Mayo Clinic Health Matters

Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. Red blood cells are usually round and flexible, so they move easily through blood vessels. With sickle cell disease, some red blood cells are shaped like sickles or crescent moons, become rigid and sticky. These sickle-cell shaped cells can slow or block blood flow.The most common type of sickle cell disease is sickle cell anemia. Red blood cells usually live for about 120 days before they need to be replaced. But sickle cells typically die in 10 to 20 days, leaving a shortage of red blood cells, or anemia. Without enough red blood cells, the body can't get enough oxygen, and this causes fatigue.For a baby to be born with sickle cell anemia, both parents must carry a sickle cell gene. In the U.S., sickle cell anemia most commonly affects people of African, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern descent. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Ask the Mayo Mom host Dr. Angela Mattke, a Mayo Clinic pediatrician, is joined by Mayo Clinic Children’s Center experts Dr. Asmaa Ferdjallah, pediatric hematologist and bone marrow transplant physician, and Dr. Emily McTate, pediatric psychologist, to discuss managing sickle cell disease in pediatric patients and the latest advancements in treatment of sickle cell disease, including bone marrow transplant. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Last week marked two years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic. While infection rates and hospitalizations in the U.S. continue to decline, there are some areas of concern globally. "China, Hong Kong, Ireland, the U.K. and Denmark are seeing surges back up again," explains Dr. Gregory Poland, head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group. "These countries, many of us experts believe, prematurely dropped mask-wearing and nonpharmaceutical interventions, and really have stopped pushing and encouraging people to get vaccinated. I think that's a mistake."Dr. Poland explains that public health measures — and vaccination and boosters — are still the best way to protect yourself from COVID-19. "What can I say but what we have said all along," implores Dr. Poland. "Hands, face, space and vaccines. It works."On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Poland discusses the latest COVID-19 news, including a study on the true death toll of COVID-19, an update on the BA.2 variant and the latest on vaccines for children under 5.Research disclosures for Dr. Gregory Poland. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Multiple myeloma is a cancer that forms in a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell. Healthy plasma cells help the body fight infections by making antibodies that recognize and attack germs. In multiple myeloma, cancerous plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow and crowd out healthy blood cells. Rather than produce helpful antibodies, the cancer cells produce abnormal proteins that can cause complications.Immunotherapy, which uses the body's immune system to fight cancer, is now a standard treatment option for multiple myeloma. Immunotherapy works by interfering with cancer cells' ability to produce proteins that help them hide from the immune system."Immunotherapy is really one of the major backbone of now our current treatment for multiple myeloma," explains Dr. Yi Lin, a hematologist at Mayo Clinic. "We have some new agents that really help extend the amount of time that patients are able to live with multiple myeloma."While there is no cure, treatment options for multiple myeloma are advancing quickly and new immunotherapies, including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy, are improving outcomes for patients."We always want to strive towards the treatment that we think can offer the longest period of remission," says Dr. Lin. "But balancing that with side effects because we want to keep patients not only living as long as they can with multiple myeloma, but hopefully also with good quality of life." March is Myeloma Awareness Month. On this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Lin discusses the use of immunotherapies and other novel approaches to treating multiple myeloma. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mayo Clinic living donor Mike Peshut is one of 22 kidney donors who will climb Mount Kilimanjaro with a group called Kidney Donor Athletes. The goal of the One Kidney Climb is to reach the summit on World Kidney Day, which is Thursday, March 10. Peshut donated a kidney on behalf of his wife, Annie, in February 2019. Peshut tried to be a direct donor, but he was not a match for his wife. Through paired-organ donation, he became part of a six-kidney donation chain, allowing Annie to receive a kidney. In paired donation, two or more organ-recipient pairs trade donors so that each recipient gets an organ that is compatible with his or her blood type. Peshut recently met his recipient, who credits him with giving her more time with her family, including her 13 grandchildren.More than 90,000 people in the U.S. await a lifesaving kidney transplant. An estimated 20 people die every day because a needed is not donated in time.Now Peshut is focused on sharing his story and encouraging others to become organ donors. The Mount Kilimanjaro climb is a public way to show that living organ donation doesn't limit the donor."Don't be afraid. Don't sit on the sidelines," says Mike. "If you're healthy, you can donate a kidney to help save someone else's life. It's really, really rewarding." On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Peshut join host Dr. Halena Gazelka, a Mayo Clinic anesthesiologist, to share his message about organ donation. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A recent study found that people who were infected with COVID-19 are at increased risk of heart disease, even a year after their recovery from infection. The study, published in Nature Medicine, reviewed the health records of more than 150,000 U.S. veterans, and found that people with prior COVID-19 infections were 60% more likely to develop cardiac issues."There is a large spectrum of disease," says Dr. Leslie Cooper, chair of the Department of Cardiology at Mayo Clinic in Florida. "Not only can you have the common heart attack, or blood clots in the veins or the lungs, but also less common diseases like myocarditis or pericarditis occur at a higher rate in patients who have had COVID-19."The study found that increases in cardiovascular problems were evident across different ages, races and sexes."Almost all of the complications from a cardiac standpoint were significantly elevated following COVID a year after symptom diagnosis in women and men, and all the age groups," explains Dr. Cooper. Research is underway to look at better ways to treat heart issues related to COVID-19 and alleviate the long COVID-19 symptoms."We think that because there are specific mechanisms at work, in the future we will be treating more specifically with anti-inflammatory therapies if inflammation is an ongoing cause of the symptoms," says Dr. Cooper. "Multiple research studies are ongoing in this area."On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Cooper discusses cardiac complications from COVID-19. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Parents and caregivers play an important role in helping children feel comfortable with medical care. When possible, sharing age-appropriate information with children before a medical appointment can help ease their fear and anxiety. To help children prepare for a visit with their health care team, it is important that parents and caregivers understand the reason for the visit and what tests or procedures are likely to occur. Child life specialists, who are trained in child development, can help guide families and minimize the stress of the medical environment for children and teens."We want to make sure kids feel empowered," explains Jennifer Rodemeyer, manager of Child Life at Mayo Clinic Children’s Center. "We're open and honest with them so they know what they are about to experience."On this Ask the Mayo Mom edition of the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, host Dr. Angela Mattke is joined by Jennifer Rodemeyer and Tara Lodermeier, also a child life specialist at Mayo Clinic's Children's Center, to discuss helping children cope with medical experiences. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

