Line One

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 900 providers. On this 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 stigma and barriers in the healthcare system. 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.

Traumatic brain injuries or TBIs occur with more frequency than we are aware and the lasting effects are also high; not every injury is apparent thus many go undiagnosed and don’t get the services and treatments needed to heal. TBIs bring hundreds of Alaskans to our major medical centers each year and can be the result of accidents or medical conditions such as seizure or stroke. On this episode of Line One, Dr. Jillian Woodruff MD explores how to prevent and treat TBIs.

Traumatic brain injuries or TBIs occur with more frequency than we are aware and the lasting effects are also high; not every injury is apparent thus many go undiagnosed and don’t get the services and treatments needed to heal. TBIs bring hundreds of Alaskans to our major medical centers each year and can be the result of accidents or medical conditions such as seizure or stroke. On this episode of Line One, Dr. Jillian Woodruff MD explores how to prevent and treat TBIs.

Everybody has suffered from a headache at some point in their lives. But when are headaches abnormal? There are many types of headaches, and the symptoms and treatments for each are very different. How are headaches related to chronic pain and pain management treatment plans? Join host Dr Justin Clark as he explores headaches and chronic pain management.

On this next Line One, Prentiss Pemberton speaks with guests from the Alaska Center For The Blind And Visually Impaired to discuss the challenges and possible solutions for people with disabilities in the Winter.

Approximately 1 in 5 heterosexual couples struggle to achieve pregnancy after 1 year of trying to conceive in the U.S. Only 12% of women use fertility services to receive help conceiving a child. In Alaska we have not had access to specialized assisted reproductive procedures that are now available. What are the causes of infertility? When should you see an infertility specialist? What help is available to achieve pregnancy? Dr. Jillian Woodruff and her guest share these answers with you to help achieve a healthy pregnancy.

People aged 13 to 23, referred to as transition aged youths, are when serious mental health disorders are often first discovered. Research shows that early treatment significantly decreases hospitalization and increases participation in school and employment. Many resources are now available in our community including the Power Center and Alaska Seeds of Change. In this episode of Line One, Dr Justin Clark explores these resources and much more about mental health.

What are the modifiable and non modifiable risks for colon cancer? What are the current screening guidelines? Is colonoscopy the only option? Join host Dr Justin Clark as he explores these questions and much more about colorectal cancer on the next Line One.

On the next Line One Prentiss Pemberton speaks with Ordained interfaith Chaplain, Barbara Becker who will discuss her new book, HEARTWOOD, which chronicles her search to find the answer to 1 Question: Can we live our lives more fully knowing someday we will die?

On the next Line One, Prentiss Pemberton and his guests from Azheimer’s Resource of Alaska will discuss Information, support, and resources for people and families living with dementia in Alaska.

As mental health needs in Alaska and the nation increase it has become harder to find resources for care, particularly for children and teens. Issues with inpatient care in Alaska have made headlines. However, newer intensive outpatient programs help to bridge this gap.

HIV/AIDS diagnoses have decreased by 8% in the US. In Alaska there are approximately 700 people living with this disease. By decreasing the associated stigma and shame we can better serve those living with the disease while continuing to decrease and eliminate its incidence.

One Approach for treating PTSD is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). On the Next Line One, Trauma survivor Michael Baldwin, and Dr. Deborah Korn Will join Line one Host, Prentiss Pemberton to discuss their new book “Every Memory Deserves Respect”.

Around 22 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. The treatment often involves wearing a mask to sleep at night. Inspire is a new technology that eliminates the need for a mask by implanting a small device in the chest to stimulate breathing while you sleep. It is similar to a pacemaker and is now being offered in Alaska. Join me, Dr Justin Clark as I explore the indications and outcomes of this new device. That’s Line One, Wednesday at 10 am, repeating at 8 pm on Alaska Public Media FM 91.1.

Hormones are messages that travel through the bloodstream to relay instructions to the body that control many functions. They are often prescribed in situations where our bodies are not providing enough for us to function at our best. Hormones also naturally decline as we age which may poorly affect our overall quality of life and health. Men also experience a decline in testosterone and other hormones, and replacement is just as important for them as it is for women.