Line One: Your Health Connection Alaska Public Media

Nurses are an integral part of today’s medical system. When talking about nurses, it’s hard to find things they don’t do. Nurses work long hours, care for vulnerable patients, and are the backbone of the medical industry. In honor of Nurse’s week, which starts May 6, host Prentiss Pemberton and his guests discuss the landscape of Nursing in Alaska.

The skin is our body's largest organ, making up about 15% of our body weight. It's our first line of defense, shielding us from environmental toxins, regulating our body temperature, and helping to get rid of waste through sweat. It’s also a mirror of our overall health; changes in its appearance can often signal underlying health issues. Join host Dr. Jillian Woodruff on this Line One, as she and her guest discuss the science of skin.

Traumatic experiences can come in many ways, including from witnessing trauma in others around you. Whether in childhood or as an adult, the way it changes your brain has far-ranging effects. Finding the right mental health provider to begin healing can also be challenging in a state like Alaska. Join host Dr Justin Clark as he discusses trauma, and how to navigate mental health services to find the right provider for yourself on this episode of Line One.

Have you or a loved one ever felt caught between the cracks of a fragmented health care system? Too often, Alaskans with complex needs receive care that is expensive, inefficient, and poorly coordinated. How do we transform our systems to better care for patients with complex needs and to better serve Alaskans? On this Line One, guest host Dr. Anne Zink and her guests discuss complex care in Alaska.

According to the CDC, 1 in every 5 deaths in the U.S. is due to heart disease. While there are many factors that play into heart health, a plant-based diet can decrease your risk of heart disease by up to 25%. Factoring in exercise, stress reduction, and good sleep habits can decrease the risk even more. On this episode of Line One, host Dr. Jillian Woodruff and her guests discuss the benefits of a plant-based diet and naturopathic medicine.

Were you told as a child that you’re allergic to penicillin? Have you avoided it your whole life as a result? That’s a common scenario that happens with many antibiotics and drugs. However, less than 1% of people are actually allergic to penicillin and avoiding it can have serious effects for you and your community. Join host Dr Justin Clark as he discusses how and why to get tested for drug allergies on this Line One.