Spinal pain distracts millions of Americans from the joys of everyday life. Turn to Tidelands Health for relief, so you can focus on your family, work and hobbies again.

Listen in as Nick McClary, physical therapist and clinical services manager at Tidelands HealthPoint Center for Health and Fitness, explains that the goal of back and neck rehabilitation is to help you manage disabling pain, return to your highest level of functioning and independence possible, while improving your overall quality of life.

Mood disorders, including major depression, in children and teens can often be effectively treated. Treatment should always be based on a comprehensive evaluation of the adolescent and family. 

Adolescents with a depressive or mental illness cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better. Treatment is often necessary and many times crucial to recovery.

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, almost 1 million joint replacements are done each year in the United States. When is it time to consider a joint replacement? Do you have to wait until the pain is unbearable?

As you age, joints begin to wear out and cause pain. If physical therapy, medications and other conservative measures haven’t brought lasting relief, joint replacement surgery at Tidelands Health can help you return to the life you love.

A hand injury can dramatically impact quality of life. Even routine tasks such as brushing your teeth or writing a note can become difficult, if not impossible.

Tidelands NextStep Hand Therapy Center is staffed by certified hand therapists who can help patients who have suffered a hand injury or illness regain functionality and learn adaptive skills to achieve independence with activities.

Carrie DeLuca, senior occupational therapist at Tidelands Health, is here to discuss hand therapy, and how it can help you regain mobility and movement in an injured hand.

Hospitalists are physicians whose primary professional focus is the general medical care of hospitalized patients. Their activities include patient care, teaching, research, and leadership related to Hospital Medicine.

Dr. James Principe is here to explain that at Tidelands Health you can be assured of great in hospital care from their many qualified hospitalists.

At Tidelands Health, we are guided by a Triple Aim – that is, to deliver superior quality and service to our patients, to improve the health status of the communities we serve and to reduce the cost of health care delivery.

Ours is a singular commitment: Better health begins here.

Together, our more than 2,000 employee and physician partners are working side by side with our patients to transform the health of our region  -- promoting wellness, preventing illness, encouraging recovery and restoring health.

Desmond Young, MD is here to insure you that our patients’ health, safety and comfort are our top priorities. We always strive to exceed our customers' expectations.

Do you stumble in the morning from pain in your foot? Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It involves pain and inflammation of a thick band of tissue, called the plantar fascia, that runs across the bottom of your foot and connects your heel bone to your toes.

It can be incredibly painful and affect the quality of your life.

When your bones, joints or muscles hurt, you'll find no better place in the region than Tidelands Health to receive treatment. National health care ratings service Healthgrades has rated Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital in the Top 10 percent of hospitals in the country for overall orthopedic services in 2015.

Will Whiteside, MD, is here to discuss Plantar fasciitis and how Tidelands Health is here to help.

A new service available at Tidelands Health can help you understand your risk for coronary artery disease and heart attack.

Called Heart Scan, the test measures the amount of calcified plaque build-up in coronary vessels, which is an accurate predictor of heart attack risk.

Candidates for Heart Scan typically have no known heart disease but do have at least one of the following risk factors: between the ages of 45 and 85, smoke, are living with high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol, have a family history of heart disease, are overweight or obese and are physically inactive.

Christopher Daub, MD., is here to explain the benefits of early screening for calcified plaque build-up.

Genetic BRCA testing or a quick, non-invasive HALO® Breast Pap Test can help you determine your odds of developing breast cancer.

When your health care providers know your risk, they can tailor a screening and education program that keeps you in the best possible health.

Dr. Angela Mislowsky, Tidelands Coastal Carolina Breast Center, is here to help you better understand all your options to help prevent or treat breast cancer.

Typically, when a breast biopsy is recommended for an abnormal mammogram finding, a core needle biopsy may be recommended as opposed to a surgical biopsy.

Advanced technology has helped to make minimally invasive breast biopsy methods a possible alternative to surgical biopsy for some women. It might just be the option for you.

Listen as Craig Brackett III, MD, the Director of Tidelands Health Breast Health Program, helps you to better understand this minimally invasive breast biopsy.

Sports medicine doctors have special training to restore function to injured patients so they can get moving again as soon as possible.

They are also knowledgeable about preventing illness and injury in active people.

Your immune system defends your body from diseases.

But sometimes a substance that shouldn’t harm you triggers your immune response – leading to rashes, sneezing, itching, swelling or other allergy symptoms.

A specially trained allergist at Tidelands Health can help you ease symptoms of allergies – which often are caused by pet dander, pollen, insect stings and certain foods and medications.

James Turek, MD, is here to discuss your options if you struggle with allergies.

Have you ever wondered if what you see on emergency room TV shows is actually how it is?

Michael Ratliffe, MD, an emergency room physician at Tidelands Health, is here to explain just how it is in the emergency room.