New cases of COVID-19 are down 90% from the peak, with under 75,000 new cases reported last week across the U.S. "What we're observing is a pretty dramatic suppression of cases," explains Dr. Gregory Poland, head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group. "This is good news, but we need to be cautious."Dr. Poland warns that there are still people who are vulnerable to COVID-19 infection, including people who are immunocompromised; children under 5 who cannot yet be protected by COVID-19 vaccination; and the more than 30% of the U.S. population that is not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to Mayo Clinic's COVID-19 tracking tool data."'I'm as weary of COVID-19 as everybody else," says Dr. Poland. "But we still need to take this seriously." On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Poland discusses the latest COVID-19 news, including new COVID-19 vaccines coming for approval; the latest on long COVID; and his recent commentary with his colleague, Dr. Richard Kennedy, a Mayo Clinic internist, on the need for more research infrastructure and research funding in order to maintain public confidence in vaccines.Research disclosures for Dr. Gregory Poland. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

When it comes to the heart, it can be scary to seek care when you think you might be having a problem. Tests may be necessary to evaluate your heart, and the unfamiliar terminology associated with these tests can be confusing and intimidating. Understanding terms like EKG, echocardiogram, coronary angiogram or stress test may help alleviate the fear."Whenever we order these tests, we don't want you to have anxiety," says Dr. Christopher DeSimone, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist. "These tests are all done for a reason: to get you a diagnosis and to help you feel better. "As American Heart Month wraps up, Dr. DeSimone joins the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast to break down the terminology and explain what to expect during cardiac testing and evaluation. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Skin cancer — the abnormal growth of skin cells — most often develops on skin exposed to the sun, but it also can occur on areas of skin not ordinarily exposed to sunlight. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S."And the incidence of skin cancer is rising," says Dr. Dawn Davis, a Mayo Clinic dermatologist.The three major types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Early detection of skin cancer gives you the best chance for successful skin cancer treatment.While it is common to have freckles and moles develop over time, it is important to know your skin and recognize when changes occur."It's important to know what skin lesions you have," explains Dr. Davis. "Know what they look like, so that if they change, you can come to the dermatologist or health care provider for evaluation."Melanoma is the most serious and deadly form of skin cancer. Dr. Davis says the "melanoma alphabet" can help with early detection: Asymmetry Look for moles with irregular shape. Border Look for moles with irregular, notched or scalloped borders. Changes in color Look for growths with different or uneven colors. Diameter Look for new growth of more than one-quarter of an inch in diameter. Evolving Look for changes over time. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Davis discusses skin cancer detection and treatment. Dr. Davis also recommends steps to take to protect your skin including avoiding ultraviolet rays, and wearing sunscreen and protective clothing. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

For heart surgery patients, a cardiac reoperation or reintervention is sometimes needed. A reoperation is a second or subsequent surgery needed due to complications that develop over time.People who require a second or even third heart surgery often fall in to three groups:  Patients with aortic dissections For patients with aortic dissections, emergency lifesaving surgery is performed initially. Then additional surgeries are often needed to repair the aorta. Patients who receive tissue valves Tissue valves typically last a decade before a reoperation is needed to replace the deteriorated valve. Adults with congenital heart disease Patients with congenital heart disease often have surgery as a newborn or infant. As they grow and age, additional operations may be necessary. Cardiac reoperations are even more complex than first surgeries, due to scar tissue and other underlying conditions that develop. It is important to have a surgeon with a highly advanced set of surgical skills and techniques. Mayo Clinic surgeons perform more than 300 cardiac reoperations each year.On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Alberto Pochettino, a Mayo Clinic cardiovascular surgeon, discusses cardiac reoperations and reinterventions. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy